Bucket List.....

While on vacation in Cuba I was able to cross another entry on my "bucket list".

Just a little bit of background information. I swim like a brick-----straight to the bottom, I am not comfortable when I am in any body of water where I cannot touch the bottom, I don't like water in my eyes especially salt water, and I don't like my hair to get wet and messed up, lol.

So what does this have to do with my bucket list-------I went swimming with dolphins.

The water was so deep I could not see the bottom let alone touch it, and didn't want to know how deep it was. Thank goodness for rules and regulations----I had to wear a life preserver, and it was secured tightly around my body. I got salt water in my eyes, my hair was soaking wet and messed up, but I had the time of my life.

The dolphins kissed me, I could stroke their bellies and noses, and they did tricks for us. I had a professional photo taken of me being kissed by two dolphins just to prove I did get in the water with them. They are such beautiful animals and so intelligent, I am so glad that I did it and I survived to tell you about it.

Not much sewing and quilting being done, however, I have to get in front of my machine and sew the block that is to be ready for our dinner meeting next week.
Patricia

AOL

For the past week I have been on vacation in Cuba, attending the "destination wedding" of my second eldest grand daughter. She had a lovely wedding, all the details were taken care of in just a couple of hours and everyone had a great time.
Now its back to life at home, no more---maids to make my bed, waiters offering drinks or food magically appearing when ever I am hungry.
It is going to take awhile to get caught up on all of your posts, will look at them and leave comments as soon as possible. A quick peek looks as if you all have been busy.
Patricia

Depressed

The regular readers of my blog know that I live in S.W. Ontario, Canada, this area experienced a Winter that started in November with cold temperatures and snow, snow and more snow. When it finally stopped snowing it rained and rained and last night during a thunderstorm it rained once again. That was depressing.

In Canada we have a retail store called Sears in our shopping malls, they also have a mail order catalogue, you can go on line or call their order desk to make a purchase. Your item is then mailed to you oryou can go to their local pick up store. After purchasing an item from the catalogue they send you copies of all of their catalogues, large ones for Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter, and ones of "Specials", "End of season Sales" etc, etc. and the list goes on and on.

The Spring and Summer one arrived in the middle of Winter, am I depressed... today is May 30th. Summer officially starts on June 21st. and the Fall and Winter catalogue was in my mail box today. I don't want to be reminded that Winter weather could be only six months away, so I refuse to open the plastic wrapper to look inside.

On a happier note the rain is suppose to stop for the coming week and we will see that big ball of fire in the sky with temperatures in the high 20's or even low 30's. I can see and hear my lawn growing already, now all I have to do is try and get my lawn mower to stay running so it can be mowed.

Have a wonderful Monday.
Patricia

Got it right this time....

After taking the handles off and putting them back on correctly I am really liking my new tote. Finished in time for my vacation coming soon. It's not only a vacation, I will be attending my second eldest granddaughter's wedding in Cuba.

I purchased the lilac fabric a couple of years ago, with no project in mind I just loved the colours and the pattern. When I saw the tote pattern in November/December 2010 issue of McCall's Quilting I knew I had the perfect fabric for the bag. I was going to use some bamboo handles, but they just didn't look right so I made mine from some of the fabric. Also added a fabric and button closure for security. The pattern called for a piece of cardboard to be inserted in a rectangle of fabric in the bottom to give it some stability. I used a piece of the crafter's plastic (the plastic that looks like cross stitch material) instead and it worked a lot better than the cardboard. I also included a couple of compartments on the inside to make it easier to find everything.

Here are a couple of photo's, my lilac bush was the perfect place to hang it, don't you think.

Tote Bag

Today I finished a tote bag that I was making and planned on showing a picture. I kept on looking at it, putting over my shoulder and holding the handles........something wasn't right, but for the life of me could not figure it out what is was. You know how you look at something and look again, well, it finally it dawned on me, I put the handles on wrong, instead of putting each handle on one side of the bag I put one end on one side and the other on the opposite side.

Its not big problem to change them but, the patterns instruction indicated that they should be sewn with four rows of stitching to make them secure, which I did. I am going to be doing some froggie work, then put them on correctly and then take a photo.

Patricia

To be delivered tomorrow...

Finally I am going to be able to give my grand daughter and her husband the quilt I made for their wedding gift. They were married in October 2010, so it's only seven months late!!!


A lot of the fabric I chose for this quilt has small hearts on it, so I had the "quilter man" (the husband of one of my guild members), use a heart pattern for the quilting.

Included in the label is a piece of lace that was on my wedding dress.



Patricia

Beautiful.....

For the past week my part of the world has had beautiful weather, blue skies, sunshine and warm---- hot---- temperatures. So most of my time has been spent in my garden pulling the weeds and mowing the lawn, to some this is a chore, but I enjoy gardening. The annuals are doing well in the greenhouse, hopefully, at the end of the month, when all risk of frost is over they will be mature enough to plant in the garden. These pictures show the garden around the pond as of this morning, and close ups of some of the flowers.

Take a look at this magnificent tree, I call it a tulip tree but I believe it is a magnolia. Yesterday, I was at the cemetery where my DH is, and this tree was so beautiful I went home to pick up my camera to take a photo.

Rain is in the forecast for the next few days, a chance to get my housework caught up and also make the churn dash block for our guild meeting next Thursday. Last night I finished sewing the binding on my Grand daughters wedding quilt, its only seven months late!!.

Have a great weekend.

Patricia