Opening a can of worms!

I hate when my morning goes awry! I had trouble sleeping last night, and I think I know why, so I slept in rather late. And then I realized as I was making breakfast that I forgot to buy bananas for my oatmeal. Sigh................. Let's hope the weirdness stops NOW! I have too much to do in the day to waste time by not getting a good night's sleep. 

I have to say that the days are becoming very much the same. I got two more of the small quilts done. 

Community projects quilt - DONE

I think I've lost count of how many of these small ones I've done. I did NOT get any bindings done. And I'm trying to remember why I had so much of this flannel around. Anyway --- they are getting quilted, and I'll get to work on the bindings another day. 

Community projects quilt - DONE

I may switch up what I'm quilting, and I think that is partly why I couldn't sleep. Quilts of Valor is pushing for long-arm quilters to quilt for them, and since I have MANY quilts sitting there, I may just switch tactics for a change. I certainly do NOT need any prizes from this contest and will be looking to donate anything should I win. But I want to finish that roll of polyester batting first, so it's GONE!

I trimmed some of this group of half-square triangles. It's a tedious job but perfect to do when listening to this audiobook. I like to stop between chapters if I can, and this book, with 22 hours, has only 13 chapters, so they are LONG! 

Trimming half-square triangles

I mentioned that I have been resourceful with the batting, and what you see here is the waste from trimming fourteen quilts. Yep--- I don't like to keep batting that tight with a customer quilt, but for these ones, because of their size, you can get away with a lot less batting on the sides. And I'm getting pretty good at this whole quilting process. Since the quilts are all the same size, it helps reduce waste. 

Batting leftovers 

I should just stick my head in the sand regarding technology. I got a call from The Grace Company regarding my software. I didn't hear the call, so they left a message. Hmmm --- should I try to update before I call them back? So I did, and OH DEAR -- it appears my tablet wasn't connected to the internet when I tried the day before. I thought I was, but I was NOT. So once the tablet connected fully to the internet, the upgrade took mere minutes. 

I will have to check it out when I quilt this morning to see if I know how the new version works. There are a couple of differences, and I think one of them will speed up my progress on these small quilts. Did I grasp enough when I watched the highlight video months ago to remember how to use the new feature? 

Then it was time to catch up on The Amazing Race Canada. I won't put in any spoiler alerts if you are not up-to-date, but I'm happy! All four contestants in the finale have won multiple legs of the race, and I have two favorites and will be happy if either of them wins. The other two teams are just too darn emotional and do not appear to handle the stress well. 

And I also watched an episode of the baking show. Yep -  -- a downright TV-watching marathon for me. I was working on one of the blocks for the Green Tea quilt. One of the blocks is done with English Paper Piecing, so I cut out all the hexagons and started to glue the seam allowances under. I'll work on more of that later today. 

Working on Engish Paper Piecing

And this applique block got finished. I had to do all the satin stitching around the edges of the applique. And I added more leaves as the way it was in the pattern looked bare. Then I trimmed the block and had a heart attack. It's too big for the spot it goes. 

Applique block for Green Tea

Then I read the pattern and looked at where the block goes -- -OH -- it's the right size, no need to panic! Now all the blocks are made for half of Section One, so I will try and sew that together later today. I need that hexagon block for Section One, and one more block must be assigned. Will I assign that block in October? Or will it be in November? We have to wait and see!

But this is the main reason I couldn't sleep. I dug out the box of papers that I had for family history. Oh my --- I had forgotten that I had so much stuff. 

Family history stuff

For any of you in the genealogy world, this is a nightmare. Tons of paper with scraps of notes, letters written to family members trying to fill in gaps, and where does one start? I swear I have a book about history from the small area where I grew up, but when I checked where I thought it was, it was NOT there. I cannot confess to my parents that I no longer have this book, so SIL and Brother came to the rescue. I know where extra copies are at the farm, and they will send me one. The headstone pictures are still missing, so I must look for those. I think I know where I filed them, so I will check later. 

I found the wedding information about the person in question -- this would be my great grandfather on my mom's side. He was married in Owen Sound, Ontario, so his parents and her parents were on the document. I sent that to my cousin, and she found information on him within hours. I got that e-mail while I was lying in bed and that's why I couldn't sleep. My mind was racing. I have NOT digested all that she sent. My Dad also sent three e-mails with information or clearing up information, so that didn't help at all. 

YES -- there is a lesson here. DO NOT read your e-mail in bed. Never!!!!

So I'll be processing that information this afternoon as I want to get those quilts out of the way this morning. Oh -- and I've been meaning to check on the used book sale for the local symphony, and OH MY --- it started yesterday. I know --- I do NOT need more books, but it's going to a good cause, so I think I'll wander down later today and check it out. Besides, my car has been parked in the driveway for weeks, and it needs to be taken for a ride! 

There is never a dull moment in the house or a lack of things to do. 

So tell me, for anyone who has worked genealogy --- there is NO good way to put this information on paper. One family tree leads to another, and if you unearth any paperwork, how do you manage that? I have the documents from when my great grandfather applied for a farm section of land in Saskatchewan. He walked 35 miles to get to the land, only to discover it was NOT viable. Then he walked back, rescinded that request, and requested another piece of land. And someone requested those documents, and I ended up with copies of them. I need to locate the land sections on the map -- I cannot quite read the map, so I'll need my Dad's help. 

Yep --- I need to call my parents to get some more information. 

And I think my cousin found my great grandfather's family living in Ontario way before I thought they lived here. What year did the family emigrate to Canada? I may have to go graveyard hunting in Ontario! And I could geocache at the same time! 

Oh --- off on another adventure. But for the purposes of my book, I need to find a way to highlight JUST the family tree of my family, but still make a note of their siblings, etc. OK -- so this opened a can of worms! 

Well, I"m off. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!

Family Ties

Family - ah - you can't choose them. But do you know who your family is???

I spent some time in the summer when I was home digging around - looking at farm steads, cemeteries, collecting paperwork, etc. A number of years ago, my Mom had sent me the name of a distant relative who lived in the Toronto area. I finally decided to get in touch with him. No e-mail address, no phone number - so I had to WRITE him a letter. He contacted me in the summer and we finally met up yesterday.

Oh boy - what a day. So - his grandfather and my great grandmother were siblings (total of 8 siblings). I don't know what that makes us, but it was an interesting day. He has spent a lot of time digging through records and I am NOT talking Ancestry.com - oh no - he would physically visit the various research centers or wrote letters requesting information. He is a retired cop - good investigative skills and he has copious and meticulous records!!!  He gave me a brief overview of his career and I bet he has pretty interesting stories to tell.

To make things easier to decipher for himself, he has put together this chart with all the information he had gleaned..

Family chart

Wayne and I 

I was really glad I touched base with him. Apparently some of the family members (his grandfather's siblings - great uncles - lived and died very close to ME!!!) - Well it is about a 20 minute drive so that is close!!!   I hope to go and have a peek around the cemeteries and farm stead in the near future. How cool is that!  And my paternal grandfather (who has passed on) has a picture of the house in the middle of Vancouver of another sibling. Small world!!!!   I am going to try and collect this pictures so I can put them into Ancestry. No one puts pictures in that database!!!!

Of course - I spent last night on Ancestry.ca trying to decipher all the information. I had a TON of paperwork that I photocopied in the summer from my Mom, that I think came from Wayne. I need to go through it - one piece at a time and verify the information in my family tree. Oh boy - yes - this is exciting and fun, but you have to be on your toes. It would be VERY easy to get the Sarahs and the Janes and the Sarah Janes mixed up. And we did - for the longest time - we thought my great grandmother's name was Sarah Jane. Nope it turns out she was a twin and there was a Sarah AND a Jane. How cool is that!!!!!!!

I did a bit of shopping (for those darn storage cabinets), but didn't find anything that I liked or would fit in the spaces. So I got home and after MORE searching online - I decided that what I had was the BEST thing and this is what I did.

I have to find another home for the sewing machine and I emptied those boxes that had M's stuff into this three drawer unit. It is on wheels and so she can move it around as she sees fit. Oh boy - isn't that exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And after MUCH research, I decided I wasn't going to get better than this. So I put the wheels on and it fits PERFECTLY under the drawer of my sewing table. I've already filled it with those stupid little loose projects that were floating around. I have room to put ONE MORE unit under there. Hmmmmmmm - what will I put in it??????

And if I rig up that shelf on the right hand side of the machine, I will move the narrow black cabinet from the back to under the shelf and then I have room for TWO more drawer units at the back of the cabinet. HOWEVER, when I looked around the studio - I was wondering what I would put in there??????  Can you believe that?????   Room for two cabinets and nothing to put in them??????   I might have an idea, but not going to pursue it as this moment. I don't need them, but I have room for them. Just means that my mind is going to have to do some thinking. Actually I have some stuff in a closet and I have to move it every time I want something so that is what I should be focusing on - how to clear that mess up.

Don't you love organizing?????   I could do this stuff all day. I just love when things come together!!!!!


Now Marian did NOT send me a picture, but I am going to her house later today so I should sneak upstairs and take the picture myself, but her husband attached a shelf to the wall on the right hand side of her sewing cabinet. That works too - whatever it takes to make more efficient space. I'm still going to talk to Joe to see what he can do.

I have some VERY talented ladies (and family members) in my Dragon Star class. Andrea had  her husband scan her fabrics and the line drawing of the quilt and "assembled" the quilt in Photoshop. Awesome job!!!!!

Andrea's "quilt" in Photoshop

 Now even though I am NOT supposed to be starting any new projects this year, sometimes it is necessary. I have two classes coming up and no samples. I should at least walk through the patterns or I won't know what I am talking about. One of them - a Judy Niemeyer pattern - you MUST walk very carefully through those patterns. A LOT LOT LOT of information and sometimes you have to "decipher" it.

Wedding ring - bed runner

I want to make it from batiks from my stash, so I pulled out ONE of the batik buckets. 

And this is what I choose. I have a light (not batik) for the background. Do you know how hard it is to find a light "plain" batik. Almost impossible. Anyway - I have since eliminated some of these out but haven't made any progress on the actual runner YET

My second project. Again an upcoming class. I have wanted to make this FOREVER and now is the time. Again - paper pieced - do you think there is a pattern here????  

And my fabrics - I have to find the background for this - I have it around here somewhere. Better find it quick!!!!

Got the binding on Elaine S quilt - she is coming this morning to pick it up. 

 Now I have been doing some more sorting which I will share with you one day, but while sorting through this stuff, I came across this treasure.    Hard to judge the size, but let's just say that it is 40 inches wide. Does that give you a hint???????????????

A found treasure

OH MY GOD - I remember buying this fabric when a store in Kitchener/Waterloo was closing MANY years ago.  DOG fabric

And there is a LOT there. I guess I have more stuff for backings. It now resides with my bolts/rolls of fabric NOT tucked in a corner. 

Pat went to the quilt show in Chautauqua, NY

 She brought back this FQ of orange. Hmmmmm - I've go to do something with them. OH - I just remembered something I saw in a magazine - Yes - this would be a perfect start to that project. Maybe I will allow myself to start ONE new project for me in the new year. Thanks Pat!!!!

Another book to read regarding Mount Everest. This fellow's story is terrible as he was left for dead on the mountain.  I know his story, but not from his point of view. My cyber friend Heather is sitting on a neighbouring mountain (Makalu) right now waiting for a weather window to make a bid for the summit. I am not sure how long they have been on the mountain, but they have been waiting for about one week for a weather window and so far the winds have been too strong to attempt the summit. Me - I think I will stick to adventure cycling!!!!

Speaking of cycling, I came across an article about "Captivating Cape Breton" from the Toyota owners magazine  (Fall/winter). Here are a couple of quotes from the article....................

"If you travel clockwise you will be on the inside lane, meaning closer to land on your right and a safer distance from the steep drops to your left. If you driver counter-clockwise, immediately to your right is a drop to the jagged coastlines below, but a terrifically unobstructed ocean view. Whichever direction you choose, fasten your seat belt for a roller coaster ride of crests, valleys and hairpin turns."


No kidding - if you are in a car - I would recommend driving it BOTH directions - I mean - you are in a car - what the heck!!!!   And you should be a passenger on at least part of it - do NOT drive both ways. You WANT to see. If you are on a bike - definitely do it clockwise. It is more "gentle" if there is such a thing on this trail!!!!

Here is another quote" Cycling is both challenging, with its high winds and hilly terrain, and rewarding with some of the most spectacular views on Earth."


Yep - I can attest to that, but it is such an amazing ride!!!!!!   I think I would do it again, although knowing what is up ahead - is that better than NOT knowing????


AND I did get a block (s) completed for another block exchange. It was one that I was behind in so one more done. Sorry - no picture. I got the next one prepared and hope to finish it today. Still BEHIND, but making progress. That is all that counts.



That was a mish mash of stuff today, but what can I say - that is just the way life is!!!!!!!


Oh that note - I have another Halloween quilt to get done today and MORE organizing. I know EXACTLY what I am going to do with that empty space.


Have a great day - Happy Thanksgiving - don't eat too much turkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A LAZY summer day

I lied!!!!!    Oh I had BIG plans yesterday. I was going to finish the customer quilt, I was going to cut out a bag, I was going to sew some blocks. And did I accomplish any of that????   I DID NOT!!!!!

It has been so hot and so humid that even I was getting tired of it. Remember me wishing for a cool night to sleep - well the last couple have been great. So when I went out for a walk with the girls and I saw how nice it was, I was faced with a dilemma.

The studio?????

The gazebo??????

 Have to say the GAZEBO won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I grabbed a book and I was set for the day!!!!!!

My view from the gazebo. 

I moved around the back yard to keep in the shade. There was a slight breeze which made the wind chimes tinkle ever so slightly, the pond was running and I was entertained by .....................

The resident rabbit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   (see just over the railing - I am not in the gazebo now)

And the birds - they were NOT happy whenever I moved!!!!

The cardinals and the gold finches were EVERYWHERE. Whizzing past me and making a mess!!!!!    

Anyway - we had pizza for dinner because I did NOT want to go to the grocery store, and I stayed out until almost 9 PM when I couldn't read any more!!!!    Had a number of cat naps, curled up with Sammy on the hammock at one point, got my quilt out because it was getting COOL!!!!!    What a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You see when I walk through the back yard to walk the dogs, I reflect on this great space that we are NOT using enough. So I made good use of it yesterday. M's friend, Berke even commented that he had NEVER seen me just relaxing. Oh OH - that is NOT good.

Unfortunately I can't spend the entire day outside today, but I might be able to sneak in an hour or two. Problem is, I picked up a GREAT book and it is calling me. I got 2/3 read yesterday and well - I have things that HAVE to get done.


Since this is MY blog - I thought I would document some more of my visit back home in Saskatchewan. I have become interested in genealogy (which I don't have time to deal with right now) but stuff is coming out of the wood work. While I was home, I tried to get as much information as I could. We visited my great grand parents homestead. No one lives there now - has been years since anyone lived here, but a very typical homestead. Glad my parents are still around that they could share this with me. Otherwise it would just have been another old homestead.

The hen house!

|Where the house stood (as best as we could figure out). The old log house burned down  a long time ago  (I do have the date in my paperwork). My great uncle was living in the house at the time. Got the application for the land title as well. 

What is left of the OUTHOUSE!!!!   Hmmmm - a one seater!

We had to drive across a freshly plowed field to get there. A TAD bumpy to say the least. Now I know why farm vehicles never seem to last. They sure take a beating. 

The grave site of my great grand parents, grand parents and two great uncles (on my mom's side)

An ORIGINAL letter written by my great grand mother in 1908 to her mother in Ireland. Amazing!!!!!!

At some point, I have to sit down and make heads and tails of all this information. I got lots from my mom and she received it from a cousin of hers. Turns out her cousin lives not far from me. So I wrote him a letter because I could not find his phone number. He called me, but we haven't hooked up in person yet. And then one of my cousins was able to locate another cousin in Great Britain through FaceBook. The world is pretty small. It is exciting and the more I know where these family members fit into the tree, the more fun it becomes. Now to find the time to do this.

I am going to have to RETIRE so I can stop doing stuff for others and just focus on stuff for me!!!!!!!!!!!



Then when I was back home, we spent a LOT of time geocaching. My parents enjoy it so it gives us something to keep us entertained while I am home.

Here is my Dad sitting on a bench at one of the cache sites

The view from the bench. Pretty cool!!!!!

This tree is located is the country school yard where I went to school from Grade 1 - 5. And in the tree is a GEOCACHE. Yes my parents didn't even realize it, but someone planted some caches VERY CLOSE to their house. Now that I got them started again - they are back at it. Driving all over getting caches!!!!!!

A number of years ago, M and I were in Saskatchewan and our goal that year was to take as many pictures of BIG road side attractions. This was one of the items we were on the search for. It was NOT in the town that it said it was. But as we were driving down the highway - there it was.

Bison

 Now we questioned why this bison was stuck way out in the middle of nowhere. Well it turns out that there is a geocache there, as well as an earthcache. So we stopped this year and guess what - this marker marks a stone that is called a buffalo rubbing stone. They used these stones to remove their fur coat after the winter.

Buffalo rubbing stone

So that cleared up a several year old mystery. Yes - there was a sign there, but I didn't remember why the bison was there!!!!


Now here is a bizarre and "unsafe" road situation that is quite common out west. The major highways in Saskatchewan are divided - just like here. But there are NO interchanges and how could there be - these highways go right through farm country and farmers need to get their equipment from one side of the road to the other. So there are PLENTY of cross overs. So if you want to get to the field/road on the left hand side of the divided highway, you go in the left lane (yes CAROL - people SLOW down in the passing lane out west!!!!) - signal and slow down as you turn into the road BETWEEN the divided highway. Then when it is safe - you can CROSS the other side of the divided highway.

I am sitting on the road BETWEEN the divided highway waiting to cross the two lanes of on coming traffic. 

Don't forget the speed limit on this highway is 110 K!!!!!     Now it all works because while there is traffic on these highways, it is NOTHING compared to what we see on the 401. But VERY bizarre.


Oh - while searching through my pictures, I found some more pictures of flooded roads.

This is significant secondary highway

See the damns on the sides??????

And this road?????    ACK?????   I was freaked out - thank goodness my 80 year Dad was driving!!!!!!

The road to the "small" town where I grew up. 

See how strong the Saskatchewan women are ??????    That is a full sized bale that lady has over her head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that is it for today. I have a couple more pictures (and they are quilt related) that I will share with you tomorrow.

Now I must go and get some phone calls made, e-mail written and some sewing.


Have a great day -



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On-line classes

Although I LOVE to teach, I am NOT a good student myself. I know - that is VERY BAD advertising. And one of the reasons for being a bad student - I am often not prepared. Case in point - yesterday!!!


I had signed up a couple of weeks ago for an on-line class with the Long Arm University. It is a mystery in the sense that you do not know what you will do until you sign up. The class fee is VERY reasonably priced and while you take the class online, Cindy also sends you a DVD and all the printed materials (and this year - we also got that little template I showed you yesterday).

I got the instructions, I printed them out, but that is as far as I got. Anyway - I chose my fabrics when I was in the US the other day and I spent a good part of yesterday sewing the darn top together. It took a bit longer than I thought - but then doesn't everything??????


I started out in the morning with this...................

Partially sewn components

Then I got ONE block done - only three more to go

And at last around three PM, the finished top. Grabbed some fabric to make the back and thew it on the machine.

Whew - that is done. The class only started at 11:20 AM so I wasn't so far behind.

The class is pretty neat - you watch the video (very well explained video) and then you go and do the stitching on your quilt. Part 1 was ONE HOUR of video (you get your moneys worth).

And this is what I did with Part 1 (there are SIX parts in total)

Hard to see the stitching as I used matching thread

All free hand

LOTS and LOTS of swirls

I go half way through Part 2 of the class and then I knew I couldn't go any further. I was so tired from the night before - had to pick M up at 1 AM and that just throws my entire schedule out of whack. I am TOO old to throw my sleep schedule off.

I notice in the class photo album this morning that one lady has hers quilted, washed and BOUND!!!!!   Obviously she got a good nights sleep the night before!

So I curled up in my big comfy chair (actually the Lazy Boy is MUCH more comfortable) with a BIG quilt and I was out!!!!!  


Of course when I woke up at 10 PM, I couldn't go right to bed, so I read for a bit and then did my education for the day.............................

First - The WORD OF THE DAY. And if I had to make a sentence using this word - I am an autodidact (for the most part) when it comes to quilting!!!!   Now the trick for me is to REMEMBER these words so I can use them in Scrabble or in day to day conversation since the calendar tooted that it would boost my IQ. Well - if you have no memory, no amount of word learning is going to increase my IQ!!!!!!

Next - we have the Scrabble question of the day.   Do you know the answer - well I actually knew all the values of the letters (maybe I am not so forgetful after all), but I made a fatal error with the calculation - so I was only partially right!!!

And let's not forget the Happiness Project Journal. 

This is the one sentence a day journal. It is neat the way it is set up - all five years for the same date are on the same page. The yellow dot is where you put in the year. That is so cool - then when you write in the book next year - you can see what you did one year previous. I LOVE this little journal. I got one for Christmas and had bought myself one - so I am good for 10 years. Then I will be too old to write or care about my day!!!!!!   (Just kidding!!!)

Let's not forget the quilting journal. OK - this is just a journal. But my intention is to write what I COMPLETE this year. Add pictures or whatever, but I think it would be fun to see how much one can actually accomplish in a year. Otherwise I may just have to sell everything I own since I don't finish much. This book will be the proof!!!!!   Of course - I haven't got anything to put in it yet but that is OK. 

Now a BAD thing happened yesterday - well two bad things. First Larry went home and I didn't even get to say good-bye. M tells me after they took him. Oh dear - Larry will be so upset!!!!   It was only a week, but I miss talking to him while I make breakfast!!!!   I hope he likes it at home!!!!

Second - and this is REALLY BAD. This past summer was a family reunion of my mom's family. One of my cousins took it upon herself to make a book with stories and pictures of what we know of the family history.

Family History book

Shannon did a great job, but I want to take it further. OMG - what is WRONG WITH ME??????    After talking to my parents in the morning, I dug out my Family Tree Maker software. OK - have a look at this picture - what do you see??????????????????

CAN you SEE the date???????   

OMG - I got excited about this family tree stuff in 2009!!!!!!!   Bought the software and it was NEVER OPENED. OK - I am pathetic - just pathetic!!!!!  


Anyway - I have now installed the software, my parents have sent me TWO family member contacts who are also searching this stuff out and could be valuable sources to get more information. One of them is here in Toronto - the other is in England. Ah - a trip to Scarborough is easy - but England will be more fun!!!!

The system is telling me that I am already signed up and is trying to send me the password I used, but no e-mail. I guess I will have to call them to see what is going on.

This is a HUGE can of worms - I just know it. When do you stop collecting pictures, information, arranging trips to visit the HOMELAND - well you get the picture. There are books to read, people to talk to (JOYCE - I need your help!!!!!). So you see how BAD this was!!!!



Back to the organizing - as I said - everything is put away, and MOST "like" things are together. I was trying to figure out how to deal with all the paperwork spread on the table. I need fixes that make it easy to whisk stuff away when people come over. While searching through some white plastic drawer units that I think will be perfect (6 drawers - would be good to sort this paperwork stuff) and it is on wheels. But have to figure out what to do with the stuff in the drawers - well a lot of it is projects, so technically they can get moved to the project closet and free up some space. But I find this - (there was more perle cotton in here and it got moved to the perle cotton container)

Drawer of crochet cotton

Hmmm - now what can I do with this?????   Obviously I am NOT going to be crocheting doilies, but I must find something CREATIVE to do with it. There is a LOT - or I could simply donate it to a senior group or something and then it is gone. I'll have to contemplate that. And I think I need to buy one or two more storage containers and then I need another shelf to put this stuff on.

We are going to start taking Christmas decorations down today and that means that storage room is going to get hit. Oh dear - it has to be done. Actually it is not in bad shape, but just need to get a bit more organized.


Well - that is it for me today. I got a TON of stuff on the agenda list (oh yes - as I rip those calendar pages off - I feel bad to throw them away as the back is blank) - well they make good TO DO lists for the next day or GOALS that one can paste up some where. Oh - I know where I can paste them.

Have a great day!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!