This is the last sign of the mystery pond animal. Something broke through the ice to make a path right to the hole in the bank.
The pond is like this now. It can hold my weight and there is no further sign of the animal.
There is lots of goal setting happening this special time of year as we start a brand new one. "25 in 25" is very popular in both the cross stitch and quilty worlds. What do you think? For myself, I'm determined to continue finishing projects begun and my in sight quilting table is definitely helping that goal. Speaking of which, here is the latest on that quilty table, my blue EPP version of a Lone Star Medallion quilt.
I had already spent ages stitching white corners on and didn't like how wrinkled looking they were so took those off. I did a little research and am going to applique the whole thing to one large piece of background fabric, like I saw one person online do successfully. I've still kept the papers in the edging so it should be pretty easy to get that job done.
We'll see how that goes. Wish me luck!
And here is how far I've gotten with Redwork Noel.
My ex was here for the holidays and we had a number of happy get togethers with the family. This Christmas Day, there were nine of us around the table. I was disappointed in my turkey. Looks good, doesn't it? Tasteless, no real turkey flavour there...a bit of a mystery why. Tony very helpfully suggested I should have bought a Butterball which I probably should have. LOL
One of the best things about having visitors is the nooks and crannies get a clean out. As if anyone could see those- by 4:30 it is dark here these days, or anyone really care for that matter.
We didn't put up a tree but had a number of light up things around this living area. I'm happy with this little house row bought at Value Village. Took a chance and all it needed was a battery.
Wonderful gifts were shared and I'll talk about that in another post.
A housekeeping issue... Readers comments...I don't receive them in my gmail feed anymore, only in Blogger itself and I don't know how to reply there. I've spent a couple frustrating sessions trying to rectify the situation with no luck. No doubt I have pushed a key somewhere that changed this situation. I'll keep at it.
Thank you to the kind reader who had concern for us about air quality with burning wood. We are in a main area with a 20 foot ceiling which probably helps. We also have two air purifiers, one in this living area and one down the hall in the tv room. Fingers crossed those too are helping.
So now we are on the cusp of one year's end and a fresh new one beginning. Yikes. Endings always come too fast. Does anyone know the song that line comes from?
Well, how are you and are you feeling festive finally?
Thank you so much for the comments and emails on my posts. Several of you asked about Tony's lack of appetite. It has been slowly waning. But that does not bother him like I think it should as he always enjoyed being thin. However, it is his lack of strength and feeling tired after only minutes of doing some chore or other that really bothers him. We just had yet another appointment with the doctor who reviewed his recent tests. No, nothing has been discovered; everything is status quo as it were. He's still on a bunch of meds, of course, and our pharmacist has also done a review to see if anything is amiss. I notice no one is mentioning his age during these consults; perhaps it would be considered agism to do so. But all that aside, Tony has, on the surface at least, been doing well. He rode, on his Spyder, with the guys once a week all summer, meets up with them for coffee once a week in a neighbouring town and also keeps lunch dates with other old pals. He has more of a social life than I do.
I've done a big sort out of the sheets in the green storage unit I use to house our bedding. This house is short on closets so this one from Ikea does the trick. Beside it is also an Ikea item to store shoes which is also handy.
The cotton sets are organized and stowed away and the flannel sheets are now pressed into service. Nothing can beat flannel for coziness which we appreciate as our bedroom is at the end of one of the halls. I should explain...the main area of the house is a kitchen, dining, living all in one, and there are two halls on opposite sides leading to the bedrooms. We are far from the fire, but of course, our furnace kicks in at some point towards morning so we are not getting up to a cold house.
We are both still using the castor oil. Tony likes how it makes his skin less dry and itchy. I have no idea if it is helping for wrinkles or any of that. I do think it keeps the skin from drying out which is a positive thing. And it is cheap. Here, a typical Ontario winter has begun with below freezing temps so we can use whatever we can get. It was -20C on my walk the other morning. Cleats on my boots as everything out there was frozen hard, a skating rink in places. My fear of falling is real but it won't make me stay in...I feel like fresh air is vital to my well being somehow.
I bought a large bag of cranberries on special and made a batch of jam. It was a delicious treat on sourdough toast. I debated which kind of sugar to use but in the end, used regular old sugar. It is tiring to scrutinize every single thing we eat all the time.
My Scrappy quilt is finished; it is 48 in. x 45 in. - just right for a lap quilt. I laid many more lines of hand quilting to make sure everything will stay put. Always a challenge to keep those stitches nice and even.
I had enough fabric to bring the blue backing to the front for a border on two sides and used black jelly roll fabric for the other two. I put it through the washer and it has a soft squishy feel.
And in very slow stitching, I've added a little more to Redwork Noel, such a sweet design. I usually use tiny applique pins to help with my counting and even then these higher count fabrics present a challenge for these eyes of mine.
I enjoy Karen Brown's Just Get It Done quilting videos very much. Besides enjoying her presenting style, I like how she is real about it all. Do you know what I mean? Recently she posted three videos having to do with quilting/stitching items to be found at the Dollar stores. I made note of some things I could use and and not just in the sewing room- perhaps there is something here you could put to use around the house.
Tony remembers The Dick Van Dyke Show and I know it from reruns too. When this popped up on my YouTube Feed I showed it to him and we both thought it very sweet and enjoyed it. The more I see of Chris Martin, I can't help but think he is a nice guy. This was made to celebrate Dick turning 99!
The big day is upon us. I've been grocery shopping and wrapping gifts besides continuing the big tidy up I began last month. Boy, does that ever feel good! We will be hosting the turkey dinner on Christmas Day and preparations are mostly done. Just the big meal to cook on the day itself. I hope you are enjoying these days whether celebrating the holidays this year or not. Take Care!
I've got the garbage put out. With the composting and the fires, I usually only have garbage to put out every three weeks but there is always lots of recycling. Realized my Gorilla cart does not do well in snow. It gave my arms quite the workout on the small hills from the basement back door around the house to our driveway. And I wished at one point we did not live down such a long winding laneway either. But the air was so beautiful, cold and crisp, and I know a little workout is good for me. Then I went back out and used the old fire ashes to scatter along the tire marks where ice had formed overnight in the laneway, a very old use of ashes here in wintry Ontario. Two chores done.
I've set up a small table in this main area of the house and decided to use it for a hand quilting table. Don't know why I never thought of this before. I'm using my very large and old Ott Floor Lamp.
I'm already noting that having it there in sight and very handy has encouraged me to continue the hand stitching. Apparently, I need all the encouragement I can get. First up is to finish this scrappy quilt with Prim Stars outlined in the black squares.
I think I showed you before this bag of threads below I bought at a thrift store. Imagine 10 cents a ball and from KMart! Most of it is the thinner threads used to crochet doilies but I'm using the thicker in this quilt. It feels fine, not too nish...now that is a good old Newfoundland word for you, one I grew up with my mother using. We pronounced it "neesh". It means tender or delicate. Mom used it to describe fabric or skin. Being partly Irish, it was a given that our skin would be considered nish.
I'm happy with how far along I've gotten the Autumn Quakers piece. Next time it comes out I should get it finished. Meanwhile, I've decided to indulge myself by stitching something completely in season, a Christmas piece, Redwork Noel, by Joan Elliott. I do love redwork of any kind and using the very cheery DMC 321, which we all agree is a Christmas red, is such a happy thing to be doing.
I'm using a white 24 count Evenweave fabric of unknown origin that I found in my drawer. 2 over 2 Very enjoyable stitching especially with no colour changes, which is wonderful after the Autumn Quakers which in my hands wound up with 20 different shades/colours!
You can take a look at the pattern on the great 123Stitch site. Here is a close up of my scant beginning. With cross stitching, simple stitches can make a pretty edging.
Thanks to Brad, we have some signs of Christmas here. This is a real evergreen wreath, very well constructed and heavy.
And this beautiful large poinsettia that I'm admiring so much. Every year I have to relearn how to spell that word...I want to call it Point-settia for some reason.
Things I'm looking forward to...getting out my wool, wrapping Christmas presents, cooking a turkey, a last minute shop in the local small town. What are you looking forward to just now with the big event getting so close? Hope your list is long!
I have the bird feeders filled and the wood brought in for the day long fire.
And I'm in my cosy clothes. Found these fleece pants at Walmart and just love them for around the house. I noticed how warm they were when I picked up the wood from the veranda.
Just the right blend of weight and softness and not too bulky. There was a time I would not wear these except for exercising, not dressy enough, but now I'm the dress police here and, apparently, I no longer give a hoot. Comfort is trumping fashion. Same at yours?
We have a fresh five inch blanket of snow on the ground this morning, definitely comfort food season. I cooked a ham and scalloped potatoes to go with it last night.
Leftovers for tonight which is always a good thing and then I'll make a pea soup from any ham left over. It is definitely hot soup season too. Delish published this article 75 Most Comforting Foods Ever so I just had to take a look. Yes, so many favourites, including Grits. The only time I've eaten grits was once in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant on the drive to Florida; I just had to try them because I'd read about them in novels. And I liked them. Then I came across this site, The Food Republic, and an article on how to fancy up tinned soups which I can't believe I've never thought of doing. So many simple ways to hike both the nutrition and flavours. Like using those frozen wontons and vegetables in canned beef broth to make a kind of sweet and sour soup, something I love. Now if only I can remember this.
Down at the pond one day last week, I watched a number of tadpoles swimming under a thin skim of ice. Definitely did not seem comfortable this late in the season. I wondered if they will survive. *Just had to look that up and sure enough, yes, they can hibernate as tadpoles and continue their growth next spring. Amazing!
I don't need to say a word about the comfort and enjoyment our stitching and hobbies give us. You folks know all about that. I especially enjoyed slow stitching this little quaker wreath this week.
It might be my favourite motif of this project. You are meant to choose an initial to work in the center of it.
I did a test block for a little Christmas quilt I want to machine stitch. It was very simple and went together quickly.
I'll use the Rifle Paper Co leftover fabrics and a few coordinating fancy fabrics I have. There are many tutorials and instructions for the Christmas Present block. Here is the one I followed... Center Street Quilts
I had no excuse not to sew more blocks while I was at it. So busy looking though and gold accents and glitter are definitely not my thing. So like me to immediately doubt my fabric decisions. But I guess glitter and Christmas can go together.
I'm off to do some shopping...right here in my easy chair. Don't have to change my cosy pants for something less comfortable and face the snowy roads, traffic and people. Yes, so many Christmas presents are bought on Amazon/online these days and who can resist the next day service. I wonder what my grandparents would think of the concept of shopping on your phone. Really something, isn't it! Hope you are all off to a great week!
