Dripping and stripping

Dripping, because it has been raining lightly all day......what the Irish would call a soft day.  Soggy back yard, soggy reserve on the other side of the fence.  The garden is smiling.  Because this picture was taken earlier this year it's not so green now but is just as soggy, and the trees on the hill are just as misty.

 Stripping, because I have been joining strips for the borders of this year's challenge quilt.

 Two are joined on, so far.  It's been sitting on the spare bed for a few months just waiting for me to get around to cutting the fabrics for the border.  Genius can't be rushed, you know.

The border will be mitred, which means the last three quilt tops I have made all have mitred borders.  I don't know how many are left in my brain.......while they aren't difficult they do take a little more thinking than straight borders, but sometimes they are so right for a quilt that it would be a shame not to use them.  When this coffee and blogging break is over, the remaining two borders will be attached then the corners mitred before my brain shuts down.  The inner border is the same fabric as the background so the pinwheel blocks appear to float.

The new jacket is being sewn together too, just in time for winter.  However, it can be a bit tricky sewing knitted pieces together when one of the cats insists that your lap is the only one which will do for a snooze. It's warm enough having a mohair jacket resting on one's knees without a furry cat as well, particularly when said cat tries to help with the sewing.

Next week is the annual quilt/craft show in Sydney, so I am off on the train for a visit.  It's rather good being an Olde Pharte because that train trip is very inexpensive, and it's quite relaxing.....so long as I don't get a seat partner like the bloke who sat next to me last year for part of the return trip.  As many older blokes do he sat back in his chair, spread his legs, tipped his hat over his face and went to sleep, perhaps thinking he was at home in his recliner.  All very nice for him, except he was in the aisle seat and I was sitting by the window.  Once people started to leave the train and seats became vacant, he moved - for which I was very thankful.  Wonder if the railway would let me book two seats?  Probably not.......

The arrangements for the trip to Canada in October are proceeding nicely.  We have booked our plane tickets (I'm not thrilled about flying but the alternative is a long swim), accommodation in Toronto and Victoria, and hire car in Toronto.  We even have a few loonies and toonies left from the last visit, so we can familiarise ourselves with Canadian money again.  Other countries' money is interesting, isn't it?  Their banknotes are bigger than ours, Canadian notes don't quite fit so neatly in my wallet as our local notes do.

To follow on from the etiquette quote in the previous post:

"Picking teeth at the table.
It is a mark of rudeness to pick your teeth at the table, and it should always be avoided.  To hold your hand or napkin over your mouth does not avoid the rudeness of the act, but if it becomes a matter of necessity to remove some obstacle from between the teeth, then your open mouth should be concealed by your hand or napkin."

Nothing is said about the implement used in the removal - perhaps a solid gold toothpick?  Now back to those quilt borders.

Enjoy your days!