Finally photos of Mish Mash and more

Sorry this has taken so long to post these photos, but dial up is slow...

This is the top of the Mish Mash. On the right is part of the inner border. I need to buy the batting, then I can complete Mish Mash and Calle can have her own quilt. Hopefully she will share it with me.

This is the fabric for the back. It seems calm in comparison to the front. I think I have enough of this to use as the binding (I hope I have enough, I bought what was left).

These photos are from for the Baby Brick Quilt from Kaffe Fassett's Muesum Quilt book. It is for Wendy and Jeff (Wendy is due in November). I have used the left over fabric from Mish Mash (so no you are not imagining a similarity). It is Amy Butler's fabric from her Freespirit line. I have yet to find her new Rowan line in stores here yet.

Well it is almost 11pm and I need to get my rest. Tomorrow is the Centre Island BBQ with work. I need to get in touch with Allison about when to meet.

More later.

Finally Saturday

My vacation ended and I had to go back to work on Monday. Why cannot I win the lottery?

Trotsky is getting better. When he went to the vet on Monday his blood glocuse level was 1.9. That is very low, dangerous low. The vet altered his insulin amount and we are adjusting the amount based on how much food he is eating (e.g. if he eats a lot he gets the full injection. If he eats half of his food, we give him a half dose).










Trotksy with the frog Allison gave him.










Calle at her most refined.

Gardening
The daylilies are done for the summer. I got a number of good photos. I also learnt a lot about photographing flowers this summer. I bought a book about nature photography while I was on vacation (Digital Techniques for Successful Nature Photography by Cub Kahn). Although it is a small book, it has a considerable amount of information. It describes the basics of photography (e.g. aperture and shutter speed). I have been experimenting with garden photos and cat photos.










One of the many daylilies.

Quilting
I finished the top of Mish Mash while I was on vacation. I have not taken any photos yet. I have the fabric for the back, but I need to buy the batting. I went to Niagara Falls last Saturday with Allison and Len. I should have gotten the batting while we were there, but I forgot to make a note of how much I need. I did pick up a 24 inch ruler and more asian fabric.

I need to get fabric for the cat blankets and Christmas stockings (I also need applique paper for the stockings). If I have time I may make a blanket for the latest addition to the family, Rusty.

Knitting
I think I have picked out a few possibilities for Allison's Christmas sweater. I think I'll let her decide which one she like best. It is no surprise that she is getting a sweater, since she more or less demanded one.

We will be starting the work knitting group soon. I have to finish designing the poster and writing the announcement.

Other Stuff
Next Saturday is the Citi Friends and Family Picnic at Centre Island. I have invited Allison and Len to join me.

I have started my Christmas shopping already. I think I am the reason why Indigo Books had increased sales in the second quarter. Yesterday a package arrived and I thought it was a gift I ordered (remember Indigo sells more than books). But it was Season 2 of Veronica Mars. Which is so much better. We are currently watching Season 1 of Slings and Arrows (www.themovienetwork.ca/slingsandarrows). Season 2 comes out on DVD in November. Season 3 is airing on TMN (the last episode is on August 28th) . Each season is 6 episodes long (around 50 minutes each). It is a very smart and funny series. We finished season 4 of Six Feet Under.

It is time to check on Trotsky.

More later.

L

Where has the summer gone?

I know there are more weeks of summer to come, but I have no idea where the past month and a half have gone.

At the beginning of July Trish and I met our friends Wendy and Jeff and their daughter Olivia at the St. Lawrence Market for a visit. We bought some fresh produce and had a picnic at the park on the other side of Bathurst. We made plans to do it again later this month.

That was until we found out last week two weeks ago that Trotsky has diabetes. He was at the Vet's office 5 out of 7 days. His blood glucose is being regulated by insulin. We give him two needles a day. He will need to receive insulin permanently. He has improved since Trish first noticed he was having difficulty walking. He goes back to the Vet's August 13th for another check-up. What they do is give him his morning insulin and monitor his blood glucose level every hour. After they are confident the insulin dosage is correct he will only have to go to the Vet's for 6 months.

Our summer trips have been cancelled to be home with Trotsky. The first three weeks are crucial while his insulin dosage is being adjusted.

Garden
Most of the daylilies are done blooming for the year. I got some good photos and some not so good photos. The not so good photos look good on the camera, but there seems to be a problem when I get them printed. I'll try printing one or two at home to see if the colours are any better.

We missed the Open Garden at We're in the Hayfield Now. It was last weekend. We really don't have room for more daylilies...

I'll post photos later.

Quilting
I'm on vacation as of 5 pm last night. I will be spending some of my time this week sewing (I hope to get the top of Mish Mash completed). I then need to find space to layout the backing and put that together. I have to buy the batting. Oh my, so much to do...

I started cutting the fabric for the Baby Bricks Quilt. Wendy is pregnant with a girl. I'm using leftover Amy Butler from Mish Mash. The pattern is from Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts.

I'm making the cats blankets for Christmas (one of September's projects). I'll use the block pattern from Mish Mash and make them 2 x2 with a 2 inch border. I also will make Trish and Calle Christmas Stockings like Trotsky's. I have these scheduled for October.

Knitting
I got official permission to organize a knitting group at work. We will knit for an organization called Street Knit Project (www.streetknit.ca). The scarves and toques we make will be donated to local homeless organizations.

I also have to knit a sweaters for Allison and Trish. That I'll start next month.

Other Stuff
We just finished watching season one of Deadwood (www.hbo.com/deadwood). I think my mother helped to write the profanity dialogue. It was very good. It is like the Sopranos set in the 1870s in a gold mining community. I have not seen a HBO series that I have not enjoyed. Oh wait I think Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of theirs. I saw the first few episodes and realized that if I didn't enjoy Seinfeld, I was not going to enjoy Curb. Revised statement: I have not seen a HBO drama series that I have not enjoyed.

We are now watching season four of Six Feet Under. Next on my list is Dead Like Me. Season 2 of Carnivale is out. Hopefully the video store across the street will get it in soon.

It is time for my visit with Trotsky to see how he is doing.

More Later.

L

Summary of the Weekend and more...

The Garden
Carnival Nights and Gilded Coral had their first blooms of the year yesterday. There are a few others that will be blooming soon. Overall the garden has been enjoying the rain (especially the tomatoes and the daylilies).

Gilded Coral

Carnival Nights

Quilting
I finished the inside of Mish Mash on Saturday. Next I’ll sew the outer border patches together. Then work on the inner border. My choice of backing has me re-thinking the binding. Okay there is no rethinking. What I have now doesn’t go with the backing. Back to the little store in Oakville.

Wendy and Jeff will find out if their second child is a boy or a girl in two weeks. The room will remain green. I was thinking of using Amy Butler fabric for a baby quilt. I love the colours and patterns in her fabric. The baby blanket will definitely not be a traditional baby blanket. I want it to be something that can be used years after she or he has outgrown the crib. I may use the pattern from Kaffe Fassett’s Museum Quilts (yes I did finally buy it-it was on sale at Indigo’s website). It’s a brick pattern with 3.5in x 7.5in patches. I think that would highlight the colours and pattern of the fabric.

In the next few weeks I will have to explore the two quilt stores that are near me (it’s all relative as all of my quilt supply shopping has happened in Niagara Falls, Oakville and Antigonish). I don’t think either of these new stores sells Amy Butler, so it may be safe. I think I’ll wait for my next payday.

Here is a photo of my sewing table

Knitting
I need to start thinking about Christmas gifts. Allison has put in her order for a sweater. I’ll sew Trish’s mom some potholders. I’m not sure yet what to get Trish. Maybe I’ll get Dad some woodworking tools, so he has something creative to do during those cold Cape Breton winters. Oh and a space heater for his workshop.

Maybe Allison and I can go in together to get Mom one of those elevator chairs, so it is easier for her to get to her studio. Actually what she needs is a design wall. I’ll have to send Dad the instructions so he can make her one.

Other Stuff
I spent some time at Allison and Len’s new house on Sunday. I wasn’t much of a help.

Next Saturday morning, Trish and I are meeting Wendy, Jeff and Olivia at St. Lawrence Market for a picnic. Sunday will be a day of rest (and the required housework).

More later.

L

It's been a while...

On Monday I found the sewing table of my dreams (and budget). It is a foldup table that is quite compact (code for small). It fits the 24 x 18 cutting board with a little room on the length.

I have to cut and sew the sashing for the Mish Mash quilt. Then I have to sew the sashing to the vertical units and blocks. After that is finished, I will have the inside completed. The next step is sewing the inner border followed by the outer border. I bought the fabric for the back. It is making me rethink my binding. I think I need something that will compliment the front and not be so drastic alternative to the back. Something with green.

I also need to buy more needles and bobbins. I found the type that I need in the owner's manual (yes I read the owner's manual). That will have to wait a little while.

Saturday is brunch with a co-worker and sewing. Sunday is a trip to Oakville to visit/help Allison and Len at their new house. Monday is relax around the house day.

I will not have to water the garden in the next few days. But I will have to cut the grass after it drys. I also have to spend some time weeding. Too Darn Hot bloomed yesterday. But the it was not a good bloom (too much rain). There are several others that will be blooming soon. My next post maybe all photos from the garden.

I'll give an update on Mish Mash tomorrow. I'll take a few photos of my table. And I'll try to post more regularly.

More later.

L

The Yellow Brick Road is Finished

I just completed sewing the binding on my first quilt. Last Saturday I went to Oakville and Allison helped sew the binding onto the front of the quilt. I was left on my own to hand sew the back. Too bad it has gotten warm again. I will just have to admire my handiwork from a far (or under Trotsky and Calle). I can now focus on Mish Mash. I got the backing for Mish Mash last Saturday (very busy day). I will try to find a sewing table by the end of the month.

Trish is going to Newfoundland in August. She will probably go the Wednesday before I arrive and do some touring around. I'm trying to think of last time she had a real vacation. We went to Kingston two summers ago (but that was for the weekend) and Montreal six years ago (again another long weekend). I'll have to buy her several roll of film for her camera and batteries for the digital camera (maybe a new memory card as well). I bought a travel book for Atlantic Canada. It has some interesting places. I have also been researching on the internet. Trish's trip to Newfoundland will be a research trip for when we can both go and spend time.

Stella D'Oro is the first daylily to bloom this year (just like every year). It was too bright out when I took this photo. I'll get a better photo of Stella tomorrow.


We planted the tomatoes on Friday. We went to Lee Valley and I paid off my second round Stanley Cup debt. I got a set of the spiral tomato stakes. If they work well this summer I'll get more next spring. We need to get more container soil. There is always more work to be done in the garden. I want to get another hose to make it easier to water the back section.

I have gotten some great photos from the garden this summer. I think I may need to get the tele-converter lens for my digital camera to get better photos of the smaller flowers and the birds that have been visiting the feeder.

More later.

L

Finally Friday

Another work week is over, finally. I am really starting to look forward to retirement. I think I see the incredibly faint light of it at the end of the tunnel. Okay I'm just fooling myself. I'll never be able to retire. I'll die of a heart attack at my cubicle. How is that for optimism?

I just finished booking my flight to Newfoundland and return from Halifax for August. I think I need to pack less stuff for this trip. Not that I felt like I had a lot of clothing last month. The less I pack the less I have to carry around. My flight out there leaves at 6:55 am on the Saturday. I don't even want to think of what time I have to wake up at for that. I will be wearing a baseball hat to the airport.

One more photo from Blues Mills.

One of the old cars up the hill from Mom and Dad's house.

The view from the upstairs hallway.

An apple blossom from one of the many trees.

More later.

L

More Photos

Here are some photos. It almost 90 minutes to get these uploaded. It will be Christmas by the time I get them all posted. Maybe I should make a few photo albums instead.

The ocean on the way to Glenora Distillery.

Windmill between Mabou and Cheticamp.

Fishing boats in Cheticamp.

The hockey game is about to start. "Let's go, Oilers!" More later...

L

Back Home

On Saturday I made a pumpkin cheesecake. It was okay (needed more time in the fridge). We had a great dinner at Aunt Gloria and Uncle Duncan's. Haley and Harrison were there. And No I didn't make either of them cry.

After the cheesecake was made; Mom, Allison and I went to Orangedale to visit with Uncle Harry. It has been nine years since Allison and I had seen him. And of course he is the same as ever. We also stopped by to visit Mom's friend, Irene. Saw several hummingbirds at the feeders she has setup at the windows. We also saw an eagle.

On the way home we stopped at L'arche. It is a cute, little charity store. I bought a necklace for myself and one for Trish. Allison and I also picked up Nova Scotia flashlights as some gifts (it is a match glued inside a clothspin with a small piece of tartan).

Saturday night I finished the baby blanket for a co-worker with the help of Allison and Mom.

Sunday morning Allison and I tried desperately to fit all our stuff into our suitcases and backpacks. At one point before I left I thought I'd come home with less stuff.

We had a scenic drive to Halifax. I briefly considered buying a lobster to bring home. Okay I didn't really, but I told co-workers that I'd look into it. We said goodbye to our parents and began our journey through security. I set off the metal detector. I forgot about my necklace and my belt has a large metal buckle. Good thing I wasn't wearing my steel toe boots. I also had to have my bag searched. They needed to make sure my bottle of Glenora whiskey wasn't openned. As if I'd share that with my family. It took a few minutes to repack my backpack. We had plenty of time to wait. Our flight was almost 30 minutes late but it arrived almost on time I think. We collected our suitcases and went to find Len.

It is good to be home. The cats forgot who I am. I think they remember me now.

Here are some of the highlight photos from Allison and my first trip to Blues Mills.

Allison in Montreal.

Me in Montreal. Viva La Second Cup.

Our Sleeper car. It was small but cozy and quiet.

This is the guest room upstairs. Allison and I call it "The Suite". The other bedroom upstairs is Mom's sewing room which we renamed "The Studio"

Dial-up is slow. More photos later (and there are lots more).

More later.

L

And tomorrow we leave on a jet plane

Yesterday we went to Sydney. Yet another beautiful drive. We stopped several times for photos. Allison and I mailed some postcards at the Christmas Island post office. At the Mall Allison and I got matching T-shirts that say Cape Breton Liberation Army. Mom got herself a very nice summer outfit. While we shopped Dad had a coffee at Tim Horton's. After the mall we went to Canadian Tire. My parents got some plants for the planter down at the road and a Delphinium to replace the dead shrub Dad and I pulled up earlier in the week.

Today, I'm making a cheesecake to take to Uncle Duncan and Aunt Gloria's tonight. Mom is going to show me how to finish the baby blanket and put binding on a quilt. I think there may even be time for a drive to Orangedale.

Tomorrow we fly from Halifax back to Toronto. And return to work on Monday.

More later.

L