Blogroll, Family, Life

July Continued

Our next adventure took us across the Pigeon River Border into Minnesota.

We’ve driven to Duluth so many times and still thoroughly enjoy it every time. One of our first stops is to hike to see the “High Falls” in the Grand Portage State Park. We almost always stop and take a look and we’re never disappointed.

Highway 61 is known as the North Shore drive as it winds along the shore of Lake Superior, the scenery is spectacular and there are so many little places to stop and see.

Temperance River State Park

In Duluth we took our visitors to the Zoo. The Kodiak and Grizzly are always favorites.

and the polar bear

this next one might make you a little squeemish if you don’t like snakes

to be continued…

Blogroll, Family, Fishing, Life, Quilting

Really Slow Spring

Before bed last night I noticed a grass fire down by the creek behind my house, called 911 and they came and put it out. Thats a very common occurrence this time of year.

This morning when I woke up and looked outside from my bed it looked like it was foggy out….well when I sat up and had a good look the sky was white with snow as was the ground. We got about 10cm of very wet snow today. After brushing the snow off of my van I thought I’d clear the snow from Sarah’s car too…..by the time I was done the van was white again. The 15 minute drive to work took almost an hour today, driving on ice. The temps are rising now and I’m sure tomorrow will be a very wet day. I’ve been told that its supposed to be 18C on Monday but I’ll believe that when I see it. One good thing about all this snow is that the lake levels will be up this summer, which should be good for fishing. Another bonus is that I’m sure it will help with preventing forest fires this year.

Spring

I have the 3rd scrappy quilt loaded and ready to quilt, I’ll probably get it finished up in the morning. I still have to bind them and put labels on and then they can head off to their new homes. I’ve quilted several pantograph jobs in the last few months. The next few quilts will be custom which will be a nice change.

I’m really enjoying Sarah’s new car. In the last week I only used a quarter tank of gas, I was having to fill up once a week so I feel like I’ve gotten a huge raise esp. with my insurance going down too. She is loving her car too of course.

Blogroll, Family, Life, Quilting

Slow Spring

Its snowing! Thankfully the storm that was predicted is side skirting us. Living by Lake Superior can have its advantages. We went hiking this afternoon and I have to admit that the snow made everything so pretty even though I am so ready to see leaves on the trees. I’d even settle for some pussy willows. Actually we’ll be excited to see them, hopefully soon.

Big news for my eldest daughter, and for me. She’s now the proud owner of her first car! For the first time in 6 years I am not sharing my wheels and there are no teenagers on my insurance! Last Friday Erik found a 2000 Black Cavalier in great condition for her. I have more pictures of her with her mechanic and her car and I’ll share those later. These ones are of the first time she saw it and Erik making sure that everything on it is as it should be. What a great guy!


Last weekend we made a quick trip to a greenhouse, I was looking for African Violets which they didn’t’ have. After 9 years I’ve decided its time to add houseplants to my home again. All of the Easter plants were on sale too so we had a little splurge…..if spring won’t come outside I’ll have it inside.

And last but not least I have one of the commission quilts quilted and the second on the machine…


Blogroll, Life, Quilting

Memory Quilts

About a year ago I was commissioned to make 3 queen sized quilts, no problem there. The quilts are for sisters using their mothers stash (they had recently lost their mom). Their mom had sewn clothes for many years and was not a quilter, so when I met with one of the sisters and the stash we were met with a challenge. There wasn’t any quilting cotton in this stash, instead lots of polyester….the kind my never wearing out childhood clothes were made out of, there was wool and other dressmaking goods. Lots of colour and texture variety.

I have a friend Florence, who pieces for me and agreed to take on this task for me and wow did she do an awesome job. We decided to make string pieced quilts like the ones I’ve seen on Bonnie Hunters site as well as Mary’s. Florence made all three tops and there is still tons of fabric left over. The sister who brought me this job was over on the weekend and loves the quilts, so many of the fabrics bring back memories of outfits her mom had made and also of shopping for fabric with her mom.

So now I’m ready to quilt the tops….

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To Be Continued……..

Blogroll, Family, Fishing, Life, Quilting

tagged

I’ve been tagged by Nancy H. so I decided I’d give it a try 🙂

Now, you chosen ones, this is what you have to do:
A. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
B. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

1. When I go shopping with my girls I never carry any of the purchases, I’m not sure when this started but now that they are getting older and don’t always come with me I’ve had to get used to actually picking up the bag and carrying it myself.

2. I asked Erik if there was anything unusual about me that he could think of, his answer was that I don’t swear. Well I can’t say that I never have but its not a habit of mine and on the rare occasion it happens people are usually pretty shocked.

3. I first decided that I needed to make a quilt when I was a teen watching Little House on the Prairie. I told my Mom that I loved their blankets and wanted to make one like that.

4. I can’t really remember not sewing.

5. I had never been fishing until I went with Erik and now that I have been I can’t seem to get enough of it.

6. I love clotheslines, hanging clothes, looking at the clothes hanging there blowing in the wind, taking the clothes off the line and folding them and the best part is the smell of the sheets off the line when I sleep. I haven’t had a clothesline for about 9 years now and I sure miss it.

7. Life really amazes me sometimes!

C. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. I think, because I think everyone has probably already been tagged I’ll just say that if you haven’t been and want to be then consider yourself tagged.

Blogroll, Life

Another Favorite Place to Be

Well today was just plain cold! -45C with the windchill all day. The van was plugged in and I let it run for a long time, so after driving my youngest to school (after insisting that she wear her boots and warm gear..oh to be 13 lol) I made it in to work almost on time. My oldest used the van today which in one way was great, she picked me up and the van was already warm. This deep freeze is only supposed to last another day and then lift in time for the weekend, I sure hope so, I miss being outside.

I have work to do in the studio, but I thought I’d share some of my latest favorite pictures that make me warm…

Making Finn Pancakes, the recipe is from Erik’s oldest: 2 cups milk, 2 eggs, enough flour to make the right consistency and a dash of salt. I think the right amount of flour is around a cup. They are kind of like crepes.

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and another favorite place:

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The Sauna 🙂 actually Erik’s Sauna

Blogroll, Family, Life, Quilting

Welcome Winter!

Winter came earlier this year than it has in many years. This seems more normal to me for this time of the year. I’m not crazy about the freezing cold weather but there is something so magical about all the snow.

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I took this picture last Saturday night after our shopping trip it had been snowing all evening.

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This is what we woke up to.

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How Beautiful is this!!

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Blogroll, Fishing, Life, Quilting

One more trip…

Ok , I am actually quilting too, but the leaves are such beautiful colours right now, and the days of fishing weather are so limited now I just can’t resist another fishing trip. Actually yesterday was on the chilly/rainy side and the water was pretty choppy a lot of the day but its just so good to be out there! And no offense to my employer but I have to say any day out fishing is better than any day sitting in my cubicle.

So on to yesterday, we did catch our limit of walleye and instead of a shore lunch hmm I guess you could say we had a boat lunch because Erik cooked in the boat. I don’t think anything is as yummy as fresh caught/cooked walleye.

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Just a silly picture I took, I was trying to capture the amount of fish the fish finder was showing.

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I just love the colours of the sky in the evening, so much of the day had been rainy and windy but by 7 the sky had cleared and the wind died down, well worth the wait.

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