Signs of spring

Wow -- it's the start of another week. While I'm thoroughly enjoying each and every day, it just seems that Monday comes along very quickly!

We have no snow left. We had two days of temperatures in the low teens, and you could almost see the snow melt. It was crazy because I was thinking it was going to take forever for all this snow to melt, and then poof — it was gone. I did more cleaning up in the backyard and hope to finish this afternoon. Then we need a nice, gentle rain to clean things up. But WAIT-- we have snow in the forecast. But still, it'll be nice to get some of the backyard tasks done before we get more snow. It's not a lot and likely won't stick around. 

It's still muddy and wet, but there's no danger of falling on the sidewalks, although the well-trodden path in the forest is still slippery, so I continue to avoid that for a few more days or weeks. 

I even spotted new growth in someone's garden on our morning walk. 

Green shoots!!

And this opossum took it upon himself to walk down our street in the morning, which causes no end of excitement to Murphy. 

Opossum crossing the street

One more sign of spring - the first e-scooter of the season passed Murphy and me on our walk, and Murphy was beyond herself. She hates those things and would tear them apart if I let her. I keep a very tight grip on her when she spots one. And if someone comes from behind me and surprises us both, there is no telling what will happen, but god help the e-scooter driver! 

I'm not quite finished with the Smartphone Nation, but I've got enough information. The last chapter talks about regulation, defunding hate, harm, and disinformation. I'll read it this afternoon. 

My takeaways from yesterday's readings are that you should keep a phone journal for a day or two. Write down why you picked up your phone. What you eventually ended up doing on your phone. Did you actually do the thing you picked your phone up for? How long were you on your phone? And how did you feel when you were done? 

There is something called algorithm resistance (gaming the algorithm), which means you are working the algorithms to work for you, not against you. I'll see if I can dig up more information on that, but not this morning. 

Ensure your screen time is ACTIVE by spending time on education (including language learning, games, math tutorials or quizzes), creativity (making or reading), communication (keeping in touch with friends and family), and participation (searching or gaming). 

AVOID the passive activities of mindless scrolling. 

The bottom line in this is to be MINDFUL of why you are reaching for your phone. Were you bored, so you watched reels to entertain yourself? Were you going to do an active activity with your phone and then got sucked into social media? Like all aspects of life - be MINDFUL of what you do, don't let time just pass you by!

In addition to making samples for my upcoming Facebook Live, I finished the customer quilt. 

Customer Quilt - done

I've got some trimming to do later today. I also took an "emergency" trip to Fabricland yesterday. I was making samples for the Facebook Live, and as I made some, I started thinking about others I could make (typical), and I needed a few extra supplies. I arrived at 4:41, and they close at 5. I grabbed an employee I knew, and we got everything I needed. OH MY --- once you get outside the world of quilting cotton, there are so many exciting things in a fabric store! But I was mindful of what I bought, and less than $50 later, I was on my way home!

As a reward for the day's activities, I worked on the jigsaw puzzle. I'm loving working on it this way!! I have all the pieces of the puzzle laid out on those boards, which I could never do using the trays. I started by working on the circles. 

Progress on the 1000-piece green puzzle

Now all the pieces fit on one board, and I scour it for specific pieces. Then I grab those pieces, bring them to the puzzle, and see if I can find a home for them. When I find the home for all, then I go back to the pieces board and look for more distinctive pieces. It is working just fine. But I doubt that method will work for all puzzles. There are so many things in this one, and I spend a LOT of time looking at the picture to figure out where some of them are. I know there are different colors in other puzzles. I think I have the orange one. I might just have to find all the other colors, since I really like this puzzle style. i think my friend has the red one! 

Just like that -- I found that there are SEVEN puzzles in this series. I want/need to do them all. They are a lot of fun!

I'm having great fun, and it's a great way to leave that phone alone. Not that I'm on my phone a lot, and I'm much more conscientious of it after reading that book. 

I have to investigate a bit more about changing the algorithms, but I'm in pretty good shape, so I'm not really worried. But being mindful about everything you do is so important. It's easy to slip into a rut and just get caught up, but then I don't get to do the things I REALLY want to spend my time on, and that makes me feel bad, so I try to be as mindful as I can. 

As I was sitting by the embroidery machine making samples, a book on the bottom shelf caught my eye. Actually, the coil-bound spine did. I pulled the book out to find a book of quotes I had purchased a long time ago. I really have some great books, and sadly, one day, I will need to start culling them. 

I found an entire category of quotes dealing with "to-do" lists. I got a chuckle and then started reading them. OH MY!!!! These are amazing quotes. 

Here is one:

"Every person you meet knows something you don't: Learn from them." H. Jackson Brown

So true—do not be afraid to ask others questions, and stop talking about yourself unless you are asked. And then we want to acknowledge your woes or your family, but do NOT belabor the point unless it's a close friend. Share your KNOWLEDGE. 

WOW --- I think I'm going to have to keep this book out as there are so many good quotes. The book is called "Quote" Unquote - Volume 2: Inspirational Quotes for Meaningful Moments. It was a book meant for scrapbooking, but it can be used in daily life. 

OH MY—time is running out, and I need to get to the gym!! Still not putting full pressure on the bike, but slowly increasing the intensity. Keeping an eye on my knee -- I have good days and bad. 

Have a super day and be MINDFUL - whatever you do, do it mindfully!!!

Ciao!!!

Here is the link to the Facebook Live on Wednesday, as I always have trouble finding these links. Once the session starts, select the ONLINE button to get in. I'll post this link every day for the next two days so you can easily find it. I think that is the correct button. I think the other button works once the video has been saved. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/3548708531933619

How do you spell R E L A X?

Ack - well life is certainly relaxing here. There is NOTHING to do!!!!   There is zero activity around the place,  the only place to walk is the beach (and it is not nearly as exciting as my forest) - well we could walk on the road, but that is not nearly as fun. There is NOTHING for the girls to chase or even look at.  They are BORED.  As for me?  I spend my days between snuggling under a quilt in the sun room where I alternatively read and sleep or I am sewing!

Let's just say that it is a tad chilly here!  I even turned on the gas fireplace last night to take the chill out of the air. And I'm bundled up in my flannel jammies, a big fleece and my slippers. It could be worse!!!!

However there is NO ONE to yell at (OK - the dogs), there is no one to yell at me (well ask me for stuff), there are no meals to cook - but yes I am eating well and healthy!!!! It is heaven!!!!!

I am trying to keep my photos up to date with the editing so I have no idea what I have in store for today. Let's see what has been happening around here.............



Ah yes - on Saturday, I decided that a trip to the local quilt shop was in order.

Bargain Fabric Outlet

While they have a quilt shop within the store, they also sell decorator fabric.

I was on the hunt for some specific stuff - I even had a shopping list and swatches from the projects. Oh yes - I was prepared. I will share bits and pieces of what I bought with you as I use them up!

Inside Bargain Fabric Outlet

Love the Quilt Diva!!!!

After a few purchases, I went back home (stopping at Tim's on the way. The nearest Tim's is 12 KM away in Kensington. Needless to say - I don't go to Tim's every day. Only when I need something else in town do I stop.)

Even though I came with the intention of riding my bike, I haven't been out once. The weather hasn't been too nice.  We have had rain, very strong winds or cold.  I am hoping to get out today????   The weather is cold and I didn't bring that much warm gear. Oh well - maybe I sew now and bike in July!!!!

When I packed to come here - I had boxes and bags of projects that were in various stages of completion.  I was hoping that I had most of everything I needed to finish them - that was why they were in the boxes and bags.  Obviously my math skills leave a lot to be desired. Have a peek at what happened..........

These three blocks were cut, but not sewn

These three rows were together

Now four rows are together

 So what is going to happen with the sashing?????

Little cornerstones made from the striped fabric

 They were also cut and some were pieced together. I got them all sewn and trimmed. Then went to sew the rest of the quilt together - the sashing pieces were also pre-cut.

However - there seems to be a problem..............   Can you spot it?????

Ah yes - I would be SHORT by EIGHT sashing pieces!!!!

ACK - that is not good.  I hope I still have some of this fabric at home.  I cut it so long ago that I don't remember. The dangers of pre-cutting stuff.  It is a KONA solid, but a VERY specific colour.  Please please let there be more at home.

Project bundled up - can't do any more

Quilt - quilt - is there a quilt on the floor??????

 Funny how pets are attracted to our quilts!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was at Robin's the other day, I picked up a jigsaw puzzle.  Yep - used to do a few of those in my time including some BIG ones. I was tempted to bring one with me, but I knew Robin had some and the car was already full.

Step One - dump the pieces on the table

Step Two - lay out all the pieces and pick the border ones out - they are along the edges of the table

Step Three - make the frame - no peeking at the picture

Step Four - start the assembly

Step Five - DONE

I didn't peek at the picture while making this one, although I did have a 30 second glance at one point because I didn't even know what the picture was!!!!!   I posted a picture on Facebook and someone has this picture framed in their bathroom!!!!!

So the easy 500 piece is DONE.  Robin brought over a new one for me to work on.

Spools -  - very appropriate!!!  (1000 pieces)

That will slow me down a bit???   Haven't started it yet.


Back to the sewing projects.   Remember my blue/yellow pinwheel ender and leader project?????   Well have a look................

Enough pinwheels to make a nice sized quilt with sashing and TWO blocks leftover

I had a hard time finding something to go with this.  I managed to find that yellow sashing before I left home.  I believe it was at Sew Sisters. But what to use as a border????   That was going to be a challenge as that blue was very different from most blues. However when I was at the Bargain Fabric Outlet, I found the PERFECT fabric.

Perfect border - baby/kid print - Hey diddle diddle and the blue matches almost perfectly!!!!

Save those selvedges for the selvedge project

Top is finished!!!!!

 I think the quilt ended up being about 40 by 48 or something in that range which is perfect for a baby quilt. Thanks to whomever gave me all those little cutoffs!!!

Time to make the binding - the blue or the yellow????   I had enough of both to make the binding. I decided on the yellow.

More cutoffs from making the binding!!!!!  The lighting is NOT the best here - believe it or not - those pieces are YELLOW

Another proejct in the DONE pile. This one in the COMPLETELY DONE pile!!!!

While at the Bargain Fabric Outlet, I looked for flannel so I could finish that other project.  They didn't have any blue so I compromised and bought some red. Not something that I was in love with, but that I thought would work. Got it home - spread every thing out and NOPE - not even close. I need woodsy blue flannel.

Nix the red!!!!!

 I also found something for the border, but now that I have it back home - I don't like it. The background is black and too stark compared to the rest.  So back to the drawing board on that one.

Maybe the next quilt shop I visit will have something. So that one is still in the "may get done" pile.

Border potential - nope - don't like that either. 

I had to laught because at one point, I noticed where the girls were sleeping. One at EITHER of the two exits. Just in case I tried to make a run for it without them - they could alert each other!!!

Guard dogs at the exits!!!!

 Now who could resist this when one has a fetish for novelty prints. Found these at the Bargain Fabric Outlet

Mussels and oysters!!!!!

 And slap me silly for buying this..............

John Deere fabric - the last one - I swear!!!!!

 Time to dig out the next project. Time to work on Tonga Rhapsody - one of the ongoing projects at The Hobby Horse. I was a bit behind in getting my homework done and I might as well start on the next round. I had done some cutting before I left and ONLY brought what was cut. The yardage is at home.

The first block I worked on. I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE that little blue board. I don't think you can buy it any more, but you could make one from election signs and cover it with flannel.  After the next election, those politicians had better be out there within 72 hours to collect their signs!!!!!   I do NOT remember the name of the company who made that board and there are NO MARKINGS on it - you will just have to make your own.

Quilter's 3-Way Sandboard - great for carrying the pieces from the sewing machine

to the iroing board

 And crap - do you see what I see??????   Well maybe not, because there isn't a lot of contrast in those corner pieces and I can't fix that since I don't have any more fabric with me however a little ripping will fix that positioning problem!!!

Block seven is DONE!!!!

Ah yes - I remember now - I ran out of one of the fabrics and having a hard time to find a replacement. So I did what I could with the next couple of blocks. Made all the half square triangles and made the sashing with what I had cut.

Partially made block eight

My fabric key - I need more of Fabric TWO!!!!!

Got the zig zag sashing sewng together

Got a bit more work to do on this project today and until I find something to replace that Fabric Two - I can't go much further.


As I was working last evening, I glanced out the window and saw this. I had to grab the camera and wasn't sure the colours would come out.  They are not too far off - the sunset was vibrant!!!!

Sunset!!!!

And that is it for today!!!!!   I have some paperwork that I want to get done today. Oh yes - this wasn't just a "have fun" vacation. There is stuff that needs to get done and I have lazed around enough!!!  Don't worry - I'm only going to spend a couple of hours each day to get it done. If I don't - well I will go crazy!!!!!!   I can only read, sew and sleep so much each day and I am BORED!!!!!   Perhaps it is time to hit the highways and do some touristy things?????   Many things don't open until June 5 so have to be careful about that.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!



Oh - I was reading Louise Penny's newsletter this morning. She is the author of The Three Pines/Inspector Gamache series.  Her husband has dementia.  She writes so beautifully about him and the situation.  It just breaks your heart.  Anyway - I found this on the internet this morning (I was checking some links from e-mail).  Something to think about ladies - we don't want no stinking dementia in our lives!!!!!   I firmly believe that lifestyle habits from NOW will form our life in the future.  Follow that link. It is worth reading.


Ciao!!!