Backyard updates

 And the merry-go-round continues! But there is good news! My entry for the Trendtex Challenge is complete, it's in the mail, and is scheduled to arrive before the judging cutoff date. Not that I expect to win any awards for this quilt, but I'm just happy to get it in on time. 

I had planned to finish it before noon, but that didn't happen because I had a couple of other things on my plate, and I had to deal with phone calls and some emails first. And then I was madly sewing the final part of the embellishment on, and that took a bit longer than planned. As always!!

And there's the proof of the last embellishment! 

The holders for the last embellishments

No glue required. Putting the bits on together would have been a challenge, but putting them on separately, it all made sense. Thank goodness for walks with Murphy!

A sleeve was made and hand-stitched in place. The label got made, but not before I had computer issues. I create my labels on the computer and print them on my ink-jet printer. When I went to TOUCH Send, the printer was offline. Which was bizarre as I had just used the scanning features for something else earlier in the day, and no one was home but me. 

I turned the printer off and back on, but that didn't help. And at that moment, my guard dog did NOT alert me to men in the backyard. I was working in the kitchen and saw the landscapers were here to open the pond. So I chatted with them as I have known them for years. Then I turned the water on for them, only to find that the pipe had burst under the deck AGAIN!! 

That's it - we're moving that pipe - I don't care how much it costs. It doesn't matter how carefully the pipe gets drained in the fall; this is the fourth (?) year in a row that the pipe has burst. Not a big deal, you say? It's a big deal because part of the deck has to be torn up. It's a silly, idiotic design. But that's where the outlet was when the house was built. We NEVER had issues in the beginning. 

Of course, that happened just when the printer was acting up. I rebooted the computer and the printer, and the printer finally came online. Thank goodness. And here's the label. 

The label for my challenge

Here's the back of the quilt, so you can get an idea of what it looks like. OK -- I'm kidding about that!

The back of my quilt

I could show you the front, but it's a challenge, and although you don't get to vote on it, I'd prefer to keep it under wraps for now. It could be a surprise for those going to Quilt Canada. I realized after I mailed it that I had forgotten to color one small part with my fabric markers, but who's going to know? 

Thank goodness that's done, as look at my finger! It's a little rough from all the hand stitching. 

A hole in my finger!

Yes - I know there are thimbles for that, but I was too lazy to get it out, so I guess I can't complain. 

And I managed to get some other sewing done, but it wasn't until I started sewing that I realized part of the cutting I did earlier that week was incorrect! I'm making do with what I have, and I can recover from it! All is good. 

I'm back to wearing the bright-colored HOKA running shoes. I love this color, and they are cheery to say the least. Do you think the girls got in the picture because they want new shoes? 

New shoes!

After I returned from the post office to mail that package, the owner of the landscape company had arrived, as we had other things to discuss in the backyard besides the silly burst pipe. As we were talking, guess who was outside? She can bark her head off at other beings, but the two-legged kind? "Oh, MOM - these are my friends. I don't bark when friends come." Murphy is an attention seeker - there's no question!

I should mention that I love the flat-rate shipping by Canada Post. A tracking number, an easy-to-use box in four sizes. I'm a convert, and the $20, including tax (for an extra-small), no longer bothers me. They are so easy to use! I LOVE them. 

But as Steve and I started chatting about what needed to be done, Murphy grabbed her toy and wouldn't keep quiet. It was very annoying, and of course, she doesn't listen. 

I don't know how many times that outdoor toy went into the pond, which they were cleaning, so all the dirt was riled up. 

MOM - I love talking to everyone!

Let's just say that the toy is now 100% relegated to the outdoors as it's soaking wet and filthy. But look how happy Murphy looks!!!

I had a phone call earlier in the day, so I took it outside to prevent my voice from dropping. Stupid cell service! Murphy wouldn't stop barking then either. Why is that? This dog gets attention, but I think she's trying to tell the people I chat with something. I can just hear her, "Rescue me - I'm not getting enough attention!"

Mom - I'm a good dog - I just like to talk!

The fish were all agitated yesterday, as loads of leaves and other debris were removed from the pond. They can't fill the pond and get the pump going because we don't have water! Some of the leaves have already reached the surface! 

A somewhat debris-free pond

A plan has been put in place to fix the water, and we're going to relocate the tap so it comes directly from the utility room downstairs, which is located on the side of the house. Murphy will be far removed from the tap, as the position of the existing tap is such that Murphy can accidentally turn it on or off, even with a turning one. That dog is powerful, and as she runs past it to get to a rabbit or whatever, her body hits the tap and moves it. I'll take a picture so you can see exactly what I mean. 

It's very annoying, to put it mildly. The new location will fix that problem and the freezing issue, so that's good. There are also a few shrubs that, after 25+ years in the backyard, are just tired and need to be replaced. Not many, but a few. I'll take some before pictures so you can see what I mean. But it's all in my gazebo corner, so I'm excited about that. 

Well, you can kind of see it to the right of the gazebo. There are some cedars and boxwood, and they need to be removed. Plus, we have a little wooden bridge that has seen better days (over 25 years), and it's starting to rot badly, so it needs to be replaced with something. We have a plan, and now I wait for them to come and fix it all. 

Murphy and her toy

Yes - we could do it ourselves, but seriously? That is NOT going to happen. We focus our expertise on areas where we are experts, and gardening is not one of them. Besides, it keeps the landscaper in business! 

As for those four urgent emails, two of them are done. One of them, of course, required a lot of follow-up, and I need to complete the last of it this morning. And then I can sew and make samples all day, which is good. I have three days to prepare two articles, or at least one of them, and prepare for five sessions this weekend. 

And then there's the matter of the Cherrywood Challenge, which is due in a month - OK, less than a month. I need to get to work or I won't finish mine on time. I hope what happened with the Trendtex Challenge isn't an indication of what will happen with Cherrywood. After this weekend, I will be able to devote two whole weeks, more or less, to completing it. 

We have a Virtual Retreat this weekend! I plan to attend, but I'd better have my head down to the sewing machine! Or hopefully, I can finish the Cherrywood top and work on the hand embellishments! That would be perfect!!

Remember, the Virtual Retreat is open to anyone. It's just a super way to stay connected. 

Here are the links: 

Saturday, April 26 - starts at 6 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82693702241?pwd=QpQkm8Ppppy1XwCPOqva1bcgJCWKdP.1

Meeting ID: 826 9370 2241
Passcode: 795071

Sunday, April 27 - starts at NOON

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838


Putting those links on my blog will put Zoom into a tizzy because I'm posting the links publicly in an insecure way, and I get emails every time I post the links. That is new! It drives me crazy. It's my link, my meeting - I can post it wherever I want! 

And on that note, I'm off to spin class. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!