weather in Churchill

I can not say that I have ever given the weather in Churchill Manitoba much consideration.  I often check with the Families in the southern part of that province as to what is happening there but Churchill?  Nope!

Until now..... for the next 10 days I will be making regular 'trips' to the internet to find out if it is cloudy or snowing in that northern part of the world.

Here is the reason:

for the joy of quilting

The first quilting class that I can recall was at the Big Stone community hall. ( yes, there is such a place.  yes, there is a big stone near the hall.  Any of the locals would be happy to show it to you.)  There were probably a dozen or so women gathered with their sewing machines, their stacks of fabric and of course lunch and coffee.  Shelli was our instructor.  Shelli is one of those capable, tackle anything, wise women who to this day still helps to keep places like Big Stone functioning well.  (I think I am off track....)

We put together a sampler wall hanging, trying various styles of blocks from a simple nine-patch to a more detailed dresden plate.  I used this as a table topper in A Prairie Chalet until it faded beyond faded!
I took a class in Hanna at Yesterday's Dream (no longer a store) and made a quillow.  Then Pam Job was offering a class at the local school in Youngstown and I made my first 'major' project, a double sized quilt.  I had no clue what I was doing, I just wanted to learn.  For the first time in the 20 or so years that I had had my Singer sewing machine I learned about the various 'feet' and actually put them to use.  Pam was a patient, encourager and I was actually quite pleased with the result, even the free-motion quilting, if I didn't look too closely.  It covers a bed in the spare room of the basement.

There were more small projects, baby quilts for each grand child, a couple more bigger ones for family and a special friend. Gradually I would learn the lingo and gather tips and information from class instructors, reading magazines and blogs.

When we moved to this great community I was 5 miles from a fabulous quilt shop with more classes and fabric than I could imagine.  I cautiously dipped my toe into the quilting world, would try something and then pull back.  Then a different class would be offered and once again I would try but would keep doing that old 'comparing' my abilities with others.   These women are amazing!  Alice is an artist as well as a quilter!  These are experts and talk a language that I barely understand sometimes.  I am also the daughter of Magda who made quilts only from old coats, leftover scraps of fabric from serviceable projects.  One never bought new fabric to cut up and sew back together into something that was simply for looking at.  So the cost of fabric would haunt me as well.

I have resisted calling myself a quilter. Jo is a quilter.  Trish is a quilter.  I took one of Jo's classes and she was so helpful and  encouraging. But I was/am still intimidated  by her knowledge and wonderful use of colour.  So, I have just told people I enjoying sewing and working at quilting.

A while back I took my machine for servicing and cleaning.  During my conversation with Al  I said how I didn't really call myself a quilter.  He looked at me and said "Have you ever finished a quilt?" My reply, "Well, yes.....".  "Then you are quilter.  Some people say they are quilters but have never finished a quilt."

I know it sounds foolish but that is what it took to allow myself to be called a quilter.

There is something about creating with fabric that is therapeutic for me.  Oh, yes, I get frustrated, I take out stitches, I redo seams, I cringe when I see some of the colours that I have put together or the corners that don't quite line up but I still love it.  I have a fabric 'stash' and if I see a fabric sale I add to the stash.  The JD Salesman never complains or rolls his eyes when I buy more.  And he raves over some projects and at others he just smiles.
                                             

                                         

I confessed to a friend the other day that I make quilts and don't really know what I will do with some of them, I don't have a 'home' for them yet.  She encouraged me that this IS therapy for me these cold days and even when it isn't cold, so just enjoy it!

I had a stamp made a while back, one that I hoped to make labels for my projects, one that I think describes the pleasure I have in my muddling with fabric and thread.  Now I must learn to make labels.......

 " for the joy of quilting" .

Phone call

The caller ID said "Private Caller" and because some friends have such, I chose to answer.
"Hello?"
"My name is Dorideknsl fanik kd and  akdiril fldldisnalgn windowl a d  f sls skdkff   ....."
( okay, this is not verbatim but the only words I understood were 'my name is' and the word 'window')  Now please understand that I DO recognize the fact that, at this stage in my life, when people speak quickly I don't always get what they are saying.  Add a strong accent and I am whooped!
"Pardon me?"
This time (duh) it connected that it was something to do with Microsoft Windows.  He was not going to try to sell me a window.
At this point I usually say I am not interested and hang up but I seemed to be in a particularly ornery mood so I pursued the conversation.
"I know everything about your computer and need......"
"You don't know anything about my computer."
"Yes I do.  You are Mrs. Arm (long pause) Mrs. Armstrong, right?"
"Yes, but you don't know anything about my computer."
"Yes I do.  I have all the information that is on your computer.  I have the number."
The number.  What 'number' would he be talking about.  Serial number?  Where would I find that?   Hhhhhmmmm
"What is the number on my computer?"
"It is 888 (another long pause)" but that was all I got.
"What kind of computer do I have?"
"It is a Dell."
"Well, I am looking right at it and it is an Apple."
"Pardon me?"
"I have an Apple.  I am looking right at it."
and at that point there seemed to be a problem because he hung up!
OKAAAAYY

Do people really buy into these schemes?

perpective

We have had a relatively mild winter season in this part of the world.  There has been little snow to contend with, fairly mild temperatures making life easy when traveling even to the post office and for groceries.
Then March came! and now we are having some cold, wind and snow.
As I looked out the window this morning my first reaction was to whine.  Whine about the wind, the snow piling in front of the house, in the driveway.  Then reality hit:  we have a warm cozy house.  So many in the US lost their homes last week, others in Calgary and in hundreds of cities on this continent have never had the privilege of a house that belongs to them, have no shelter in this brief winter spell.
As the years pile up the JD Salesman and I realize that it is so easy to become whiny, complaining, seeing the dark-side of the glass half empty.
How I long to live thankfully, to believe that IN all things God works for my good, to accept clouds, dark days, pain, sorrow as well as sunshine and happy times.
So..... if I need to be reminded of that, don't hesitate doing so......

Hey, the sun is peeking through!

Vacation

The post from yesterday leaves no doubt that the JD Salesman and I left winter in Alberta and took a trip!

What can I say...... it was so, so good! Someone asked me what was the highlight of our 10 days in Mexico. I could say: the warmth, the green, the beautiful flowers, the park-like grounds of the resort, the moonlight walks on the sand, the peaceful hours in the shade by the pool, the hospitable Mexican people who treated us so kindly, the yummy food that I didn't have to prepare, the variety of food to choose from, watching the para-sailor :), meeting our son's in-laws who were at the same resort (Jay commented that nothing happens 'by chance'), sunrise on the beach......

There was so much to enjoy but I would have to say the highlight was spending 24 hours a day for 10 days with the JD Salesman. We laughed, we cried, talked, were quiet together, read, slept, walked, shared meals, drank champagne, and shared bread and wine in the French restaurant remembering Jesus' love for us.

I went through moments of guilt, feeling self-indulgent in all the luxury of the resort. (I don't advise reading a book by Shane Claiborne while on this type of vacation!). Mostly I chose to enjoy every moment and to be thankful for this 'gift'.

And so, when it came time to leave, I cried. I was ready to go home but I wasn't if that makes sense. No, I guess it doesn't make sense but I suspect others will understand.....

One of the really good things about coming home was the JD Salesman still had 5 days before going back to work! And one of those days was spent traveling to visit the Edmonton family and the birthday boy and girl! How sweet it is....

So, yesterday, it was back to work for the Salesman and he was okay with it! Me? well, I will adjust again and plan to get back into the sewing room. So many projects...... (well, in my mind. Who knows what will come of the dreams!)

Celebrating 60

the John Deere salesman celebrates his 60th birthday!

up

up
and away.........

T'was the month after Christmas...

T'was the month after Christmas and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring...... except Grandma!

So here we are into the new year. And life is back into a routine of sorts. I am not sure how to best describe Christmas. It would seem to me that it just gets better and better as the years go by. I guess we are establishing some traditions that are just that, traditions. They may not make sense to anyone else but these 'habits' have just become part of how we spend Christmas.

When 16 people spend three and a half days together there are times when the noise level is quite high! Thankfully Grandpa pulled the trampoline into the shop, found the old bike and trike, the scooter. He conscripted help to give the shop a good sweeping/wash down and also built a humongous sand box inside the shop. The seven played for long periods of time in the shop and outside even though there was very little snow with which to create anything! Warmth made it pleasant to be outside.

Parents cooperated even though the clothes were full of sand as well as the hair. I know that more than once these kids endured a vacuuming before being allowed out of the shop! Parents also made meals and helped with clean up every day. We had some great homemade soup, noodles made from scratch with great toppings and the traditional pizza for Christmas Eve supper. Yes, we feasted!

The day that everyone arrived Grandpa took a nasty spill out of the back of the pickup when a strap that he was pulling broke and sent him flying onto the ice beside the truck. Nothing was broken but he is still very sore and it did put a damper on his Christmas.

I saw examples of love and grace within the tribe. I heard 'I'm sorry' more than one time. The one that stood out to me was when the 3 year old came inside and called, "Dad, I broke your snowball maker. I am sorry". The answer: "Did you mean to?" "No". "That's okay". A simple example of God's love. He doesn't rebuke and blame but accepts our regret and pronounces forgiveness and acceptance.

Confession: a good friend told me to wait until after Christmas to clean the house! I listened to her, did a quick vacuum here and there, cleaned the bathrooms (except in our own bathroom) before hand. So, last week I hit the upstairs, then the basement and by Friday night I pronounced it DONE! Okay, the sewing/laundry room will never be 'done' but it feels good to have some corners cleaned out and a bag of goodies for the thrift store!

Now what! The list of things to do is long and time will tell if anything gets accomplished in the month of January.

Happy new year everyone!