Guess what it is doing outside now!

I can't believe we are getting more rain. Where is it all coming from? More importantly, where is it all going to?

As I sat at the blueberry patch today, we did have a steady stream of very resilient customers - very damp as well, we had several thunder storms and terrific downpours. Now, at 9:30 pm it is pouring again. But! The berries are fantastic! They are so sweet, and juicy and plentiful. Quite a sight they are - fields and fields of them. The odd time I got to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the country. No phones, faxes, emails - no noise at all! Just amazing. I look forward to working with Bruce every year for these three weeks. It is my holiday! (Don't tell him that though)

If anyone is interested come to Brockville, take the Hwy #29 north to Tincap. Turn east, go past the Tincap International Airport (seriously, it is called that) and go through the big S curves and on a little bit - just follow the signs. It is the Davy Berry Farm and open 8 - 8 every day but Sunday for the next three weeks at least.

We miss you Wendo!

A very happy customer.

'Til next time - keep stitchin'

Pat

Our Visitor

Imagine our surprise when we seen this critter having a siesta next door.

Mr Fox was a beautiful specimen and was not the least bit nervous of our presence.

He keeps our squirrel and rabbit population under control for us. The last few years they have been just a terrible nusance but mother nature has a way of looking after things if we let her.

My dog is very afraid of this wild beast and will not even approach the door some mornings. I'm not to brave myself so I just let him wait and go out later.

'Til next time, Keep stitchin'

Pat

Work Day with the Loose Ladies

I have done some stitching this month, mostly for customers but it still counts as creating eh! Also, I hosted the "Loose Threads" at my house for a work day. We had a great day. Stitchin', creating and eating and all those things that go well together with friends.

We did work hard though.

Cathy was instructing us on the fine points of making a kimono jacket. What slave driver!

Wendo got hers all done in record time. She would have worn it home if it hadn't been so hot. What a show off eh!

This was the only shot I had with me in it. I just had to prove that I was working too, not just taking pictures.

The fabric that I picked - one of my Singapore purchases - of course was to small a piece to do the complete jacket so I strip pieced the sleeves alternating with black and another print. It turned out really nice I think.

Of course it is purple!This is the sleeve area. All things go with purple don't ya think?

Thanks Cathy for the instructions for the beautiful Kimono Jacket.

This will be our last work day with all three of us attending for quite awhile. Wendo has returned to her real life as an animator with Disney. We will miss the daily contact Wenn. Good luck to you though and we will be watching your blog for updates on your new adventure.

Til next time, Keep stitchin'

Pat

So sorry!

Good grief! I can't believe it has been almost a month since I wrote. Sorry! I guess the energy ran out before I got to the computer since I got back home.

I have had X with me for a week, then other grandbaby came and I was travelling for bit and so on. Those are my excuses, all done now.

At the show in the Britannia Gallery I sold this quilt! Chicken Coop. Very pleased but it is just like parting with one of my family - Geez! so hard to say goodbye to it. I hope it brings smiles to its new family now.

See ya - Keep on stitchin'

Pat

Done sitting

Hey there! I am home again! Oh Bliss.. my own bed.

My nails are nice and long now, can't bite them while changing those diapers eh! My Dad brought that to my attention upon the arrival of my first offspring.

Baby and Daddy brought me home and are heading back tomorrow to pick up Mom. Man, am I going to miss that little smile.

Back to business eh! Got some quilts lined up to process. Got some pickups to do tomorrow and then I have to make a quick trip to the art gallery to see our show "The Loose Threads" before it comes down. It is at the Britannia Gallery in Ottawa if anyone wants to check it out before the end of the month.

We got some more registrants for our Art with Loose Threads Retreat this fall. That is going to be really fun. The food at the Opinicon Lodge is fan - tab- u - lous! Will have to all wear our elastic pants.

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'
Pat

My last day alone with the Princess

I can't believe it, the weeks have flown by.

"We" have one and almost two new teeth, many new habits (mommy is going to be so pleased :) ) and almost crawling on our own. Things change so quick at this age. Mommy will be so surprised.

Interacting with a little one re-enforced just how they are so attracted to textures. From now on anything I make - quilts, clothes etc. - for the wee ones will have some extra textures incorporated just for their interest. Does anyone have any ideas? All I can think of are chenille and towelling at the moment. Anything added has to be large enough that it can't be swallowed - they are so strong! I guess I can't get rid of any buttons just yet, still have to store them for the future - sometime, somewhere.

You can send me your ideas at purplepatch@xplornet.com or just comment on this post. Any comments automatically come to my email and I will get back to you asap. Thanks in advance!

Today is a mini break in the rain so we must take advantage of it. Off for our walk - with GPS - so catch you later. from home.

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'

Pat

Hey there. I have a day off! Sidney's other gramma has her for the day to give me a rest. Who needs a rest eh! :)

I have finished step one of the embroidery on all the squares for her quilt. This is all the arms (one each) and legs (two each). I also have started on the button hole stitch all around the hat, dress and panties and have several squares done. My fingers are all picked and bleeding so anyone could tell I am not as tough as a hand quilter. This may be my last hand project - maybe.

It has been cool so we - the three dogs, Sidney and I - have been doing a daily walk. 2.2 KM round trip I will have you know. It is quite a parade. Yesterday we encountered a lady - coming for her mail - without her two dogs on a leash. Then she couldn't get them to go home with her, so she carried one and came out for the puppy after. Meanwhile, it followed us up the block aways. She grabbed it and took it home and next thing I knew my dogs were going crazy again, the other two were back! When she put the pup in the house they both run out the door on her. What a zoo! It wasn't hot out but boy was I sweating! Should have taken a container of water with me.

Last night we walked all around some twists and turns - I was lost, had Chad so didn't take the GPS with me - and viewed some fantastic homes. Beautifully landscaped, stamped concrete driveways, lovely entrances, they were quite something. Love looking at homes. That reminds me, there is one on the next street that Chad asked me to go to the open house today. Must run.

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'

Pat

Another lesson

Have you checked out all the new fan dangled things they have for babies and looking after babies now. Everything you can think of.

The kids have this monitor thing that has a camera in it. They can be working all over the house and see just what baby is doing in her room. (This will be handy as a teen I think). Anyway..... this 'monitor' has a TV screen about 2 x 2 and a sound amphlifier so you can hear if she starts to cry. Very handy indeed.

Well, Dad is on shift work so I am here by myself and a tad nervous about not waking up if baby needs me in the night. I take this monitor thingy into my room and gosh, is she still breathing? Turning up the volume I can hear the sweetest little sounds and sighs of a good nights sleep. I am beginning to like this little machine.

Off to sleep I go, still a little nervous I won't wake so I turn up the volume a bit more. All is quiet so I drift off. IIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! A squeal to wake the dead comes through this bedeviled machine and I go straight up! I'm awake! I'm awake! Almost! Peeling myself off the ceiling I rush to her room and she has rolled over and gone back to sleep. It's enough to make gramma's all over the country take to the drinkin', just to get their nerves settled again.

I lay there the rest of the night - with the volume turned way down - trying to relax and sleep.

Maybe tomorrow night.

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'

Pat

Time flys!

I can't believe it is Monday again. Quilt Canada is all over and the ladies will be starting all their new projects from the techniques they learned there. After they recover of course. Let me know what classes you took etc., and what you are about to do with all this new knowledge.

Last week I learned a valuable lesson as well.

I made babies supper, fed and bathed her and put her down for the night. Now for my supper. I made this wonderful grilled cheese sandwich from the real marble stuff with bacon, thin slivers of onion and a spinach salad on the side. (Strawberries and feta cheese with poppy seed dressing) Mmmmmmm.

Anyway.

I had just finished off the first half of this delicious masterpiece when I heard the wee princess in distress. She is having the fun of getting her first tooth these days. Quickly I put my meal up - am eating in front of the TV, bad habit I know - up on the shelf behind the couch for safekeeping. When I got up to baby, she took a little while to settle. Using the goop for her gums and some gramma hugs and rocking I was busy for about 10 min. Then she was sound again. Slowly, gently I placed her back in the crib and tip toed out of the room.

Back to my supper.

I walked into the kitchen and there, perched up on the back of the couch, was one of the dogs - Osker by name - sitting licking his lips in front of the cleanest plate you ever saw. My masterpiece!!!!

Thank goodness he doesn't like greens. I at least got to enjoy the salad as it was in a different bowl.

I am doing the HAND embroidery on these sunny sue blocks now. Goes quite qu;ickly really. Not as quick as machine stitching though. (Hee-hee)

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'

Pat

Notes between diapers

Day one went very quickly. Man, I have muscles feeling the extra 20 lbs (not mine) in my arms and my back. Sure hope I get into shape quickly. Didn't seem to have these problems when mine were small. I will be able to throw those quilts around with no problem when I get home.



She is such a little sweetie. I just gotta share these. Remember when Grama's carried photos of their grandkids in their purses flashing them at all and sundry. It is so much easier now. :)





I did get her quilt blocks ready for the hand work - yes sir - hand work. No you don't have to check that you got the right blog, I really am going to do some embroidery and embellishments on the tradional Sunbonnet Sue blocks. Didn't have room for my machine in the car. We were bringing fish and pond plants to #1 son.


Day two! Up at 5 am! I am used to going to bed then - not getting up! Hole - ee cow! But that little smile greeting you makes it all worth while. What a softie eh.


We even got out for a walk. Hand work and exercise - what is this world coming to? It is reasonably cool and was great weather for an outing. We stumbled our way around the block(s) turning left on all corners so we didn't end up lost. Took my phone just in case. I can find my way through the bush with no problem but put me in one of these new subdivisions and I am done. You know that saying - "Don't leave home without it", for me that means my GPS. I should make a holder for it instead of my phone!


Oh, Oh. Nap time is over, I am being paged.

'Til next time. Keep stitchin'

Pat