Signs

Many years ago, in the area where I live, there battles were fought between, the English and the French, English and U. S, Native people against all of those previously noted, plus others, I am sure I have not mentioned.   Where these battles were fought plaques and cairns have been erected by the side of the road which either give directions to visit certain places off the beaten track, or note the exact spots where these conflicts took place.  The plaques provide information as to the, who, what, where when and why information.  

I am mentioning this as the country side is dotted with a lot of these information sites, and during a ride yesterday with my ex, we duly noted some of those we have visited or stopped at previously.  However, as we made a turn in the road, I saw there was a new one.  Not the kind made of brass or stone as the others were but, with modern elements, of steel and plastic, held in place by cement blocks.  

Written on the black background, large red letters showed this.

AT THIS SITE,

ON APRIL 17 th, 1889,

NOTHING HAPPENED.

Who ever put it there must have had a good sense of humor, as I certainly did have a good chuckle as we drove past.  I should have taken a picture, but my phone has too many of this kind a photo, so decided not too.  

Have a great day.

Cheers

 

I can't believe

Where did that time go!   I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted.   Life gets in the way, and time just flies by.

During my absence a huge transformation has taken place, the trees that were only bare branches are now full of green leaves, the varieties which are a little later to show their leaves are still quite bare.  The magnolias have been beautiful,  some heavy rain and wind dashed the blooms a few days ago, some of the later bloomers avoided that weather and I now looking quite lovely.  Red bud and ornamental flowering trees are now putting forth a great show of colour.  Lilacs are just starting to open up their flowers, saw some of the very dark purple ones yesterday, I am sure the perfume from them will soon be in the air.

Inside, my cactus which I though was a Christmas cactus, which is now confirmed to be an Easter cactus has been blooming for the past two weeks, the first time it has had this many blooms in all of the years I have had it.  It appears to love this new home as much as I do.  My youngest daughter brought my April flowers on Thursday.  A little late, however, she and her husband have been very busy finding a new car for their youngest daughter, who is living and going to college a three hour drive away, so their weekends have been very busy.  

Doing all of the social activities I normally do, lunches with friends, happy hour, pot luck dinner, quilting meetings and trunk shows and a studio art tour.  Loved the art tour, artist's which use different mediums to make their pieces open up their studios for people to see their process and also some of their work.  I visited about eight of them during a day last month, painters, potters and clay artists the ones I was most interested in was, of course, the artists using fabric.  There were three on this tour, many questions were directed their way, so now going to use some of their "tricks of the trade" to apply to some new pieces I plan on doing.   

During the past ten days I had three great grand children celebrate birthdays, all of them in one family, so grandma is having a BBQ birthday party for all of them today and that is where you will find me this afternoon.  Next weekend is another GG's birthday, so going to my grandson's for that party.  

I have been waiting for my new car to be manufactured and to arrive at the dealership, it should be in my hands in the very near future.   Getting excited too, for my up coming vacation next month.  There is no grass growing under my feet, as the saying goes.

Our weather is typical April early May weather, shorts and T-shirt sunny and warm for a couple of days, then in the blink of an eye it is wet and cool and digging out the long pants and sweaters.  The evenings are getting longer which I really like, time to sit outside and enjoy the evening and watch the sunsets.

As I am sure, you my readers know I make quilts and am now doing some collage pieces, this is a cushion I made recently.   I have others which I will show in due course.

So with that I will finish my laundry.

Have a great day.

Cheers.

Hoping it continues

 Good morning!

We have sunshine again, three days in a row, and the temp is going up, just keeping the fingers crossed it will remain the same, and not revert back to some cooler winter type of weather.   It is still April so we can expect almost anything and everything.

Flowers are blooming, daffodils, pansies and cultivated primroses.  The forsythia is blooming also, which means the ground is getting warmer, that must be the reason for the dandelions too, which are attracting some early butterflies.  The magnolia and ornamental fruit trees are showing definite signs of forthcoming flowers.   Hoping it continues.    

On Thursday I delivered three of my quilting projects to a quilt show, which was held Friday and Saturday.  I needed to pick up the projects at a certain time after the show, however, I went earlier to see all of the beautiful works of art done with fabric, needle and thread.   Was not disappointed as the display of quilts was spectacular.   I was asked to help take down the displays and was more than happy to do that, as I was able to get up close and personal with those quilts.  

Sunday was the last day of the Masters golf tournament, I am not a golfer but like to watch.   This year all of the flowers on the course were out in full bloom, beautiful.  When I attended the Masters with my son and DIL several years ago, all of the Azaleas had bloomed early due to a very early Spring, so none of them looked as lovely as the ones yesterday.    Watched this year's with my ex at his house, after the winner had been given the green jacket, he cooked a steak on the BBQ.   He needs to know the reason why, soap and water, vacuums and dust cloths were invented or that will be the last time I visit.  There is absolutely no excuse as to why those things cannot be used.  Not a priority, I guess. 

Monday, Monday I go and get my income taxes done, I went last week, however, the young man helping me did not have enough experience to take care of the details in mine, another person will be doing it today.  Time is running out as it needs to be done by the end of April.   After that is done, it will be lunch time, then I am going for a nice walk to the local park it is just too nice to stay in.  

Have a great day

Cheers

Once in a lifetime

When I got up yesterday, it was cloudy and it had rained, Oh no, it is going to be a big disappointment for a lot of people.  Everyone was hoping for a lovely sunny day, the excitement had been building for days and days and now clouds.

As the morning progressed more blue sky could be seen and by noon hour, yes, lovely sunshine.  

All the preparations, extra policing staff, roads closed and some opened for all of the expected flow of traffic to converge into the area.  The special viewing glasses had sold out days ago.   Schools were closed,  restaurants opened early and I am sure stayed open late to feed and water the many people who were making a full day of  it.   Families made it a party/picnic day, and the television stations were running programs for hours on end to document this event.

Now, we wait.  The sun had a lot of heat in it and the temp rose to a high of 17*C  it could not have been any perfect for this once in a lifetime event.  And, we wait.

It's time,  the sun was not so bright as it was, over time, twilight, then it became darker and  darker, stars were shining.   It's cold, so cold I had to put an extra cardigan on.  Street lights came to life, and the birds stopped singing.  It's quiet, the workers putting up a nearby building had to stop doing their job.  It's so very quiet.  It's so very surreal.   

If this is happening in 2024 and we all know the reason why, it makes me wonder, what did people think was happening years and years ago when they had absolutely no idea.  I am sure they were thinking it was the end of the world.    So back to April 8 2024.

The sky was black but, in the distance it appeared to be sunset the sky was pink, orange and red.  Then very slowly it started to get lighter and lighter, no stars, all the lights when out and now sunshine again, and the temperature began to rise.

A total eclipse of the sun.  

Now, today April 9, 2024, the sun is shining again as it does, and it won't get dark until this evening. Everything is back to normal, children in school, people going about their normal daily lives, the birds are singing, construction workers on the job site working.  

All the photos have been viewed, and now the special viewing glasses have been stowed away as a souvenir of a once in a lifetime experience.   A total eclipse of the sun.  

Have a great day

Cheers.  

Lovely weekend

Back to a normal routine today.  On holiday weekends I never know what day it is, especially when everything is closed for Good Friday, and it feels as if it should be a Sunday. Then yesterday, Monday it is anyone's guess what was open or closed.

On Friday, DD2 came for a visit and gave me an Easter Lily for my March flowers, (flowers every month for a year, Christmas gift).  They were going to be busy helping their DD2 to move on the weekend, so would not be home for Easter.  The evening pot luck dinner was a big success, with dishes of food that I would not normally prepare, a great chance to try something new, which may end up on my own dinner plate some time.  The company and conversation is very welcome too.

Saturday's bbq at DD1's was lovely.  It was raining and cool, so the meal was prepared outside and eaten in the dining room.  Five of my great grands were there and I must say their Mum is doing a fantastic job in raising those children.    They range in age from 5 to 14 years,  and when it was time to set the table they all helped with not even being asked.  Lined up in the kitchen each one took something to place on the table, making several trips back and forth until the task was complete.  The same procedure after the first course, dirty dishes, serving bowls, etc. off to the kitchen and on their return trip, dessert course in hand.  After the meal, everything back into the kitchen and the 7 year old, picked up the dish towel and started to dry dishes, no dishwasher in the house. 

An Easter egg hunt in the house proved to be a bit hectic for a little while, however, everyone found a little treat.

Sunday and theatre time.  Have you ever played the board game "Clue"?  The play with the same name was the last one of the theatres performances until October.   It was fantastic, one of the best ones I have seen.   A revolving set with all of the rooms in the mansion, where the murders took place, great professional actors, lots of laughs, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.  

Monday, was a beautiful sunny day, a lovely day for a walk, so off a local park, just a bit too early yet for any of the trees and shrubs to show any leaves, however, I did notice the buds swelling on the rhododendrons.  Sitting a bench soaking up some Vitamin D, I was approached by a woman who wanted to do the same thing and we had a nice conversation, solving all of the world's problems.  Cooling down as the afternoon sun was on its downward trip, I made my way back home.  Trivia night upstairs and our team won.  These nights really make you feel as if you don't know very much after all.

Today, I will be doing some errands and, visiting a friend.   April showers this morning and for several more days this week.    As the saying goes, "April showers, bring May flowers".

Have a great day

Cheers.

 

All fixed and moving

 Joyce the Janome, only need a little fix, which did not take too long at the shop, so she is now back in the sewing room.  Sally the Singer, is all clean and ready to go when ever a sewing day for the guild is scheduled.  All of the repair work done on these two did not cost a mint either, so very happy about that and no new sewing machines needed.  

As I have mentioned previously, when I moved into this apartment I purchased a lot of new furniture.  I still needed something in the dining area, and have been having a problem finding what I wanted, and to be honest did not want to spend a mint on buying something that I would have to wait for months to receive.  Then last weekend the light bulb came on, the fabric cabinet.   This wooden cabinet was made years ago by my late husband's friend..   It is tall, 6 1/2 feet tall, and 3 feet wide, with glass doors and shelves with two small wooden doors at the bottom.   Move it?   I can do this!!!   Moving!!! yes, emptied and with a couple of pushes and pulls it was in place in the dining area, looking good.  The sewing room, however, looked as if a bomb had hit it.  Needing something now to hold the fabric, so off to the store I go and buy a shelving unit, which is made up of several cubbies/cubes.  Furniture these days does not come premade, and neither did this.  With my trusty screw driver and hammer, a couple of hours later, I have put it together.  

As of this morning, everything is now in its proper place, collectables that I treasure which have been hiding in the cupboards are now on display in the cabinet.  The fabric, all sorted by colour is in their appropriate cubby.  Job well done, with only a couple of muscles that I know did some work they usually don't do.  

For once we have a nice blue sky and frosty rooftops so it is still not too warm yet.  The early daffodils are blooming, and green buds are showing on some shrubs, everything is coming alive.  

Last night I went to a Jazz concert, at a performance hall in a library in a nearby city.   It was an all woman trio I have never heard before, and a man on the drums.  A singer performed along with the trio in the second set.  A great couple of hours listening to some lovely music.  These concerts have a different group every month throughout the year and are free.

A busy weekend coming up.  Tomorrow, Friday, is the Easter pot luck dinner in the lounge, this month I am taking a dessert.  Saturday, having dinner at DD1's I am also doing dessert for that too,  both of those will be made early tomorrow morning.  Sunday, I have tickets to go to the theatre, looking forward to that, as it is the last one my friend and I have tickets for.  

Monday, sounds as if it should be a day to just relax.

Have a great day.

Cheers.

Joyce, Sally and Confused

 The weekend again, where did those five days go!  It must be due to me being busy in the sewing room, as the weather  was not that great to be outside for any length of time. 

Old Man Winter and Mother Nature must be having a terrible argument due to their confusion as to whether it is Spring or still Winter.   Most of January and February we had temperatures warmer than the average for those months and very little snow compared to other years.  The first half of March was much the same, so only conclude, Mother Nature had the upper hand.  On the first day of Spring, March 21st. Old Man Winter must have won the argument, as we were experiencing  bitter cold temps, winds which made it feel so much colder then snow for the past couple of days.  Currently we have blue skies, but still temps below the zero C.  The forecast is for milder temps in the coming week, so maybe they have come to some agreement, as I am sure the Old Man needs to take a rest after what he has done these past few days.  Hopefully, he will fall asleep for a long time and wake up in January 2024.   The Young Mother Nature can now do her work in peace and quite.

Joyce the Janome and Sally the Singer are my sewing machines, don't laugh lots of people name their sewing machines.  Recently I have been having issues with Joyce she has been in the repair shop twice for the same problem and will be going back in again, hopefully to be fixed once and for all.  Now, Sally is old and I can expect her to be a bit slow these days, however, it appears she has a seriously problem, which I am hoping can be fixed.  Sally made clothes for my two girls, family members and myself since the mid 60's, so really doesn't owe me anything, but it is a good machine for me to carry to the sewing days the guild has, as Joyce is very heavy.  

While both of those machines are being taken care of, I will be doing a big tidy up in the sewing room, moving the furniture around as I am finding where everything is situated at the present time is not working very well.  Then I will search through my pattern books to find quilts I would like to make and then use the fabric in my stash and start cutting to make my own kits.  It all sound very ambitious but I am determined to start using fabric I currently have and only buy some neutral colour to compliment the blocks.  

Have a great day/

Cheers