Art in the Winnipeg

OH MY GOSH --- I'm a slug this morning, and I just could not get myself out of bed. It was only when the threat of not having enough time to get what I needed done that I finally got out of bed. I guess the time change, the setup day, and everything are finally catching up to me. And then I had a dream that I had fleas. Good grief!!!

I will not have time for a walk this morning. Shoot --- but I only have myself to blame. I did get to bed at a decent time, but I needed to make up for the time I'd lost the night before. Anyway -- no need to worry -- I'll be walking around today, so all should be good. 

The weather is very decent here, so that is a good thing. The walk from the hotel to the convention center is short - about three blocks, if that! So when you have to carry a sewing machine from your room to the convention center, it's no big deal. 

There's something NEW and exciting in that big white box. I'll take a picture of it today. By the way, it's on a smart cart, so no heavy lifting required. 

Something new and exciting in that white box

We had two extra hands during setup today, and oh my goodness, it showed. We were out of there in good time. Typically, we finish just before the awards ceremony, but we had a few hours to spare, and I needed a nap. I hope my sleep schedule gets back to normal soon. 

I don't have time to point out various things on the Canadian Quilter's Website this morning, but please check it out. You can bid on the Trendtex challenge art - wall hangings and bags this year!!! And I'll point out some things tomorrow. I'll find a link to the winning quilts. 

So on my walk, I discovered some art around the city. It's always exciting to look at the Adventure Labs (geocaching) because you never know what you'll find. And can you believe - I spotted a geocaching Meet and Greet on the app as well. I think that was yesterday, or is that today? And yesterday at breakfast, I spotted a gentleman wearing a geocaching t-shirt. 

There are five stops on all Adventure Labs, but I only made it to two and was hoping to do the other three this morning. That is NOT going to happen. I will get my act together and do it tomorrow. 

Here is a piece of art. Based on the information in the app, I think it's quite controversial: it is supposed to represent a field of wheat, but given the cost and the look, not everyone agrees. Does anyone appreciate art? And there is always controversy over the price. 

Artwork representing fields of wheat

I'm not sure if you can read that, but one side is in English, and the other is in French. You can click the photo to enlarge it, or find the information online. 

The plaque for the artwork

This is the second piece of art on the tour. It's called High Five. 

High FIve

This is all you get on the plaque, but what I love about the app is that it gives you some history of the art. The one above is supposed to represent numerous things, and instead of me regurgitating it all, you can read more about it here. 

The plaque for High Five

Here is another piece of art - it's actually a water feature/fountain in the shape of a beaker. It's very cool because water is falling from the bar while steam comes out of the top. A string of lights below the bar illuminates the water. 

"emptyful" art sculpture in downtown Winnipeg 

AHA—Google AI is pretty smart, because I quickly found this description of the art piece. It's called "emptyful."

And then there are various other art pieces around the city. A lot seems to be happening around the public library. 

More art outside the library

I found these amazing bike lockers on the street. They are wedge-shaped, and there are two side by side. The narrow end of one and the wide end of the other. Together they make a rectangle. The only other place I've seen bike lockers is at the Amsterdam airport. These are outside the library. 

Bike lockers

And then you have this blast from the past. It looks like it was a candy factory at one time. Oh my gosh --- who remembers the Nutty Club candy with the red and white figure? The building was constructed in 1905 and 1907. It's called the Scott-Bathgate Building. 

The Nutty Club candy factory

OH MY—here's a very interesting story about the company. The logo is called the Can-D-Man. It stopped producing candy in 2024. There are pictures of the candy on that link, and the one I remember the most is the popcorn, where you got a prize in the box. I ate a lot of that as a kid! Check it out --- what a cool story. 

And this is the view from my hotel window. That is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

It looks like they have an interesting exhibit at the moment. It's a "quilt" that highlights the memories and truths about the residential schools. 

The building is very unusual, and the entrance, which I shared last time I was here, is very uninviting. But the subject matter within that museum is very humbling. 

I will have some downtime all day Sunday, as well as on Monday and Tuesday mornings, but I also have a couple of friends to visit, including my nephew. So I'd best get those organized, so I know how much time I have on my own. 

And oh my goodness -- I spotted this on IG the other day. Seriously??? Puzzlers have "to-do" lists as well? I'm doomed!!!! I won't ever show you my puzzle to-do list. 

Oh shoot --- I have no idea how to crop out the extra of that photo. I know how at home, but this computer deals with photos differently. Don't ask me why or how. 

A puzzler's to-do list

OH MY GOSH ---- I am a dolt. Yesterday, when I listed the classes, I forgot AGAIN about the Show-and-tell quilt from Elizabeth Hartman. I did add it yesterday, but some of you may have read the blog before I did. There are patterns all over the booths at this show. Well, I saw samples of the quilt, and that reminded me I forgot to add that to the blog post. 

If you happen to be here at Quilt Canada and plan to buy that pattern, and want some incentive and fun to get it done, watch my blog for the sew-along dates. Or if a friend buys the pattern, let them know. My sew-alongs are fun and not expensive!!! PLUS—you get a lot of extra information —it's not just about following the pattern! 

So here is the information one more time, including Show and Tell. 

I will get the dates, costs, and more links up, probably next week, but in the meantime, this gives you an idea of what is happening. This was all decided on based on the feedback I got from you! 

There is nothing to do at this point in time. I am not taking signups; I don't have dates yet, but I will get the information to you ASAP. All classes are on ZOOM - once a month, lasting for one hour. My rates are ridiculously cheap. And be sure to pass this information along to anyone who wants to know. I will be sending out emails and posting online as soon as I get a chance to put those dates in the calendar. 

Here are the classes: 

• One class is My Kinda Town - paper pieced. While I have chosen a specific pattern, I suppose you could pick any paper-pieced pattern if people absolutely wish. Will be several classes - not determined yet. 
• One class will be on scraps—9 or 10 sessions.
• One class will be an ongoing quilt with crazy blocks to work on (9 or 10 sessions) - 40 shades of grey.
• One class will be handwork - wool applique - I have a specific project in mind, but anything goes. Here is a link to the kit I highly recommend. Keep in mind that there are six kit styles, and within each kit, there are four colorways. See the picture below. If you are at Quilt Canada, I think Wonderfil will have those kits, so you may want to pick one up. Otherwise, I'll give you local resources to buy. I'm trying to see if we can kit this with some thread that you can buy at a local store. You can contact me about that one if you wish. 

My Kinda Town

40 Shades of Grey

Sue Spargo precut wool applique kits.

Show and Tell

While you may think that is a lot, it's not really, and hopefully this will help you plan. I can tell you that 40 shades of grey, the scrap quilt, and Show and Tell will be long-term projects. Starting in September and running until June - something like that. And the other two will run in a shorter time frame, which I am working on. 

Remember, as you look at the offerings, you do NOT need to take all of them. Do what you WANT to make, not because you have FOMO. 

And as I get ready for the show today, I want to remind everyone of my tips for attending a quilt show. Please read them so you aren't disappointed when you arrive at the show. Please note that they are also in the latest issue of the Canadian Quilter magazine. Happy quilt show looking today. 

I will NOT be in the booth this morning, as I am assigned to one of our sewing machine classrooms. I will be around the booth on and off this afternoon. But I should be in one of the booths (we have PFAFF, Singer, and Husqvarna VIking) tomorrow and the next day. 

And on that note, I need to get myself organized and out the door. The students in the class will be eager to get started, and we need to thread those machines!!!! I'm super excited!!!!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

Alexa saves the day!!!!

So I was buzzing around the house trying to finish off the laundry, including making the guest bed, putting clothes away, and folding towels. Mission accomplished. I managed to get the filter and pump cleaned in the pond, and decided that the water level was a bit low, so I grabbed the hose and let the water run. I set a 30-minute timer (Alexa - the only thing we use it for in our house). Murphy had already been walked, but Lexi needed a walk, so after the cleaning crew arrived, I took her out for a thirty-minute walk.  

When I arrived at the house, I could hear Alexa beeping in the kitchen. OH MY GOD!!! I totally forgot I left the water running. Can you imagine if I had left the house for the airport with the water running? And who would have known it was running? It would have been a costly and messy mistake. Thank goodness for Alexa!!!! I ALWAYS set that timer when I'm filling the pond!

At the last minute, I decided there was one more quilt I wanted to take with me, and I had to cram it into a suitcase, and then it was time to go. The girls got a cookie and were unhappy that they couldn't take it to the backyard to eat it. But I had to leave. I had three suitcases and my backpack. When you choose Uber, you get to choose a regular-sized car or an XL, which is larger, like an SUV or van. I didn't need that, but I also didn't need a Prius coming to pick me up. 

Thankfully, the guy had enough room in the car for the suitcases and even helped to get them in and out. Oops - I must remember to tip him. I haven't done that yet on the app. Yep -- there's an app for that! There's a flipping app for everything these days. 

One little SNAFU with the luggage drop-off at the airport. I'm not sure what was happening, as one bag didn't like being scanned, but a ticket agent soon took care of it, and then I was through security, and all was good. I had plenty of time to spare. Look at me --- PLENTY of time. 

I learned something new at the airport. I typically stop at this one store and pick up a sandwich and a bottle of water. It can cost over $20 for those two items. This time, I decided to go only to Tim's and get everything there, which I remember was equally expensive. I bought a medium tea, a cookie, a bottle of water, and a breakfast sandwich for $15. I guess I won't be buying my water or sandwich from that other place any longer!!!

Then I actually got to sit in the boarding area and enjoy my tea. I met up with my colleague, and my boss eventually showed up as we were boarding.

The flight was pretty uneventful, which is always a great thing. 

WAIT -- I had a few minutes before I left and I did this. Of course I did!!!! I grabbed all the lighter purple pieces and laid them on the table. Only one color left after this round!!! I even managed to get a few pieces of the puzzle in place, and you can see the work along the table's bottom edge. OK -- I confess - obsessed!!!!

Almost done with the gradient color jigsaw puzzle.

In the Facebook group, there's a participation event where a puzzle style is selected each month, and you can post what you have done. This month was rainbows, gradients, and color. It's just a way to keep everyone engaged, and I think it's great. Not everyone strictly adheres to the theme, but I guess they do what they can with what they have. So far this month, there are 450 posts of their puzzles. Last month, it was close to 1,000. I am going to make two posts, as I have another puzzle that I want to get done this month as well, as it fits within the theme. Wait until you see that one! 

The three of us took a cab together to the hotel. We needed a van, as between the three of us, we had nine suitcases!!! I know -- it's crazy, but that's what happens when you travel to a quilt show, and you need quilts for display purposes. And samples for my presentations next week. 

There was only one cart at the hotel, so I bundled my three suitcases like this and got them to the room in short order. It works like a charm. 

How to move three suitcases at the same time

Of course, I was at the complete opposite end of the hall from the elevator!!! 

A long walk down the hallway

That would be my room -- 725 in the far corner. Look at the size of 724. Hmmm -- must be a suite, but this room is plenty big enough for me. 

As far from the elevator as you can get!

And look --- my name on the screen when I walked in the room. They must do that remotely. It didn't stay on very long. I don't think I have ever turned on the TV in a hotel room. 

My name in lights

I had one largish quilt at the top of each of the two big suitcases, and the first thing I did in the room was get them out. I didn't want them squished for the show. This is one, and well, you can't see the other, but it sure cheered up the room a thousand percent. I even remade the bed this morning, which I rarely do in the hotel. I never have my room made up either. I don't have that service at home; it seems silly to insist someone make my bed for me while I am away. 

My bed in the hotel

I love this quilt above. It's one I taught online a couple of years ago—sorry, can't run downstairs to check my poster for the year. The designer had a single word on each side of the square quilt. I loved the idea of words, but I wanted something more. Something that spoke to me, so I found a great quote. By the way, I just checked the blog, and it was 2023.  

Check out the quote - I found one that split nicely into four sections, and one section is appliqued onto each side of the quilt. 

Part one of the quote

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Isn't that just the perfect quote for me? There are so many good quotes, and we need to keep them close to us as reminders of what we want to accomplish, who we are, and how we feel. Anyway, I'm glad I remembered that quilt at the last minute and that it's on my bed. While others are comfortable staying on a steady course, I would be bored to death. So in everything I do, I try to find something new outside my comfort zone! 

The first order of business after checking in was to find some food. My breakfast sandwich didn't go far. There is a restaurant on the main floor, so we grabbed something light, with the intention of going down later to eat. Well, later never came as I wasn't hungry - I had brought the leftovers of our nachos to the room, and I finished that off. And that's OK. My eating has been so erratic over the last week; it's good to try to settle things down. Sadly, there won't be any big donuts on this trip!

But I had a huge laugh when I saw this on the menu. I took a picture and sent it to KU. No deep frying for this restaurant!! I don't know why, but the smell of air frying makes me ill. OK -- so I'm exaggerating - I don't get sick, but I find the smell obnoxious. And I know -- it's probably all in my head!!!

Air frying in the hotel kitchen

WAIT --- when will chain restaurants follow suit? Instead of hot, greasy fries, we're going to get air fries? 

Then Margaret had to go to the drug store, so I tagged along to get some steps in. I spotted this in the magazine rack and bought it. I know!!!! I got sucked in, but the cover promises so much. I want to see what all the hype is about. What I'm afraid of is that I'm going to see apps or commands that will suck the fun out of my day. Planning, scheduling, and a whole lot more. It's basically saying that if I let AI do stuff for me, I'll lose weight, have well-panned meals, a completely decluttered house, and save time. But where the heck is the fun in that? 

And I'm saving time so I can do what? In my case, that is working on a puzzle or sewing, but for others, it means spending more time on their phones. With all the AI, we will be married to our phones and have ZERO skills in our brains. I know people argue that they have to give AI the commands so they are still in control. WAIT—before any of us judge, let me read it. 

I'll be reading it with a very open mind (OK -- I'm going to try to maintain an open mind), but I suspect most of it will never happen in my life and is for people who—well, not for me! 

I'm going to call that research reading!! I want to know why I should or shouldn't be using this technology. Notice how it says, I can streamline my schedule? Could it really do that? I doubt it! Be open!!!! 

OK -- here's a tricky question for you. I am sure that every one of you has a shower in your house. What's the one thing about a shower that annoys the heck out of you? It doesn't matter if the shower is in the tub or standalone - the same silly setup exists. 

What is that one thing that every one of us hates!!!

Well, have a look at the shower in my room. Here is the right side. 

The right side of the shower

And here is the other side. There is a solid glass wall on the right, and it's open on the other side. Although I originally thought water would splash everywhere, I really like this style. There is less glass to keep clean!

The left side of the shower

Did you notice anything unusual? Look again. What's ONLY on the right, and what's ONLY on the left? 

Yep—the showerhead is on the right, and the controls are on the left. Now - doesn't that make super logical sense? How many times have you popped in the shower and either scaled or frozen to death as you tried to adjust the water temperature? This is brilliant. I want a new shower at home, and I want this in it!!!

It's something so simple, so why haven't I seen it before? 

But here's a new puzzle to contemplate in the shower. Can you tell me what this bar is for? 

A mystery bar in the shower

It's on the left side of the shower, near the floor. I have two theories. Of course I do. Can you guess what they are? 

The position of the bar

Theory number one -- you put your foot on there to brace yourself as you get shampoo and soap from the dispensers. Those dispensers, by the way, are brilliant. They have been in hotel rooms for many years, and there is no bar of soap to slip on, no waste, no plastic bottles. Just brilliant!!!!! By the way, it's easy to get the shampoo out of the dispenser, so I doubt that's the reason the bar is there. 

Theory number two - should you slip on the floor and can't get up, is that bar there to drag yourself away from the water jet and try to grab the other grab bar? LOL!!!!

I have no idea what that bar is for. So now I have a new mystery to solve. 

OK -- so I Googled it! It's to put your foot on while you shave your legs (seriously?), or you exfoliate your legs/feet. Good lord—I would have thought of that—I really would have!!! By the way, that was Google's AI that told me that. 

But here's the thing - I am confused by AI and Google. I know that Google has AI, but it also had an amazing search engine once upon a time. That seems to be replaced by their version of AI. To me, Google's AI is just a search engine on steroids. It's all very confusing!

It doesn't matter -- we now know why that bar is there. Personally, I preferred my theories. They are more fun! 

Well, it's setup day at Quilt Canada - my favorite day of any quilt show, and I can hardly wait to get started!!!! NOT!!!!! But it's fun to chat with others. OH -- as I entered the line at Tim's in the airport, the person in front of me said hello! One of my students from an online class!!! It's so hard to recognize people in person when you used to seeing only their face. I'm not good at facial recognition. I'm sure that's the first of many encounters!!! 

All kidding aside, I am not fond of setup day, but the hard work pays off when you see the booth set up and all the quilts and other projects on display. So much eye candy, and it's going to be a great show! I also have TWO things I want to check out while I'm here. I am remembering that I don't have a ton of room in my suitcases!!! But I could always wear several layers of clothes home, or I could pack a bit tighter, and I'll have room for the two things that I hope to buy here. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

PS-- I know you are anxiously waiting for me to post the list of classes. I still need to put the dates in my calendar! I know—perhaps I should ask AI to do that for me. But seriously --- I will try to post at least the projects I have chosen, so you will be aware of what I will be teaching. 

I will get the dates, costs, and more links up, probably next week, but in the meantime, this gives you an idea of what is happening. I think this was all I decided on based on the feedback I got from you! 

There is nothing to do at this point in time. I am not taking signups; I don't have dates yet, but I will get the information to you ASAP. All classes are on ZOOM - once a month, lasting for one hour. My rates are ridiculously cheap. And be sure to pass this information along to anyone who wants to know. I will be sending out emails and posting online as soon as I get a chance to put those dates in the calendar. 

Here are the classes: 

• One class is My Kinda Town - paper pieced. While I have chosen a specific pattern, I suppose you could pick any paper-pieced pattern if people absolutely wish. Will be several classes - not determined yet. 
• One class will be on scraps—9 or 10 sessions.
• One class will be an ongoing quilt with crazy blocks to work on (9 or 10 sessions) - 40 shades of grey.
• One class will be handwork - wool applique - I have a specific project in mind, but anything goes. Here is a link to the kit I highly recommend. Keep in mind that there are six kit styles, and within each kit, there are four colorways. See the picture below. If you are at Quilt Canada, I think Wonderfil will have those kits, so you may want to get one. Otherwise, I'll give you local resources to buy. 

40 Shades of Grey

Sue Spargo precut wool applique kits.

OMG!!!!! I forgot that we are also doing Show and Tell by Elizabeth Hartman. I knew I was going to forget something.  No picture but search online

How NOT to do laundry

Phew—yesterday was a whirlwind of a day, although I certainly took my time doing things, and now I'm going to pay the price this morning as I finish the tasks that I was supposed to finish yesterday!

There is nothing like having several open suitcases and mad packing! Actually, what I love is being able to change the number of suitcases I bring—I'm bringing samples—lots and lots of samples, so I have three suitcases. Two with samples, and one with clothes, which I still need to pack, and I'm leaving in three hours! 

There are loads to be said for black pants! Anything goes with them. A few shirts, a couple of casual things, and toiletries. DONE!!! The thought of taking multiple pairs of shoes that match each outfit makes my head spin. Keep it simple!

To top it off, I had to do laundry last night, and, well, I failed at it. Yep --- I didn't realize the dryer was set to "damp" setting -- must have been DH and his darn shirts. So I tried drying the sheets twice before I clued in. I'm still trying to get two more loads of laundry dried this morning. Sigh.........

Update: just drying the last load as I write!

I was certainly not made for domestic home life. But there is certainly something to be said about wearing the same clothes all the time. Wash them, dry them, and pack the same stuff as last week. No thinking required! At least for the casual stuff. Based on that, I can certainly get rid of many clothes in my closet. Yes -- it's time for an overhaul! 

This was the situation in the kitchen yesterday morning. I had sorted out some items before I left, and then I added a few yesterday as I thought about what I needed for the show and my presentations afterward. YES --- if you are in the Winnipeg area, I'll be at Carellen Sewing on Monday and Tuesday after the show -- June 22 and 23. So be sure to get on the list—I've got some cool things to show you. 

The quilts that need to be packed

And all this had to be packed as well. 

More items that need to be packed

Everything fit without having to push and shove the zipper closed. Both sample suitcases weigh less than 50 lbs, and I'm good. I detest carrying massive, heavy suitcases, so I broke my stuff down into two suitcases. And thank goodness for the Air Canada app, as I was able to change the number and weight of the suitcases from the comfort of my house. No need to see anyone at the airport this morning. You have to love that! 

I am NOT getting an upgrade this morning. It's becoming harder and harder to get an upgrade. You get points to request an upgrade, but there are way too many people on the list (I'm at number 9 on the waitlist), and the planes are flying full or almost full, so no chance. Well, I'll keep trying. 

The quilt was trimmed and bound, and is now packed. I also worked on a name tag, which is on the visual to-Do list, and it's all done except for binding it. I threw it and the thread into the suitcase. The beauty of going to a sewing show is that if there is something you need to finish, you can do it as part of the show! 

As I was standing in the kitchen making lunch with the meager food items still in the house, Miss Murphy came in and, like Linus from Peanuts, she just shed debris behind her. She must have been sleeping under the shed. She never used to sleep there, but she is encroaching on Lexi's secret places. I'm sure Lexi is not happy about that. 

So now there are leaves and straw strewn across the floor. Thankfully, the cleaning service is coming today, but I might just whip some of that up, so they don't think we live in a pigpen!

OH MURPHY!!!!

I barely remembered to check out the pond, and I NEED to clean that pump before I leave. The pineneeddles are the worst. They are constantly falling, and they are hard to get out of anything! But the flowers look nice. I must remember in the future --- do not book travel in June. That is the prettiest time in the backyard, and I'm missing a good part of it. Plus, the weeds grew while I was away, and they will have to sit for another week. It's going to be a jungle out there when I get back. But seriously? Who cares!!!! It's a few weeds. Life is way too short to be worried about keeping an absolutely weed-free environment. It's all natural! 

Lilies are beautiful

I'd rather do the fun stuff than weed, do laundry, and clean! I do the bare minimum, pay someone to do the work I hate, and let's have fun! I made choices in life on where to spend my money!

Here is the puzzle I scooped from the roadside while riding the bike. It's an old-fashioned puzzle to be sure. I didn't even check if there was a year on it, but I would say this is from the 60s. I added it to the pile, and I'll get to it when I get back - well, maybe not exactly when I get back, but this summer. 

My roadside puzzle find

And here's the state of the current puzzle I'm working on. Yep -- only the purple is left. Actually, there are two different purples there. I thought this would be a hard puzzle, but it's actually quite easy. Sort by color, which I did when I put the pieces out, and then just do one color at a time. It shouldn't take that long to finish, but I didn't dare take any more time yesterday!!!

My current puzzle

I also have a hardcover book that I'm trying to finish. It is translated from Japanese into English, and I just couldn't get into it at first. Now I'm down to 100 pages, and well, I read what I could yesterday. But I had Monday sewing and other things to do, and well, I guess I'll be taking the book with me on the plane!!!! 

M and Dillon had a photo booth at the party tent, and it was pretty fun. You could keep one photo, and one was printed for a memory book for them. How cute!!!! They had all kinds of props - glasses, hats, and signs. This is one of me with the bride and groom. And Little Bear, of course, since I was his sitter. I grabbed that sign "Flawless," which was appropriate for the bride, groom, and, of course, Little Bear. BTW -- it was getting cold, and when I went back to the hotel to rescue Bear from the sitter, I changed into warmer clothes! 

Flawless, of course!

And this is probably the only photo of my outfit that you will see!! I've always had a chuckle in the past when people said, "That's my bad side!" What does it matter? Oh yes -- it matters. I think I got all the photos on my bad side! It's the part in my hair that I'm referring to!

Me and M on her wedding day!

But it doesn't really matter -- it's all about the stunning bride. And how did she get to be taller than me? 

What you can't see in the photo is that I made a new hairband for the wedding. The flowers matched my outfit!!! Well, I'll just have to take a better picture of that when I'm back!!! And the flowers were on my good side, which is closest to the bride! I must be more aware of that in the future!

Anyway -- I'd better get moving, as I still have to throw those clothes into the last suitcase, walk the girls, and make a bed!

Remember, the blog timing might be off for the next week, but I think I'm only one hour off, not three, so it won't be as bad!!!

Have a wonderful day. 

Ciao!!!

The long way home - part two

I'm exhausted this morning! I seemed exhausted all day until it was time to sleep! I just woke up - the blog is going to be late!!!

Travel days are long, and even though yesterday was a short travel day, we lost three hours due to the time change. It was easy - we got up, caught the hotel shuttle back to the airport. We hung out at the lounge for a bit, and then I suggested we go down to the gate to try something new. 

DH is always grumbling about having to stand in the Zone 2 boarding lane instead of Zone 1. Well, if you want, we can try out the NEW (OK  - not new), but relatively new thing called Digital Boarding. I had tried it last time I was in Vancouver, and it did NOT work, so I had asked the staff to ensure my digital boarding was set up. And now was the perfect time to try it since Vancouver is the only place where it exists at the moment. 

The lines were already getting long, and I discovered a separate line for Digital Boarding. No one in the line. TZone 1 was boarding, and I just walked up to the machine. It scanned my face and accepted me; the gate opened, and in I waltzed before they even finished loading Zone 1. DH had some issues with his, but he was right behind me. 

So this is pretty exciting, as with this technology,  you no longer need to show your boarding pass or ID, but just get accepted by the technology. YES --- technology, which is often a failing proposition for me. The last time I tried it, it didn't work, but this time, it worked like a charm! The last time, it was just a screen with face recognition. This was more permanent, with an opening gate. I guess others had issues as well. 

It takes a wee bit longer to be recognized than if you walked through and showed your documents, but I imagine that will be sped up, and more lanes will be added as time goes on. But like all the other things we have used in the past (priority status for security, airline status), there will come a time when this no longer saves much time. For now? I'll enjoy using the technology and hope it comes to Toronto sooner rather than later. They are already using that face recognition technology in the NEXUS line in Toronto. 

Oh shoot -- I thought I had taken a picture of my boarding pass. But if you want to see if you can use that technology, there is an indicator on your boarding pass. I only saw it after I was on the plane, but I knew it existed, so I was determined to try it. Remember -- it is only at Vancouver at the moment, you have to set up your digital profile, and probably only at certain gates in Vancouver.  

I watched another Harry Potter movie while on the plane. That leaves three more to go. What will I watch when those are done? I guess I'll just find other movies on the plane. I used to read, but I found the movies are fun to watch. 

After the movie, I turned on the map, and instead of showing us where we were going, it showed all kinds of aerial views of other places in the world. This was Mount Kilimanjaro. How cool to see that from the air!

Aerial view of Mount Kilimanjaro

And someone else had the tail camera on the plane activated. I think that is cool as well. If something went awry, would you really want to see what was happening to the plane? We had just landed at this moment. 

The tail camera of the plane

Since we did not check luggage, we were able to zip right off the plane and into a limo for the journey home. Let's say that two certain girls were pretty excited to see us!! 

The girls are so different. Lexi is so calm and just wants to be close. 

MOM - I'm so glad you are home

Murphy is moving a mile a minute, and there is no way she was stopping to look at the camera. 

MOM - you're home! You're home! I need a walk! 

While we had nothing to eat in the house, we managed to find a couple of snacks, so we didn't go hungry. It seems like we ate so much over the last couple of days that I wasn't really hungry, but I needed something in my stomach. 

I found SIX flowers in the pond. By the time I got home, they were closing up for the evening. I can't wait to see them today. 

Six lilies in the pond

The peony had bloomed and was decimated by the recent rain, so I didn't get to enjoy it this year. 

The peony is almost done.

But now the rose bush is in bloom. 

The rose bush

Those demanding girls made it quite clear what they really wanted from me - a walk!! And they would not stop giving me attention until they got what they wanted. Again, Murphy is moving a hundred miles a minute, while Lexi just prances in place. 

I had to unpack last night because I have to shake the sand out of the suitcase, wash some clothes, and repack today as I leave tomorrow. If you think that is bad, DH is already on another plane this morning. I don't know how people do these quick turnarounds. I like my house - I want to travel, but not back-to-back. My cousin will be traveling back and forth across the 3-hour time zone. I'm exhausted, and I don't know how she will survive for an extended period of time with that kind of travel! 

We were in contact with M and Dillon as they traveled home. They got home after we did, but they had a long drive and then a ferry to cross. I think they had a bit of an emotional day. So much pressure, prep, and excitement, and then it's done! But we got to see a few of the wedding pictures and OH MY -- they are beautiful. I'll share some of them another day. 

I had done some work on my current jigsaw puzzle after eating my snack, but then I left it and tried to sleep. And while I was tired or I thought I was, when I tried to get to sleep, I couldn't, so I read, watched some YouTube, and then got up to do more work on the puzzle. 

I accomplished quite a bit. Before I went to bed, the pink was more or less done, but I got the red, orange, and yellow done as well. It's a challenging puzzle because the colors are worked in THREE areas, so if it doesn't fit in one spot, it fits in another, but which one? 

Working on the jigsaw puzzle

There is more purple than anything, so that will slow me down, but at least it will all be in the same area. 

Oh my gosh -- so I woke with a start at the moment that the girls like to be let outside. I'm not sure what triggered that, but the sun was pouring in the window. It's going to be a late start to the day. Sigh.....

We have Monday sewing today, and I have some pictures to prepare for the presentation. Then I have a quilt to bind and another one to do some embroidery on. It will be a busy day, and I must try NOT to have a nap, or I will not get to sleep later tonight. 

Murphy is circling my chair like a crazed dog. All she wants is a walk. The poor thing is NOT going to be happy when she sees me leaving tomorrow. But DH is only gone for a couple of days, but he does NOT walk them, so she won't be happy!

In addition to watching the movie, I watched a couple of episodes of The Reluctant Traveler, hosted by Eugene Levy. They were interesting and explored non-tourist things. I thought the show was great. But he said something, or it was said in the trailer, and I thought it quite interesting. 

Here is a quote that was used on the show - it is attributed to St. Augustine. "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."

WOW! I find that very fascinating, and since I like to read, I must read more than one page. I won't be able to finish this book, but I'm OK with that. WAIT -- I totally get that there is a cost to travel, but guess what? That exploration can simply be in your own city or your own country, and neither has to cost a lot of money. It's the idea of exploring that is being referred to. 

I know people who have never been outside their province. I would have gone mad years ago! I first traveled outside my home province when I was under 10, and ever since, I have traveled. That first trip? By bus with my Mom to Portage La Prairie. It didn't cost us much, as we stayed with my Mom's pen pal, Hilma. 

But to get out and explore? It helps to keep that curiosity and kid-like sense of adventure alive. I would die if I couldn't wander around. NOTHING has to cost a lot if you shop around! And get creative! 

And on that note, I must get the girls out the door. The blog should be on time tomorrow, but only for one day, as I'm going back in time zones for a week. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!