Catchup - April 8th-23rd, 2026

 April 8th

OMGG!!! I honestly thought the forecast would be wrong again! Glad I have a couple more hours before going out!

But 1pm it's all gone and a muddy mess now!

OMGG I'm so GLAD I stopped into Oakwook for lunch! My first choice was fish n chips but they were out. So ordered their Cafe breakfast, then out she walked with this scrumptious looking burger and I groaned! She asked if I wanted to change, yes if eggs not cracked, she ran into the kitchen yelling stop just as he was going to crack them and he laughed! Boy am I glad!!!

So yes they are open and waiting for you to come back, open till 3ish!

April 9th

Nice to have another awesome cataract surgery result. Basically better than 20/20 vision in both eyes and I don't need glasses for driving (at least for awhile to come)! So I called MPI as per Dr Levi's suggestion for a vision test to have that restriction removed. AND no issue about driving in the mean time, but if pulled over I'll need to produce the surgery cards to not be penalized and to make an appointment sooner than later to make that license change. Thank GOD as many have mentioned I'm not to be driving at all, MPI lady chuckled and said not so. Anyways, I've an appointment tomorrow afternoon and if passed (which Dr Levi said I'd blow that test out of the water now) MPI will send out a corrected license soon. YEAH!!! I was leary for much highway driving because of the naysayers!

I still need readers or progressive glasses for closeup and the computer, that appointment is May 20th. Then I'll take my 6 month old glasses back to Costco go get new progressive lenses put in!!!

April 12th

Saturday at ACQ gathering, I received a medium ziplock bag of scraps from Wendy R of MPQ via her friend Karen B and I could not resist prepping them ready to sew when hockey is on that night. Thank you very much Wendy R for thinking of me!!! I too can't bear to throw these cut off triangles or even 1" squares or strips away, even if for dog beds!!!

So today I finished off sewing HSTs and now pressing and then will start squaring up. I'm thinking something for myself as there are lots of awesome batiks plus hopefully another NICU coverlet.

Also a couple pics from the meeting of the girls at lunch and Edna working on her cactus project!

April 13th

Well this was a pretty good day. I spent the afternoon pressing all the sewn HSTs and sorted into sizes for future trimming.

The top row I might do scrappy pinwheel blocks spacers, sashings and borders for a NICU coverlet.

I decided the middle two rows with black are going to be mine, maybe a wall hanging or placemat.

The bottom two rows with green print along with the medium and dark brown HSTs into some quilt pattern for a NICU coverlet.

So see Wendy R half your scraps have been prepped for projects! Thank you!

April 14th

Finally I ventured out for a walk around the block or two with a stop halfway for lunch at Tim's along with 4 rest stops. Beautiful day out considering we woke to a fresh snow covering.

April 16th

Yesterday I picked up Edna, Sylvia and Dianne for Boston Pizza lunch then a road trip out to Adiena's quilt shop in Grunthal. Adiena was happy to see us and luckily other customers came earlier so we had the place to ourselves. Then on the way home Edna spotted this pair of cranes and I checked that the coast was clear, stopped and got out to take pictures. They were a ways out but still lovely to see! It was really windy in the morning but for once calmed down on the way home.

April 21st

After another appointment I stopped into Sylvia's and we finished off this lovely but horrible to piece together puzzle! It's done and dismantled and puzzle season maybe finished till fall?

Then home and sorted out my previously sewn up 1.25" HSTs, then today pressed and trimmed them (see the tiny pile of trimmings) before planning the pinwheel blocks. I'm not sure what size I'll trim the pinwheels down to but will alternate them with pulled out 1.25" strips from the same bag of scraps, from quilters. This time it's going to be around a 10"x12" quilt for this Angel wall hanging (15.5 x 27.5") for myself! I saw this pattern in OMA's sale box and knew it was MINE!!! Another use for my tiny shared triangles!

April 23rd

Today I joined the Meadowood Quilters and sewed on the vertical sashings onto my 24 potato chip blocks. Then I started on the horizontal sashings with cornerstones and attached two rows to the 6th row of blocks. I was tired so headed home! Hopefully finishing this twin top next week.

Once rested I went back to finishing my mini quilt for my angel wall hanging. Tomorrow I'll sandwich it with flannel instead of batting, add the backing and quilt it before binding it. It's 6.5 x 7.5" - WOW!!! By the time I finished the pinwhel blocks I very quickly changed my mind on white 4 patches and went with white whole blocks instead! I swear these little ones take as long to sew up as a lap or twin quilt!

Catchup - Jan 7th-25th

 Jan 7th

Well I had my first treatment yesterday after a week of off and on bad back/hip to ankle pain. I honestly can't say much as to any immediate results but it felt good with gradual stretch release with laser heat. But I noticed about halfway through that my ankle pain was just about gone and the needles/tingling in the ball area was greatly lessened. I did notice that my walking was easier and not in excruciating pain afterwards, just achy sore. Also I didn't take any Tylenol Arthritis during the day so that's good! It's a backup if pain is bad.

Today morning pain was back but again not as intense, will see how more treatments progress.

Laser-Spinal-Decompression

Jan 18th

Cool!!!

Jan 20th

So much for my feeling better than before, but not total relief yet. Today I woke 5ish in PAIN, say 5-7, got up took a Tylenol Arthritis and moved to the recliner and slept in. Needless to say I needed one of my sticks to walk to my spinal decompression treatment and out too. Today I did get my back brace and wore it for two hours afterwards, feel a little better but not good.

Dr Suzanne said it could fluctuate before lots better, so this was the bad day, hope not any worse in future!

Great idea to hopefully keep larger birds and squirrels out?

Jan 21st

WOW!!!

Jan 22nd

Well between appointments and relaxing this past month I decided to finish off two gifts for friends. Then decided to make another for myself in my favourite Lizbeth threads and then for quilty family members.

Left to Right in size 20 tatting threads:

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #122, flowers a crochet cotton

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #122, flowers in Lizbeth #180

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #190, flowers Oren Bayan Dantel from Turkey (gifted to me)

Ring and leaves in Lizbeth #676, flowers in #136

The pattern was designed by Bev Pedder for an Australian National Conference in 2025 call for patterns. I was her exchange partner within Fringe Tatters and she gifted me a lovely scissor fob and the pattern (but not for sharing sorry).

Jan 24th

Well I must be crazy to be venturing out Friday, Saturday and Sunday in this frigid weather for a quilting retreat! At least we get to go home to our own beds to sleep comfortably.

So yesterday I worked on more I Spy potato chip blocks and hopefully after lunch to sew up the easy I Spy blocks into another top. Pat is using the fabrics I gifted her for a table runner. Sylvia made a tote, fabric from Adina's, then switched to her work in progress quilt. Today she's working on a PPd spiral blocks and maybe switching back to the quilt top.

Jan 25th

Yesterday we continued on our projects. We went to Tavern United for supper then back for more sewing. My quilt top has been donated to Anne of Piece it Together for their group to finish off as a donation to their MCC fundraiser. I've blocks for another two similar sized tops to prep into quilts for donations to other organizations.

Today Pat finished off her lovely table runner then started on her 2.5" batik strips for our future sewing day rug making session. Sylvia continued on her quilt making progress and also working on her spiral PPd blocks for a wall hanging. I finally finished off the Potato Chip blocks and with sashing completed a twin sized quilt top.

Heather gave me another scrappy idea that she knew as Grandma's Sick Quilt, or what I call the "match it quilt". So the two of us may get together and with my novelty fabrics stash we might give this idea a try!!! Plus Anne of Piece it Together was working on her version of a scrappy quilt!!! There were a couple more on display so hopefully I'll have more ideas for scrappy I Spy quilts for the future.

And Pat's finished pillow cover from a previous sewing project!

This year I've two quilt tops I plan to donate to Piece it Together for their group to sandwich and quilt them maybe for their May fundraiser with funds donated to MCC relief etc. I will have two more of each of these quilts to donate to MPQ and another group sometimes this year, but will quilt them myself. I love doing these but after 72 I Spy blocks (yellow sashed quilt) and 24 potato chip blocks (red sashed quilt) with more PC blocks to sew up in the future, I need a change! Glad I've some different designs for more I Spy quilts!

Myself, lap quilt and Anne of Piece it Together.

Maybe 50x61"

Finished Potato Chip twin sized quilt.

Maybe 62x91"

Catchup - April 1st-10th

April 1st

Feeling not bad so picked up Edna for a short walk on the west side of Assininoine Park off Vialoux Drive past the Toba Ctr and back to the car. Since we were close by we stopped for chicken, apple, brie pannini at Folios on Grant! Yummy!!! Now home relaxing before my massage!

April 3rd

Well it was a rough start but the afternoon I decided on heading out for a walk. Just as I was getting my sticks out of the car, Edna called asking if I'd gone for a walk. So I picked her up and we went to Grants Mill and the Sturgeon Creek Pathway nearby. It was so lovely and totally surprised me by walking 2.1km with 3 rest stops only! The geese were quite entertaining, with one set skimming just over our heads honking loudly as they crossed the bridge down to the creek! YIKES!!! They are huge that close up!!! Then one set very loudly warning the other set not to come any closer! SHEESH!!!

That's Edna's apartment, she faces this creek.

Warning off those approaching from the left.

These were very noisy!

Afterwards Edna and I went to Boston Pizza for a shared supper before heading home. I still feel OK, so that's good!

April 4th

Well I'm not up to standing and cutting my next set of quilt pieces as yet, so I started a new handwork project! This is the smallest finished hexis I've done so far - 5 cent piece size beside the cream/beige pieces! Hmmm I wonder what these will grow up to be??? I'm using batik scraps for the tighter weave to hold onto my basting stitches. Now I know there is a "glue" method BUT I prefer hand basting!

April 6th

Thank you so much Steff for sharing your lovely pictures of your family vacation.  

Like you said, "First time in Cuba for a few of us, Baba included!! Lots of firsts for Baba (first passport, first flight, first time out of the country, first time in a hotel in 46 years, first time in the ocean, first time in a pool)!"

Well Steff you missed one, at least I believe so, out of her jeans into shorts AND a swimsuit??? Or am I wrong?

Here are my favourites to show my friends how my sister Marlene (next oldest from me) enjoyed some new adventures!!!

Photo credits to Steff Matskiw.

Marlene second row in the middle.

First time toes in an ocean!

So sassy like - pink really suits you!

Love that hat!

Grandson Brandon, Marlene, daughter Debbie, Brandon's Mom.

WOW!!!  She got it on her third try, last too!

Marlene, Debbie, Loren (Steff's Mom), Steff (Marlene's daughter-in-law married to Dave).

Brave girl!

Debbie, Marlene, Loren, Steff, Dave, Brandon

WOW!!!

Adults only - I'm gonna have to check it out!

Today was a mixed up day!  A bit achy but I decided to pick up Edna and walk to the Forks for lunch.  Probably shouldn't have as my ankle was shooting pains up my leg and hip pain was building off and on.  We shared a pickerel lunch, cinnamon bun with our coffees, well rested to head for home, but needed a few rests stops. 

Then picked up Sylvia before heading home to view Steff's Cuba posts on my laptop.  We totally enjoyed Marlene's adventures.  Sylvia also shopped at Rose Anne's fabric stash for a couple pieces she needs for a quilt. Then to Sargent Sundae for our first ice cream cone to start our summer off!  Took the girls home and did my mid-day exercises before a Tall Grass Prairie supper and relaxing.  After my evening exercises I was very achy so relaxed with the heating pad before crashing!

April 9th

Well my car was called into Pembina Autobody and Glass for its minor repairs a week early. So I've this loaner, a Jetta, in the mean time and sorry but I hate it!!! Definitely HATE the triangular side mirrors plus all are on the small size. The first day I've hit my head both getting in and out and today banged my knee on the steering column. Damn! I've adjusted the seat more, see if that helps! Never mind all the dang bells and whistles, totally bamboozled by!

Feeling a little better so picked up Edna for a SHORT walk on Sturgeon Creek Pathway and she found this lovely painted rock in the crack of the bench. She rehid it in a tree on the way back!  

Now at Edna's to help her add the last border on her Snail Tails lap quilt. I'll work on pressing more bindings for Michelle for CQA quilt finishings!

Well Edna finished off her Snails Tails lap quilt top with my help with directional fabric border.

Then she treated me to Boston Pizza wings before taking her home and me relaxing achy limbs!!!

April 10th

OMGG this is Sylvia's newest project that she's just started, some fabrics are from my Canada huge stash bag. It is not finished as the recipients' want some special embroidery added. I can't wait to see the finished lap quilt.

And here is the pieced backing!

Machine embroidery she added.

Then once back home I finished packaging up some more bindings for the CQA quilts that Michelle etc were finishing off and delivering where needed!

Well I can say I was very very happy to get the call from Pembina Autobody and Glass that my baby was ready for pickup!!! AND that they'd look after the return of the swanky but not my type of car - Goodbye to that Jetta! Not only was their repair work well done, within the time frame mentioned, but they washed the SUV sparkly clean AND also vacuumed out the gravelly inside and wiped all clean! WOW!!!

I'm very glad to have my baby back that's for sure!!! ❤️❤️❤️

April 12th

I finally got to the MPQ Quilt Reflections show! WOW!!! There were loads of exceptional quilts and then loads of normal but lovely quilts in various sizes! None of my entries garnered me a ribbon! I also loved the various Challenge quilts and wanted to bid on the old truck but saw that our Virgina had bid on it a couple times so I stepped away at the closing! Hope you were the end recipient!

My two minis, top all handwork, bottom by machine.

All handwork Hexies.

Machine paper pieced batiks and HSTs.

Long arm quilted by Lori Suss, Nightowl Quilting and Dye Works.

Then we went to Montana's for supper! Yummy!!!