Tag: Life

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

April Snow 2022

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April is supposedly the month of showers that bring May flowers. After what has felt like an extra long winter this one has been stubbornly hanging on.

I won’t lie and I am sorry for those west of here but I am thankful that the predicted blizzard is bypassing Thunder Bay! This Wednesday they are predicting rain and lots of it…so fingers crossed it doesn’t end up being snow.

Opps I may have spoken too soon looks like Thursday snow this week…

Spring is really the only season that I wish would come sooner than later!

When Liam and I arrived yesterday…I pick him up from school on Mondays and he spends the night…the first thing he did was head for the snow! The Temperature was 8C and with the sun shining it was very pleasant outside.

He does love the snow out here and was so happy to see it was still here!

Last night I came across pictures from a year ago…Liam was with us doing school virtually… he was standing close to the same spot.

April 17, 2021

That day he rode his bike and enjoyed his first ice cream cone of the season, sitting on the deck…. Though 2 days later… April 19, 2021!

The snow has been melting and in a few weeks we should be done with it.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Snow! And Quilting

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Ok, it’s April 11th already and we are still getting snow?? It was snowing this morning when I woke up. It is supposed to rain a lot this week so hopefully that will help the snow melt.

I won’t complain too loudly as it sounds like west of us they are in for a pretty big spring snow storm this week…fingers crossed that we just get the rain!

Yesterday I put the last stitch into a very special quilt that I will be sharing more about very soon. My Longarm and I have been really busy and productive so look for more posts about that.

Next up is the second of three half square triangles I have been quilting for Marilyn. I always press tops and backs before loading them on the Longarm. Her piecing and workmanship is perfect and her fabric and colour/value skills are so inspiring!

Only many years of collecting could possibly build a stash that would make a total of 4 queen size quilts with such an array of fabrics. I wonder how close I am getting.

There are so many options out there for quilters compared to when I began. Tutorials abound on the internet and online shopping opens an incredible world of choice for new and experienced quilters. I personally have fun at times with a quickly pieced quilt but I also really enjoy the journey and challenges of different projects.

Sometimes, projects linger longer that I originally plan such as my Longtime Gone quilt and the collective projects that are waiting…when I start to feel a little guilty regarding what projects in the quilt world that are referred to as UFO’s (unfinished objects) I remind myself that I like to savour the journey. Some projects don’t require quick completions.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Life and Quilting

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March seems like a bit of blurr this year! It was a busy month with quilting, renovations that have officially begun…and a pretty rough cold tucked into the middle that grounded me to the sofa and bed for a few days.

Now that it’s April one would think it would seem like spring here however after last weeks storm and an addition 4 inches of snow this week our world is still white.

We often have seven or so deer often in the yard, nibbling on our trees and being way too brave! We do our best to discourage them.

This is often the view out of the living room picture window… they seem so sweet!

They are getting too bold, when I was sewing after supper last night it seemed to suddenly get dark, I looked up and there were 2 deer right against the window above me…nibbling on what they could find in the flowerbed from last year.

I went upstairs to send them off but when I went to open the front door there was an additional 2 standing on the doorstep! they did eventually take off! Liam finds them pretty entertaining at times.

Liam’s class went on a field trip yesterday. He was so excited and said that it was the best school day ever. They visited Boreal Journey Dog Sled and Kennel. Liam absolutely loves dogs and learnt so much from his day. I was so glad that I got to pick him up from school and enjoy the stories!

They ate their lunch around a campfire…he said he didn’t want to waste too much time eating so only ate his sandwich….he ate two full helpings of supper last night though.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Quilting and Life

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I love Saturday mornings! It’s funny really because all of my mornings begin the same way with a nice it cup of coffee that I savour as I slowly begin my day with some reading, and often an hour or so of piecing. Still weekend mornings seem special!

This week flew by, every day we both commented on how all of a sudden another day was finished. I of course work on my Longarm and this week on a special piecing project that involves some different for me colours and a backing that I absolutely adore and will add piecing to it to make it work.

This is an extra special project for someone who is arriving in April!

Erik has been busy with his own piecing project. He is putting up dry wall in the laundry/utility room. What a transformation already.

Liam has thankfully recovered from his bought with covid. He missed a week of school….the week before March break so 2 weeks off which suits him just fine.

People who know me know that I love piecing, I love the accuracy that I can achieve. I am not about speed sewing to me it has never been about how many quilts I can get done. Years ago I adopted the saying “savour the journey”. Sometimes I come across a blog post that really speaks to me.

This post is from 2018 but still resonates… it is written by Modern Quilt Designer Shannon Fraser from Montreal. The rest of her blog is worth visiting as well.

http://shannonfraserdesigns.ca/2018/05/15/are-you-fast-or-slow-quilter-discussion/

The sun is shining, the bountiful snow banks and hills are glistening this morning! The time change happens tonight and we are ready for the scenery to change as well…spring will arrive!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Creativity…not quilting related

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While most of my creative endeavours are quilting related and I really don’t see that changing, I do love to be creative in the kitchen.

I am really fortunate to cook for someone who is very appreciative of my kitchen skills and who is not a picky eater. I often will try a new recipe that I find online.

This week I made https://www.budgetbytes.com/teriyaki-meatball-bowls/ it was easy fast and only a few ingredients that I had on hand. I substituted ground chicken for the ground pork.

My kitchen adventures became a lot more fun this week due to the latest addition to my tools! This addition was a little premature though some say it’s about time.

You see I live with one of the most handy men I know, this stove was bought in 1989 and while we had plans to replace it we had hoped to wait until we finished updating the house…long awaited retirement plans!

Well a couple of weeks ago while making my tried and true sweet and sour meatball recipes the oven decided not to turn on! After a serious hour or so of diagnosing it was determined that it was time for a new stove.

I have been researching for some time. We had for a long while planned for a gas stove but when introduced to induction and learning more about it we decided that was the way to go.

So while I was out shopping for new cookware…yes you do need certain cookware…I was due for an upgrade there anyways…this was delivered:

So, now I was able to bake the above meatballs with convection and the sauce on induction. The learning curve has been so easy. The first night was stir fry and wow that was fast and easy. The best part is the cleanup!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January and Florence’s Quilt

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January has always felt like a long slow month to me, the weather is usually the coldest we get and it’s typically the quietest month.

It’s been a fun month of quilting both for customers as well as relaxed piecing for myself. I have the backing for my Sunny quilt and a quilting plan…

This quilt that Florence made is so pretty and called for more blossoms.

The backing is a solid Kona in black. I chose to use a silver thread which really popped against the back, however I was unable to capture a good picture of it. So unless you happen to see the quilt live, you will have to take my word for it. The stitches were so pretty!

We spent yesterday, the last Friday of this January with three of our grandchildren. It was a fun filled and very busy day! Snow play and snowmobiling, fort building.

My personal favourite was when Grayson (5yrs) asked what my sewing machine and serger were for so I let him try them…later he said he wished that he lived here…I asked why and he said it was because I have sewing machines!!! He was so excited to show his Dad his new skills when he picked him up!

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

A Fresh Start and Life

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To the day that is, I am so glad that I can stay home today…I will wait until we hit the warmest part of the day to walk bundled up to get the mail and only because there will be a pkg for me.

Liam will be here soon, today is the last virtual day as the kids return to their classrooms on Monday. Hopefully that will work out. It will be much quieter here but he has already booked March break with us!

Yesterday I read a blog post at Sisterschoice where Nicole shared that she had collected all of the blocks for the Fatquarter Shop 2011 Designer Mystery Block of the Month. She has decided it’s it to make the quilt. Well…. Guess what I have?

The difference is that I have all of my blocks completed and began the finishing kit and then life took a different direction. Years ago my friend Florence used to piece tops for me when I would get too busy and I would quilt for her.

She came by with quilts yesterday and left with the treasure box. So perhaps this year Strawberry Fields will again see the light of day! Thank you for the nudge Nicole!

We had visitors last weekend. Liam had built a special fort knowing who was coming. Jaxson was initially leary of entering the fort so his mom crawled inside and I handed him to her. It didn’t take long before he was inside on his own and climbing the walls.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

January Quilting and Life

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Another anniversary has just passed over the New Year of my APQS Millennium’s arrival December 31, 2004. I began Longarm quilting for others a few months later and continue to love and grow in this wonderful business.

After allowing myself a little down time and time to quilt one for myself, my machine is back to work…of course that means that I am as well.

Just a peek

And another peek

We had scheduled a fun day for Liam and two more grands before Christmas which had to be cancelled due to the gastro crud…so this week we had a redo… the epic nerf gun war, sledding and snowmobiling were in order and lots of fun and laughter!

Erik preparing the sliding hill also known as the snow mountain as the kids call it. This year the addition of the back hoe has helped to grow it.
The biggest kid!

Of course the big winter highlight is when Pappa gets out the snowmobiles. Liam has mastered his driving skills and loves to ride our trails.

Another highlight around here this winter has been the addition of the jumbo lego blocks…they have provided hours of fun! Liam has returned to virtual learning this week and really enjoys his forts for when he is off school.

Wendy's Longarm Quilting, Thunder Bay, Ontario

All is Calm

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The picture below was taken a year ago from our garage roof by Erik last winter. I have shared it on this blog before.

I have been pondering what to write about 2021…it sure was a year of blessings and challenges. The thing about this picture of our home is that it reflects the calm and peace that it brings. Regardless of the challenges that came my way over the year I have been so thankful for this safe sanctuary.

We have been immensely blessed with family and we will soon be adding a seventh grandchild into our lives. Together we have seven daughters who along with their families truly do enrich our lives.

One day in December we were able to have a Christmas celebration with some of our family and all but one grandchild and wow what a busy party that became! Our calm quiet house came to life with so much fun and laughter!

We were so busy living life we forgot pictures…we alway enjoy our tree into the new year.

When discussing Christmas plans with my Dad, I mentioned how I had been craving a prime rib roast dinner like the Sunday dinners that I grew up with. He took up that challenge…he has really become an amazing cook in the last few years! We enjoyed Christmas dinner at my Dads.

I took care of the Yorkshire pudding and gravy and made sure to have horseradish while my youngest and her husband took care of the veggies. I should have taken more pictures but was just enjoying the moments!

Dad cooked the roast in his Green Egg bbq and it was cooked to perfection and carved just right. What a treat!

2021 has taught me many lessons, most of which I had already learned but then life has a way of adding twists and turns and detours. We said goodbye to loved ones, had health scares in the family all along with riding the current seemingly at times never ending pandemic. This year tired me out at times making me realize how very crucial self care is.

Welcome 2022… I greet you with a resolve of more self care!

My January 1, 2022 morning view! Happy New Year!