Flip Flop Memories

Before this past winter, we would spend 4 weeks of the bitter cold in sunny spots.
We always met great people on our trips and some we still we keep in contact with.

I wanted to send them something little as a thank you for making our holidays so wonderful. When we first met Peggy, John, Nina, and Tom in Jamaica, Nina told us the story about the vendor who put the sandals on her feet to try and then told her she had to pay for them.

So when I saw a flip flop pattern I knew that it was perfect for these ladies. One set of flip flops in Nina's wallhanging has beads for straps and sanddollar buttons, because the shoes she had to buy were beaded and she loves sanddollars.

They loved their wallhangings and because of the label hopefully will always remember the good times we had in Jamaica.

Good Bye Dolly

It was with shock that we watched the hurricane progress in Texas this past week. We stayed in Port Isabel last year, right over the causeway from South Padre Island, so we were familiar with the places shown in the news.

I've been on a few of their local blogs this week reading about the damage. In the park where we stayed, Winter Texans from all over are writing in and offering their generators, propane, whatever anybody in the park needs. It is enlightening to read all the good things, but sad to read about the damage throughout the towns.

One of the shrimp boats that dock on the other side of the Intercoastal Waterway got loose and hit the swing bridge to our park, so the bridge was closed for a bit and no one could get off or on except by boat! This is a photo from our deck showing the shrimp boats.

Thankfully the levees in the valley held and not many people were injured or killed. They are saying there won't be power until August 2nd in some places, so the concern is mold as it is hard to dry everything out with no air conditioners.

The aftermath is more brutal than the event. Take care Texans and we will see you soon.

Job Front

I am still waiting to hear from my employers about my next assignment. Hopefully they will call today.

Blaine is enjoying his Greenskeeper position at the golf course. It's hard sometimes with the weather elements, rain, wind, heat, but he is glad he is not working in an office anymore. Plus the owners are terrific.

Beautiful Gardens

On the week-end, we went to some old friends out in Elie, where the tornado hit last year. 4 homes were completely destroyed, less than a block away from them. They had minor house damage and lots of garden damage, but were so lucky.

They have about ¾ of an acre and much of it is floral gardens. So beautiful. They start over 2000 seedlings in their home and greenhouse, so you can imagine the colours.

I have this little garden area (a prerequisite when we bought this place) and I have more weeds than they do...

Another one bites the dust!

Several years ago, while vacationing in Maui, a friend and I went to Hawaiian quilt classes. Neither of us had appliquéd before, so it was a stretch for us in all ways.
In my quest to finish 5 quilty things, I can now mark another off the list. It isn't the best applique in the world but the memories are more important.

One UFO done

I am trying hard to follow the challenge of getting 5 quilting UFOs (unfinished objects) done before the end of July.

I finished the wallhanging for the living room and quite like how it turned out. I am not much of a machine quilter but I am practicing like crazy. To get this done in time, I found a 'stipple pattern on a roll'. Wow, was it easy. You lay it down on your quilt and off you go.

After doing this, I realized that I could do most any pattern this way. I had to go to Carellan Sewing Centre to get a walking foot for my machine and told them what I wanted to do. Barb, the owner, showed me this huge roll of tissue, like the kind doctors use on their examination table. It was $5 whereas some of the quilting speciality products go for $12 or more for 1/10 of the paper. I tried it out and it worked like a charm. The only problem with any of these products is pulling the tissue off, as you have millions of little pieces that seem to like the floor! But I read a tidbit somewhere that says to run a pin along each line lightly and the paper will tear off easier. So I will try that next time. Anyhow, this shop is a gem. Barb showed me how to use all the stitches on my machine, (for free) something the seller should have shown me but never quite had the time. She will definitely have my business in the future.

Til next time. Barb

Rain, rain, go away

It has been windy and rainy all darn day.

We were planning to go to the Forks and take the Riverbus up to this neat Italian area (Corydon) for a walk and an ice cream, but it was too miserable.

So we went out and about shopping instead. Since Blaine likes granola bars in his lunch I decided to make some without all the junky additives. I found a few recipes on the Net and we added the Bulk Barn to our destinations. I love this place! It is so clean and they have every kind of spice or ingredient you could ever need. The bars turned out great, by the way.

We bumped into a gal from Blaine's old work and he was ok...he seemed relieved he wasn't there anymore and was happy talking about working at the golf course and wintering in Texas. That's a big hurdle.

I finally took a picture of the bed quilt I am making. it is a slow process because I am doing it all by hand. The fabrics are what they call reproductions, based on fabric from the old days. This part is the centre; to put the size into perspective, the blue squares with little white dots are one and a half inches.

Til next time....

Webpage to blog

I was looking at my webpage today and remembered I had started this blog! Old age, ughh.

What's new?

While we were in Texas a friend from the airline wrote to see if I would like to go to Barbados with her. She had special passes for her anniversary, and could take anyone. Since she can take her husband or daughter anytime, she invited me. We went in April, leaving the hubbies behind and it was wonderful. Hot as hell, beautiful beaches, friendly people, great company and a super place at the Southern Surf. We did have to stay an extra day (oh darn) because the flights were full on the way back. Thankfully, she has high priority and we got out the next day (some people ended up buying their way home for $600 - $800). We managed first class there and back so that was a special treat for me. I even sprinkled some of my Dad's ashes along the way, as Barbados was his favorite place. Thanks SUE!!!

On the home front, Blaine is enjoying his new job at the golf course. He switched courses a month ago, and the one is nearby. He makes more money, saves 1 hour travel each day and doesn't have to work on the week-ends. Plus the people are awesome. They even bought a new fancy dancy mower (~$30,000) for him last week

I'm still employed, but my technical writing assignment ended at the end of June. I am on vacation next week, then they will advise what the next step is (severance, maybe some training or assignment)!!! It's tough working for a Montreal firm...lol

I'm still quilting and started a quilt for the living room wall yesterday. I am trying to learn to machine quilt and hopefully I will be done tomorrow and can post some pictures.

And finally, today is our puppy's birthday. Benson is 16 today but you would never know by the way he runs up and down the stairs.