Up and running.

The internet technician has been and gone, and we are up and running again, with a brand new, really fast, wireless included, modem. Woohoo. No more wires to carry around, and I can retire my satellite stick, which was costing a fortune, back to it's original function of supplying internet while we travel. I can't imagine life without the internet any more. I think I'd rather give up the tv than the internet. The added bonus to this new modem is the really fast loading of movies and stuff from Netflicks. I was planning on working on Charlene's quilt, and getting it finished, and off the longarm. But, I've decided, now that it is already 6:30 in the evening, to take the rest of the evening off, work on my applique block, and watch Wuthering Heights on netflicks. I'll work on getting that quilt finished, and off the machine tomorrow. How's that for procrastination?

Design Wall Monday Oct. 25

I'm up early this morning, at least early for me. Our internet has been acting up for months, and we've been using a wireless stick instead, but, it is getting a tad expensive, since I spend a lot of time online. Our regular internet is provided by a company that shall remain nameless, but it has grown so big, that it has outsourced all it's phone assist business and technical assistance to India, of all places. They do, of course, speak english, but a lot of them a heavily accented and quite difficult to understand. A highly frustrating exercise, which is why we put it off for so long. However, we finally did it, and called them and worked it through to discover that it is a problem with our modem, so they have to send out a technician, which they have to arrange from there. So, they put us on hold, call from India to Canada, to arrange for a technician to come to our house here in Canada. So, there is a technician coming, sometime today between 9am and 5pm. So, here I sit, bleary eyed, grumbling into my computer. But enough grumbling, and on to the important stuff. On my design wall is pretty much the same thing as the last few weeks. My Pineapple quilt along. I have six of the blocks sewn together, and I'll be working on this today, while I wait for the technician. Also on my wall are my finished Floribunda medallion basket, and the partially glue basted and sewn, block one of that same series. And now, I'm off to Judy's Patchwork Times to look at other design walls while I finish my coffee, and maybe even have another. Why don't you join me? There is always something fun, and inspiring to be seen on all those walls.

Finishes

Looking back at my post from October 6 about my goals for the month, most of them are done. I finished of Charlene's tree skirts today, and the Double Duty quilt, by Rosie's Quilt Co. a couple of days ago. All that's left on that list are Charlene's bed quilt, which is going on the machine today, and Evelyn's cross stitch quilt. The Christmas gifts are started, and one of them is almost finished. So, I am giving myself a reward, and am going to participate in Judy's mystery quilt After I get Charlene's quilt onto the machine, I'm going to shop my stash, get the fabrics needed, and start cutting for clue # 1 Charlene is coming to pick up her tree skirts tonight,but, other than that, the evening is mine. Scott's at work for 3-11, I've just had my supper of Swiss Chalet chicken, delivered after being ordered on-line. So, I'm all fueled up, and ready to go. I do have a pic of the tree skirt, but I'm having trouble with uploading it onto blogger, so I guess it will have to wait to another time.

Design Wall Monday Oct. 18

I've been working very hard to get my October to-do list finished, and I'm almost there. On my design wall today are the last 2 BOM's and a partial layout of my Pineapple quilt along. I have all the unit 3's finished, and am ready to start putting it all together. I've also managed to finished one of the things on my Christmas list, but I can't show a picture of that. Go on over to Judy's Patchwork Times to see more design walls.

Design Wall Monday Oct. 11

My design wall has a very familiar sight on it again. Cactus Rose. 3 of the blocks now have the applique finished, and the 4th is all glue basted down. I was so excited to have all the applique in place, that I just had to see all 4 squares up and together. I love it, and am doing a happy dance. I'll be doing the 4th square as my take along project , so, it just might be getting close to being time to do the paper piecing for the outer borders. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend. We went to Collingwood to spend it with our son Noel and our daughter-in-law Laurie. Laurie's parents, Bill and Jan were there, as well, and we all had a wonderful time together. We are so blessed that everybody gets along with everybody else.  Noel did almost all the cooking, which also made it a quite enjoyable day. The weather was perfect, and we got a chance to go out for a beautiful hike yesterday afternoon, before we had to head back home. If you get a chance, go on over to Judy's place to see more design walls. It's a great way to explore other blogs, and find beautiful quilts, and lots of inspiration.

October Goals.

I really liked the feeling of accomplishment that came from writing down goals, and getting all but one done, back in September. So, I'm going to try it again. Most of them are going to relate to getting some quilts finished.

1. Quilt Charlene's tree skirts October 19
2 Make pies and stuffing for thanksgiving weekend  done, October 9th
3. Go to Collingwood for the weekend done October 9 & 10
4. Quilt Charlene's bed quilt
5. Quilt Evelyn's cross stitch quilt.
6. Start on Christmas gifts. (can't list them, they're secret!)
7. Finish Double Duty, brought forward from September October 16
8. Finish 3rd Cactus Rose block, and start the 4th done October 11
9. Do September and October blocks for Shannon's BOM done October 14
10. Do October embroidery for Raggedy BOM
11. Do unit 3's for Pineapple quilt-a-long done October 13

We're going up to Collingwood, to Noel and Laurie's for Thanksgiving this weekend, so I'm going to work on October's Raggedy Redwork embroidery in the car on the way there and back home. And, I'll take either Cactus Rose, or my basket, to work on while we're there. Oh yes, there is the stuffing to make, and some pies to do on Friday. Hmmmmm, 11's a good  number, for goals to do. Any more, and it might get overwhelming, so I'll stop there, and see how it goes. Now, to get started, and get those tree skirts loaded, which is quite the challenge, because of their odd shape. I haven't quite totally figured out how I'm going to do it yet. Probably float them, with lots of pins.

Design Wall Monday Oct. 4

I'm late posting today. I had an optometrist appointment this afternoon. At my normal visit, a year ago, he told me that I had cataracts starting to develop. I've noticed a change in my vision in the past couple of months, so I thought I'd better get checked. Sure enough the cataracts are getting worse. Not enough to need surgery, yet, but enough to be annoying. Rats. On my design wall is the basket block I've been working on for the past week, while sick with a cold on the couch. It has grown considerably since last week.  Go on over to Patchwork Times and check out more design walls.

The only good thing about being sick

I have had a crappy, miserable cold since Monday. Yuck. There is only one good thing about it. I haven't had the energy to do anything but sit. But, sitting without doing something makes me feel even worse. So, I've been doing a lot of hand stitching on my basket block. It's so pretty, it's making me feel better, and giving me something to think about besides how rotten I feel. So, I sleep awhile, stitch awhile, watch TV awhile, and wait to feel better. (sigh)