LET THE SEASON BEGIN!

This is the official BBQ season opener at cottages in Ontario.

This dog just loves it all! I am sure many of you have already begun with the BBQ thing, but here at the cottage, this is it.

On Monday afternoon, I shall feel like this bear.  Poofed from
entertaining.  We are expecting that there will be no vacancies in any of the rooms at this inn.   Bliss for us who have been alone, almost, for the passed couple of weeks.

The photos are from Cottage Life, which is the premier cottage magazine here in Canada.

There is always funny stuff on the web about we Canadians being boring...well we do have a good sense of humour too. Click on the photo...lol

For the first time in years, we are expecting an enjoyable weekend of "abundant" sunshine.  Sounds almost too good to be true!  We shall see.

Enjoy you weekend.  Hope it is as good for you as it will be for me.

NINE PATCH VARIATIONS

 To make up for lost time sewing, due to very cold weather, I've been sewing up a storm!

Nine patch quilts, which I swore a few years ago that I wouldn't do any more, have taken on a totally different aspect with a few cuts here and there.

This one was done with diagonal cuts through the completed 11 1/2" squares, then repositioned to make more nine patch.

The second one has cuts through parts of the blocks, at 1 1/2" around the blocks.  Straight cuts and then repositioned once again, using the same nine patch.

Each is done with just a bit of
creative juices flowing, and Moda Bake shop recipes.

When I was in Florida I bought the fabrics used in both of the quilts shown, and these super duper little binding holders from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  They really are amazing.  99cents to which I thank Quilton who sent
an email saying buy these!  Really
worth the money!

Did I mention that we want to add a 12 x 12 addition to our spacious 9 x 9ft master?

We really need to add cupboard space now that we live here for such a long time.

This beautiful pine, that we have had just outside the bedroom, had to come down to make room for the foundation.  It took about 15 minutes to make our view look like this.

Sadly there was no other way to build or we wouldn't have cut it down.  Pine does not burn well inside, so the tree is being cut into logs for Helen's shore, and the rest will be cut into pieces to eventually mulch in our "forest" area.

The weather has finally become spring like.  Today, not a cloud in the sky, light breezes and the hummingbirds have survived the really awful weather  too.  Life is good.

COTTAGE LIVING

This company called "Yummies in a Jar" is a small but mighty company that makes awesome jams and jellies locally.   The taste is awesome!  Some of the jams have unique names which I will get when next I go to Robinson's General Store, in Dorset. That store is small but had just about anything
one would need from soup to
nuts and bolts! 

Robinson's, was voted the best General Store in Canada one year.  Really a great place to shop and visit and this year,  

they brought in local products, the jams and also local maple syrup.  How lucky are we?

 

I am sewing up a storm.  Still don't have the mojo working on the fingers, but am doing what I want to do...hence the little sign today.  You should
do what makes you happy too!

We have had glorious weather, and yesterday sitting out after dinner, the dog went crazy....sure enough the pesky beaver appeared!  We wondered if the water being so high if the den had survived.  Must have cause the little guy was looking for his small trees to chop down.  Heh!  This is wild country, so he deserves to live free!  Even though he helps himself to lots of saplings.

I have completed a baby quilt, only hand sewing on the binding to do and made blocks for a disappearing nine patch.  It is very very busy, which is my meaning that white needs to be added to finish it.

ONLY THE LOONS ARE NOISY!

 Honestly, this morning around 5:30, I was awakened by the sound of loons!  Now, I must say, because we are so far out on the lake, you know about six miles, we don't get the loons out here too often.  Well, the lake is calm, the sun was rising and so
were the loons.  It sounded like a chorus, till I remembered that the original name for our lake was "Echo Lake".

I am sure that there was only one or two, but the echoes across the lake were loud enough to awaken me.

What with all the flooding and high water levels, I found the photo of this fabulous floating cottage on Cottage Life.  Don't you just love it?

I found this photo somewhere this weekend while looking for quilt patterns.  This is how I feel this morning after using my sewing machine for the first time in six months!   I sure hope my Monday mornings are NOT going to be like this.  I am so rusty from not sewing 1/4" seams.  Not too rusty for picking though!  Imagine that! 

I have taken a rest from the stress of putting little pieces of fabric together to make big fabric.  Small quilts before the big ones are going to be made till I get my fingers used to the idea of sewing once again!

Quilton posted this on the weekend.  So cute, it must be somewhere.... But I wish I had it at my spot at the marina.

BACK AT THE COTTAGE!

 We are home!  This is what the sun room looked like after two days of bringing our "stuff" back, and putting it all in the sun room with the winter storage.

Each year, in the fall we fill the sun room with the patio furniture, bbq, and anything else that is usually outside in the summer months.

It is always a mess in that room.

One day later, with a sore back for both my sweetie and me, we were back to almost normal.

There is a calmness when this room is done.  It is sunny (hence sun room) with the green colours making everything peaceful.

We are back!  The first night we arrived, we had McCain's Pizza!  It was all we could manage after the travel and unloading of goods.

In the morning, I awoke to this! Calm, calm lake, reflections of the other island across from us.

The neighbours to the east of us on the other island arrived about 10 minutes before us.  And of course with beautiful weather in the mid 20s C, (mid 70sF), there were many more people on the lake this weekend.

There is a lot of damage to many docks due to the high water this spring on many of the lake in Ontario.  We talk of weather, being Canadian and all, but flooding, well we usually leave that to the big river people.  So high water means many docks just went floating, lots and lots of logs and debris in the water, so everyone I am sure is coming into their docks with pieces of logs, or whatever to get it off the lake. 

The BEST of the best things is that yesterday afternoon, a hummingbird appeared at the feeder which I put out as soon as we got here,  This is the earliest, for me at least, that I have seen a hummingbird.  A lone male, and very very skittish too, as he would not land on the feeder if I so much as moved an inch.   He was so hungry that he landed and drank to his heart's content. 

Helen also arrived yesterday with two beautiful quilts!  I will post those soon.  She had them quilted for her as they were too big for her machine.  Lovely, work done by her long arm quilter.

This morning, we are going to take a tour, I must take better shots of the lake with a bigger camera, as it will give you an idea of the beauty of this place. 

Quilting works will start tomorrow!  Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!1

NOT QUILTING AT THE COTTAGE

 

While we await the ice to leave our lake,  there has been so little to do in the sense of doing any sewing etc.  I am frustrated, but nothing we can do till nature takes its course.

Many areas of Ontario are flooded, and ice is out, but not at our lake, only daily updates that the ice is still there.

This purse is a cake!  Yes, we went to a birthday party and this was the cake made for the fashionista that we know.  It was made by a friend's mother!  Isn't that amazing?

I, who has nothing to do, surfed Pinterest and found this lovely little sign.  So cute!  I should do one for our dock where I put my boat!

Another photo that I thought was
so cute was this one. It was called BBQ Season!  Oh yeah, we await that for sure.

I have had doctor and dentist appointments.  Don't let anyone tell you that implants don't hurt and that they don't take time.  The time for me is almost two years by the time all the work  is done.  And pain....I could be a spy!

So I am lazing around like this dog.  Life is good at our friends' house which after almost three weeks is  pretty good considering that we are seniors, and pretty established in our ways.  Still, having our own little space in the "cellar" as my friend Mary calls it, is wonderful with sitting room, private bath, and bed so comfy.  Almost like home.

So, we await the thaw!  My sweetie says tomorrow, I say the second of May which is my eldest son's birthday. 

I have bought a new computer, don't need to share anymore, an Acer, at Walmart, for $348.00 how good was that?  And, even though I said that it would never happen to me, a new Iphone which I need a degree today to work, but buttons don't scare me, so I can at least answer the phone and have managed to activate the texting thing...keeping up folks, just keeping up.

WHY ME! AM I THE ONLY ONE?

Am I the only one who has trouble with putting my blog on Bloglovin?

Honestly, I have tried every which way to get the new reader to accept my http://quiltingforfunandmorefun.blogspot.com on their site.  It comes back that there is no recognition of such a blog.

No matter what I did yesterday to make and "Rss" feed it still does not accept me.  It is very frustrating. 

Crispy sent me instructions, which I followed to a tee and still to no avail.

Please send help if you can.  I can not be the only one!  Am I?
ahttp://quiltingforfunandmorefun.blogspot.com

BACK IN CANADA...WHERE IS SPRING?

 This morning we awoke to terrible weather, again.  Honestly, we crossed the border to return home only to have the worst spring weather ever!

Not only that, but that means that we will be staying with our friends at their house in the Toronto area.  Today it is freezing rain, hard rain, just plain Canadian spring weather at its worst!

Die Winter Die!  I want to return to my sewing machine and start quilting! 

Our island is blocked by 24" of remaining ice!
It sucks!

We travelled through Savannah area and came upon this open door leading to a little shop.  Is this not the best strippy stairs in the making?

I loved it and it was all hand painted, with a bright blue door  at the bottom.  It had even flip flops, fish, circles, squares and lots of applique looking designs going up.  So well done!

We are happy to be almost "home".  Our friends have been very gracious in opening their home to us. 

I'll try to be a good guest.  Cause you know.....after three days guests can be like fish!

Stella D'oro lilies and us!  My wonder dog just loved all these flowers in Georgia that were beginning to bloom the first week of April.  Beautiful!

Enjoy your weekend!

SPRING DAYS!

 So, we arrived in Charleston SC, to spring break people all over the place.  

We thought that was all over when we left Panama City Beach!  Not to be.

Up north, it has been quite cold, so we are awaiting a bit warmer days before we head home to the island.


The cartoon was posted by a friend who lives in Wisconsin and they are getting lots of snow still.  Just so you know.

Our wonderful dog Wilson had his first encounter in Charleston with a horse.  He growled!  Honestly, terriers have no fear.

I hope you will all forgive my being nowhere on the blogs this winter, but life just happened and I have been remiss.   Time flew by to the point that five months have flown by to which I apologize for not being here.

Spring must be around the corner, we are in North Carolina today as well as a few more days, in NASCAR country.  We visited a few garages which it turns out do not open Saturdays.  Sad for us as we are sure they are not open on Sundays.

My friend Mary advised that she has homemade foods ready for us and that it is warming time in Ontario.  It better be as I do not have socks!  Well I do, but am not going to wear them.  So there!

PS.  Welcome back to Crispy...my heart is so happy!

THE FINAL DAYS OF THE KNITTING SEASON!

I think I blogged about this shrug.  The first one I made would have fit a six year old, it was that small.

Well you know me, I am not afraid of anything!  So, I spent 2 1/2 hours almost taking the whole thing apart  and adjusted the tensions and came up with this.  It is now able to fit a body!

This girl (aren't they all nowadays?) was staying in a little villa for the weekend and modeled it.

It does still require a stick pin of sorts to finish it off, but it fits. 

If my butt wasn't quite as wide as it is, it probably would be good, but having said that, I am giving it to one of my granddaughters.   I tell you that patterns just do not turn out quite what the knitter expected, or they make mistakes in their writings.  Anyway it does look pretty good in real life.

The next photo was the  model on Lionbrand pattern, and there is no way this girl is above a size 2!

Also not included was a rear view of her skinny body.  Who
looks like this and is this size? She must have been six foot two!

I have made a few prayer shawls, which have been sold,   that was good as I have no idea what I would have done with them.  I have one which I use and others would have just taken up space.

I am surprised how many women don't know how to knit simple stitches, so next year, there will be a knitting group here in Florida.  Lots of sales, and lots of students to make simple, but effective things.


The prayer shawls were inspired from seeing photos of the Sandy Hook murders, and women wearing them.  It was fitting.

I have knit at least 10 pairs of socks!  Gave most of them away.  Socks for men, who now tell me that they think of me every night that they put them on!  Oh swell for me!

This pair is what my sweetie got.  Left overs of course, but  he doesn't care as long as he has them.  I even cut off the cuff of a pair and added new feet to them as the cuff take such a long time to knit....it seems to me anyway, so making the feet is half way done!


We have had so much fun here, but our days are down to single digits as by Friday the season is over at the Pineapple Villas.

We are down to the final eight, from the winter count of 20 of us.  Yes, spring must be just around the corner.  There have been double digit temperatures in Canada, and we count the days till we return to the cottage.

I tell you, we better get going as my sweetie has started doing a few things around our unit, fixing things here and there and complaining that he should have brought tools! 

Time to go from here.  We are heading south for a couple of weeks to a more holiday atmosphere and then we should be back in Canada.

BUYING FRENZIES IN FLORIDA!

 The Missouri Star Quilting Co, sends me a daily deal!  Some are really hard to pass up for the 99 cents that is charged for charm packs.  Add $5.00 for delivery etc. I then look forward to the post delivery.

I have more of the charms, but didn't want to bore you with all the eye popping colours I've bought.

I love the Moda Ocean View as it is very nautical and has of course my flip flops, (thongs) throughout the pack.  I love this so much!  

I saw the same on Green Fairy Quilts sale this past weekend, and bought two more.  I know, I know, but the ideas running in my head of what to do with all the new stash is keeping me awake! 

Unless items are on sale, I just do not need to buy.  I find that fabrics are actually a bit more here than in Canada, so yardage hasn't been my big thing. And we buy in metres which is bigger.

I got the jelly as a daily deal also, and it has so many brights in it that I was giddy when I opened the package on Valentine Day.  And to make it really special, my sweetie was singing karaoke "Lady" during my package opening.   It was a good day!

I think people know I love flip flops, so my friend Mary who is here also, found these little wine charms!  Are they not just the cutest things?   I have them in the package still so as not to lose them.  Blurry a bit, but you get the idea.

Now, Mary knits.  She was like me last year getting sick of socks and fingerless gloves, so Helen (remember my teacher/friend from the lake) gave her a pattern for baby hats and Mary started knitting these hats. 

Well, then Mary made her adjustments to the hats and what you see is one of her many lovely baby hats that she has made.

Not only that, but she makes them in different sizes, colours, with never a one being the same....she has sold about 40 of them and still the orders keep coming!

So much fun for her as she can sit by the pool, watch TV, or whatever, her little hat projects are always near.

Today, Tuesday, is usually girls day out for breakfast and shopping.  But honestly, I have been so busy that I am opting out!  The weather is awful and building.  The seas are very very rough, we are expecting rain, and with the winds howling, I think it is not the best day to venture out. 

The pool which is just outside our window, I swear had white caps on it yesterday. due to the wind conditions.  But....we don't have snow, and for that I am happy to sit out the weather for a few days.

FLORIDA DAYS

 My days have been spent knitting while sitting at the pool.  Life is actually speeding up as we only have about five weeks left here on the Panhandle of Florida.  Then we move further south for a month by another pool, but close to a grand son who will be there.

The girls received these snuggies to keep them warm during their snow days in Canada.  They loved them!

You know it's hard knitting for young adults as style is everything.  I also gave Tory a watch which is called a snap watch as it just snaps on the wrist.  She is having her 21st birthday so she got the watch too!  Loved the colour, and the style too!

I have given and sold a few of the said scarves while here which was just a bit more money to buy more wool to make stuff.  I am sick of knitting socks, or maybe just sick of knitting and wish I was quilting.  Bring on spring I say!

I did make a shrug, which was to be a large, but will be lucky if it fits a size zero person as it turned out so small.  Not being an "expert" knitter, I didn't notice the sizing till it was almost finished.  And....to make matters worse I ran out of the edging about two feet from the end.  It might fit an 8 yr. old I swear and she better be skinny!

We also watch dolphins as you can see from the photo which was a lucky shot as I could not see because of the sun.  Lucky me.

Being Canadian, we watch the weather channel.  It is in out DNA I swear, no matter where we are!  So thankful to have missed all the snow and as you can see from the above photo, some people do like it though!  I looked for days at the storms affecting so much of the US and Canada and really was happy to not have to deal with it.


Here in Florida as else where in the world the texting while driving is crazy!  There are people here on vacation who are never far from the dreadful things!  Honestly, what did we ever do before all of this.  I fear we may all grow thumbs and forget how to talk.  I shall be the only person who wishes for a landline phone and hope that someone at the other end knows how to talk!

Downton Abbey is in its two hour finally tomorrow night so I shall be glued to the telly, and dressed for the occasion....just kidding, but I will be glued!

JANUARY DAYS IN FLORIDA

 The days here are filled with "abundant" sunshine.  It is what the weather network has been calling our days!

We were told before we came to the panhandle of Florida that there would be a much cooler climate than further south.  But honestly, I cannot complain at all.  The view of the Gulf of Mexico from our little villa is beyond belief. 

The dolphins continue to be
the source of almost daily joy to us snowbirds that live in this area.   The dolphin photo was just me clicking and clicking away.  The pod of dolphins amused us for about an hour and a half!  Bliss!

There was a woman here whose name was Nancy...and she brought her sewing machine and pieced this top while on vacation.  She did say that she wished she had cut her fabrics at home before she came here.    The quilt is for a little girl.  It is very cute.

Life has been good except for a persisting tooth ache this winter, so I am biting the bullet and going to a dentist here.  It is a situation where we contact our insurance company, find a dentist (done), call for an appointment, call the insurance company and they then call the dentist with a number....I think that is how it will go as we haven't used any medical problems at all.  I am in pain again, so we must deal with it.    Ah the perils of aging....the bloody teeth that I've paid thousands over the years....we shall see.

Thank you blogger for letting me post photos today.



BLOGGING PROBLEMS....AGAIN.

Oh, sometimes I hate blogger...now, unless I am in Picassa, which limits my use of its space, I cannot put a photo on my blog.

What is wrong with me?  For some reason, I have so many problems with blogging. 

Anyway, we are well and happy in Florida, am shopping online and in the shops around me. 

If anyone knows how to get my photos online without using Picassa, let me know.

Living here for the winter, life becomes one social event after an other.  There has been a big turkey pot luck dinner featuring the aforementioned bird, lots of veggie dishes and some amazing lemon squares.  I think we should be making a cook book what with the foodies talking about their favs.

The Elvis birthday party was a bit over the top, but a fun way for people to get together as an excuse.  One of the ladies here is an Elvisholic to the point that she has a life size of himself in white sequin suit.   Funny!

Yesterday our friends from Whitby arrived to lots of hugs and happiness.  The dogs were more crazy than the people.  My wild westie finally collapsed peacefully into sleep after about 15 minutes. 

Dinner of seafood is always my way of being happy.  Here we get fresh of everything and the oyster bars are being rated all the time when I find a new one.

from Florida, I send greetings.

DECEMBER DAYS ON THE BEACH

The seas are very rough, the storms were around us all day yesterday with tornado warnings in the area.  It was beautiful to see the Gulf of Mexico in its glory! 

I went for a walk along the beach in the afternoon and this was washed up on the beach...a sea sponge.   I had not seen one in years so it was a surprise.  I presented it to the staff here to see if they had seen one before.   Nope.  A new thing in their life.   Very interesting day indeed.

I am buying fabrics here and there, doing the Daily Deal on the Missouri Star site is great fun.  Quilton reminded me to buy the quilting clips the other day which were on for .33 plus $5.00 shipping was a great price.  I know people use hair clips etc., but these are going to help with the sewing of the bindings.

I do wish I had brought my sewing machine now.  I know that knitting is easy to carry, but I miss my sewing time.

I have knit at least a half dozen pairs of socks, and even a prayer shawl...I do need the fringes on it though to make it look proper.   Not that I pray, but these days here in the US, we are all putting the people of Newtown in our hearts at least as they must put together a future without 20 children and six teachers in their community.

I am flying home for Christmas to cherish and hug my family.  My friend Mary is doing the dinner which is always a wonderful feast for all expecially the blending of our families.   Merry Christmas.