Visit with friends and family while they are still here!

Progress happened on many fronts yesterday. I did go for a walk yesterday, but I debated long and hard because there was snow in the morning, and not the deep snow that you know for certain isn't slippery, but just a thin amount that covers any ice, so you can't see it. Then I decided that I needed to get out, and I had walked that path the day before, and all seemed to be good. So I went out, and it was just fine. 

I needed to get out and let my mind wonder and wander --- both words apply. I spotted something funny, so I'm glad I went. You have to remember, sometimes I have the mind of a curious child, and the very simplest of things amuse me or catch my eye. 

As I walked, I spotted this on the ground. I have no idea what it is, but it reminded me of those strawberry candies, yet it looked like a large crystal for melting snow. Whatever it was, it was "hot" enough to melt the snow around it. I spotted three of them in the same location and one more a bit further down the path. 

Something to melt the snow

I didn't go as far as I had done the day before - there is one section of the path that runs along the back alley -- I know --- back alleys!!!! It wasn't that I was afraid to walk down it; well, it made me nervous, but it was from the danger of slipping since the back alley still had snow and ice on it, which I knew from the day before, so I did a little detour on the street. But I circled back onto the path to cross this same spot on my way to the hotel. 

Imagine my surprise when those red things were gone!!!!! And look what is around each empty dot. 

Someone likes colorful objects!

Yep --- it appears that some large bird spotted those things and walked over - not even swooped in to pick up two of the three that were in the same location. I had spotted magpies and crows the day before along the path, so it must have been one or the other. Likely the magpie, since I think they love picking up things. 

So I don't know if it was a sweet, but how would that force the snow to melt? Anyway -- it was an interesting thing to spot on my walk. It's that kind of thing that amuses me on my walk and not an audiobook or music. 

I am not a big sports watcher, but I know my parents always watch curling, regardless of the event. So the Men's World Championship is on right now, and I'm watching curling along with them. Well, the last three games have been on the edge, nail-biting events, and I think all of them pretty much came down to the last rock to determine who would win. 

That's too much excitement for an old heart --- should they allow the more experienced of us in life to watch such thrilling events? So today, my parents (mostly my Mom) will be glued to the TV, and I suppose I will be as well, as Canada and Sweden battle it out for the gold. 

There was one shot yesterday, when Canada was playing Italy, and Canada had the hammer (last rock), and Canada needed to get a rock out of the way that had many guards in front of it. And that skip did exactly that -- it was beautiful to watch, but I'm still stunned that he made that shot.

I wasn't sure why my parents were so enamored with curling, but it turns out that my grandfathers, especially my maternal grandfather, were the ones who instigated building a curling rink in the little hamlet near the farm. It was right beside the community hall, and that corner of the hamlet was a hot spot for community activity. I never knew that!!!! 

So everyone in the community curled in the old days, but I'm not sure I ever curled in that small single-sheet rink. It was probably colder than the Antarctic to play in there, but those very resourceful pioneers would have found a solution. No running water anywhere near, so they would have had to haul in water to flood the ice. Or maybe they ended up with a well there. I'll have to ask. 

Anyway -- it's been fun watching that together, and today, there are two games, so we'll all be glued to the TV for that. Although Dad is off to the Museum today. Since he couldn't go yesterday (a holiday), he is chomping at the bit to get some work done. The man is 93!!!! But it is amazing to see how his brain functions. 

Although the situation is starting to get a bit worrisome. I had purchased a puzzle at the Museum that I spotted on one of their Facebook posts. This was back in February. I asked Dad to pick it up and hold on to it for me, and he vaguely remembers doing so but has no idea where the puzzle is. He may have brought it back and donated it to the common room!!!! Mom doesn't remember either, which is unusual, but he may not have told her. Oh well -- it's just a puzzle, I'm not going to sweat it, but how much other stuff does he forget? 

But ask him for information on an engine built in 1901, and you get reams of information!! I'm not worried yet, but a small niggle is starting in the back of my mind. 

And now for the update you've all been waiting for!!!!! I didn't think I'd get that quilting stitch completed around the perimeter of the quilt. BUT I was so focused on listening to the curling that last night, just before dinner, I was able to put in the final stitch. 

The hexagon quilt is complete! 

Finishing the edge on this quilt isn't my best work, but it's done!!! And you can see my stitches on the back. 

The stitches on the back of the quilt

I took it out into the hallway so I could get a good picture of the quilt. OH— I have no idea how to crop out my feet in Windows 11!!! The quilt is very pretty, but it's made with lining fabric. But it doesn't matter, the quilt is done!!!! The only thing I'm going to do today is get some details from Mom about the quilt and I"ll write out the story and then just type it on a piece of paper and keep it with the quilt. I will need to search my blog for dates on when she handed it to me as I've had it in my possession for a "few" years. 

The hexagon quilt is complete!

Actually, I could do that on Dad's computer, and then, when I get home, I'm going to run downstairs to my Visual To-Do list and whip this one off the list. That will make TWO items that I promised to other people that are dealt with for this year. 

I mentioned the other day that I have to add two projects to the list, and both are for others, so I haven't made any headway on the quantity of items yet. That is the longest list, and I would love to clear that one this year. There are a couple of doozy stories on that list, and when I feel the need to be totally embarrassed by the projects, I'll share them with you because I'm going to need some help to finish them.

I was hoping to finish the quilt while I was here, and I was certainly not taking it home again. That feels so good, but I had brought a couple of other small projects with me in case I did finish the quilt. One of them is this little bag of hexagons I started making from scraps of solid fabric. I think the scraps came from when I worked at Northcott; they were the cutoff ends from a project. 

The bag is filled with fabric, glue, hexagons in several sizes, thread, needles, scissors, cardboard templates, and such. 

My hexagon project

Should I tell you that I started to work on this when my parents still lived on the farm, and they have lived in their apartment for 10 years!!! GASP!!!!! 

More hexagons

I know -- it's absolutely ridiculous, but that is going to be my new travel project. Once I remove all the excess from that pouch, it could easily be tucked into a backpack. I'll see how it goes. The scissors would be the only stumbling block for carry-on since not all TSA people enforce the scissor rule equally. BUT, I could prep a bunch of the fabric bits, and then I would just need a needle and a thread cutter. HMMMM --- if I were really smart, I'd cut them on the digital cutter, and it would be super easy!!!

I have another hexagon project with me, and I'm going to focus on that one since I can use it as a sample for work, so that one takes priority for the next two days. 

I probably mentioned this last time I was here, but our family is very atypical in its makeup. My Mom has four siblings, and they are all still alive! Mom is the eldest at 90, and I think my uncle turned 80 last year. Something like that. Two of the five spouses have passed away, but everyone else is alive. There are some health issues, but nothing too severe. My Dad's sibling is still alive as well, and she has outlived two husbands. 

So, the genes are there to live a long life, and it's my job to ensure it's a healthy one! I know that we have no control over that, but I can try!!

Anyway, I gathered up my Aunt Norma and her walker, and we were off to visit my Aunt Margaret and Uncle Sammy, who both live in a nearby care facility. My aunt has dementia, but talking to her, you would never know. We had a wonderful visit reminiscing about the old days and sewing (all of the aunts sew, crochet, or knit). I guess that is in our blood as well. And we chatted about the curling rink that their Dad was instrumental in making happen. Lots of good memories and laughs, and before we knew it, it was their supper time! Oh my, where did the afternoon go? 

I have one more aunt to visit, and I'll be doing that tomorrow. It takes time to make all the rounds, but you never know when they won't be around, and it's fun to get the scoop on everything and remember the good old days, even though they're from a different generation than I am. 

Then the visiting continued. When I got back to the apartment, my parents were watching the second game of curling. Actually, the curling was on in one of the dining rooms at the care facility, and I wanted to see the score, but couldn't see from the door. So I poked my head in, and the staff let me know. 

Anyway, supper was late - you can't have dinner while curling is on! When we finished, we sat around the table for a couple of hours and chatted about the good old days. Just me, Mom, and Dad. We had a very good visit, and I hate to say it, but I'll miss those chats when they are gone!!!

We aren't going to get any Swedish Death Cleaning done while I'm here - perhaps I need to buy the book and give it to Mom to read, but I'm going to focus on that for the next visit later this year. 

Because of the holiday, I won't be able to help Dad with his banking transfer, but now that the bank person knows, I'm sure she will follow up with him and make it happen. I think her email was just making a point that she wasn't going to take orders from me, but I'm sure she'll make the transfer. She knows my Dad too well about his lack of interest in these matters. 

Well, it's time to get moving. I might need a nap later today, as I had trouble falling asleep. I have to close the blinds in the room for some privacy since I'm facing the parking lot, but it's amazing how many little lights show in the room when you do that - the TV, outlets, the clock, etc. So I had to get up and cover the ones directly in front of me. 

Oh my -- I just heard the train go through town and opened the blinds to see outside. The parking is filled with CARS and regular trucks. I only see one white service truck - some poor fellow who didn't make it home for the long weekend. Come Monday, the people who stay here will switch back to road and mine workers, and the people will be somewhere else! 

Have a super day, and if you have someone you've been meaning to visit, get yourself in gear, call them, and make arrangements. They won't be here forever, and let's face it --- if the person was important in your life, you can pick up the conversation at any time. I have THREE people on my list --- one of them lives relatively close to me in Toronto, and the other two I plan to visit on my travels this year. 

I actually have a plan to meet someone from my past on Monday, but it's a big secret! Some I knew from the end of my high school days. Yikes!!!!

Ciao!!!!

On buying a bra!

Sunshine! How I wish for the sun! Thankfully, I don't suffer from SAD, but it sure would be nice to see the sun once in a while! It tries really hard on most mornings, but quickly gets buried in the clouds. The winter has been weird so far. We've had lots of snow, but not all at once. Lots of small snowfalls, which leads to the question - should I shovel or wait? 

That, plus the lack of sunshine, means that everything is snow-covered, and not bare like our sidewalks usually are! We had a discussion last night at the Virtual Retreat that if there is snow on the ground, we should get double or triple steps on our activity trackers, depending on the depth of the snow. That snow just adds to the challenge of walking! 

It's not really slippery, except when the treads in your shoes fill with snow, but I've not really had any issues. 

As usual, I accomplished a lot in the day, but it never seems to be enough. I was discussing this with DH at dinner last night. As much as I go through the paper and other crap, there just doesn't seem to be an end. I know - patience! There's a LOT of crap to go through. The office has always been used as the dumping ground for anything we didn't know what to do with. There are still a few dregs of M's stuff that need to be sorted, and I'm working on that as well. 

So -- YES, the crap is pretty much all located in the office now, which wouldn't have been possible before. So I just need to give myself time and remind myself that I've come a long way! 

And eventually, all the hidey-holes will be revealed and emptied. Slow but sure! At least there are areas in the office, like under the computer desk, that are clear! 

I have recycled so much paper, and I know there's going to be a lot more to come! Oh my — I found paperwork for a class I took so many years ago that I had forgotten I had taken it. I even found a certificate - something to do with sewing for the home - making curtains, and duvet covers! Oh my --- look what I found!!! Yes -- this was a pattern for a duvet cover, and I actually made that. The duvet cover is long gone, and now so is the pattern!

A pattern for a duvet cover

I found a bunch of quotes because I love quotes!! And this is what I need to believe in - it will happen. Just not overnight. 

Quote

And then I found this quote, which I thought was hilarious! YES -- I will prove to the world that I got this! I'll just do it my way and in my own time! DH says I don't need to check everything out. He's right, but sadly, I can't just throw things away! I need to touch it, thank it for its service (or not!), and toss it!

My new directive in decluttering! 

I whittled the HUGE two piles of crap down into two smaller piles, and the one with the folders is what got pulled from the filing cabinet. I need to focus now on dealing with that stuff and NOT introducing anything more into the mix. That has always been my problem. I see a bit of success and then pile on more to deal with. I MUST not sabotage myself. Slow and steady! 

Today's piles of crap to deal with

So I will continue working on it and hopefully get to the bottom of those piles later today. It's hard to say "goodbye" to some of the paper, but I'm getting so much better!!!!

I would say that my biggest issue is the "to-do" lists. I have come across so many of them, and all were created with good intentions. From the look of it, most of the items got done, and what didn't - well, there's no need to go back. But I must devise a better system for creating a to-do list. Do I use the computer? I like the satisfaction of crossing it off. Do I make one huge master list on the computer that I can keep adding to and subtracting from, and then pick a couple of things to do each day? That is one thing that I have yet to find a good solution to. 

A while back, someone asked me why I gave my SIL the blog nickname "KU". Hmmm --- need I say more!!

KUs indoor shoes!

Yesterday, when I walked with the girls, it was incredible. Yes - it was minus 20, but with the proper clothing, I was toasty warm. I was even sweating at one point. But my face wasn't cold at all. Why? Because there was zero wind! And the sun was out - it was a glorious morning for a walk, and both girls had no problem doing their normal distance. 

OK - so I need to tell you the story of the lingerie shop. There are no pictures, so you don't need to look away! I am not the best shopper for any type of clothing. If someone could bring it to me, I'd be happy. But I do believe in buying good quality, especially for the unmentionables! Many years ago, I started to buy my bras from Susan's Fine Lingerie in Mississauga. And I've been buying from her ever since. 

Oh my—when I checked her website, if you look at the bras on the banner, the style I love is the black one with the smiley faces. Except mine don't have the smiley faces, although they have the circles, and they are not black!

I hear so many people complain about their bras not fitting well, not lasting, etc., etc. Well, if you have your bra professionally fitted by someone who knows bras, you would never complain about that. 

OH - you might be shocked at the price. But I bought two bras from them many years ago, and I finally had to toss one a couple of months ago because the fabric in the front had stretched so badly that - well, it wasn't pretty. And the second one was getting worse, too. 

I finally bit the bullet and stopped by the store when I did my car errands earlier this week. I had no idea when I had last been in the shop. I asked because they keep a record of what you buy. OH my - it was 2017. I thought, "That's not so bad," and then I realized, "That was almost ten years ago!!" Good god - no wonder those bras were stretched! 

But here's the thing- I paid $150 for the new bras, so let's say I paid $100 for the old ones. They cost me slightly more than $10 a year. That's not expensive! Because someone with a whole lot more knowledge than I do is fitting the bra, it fits like a glove! And comfortable? You don't even know you are wearing one!! That's how good they are!!

So when I needed new ones, I had no qualms about going back to see Susan. 

Now, here's the issue many people face when buying a bra. They get the fit around their chest OK, but they buy a bra with a cup size that is usually way too small. And that just looks darn right ugly. The bulges are, well, not attractive to say the least. And it's mighty uncomfortable when your skin is being pinched along the edges. 

I remember watching a popular talk show host (I am very unhappy with a particular interview that she did, so I refuse to name her). Anyway, they did a show on bras, and it was shocking to see the difference between an ill-fitting bra and one that was fit properly with the PROPER cup size! Did you know that cup sizes go up to N? Considering they start at A, there is a huge range! 

I'm sad to say that my cup size has increased! No, my breasts are not bigger; there's just more flab to deal with, and it's got to go somewhere. 

It's humbling to stand in front of the mirror, wearing only your bra (of course, you still have pants on), to see how it fits. Oh my!!!! That should make anyone want to stand upright like a soldier, and well, it's humbling, but worth the couple of minutes. 

What's exciting about all this is that they still sell that same bra that I bought years ago. I LOVE it, and so I'm getting more of the same! Why change something if it's not broken? Sadly, they didn't have my size in the store, so they checked inventory (In Belgium!), and they should arrive in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'll hobble along with my stretched-out bra.  

And I'm sure there are instructions to hand-wash these bras, which is never going to happen at my house. So I throw them in the washing machine and then let them air dry. And they lasted probably 8 good years before they technically needed to be replaced. So the next time you poo-poo spending money on ill-fitting bras, why not treat yourself and buy a GOOD bra that is properly fitted? You will be thrilled you did!

A trip from Susan - NEVER buy a white bra. They go yellow or grey before you know it and look sad. 

The same for underwear. I won't mention the style of underwear I wear, but I also buy them from Susan. Yes, they cost a lot of money, but they last forever! I treated myself to some new pairs in wild colors! Again - never buy white - gosh - I can't even remember how long ago I stopped wearing white underwear. What I wear is very comfortable and fun! And no  - it is not a leopard print thong! Just in case that's what you thought! 

Well, on that note, I must get myself organized for the day. I see it is much warmer this morning - only minus 10, but with wind!

Here is the link to the Virtual Retreat today, Sunday, January 25. We start at 3 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89869001291?pwd=h57kT9axwTnd2xtJvuO0z2UOmUo45w.1

Meeting ID: 898 6900 1291
Passcode: 136711

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!

Happy New Year!!!!

 Happy New Year!!!!!

If the year is going to be anything like my first 30 minutes of being awake this morning, it's going to be a heck of a ride!

But first - did I stay up last night? I did NOT, however, I needed to use the washroom, and I checked my watch just for curiosity, and it was 11:58. So technically, I was up! But I wasn't celebrating, and thankfully, I went right back to sleep after the clock turned over!

We had great fun at the Virtual Retreat, and well, that's where my morning issue started! 

Last night, I was working on Farm Girl Vintage. The top was together, but four borders need to be added, and I was working on the flying geese a couple of days ago. It's time to put those borders on. It was funny when I cut the side borders; they were shorter than the book mentioned. Oh well, it could have been a mistake. No worries, and I added the first border on. 

Then I went to piece the flying geese units together and held it up to the side of the quilt, and hey, it's too long, too. Of course, if the first measurement was off, it makes sense that the second one would be off as well. I was tired by then, and it was time for bed. 

As I lay awake in bed this morning, contemplating the quilt, I thought, "I must have cut the sashing to the wrong size, and that's what caused my quilt to be shorter." 

When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I went downstairs and READ the pattern, something I don't seem to do often or well! OH!!! We have a problem! 

In October, I was laying out the blocks to sew them together, and I had THREE extra blocks. No big deal. 

But when I read the pattern this morning, I was supposed to MAKE three extra blocks and add one more row. I was supposed to make three more star blocks and put them in the corners. OOOPS!!!!!

I missed this point

Hmmm --- what to do? I could save those three blocks for something else, or I could bite the bullet and make three more blocks! 

So I'm going to bite the bullet and make three more blocks. I thought I took a picture this morning, but I guess I did not. I should have clued in when I had extra sashing and cornerstones left. DUH!!!!! Well, it's easy to fix - I have to remove the bottom or top border, and make three new blocks. Then add that row and extend the two side borders. 

Then I can continue as planned! But what a way to start the new year! It's going to be a doozy for sure! Or maybe that means that things will go smoothly since I handled this little SNAFU with grace. I didn't even say a single bad word, but I got quite the chuckle! 

And the year didn't end off so well either, as I had to scramble to log all my steps into The Conqueror Challenge. I'm walking every day, but I did a fair amount of traveling, and I was totally lax on the days I was away, unlike other years, where I got my butt out and walked regardless of where I was. 

I had set an aggressive, but doable goal for myself, but I knew I wasn't going to make it. I was good until we went to Africa, and then things fell apart! I have been logging my distances manually, so I didn't even know where I was until about 7 PM last night! Yes --- no one can accuse me of being obsessive about step counting! 

I had reduced my goal a month ago, but I should have figured out what I could in December and set that goal. I did not, so to ACHIEVE my goal, I had to enter all the distances for December, see how short I was, and then reset the annual goal. How is that for "cheating!" 

I still walked 3,665 KMs, so I don't really think I cheated! My original goal was 4,400, and that would have been doable if I had kept up my daily distances, but I did not. I'm still pleased with this, and it basically works out to 10 KM a day, which is pretty good in my opinion. Do I feel guilty? Not in the least --- life is way too short to worry about stuff like that. 

My completed walking goal for 2025

I have to set a new goal for 2026, and I think I like the number 3,650 because itis exactly 10 km a day, which is very doable for me. I also want to get out on my bicycle more, and the time spent walking was preventing me from riding. I think this will work very nicely!!!

I'm also going to go back to having the distances updated automatically. It's a hassle to do it manually. 

I need to get that set up today. Yep -- a techie task on New Year's Day—wish me luck! 

It was another crazy weather day - one minute, it's snowing and the next it's not. But the sidewalks were in excellent condition, even if they were a bit wet. It's hard for them to dry out when we keep getting snow and zero sun! But no ice - thanks to all the ice-melting stuff they put on them. It's probably not good for the environment, but great for walking. 

I noticed that they even plowed a path through the forest - someone was just trying out the new sidewalk equipement I suppose. Or they needed to get to a new street and cut through the forest. The forest path isn't maintained in winter, and with all the ice buildup, it's impossible to walk there when spring comes. 

A plowed path in the forest

Yesterday, my afternoon walk took me to Homesense as I needed a new lamp. The on/off switch on the one I have broke about ten days ago, and I tried to fix it, but then it broke again the next day. So, to use it, I had to unplug and plug it back in. The weather just wasn't conducive to walking home with a lamp. Yep - I could have taken the car, but where is the fun in that? 

So despite a wee bit of snow, I went to investigate lamps. OH MY -- Christmas was gone, and all the Valentine's Day stuff was out. There were hearts in every department! 

Hearts everywhere!

I found a lamp I liked, and I also looked at the puzzles—OH MY—they are only $14.99. But then reality hit in two ways. One: I do not need to purchase another jigsaw at this time. And I didn't want to carry that home in addition to the lamp, since I didn't have a bag with me. See—common sense—I have some from time to time. 

Here's the old and the new lamp, and I love the new one! The old one is pretty, but it's little, and well, it's old. So out with the old and in with the new - literally!

The new and old lamp

I finished my project yesterday, and that was a first. I started and finished a project in 24 hours! That doesn't happen often at my house! And then I got to put all the stuff away on the cutting table, so I could work on the Farm Girl Vintage. 

Everything got put away in its home

I have another project to work on today, and I MUST get that finished today, and then I'll take until Monday to work on "fun" things before I get myself back into work routine, which is really quiet at this time of year, but there are still things that need to be done! 

A few more half-square triangles were sewn and trimmed. I'm going to try hard this year to get on top of that and perhaps even start sewing some of them together! But it's not one of my goals, so who knows how serious I am about it. 

Half-square triangles

How often do you hear people say they are burning the candle at both ends? What if the candle has three wicks? Well, I'm burning my pie candle, which is constructed quite weirdly. Anyway, the bizarre thing about candles is that they only burn near the wick - well, that part isn't odd, but you would think the sides would drip in. They do NOT, so I've been helping the pie crust crumble into the burn area. 

My pie candle

And this is what it looked like last night as I snuffed it out before going to bed. A lot of the wax has burned away when compared to the Christmas pie! I think I might get one more day out of it, and then I can empty it and use it for my machine embroidery project! Yeah!!!!!

The old pie and the new pie

I have to say that I was impressed with a SMALL company that I purchased rolls of stabilizer from. I ordered the products on December 24, and the box arrived in my mailbox on December 31. Free shipping!!! And this is why I want to promote the heck out of buying from stores OTHER than my "favorite" online store. Do we really need to make Jeff richer than he already is? We do not! So when possible, I want to order from small businesses. 

The company I ordered from is Monfil.ca, based in Granby, Quebec. The order was filled the same day I placed it, and as mentioned, arrived in one week. You cannot beat that service!!!! Even better, the price was right!!! They sell embroidery thread, stabilizers, and probably other stuff as well. 

100 yards of water-soluble stabilizer

I had a private lesson to deliver yesterday, and it went very well. The student is excited and was told that if she didn't do the homework, I wouldn't continue! Because the topic was very focused, I even gave myself homework! Which I'm pretty excited about. 

Earlier this year, I purchased a quilt pattern that I didn't share with you. As I'm cleaning up the office, it's where it got stuck, so I'm sharing it with you. Sadly, this won't be on my radar for this year, or will it? 

My new quilt pattern

Did I make resolutions for 2026? No, I did not. But I picked a word to focus on. Have you ever tried to pick one word to direct your attention for an entire year? That was a challenge, but it wasn't. My word is GOALS. As I move through the days and need to make decisions, I can simply ask myself: Am I spending time working toward my goals? I will try to avoid time-wasters like endlessly scrolling Facebook and IG, which I don't do often, but every once in a while, I catch myself getting pulled in. But if I'm doing something I don't like, I need to ask myself whether it is helping me reach my goals. It's complicated, but I think you get the picture. 

I guess that's a wrap for today. I see it's cold outside, but not windy - well, there's a wind chill. The girls will be in their glory outside! 

On that note, I'm off to brave the cold and then tackle that project! 

Have a wonderful day, and I wish everyone the very best for 2026. It's going to be a good year!!!

Ciao!!!

Should we expect cheap prices at the thrift shop?

I know!!! Wasn't that video about the Ro-Ro carriers fascinating? And now we understand why things cost more, and it's cool to think some of our cars crossed the ocean on a boat! Basically a giant floating parking garage! 

I am home. And I'm unpacked! I'm on a tight turnaround, and I didn't want to keep my samples in the suitcase longer than necessary. Plus, I have to do laundry today. So that's all good! The bonus is that I already have almost 1000 steps - something I didn't get many of while I was away. 

But let's take a look at what happened yesterday. 

It was a lovely morning, so I took a LONG walk to the End of the Pier! Actually, I was following another Adventure Lab, and that's what it was called. The beautiful path along the shore, and in total, the walk was about 6 K, which is my usual morning walk with the girls. 

This was the view back towards Lion's Gate Bridge at the End of the Pier!

The End of the Pier

There was a fundraising tree display near that pier, and when I quickly passed it on the way out, I had no idea what this was. It was only when I was walking back that two ladies said, "Oh, these are the gnome trees!" Duh --- I totally get it, but I think I was too close to the trees the first time. Pretty cute! And original - at least to me. 

The gnome trees

Of course, there were loads of seagulls and other waterfowl. It was fascinating to watch them as many flew just above the water's surface. What was that all about? And when they come in for a landing, well, they make loads of noise. 

Seagull along the shore

I had packed up before I left for the walk, so when I got back to the house, I took Mister Bear for one last walk. He is so slow! It's going to be two FAST walks this morning! I can hardly wait. But he is so darn cute! And very much full of attitude! 

Are you talking to me?

I passed this shop on my way to M's house, but, of course, I couldn't take a picture while driving. So what's this all about? A Value Village Boutique? I guess all the high-end stuff goes there. The outfits in the window were very coordinated. I didn't get a chance to stop. 

Value Village Boutique

OK --- a quick Google search reveals they are smaller stores that mostly carry clothing and accessories, not the wide range of items at regular Value Village stores. Now here's the thing about Value Village or any other thrift shop. THRIFT does not mean inexpensive. They have overhead, salaries, and other expenses to deal with. I am not a fan of hearing people complain about prices. Yes—like all stores, you must be careful, and yes, some items are overpriced!

But let's take a puzzle, for example. A good 1000-piece puzzle costs between $20 and $30 today. You can find them at Value Village for $6.99, and if you are a senior or have a coupon, you get 20% off. So, isn't that a bargain? Do you expect them to be $1? You can't even find anything for $1 at the dollar stores any longer. The same with books—buy 5, get 1 free (I think that is the deal). Books are expensive to buy in a store. Books at Value Village are $4-10, depending on the type of book, so that is still a great deal and comparable to a dedicated used bookstore! 

Yes -- some things are "expensive", but look at the price of the comparable item in a regular store. Not cheap! I got a fantastic pair of name-brand black jeans for $6 at Value Village. One must watch, one must compare, and one must be prepared to pay SOME money. And yes, there are things I leave at the store because I don't think it's worth the price they charge! 

Now you might say that everything was donated, so it should be cheaper. Hmmm—did you consider the cost of dealing with those donated items? I would bet that more than half of what is donated is GARBAGE, and they have to pay to have that garbage removed. Never mind the sorting and whatever else they do. They have a HUGE sorting area in each store. They do not just take your items from your donation box and hang them up! There is a processing cost! 

So don't expect things to be cheap. The idea of a thrift store is to search, find a "bargain," but more importantly, to find something that you can't find anywhere else, and hopefully for less money!

And Value Village is a FOR-PROFIT store. It's always been, always will be! It is not a charity shop!

OH - how did I get that picture? It was on the way to the airport. If you are coming or going from Vancouver proper or the north shore, the only way to get to the airport is to go right through downtown. So while I was a passenger in the car, I snapped that photo. 

And then I got to the airport, with my favorite tiles on the bathroom walls. 

Tiles in the Vancouver Airport

I once designed a quilt for A Needle Pulling Thread magazine based on those tiles. I didn't have a picture handy, but a friend happened to be in Vancouver, and I asked her to send me a photo! You can read all about that story here. 

I was sitting almost at the back of the plane, so it took a while to get off. I really, really hate it when people start pushing, and there is NO room to go! Patience!!!!! But I got off, and my luggage came through - again, people pushing! And they line up in the boarding zones way before it's time. What's the rush? We all have a seat and a few seconds here, and there will NOT change your life when boarding or unboarding a plane. If you have connection issues, the airline is aware. And if they are not, make them aware! 

The girls were, of course, very excited to see me. We had stopped at Tim's because I wanted soup. It was later in the evening, and I hadn't eaten much all day. They accidentally gave us three chocolate Timbits. I gave one to Lexi, and she took it outside and hopefully ate it. Murphy just stared at it. WHAT? 

MOM? I'm not allowed to eat people food! 

Usually, she just gobbles anything in front of her! 

And there she is - watching TV again. She likes to bark, depending on what's on, and I'm not usually there to guide her through her exuberance. However, since I was eating my soup, I just said a few words, and she didn't bark once. If I hadn't been there? Well, that would have been a different story. Dogs, like people, need some guidance to help them through stressful situations. DH should know by now. But he lets things go until they have escalated. Sigh...........

MOM - I LOVE the Christmas commercials! 

I couldn't help myself. After I ate, I dug out my Noro yarn afghan. OH!!!! I see I have even started the sashing. I knew exactly where it was, and there were a few other surprises in this bag, as well as a few more in the cupboard where the bag was stored. OK—I need to get that knitting done! 

My Noro yarn afghan

And there's the drawer with all the knitting needles and crochet hooks. Yep—everything's neat and organized! And I know where it is - that's very important. 

Needles and hooks

Speaking of neat and organized, I should mention that the two suitcases are unpacked, but that doesn't mean everything has been dealt with. The items were sorted - what goes in Studio U, what goes to Studio B, and what goes in the laundry. I still have to sort and put away the items. Studio U needs a good clean-up, now that all the events are over for the year. And I want to set up a jigsaw puzzle. 

There are items on the cutting table in Studio B that I'll deal with later today as I work on a customer quilt. 

So this happened last night. It started about midnight, and there are a few inches to contend with this morning. UGH - welcome home to Ontario! 

Winter wonderland

I had a bit of trouble falling asleep, so I got up and read. I had a chuckle because the book I picked to read is set in Toronto, and the family just moved from Vancouver! It's creepy - it's very creepy from the first sentence! Yikes!!!! 

Here's one more blog post from QUILTsocial. Today it's all about another machine embroidery technique called Thread Velvet using the Husqvarna Viking Designer Topaz 65. I LOVE the textured embroideries!!!

Well, on that note, I've got oodles to get done today, and I had better get started! And nice to have the blog back on schedule! 

Have a super day! 

Ciao!!!

It's a beautiful day!

Yesterday was a glorious day here. The temperature was pretty decent, and the sky was blue. I started the day off by taking a walk along the waterfront, which is just a few short blocks from here.

The seaplanes had no issues with fog and were frequently buzzing across Stanley Park. Oh well - I'll just have to come back to do that trip. I've flown over Vancouver Harbour once, and the view is spectacular. 

The seaplane and clear blue sky

It was earlyish in the morning when I went out. I think the temperature was 4 degrees Celsius at the time, but that didn't stop Vancouverites from walking/running in shorts. And people were playing tennis!!! They are certainly not afraid of the temperatures or the rain. Yet, others were bundled up in their long puffer coats. 

I started out with my orange jacket, which is on its last legs. The water repellent is gone, and the down has become so thin. But it still works. I had thin gloves and my scarf on, but by the time I got back from my walk, I was sweating buckets. Did I mention that there are hills in this area? It's fine going down, but coming back up? 

Anyway, I spotted the sun rising by the Lion's Gate Bridge, which was beautiful to watch. 

Sunrise and the Lion's Gate Bridge

It is pretty amazing when you think I take all my pictures with my phone. The features on it are much better than those on my DSLR camera. And that is why cell phones are so expensive. The phone? It probably costs a couple of dollars, but the phone's camera, with all its features, is what costs so much. So if you are NOT taking advantage of the camera, then you probably don't need a new phone. 

The walk along the water's edge is stunning. If I lived here, I would be walking there every day. And the best news? It's a DOG PARK!!!!! My girls would be in their glory. However, I'm not sure how they would behave, as most dogs just ambled along with their owners, while my girls would be buzzing around like mad. Of course, there are no squirrels or rabbits to distract them, so it might work. 

The dog park!!!

I was on the hunt for an Adventure Lab (part of Geocaching), and I managed to get most of it, but M and I finished it off later in the day. There are benches along the way with plaques. This would be a cool spot to put a memorial bench. I may not have lived here, but the view is spectacular. 

Benches along the path

And there is one section near the bridge where you walk through the forest, which is very different from my forest back home. 

Forest bathing - BC style

You know you are playing EXIT Games too much when you start to spot numbers everywhere. 

There's a FIVE!!!!

I think that was an earthworm who had seen better days! But seriously --- you can't miss that number!!! The walk was excellent, and I made up for the lack of steps the previous day when it was raining. 

I stopped at a cafe for a hot chocolate. And I got this cute motif on the top. My body (and wallet) are going to go into withdrawal when I get home. Not many Tim's here, and the cafes aren't cheap!!!

The motif in my hot chocolate

Interesting that when I got to the bottom, the motif was still there. Hmmm --- what is it made of? 

The motif lasted until the bottom of the cup

After lunch, M and I went out, and we walked along the waterfront to finish the Adventure Lab. And of course, Bear had to come with us. It wasn't in the plan that he was coming, but he was pretty insistent when we were getting ready to leave! He has such an attitude for a little guy. 

As we were down on the pier, we spotted this giant ship coming out of the harbour. Hmm --- what is that? It was GIANT and not like anything I'd seen before. I guessed that it was a car carrier, and when we did a Google image search, that's what it was!!!! Here's a video if you want to know all about Ro-ro carriers. Ro-ro stands for roll-on/roll-off, so they are designed for anything that can be loaded via its own wheels, eliminating the need for a crane. Who knew???

The Ro Ro carrier

WOW -- it's like a parking garage that floats!!! Pretty impressive. I imagine that this ship just unloaded a load of cars, but I wonder what it takes back? Does it sail empty? I don't think so because some of them can carry cargo, but it would be limited since they don't have an external loading system. 

We also watched people crabbing off the pier. They load something to entice the crabs into an open net, then wing it into the water. I'm not sure how the net closes, but then they can reel the net in. This person was measuring, so I guess there are regulations as to what size you can keep. 

Measuring the crab

Then we stopped at another cafe in the afternoon. And it was glorious. We sat there in our shirt sleeves. OK - so there was a heater on the patio, but it was a beautiful day. And this is what they had inside. 

Macarons

Among many other goodies, but we only had a few macarons. And of course, Bear was the center of attention. He just gets people going, and he knows it!!!

Here's a group shot of us at one point. I think we were on the pier at this point. No background to see, but we were on the ocean! Or harbour or whatever you want to call it. I guess it's between Burrard Inlet and the Vancouver Harbour. 

Group shot

I had some computer work to do in the afternoon. Working on a big project, which I hope to share with you all in a couple of weeks. I have a lot of work to do before I can show you. Bear was bored by it all since it didn't directly involve him, but he got lots of love. 

Grandma - computer work is boring!!!!

We had to pop out to Michael's again, and M spotted this. OK -- water bottles are a big deal, but look how tiny this cup is. Useful? Novelty? I don't know, and it had a metal straw in it. 

A tiny water container

And then I got a lesson in reusable cups. You can buy accessories for them, including snack trays. Oh boy -- I'm out of the loop. I just want something that I can put my water in. 

Snack trays for water bottles

While on Salt Spring Island, I spotted some diamond painting kits, so I bought one for M, since I knew she liked rhinestones. Well, she finished it last night and was wondering how to frame it. 

Finishing the diamond painting picture

We went to Michael's to get a mat cut for an inexpensive frame. We asked for 6 1/4" by 6 3/8" as that was the size of the colored part. We were all excited, but when we got home, it wasn't the correct size. Despite confirming several times with the clerk, she wrote down 6" by 6 1/8". So she missed 1/4" on both sides. Hmmmmm -- that's insane, so we have to go back today. Well, M will have to go back because I have a plane to catch. 

My plane leaves at noon, so I have to get everything packed, and then we'll head to the airport, as I have two suitcases to check. 

While it's been a great time away, it's definitely time to go home. I have so much to do, and so much I want to do, and I'm only home for a day before I leave again. Who did the planning on that? OK -- so it was me, but it was also just how the timing for things worked out. That will be the LAST trip of the year! 

I'm sure the girls will be excited to see me, but they have been walking while I was away, and I have my SIL to thank for that! She's also been working on her quilt in Studio B, so she's keeping Murphy company or vice versa. I've been sending advice when she needed it via text!!!! She knows how to sew, so it really isn't a big deal. But I remember the first time I made a quilt with HSTs --- I didn't know how to trim, and there wasn't a single one done properly on that quilt!

We watched the next episode of Project Runway Canada, but there was only one more to watch. The episodes are being released weekly, so the next one doesn't come out until Friday. Will I watch it on my own? I'm not sure. So then we moved to the current season of Project Runway. Oh boy -- how much of the attitude is scripted or hyped up? Some of the cast are pretty flamboyant!!!!! And the drama? Wow!!!!

Well, I'd better get myself organized so I can finish packing up my stuff, which kind of got spread all over, and that's OK. 

Before I go, here's the next post on QUILTsocial. Today, it's all about textured machine embroidery (yarn couching). This is appropriate for anyone with an embroidery machine, so be sure to check it out. 

Have a wonderful day!!!!

Ciao!!!!