This is a painting by William Kurelek called "Balsam Avenue After Heavy Snowfall", 1972. This area of Toronto just had a huge snowfall so I imagine the present day residents doing just this. Shovelling snow is certainly something all Canadians are very familiar with. Do you like the way William used pops of colour here in what otherwise would be a drab background?
Speaking of which, I have three dogs for the weekend. We are looking after Abby, Ned and Petey's mother. Her family is off to a hockey tournament in North York which puts them about a 35 minute drive from Balsam Avenue. They are very busy but it's fun busy which is great.
Meanwhile, our busy is completely different but we are managing the ups and downs. Tony's CT scan got postponed because of weather so that is now next week. Thank you all for the very good wishes about that. I'll keep you posted. But while speaking of these things I must mention our stitching friend, Coni, who is the Spinster Stitcher. I've been following her since she began her blog in 2008, through the loss of her much loved little dog, Stewy, and her kidney transplant journey. She is very ill again just now with a perforated colon. She now has a colostomy so her journey towards good health continues.
I've been busy stitching. I finished the house on What Remains is Love and have the large central flower almost finished. I chose a slightly brighter red than the called for to make it stand out. I also turned the house into a one story just like the house I grew up in. I had to unstitch the middle of the leaves. I thought the colour looked too light against the outline colour; I'll look in my floss collection to find a colour that blends better.
I'm enjoying that crossword book and though rated medium,some of the clues stump me. I go back and forth between despairing because I can't remember something I think I should know to feeling awesome because I did remember something. Do you do crosswords? This corresponds with LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt for this week. As you all know, I also love jigsaws too and will be getting one out soon. Meanwhile, I find it relaxing to do an online free Jigsaw almost daily from Jigidi. I'm working my way through the Winter section favouring puzzles that feature birds or cosy houses in woods. I also do 7 Little Words and enjoy that challenge very much.
Back to Cross Stitching, Alice at Rabbit Girl Crafts has links to 9 Free Winter cross stitch patterns to download plus she offers her own free patterns too.
I mentioned I was alarmed about my scraps. Thank you, S, for sending me a photo of this easy unnamed patchwork block to use up scraps without a whole lot of measuring and cutting. She seems to know me well :). I am testing it out and like how many old scraps this can use. Is that a good enough reason to make a quilt??? This is one of those stitch and flip blocks and I haven't been able to find the name. If you know it, please tell me. So I started with blues for the last of the January RSC. Now that I have them all together like this, I'm seeing butterflies.
I was given several stitching kits for Christmas. I must share those next time. Today I'm working on Snowmen and making more fans for the Dresden Quarter Blocks. I never have to cast about for something to do here and I love it all. Hobbies are tried and true remedies for worry.
Hope you are similarly happily busy with all the things you love.
So happy to share this post with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Sum of Their Stories and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.
18 comments :
all of our snow is melting thank goodness but will be another day before what is at the opening of the driveway to be melted enough to drive the low car over it. The jeep manages fine. We rarely shovel as it warms up fast and usually melts it fast - this is unusual for us.
Sorry Tony's CT scan was delayed I would want the information fast but nothing you can do about the weather - be careful out there - you are lucky to have the right clothes for dressing for it - I at times can't believe the foolish people here it will be 20 degrees and they will run into the store in shorts and flip flops. Wouldn't be comfortable if they had car trouble on the way home and had to wait for help or start walking
You were certainly quite cold (I looked up what -23C is in F). We were -4F this morning at 7Am and last Sat it was -5F in the early morning. It's been our coldest winter in more than a decade and it's not over yet. I hope Tony's CT scan doesn't find any major problems. I had a CT scan last summer and was amazed at how many minor issues it found. Not life-threatening by any means. Try to stay warm. Everyone around here is complaining about their heating bills due to the colder weather and higher gas and electric prices.
Pat
And here is me moaning about our cool wet summer! Lovely quilt blocks, I also like the minimal measuring and cutting style quilts.
Thanks for sharing the painting. It brings back a lot of memories of just traveling city streets with deep snow. I especially enjoyed the little guy in the lower left trying to get through the snow on a tricycle. The blue butterflies are so simple and so cute. I'll have to remember this little pattern.
I know Balsam Avenue is - we have visited our son and his partner in Toronto, and that area is familiar to us. Not in that much snow, though! We are having a very hot week, with today's and tomorrow's forecast maximum 40 deg, and yes, that is 40 C.
I love that painting! Reminds me of where I grew up in Upstate New York. Glad you're getting out and feeling comfortable in spite of the frigid temperatures. I'm sure the dogs appreciate it, too! The scrappy blocks that make butterflies are lovely!
That's cold!!! Crosswords, I have been doing them since I was about 10 or so, cryptic are my favourites, and in my " Ready to go to hospital" bag, there is always a crossword book. And a spare pen.Tony, sorry about the delay, but better than a trip in dicy icy roads.
How nice to see how you can keep busy indoors while it is so cold and snowy outside!!! Stitchers are never bored! Pretty new scrappy blocks!
Sounds like a house full of adorable doglets! I just did the math on your actual temperature (I'm a Fahrenheit gal) and am shocked at how cold it is when you walk. It is bracing isn't it! I do the mini crossword at NYT website, one of the few "free" games they still have. Good luck to Tony, hope the test can get done next week.
Oh my - I just fell down the rabbit hole at that online jigsaw puzzle site and, even though I'm not normally a fan of jigsaws, I can see how those would be addicting.
I love the 'unnamed' patchwook blocks and now I'm looking forward to seeing what kits you were gifted with. How I wish my friends and family would gift me that type of thing but they seem to think that, because I do so much on my own, I wouldn't like them.
It's been very cold here too. The snow we got last weekend is just sitting there and not melting at all. We're just missing a new snowstorm working it's way up the east coast. I find that my sewing has helped me through many worrisome times. I remember my dad sewing until late some nights when something was bothering him. I know how he feels now that I'm older.
Hi Jocelyn, the painting is lovely, thanks for reminding me of Coni, and the quilt blocks are a good idea, I wondered how they would be if the little blue triangles were also on the opposite corners where the blocks meet and are currently blank. I may make a few myself and find out! Hugs, Elaine
Jocelyn, I don't know who enjoys the walks more (in any weather), you or the dogs! Same in this house too. Gracie adores going out in whatever Mother Nature brings. I do hope the CT goes well for Tony this coming week. Hang in there, girl!
Your posts never fail to engage my interest. Thank you for the dozens of sites you've added to my bookmarks. Turn around is only fair. Here are 2 from my 'have-to-try' list: Swirling hexagon quilt block https://www.handmadiya.com/2022/06/swirling-hexagon-quilt-block-tutorial.html AND Glue resist tie dye https://www.morenascorner.com/2015/06/tie-dye-technique-create-designs-with-glue-and-stencils.html
Hoping Tony gets his CT scan soon. Keeping you both on our prayer line. Love that painting! It reminds me of our neighborhood after the snow we got. Stay warm! Hugs!
I'm glad you are still able to find a way to get out and enjoy fresh air, in spite of the temps. We had a nice snowfall over the weekend and I went out for a bit of excercise on Saturday. I thought of you as I was walking...not sure I could do it in your temps, though. You have a lot of nice projects in the works. I like those new quilt blocks. They reminded me of bow ties.
We stayed an extra day with our son as it had rained pretty hard in places and people were showing jack knifed semi's and cars in the ditch. Today while blowing and drifting the highway was fine. However our side walk was another story all together.
Those blocks do look like butterflies!!!
God bless.
Your scrappy blocks are lovely, it's going to be a sweet butterfly quilt ;) Enjoy some sewing and playing time inside, away from the cold. Thank you for sharing and linking up, take care and stay warm.
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