Christmas Spirit......where are you?

The mild weather, means no snow, which is just fine with me, does little to help me get in to a Christmas mood, or maybe it is just an age thing.  Anyway, just having wrote that I have done some shopping for my Great Grands.   Also, decided to dig out some decorations,  so now I have a wreath on the front door, a display of snowmen in the kitchen, silver reindeer on the dining room table and a nativity scene in the front hall.   It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  I am going to wait a week or two before I buy a poinsettia and put up a small tree.

Have now decided to give my partner's Grands a home made pillow and a gift card, and we have been invited to an Open House at my former neighbours later this month, so want to make them a couple of festive mug rugs.  Still working on  DD1's quilt, why do a choose a pattern with so many small pieces?.....I love how complex the quilt looks when it is finished.  So in the sewing room this afternoon.

We are suppose to have a lovely weekend, sunny skies and mild temps, just hope that a late start at this time of the year does not mean Winter will still be with us in April. 

Gotta go. getting my hair cut this morning.



Have a great day.



Patricia

Six More

Those of you who have followed my previous blog, recall I have two adopted GD from China.   In 1998 the adoption agency sent six "parents to be", including my daughter, her hubby and myself to finalize the procedures.   Since that time these six couples, who now have two daughters each, have had a yearly reunion. 

The girls adopted in 1998 will soon be 18 years of age and going further afield to continue their education, travel etc.    Because they have a unique relationship I did not want them to loose touch with each other....I know, I know....... there is social media, but that is so impersonal.  So what does a quilter do.....she quilts.

Last year at the reunion I had each girl write something and sign a 6 1/2 inch block of fabric, then over the Winter/Spring I made six quilts using these blocks along with others to make a memory lap size quilt for each of them. 

Only four families were able to come to the reunion this year, a picture below shows the girls holding their quilts and me in the centre.   As each girl opened their gift bag, my partner, Dave noticed the  look of disappointment on the faces of their sisters.  When we arrived home he said, "you have got to make six more quilts for their sisters", the expressions on their faces moved him that much.

This Winter guess what I am making, yes..... six quilts for the siblings.  Trying now to decide what to put on them,   thinking, maybe a photo of all twelve girls and embroidering their names.

Today is damp and cool, however, I will accept it for the 1st day of December.

Have a great day.

Patricia

Snow....

Over night we had about an inch of snow, you know the wet snow that clings to all of the branches and makes everything look like a Christmas card.    Beautiful blue skies this morning and it is cold, Winter can't be too far away.   Not a fan of the cold weather.......You???


Patricia

Autumn Weather

After several glorious, almost Summer temperatures and sunshine, today we have showers and quite windy at times.  The remaining leaves on the trees are falling fast and furious, so we know what our weekend job will be.  The lawn at the present time has a beautiful carpet of golden yellow leaves covering it.

Doing some deep cleaning in the den/library this morning and then some sewing this afternoon. 

Our past government, in it's wisdom to save money, has eliminated door to door delivery of our mail, and erected community mail boxes.   Our new government has now reversed the decision, however, those households who have already received their keys and are now picking up their own mail, will continue to do so, those who have not, will get the home delivery.  What a mess.   I can see a lot of issues arising from this.

Personally, I like the idea of picking up my mail, it is in a secure place, it is dry and will not blow all over the place. 

Do you have door to door delivery.

The down side of this is the jobs lost by the mail carriers, what will they do now.   Jobs are gone and are never expected to come back.   So where do they find new employment, so many people are looking for work, their chances are slim to none.  So glad I am no longer in the work force.


Must get moving, have a great day.



Patricia

Home again

My partner and I have just returned from a three week vacation to Newfoundland, Cape Breton, N. B. and N. S.  We had a great time visiting the site where the Vikings first set foot on what is known today as Newfoundland.  Weather was cold, snow and sleet, which is to be expected when one is near the south shore of Labrador, however, it improved as we headed south.  Museums were are on list of things to do and we saw lots of those.  Ate some lobster chowder and scallops all caught in local waters. 

We did not make any reservations for anything on this trip just "flying by the seat of our pants."  Only one little BIG miscalculation in the km's to get to the ferry, we covered a lot of ground by exceeding the speed limit just a bit.  One night we left if too late to find a hotel so were floundering around in the dark even though we had a GPS.  We did find accommodations, I use the word "accommodations" very loosely, and we decided that we would not leave our room until morning, so dinner???  consisted of some meager offerings from the cooler we carry with us.  We have had some good laughs from that experience.  Lessons learnt for our next vacation, check distance twice and on Saturday's find a hotel early in the afternoon.

I am now settled in my new to me home, and now back in the sewing room to finish two lap quilts for the girls in my second youngest granddaughters group when she was adopted.   Also have to finish a couple of comfort quilts for the guild and my eldest daughter's quilt, so at least two hours in the afternoon's will be spent sewing.   We have a lot of trees on this property, and soon the leaves will be falling in earnest and we pick them all up, a lot of time will be spent outside doing that task, so want to get a head start on those sewing projects.

Have a great day.


Patricia

Beautiful day

After a cool weekend, we are now in the midst of several lovely sunny and warm days, a last hurrah for Summer I suspect.   

The days are flying by, so began to sort out the clothes we will be needing for our vacation.   We are planning on packing some warm outerwear, and I am sure we will be glad we did.  

The grape tomatoes are still ripening too fast for us to eat, so family and friends are be kept in good supply.   Hoping for a late frost, so they will continue to ripen well into October. 

My youngest daughter had a birthday last week,  how did she get that old already!!!!   Next week she and her husband celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary,  What!!!!.   At the end September my eldest daughter also has her birthday, she is really making me feel old.  I keep telling myself age is just a number, but these days need a bit more convincing.  Do you feel your age??

Well, should get going, a number of errands are on my list today.


Have a great day.



Patricia.

Review of Summer

You can certainly feel our Summer is coming to a close.   As the sun sets the heat of the day soon disappears.   Most of the Summer annuals in the garden are looking a bit tired.  

Finally settled in my new to me home,  and it is looking more like home, now that I have some of my photos and wall hangings displayed.  

We have finally finished the outside painting and all of the windows cleaned inside and out.   The painting should have been done some years ago, but life got in the way for my partner, however, between the two of us we made everything look bright and clean again. 

Needless to say I have not been doing much in my sewing room.  The room is bigger and the window and closet are in a different location than the previous room I had, so trying to find an arrangement that will work better for me.  Because the room is larger I moved a tall wooden cabinet with glass doors in there to store all of my fabric and completed quilts, however, it needs some shelving before I can do that.  At the present time....well it is just a mess.   This month our quilting guild starts our monthly meetings after having July and August off.  My block for the  September charity quilt is completed,  I am so glad I did this one several months ago, all I need to do now is deliver it to one of the members as I won't be able to attend this meeting.

A busy August.   My youngest daughter hosted the 16th reunion for the families which travelled to China many years ago when they adopted their daughters.  All of the quilts I made were given to the girls and they were so very pleased with them.  My partner and I went to my daughter in law, Fathers 100th birthday party, in Meaford, we stayed overnight in Collingwood.  The following day went to Midland.  It was a nice break from all of the work at home.  The family, celebrated my Mothers 98th birthday in August, such a great day, games, conversations, and yummy food.  

One week from tomorrow, Saturday we will be on a three week vacation to the East coast of Canada.  We are both so looking forward to it as it has been a hectic Summer....


Have a great day



Patricia

I am back

Hello:   I was having issues with my other blog, so decided to start a new one.


This is a test post.




Patricia