Unchallenged

You know what they say about plans going astray and all that stuff.....

Yesterday, in a great fit of enthusiasm, those Jacob's Ladder blocks were taken out of their box and measured.  The blocks were made by several different people and the instructions supplied (written by me, and I was trained to write correct instructions) ended with, the block should measure 9-1/2 in finished.

Well - no, they didn't.  Not all of them.  Seven blocks did; the remaining 22 blocks were lucky to measure 9 in and some of them weren't even square, making them well nigh useless.  As I see it there are a few choices, one of which is to trim all the blocks to 9 in.....not happening, too many seams would be cut off; take the undersized blocks apart and hope the pieces were correctly cut to size in the first place, then reassemble the blocks to measure 9-1/2 in....also not happening, that's a lot of work for a not-very-fabulous result considering the quality of some fabrics used; or forget the whole thing.

So, forgetting is what I'm doing.  That challenge will go unchallenged.  Those useless blocks may end up being tossed out.

Four years ago we were enjoying autumn in Canada, and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

This is a very small pine tree by the water in Parry Sound, it was down-on-hands-and-knees to get this photo on a cold snowy day.

Each time we left the car in a parking area behind the Midland main street shops we saw this tree....it was even more beautiful than this pic shows.

Fallen leaves on the sidewalk outside our B&B in Goderich.  I love this mix of colours, it puts me in mind of some batik fabrics.

A damp day in The Land of Tall Straight Trees, on Vancouver Island......I know that's not its official name, but there were a lot of trees, and they were tall and straight.

Embroidery on the first label for my Canadian quilt is proceeding.  No stitches were knitted, no diamonds cut or pieced.  Words were read, notes were plinked and sung.  A sore right shoulder and upper arm has somewhat hampered efforts this week, goodness knows how that happened, but our helpful chiropractor has hopefully started it on the way to recovery.  I'm trying not to do anything which will hurt or will injure it further, which makes for a slightly boring week.

A milestone was passed last week - I have now outlived both of my parents!  All my grandparents made it into their 80s.....my maternal grandmother was 80 when she died, but both my parents died younger than their parents did.  I think my paternal grandmother made it to 90 but I don't know for sure; my father's family cut my mother, my brothers and me out of their lives when my father walked out on us.  "I don't want any part of your family squabbles" the old bat wrote to my mother on hearing the news that her older son had left his wife and children without a word to any of them.  That's fine.  We can live without you too.

We have another flood.  The river is up, roads are cut including one of the three river crossings in town.  I have lost count of how many floods we have had this year.  However, with memories of the drought of just a few years ago fresh in our memories, we aren't complaining.

Now that we have finished with our general rules of etiquette for balls, we shall move outside the ball room to the street.

"The manners of a person are clearly shown by his treatment of the people he meets in the public streets of a city or village, in public conveyances and in travelling generally.  The true gentleman, at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances, is kind and courteous to all he meets, regards not only the rights, but the wishes and feelings of others, is deferential to women and to elderly men, and is ever ready to extend his aid to those who need it."

I think we could add "the true lady", could we not?  It behooves a 'true lady' to be kind and courteous, also.  

Good manners and courtesy are not just knowing how to hold a knife and fork, but how to make others feel at ease in any situation.  This is not the only book of etiquette on my bookshelf; I have a more modern book, published in England, which is quite stiff and formal.  It places great importance on knowing which fork and spoon to use for which course, and which glass for which wine, and how deeply to curtsey to Lord and Lady So-and-So, but very little on how to treat others with kindness.....something far more important in my opinion, which is emphasised in my 1885 book.

Enjoy your days!

A week of something!

Finally.....the quilting on the border of my Canadian quilt is done, so it's itme to think about a sleeve and a label.  Labels, because there will be two; one saying who designed it, who made it, and who it's for, while the other will have a key to the blocks.  If I had been thinking at the time the back of each block could have been identified as they were made, but better late than not at all, yes?

The blue is painter's tape holding it to my light box so it didn't slip.  Because the fabric is red to match the back, rather than white or cream, I used a fine Pigma pen which will be covered by hand embroidery in black floss. 

Early this year my quilt group's (non-compulsory, thank goodness) annual challenge was handed out.  Now I don't know about the rest of you but I have enough partly done projects that I don't wish to take on any more, so I put it to the back of my mind.....until a few days ago, when this quilt popped into my head. We were given two choices, both of which were quite similar; one was to take the initial letters of our first name, middle name and surname and use them for blocks, colour, and quilting design.

Well......

This unfinished design was done several years ago, and it fits the bill nicely.  First name Jennifer, so Jacob's Ladder blocks will work.  Second name Grace, and I am (as I may have mentioned once or twice) quite fond of green.  Many of the blocks were made when I belonged to another group; we took it in turns to choose a block which would be made for us by other members, and my choice was Jacob's Ladder in greens and creams.

Switching the placement of the colours around makes an interesting design, although I see the block on the left will need to be corrected.  Some seam allowances are downright.....creative, to the point where the blocks are so inaccurate that they are well nigh unusable.  I am not going to fluff around taking blocks apart and remaking them, so they will be tossed.  Some blocks used just two fabrics while others - the more interesting ones - used a mix of greens.

There is a very good chance that it will still be an unquilted top when the time comes for the Big Reveal, but I don't care.  It's been sitting in its box for long enough, so moving it up a step or two is a Good Thing.

More diamonds have been cut and joined.  Not many stitches have been knitted.  Words have been read.  Notes have been plinked.  Another week has passed.

Daylight saving started in this state at stupid dark o'clock early this morning, and will continue for six months.  I can cope with either time, standard or daylight; it's the changeover time that does me (and a lot of other people) in, consequently I'm feeling a bit jet lagged today.  Never mind, an early-ish night tonight, a couple of good sleeps and by next weekend the old body and brain will be adjusted to different time.

Not everyone likes daylight saving time, when it rolls around every spring long and loud are the moaners and whingers but it started back in 1971, so like it or not I think it's here to stay.

One thing which does start in October is storm season - something to look forward to, for sure!  Compared to how some folk on the other side of he world are faring at present we're not doing too badly, but of course that can (and indeed, may) change.

The final rule, from General Rules for Balls.

"In a private dance, a lady cannot well refuse to dance with any gentleman who invites her unless she has a previous engagement.  If she declines from weariness, the gentleman will show her a compliment by abstaining from dancing himself, and remaining with her while the dance progresses."

Supposing the reason a lady declined a gentleman's dance invitation was just because she didn't wish to dance with him?  If that is the case she may not want to be stuck with a bloke she doesn't care for, while others are whirling around the dance floor enjoying themselves with their partner of choice.

Enjoy your days!

Something achieved!

What do you think about my Jacob's Ladder blocks, these two were made to pin on the wall at quilt group so anyone making my block can see what I have in mind. I made one block with just two different green fabrics and the other block with lots of greens.......think I like it best. And I have fixed up the mistake. While I'm certain that I won't be given enough blocks to make a quilt it will certainly be the start of one. Years ago I had the idea to make a quilt in greens and creams but had thought of a Flying Goose variation, but I think this will work well. Must have a play with it in EQ7.

Yesterday The Only Choir In Town put on its spring concert and I achieved something I never thought I would do. I have sung an aria from Handel's "Messiah"....one with lots of high notes....never thought I could do that. Just as well no one could hear too closely because I suspect my notes came out sounding more like a mouse than a bird. We had a varied program and sang quite a lot of songs, it was well received. At the concert I heard a rumour that there is another choir in town - perhaps I could follow that up. There are also a couple of church choirs but I don't attend church.

Today I did my first stint as a volunteer. We have both made enquiries about local opportunities for volunteers and have a few options to try. I am now the librarian at a small college which runs courses in counselling and will do that each Monday morning, except for once a month when I go to quilt group. There are a couple of other places I am interested in working at too, the local art gallery and also the local history museum and possibly the visitor information centre.

It's started lightly raining, the gardens will be pleased. We are continually being surprised by what is coming into bloom, the latest is a shrub in the front garden which has little purple flowers, the leaves are tiny, pale green with light edges; it's very lacy and pretty. And something else that at first I thought might be a camellia, which has small very dark red flowers. Perhaps I will take a cutting of them along to a local nursery for identification. The reserve over the back fence has lots of dark green thistles, but it also has some little pink/mauve poppies and some other flowering plants that I suspect are weeds. It's colourful anyway.

It's been several months since my hair had the ministrations of a hairdresser. I have checked a couple of local salons, might check one or two more before making a decision as to which one I shall patronise - it's an important thing isn't it, one's relationship with one's hairdresser? My hair is long and I like it that way, past my bra strap, but it does need a couple of inches off the bottom to tidy it up. And it has also been several months since I had any colour put in......when one has been colouring one's hair for many years it takes courage to stop. My life has reached the point where I feel I now can. So the grey hair that I fought against for so long is coming through, and the hair which is now uncoloured is darker than I thought it would be. Nature originally gave me auburn hair and the colour I used for so long was also auburn, so goodness knows what it will look like in a year or so.......watch this space for updates.......

"The Hair.

There is nothing that so adds to the charm of an individual, especially a lady, as a good head of hair. The skin of the head requires even more tenderness and cleanliness than any other portion of the body, and is capable of being irritated by disease."

Now it's time to play with some fabric. Enjoy your days!

Jennifer