SEWING IN THE RAIN,

 Normally on Sunday mornings we sleep in a bit, after all it is the beginning of the week.


The dogs needed out, so as I stepped out onto the deck with them, this is what greeted us!

Even the dogs looked over to see what this was.  It appears, this is probably a hundred year
old dock that somehow has had
the urge to wander.  There are five huge 15-20 ft logs under all the rotted board!  We have no idea how it got here or where it came from either.  


My sweetie moved it to the other side of the lake, attached it to a tree so that the township can come and remove it.  There are huge spikes sticking out of it and at night it would certainly be dangerous for navigation.


We were lucky to move it before
the rains started.


Also seen this morning was a small beaver who looked at the dock with wonder.


I finished up the second of the flip flop quilts.  It will be a bit smaller than the first one I made, but just as colourful.  Okay, I am done with these for the summer.


For years this little sucker has been my ironing board.  I just didn't have space for a large ironing board, so I made do.


Sometimes, for a large project I used three or four sheets to press items,  well no more.


I was on the Missouri Star Quilt Shop site and there was an easy pressing board.


I asked my sweetie to cut me a 
large board.  Over the board, is a large towel, made like a pillow case, and over that, an old sheet, made to fit over that.  It is awesome, doesn't take up any more room than my cutting mat.

As we head to the city on highway 35, there is a church with a sign that says...We may not be Dairy Queen, but you should try our Sundays!"  Isn't that cute?

GONE BABY, GONE!

 Oh how much fun is it to send off surprises to special people!  They don't know they are getting these in the mail!


I have been making these two quilts for twin boys...great great nephews...born in April of this year.


I also decided to send a couple of other quilts along to complete my culling of quilts.


I don't know about you, but passing quilts on, even though it is hard to part
with them gives one a very special feeling.


I finally figured out the label thing.  Oh goodness why does it take me so long to learn things?   My private teacher Helen too five minutes and there it was, a label.


So, away I went and made four of them in minutes.  Next, I am going to do the freezer paper thing.  The fabric from the
purchased quilt label package was very
stiff, so I had to machine sew it on the
quilt.

 I am really pleased how it all turned out.


I returned home from dentist, who is in the city, driving such an exotic car that I didn't know what kind it was.  Tells you where the money is doesn't it?

Anyway, he is a great dentist, so an implant is on the way for my
dazzling smile.


Anyway, I returned home to  a lovely package of 1930s fabrics from Shay in Australia.  (Quilting in my Pyjamas for those that don't know) and  oh my, I am through with all my stash busting for now.  I am going to make something with what Shay sent and add (Quilt On) Bev's fabrics also.


Making a quilt larger than 65-70" is a challenge for quilting on the machine.  But, there is a Mennonite group on my way home, so I am asking on Tuesday when travelling once again to the city, if they take the quilts to hand quilt.  Would that not be something?


"An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have.    The older she gets, the more interested he is in her..."  Agatha Christie.

WEEKEND WORKS!

 Someone brought these napkins for the weekend once.  I never really noticed what the caption was over time, but looked at the writings again and chuckled as I read it. 


I just do not like the camping thing, bugs, no power, no showers, and no hair dryer....Oh wait, when the power goes out here, it 
could be like that till we power up the
generator!


Well here is one of Helen's completed quilts which is going to Switzerland with her.  She will be gone for a month, and also plans to visit Venus for one of the Operas.


She has shown me how to make
labels.  Here is hers for one of the
quilts, done in Italian as that is  the language is of her hosts.


There are many sites on the web for making labels, but being challenged when it comes to directions, I now know how to make them.

 As usual, the cabin offers the
perfect background for photos
for  her work.  


The weekend was full of sewing and quilting in spite of the lovely weather, I was pretty much at my little space in the sun room

.

Got my first flowers of the season from our neighbours.  The girls brought them over which was a lovely surprise.


They are all so fresh and beautiful.  I always thank the cottage guy, but it is actually the cottage gal that picks them up....she had to tell me that ....


From George Carlin, which is how I feel.


I was looking in the mirror the other day and I realized I haven't changed much since I was in my 20s.   The only difference is I look a whole lot older now!   


PS...I received a parcel from blogging friend Bev in Oakville.  The photos will be shown later, but the fabric is perfect.  I have a project in mind already.  Thank you Bev for sending the extras.

I'M USING UP STASH THIS SUMMER...ARE YOU?

When we came back to the cottage this spring, I vowed to use up my stash.

Now compared to some of you, I only have a bit, but my fabrics, batting and a few other things, must fit into a cedar chest.  I don't have room for everything else that makes up quilting.


I do have small suitcases stacked to store threads etc.


I sorted through fabrics on Sunday morning.  I cut out 6" squares and discovered that I had 3 X 6 white already cut out which is what I needed.  


Then, I found about 10 metres
of wide white backing.  What was I thinking when I bought that?  I do not remember that purchase!


So, today I made the quilt top which is going to an Aunt when we visit this summer...Yep we are off this island in August.  Can you believe that?


I found the green and pink wheels at the bottom of the chest.  I had nine squares, which I made for my second quilt.  I had to totally square these up and still have lots of the dots fabrics...are you surprised that I still have lots of dots?  anyway, I made a sewing machine cover and did some bits of improv on the sides of it to see what those free motion people do when they have creative moments.


I totally impressed myself I tell you, but wow, what a lot of thread that one uses for this straight stitch stuff.


I bought bamboo batting which is lighter than warm and white which I usually use, but for $9.00 a metre, how could I not try it?  I think I actually must have used some of this before and it feels so soft and light.   A perfect price point.


Helen, the proverbial quilter, is in a flurry as she is making quilts for all the friends in Europe that she will be visiting this summer.  Knitting beautiful light scarves too for the daughters of the friends, but the quilts are just amazing in their simplicity.


She will give me a lesson in label making this weekend as I, for the life of me cannot get my head around making labels on the computer.   Another lesson from my private teacher....she endures so much from me I tell you..."OK, show me one more time please?"  and she does!


We are heading into the city for a few days.   Of course we shall be leaving in rain as we refused to leave our little paradise today which is warm and breezy.... OK, it is blowing a bit, but a beauty day.


I love summer in Canada.




I

LONG WEEKENDS AT THE COTTAGE!

 It isn't often that we get both of our hopefully future Olympians here at the cottage on a long weekend.  


This year, for Victoria Day (the mighty queen), the kids came up with their boats to a perfect perfect weather weekend on May 24.


In previous years we have had snow, sleet, and mighty winds, so getting calm bright days to enjoy the lake is a bonus at this time of year.


Practices were early morning, so up at 6 am to follow the boats to
ensure safety was good for me as I am used to getting up early.


With coffee in hand, we delivered the boats back to the marina only to find that a bear had tried to eat our truck cover.


Since the bear visits, we have been diligent about food at the cottage.  Never ever did we expect (duh) that a bear would be on the mainland at the marina.   Anyway, lots of garbage around, the cover is totaled.  Another lesson learned by us after 12 years.


The top looks like it had a rotary cutter doing work....must have been a seam of sorts on the cover.  


So, another week has passed.  I am making two more baby quilts as my grandnephew and his wife have had twin boys.  Got the fabric yesterday to have a project over the weekend as the weather is deteriorating as I am writing this blog.   Do I care?  


I am looking for some 1930 type fabric, either charms, jellies or layer cakes.  I know that there should be yellow in the fabrics and that's about it.  Do you know where to get this?


For Sale:  copy of encyclopedia Britannica...$200.00.  Recently got married and husband knows everything!  (one could substitute wife somewhere herein )


Have a good weekend!

BABY QUILTS AT THE COTTAGE

At the cottage for the past week, there has been sunshine, light winds and a lot of sewing going on.

Helen and I made baby quilts.  She is off on a trip with her darling, visiting a friend who is a new grandmother to a beautiful little girl, so pink was in her charms, for making her quilt.

 I, on the other hand made for a boy born April 24th this year.  I love the green blocks added to the soft blues of this quilt.  A simple but effective look to the finished product.  


We both cut out 5" blocks and 3" sashings to make the quilts.




 I made mine almost reversible.  I always
have trouble with backings and after much measuring and deciding what to do, I am very pleased with the results.


It is hard to blog about ones life when that life is so busy.  I note many of us are so busy sewing we don't have time to blog, and sometimes, the brain just doesn't register an interesting, (in my opinion) blog.


Our life has had so much happening in the last week, with three, count em three deaths of friends, quite suddenly.  Trips to the city is always an event, so it is with relief although sadness that we are here at the cottage, but  thankful for good health once again. 

This is a photo of Helen's cabin where many quilt photos have been taken as the cabin sits in the little wooded area behind her cottage.


As I was returning along the path this morning I could not resist another shot at the wonderful cabin.


Laughter is the best medicine.....a man and woman who have been married many many years are sitting at the breakfast table....
The man...when I die, I want to you to sell all my tools and stuff right away....
The woman.....Why?
The man....Well I feel that you will remarry and I don't want some jerk touching and using my stuff!


The woman....what makes you think I'd marry another jerk?

FLIP FLOP QUILT FINISHED, FRIDAY FAV!

 The inspiration for my flip flop quilt came from Carol Burniston in the June 2008 issue of Fons and Porter magazine.


I kept the pattern with instructions which showed larger flip flops.  I decided to make them smaller to fit a jelly roll which I bought for $9.00 at Walmart in the US this passed winter.


It was such fun to make.  I just don't think it will be in my possession for long as my daughter has already said she loved it.


The black and yellow quilt is also a jelly from Walmart.  I loved this happy patterns and yellow is a great colour for any quilt don't you think?


It's Friday morning, this is the beginning of Canada's Victoria Day holiday which is a long weekend.  The dog and the sweetie are resting up to get ready for the onslaught of nine people for the four days of fun and food.


I've made most of the meal preps, spaghetti, cakes, cowboy bread, the fixings already done for the pizzas, chicken is thawing, and the roast for Monday night is aging as will I be when this whole thing is passed.


And finally, not my photo of the hummingbird, but they are here.  Fighting over food and loving our flower selections for the summer.


The other day someone told me I could freeze leftover wine, I was confused....what is leftover wine?

THE SEASON BEGINS!

 I was visiting my friend Helen who knows how to sew straight seams and curved one if need be.  Well this is her weekend bag to travel in Switzerland when she visits this summer.  I just love it to the point of getting the pattern from her.


Her work is so professional!  I always admire her works.   The inside is as lovely as the outside.  She also has added inside pockets which the pattern didn't call for.


She is also in the final steps of finishing this boys quilt which will be travelling to Europe with her.  For the grandchild of their host I believe.  The red and white is Swiss flag colours I think too.  


We are both in the making quilts
for the summer.  I have two in progress but haven't spray basted yet, thought I'd do them both at the same time.  Of course today, after four days of no wind, it is probably too windy to finish them, oh well, one more day isn't so bad.


I have these blocks, 15 of them,
which I did in a fit of what to do.

I was practicing making a wonky star block and had nothing but what you see. 


 They are free for whoever wants them.  They can be finished for a charity quilt or whatever you wish.  As usual, it is bright blocks but they are there for first come first serve type of thing. 


 I have so many projects on the go that they need to be gone from my huge (for me at least) stash as I only have so much room here at the cottage.

We have had glorious weather, the hummers are back, our flowers are all out, the trees are almost filled out here at the lake, so the season has begun.  

Next weekend is a long weekend.  We are having a gang up, so am getting geared up for that.  Water skiing is in the books of things to do even if the water is cold.  The young don't care.


Have had a bit of computer glitz as usual when I press to many keys, so that is why this post is long.  

MOON PHOTOS OF SUPER MOON!

 On Saturday night, did you stay up to see the super moon?


We did, but I didn't get a clear picture, so am posting from those who did.


The first is from Greece.  Fabulous shot, even if Photoshop enhanced.  

The second which is one of my
favourites, is from Christchurch
and is by a Ricky Tiong, who managed the shot better than anyone I think.  Beautiful.

This one is by a guy who manages some of the fabulous shots of athletes around Canada.  He took this in Toronto, and did a bit of editing to get this beauty.  Those buildings are real and so great to see as one travels across the top of the city.

 The last is from Ambiant Photos, a site that takes photos throughout the Caribbean.  I just loved this one.


Did you manage to view the moon
in its glory?  Our view was just
spectacular as the night was so
clear, we could almost read by
it.


I managed to piece a small quilt this weekend, which needs finishing and I don't have a complementary fabric for it, so since we are heading to the city tomorrow, I'm taking the top with me.


Helen is working on a beauty which will be completed by next weekend so I can take a photo of it too.


Also almost, almost done is the last of the winter projects, a sweater for me.


Our neighbours are in residence.  We had dinner with them on Saturday night.. what a yummy yummy meal as Kent loves cooking.  They are both wonderful "chefs".  Even if it was a free meal, it was wonderful, and Mary sets a great table for a kid....


Enjoy the photos.

QUILTED BAGS!

 I finally was able to get to some sewing yesterday.


I made totes to just get my hand in sewing after almost six months without a machine.


I have so much fun making bags as they are colourful wherein I use up lots of fabric. 


My sweetie commented that when he goes shopping in Dorset for groceries, he will receive so many oohs and aaws.  Maybe, but they are at least very sturdy and highly functional.


The little one on the left is from a pay it forward that I received
years ago and it has been re-
purposed as the little quilt was 
no longer being used.  I love it, may use it as a summer purse too.


The morning is so calm, all islands and mainland are in full reflections.  The lake is calm, which is not so good if it is cloudy as that means another day without sunshine.


True story....a friend who has a puppy realized that there had been a backyard escape...she ran to the front door only to see her dog running across the street...she was screaming the dog's name, frantically trying to make it across the street to catch the running dog.  A truck driver blocked some traffic, opened his door to come to her aid, when the puppy jumped into his truck!   My friend was so thankful, saying thank you over and over as she held her dog.
The truck driver looked around and leaned over saying "do you realize you are in a nightie?"  Embarrassed, she noted that it wasn't see through and it was clean!  


NOTE...daughter has been to physician it is suspected gastric problems for which ongoing tests will be needed...  

APRIL MEANS SPRING!

I am thinking that spring is here. Today was a glorious sunny day.  Not a cloud in the sky this whole day.

The wind is a bit north west, which shelters us so we are cozy.  We do have ice on the eaves spout though, so it's not that warm, but it's coming this week.  I believe the weather people today because I want to.

I won a lovely giveaway from Quilton that she had recently.  The mail  just caught up with us at our little post office.  Goodness, we had a lot.

I love this gift! Bev made it and 

it is a storage for sewing stuff when we set off again.  The little bag of goodies will come in handy too, although I have already eaten the jelly beans.

If you haven't had a boo at her blog, go over...Quilton has some great stuff.

I brought up a quilt that has been 

at my friend Mary's house to keep her tootsies warm in the winter, and it has enough green to satisfy me for the moment in the sun room at the cottage.  

Finally, my very precious Kelly gave me a scare yesterday, having to call 911 while out shopping.  Now she is tough for pain, so it must have been pretty bad.  She said that giving birth would compare to the pain....laughing now....Anyway, my friend Mary got the first call as she was 5 minutes away from her, but Mary who is our resident expert when it comes to medical stuff, said "Hang up and call 911...NOW!"   So the ambulance was called and she ended up in emergency ward with all kinds of tests, which happily they didn't find anything serious....what?   Anyway she is good today, will call family doctor for appointment tomorrow (Monday).  

As a mother, all our children are precious, but this is my only daughter!  I had visions in my head that I cannot print here, but you all know what I mean.  She is ok, and that is the main thing.  

So, in the end I thank Bob and Mary who came to her rescue, fetched her at the hospital, drove her to her car and Mary drove her home with Bob as back up.  They both made sure she was settled.

What friends....now you know why we love them like family....

  

WINTER RETURNS TO COTTAGE

We returned to the cottage just in time for winter....I tell you that this passed week has been one of adventure.


Our friends arrived with us for a week of opening up, putting in docks etc.


Well that didn't happen.  We 
had winds from the east which 
threatened power outage a couple of times.  Whew!  It didn't happen. 


So, all we did was keep fires burning, using up more wood in a week than we had all last fall.


Too cold to set up for sewing so, I am still knitting.  The sewing machine is in freezing mode, the cutting board is stiff, that's how cold it is. 


As I write this, the sun has decided to grace our cottage, making warmth.  It is amazing how quickly the sun warms us.  The bedroom which faces east is so warm.  So inviting.   I have also ventured into the sun room  where the sun is just arriving and in the past 15 minutes, the temp has risen from 50 degrees f...to 65...thank you sun shine.


The swan above, the photo which was posted by a friend, also covered its face from the cold.


Please bring on spring warmth....the hummingbirds are about 10 days from arriving.  Oh, we also found a poor little bat which was totally chilled and it died on the back deck...that is cold!

WELCOME TO THE COTTAGE.

 We arrived back at our cottage on Wednesday afternoon.  The sky was blue, the lake calm, and all was right with the world.


After we had unpacked umpteen  bags, bins, and various other needs for the cottage, we lit the fire to get the place warmed up after the long winter season.


The wood stove is such a fabulous little
item for getting heat moving in quickly.  I had left all the fixings for the spring start of this gem and just lit a match to get it started.


Within a half hour the cottage had coziness all over it.  The living room was full of cartons, more bins, and various outdoor paraphernalia left from fall closing so that it was looking mighty messy.


We moved most of it to the hall (3 X 5), left it and proceeded to take ourselves to the dock, sit and enjoy the lake in the late afternoon.


This is the earliest we have returned to the "in residence" mode.  We spent a week at our friends, Bob and Mary's place, organized the plan for opening, so it was decided that the guys would go to the lake, take down shutters, and put some semblance of order to the cottage.


Perfect!  Our boat which has a new weather
protection visor on it was perfect for being out on the lake in April...Brrrrrrr!  At times it is quite chilly, but I had the pleasure of sitting up front with my back to the wind, midst all the bags etc.  The dog was cozy too, under an old jacket as he doesn't like the wind.


So, here we are, the place is starting to look lived in again.  There is no sign (so far ) of the pesky bear.  The dog is dirty from hunting mice at the wood pile.  And on the weekend, Bob and Mary will arrive, as will Helen and her sweetie to open their cottage.


South about 120 miles, is our grand son in spring training mode.
He is out on the water doing his passion and not feeling chilly at all.


Bring on the spring sunshine for the weekend!  Can't wait.


It's my favourite thing for Friday!  The cottage.