Stories on a winter day

It's a dreary day here.  Winter has arrived.  We have snow on the ground and it is here to stay, although there isn't much of it and the temperatures outside haven't been more than -10 at night and just below zero in the day.  But the sun doesn't shine at this time of year and people (and dogs - especially my dog) just want to hunker down.

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were here last month they had a specific goal, which was to meet the youth who have been involved with building mountain biking trails on a local mountain.  The youth are mostly First Nations and the trail building has been important to them as them go through their teenage years, both for something to do, work at, feel involved in and proud of and for the fact that the trails are internationally known now as world class mountain biking trails.  You can read more about the trails and the youth in the article here or you can watch a trailer for a movie made about the trail building and the youth here.

There was a rumour that the Duke and Duchess were going to ride on the trails and there were bikes ready and waiting for them, but instead they went by car up to a certain spot on the trails where there was a meet and greet with the youth and their families.  Then they drove down to the road/railway tracks by the water and the youth rode down and met them there.  This is where I saw them and got to listen to their conversation with the youth and grab that great photo of Kate.  (See it here)  While the couple were at the meet and greet a few of the grandmothers and mothers of the youth asked for, and received, hugs from their Royal Highnesses.

I've heard that the Brits were appalled.  And maybe some Canadians were too.  But after there was a letter to the editor in the local paper that painted my town in a very negative light, a friend decided to make some bumper stickers.  We are all chuckling.

You might notice that I have fixed (I hope) my problem with the photos rotating.  It was a setting in my camera that fixed it.  Sorry for blaming you Google.

I received some lovely hexies for October from Helen in Britain.  I hope I haven't offended her - or any other Brits - with my tongue-in-cheek humour about the royal couple.  There were vary gracious and lovely in my brief couple of minutes experience and I have added respect for them.

I am collecting stamps as I want to decoupage them onto something - I'm not sure what yet - so I was thrilled that Helen sent the letter with a number of stamps on it. 

I have made fourteen more of my little postage stamp blocks in the last week.  63 - 37 = 26 left to go.  And I have another thirteen ready to sew.  Progress!!

That's all for today.  See you next week! :)

Janet 

A wee bit of sewing

I started to write "a wee bit of snow"...  We did have our first snowfall yesterday, about two inches worth, and I thought it would stay around for a while.  But the sun came out this morning and before I could get a nice photo of the fluffy whiteness it was starting to melt away.  There will be ice on the road tomorrow morning.

I have managed to do some sewing in the last week.  I am determined to finish the postage stamp quilt this year.  Since I decided that it needs three more rows, I have to make 63 more of those 2 1/2 inch blocks.  So I have been sorting scraps, and cutting and matching.

I do hope that someone can tell me how to turn my pictures in Blogger.  For some reason it always turns them sideways.
Anyway I have made 13 blocks - 50 more to go!

And I have my swap hexies for October done.  These are going to Jenny in Queensland, Australia.  I loved making the one with the raindrops falling on the flowers in the centre hexie.  I admit it is a bit busy though.

That's all for this week.  Not bad if I do say so myself!

Janet 

Happy Thanksgiving

Hi everyone,

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada.  I have been having an allergic reaction to something all day and took Benadryl and slept.  But I was at my friend Linda's yesterday for a delicious Thanksgiving feast - turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, yams, Brussels sprouts, beets, pumpkin pie and cheesecake.  And lots of friends to party with - there were thirteen of us for dinner.  And seven dogs.

Last time I posted I was at a quilt retreat.  I worked on these Union Jack blocks.  I am doing this quilt as a quilt as you go, don't ask me why, it just seemed like it would be easier.  I am going to use a dark blue sashing between the blocks but I decided they have to be at least two inches, so I am going to have to figure out a way to add batting to them.  So I have made it more challenging for myself.  Well I like a challenge.

I received these blocks in a Canadians Quilt swap.  One is missing from the photo because I have to do some repair on it.   At the retreat I cut the batting and backing for the blocks and got five of them quilted.

My other major project was my postage stamp quilt.  Here it is all put together.

And then I decided I need three more rows.  So I have to make 63 more blocks.  These blocks are 2 1/2 inches before adding the sashing.  I plan to FINISH this quilt this year.  So I have been diligently cutting pieces for my blocks.

You may have heard that we had a visit in my little town of Carcross from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Although I wouldn't call myself a "royalist" as we say in Canada to indicate people who are enamoured with the royal family, I wasn't going to miss this opportunity to see them.  I didn't have a conversation with them specifically but I got a fantastic photo of Kate while she was speaking to my friend's daughter.  The little girl was overwhelmed as you can see in the photo.

That's all the excitement for this week.  I am now working two jobs for the next month.  We are having an election in the Yukon and I am a returning officer.  I figure I'll have some moments to sew here and there and we are going to have a mini retreat when it is done.  Yahoo!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Janet