In which Stuff has happened

Another week draws to its close - or does it?  Depends on whether you regard Sunday or Monday as the start to the week, doesn't it?  Our week starts on Monday, so our weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

A momentous occasion during the week - we shouted ourselves lunch out, at a favourite Chinese restaurant.  Tables were spaced out and we were told where to sit; at no time did we feel concerned.  Yes, I could have made Chinese-style food at home, and indeed often have......but it was so good to sit down and order, and have my meal put in front  of me, and not to have to clear it away after.  Besides, I can't make honey chicken and fried rice as well as that restaurant can.

Even bought myself some new shoes, my older ones are getting somewhat tired so called in to the shoe shop near the Chinese restaurant.  Found some casual black slip-ons in my size; my feet like them, my eyes like them, and best of all......they were half price!  I really don't like shopping for shoes, but that's now done.

My Ontario runner is being quilted, there's not much more to go, it will be bound.......and then it will be done.  Tumblers are still being joined.  Stitches are occasionally knitted on the scarf.  Books are being read.  Some TV is watched.  That's about it for our week, really.

We need a picture, and I realised recently when pics were scrolling through our computer that this one has never before been shown on my blog.

Before I retired I worked in the library of a girls' school, and one of my colleagues was also a quilter.  When one of our librarians announced that she was having a baby we decided, of course, to make her a quilt.  She knew she was having a boy but swore us to secrecy - even her husband didn't know - so we kept away from a lot of pink without making it too boy-boofy; it would have worked for a boy or girl.  We both raided our stashes for I-spy prints, put it together, and I quilted and bound it.  When it was presented to its new owner's mummy she was delighted.

Earlier in the week I even braved the mirror at the hairdresser (they are always unflatteringly brightly lit, aren't they? and you have to keep looking at your reflection, which is a bit of a worry) for a trim.  Last trim was in mid-March just as our world was shutting down, but the joy of having long hair is not needing regular trims.  My hair is now the shortest it has been for goodness knows how long, it just clears my shoulders.  Takes a bit of getting used to after so many years, and I've decided I really do prefer it longer......however, it will grow again.

One can't avoid noticing that nearly every second person who sews seems to making masks for the current plague epidemic.  I will not be making any.  There is saturation coverage on news reports, in fact the bulletin is often more than half over before we get to find out what else is happening in the world - and then we are being told "look after your mental health while all this is happening"!  Yes, I know it's serious, but I refuse to dwell on it to the detriment of my well-being, which is why my sewing room will not be used for the making of masks.  I will buy them if we are told that we cannot stick our noses outside without one, but I will not make any.

Continuing on from last week's quote:
"The manner in which a favor is granted or a kindness done, often affects us more than the deed itself.  The deed may have been prompted by vanity, pride, or some selfish motive or interest; the warmth or coldness with which the person who has done it speaks to you, or grasps your hand, is less likely to deceive.  The manner of doing anything, it has been truly said, is that which stamps its life and character on any action.  A favor may be performed so grudgingly as to prevent any feeling of obligation, or it may be refused so courteously as to awaken more kindly feelings than if it had been ungraciously granted."

I am inclined to agree, having been on the receiving end of an ill-mannered act.

Enjoy your days!

My brain cells have been slowly frying

It has been so very very hot.  Thankfully today is cooler (although you couldn't describe it as cold) and there is the possibility of a rain drop or two.  We have had two storms this week which did give some much-needed rain, we'll take all we can get.

The big news, of course, is the dreadful fires burning so much of our beautiful country.  So many homes lost, so many businesses.......heaven only knows how many of our native creatures gone.  Lives have been lost.  Even hearing about it has become so stressful that I have stopped clicking on news stories, and have also stopped watching the news on TV - I can't begin to imagine what it must be like for those more closely affected.

On a happier note (because sewing has been keeping me sane) - stitches have been taken!  This is a project bought on our last trip to Canada, a Junior Row by Row bought at The Cottage Quilter in Corbeil outside North Bay, Ontario.  Isn't this fun?  I couldn't resist it.

The original design has the letters butted up against each other, but I have decided to add a half inch strip of white background between them.  This, of course, means some finagling with the already-cut outer borders - some of which will have to be re-cut.  My stash has yielded a print of tiny black stars and spots on a white background which will be used for binding - all the coloured fabrics in the kit are spotted, although it doesn't show up as well in the orange fabric I. 

This, of course, meant that many leaders and enders have also been made, but they are waiting to be pressed before showing their glorious autumn faces to the world.

The last, the very last, set of eight tumblers is on the needle right now, so the spare bed is being used as a design wall to spread out all 888 pieces.  The placement is totally random apart from a light-dark theme; I don't want the same fabric adjacent in the finished quilt, hence the shuffling around of fabrics.....except that the bed is not ~quite~ big enough.

You know how bright ideas pop into your head out of nowhere?  Well, I had one the other day.  My supply of summer sandals includes beige sandals with wide adjustable straps (sadly the feet which now swell in summer mean that adjustable straps are a must) that I have never really loved.  They are comfortable, for sure, but that cream/beige is not pretty.  It makes my feet look enormous - I think it does, anyway - so they are hardly ever worn, which is a bit of a waste.  Back in the days when I was young and slender......sigh......we could buy a product to paint on our shoes to change the colour.  I contacted a local shoe repair place - and it's still available!  A very long time ago I used to have some orange sandals, and green ones too; I can feel green sandals in my life once more. 

Our town is getting quite busy.  Many people are away on holidays, but the visitors have started rolling in for the big country music festival.  We like to play "spot the tourist" because they just don't look like locals, they don't dress like locals, and many seem to have a sense of entitlement that locals lack; you know the "I'm visiting your town so I'm very important, you have to kowtow to me" type.

"Limit of a prolonged visit.
If no exact length of time is specified, it is well for visitors to limit a visit to three days or a week, according to the degree of intimacy they may have with the family, or the distance they have come to pay the visit, announcing this limitation soon after arrival, so that the host and the hostess may invite a prolongation of the stay if they desire it, or so that they can make their arrangements in accordance.  One never likes to ask of a guest, "How long do you intend to remain?" yet it is often most desirable to know."

Some of these visitors stay for three weeks or more.  While we like to have them (because they spend money) we don't always like the way so many seem to push their weight around......and some are a considerable weight.  (I didn't say that)

Enjoy your days!