NO more donuts!!!!

What will I do with two weeks at home? I should be answering some of those comments! Your comments always make me smile. 

And yes -- those unruly kids? We were saying to each other at our table who would sue whom if that kid fell while playing fireman on the patio umbrella pole. Those parents would be quick to sue because the kid got hurt, completely forgetting that they were not taking care of their kids - it's always someone else's fault. Sigh......... It's a very sad world we live in. 

Victorian houses being a money pit -- you got it. I can't imagine the heating bill for a house like the Fairbanks Mansion. 

But I took a picture of it yesterday. Well, there are big NO TRESPASSING signs on the tree, and you know the morals in me would never let me cross that property line. I remember another instance a couple of months ago where a single sign refrained me from crossing a property. Hmmm -- I think that was the golf course near a quilting retreat. I was going to cut across it, but I was deterred by the signs. 

Signs work for goodie two-shoes like me, but not for others. 

The Fairbanks house is huge, and there are a lot more trees around it than in the picture I posted yesterday. I bet that originally, it was sitting on a huge piece of land with nothing for miles! Now it is just steps from Stitcharie and the town of Petrolia. 

The Fairbanks Mansion

According to the floor plan I shared yesterday, that turret is the library on the ground floor and a bedroom on the top floor. Right beside the turret is a large window in the den on the ground floor. Hmmm -- why a library and a den? Yesterday, the ladies guessed that one might be for the gentlemen to smoke in after dinner, while the ladies shared the library. 

A bit closer on the house

But doesn't it make you want to see inside the house? And that massive veranda on the front of the house? How fun would it be to lounge out there on a summer day? The back of the house is where the kitchen is, with a maid's sitting room, and upstairs in that area are sleeping quarters for the maids. Just fascinating how ornate they built those big fancy houses, and I can only imagine the millwork on the inside.

The rumor is that there is a ballroom on the third floor. And yes - that rumor is true; however, there was a major fire in the house in 2002, and it sounds like a lot of the interior was damaged. OK -- I still want to see inside!!! Do I dare just go and knock on the door and ask for a tour? Of course, I won't do that, nor do I have time. 

I might have to come back, do a bit more exploring, and look for a house! Just kidding -- we are not moving, but I am enamored with this quaint town. Plus it has a quilt shop! That's a bonus. 

OK -- so I said, "NO MORE DONUTS!" However, it seems the world wants me to eat donuts. This is what I spotted at breakfast yesterday morning. 

Mini donuts

The donuts weren't very big, and how many calories can be in one donut? So I had one! The hotel chain I stay at includes breakfast, so I always have breakfast there and then get Tim's tea to start my day. The tea is purchased on the way to work. 

When I was finished yesterday, I went out for dinner; more on that in a moment, and since the dinner was light, I decided to stop at Tim's on my walk back to the hotel. I wanted a muffin. Imagine my disappointment when I saw this. 

The muffin side of the baked goods shelves was empty. 

No more muffins

But the donut side was still stocked. NO...................................... I don't want to eat another donut. 

Of course, there are still donuts!!!!

Thankfully, I asked, and they had removed the muffins from the shelf and still had bran muffins, so I was able to get what I wanted. Phew!!!! I wonder if they will have donuts downstairs this morning? I have never seen donuts at the breakfast bar before. 

While I'm talking about food, let me tell you about dinner.  I decided to explore the local restaurants, and since I had eaten at a dockside restaurant the night before, I checked out a brew house this time. Yes - I had one of their local offerings. They had minimal offerings for dinner - hot dogs- but that's OK, since it was the picture of the hot dog on Google that intrigued me. 

My hot dog for dinner

It was very messy to eat, but it was good. That's why I had to stop at Tim's for the muffin. I'm hungry now, so I'll soon be scooting down for breakfast, and I'll let you know if they have donuts this morning! 

We had a great day yesterday, with everyone learning what Creativate is and how to use its various components to be creative! I know many people went home extremely excited about what they can do in the embroidery/quilt world! I'm excited and can't wait to be home. What will I do first? Unpack? I have a few things to repair. I have a puzzle I want to start. I have samples to finish. But first, I need to get that long arm ready for its spa day, and then weed the garden. With this heat, I'll be out there with a flashlight in the middle of the night!

While I think we are in a very safe area here, I was leery about leaving all my suitcases in the car. What if by some weird occurrence, one of my suitcases disappeared? That is hours and hours of work that would disappear, and I would be devastated. So I lugged them all into the hotel. And now I have to lug them all back out this morning. 

All my luggage on the left 

I had to resort a few of the bags this morning to add a few things to what I'm showing today. And we have some great demos on how the Husqvarna Viking Designer EPIC 3 works with all its amazing placement tools. Be sure to come by Stitcharie if you are free. 

Last night when I was approaching the hotel, I spotted "sun dogs" in the sky. Now I have seen these in the winter, but never in the summer, and it's hot outside. Well, it turns out that they can be visible in the cold and the heat. Where the ice crystals form, allowing the sunlight to refract through them, is always very cold. 

Sun dogs in the heat

And that is our science lesson of the day!

Can you tell me why that hotel in Winnipeg had the controls on the opposite side of the shower from the showerhead? I have NEVER seen that anywhere in my life, and this hotel is back to normal with everything on one end, so you have to stand out of the way while the water heats up. It's just weird. Something as simple as splitting the components on two sides makes life easy, BUT I bet it would drive the plumber mad with all the extra plumbing required. I bet that is why it isn't common—it's much more expensive! 

I had some extra time yesterday morning, so I scheduled all the classes for 2026/2027. You know what that means  - I'll be able to post them soon. Expect that to happen later this week. And there's no need to rush to sign up - the first classes don't start until September. I just want you to make wise choices as you start seeing which classes other teachers are offering. 

The last thing we want is for you to be overwhelmed by the offerings and get so bogged down that nothing gets done. Remember that quilting is our hobby, and we need to have fun with it, or we are in big trouble. While there are times when I get stressed by sewing, machine embroidery, and all my technology woes, it's usually my fault. I didn't plan well enough, and I'm very good at procrastinating. Or I struggle because I can't find the correct tools. However, I am much better than I used to be, which gives me more time to enjoy my hobby at my own pace. 

But I have so much more I want to learn - software, embroidery techniques, and the long arm. I will never stop learning stuff. How could you not? 

I just can't imagine getting up each day and NOT having something or some purpose in life. Being retired and only being there for my children (well, child) and grandchildren would be the most boring thing in my life. Don't get me wrong -- I think it's a good reason to get up, but they won't be around forever. Nor could I read all day. It sounds so exciting, but I would be bored as well. Learning is a way to expand my horizons, and new stuff keeps coming out!

I am not a soccer fan; I don't watch it, but OK -- even I am excited for Canada. This is a historic moment that they have made it to the round of 16 in the World Cup. Go Canada Go!!!!! If you look at this chart, I wonder why it takes so long for these games to be played? I must ask DH when I get home. I could learn it, but there is no room in my brain for the details of soccer! I have more important things I want to learn!

Can you believe it's June 30th today? Where has HALF of the year gone! Make sure you are taking advantage of every day!!! I know someone (no need to mention names, as they know who they are) who is counting the days to Christmas!!!! And before we all know it, it will be Christmas! 

And on that note, I'm out of here!!

Have a super day!!!!