Willkommen

I arrived home a couple hours ago from a lovely weekend away with a friend. We went to Frankenmuth, Michigan. Frankenmuth, is known as Little Bavaria, with the most authentic Bavarian architecture in America. It's famous for it's food, especially Zehnder's Chicken dinners and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. We apparently picked a good time to go, the weather was perfect, cold but no wind so it didn't feel very cold, dressing properly was the secret. The hotel was clean and close to everything and there was a Snowfest festival going on all weekend. There was some beautiful snow and ice scuptures displayed throughout the entire town. We did some shopping and more shopping, found a quilting shop (of course), and I purchased some more fabric for my Indian Orange Peel quilt. We had some delicious dinners, melt in the mouth prime rib and one of Zehnders Chicken entrees.

I also bought myself a gift, do you want to see her? She is called "Sew Angel" isn't she beautiful?

It was a bit more than I was planning on spending, but I'm worth don't you think. Can't you tell that I am trying to convince myself and you that it was OK to spend these $$$'s on something so frivolous.

What do you think?

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Patricia

The King's Speech

Today I did something that I have never done before, I went to see a film by myself. Yes, I know it sounds as if I have lived a very sheltered life, but I have always gone with friends or my late DH.
Seeing a film in a theatre is something I don't do often, going only if the film has had rave reviews and looks as if it is one I would be interested in. I enjoy it more than sitting at home with a DVD, it must be the vibes from others in the theatre. The reviews for The King's Speech have been great and it has numerous award nominations, so this afternoon I went to see it.
If you are not familiar with the story it's about George VI reluctantly taking the throne of England when his brother Edward abdicates in 1936. George VI turns to a speech therapist to help overcome his stutter, and the two forge a lasting friendship. It was a lovely story and thoroughly enjoyed it. I give it two thumbs up and it is worthy of all the "Bests" that it has been given.
Consequently, there was no sewing done today, we are suppose to have another dumping of snow, this weekend. Reports give conflicting amounts we can expect, whether its alot or a little there is no need for me to go out, so I will be sewing this weekend.
Patricia

Wedding Quilt

Today I finished the second and final border on my grand daughter's wedding quilt. She was married in October, so she used a fall colour scheme of reds and burgundy's, so I also chose to use the same colours. Sorry for poor photo.

Happy with the results, so it is ready for the quilting.

Today we woke to another layer of snow, not sure how much, but any depth that causes me to make a sweeping indentation in the snow on my front deck when I open the door is way too much. I am so thankful to my neighbour as he cleared the snow from my driveway again. There is also a cold wind today which makes it feel a lot colder that it actually is. Roll on Spring... I am afraid it is a long way off yet.

Patricia

Walking and Sewing

Yesterday, I did a 4km walk around the arena's indoor walking track, it was a bit icy on the sidewalk so didn't want to chance slipping and falling. Tomorrow will do 5 kms and continue every Mon, Wed and Fri to do the same. I had so much more energy afterwards, and got a lot done, which included working on my grand daughter's wedding quilt. Only the outer border to sew on on two sides then I can arrange for it to go to the quilter.

Today was an all day sewing day, at Pat's with some "girls" from the guild, and we all worked on the arcs for the IOPQ's we are doing. I have never done any paper piecing so had a lot of problems with the first one I did. With a brief lesson and some timely tips I did get six completed... without having to do any froggy sewing........Yahoo, I can now paper piece. Now that I know what I am doing ..I like it, I love the look of all those precise points, I could become addicted to this. It's a good thing because most of the quilt is paper pieced. My plan is to do some more tomorrow so when taking a picture of gd's quilt I will show some arcs... how exciting is that?

It started snowing again late this afternoon and it is still coming down, wonder how much we will have on the ground in the morning. Hey, it's January, so can't expect much different weather for awhile.

Hope everyone had a great day.
Patricia

Quilting night in Canada

Last night I joined five other quilters for a QINC to work on our Orange Peel Quilts. Some have been able to get a lot of cutting and sewing done, however, I am just starting to get my act together. Last night I cut some of my fabric into the five inch squares for the four patch blocks., and some into the 2 inch strips for the arcs. Tomorrow is an afternoon of sewing.


Resolution up date--
I did 3 kms on the walking track in our city's arena.
All the meals today were healthy and full of fruit and veg, dinner included a lean pork chop.
Now this is where I slipped a little. To get the full effect of the Orange Peel Quilt, it is necessary to use a large number of different fabrics. So..... to complete some of my colour combinations some purchases were required...but they were all on sale.
Two out of three is not too bad.

Today was lovely and sunny but cold. I feel so much better when the sun is shining, (does anyone else feel this way?) often wonder if I have a very mild case of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Patricia

Guild Dinner..

Last night was our Quilt Guild holiday dinner, we all enjoyed a lovely meal, (and no I did not have dessert), great conversation, some of it quilt related, of course, and gift exchange.

My secret Santa was "B.D." she gave me four beautiful fat quarters, the photo does not do them justice, a purse size note book in a green case (my favourite colour) a pen, and a Blessing Coin. On the front is an angel, and written on the back "May you life be filled with Blessings as you walk your path each day". Thank you so much "B" for everything.

Today I had to pay some bills, (how come they don't take a holiday), on the way home I stopped at a local thrift shop to browse. Nothing seem to be of interest to me until I spotted these two beauties. The red and green lids and the dividers inside indicate that they were designed to store Christmas tree decorations, but I have other ideas for these. Each one has a snap on lid and two snap on compartments. The best thing was the price, only $3.00 each.

I took out the cardboard dividers and a 12 1/2 quilt block fits perfectly inside.

Some of our guild members, including myself are making an Orange Peel Quilt. These containers will be perfect to keep my "cool" colours in one layer and "warm" ones in another, completed arcs in the others. I am going to be the most organized OPQ'er, all I have to do now is get it started, which I am hoping to do tonight when I go to guild member "J"'s house to work on it.

My world turned from green to white overnight as we had 1 1/2 inches of snow. The temps are suppose to be just above the zero mark so some of it could melt during the day.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Patricia

Simmering "Tom".........

On Christmas day I rescued the turkey carcass from a premature burial in the garbage after dinner at my grand daughter's. Can you believe she was going to throw all of that good stuff in the garbage.!!!!
Today "Tom" is has been simmering away in a pot , it smelt so good, and now I have some lovely turkey vegetable soup, a welcome lunch on a cold January day.

Resolution update, All three meals I have had today have been healthy, a trip to the grocery store was a must but only bought what was on my list and I went for a 30 minute walk.
When I returned home, a huge hawk was in my back garden and sorry to say was eating a dove that it had just caught. It has been in our neighbourhood for several Winters as most of my neighbours and I have bird feeders which attract many small birds and is a smorgasbord for the hawk.

Tomorrow, the decorations that I put up are coming down, it is going to be nice to get into a regular routine again. In the evening the quilt guild I belong to is having our holiday dinner and gift exchange, looking forward to seeing everyone and the updates on our Orange Peel Quilt, that several members including myself are making. Not much progress had been made on mine, however, hope to get working on it this coming week.
Patricia

Happy New Year to everyone visiting me today....

Yesterday, New Years Eve day I gave my house a good clean, don't know why, but I feel a lot better if I start the New Year with a clean house. I have done this since as far back as I can remember. I had a quiet New Year's Eve, I had a glass of red wine that was left over from Christmas (left over wine, how did that happen), watched a rented movie as there was nothing on TV, and was in bed prior to midnight.
Now it's time once again to make some New Year's resolutions, mine are predictable, and will likely be the same ones I have made and broken on previous New Year's. Loose weight, eat healthy, get more fit and curb my spending and not necessarily in that order of importance. Normally slipping back into my old ways after a couple of months, I am going to approach this New Year's a little different.
This is what I am planning, and this approach should take care of all my resolutions. Curb my spending -- I will save money on gasoline, if I walk to and from the grocery store, its 5 km or more from my house. I will get fit lugging all those bags back home. I will buy healthy food products that are not too heavy to carry, (lettuce). I will be eating all that lettuce so I will loose weight. Looks good in the written word but.........do I need that extra money? I am quite fit aren't I? I eat all of the food groups don't I? I am not fat, just a little overly padded here or there am I not? .... maybe I'll forget making resolutions this year they get broken any way.
Remember all the snow we had in December, for the past couple of days we have had a mild spell, which is usually par for the course at this time of the year for us. Yesterday, the temp was on the plus side of 0 C. and we had a few showers in the pm. When I woke this morning, most of the snow has disappeared and it is 9C and raining. We are going to be in for a slippery time if this water doesn't soak away before the temps drop below freezing tomorrow night.
Today is going to be another quiet day, so I think it will be a day of sewing. Lord only knows the number of projects I have on the go.
1. Grand daughters wedding quilt.
2. Orange Peel quilt.
3. Two baby quilts for my nephew's twin grand babies scheduled to be born Jan 5th.
4. Two wall hangings that I have in my mind to create.

Have a great day.
Patricia