MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all my Blog followers, and here's to ringing in the New Year safe and sound and 365 days of joyous family times and quilting days in 2014!!!

Oh my this year has sure gotten away on me!  I think all the energy I needed to get myself ready for my June 2013 Ireland trip and then coming home and work upsetting me to the point that I developed shingles and then just being in the BLAHS sure kept me quiet.  

One really great thing was helping my sister and brother-in-law move into the city in November for the winter months.  This is a huge relief for their three daughters and also myself and for them too - just the timing was kind of rough on Sylvia as Len could not help much with his back problems.  But now that Christmas is here and before we know it over, they'll hopefully be able to settle in and adjust to city living and want to stay!!!  I's praying so!

Afterwards I found out that my check up tests revealed kidney stones so that probably was the root of the pain and all around blah in October - even though I traveled to Toronto to visit my Irish girlfriend for a week.  Just was not myself this fall and at least I now know why.  I can say that I'm feeling more myself and enjoying life more - EXCEPT those -30 plus C days especially with high winds which naturally lowers the temps more so!  Oh well I live in Manitoba - what do I expect for WINTER!!!

Now with much regret but necessary too, I've resigned myself to delaying my retirement plans until I've reached the big 60 and hopefully then with my work and CP pensions together I will not have to work part time - just hopefully cruise into a more relaxed mode of living and naturally more quilting during the daytime hours.  Well that's only just over a year away so hopefully work does not frustrate me more so and I can hang in there.  It's kind of scarey as this past year has seen lots of my co-workers retiring - many sooner than their original plans - also more this coming 2014 - just fed up and ready for a change!  All the best to them.

OK back to my tatting and listening to more Christmas music on the TV in front of the fireplace with the dog and cat!  Happy stitching my quilting friends.

PHEW!!!

WOW I slept in and was an hour late for the Alzheimer's Touch Quilt kit making rally today.   It's all the fault of some woman I didn't understand who buzzed my intercom for about 15 minutes around 3:00 am Saturday which really messed me up that whole day and then slept like a log that night.  I promised to take my machine and help sew up some of the 15 finished tops and I did manage to assemble and quilt three (now they are only 36 inch squares but still time consuming as they are of all types of six inch square fabrics sewn together).  I took the other 12 home with batting and backings for whenever I've some time to spare and hand in as I finish them.  Yeah I know I'm crazy!!!

Then when I got home I just relaxed a bit then got my Stitching Only RR block etc together for mailing tomorrow along with a OOOPSIE forgotten birthday card for my younger sister (birthday tomorrow) and then finished off the white Sashiko stitching for the workshop I was in yesterday.  I chatted with my girlfriend in Toronto for a long while then realized I had her granddaughter's gift to finish off so back into the sewing room to serge the square hooded bath towel and face clothes from the left over strip.  That was fast and easy.

So I settled back and watch the end of Battle of the Blades (I taped it so will catch up maybe in November when I'm back home for a lengthy stay again!  LOL!  While watching TV I couldn't sit still - NAH - so I picked up the variegated thread and stitched in the Sashiko dragonfly.  NOW that top is finished - just have to find time to assemble it into a wall hanging before the Nov. 22nd MPQ quilt meeting for show n tell.

NOW I'm going to put my feet up for a bit before calling it a day!

OH MY Where Time Goes!

I just don't know where the time goes!  I've been busy at work with our Department-wise reorganization learning website uploads and trying to continue my work until new job description/duties are decided upon.  Naturally headaches are back and then last week was office cleaning to make room for two staff moving in so add to that lots of muscle aches.  Needless to say my stitching and quilting has fallen by the wayside and in dire state for catch up!

Then to add insult to injury (so to speak) I have another co-worker retiring and a gift I'd like to make, I also signed up for a Sashiko Japanese embroidery class (something I've tried on my own and now need to drop bad habits learned), a trip off to Toronto to visit friends, a house/pet sitting stint and quilt retreat all back to back so to speak!  I must be crazy!!!  And in this mess I'm still trying to fix Tom's retirement gift with much worry and also another crazy patched round robin starting up at the same time.  

BUT I've corrected the quilting on Tom's wall hanging just having a problem reattaching the mitred borders so waiting for the quilt retreat and my sister's much needed assistance to finish this baby off.  I've just about finished the second retirement gift, finished off my "naked block" for the round robin and some tatted/beaded thank you gifts too - just need to serge the baby gift before Wednesday to take with me to Toronto and I think I'll pack my Sashiko as my handwork while out east to work on evenings etc.  

Then mid-November I'm going out to my sister's in NW Ontario and assist them to move into Winnipeg for the winter months.  That'll be a challenge for them but also a relief for them and their families that they'll be closer to all if help is needed.  OK I think I'll make it one step at a time!

A New Hobby? - Definitely Not!!!

This weekend definitely was not a fun one!!!  At least I had a decent Friday evening!

Saturday morning was spent at a Walk In Clinic where I found out the supposed mosquito bites on my shoulder blade are instead shingles - so off to get some meds and start treatment immediately.  It's too bad I didn't go when I noticed them Aug 1st as the sooner treatment starts the sooner this nerve virus can be stopped.  Let's hope it'll still work for me.  I did hear that if you've had chickenpox then this shingles virus is not as severe or as lengthy - let's hope this is true as I had chickenpox.

Then on Saturday I went shopping to Canadian Tire and picked up all the various supplies need to get rid of my van's rust patches.  YEPPERs I played "autobody technician" - not that I know what I was doing, but I sure do not have the money for a professional paint job.  I did "Google It" and printed off the "do it yourself rust repair" and read it a few times and felt confident to give it a go - at least hope to delay further spreading until I can get it done properly.  I hope!!!

So Sunday morning I drove over to Angela's and checked the house and plants - only a few pots needed watering - picked some tomatoes to have for lunch and then got busy.  First off I cleaned the areas with brake clean, let dry, treated with rust converter, let dry, tried to patch areas with fast drying auto putty (not very good stuff and was trouble), tried sandy but the hatch was too much work for me, then treated with Rust Check (no primer required with this), and followed up with the matching spray paint for my vehicle.  Now I did allow the stated time in between coats and since I have three areas to treat it was longer yet plus the temps were I'd say 25-27C today with a light breeze - I'd say ideal.  Well it didn't take long to realize the putty was crappy - drying out and a pain to get even on the hatch part and it's a mess - but the rust has been treated and I hope that the paint sticks.  If not next weekend is REDO but I'll stretch it over the two days!!!

OHHHH my hands/nails!!!  I didn't break any but what a state!!!

Now you're probably thinking what a lousy job - yes I agree too but heck that was my first time and like I said at least the rust has been tackled and hopefully will be OK for this winter at least.  I have gotten instructions to remedy the masking lines and hopefully look after that this next weekend.  Unless there are problems that arise this week then I guess I'll have to strip it and do it all over again!!!  I pray not!!!

Quilting - Not Quilting!

Honest, I did try!  See after finishing off the Bali Strip Challenge I moved back to my quilted gift that needed to be redone - yesterday I got similar fabrics together and adjusted my machine until I thought my tension was good and then practiced some.  Soon I found out that I definitely need my "machingers" but oh my where are they - I have two pairs too.  They weren't in my sewing machine which I'd think was the logical place for them.  I was so frustrated after trying to free-motion quilt without that I gave up.

Instead I found my box of pictures, oil paintings and quilted hangers and proceeded to hang them up - like hit and miss with these old crumbling walls when hammering nails into them.  Oh well I did my best and I can tell you it's lovely to see some of my favourites up on display.  Then I read the evening away!

Then today I tackled my "studio" and managed to unload two large bags and two boxes.  I even found some lovely Christmas placemat fabrics that I'll have to do up - who knows maybe if I get this place cleared of most of the boxes I just might have my ex-Lewiscraft gals over around Christmas for a LONGGGGGGGG overdue supper!!!  Will see, no promises from me!

Anyways I came across a load of blue jeans and proceeded to cut them up!  GOSH I remember the last batch I did and how sore my back was from leaning over the table!  HA HA HA - not this time!!!  I just LOVE my new cutting table (thank you Margo and Harold) - it's just the right height and I had to stop because my scissors were bruising my thumb!  OH and it's time I left for a BBQ.  Bye!

MPQ ABC Bali Strip Quilt Challenge

YEAH my "Strip Twist" 58.5 X 73.5 inch quilt top challenge is complete, now it's ready to be sent off to the quilter and then back to me to finish off the binding!!!  YEAH YEAH YEAH this is the first time I'm ready WELL AHEAD of the deadline date!!!  It was a might of a challenge but I succeeded and am very pleased with it.

NOW I'm wondering if there'll be another such ABC charity quilt challenge this fall for next year and if I'll join in again???  Yep that's the million $$$ question!

Quilts for Southern Alberta - Update

I've had some problems with donations for this project.  I know some don't feel they can do the blocks justice or have the time for more projects, so they some donate finished quilt tops and/or fabrics.  Now that is OK if whomever is organizing the "call for specific blocks" is also sewing up blocks - but not the case here.  She's just sewing the donated blocks together into tops and going from there with volunteer longarm quilters standing by to assemble the quilts.  I feel bad but, I do understand where this person "calling for blocks only" is coming from also.  You can't please everyone!

Anyways, thank you to Dianne U for your lovely block.

Also thank you to a fellow MPQ member who has donated three various quilt tops to this cause and because the tops were basically finished they have been accepted.  Thank you Wendy W.

1600 inch quilt

Cheater Star

Stack n Slash

Bali Strip Quilt Challenge Update

WOW another step done tonight!!!  Yep I sewed the 12 blocks together (very little trimming required) and then added the inner border too.  Now alls that left is to see how many of the 4 inch wide strips I have left for a piano keys like outer border.  If not enough then I'll have to make up more from my charms!!!

MPQ ABC Bali Strip Quilt Challenge

Well being a might ticked off had a "good part" for me as I sewed like crazy and got my small 8 inch Strip Twist blocks into larger blocks of four.  Even with my design board at Aurora I still could not figure out HOW to assemble the twelve blocks so colours were not touching or close by - GRRRR!!!  Well finally tonight I managed to get a pleasing layout and this is how it's gonna stay - picture taken and now rows/blocks numbered!!!

So next is to sew them all together and pull out of my stash some batik for the inner borders and the cornerstones needed for the outer border.  I have various left over pieces in 4 inch strips and plan to use them as a stripped 2 inch piano keys like border.  Hopefully I have enough or I might have to put inner border spacers in the middle to stretch them out.  Time will tell.

Looks like I just might have this baby ready for the MPQ September meeting which is the hand in deadline for someone to quilt it for me.  Yep I think this will be different and colourful.

What a Weekend!!!

First off I guess I should not have gone to my Aurora meeting at all or opened my mouth in regards to my pet peeves - people not reading their emails and turning around and then asking questions - involvement in charity quilt making.  I did say that from now on I'll partake in whatever charity I wish and leave the organizing within the group to someone else and just do my Treasurer duty as quietly as I can.  Then the doorbell was not sounding in the basement and a couple of people were standing outside not getting in and one obviously got very angry.  When she finally came in I was the brunt of the anger much to my dismay or ability to deal with it so I walked away - which I guess was the last straw for that person.  HMMMMM!

Needless to say I tied one on Saturday evening and just vegged on my girlfriend's deck reading.  Sunday was clean up/pack up and heading home which was just before the thunderstorm, thankfully.  But that was short-lived!

OMGG what the heck next???  Maybe this move up to the top floor was not such a smart idea after all!!!  Well yesterday evening’s thunderstorm caused quite a stir for me about 11:00 pm.

After shutting off the TV I heard dripping but from the windows – HUH!!!  So I stepped towards them to open the curtains and stepped onto wet patches – DUH!!!  Opened the curtains and was faced with many water droplets on a continuous drip from the upper window frame down to the bottom frame and then onto the floor.  Yes I took pictures and emailed the Owner right away and then this morning had to change the towels as the one on the window sill was dripping wet and the floor one was damp.  There goes my new curtains – now water stained – along with the streaks down the newly painted wall (at least those I toned down after washing).  Then this morning I noticed a new dark spot on the ceiling and the ones in the entry seem to be darker!  And to think the rent is going up in October too.  SHEESH!!! 

So their changing my windows would only prevent the bugs from getting in like crazy from between the cracked hard seals and the cold drafts and snow drifts between the windows in the winter, this new problem is from the roof me thinks.  Those south facing windows are very very drafty in winter and I’m continuously turning up the thermostat – something very foreign to me who likes a cool place.

Living room

Sewing Room

WELLLLL my sewing room/studio is downright frigid cold in the winter and I can only work in there on the weekends with the curtains opened for the sun to warm it up some and me dressed for the cold to venture into that room.  This fall if the windows are not changed by then (which I doubt they will be as the owner thinks this is a roof not window problem) I’ll be trying the patio door plastic covering and see if that will reduce the cold coming in.  I refuse to buy a heater and pay more electricity when this problem should be looked into and fixed before major damage to the structure results.  It’s enough that I’ve an AC running all summer to combat the southern exposure and unbearable heat which I just can’t stand along with ceiling fans in the other rooms.  The building heating system should look after the problem during the winter – actually in my other apartment it was usually too warm for me and I had fans on to keep the temperature comfy.  Go Figure!!!

So this fall/winter I’m going to use my room thermometers and record the temp in the four rooms so I have something more concrete to show them along with the thermostat setting at that time.

I know I can’t afford the newer type of apartments and I’ve heard many unhappy stories from tenants in similar blocks – at least I know my Owners do try to fix things ASAP and not wait till some inspector comes in and then things happen.  Glad my Owners are good that way.  I really do not want to move again!!!

Quilts for Southern Alberta

OK yesterday was our Aurora Quilters gathering and I received more "slab blocks", fabric, a quilt top and some money towards shipping costs donated by some of our members.  I'm hoping to package these items up and get them mailed off after July 26th (just in case there are others on their way).  Thank you everyone who has stepped up to the plate for this cause, much appreciated!!!

You've already seen mine but I will include them here again along with the others.

Blocks by Rose Anne B

Blocks by Sylvia S

Blocks by Wendy S

Quilt top by Ricky C

Most FQs/yardage donated by Jeanette O.
Top right donated by Ricky C (maybe backing).

OK now back my other projects and maybe more unpacking and settling in my new apartment (10 months now)!!!

Slab Blocks - Update

OK I've completed sewing up the seven piles of coloured strips etc from my one Safeway bag and this is where I'm stopping for this Slab Blocks for the Quilts for Southern Alberta project.  The last block is in browns and I think I was just getting the hang of this type of block construction.

Now I can't wait till my sister's eight blocks arrive and yes I'll post pics of them too.  Also for my Sunday Morning Quilts book to arrive so I can many play more with this and use up more of my left over cuts of fabrics for future charity quilt tops.

So now I've pulled out my own batiks and will cut up the 32 lights/darks (FQ size) that I need to finish off my Bali Strip challenge blocks for the MPQ ABC Challenge quilts - these I'm taking with me to my girlfriend's and that'll keep me busy all week besides watering her LOVELY flower/tomato pots/garden beds!!!

Apartment Update

First off Thank You to Harold for coming over and finishing off the last task today!  He added another shelf to my locker and after he left I was able to haul out four boxes of light fixtures/ceiling fans, a large box of various sized binders along with the large storage box for my AC from my apartment - oh and put the dolly back into the locker instead of my hallway.  

Now I'm thinking I can move my various binders of postcards and various odds n ends up onto the first shelf of my hallway closet so they are accessible but yet not an eyesore so to speak.  So that'll be another box unpacked.  

Then when I'm back from Angela's I'll try and tackle the sewing room shelving unit and move the quilting items from the living room bookshelf into that room and work from there trying to get everything into its proper place so I can take a picture of the studio!!!

Tomorrow I have to finish off the last block of the Quilts for Southern Alberta (just heard from Sylvia and she's stitched up eight blocks - WOW!!!) and then cut the 32 strips of lights/darks for my Bali Strip Challenge so I can work on that quilt next week.  Yep and if it's stopped raining and the humidity is normal I might even try an tackle the rust spots on my van while out at Angela's and hopefully get them treated before fall sets in.

Slab Blocks - Update

YAHOOIE, yeppers I finished off another 15.5 inch slab block for the Quilts for Southern Alberta - that leaves me with just one more of the allotted fabrics to stitch up tomorrow and then I can go back to my MPQ Batik Strip Challenge quilt top!!!  PHEW talk about a sewing buzz lately.  BUT I've also got a great idea for a quick quilt top for Aurora Quilter's charity quilts for House of Hesed and using up the leftover fabrics that friends have helped to build in this box of mine!

But "shoot" I totally forgot to put the little piece of white into the oranges block - well Cheryl did say it was optional, but I truly meant to do this for all my blocks.  Well maybe that light orange on the right will do as it has tiny little white triangles in it!  Also I played with larger strips - not as many narrow ones in this colour choice.

Slab Blocks - Update

YEAH today was a pretty good day as in two and one/half hours I stitched up the blue and gold slab blocks - that's now five in total.  YAHOOIE!!!  Gosh I think these 15.5 inch blocks are looking just AWESOME and I'm having loads of fun and trying to get more creative with the next block!!!

Oh and a fellow quilter has contacted me in regards to some fabric and money (for shipping) donation - thank you so very much Jeanette, much appreciated.

Slab Blocks - Update

Oakie dokie, well I just finished tonight's block, kinda late as I didn't get home till 7:30ish and by the time I checked emails etc I didn't start sewing till after 9:00 pm but I made it.  I'm still on track of one block per evening and now have three finished.

I think this technique is going to be quite interesting!

Slab Blocks

Well who'd have thought this could be so easy and fast going too.  Now I don't have the book Sunday Morning Quilts as yet, but Cheryl A did explain the process for these slab blocks and I did send her a picture of my first one - the green one - and she said it looks perfect. So tonight I stitched up the red one and again within an hour and I was fussier this time!  LOL!  

Blocks 1 & 2

Hmmmm if my sewing room was not so warm and with the light and iron on it's a bit too warm for me for more than one block.  BUT if it was cooler I'm sure I could have stitched up two this evening.  Oh well if things go as well as these two went I KNOW I'll have the other FIVE I've pulled out fabric strips for done by this weekend.  

Then it's just waiting for whatever my friends/family decide to join in this effort and donate then I'll either stitch up a quilt top or just package these up and send off to Cheryl month end.

OMGG So Much to Post About

WOW here I thought I was going to have a RELAXING weekend house/pet sitting for my niece and yes it was but still full of ups and downs!

First off July 3rd, 2013 a very inspirational quilter/teacher passed away - Heather Lair will be missed by many in the "quilting world" and definitely by her loving family and friends.  I am glad that I had the pleasure and honour to partake in a few of her quilting classes at the Gimli Quilt Retreats over the past years and will treasure my pieces more than ever now!  My sincere condolences to her family!

2013 - Panoramic Landscape class

My weekend of house/pet sitting was very quiet, I even snagged a few pics of items I truly love and Bell and Angel were both well behaved even in the Saturday night short lived thunderstorm!  I had tried to type up my Ireland trip notes but only just started - not sure when that chore will be completed but will have to work on it that is for sure.

Bell you are getting old too!

Then I heard about the call for Quilts for S. Alberta and jumped on that right away and challenged a few quilters in my groups, family and friends to help me get together some blocks to ship out to Cheryl A by month end.  Well when I got home I quickly pulled out the "shopping bag" not the "paper box full" of leftover strips and promptly stitched up my green version of a 15.5 inch Slab Block - more information found on the Dining Room Empire blog of Cheryl's.  I had sorted out the strips by colour and have enough for a red, blue, purple and sand/brown blocks - one took barely an hour so I'm hoping to have these finished in the next week or two.

I've also decided that I have to cut up more strips of my batiks and stitch up two more large blocks (short from the swapped strips) for my MPQ Bali Strip Challenge charity quilt top and that will be my mid-July house/garden sitting project at my girlfriend's.  I may not be progressing on my own UFOs but I'm surely trying to make a dent in my stash!!!

THEN I'm at the PC to upload my new pics and started to check my emails and WOW OMGG I won a Blog Give-Away today!!!  The Crazy Quilters International blog was having a give-away of a set of Sharon B's CQing templates and I thought they were quite interesting so decided to give it a try.  See I thought if I wasn't so lucky then maybe when I "finally" do get down to Australia I just might be able to meet up with Sharon in person and maybe purchase a set to bring back in my luggage?  That was my thinking when I entered the give-away!!!  WELLLLLL now I don't have to - I won the computer generated draw!!!  Lucky me!!!  Thank you Sharon for your kind generosity and Cathy for running this give-away on the CQI blog.

OK that's enough excitement for this old gal for the weekend!!!  LOL!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

Well I would say I started my day off on a very good note, that is after sleeping in, watching the opening of Canada Day in Ottawa!!!  LOL!  

Yes I set up a floor fan to guide some of my AC cool air into my new "studio" and promptly started pressing my separated HST for my MPQ ABC Bali Strip Challenge quilt.  There were only four blocks to redo out of the 20 pairs I was able to stitch up out of the strip package.  My nicely set up cutting table is just GREAAAAAAAAAAT! as Tony the Tiger says as I just finished up squaring up these blocks ready for the display board for the "Strip Twist" blocks planning.  This is coming together nicely and hopefully will make the September deadline for the finished quilt top.

So soon I'll head out to meet Pat and check out the Mexican restaurant patio for some eats and refreshments.  I'm also taping the Blue Jays baseball game for viewing later on and then maybe more watching of the closing activities and who knows maybe the local fireworks here at the Forks.

Yes a lovely Canada Day!!!

Not MIA - Just Quiet

OK first off THANK YOU to Sylvia for the lovely Angel - her appreciation of my patience, consideration, helpfulness and caring during our trip to Ireland - a trip she would not have made herself.  You are very very WELCOME Sylvia, like I said many a time without a roommate I may have had to cancel my dream trip.  Yes we both have lovely memories and pictures to remember for a long time.

I just got back in time for our annual OMA's - AURORA picnic - small turnout but lovely!  We even presented Virginia with her Comfort Quilt.

Ricky, Audrey, Gail, Wendy

Virginia & Dianne

My CQd and tatted block

NOW as for getting back to the grind, well work is still a mystery as the Dept. is once again undergoing major reorganization with some closing of offices, shuffling around of staff to fill required vacancies and realigning branches.  The magic day is June 30th and those affected (me included) should be in our new positions with new responsibilities.  Personally I'm trying to take one day at a time and keep an open mind but with many questions and rampant chitchat some days it's really hard.  I'll survive but I can tell you this definitely is solidifying my retirement plans.

In the meantime I've tried to escape the sweltering heat in my apartment (AC still in the locker) by joining the Crescentwood quilting group at the community centre and actually went to their mini retreat day and stitched up my MPQ Bali Strip Challenge quilt strips together.  WOW what a full day of sewing in a cool place.  While matching up darks with lights of all those strips I only messed up 2 sets - not bad for me I'd say.  Then the following Wednesday evening was their weekly get together and I actually squared off blocks and marked for HST stitching using my new Quick Quilter II ruler - thank you Ann!

NOW Friday evening Harold my awesome handyman came over and once again used his ingenuity (for easier and faster future in & out) and installed my AC so now I'm comfy and actually have some energy to do some work in here!!!  Then we anchored my four plastic towers and set the gifted counter top (thank you Margo) and VOILA I'm in business.  We then tackled the Harold designed movable Cork/Peg Board and even used the cutting table to trim the cork to fit and glue together.  By this time it was midnight and I was afraid we were making too much noise and asked that we quit for today.  Harold wanted to check the locker yet and see what he still needed to do in order to add the third shelf for more storage for me.  Only needed one notch to be cut in one board and when he's got time he'll be back to finish that off!  WOW then I can get some storage stuff reorganized and more out of my apt closets to the locker and then back to the apt reorganization full speed ahead.  THANK YOU Harold!

SO today I'm actually doing laundry, reorganizing half of the sewing room and maybe take some time to cut apart the HST and press them ready for Wednesday's stitching together into the actual "Strip Twist" quilt top.  Well maybe plan out the various twists before sewing blocks together!

Entrance side of studio

Utilizing plastic towers and countertop

OK enough for today!  But hopefully more soon.  Sorry no pics or stories as yet about Ireland.

I'M BACK FROM IRELAND!

Yes I arrived back Thursday evening about 9:30 pm - like two hours late leaving Chicago because of a storm on Wednesday that cancelled flights and they were in a whirlwind with standbys trying to get home Thursday and probably Friday still too.

Our trip of the AWESOME GREEN COUNTRY OF IRELAND was just fabulous - especially the country side which we both enjoyed the most - well except for those narrow roads (which they said were two lanes but I'm still wondering where the second lane was).  The International Quilt Festival of Ireland was very lovely but two days was definitely not enough to take in the various exhibits in various University buildings on campus and also take in a side trip or two.  We were kept hopping and totally exhausted when dropped back at our hotels in the evening that I did not even venture out to check the pubs - too bad but not enough time for everything.

For sure it was TOO SHORT and yes I DEFINITELY would LOVE to go back and take in the quilt show again but the rest of Ireland touring on my own (probably public trains etc from place to place) for as long as I want in one place to see all that I would like to see, even Northern Ireland!!!

There will be various posts on my travels along with a few pictures uploaded in the future when I get myself organized.  I'm also putting together a scrapbook when I get specific pictures printed, soon too I hope!  So much to do and I want to get it done before I start to forgets!  LOL!

Yes I am glad to be home as the bus touring was just too taxing on me and especially my sister who happened to miss a 3-4" step (lots in this country) and sat down hard and badly bruising herself but - she said yesterday she was finally feeling better but her elbow is a rainbow of colour patches!!!  I'm very glad she did not do any damage to her hip replacement or break anything else.

So next week back to work!!!

40 Years of Service Award

OH BOY here’s a perfect example of “I’ll never make 40 years of service!” statement coming back to haunt me!!!  Yes I was initially supposed to retire in 2010 but circumstances deemed it necessary to stay working a year and then another, then my “retirement trip” to Australia was kinda postponed from 2013 to 2014 so I decided to stay working still another year.  WELL lo and behold I will even surpass my 40 years of service for the Province of Manitoba (all with the Dept of Agriculture) by the time I actually pull the pin so to speak and retire.

Anyways Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (department name now) honoured long time service employees on Friday, May 3^rd, 2013 and my Manager Bob Ward and myself were presented with our certificates and official photos taken with the our respective Bosses, Dori Gingera-Beauchemin - A/Deputy Minister and the Honorable Ron Kostyshyn - Minister of Agriculture.  Bob asked if I had my Thank You speech ready and I kinda panicked and then started to get nervous while waiting, but once the presentations started I realized I did not have to do such, I relaxed some.   There was no time allowed for a “rebuttal” to Bob’s introducing me and my accomplishments over the years, with some of his own comments added to my prepared speech for him. 

Bob Ward introducing me

David Kaminski presenting awards

My chosen black framed gift by http://www.expressiveframes.ca/

L-R:  Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, Bob Ward, myself, the Hon. Ron Kostyshyn

L-R:  Myself, Bob Ward (Manager), Margot Cathcart (Director)

After the presentations the various honorees, their invited guests and Committee Members etc milled around enjoying a light but lovely lunch – I had invited my niece Pat and her Mom Sylvia (my sister) to join me on this special day – before leaving to join fellow quilters at the Winkler/Morden quilt retreat weekend. 

Yes a lovely milestone in my years with the Department.  Thank you.