Start with a Crash!

Well this week started off with a crash ... I opened the cabinet to get a mug for my morning tea and a crystal glass exploded - yes exploded out of the cupboard. In my kitchen that means hitting a hard ceramic floor - lesson ... never get a ceramic floor, they're hard as rocks and cold to the feet, and EVERYTHING breaks on contact! This does not bode well for the coming week, uhoh....
Monday I have 1/2 day off work as the CQA ladies are coming to town. I volunteered (since I'm on campus already) to be one of the drivers and pick the ladies up from their hotel and deliver them to the venue we're inspecting. Hmm, didn't think about it but this also puts me on the hook, so to speak, for driving them to dinner, to the meeting post dining and then back again. This on the last week of a long expensive month, and Im trying to slide through to pay day on $20. Don't think I'll make it ....

Had mother over yesterday morning for tea and pumpkin cake - the one the ladies didn't finish off. She announced for the second week in a row that's she's depressed. No wonder! She's experienced perhaps her own annus horribilis. She gave up her home and moved into an apartment. Now she has to pay rent for the first time in 2 1/2 decades and it's eating up her income in a way she's not used to. She was rear ended by an aggressive driver in November and suffered multiple whiplass after effects including a return of her Meniere's and stiffness for several months. The she came down with that horrible cold that wouldn't go away. She just got hearing aids and is adjusting to a much louder world, and now, to top it all off someone inconsiderate Ahole in the building is playing their stereo well into the middle of the night (4 am!) Regardless of how many people tell her to do it, she'll never call the police on the Ahole, but will suffer in silence....
I do my best to help out. We go out to dinner every Friday, keep in contact through email and phone and , except for September, I try very hard to have her over for dinner regularly. My dear sweet soeur (sarcasm intended) has managed with the greatest of efforts to visit  mother once in the past year (we all live in the same city). I guess many families are like this - or so I'm told, there's always one that does all the work and one that does - well ....
I'll stop my whining now as there is really nothing that can be done, and I'll be strong and not feel guilty or
responsible for mother's problems ... it could be worse, much much worse. Besides, I have my own problems - don't we all?

I started this year's holiday gifts - yup, that's right, they're all getting homemade gifts - again!!! I got as far as finding the insulated quilt batting and cutting out the fabric for the casserole carriers (mine won't look like this). Now to machine quilt then put them together ... this could take awhile. I also pulled out the quilts and wall hangings I'm going to use for my "show". Did I tell you? I've been asked to put up a display of my quilts in the Library's Spencer Gallery. I've shown there before, but as part of a group display, never all on my own. So, this will take some work to make up descriptive paper labels, hang the quilts securely, and create an artist's statement! Wish me luck - looks like my schedule will be crazy from now to ever!
TTFN

Hurrah for Techs, and Pumpkin Cake !

Woohoo ... I 'm up and running. As suspected the service rep who unceremoniously flicked me off with the pat answer "It's your modem" was totally WRONG - nya na nya na nana :)
The tech guy took approx. one second to confirm all my non tech suspicions, and then did a very thorough job and fixed my internet/wireless, and cable TV problems, while yaking my head off and generally entertaining me and making me feel much much better about the world. So, the R internet/cable company is back in my good books, thanks to a tech guy who cares and likes his job!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

My  other woohoo for this week is the pumpkin spice cake I made for the "ladies" this week. Ok, I'll admit the first one was a wee bit of a disaster ... what did I learn from that? To always wear my reading glasses when baking ... cup - can look the same - they are both 3 letters and start with a C - but make a world of difference in a recipe  So ... cake number two was made and turned out fine, delicious actually, so in the end I was happy!

 

TTFN

Not Impressed!

Warning - this post is full of SARCASM  and  WHINING..

So I realllly am trying to become a part of the online world, and it reallllly should not be this difficult. Honest, I am a reasonably intelligent person, I have 2 university degrees, am somewhat educated and I have worked online for 15 years now, so  I am somewhat online literate.

So last night, being the lovely early fall evening that it was I grabbed my laptop and popped out to the patio to enjoy the weather while sending a few emails. That was the start of my wireless/internet problems ....
It took several tries and multiple running in and out of the house to finally get the thing to connect to my network - what the heck .... isn't the point of going wireless ? so that you can do this anywhere ??? After dinner I resumed my computer travails ... downloading pics from the digitial camera, emailing the pics to friends and family, but when I tried to connect to my bank for some online  financials that's when the whole thing blew up!
Not literally, but my internet connection died, and when I tried to revive the SOB, by following the checklist in the guide provided by my internet provider (R)  ..... well that's when the real fun began and I also lost my wireless network!

Anyway, still fuming I spend the next 2 hours playing some stupid computer games and wondering WHY this is so important? Only a short week ago I wasn't online (at home) didn't have all this equipment and didn't care! ...  see how quickly I've become a slave to the online world! This could be a bumpy ride!

Just in case you think all I've done in the last week or so is play on my new laptop .... oh no ............ I finally sewed all the rectangles together and got the "piano key" borders onto a quiltop I made oh, about 2 years ago! So, I have been somewhat productive and, shush - don't tell, maybe just maybe will get this one done for Xmas as a present!

TTYL 

Libraries and the world getting smaller ...

 

So, back to the academic year and another round of "what's that called, how do I , where is ....." aka - my world! CNN recently had an interesting story re libraries and technology , for those interested enough to learn how my world is changing. Speaking of changes .... TADA ..... I spent the better part of Saturday morning getting my new laptop online and setting up a wireless network. WooHoo! I'm good to go! And, I must admit that I am already hooked on Solitaire and Mahjong!!! Oh No !

This past weekend was family visit time. Mother's first cousin, an only child, wanted her son, also an only child, to finally meet his Canadian cousins.  As it happens mother's brother & wife from the west coast just happened to be in Ont. this past week, so why not have a family party! Of course mother was the e-contact, but she's not the best at details anymore. 

Next weekend is the first of this year's workshops from the quild, and the first Quilt show of my season. Another big woohoo! Anyway, you get that my schedule is kinda busy these days, so be patient with me as I try to find the time to get this blog rennovated/updated ...

TTFN

Back to School

So, they're  back!!! and in a way so am I. I work at a University campus and the kiddies are back! This year more than ever I'm very aware of the kiddies - (OK now be honest, how many of you have to deal with 5-7000 17 year olds???) as they built a new student services building right next to the library! All the registrar lineups are just outside our windows - Oh, yeah!
Also, a wee blog hiatus while I vainly attempted to figure out how to change the appearance of my blog - as yet to no avail,  but I haven't given up.... No, instead I decided to bite the bullet and get my own hardware, so I can blog anywhere, anytime, 24/7 - OH NO - LOOK OUT! Of course, it is taking a wee bit of time to gather all the pertinent info and make a wise, or not so wise, consumer decision. So in a fashion I too have gone back to school as I must now learn the ins and outs of an online life at home! Stay tuned for more fun and excitement.
TTFN

White Sparrow

So as I'm pulling out of the driveway on my way to work the other day I noticed an all white Sparrow. I mean white, as in Albino white, as in the absence of colour, as in no colour at all! I've never seen an albino bird before. True, I've seen white Egrets, white Seagulls, white Swans and even some white Pigeons,  but never a white Sparrow. Although perfectly reasonable it was unexpected and the vision caught me off guard, made me smile at nature and started my day perfectly. There's something about the marvels of an unexpected wonder that just makes you smile, at least it did for me...

So, dear readers take heed.  I must warn you that I've taken it into my head to redesign Idle Hands ... Empty Brain ... Not that there's anything wrong with the blog, but frankly I'm a bit tired of the header, font colours, etc and feel the need for a facelift. Of course, this is in lieu of moving furniture around at home, and oh, BTW I'm in between quilt projects at the moment and can't decided what to work on next ... Suggestions anyone????
My first attempt at editing resulted only in a change of photo in the header ... but after more investigation and upgrading of  my online skills hopefully will result in something more individual and creative. Wish me luck .... as most of my creativity this activity is still limited to after work hours (I still don't have personal online access, but am in negotiations with the dear pater - wish me luck on that front also ...)

Iris has christened the new chair

TTFN

Summer Blues ...

Or should I say Summer whites ;) Above is a closeup of my Hibiscus which decided to flower for me just as my summer vacation came to an end. I guess that's the blues part ... you wait desperately all year for summer vacation and then it just speeds by way way too fast.
None-the- less I feel refreshed, rejuvenated and re-energized! As usual I had a huge todo list accumulated of things to do while not at work (mustn't just relax you know, must put time off to good use). Did manage to:

• removed dead tree from front garden, other sundry garden work including repainted most of the iron work, fertilized the remaining living plants and trees, some minor re-landscaping and re-positioned patio stones (why do they shift around in the winter?)
  
• refinished the "new" antique coffee table
• read several great novels, well ok, just 2 1/2
• caught a couple of flicks
• got outta town for a couple of days, this involved playing with my new GPS
• enjoyed afternoon tea at our local historic house
• completed Rachel's Star
• completed "Cat at Play" wall hanging thus using up more of my Black & White prints
• shopped for fabric, included a trip to the USA with one of my great quilting friend
• and dined out with family and friends.

Good thing I'm back at work as any longer and I would be too exhausted to come back to work. Routine is good, routine is good, routine is good... this is my new mantra!
Anyway, remember the wonderful table a friend gave me last year for my birthday? Well here's a chair to accompany it, also a gift from the same friend! Let's see if I can do a year of chairscapes ...... stay tuned .....

TTFN

Rachel's Star Part Three!

So, the saga of Rachel's Star continues .... Mistake # 9 was changing my mind re the original fabric choices (see last blog entry), and going off on a mini tangent trying a different, albeit unsuccessful colour version, only to end up with more or less the original colours anyway!!!

Mistake # 10 was one of those Where was my Brain??? moments. I spent 2 hours happily quilting away ... machine quilting that is - something I don't often do - when I realized I didn't like it! something's wrong - what's happening? OMG I forgot to change to the walking foot and the whole darn thing is bunching up!!! So, 4 hours later, having successfully un-sewn all the previous machine quilting ..... I have a completed machine quilted Rachel's Star!

TADA

I am very very very proud of this one .... only because I persevered despite the numerous mistakes, trials and tribulations! I have plans to incorporate some drapery wire into the binding so that it will have a rolled edge effect and some stiffness to the outer borders. Then I'll have to come up with something rather ingenious for a hanging sleeve - but hey, I've come this far I can manage the rest from here!!!
And it only took 3 days of my summer vacation!

TTFN

Rachel's Star - Part Two

So, for those up to the challenge of following this saga ... I determined that it was more than one fabric which I did not like in my first attempted Rachel's Star. Nice though these fabrics are, they just weren't producing the visual effect I was looking for. Thus, a repeat trip to the LM store for more fabric resulted in more muted (some would say muddy) teal colours to replace the lovely brown, and a new bright blue.
So, once again my weekend was spent arguing with the pieces of this complicated pattern (at least for me). Armed with all the lessons I learnt in the first rendition ..... I got the
Star together. I think I did a better job matching this time around, but still need some minor adjustments. For me the log cabin side units now visually recede where they should and the bright blue does not overpower the entire unit, hoorah! Now the big decision ...... which version should I use?
I might just have to complete both versions in order to decide .... YIKES. Wish me luck!
TTFN

The Saga of Rachel's Star . Part One

So folks, the saga of Rachel's Star begins. I tell myself, and others, that I'm dyslexic. Officially undiagnosed but there's enough familial history and loads of daily situational examples to convince me this is probably true. It helps explain why I'm always accused of being impetuous and can't follow directions well ...
Anyway, it's a convenient label to use to explain away all the stupid annoying crises I can get myself into, especially in sewing where I all too frequently do as much un-sewing as sewing!
So, given this why the heck would I take on the challenge of paper piecing such a challenging wall hanging? Well, because I love a challenge, because many of my quilting friends keep reassuring me that paper piecing is a "piece of cake" and because I really want to make this for my friend and colleague who is retiring.
So, last post you were introduced to the pattern (above) and the fabrics I carefully chose. Now I know I didn't get exactly the same fabrics (how could I- the pattern is 7 years old ...) but I thought I had done a pretty good job, especially since these are not really my colours ... Anyway, off to a pretty good start, cut the centre hexagon and sewed the alternating dark/bright gold pieces to it. Mistake #1. I'd like to blame poorly written patterns for most of my un-sewing adventures but this one was just plain ol me being a dullard ... instead of sewing the long edge of the trapazoids to the hexagon I start off by sewing the short sides. I quickly figure out that this is wrong, unsewed it and looked more carefully at the pattern (a picture is waaaaay better than 1000 words, especially when there is a paucity of words). So, sewing the long sides makes the instructions leave the first seam half done (as in partial seam) a whole lot more meaningful!

OK, now on to step 2 ... This involved making the 6 Star Points units and attaching 3 to the centre. Ok, how hard can that be? Well, I made the star points, all the while wondering why the heck the B**** who wrote this stupid pattern would tell me to cut a strip which is obviously not big enough to make the centre triangle in the star point and have ANY seam allowance .... Mistake #2.The pattern, if I had read/reread and then read again ... did tell me to cut a strip big enough .... Duh! Step 3 was to attach 3 of the 6 Star Points to the Hexagon ... but to which side???? (Hint = Mistake #3 not discovered until much later!)

Ok, so I'm well on my way but something doesn't look quite right - I wonder what it is??? Step 4 is to create the side log cabin units. Now one of the fabrics is supposed to visually recede, but I don't like my first choice of fabric (too muddy) so elect for another rather lovely teal/blue green batik. It matches wonderfully when you're working up close. Mistake #4. Now the log cabin blocks appear as a BIG BLUE thing in the centre. Not the look I was hoping for..... But I carry on (Mistake #5!)

So the centre section of Rachel's Star is all put together, but ... there's something wrong ... What is it??? YIKES, the Star Points are attached incorrectly therefore the interweaving effect of the 2 different golds isn't happening ! ARGH! So, late at night I hop into bed accompanied by Iris the cat, the ill-fated Rachel's Star and my seam ripper. Some bed mates eh? Anyway, approximately 30 minutes later (why does it take 1/10th the time to un-sew that it took to sew in the first place???) Mistake #3, remember it? is completely undone.

Onwards and upwards .... everything is sewn back together again and the interwoven effect of the star now shines through. YEAH! Triumph, no wait ... I still don't like the BIG BLUE thing in the centre of the log cabin side units, but I carry on, Mistake #6 .

Next I proceed to the Star points in the outer side units. I make the one on the right first, looks good doesn't it? Mistake #7 .... the colours are A--backwards, so I proceed to throw the thing across the room and make another! Let's see if I can get this one simple unit right! But in a fit of momentary insanity (momentary ha!) I decide I must correct Mistake #4 and exchange the lovely teal/blue green batik from my original choice (oh, why didn't I just leave things alone in the first place?) Mistake #8 results below.
OK, it doesn't look too too bad. Except for the 8 mistakes so far, and I'm only half way through ! The BIG BLUE thing is still way tooooo prominent for my liking. What to do, what to do?
I give up totally. First I consult with at least 2 colour experts then return to the fabric store and, while retaining the focus fabric of the centre hexagon, choose all new (muddier) teals. This should fix it...

Stay tuned for Rachel's Star part two .....
TTFN

Arrested Adolescent ?

Somewhere along the line I developed good eating habits. Let me rephrase that, nutritious eating habits, at least better than they were for many years. As a single person it is often very difficult to motivate yourself to cook nutritiously, and frequently much much to easy to just stick something in the nuker and be done with it, or better yet, pop some popcorn! Yeah, that's the ticket! Anyway, back to my original point. I have developed the habit of taking lunches to work (BTW, this is also a nice frugal way to save $ and still look like a goody goody;)) and since I LOVE apples, I usually include an apple in my lunch - you know, an apple a day keeps the Dr away ...

So, as I pulled out my apple today I went into my usual routine (I have a routine?) of twisting the wee stem and mentally reciting an alpha list of male names - you know the routine, you go through a list of male names until the stem breaks off - and that's the name of the man you're going to marry! OMG I can't believe I still play that silly game!! I can't believe I'm still subconsciously waiting - hoping - expecting to get married (re-married that is). Does this make me an arrested adolescent (I meant "arrested adolescent" in terms of adults who still covet adolescent-like things/act like an adolescent)??? BTW, I hate that terminology - not that I don't hate all labels - they're so denigrating ... Oh yuck!!! I really can't bear myself today ... how could I? I reallllly thought I was further along the evolutionary line of independent women to have stopped all this silliness!

See what a wee apple can do?

TTFN

Rocky Racoon ...

Simone's latest pose ... upside down on her back!

I think she's relaxed!

So, last week was unusual in that Wednesday was Canada Day. I was scheduled to work Sat. July 4th and missed our customary Friday dinner out. Consequently mother and I chose to dine out on Sat. Later that evening whilst approaching my front step I noticed both Iris and Simone in the front window. Now this is unusual for both cats to be in the window at the same time .... so, what's going on ??

Sadly, I have to report that a deceased baby raccoon was lying in the front garden against the side of my front steps, gently nestled under the leaves of my hosta plant. Where did this poor baby come from ? I don't know, but I think I've had enough adventures with wild life for awhile. So, after doing the eeewww thing for awhile, I retrieved my shovel, garden gloves and a plastic bag and maneuvered the wee thing out of the garden. Now I can't approach the garbage pail as I know what's there lying in state!

So, needing a project to take my mind of the poor wee thing, I determined to finally, yes finally do something about my summer purse. I really like the purse, it's just small enough for me that I can't carry too much (bad for my wounded shoulder) and somewhat stylish. Only problem is it does not close and things were forever falling out! So I scavenged in my batik stash and located just enough matching fabric from the same batik as my necessary bag, to make a closure. Above is the before, and on either side are my after pics! Tada!!!!

What else did I accomplish on my one day off? I got the fabrics cut for the Rachel's Star wall hanging referred to in the last post. I have to admit the instructions were very poor . Personally I like better instructions than "cut some scraps" ... hello ..... pattern author .... didn't you get paid to write a pattern ?? A pattern, by definition, means exact measurements, at least to me. Grrrr! So, this is what I have cut, wish me luck!!!


TTFN

New Project !

So, while waiting for my friend L to complete the quilt top she wants hand quilted, I decided to take a quick stab (pardon the pun) at the whole cloth wall hanging kit I got cheap, cheap cheap at an auction at my other guild. I'm almost half way done when I discover that one of my work colleagues has accepted an early retirement package. He's a good friend, Jewish and has a daughter named Rachel, so I thought the wall hanging above, called Rachel's Star, might be a nice gift. OK ....

Quick - lay aside the whole cloth 'cause I've got a NEW PROJECT!

Of course, I couldn't find exactly the same fabrics, but did manage to get a great brown, blue and teal paisley ... so co-ordinated the remaining fabric choices from there! It's a Quilter's Newsletter, 2000 paper pieced project, something I've only tried once before .... so wish me luck!

And, as I was shopping in our local LM store, didn't I run into - ohhhh, what's her name ???? We ended up talking in the aisle for approx. 45 minutes, neither of us referring to the other by name, obviously neither of us could remember the other one's name. DON'T YA JUST HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS?

As I drove home the mantra kept running thru my head - not Wilma, not Wilma, not Wilma - shades of F Flintstone. Of course it hit me once I got to bed - NORMA!

TTFN

P.S. Speaking of wildlife ... I can now add a baby rabbit, a chipmunk and a hummingbird to the list of wildlife in my back garden... WooHoo!