WIP Wednesday 7 December 2016

Well it happened this weekend - Mother Nature decided to remind us west coasters that it was winter and blessed us with this.

And it wasn't any better looking up the hill.

And from then until at least next Friday we are going to be in minus temperatures, so brrrr. However, it does make for good stitching weather. The rug went from here

to TA-DA, a finish!

Now I just need to bind the excess canvas underneath and it can be off to its new home.

And Retirement didn't get totally ignored, going from here

to here.

As you can see, the hoop got moved again. There's a little wagon and another bee to be added in, then finish the border so the back stitching can begin.

Good-bye to IHSW, Part 1

Well, it turned out to be an interesting weekend. First of all, I woke up Saturday morning feeling quite a bit better - still stuffed up but not as sniffly. Then, at about 1130, the power went off - not just at my place but all of Prince Rupert was down. Still have no idea why, but for 6 hours we were disconnected from the outside world. So, what do you do when nothing electrical will work and there is gorgeous sunshine streaming through all the windows? Find a comfy chair and stitch of course.

First you have to pull your project bag out from under your helper.

I find this the perfect size for small projects. The top compartment holds the floss, the middle one the fabric and a small hoop if I need it and the bottom one my scissors, spare needles and ORT bag.

So Santa/elf went from here

to here.

And the sweater sleeves did get started.

That's 6 rows of ribbing, so I'm half way through.

Not a huge amount for a whole weekend, but enough to let me know I am on the mend.

Now to blog hop and see what everyone else was up to.

I'm Moved!

Moved, yes. Settled, that's still a future declaration. But, the rooms needed to function are set up and clear of boxes and there is a world of work wrapped up in that phrase.

I got the bedroom done first - I usually do that so when I've had enough I can just collapse.

And as you can see, the furries are here and that makes the place feel much more like home. They were at the shelter for 9 days and I missed them horribly.

Then I got the bathroom set up and that was pretty much it the first day I was here.

The next day I started on the kitchen and that pretty much used up two days, but everything is in cupboards and pantry. There will probably be some finessing, but so far so good.

Then I did the dining area.

I know there will be some changes here, but right now it's functioning so it'll be left.

And then on to the living room.

And the bags and bags of stuff that have gone to recycling, the dump and the Salvation Army I don't even want to think about. As you can see, there is nothing on the walls yet, so it feels rather temporary still. As I decide where to put all my pictures/stitching it'll feel much more like mine.

And that leaves the office and craft room and I don't even want to think about them. They are both packed to the hilt with totes, full boxes, empty boxes and stuff I couldn't make up my mind where to put it. I suspect the office will be first - I need to do my job after all, Then the craft room. But, I have found my bag with my current project - the Christmas Ornie SAL - and my UFO, so I'm hoping the needle will start to fly again tomorrow.

I've lost my gorgeous ocean view, and look at a cliffside now, but I've already had a couple of visitors.

I'm glad to be back in blogland.

WIP Wednesday 9 September 2015

Except it's not. No stitching at all this week. I think my blog will be very quiet for the next few weeks.

The good news - I have a place to move to! The bad news - I have to move! LOL And I only have 3 weeks to do it in, so stitching goes way down the priority list for the time being.

I'm really pleased with my new apartment. It's an adults only building, 2 storey with only 12 units in the whole building. It's tucked down a hill, so I won't hear much if any of the road traffic.

I have more space which is wonderful. The living room is larger, with a small balcony/deck off it. I have a proper dining area so my table and chairs won't be taking up a corner of the living room and the kitchen has more counter space and more cupboards. There are 3 bedrooms, all a good size and I've already designated one to be my craft room. It will be nice to have my stuff all in one spot and maybe, just maybe, I can actually organize it. It has a pretty good amount of storage space as well which is an added bonus.

Of course, there has to be one downer and that is rent - it's double what I pay now, but I knew that would take a jump. Means watching the pennies closer, but who doesn't have to do that?

And This Is What It Became

Back on the 15th of May I posted this photo

with this comment

"Walking downtown this morning, I passed a lot that is just a large hole in the ground and noticed the business next to it was trying to make the little strip of ground between the hole and the sidewalk much nicer to look at. There are more things at the "green and growing" stage, but these are the first blooms."

Well, I went passed this same spot this morning and look what the space has become.

You don't even notice the empty lot behind it!

I Survived!

Well, I did it! Met my goals and didn't wimp out. (Warning, this is LONG!)

Stats are: 12 hours, 30 circuits of the track (1/4 mile per circuit = 7.5 miles), 34,368 steps. I am SO sore today - if I could I wouldn't move at all.

The weather co-operated beautifully - lovely and sunny with a cool breeze so it didn't get too hot.

Everything started at the registration tent

which was also the beginning/end of each circuit. When I checked in I was given a survivor shirt

a name tag

and a long thin loop of plastic thread to wear around my neck. More about that later.

At 10 a.m. was the survivors' walk - the opening circuit. We were led by 2 R.C.M.P. officers in full dress red serge and as we passed all the tents we got cheered and applauded. It was quite something to experience. Then the regular walking started. I walked a lot with with another member of my team, the Amazons. Lori has just finished her first year cancer free - still undergoing breast reconstruction - so it was pretty emotional for her.

I picked up a patch that I am going to put on one of my vests.

There was a stage set up

and there was upbeat music all day - sometimes live bands or singers, sometimes canned, but it really kept us going.

At lunch, 2 of the tents started to do barbecue - hamburgers, hot dogs, beef on a bun - all for a nominal price that was given back to the relay when they were done.

CityWest (our telephone/internet provider)

Overwaitea, a local grocery store.

And we walked the afternoon away. There were some challenges for people to have their heads shaved, but mostly we just walked. Then at supper time one of the local food trucks showed up, again all their profits going back to the relay.

About 9:15 p.m. they started to announce prize winners, which teams had raised the most money, etc.

I won a water bottle.

Our team got an honourable mention in money raising.

We were really pleased - we only had 5 members and we raised $1140.

Oh, remember the loop of plastic I mentioned? Well, every time you completed a circuit you "earned" a bead to put on it.

This was mine by the end. There was a prize given to the person with the most beads. The lady who won - a bicycle - had walked 93 circuits, 23.25 miles.

Then the final walk at 10 p.m. was the memorial walk. The track was lined with paper bags containing candles and on the outside the names of people who had lost their fight. We all walked around, read the names and grieved. It was an incredible circuit - there were 300+ people on the track and there wasn't a sound except for our feet hitting the dirt. Not one picture was taken - everyone was fully in the moment.

There were lots of tents, each one had a team on the track.

My team tent.

The survivors tent - lots of snacks and drinks.

Royal Bank of Canada. That's a cheque for $3,000 sitting on the grass.

Fight Like A Girl tent.

Jazzy Dragons - a dragon boat team.

Choices for Healthy Living.

The Lutheran church.

All in all, an exhausting, emotional, uplifting day. And I plan to do it all over again next year!

Yikes! What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Tomorrow is the breast cancer Relay For Life and I signed up to be one of the team of ladies from our Women's Cancer Support Group. It runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and we walk the track at the Middle School. I have no idea how long or how far I can walk, but I guess I'll find out. The first lap is for survivors and the last one is when the luminary candles are lit in memory of those we've lost and we walk passed/through them. In between, we just walk, along with family, friends and supporters. One thing I know for sure, Sunday I probably won't be able to move! Assuming I'm not as stiff as I fear, I'll tell you how it went.

Some of Life's Pleasures

Walking downtown this morning, I passed a lot that is just a large hole in the ground and noticed the business next to it was trying to make the little strip of ground between the hole and the sidewalk much nicer to look at. There are more things at the "green and growing" stage, but these are the first blooms.

It will be interesting to see what else appears over the summer.

I love watching my cats - so different in looks and personalities. Usually they keep their distance from each other, but every now and then they decide they're "best buds".

Got to clean those ears!

And those paws!

Did you hear that?

The landlord is having the house re-roofed and one of the workers had just started an electric tool of some sort.

And Yoda decided that this week it was his turn to investigate the grocery box.

Last week Snowy was the curious one.

We've had some lovely sunny days over the last week and last Saturday there was a beautiful sunset.

Little scraps of joys to brighten my days.