Category: Life

Blogroll, Family, Life

July Continued

wendysquilting

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…

Family, Life

July

wendysquilting


Summer weather finally showed up.

We planted some flower beds at Erik’s which I’ve been tending. A new to me again activity that I can see can become quite addicting, I keep getting new ideas…….

I’ll add some updates soon.

I took my 2 weeks of summer holidays in July while Erik’s cousin and and daughter visited from Finland….heres some of what we did:

Kakabeka Falls, is about 20 minutes out of the city and well worth the trip. Thanks to the extra wet spring the falls are incredible this year.

that afternoon we went another hour or so from town to see the canyons. The swing bridges at Eagle Canyon are NOT for those who have a strong fear of hights but for the rest of us they are a fun and  fascinating adventure. The swing bridges were built by a father and son team. The last 2 pictures were taken at Ouimet Canyon which is very close to Eagle Canyon.

The next day we took a step into the past, visiting Old Fort Williamwhich is a historical version of a fur trading Fort.

Family, Life

June

wendysquilting

June is a big Birthday month in our family this year Emily turned 19

, Mary 17

and I turned 45

June is usually a nice warm sunny month around here but this year it was chilly and very wet. Thunder Bay and area even experienced record downfalls causing extensive damage to many of our roads including the highway. I have to admit to becoming extremely impatient for summer to begin.

Erik and I started the month by taking our trip to Duluth to celebrate his birthday, we stayed at The Inn on Lake Superior which is were we borrowed the bikes we have in the picture. This year we did alot of shopping, his choices since its his trip.

Family, Life, Quilting

Slowly But Surely Its Coming

wendysquilting

After Fridays snowstorm, we were all thrilled for temps above 0C over the weekend! Saturday morning I woke up at my usual workday time so I got up and quilted the 3rd of the scrap quilts I’ve been working on. Now to bind them, make the labels and send them on their way.

Yesterday we went for our hike in the bush and saw one of sure signs of spring!! Yep pussy willows!

Back to work this morning, weekends really do fly by but it was bright and sunny and a good day for the most part, even got out for a walk this afternoon.

I’m still really enjoying Sarah’s new car. Here are a few more pics of when it was all cleaned up and ready for her to drive for the first time. The only thing is that I hardly ever see her now that she has her own wheels… the snow is now all melted off of the driveway and if the temps keep up as forcasted for the week the snow might be almost gone by the weekend.

Mine and hers…

Blogroll, Family, Fishing, Life, Quilting

Really Slow Spring

wendysquilting

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

wendysquilting

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

wendysquilting

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

wendysquilting

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.

Family, Life, Uncategorized

Sisters

wendysquilting

Sunday we celebrated Birthdays, My Moms, My Aunts ( my moms sister) and my eldest as well.

When my 4 girls get together they get so silly and giggly their connection is so strong, I love the friendships they have and are developing with each other as they grow and mature. Growing up I always wished I had a sister but that wish never came true, then I wished I could have a daughter 🙂 that wish was granted 4 times and what a true blessing they are in my life.

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My Aunt and my Mom and I. I was my Aunts Flower girl back when I was very small. The three of us all quilt, and although my Aunt had taken a quilting class before I discovered quilting, I was the one who introduced them to our craft.