THE BOYS

Here is the photo of my three boys dressed in their Christmas pyjas and waiting for Santa.

Kelly didn't want to be in the photo and I haven't found the one of her yet. I think she had on striped pyjas if I remember correctly.

Adam was only 6 mos old and so cute then.

Now they are all grown, have grown children almost and the years have slipped by.

Christmas was so simple in those days, stockings were the big thing in the mornings of those early years. Just a few gifts bought and lots of homemade items....Wonderful days with their grandmothers so happy to see them in their Christmas outfits.

Such wonderful times...Martin was always the last to open his gifts. He loved to just stand and look at it in all its wonder of a 3 yr old. He was so cute. They all opened Adam's gifts since he was so young..

THE RED BLOCKS

Well as suggested, I have laid out the red blocks to get a random pattern. It really works, I took a few photos to see if they looked satisfactory.

So, I have marked the rows, and since the white will be the contrasting colour, it gives me an idea of the quilt's finished effect.

Of course, I have enough red squares left over to do another quilt...god, I have such a hard time counting what a pattern says.

Oh well. One thing that I did decide is that the Christmas blocks I had cut that I will not use them and will make some stockings or something with them. I could make a skirt for the tree, but I really don't have red as my accent with the tree.

I hope I can find some red and white polka dot fabric to line it. I think that would be great.

The day started out as a winter wonderland with snow very heavy and it has now turned to rain and it's again a dark day. Oh how I await sunshine....

THE GREEN QUILT FINISHED

I finished it yesterday afternoon while watching the Big Three on CNN and switching to CTV newsnet about the goings on with one group asking for bailouts and everyone really impressed me in the deportment and professionalism.

Then switching to CTV and seeing the bafoons we call politicians acting like demigods, well it was worth the watch. Really stupid politics going on here in Canada and what these politicians need to do is grow up and get governing.

This little quilt is about 52" square and I love the finished product. It would make a nice crib quilt or a lap throw to make someone cheery.

This is part of the red fabric collection that I got at Fabricland's 40% sale last week. I'm thinking of the "dream quilt" which is blue and white, but you know finding blues that I wanted wasn't going to happen on sale so I liked the reds. I washed them to make sure they don't run...I hope and want to start cutting today if I can.

There isn't a cloud in the sky as I write this and hardly any wind to put the wind chill factor in when I walk this morning. Last night when there was a very light snowfall, the dog and I went for a walk. A perfect night, light snow falling, no wind, and with the Christmas lights on around the neighbourhood, it really is starting to look like the Season.

Oh it must be as I am making Christmas cookies today too. Yum!

GREAT IDEAS

http://www.tipnut.com/ has the most amazing tips and ideas for whatever skills you want to apply. I can't remember how I found this site either. But it was here that I think I found that waterbottle pattern. There is so much out there on the web that something happens and I add it to a favourite and then can't remember how I got there...It's a brain thing.



Well Kel couldn't stand it, she put her tree up in the family room and is starting to do her Christmas decorating. She always gets into it and I love what she does, but can't do the decorating thing because I am a bit claustraphobic and eventually all that "stuff" just starts to crowd in on me. But we do have a couple of wreaths for the door and a huge tree which we are planning to put up this year. When we looked at the tree through the eyes of the camera we thought the lights were wonkie and laughed because in the room the tree looks amazing. Her little kiddies that she minds just loved it.

Wow the sun is shining today and I am going for a walk while it's out there. So so many days without sunshine here in Whitby that it's really depressing me. I need the sunshine to keep me sharp and cheery. I tell my bridge group that I practice being "sharp" and after the laughter dies down they continue to let me play.

WATER BOTTLE CARRIER

Pink Chalk Studio is where I found this water bottle carrier. I think it would make an excellent gift. At the site is a tutorial on how to make and quilt this neat little item. It is free.





I can't even remember how I came across this site, but she has some really neat ideas and patterns.

There is a mail bag pattern on her site and it is very very cool and looks really easy to make. She also quilts and does other sewing stuff that is really neat.

Take a look .

Green quilt is finished except for the binding which I will hand sew tonight as I watch Judge John Deed on BBCC, love the show and never miss this British drama.
Speaking of drama, our goverment is doing such stupid acts in this time of needing to act like adults, that it makes me wish for a snap election just to give someone a good kick for trying to overthrow a duly elected goverment just 6 weeks ago! Grown men can be such buttheads as my grandkids say.

Bridge day, I always look forward to seeing the gang and having and afternoon of cards, socializing and just plain "feeling the love".

SEWING AREA

This is my sewing area. It isn't fancy, but it works really well. I have lots of room and lots of plugs for electric needs.

When we were deciding where to put the shelves etc, I chose this area as the window directly above lets the sunlight in (when we ever get sun) and it makes it pleasant to work there. I have lots of light and can move another table ajacent to the sewing table for the other machine or quilting area.

This is Courtney's cupboard before and the second photo shows it after Jerry had installed the units to complete it for her. She was returning from Florida training camp on Sunday so it had to be finished for her on Saturday. Kelly painted the room grey, removed the carpeting and reorganize the bed etc. Needless to say Courts was speechless when she saw her room. Excellent job done by Kel and Jer.

We are minding Quincy again today and he is just making Wilson so tired. Me too. I took the dogs for a walk and it was a chore to have 2 dogs on leashes and one who just want to smell and one who just wants to run.

I am finishing my green quilt today. I have basted it and it's ready for stippling. I wonder if people that baste, pin before doing a small quilt such as this one which is about 52" square. Anyway, I didn't and it looks good to go.

I have decided to make my "dream quilt" in red and white, I know it's not the colours I would normally choose, but I liked the reds and there were limited blues. I will watch for them though as I do like the idea of the blues.

My friend Dawn has decided to try another strippy quilt. Wahoo Dawn...Looking forward to working together with her.

I'm off to quilt.

GREEN QUILT

Well I have this "green " quilt top done. I wanted it to be more boyish so that I can pass it on to a boy, however I may have to ask opinions on this from family.

It's hard to do a boyish quilt without making it look babyish too. I didn't know what to do with this so I cut out 4 1/2" squares and put them together. I also have since added a blue sashing to the borders. It looks ok, not the oomph that I was looking for.

I hope to start basting it this morning if I can get going. I am putting a stripe as the backing. You know a lot of quilts don't show the back and it's as important as the front. I have a hard time putting colours together and if I saw the backs of quilts it might help me.

I'm going to buy some stash today as Fabricland has a 40% off sale and they need my money.

I hate spending right now as we are heading into a depression for the next while and I must justify any monies going out to feed my addiction. Oh I will mind you but still..........

Homemade beans are on our menu for tonight. I really like them and with a small crunchie salad they make a great meal. Besides the house will smell lovely all day long. I am a pretty basic cook, you know meat and potatoes etc but every so often I try a new dish. Well with our Christmas brunch coming up, yesterday I looked at a bunch of recipes to try. Reading the comments of recipes is a great way to decide.

I wasted so much time on this that I didn't get much else done. But the day was so dark because of the weather that it's hard to get motivated to do anything. I thought I was coming down with a cold, but no I 'm not so it's just the weather.

We also had the might Quincy visiting as we were minding him till Bob came home last night. He's too young, only 12 weeks old, to be left alone for a long time. He is growing so fast, but he loves to be here because Wilson will play with him and is so patient...except when it comes to food, boy then Q is put in his place.

WINTER IS HERE!

This is the final photo of the cottage work boat yesterday. The boats are all out of the water and the bays are freezing, snow has fallen, winter has arrived at our little place on earth where we dream of being each day.

Now the snowmobiles will be reving up their engines and getting ready for snow trails.

Me? I am quilting up a storm. I have almost finished a top which I'll post tomorrow as today is bridge day. Going to lunch with Dawn, we are celebrating being alive!

The new top is a lot of blue and green making it more boy friendly which is what I was hoping for as all my quilts are very "girly". It is simple 4 1/2" squares, and went together so fast that I was almost finished before 4 pm yesterday. I haven't figured out the sashing yet, so my little stash of fabrics may not do the trick. I may have to shop which is my least favorite part of quilting. I know that sounds strange, but I shop for a quilt, make it and move one, I don't know how I'll aquire a "stash".

BOOKS. I'VE BEEN TAGGED

Well this is a new one for me, Lisa at Cranberry Flats has tagged me which means I must come up with 7 books that I've read that are "different".

I don't know if I know 7, but here is one.

"Stealing Lillian" sort of like a comedy of errors book about a little girl who is kidnapped and then the kidnappers offer money to get her parents to take her back. The book is absolutely ancient and out of print, but my mother gave it to Jerry to keep. It's priceless.

"Armegedon" about the end of second world war when the alies are taking possession of Berlin. Seen through the eyes of an American Army Officer. It give insite into the European occupation in 1945.

"The Lovely Bones" I consider this little book as one of the saddest I've ever read and my granddaughter Tory who is an avid reader suggested this. I cried all the way through it. It's going to be made into a movie which will come out next year.

"Ireland With a Fridge" about a bloke who, on a drunken night accepts a bet to go about Ireland with a fridge on his back...funny.

"The Devil wears Prada" not much like the movie, funny and biting about the world of fashion and it's cutthroating at its best.

"Any book by Margaret Atwood" so strange that I cannot finish them. She is Canadian writer, and always gets nominated for her books, but I find them so awful, I can't ever finish them. So there, hope this counts.

"The Army" written by my son Martin when he was about 12 yrs old and it was a short story that I typed for his english project. Totally captivating, and it was about how ants work together and the day they made a bridge to cross a river, which at the end was a little stream about 3 " wide. So good a composition that I remember it.

Whew, on to number 6.

"The Camel Club" David Baldacci wrote this and it was the first of his books I had read, now of course I have read all his books, totally captivating and one of the best thriller writers.

"Forty Words" by Giles Blunt, who is Canadian author, writes about a fictional town up northern Ontario and has a recurring character in his detective thriller books.

I hope this is what is supposed to be written in the "Tagged" blogger series. I don't know if they are supposed to be really weird, or just "different" styles of readings.

I suppose all of us have read "Gone With the Wind" which stands up today as it did when written. My daughter went to see the movie when she was 12, didn't know Clark Gable and thought the author must have written the book with him in mind, because when she read the book that was how she pictured Rhett Butler...I always remember that.

FINGERLESS GLOVES

I made thes "fingerless gloves" for the kids last year and I have worn them also. They can be worn over another pair of gloves if its quite cold (see last week). They don't take long to make and certainly if made in bright cheery colours would make a daring teen happy to have them.

I took this with my Canon SLR as I couldn't get the powershot Canon to download to the computer. Stupid thing. It works sometimes and then it gets tempermental. It worked fine on Saturday and as I sit here totally frustrated because it didn't work, it's started my day stressed out. The computer keeps saying that there is no camera settings. I'll take it to the store and have them look at it. I read the book, but since I have a hard time reading directions, that isn't going to help me at all.

It's warm out today, in the above freezing and I am actually looking forward to going out. Last week was so cold in Ontario here and most of the country for that matter that we all wanted to become groundhogs and hybernate. Not today. It's going to rain probably and I don't care. It's warm.

I am planning a family brunch to take place in a couple of weeks. I know the deserts, but the main courses are still bothering me as I don't want to make the usual sausage strata, even though the family loves it. I'll be surfing the net for some ideas for sure. Teens can be fussy and the party will mostly be teens, so I want to be prepared. Used to be that the kids had fruit and cereal, and bacon of course and then we the adults sat down and feasted....not now, everyone wants to feast.

I'm getting into the Christmas spirit I think...although I think it's way to early for the tree. Not till the tenth at least.

PRETTY IN PINK....EVE'S QUILT

This little pink quilt has found a home! It is going to my niece Eve. She is having her room painted today in pink so this will be perfect for her room.

Her dad dropped in last night and mentioned that she was getting a room makeover and so, this quilt is gone.

It's hard parting with quilts as I am learning. Each one is a work of many many hours and the thoughts and love that go into each one doesn't hit you till you pass it on to someone else to hopefully love it like you do. Anyway, it's gone. I am putting a label on it for her. She is 3yrs this coming March...perfect for her.

This morning I was awake early thinking of how to make the label for it and with the new embroidery stitches I have on the new sewing machine, I'll have some fun with the design. I only hope I have enough pink thread to do the label.

I went over to "maryquilts" and noted that she was up really early and had a couple of comments to her blog by other early risers. She does such beautiful work on her longarm and so many charity quilts that I visit her often to note her generosity.

Another cold day here in Ontario. Did I mention that I hate the winter? Well not all of it but the really chilly damp that we sometimes get. Jerry is actually thinking of putting up a few Christmas decorations! I can't believe it. He is getting the spirit! Isn't it too early yet? I have seen a half dozen houses in this area that have their Christmas trees up....good lord, it's November.

It reminds me of my sister in law telling the story of when her boys were young, Jamie not older than 9 I think and she came home and they had put up the tree in November. They just couldn't wait till Christmas. Ah, those days are gone for our grandkids now who are almost all teenagers and beyond.....

HAPPY 14TH BIRTHDAY ALEX

Today is granddaughter Alexandra's birthday. We gave her an Ipod and her sister was happy that we did as no one will have to listen to Alex play the same song over and over.

I finished the quilt. It turned out so well and the new machine which is the 6600, Janome is everything that it is supposed to be. I stippled it and it really looks good.

The quilt which had the errors in my measuring the 9 patch finished up looking quite different and it is very "square" at about 60" . I felt like I was in a "zone" doing this quilt and I suppose after 10 months of quilting....using that word loosely....I finally finished one that looks like it is supposed to.

We went to Kelly's today and the bedroom project is coming along well, with Jerry getting instructions to not be too "perfect" and he is going to make Courtney's shelves for her cupboard. I was amazed at how neat her drawers were. Perfectly folded sweaters, tshirts, pants, socks folded etc. I tell you she could give the army lessons in folding. Unbelievable for a 16 yr old!

So tomorrow I will plan another quilt...hopefully I can find some fabrics on sale and be inspired.

SNOW DAY

Well, I finished the top of this quilt. I didn't do the sashing the same at each side as I don't want it to be square. So I did 5 1/2 on the sides and 3 1/2 on the top or visa versa which ever I decide looks best.


Now, of course if I could learn to read directions the blocks would be 3 1/2" nine patch and I wouldn't have had to mess around with the yellow to make the squares 9" square. So frustrating, otherwise it would have taken me a day to cut and at least start to put this together instead of looking at it and hitting myself up the side of the head for being stupid. But fortunately it's fabric and I could fix it. I do love it though and Jerry says he really really likes it.


Now I must decide to finish it stippling or in the ditch to quilt it. I really think it calls for the stippling...oh joy, just what I have been practicing for the past week.





Since I played bridge yesterday, doing my best not to be too disruptive to the people who have put up with me over the past 10 years of playing with that group, and forgetting so much over the summer that I should be in lessons, I think I will read up on bridge bidding and see if I do better there than reading quilting directions.



We have had our first snow of the season...the dog loves it, the kids love it and I am staying indoors and looking out till it melts.

Yesterday we had the warning that it would snow, so I shopped for food and decided that we should hybernate for a couple of days till this stuff disappears.


We will probably go to Kelly's to take photos and see what she and I can do to enhance Jerry's life once again by having him do some woodworking for us and making him follow our directions for Courtney's room without his going nuts! We want to keep it simple and "No Jerry, you aren't supposed to look at the floor" sort of thing because the first thing he will say is that it looks like it should be finished. Not going to happen..right Kel?

I can't believe how many people have commented to this blog. I am so happy to have a few of my fellow bloggers commenting. It really completes my day.

MY SHELVES COMPLETED

Finally yesterday afternoon Jerry finished the shelves for my sewing needs. They just look fantastic and with the white shelving it makes the area look so bright.

I spent the early part of this morning "staging" it just to look at it on the computer. I hope to fill up the left side with quilts and even the cherished ones from my aunt. I found another this morning which is very raggedy and will need some repairing it. It's a log cabin of some kind which my grandmother and great aunt did so many years ago. I'm going to put a new binding on it and fix it the best I can.

Well I did fix the measurements that I failed to notice when cutting out the new quilt, and put it together yesterday while Jerry was finishing the shelves. He said it was one of his favorites. Great! I am off to Kelly's today to see how she is coming with Courts's room since she's in Florida training, her mother will surprise her when she comes home in two weeks.

I have tools and am ready to do the best I can to help her. So off I go.

2 1/2 is not 3 1/2.

Well last week I started a new quilt and for some reason mistook, 2 1/2 " binding for the measurement for the 9 patch. Consequently, the 9 patch was too small, so I had to add yellow strips around it. I think it will look quite good, but it wasn't what I wanted.
Another lesson learned "Read twice, cut once" I think will be my new motto.

My shelves will be finished today. The units are up, but not completed as Jerry will put the remaining shelves up where I want them. It looks brighter already with the white shelves there.

We didn't do much yesterday as we watched the final Nascar race which didn't change the results of the champ, but we found the race exciting.

I went to Fabricland with a 50% off coupon and their quilting fabrics were just plain boring, so I gave the coupon to another customer for her use. She was pleased, not a quilter but had bought a lot of fabric and didn't have the mail coupon. I did my good deed. There was a lot of 40% off fabrics, so my couplon wasn't good for that anyway. I am going to Ajax today and will see what that Fabricland has. It's got to be better than Whitby.

Today will be a day to walk the dog, yesterday was so damp that I played stupid and ignored him, but gotta do it today even though it is going to be cold and damp again. But then it is November.

We went to see our granddaughter off to Florida for her training camp in kayaking. Lucky girl and being a teenager, even though I said to watch the weight of her stuff, she was a bit overweight by 3 kilos. The airline charges $10.00 per kilo, so she lightened her load by carrying on. She's gone for 2 weeks...and looks like she will have good weather.