NATIONAL QUILT DAY

HAPPY NATIONAL QUILT DAY today!  I have been rummaging around the world wide web seeking out places that are interesting with contests and new quilt designs dreamed up especially to celebrate the auspiciousness of this day. 

IT SEEMS likely you know all about National Quilt Day but, if you don't, then here is a wonderful site that explains it all for you.  It is an important day for many quilters, and as you can tell from the numerous sites all welcoming this day its quite exciting and very interesting. 

Pat Sloan has a Contest up and running - head on over to her blog site and check it out I love the her new fabric line...."LIBERTY" wow eye popping and so creative.  Her blog and podcasts and web-site is chock a block full with so much interesting information, articles, various interests and how she does all of this is a wonder to me, I have trouble with just staying as current blogging myself never mind the 1001 things Pat gets up to.  She is my all time most prolific and favorite blogger.  

Pat Sloan

 E-How explains National Quilt Day and expresses a lot of wonderful ideas on how to celebrate with other quilters today very timely and with nifty ideas 



The National Quilting Association has a wonderful synopsis of this auspicious day too, interesting!!! 




Sherida Warner  of the DAILY SENTINEL wrote an interesting article with information, a story and interesting links including a design contest.

I too am celebrating NATIONAL QUILT DAY with the use of my sewing machine, fabrics from my stash to finish a Birthday gift I had begun the other day.  Matching seat belt covers for her vehicle.

IT is a day that is relegated to the process of Quilting and Quilters alike.  We are a united front and more in numbers than I believe anyone really knows of.  It would be so interesting to know the number of QUILTERS in the whole wide world, wouldn't you find that interesting.  

IF your reading me today then blessed are we alive and well and still above ground.  My wish for you is a wonderful and FRIENDTASTIC DAY today.  


 


  

THINKING OF SPRING

BEFORE I tell you what has been going on since I last posted, I must tell you that I believe Spring is finally just around the corner  Spring, wonderful spring!  In my garden I see green shoots of annuals showing their heads, even so, the crocuses haven't yet made their appearance, bet you by this time next week though they'll be showing themselves in their finest vivid array of colors.

starlite purple crocus

super white crocus

I am champing at the bit to get out into the garden and clear away the spoils of winter, getting all those leftover dead leaves into the composting bin.  Picking up all those tree branches and twigs up and all of the stray bits of garbage that somehow always seems to show up once the snow melts away. 

I also see vestiges of the tulip leaves making their way to the top, soon, really soon if the weather co-operates and remains in the 60's these will be in bloom in no time.  Ohhhhh I can't wait.  Tulips in my opinion are so versatile and come in hundreds of colors and color combinations as well as varieties as well as sizes and when in bloom are absolutely breathtaking. 

Fringed tulips come in a range of colors and are so very interesting and make a most beautiful bouquet once cut from the garden and taken inside.

  Images courtesy of  http://www.fotosearch.com/

More than just crocus and tulips will be showing their colors, there will be snapdragons, and daffodils, as well as narcisis and so much more I simply cannot remember the names of the many flowers than can grow in my weather and show themselves off at this time of year.  While there remain some small patches of dirty snow  which hasn't melted, but these mounds should be gone in another week and then Spring will officially have arrived.   

There is always an insurmountable amount of work to do when the advent of spring appears?  I have this whole week to myself and I will be making the most of it to be certain in and around the gardens, cleaning away all of winters debris and making the area neat and tidy ready for all of those pretties I am so looking forward to seeing. 

I can't wait, can you?  Since you and I are still well above ground, I a, truly thankful for this blessing and  wish you a very FRIENDTASTIC DAY

The task before you is never as great as the Power behind us!

FOOD RECALLS - Here We Go Again!!!

WHEN are we ever going back to the days when the foods we bought and consumed will be relatively safe to ingest?  It seems with all of our so called technologies, foods are still being shelved onto the market place with risks.  Little time bombs waiting to explode into the population?  Time we all thought about getting back to basics.  In truth though, what are the basics anymore?  We have come such a distance in the food proscessing business since the 1800 and 1900's haven't we?  We all love those foods with rich flavours, those junk foods with artificial flavouring that make our lips smack. 

Now I am not that old that I can remember everything, truth is when I was growing up I never gave one thought as to how foods were processed.  Balogne was just that, balogne! 

 Hot dogs were mmmmm so good,

 and luncheon meats were purchased from the butcher shop, rarely could my parents afford to buy expensive foods from a grocery chain, back in the "good old days".  Yes, in our house, we began making dips with flavours in the 60's using those soup mixes (can you remember those?), but I am certain there were hundreds of new methods devised in those days for adding more zest to those plain ole foods we were so familiar with.  Aren't these food images tantalizing?  I dug these tantalizing pictures from got these from Stock Photography and Stock Footage . 

The world seemed ready for those new flavour changes, and as grocery stores became larger and then chains formed, the manufacturing bases also became larger and more diversified, the food industry as a whole exploded in the discovery of how to add new taste to foods we all love to eat. 

It has become such a food mine field, nowadays you have to have a degree in food additives, food preservatives, food this and food that - scary stuff!  How much time do you spend at your local food store deciding what to buy for the week in the food line?  Concievably you could spend 4 to 5 hours just reading labels, asking the produce people where the fruits and vegetables came from, do they have preservatives sprayed all over those pretty coloured foods that are termed perishibles?  Does the meat for school lunches have preservatives, well, of course they do!  On and on it will go, until exhausted you have finally made your food purchase choices and gone through the check out to take some of those tiny little time bombs home to your own cupboards and refrigerators.   I am so glad I'm not a food store owner, these recalls cost a fortune to take off the shelves, and the costs of reclaiming and destroying all of the recalled food, well, I wouldn't like to have to pay the bill, but I know in the end, I will pay, higher food costs will be implemented once again.  There is always a cost.   

What began this morning as a fine sunny day turned out a tad cloudy because I caught a news release about foods being recalled again, and this time on a massive scale.  To ensure I had heard correctly I went to check it out, found the information online and have copied it in its entirety for you below.  Just to be safe I also gave you the link to go and see for yourselves.  There are other sites and other countries involved in this one, so if this site doesn't suit you there are plenty of other sites with the same information.

I hate hearing all about Food Recalls, I love eating, I enjoy junk foods, and I now wonder whether or not all of the enhancements these lip smacking good tasting foods have is worth it, I don't think so!  A person the reporter in the newscast I heard this morning, asked someone their thoughts on this latest outbreak of food recalls, and that person said ....

"I think people will just forgive and forget until the next time".

Sadly, I think he is absolutely right!

Consumer Advisory - Salmonella in Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP)


The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are closely following an investigation by U.S. authorities into possible Salmonella contamination of Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP) in the United States.

HVP is used as a flavour enhancer in many commercially processed foods. These can include soups, hot dogs, sauces, and seasoned snack foods. Products sold in Canada that contain the affected HVP and pose a risk to consumers will be removed from the Canadian marketplace.

Here is what you should know about the investigation:

There have been no reports of any confirmed illnesses in Canada or the US linked to the food product containing this HVP. Public health officials are looking at previously reported cases of Salmonella to determine if there are any links.
The risks related to this contamination are considered to be very low. However, consumers should ensure they cook their food properly to avoid any risks of Salmonella. Some ready-to-eat foods, like chips or dip, may contain the affected HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc., and these may represent a higher risk. Please consult CFIA's Website for the list of products that were recalled. Products that you would cook or heat after you buy them are unlikely to pose a risk as long as they are cooked and handled properly.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating what products on the Canadian market may contain HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc. A number of food recalls have already occurred.

What can you do as a consumer?

•Be aware of the list of recalled products. You won't necessarily be able to tell from ingredient lists if HVP is in the food because it is often a part of a flavour mix. You can get a list of recalled products from the Government of Canada's food safety portal. If you have recalled products in your home, don't eat them.

•Use proper safe food handling practices and carefully follow the cooking instructions as ready-to-cook food in your home could potentially contain the recalled ingredient. More information can be found on the food safety portal.

While all Canadians can get sick from bacteria like Salmonella, older adults, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions are more vulnerable to long-term complications from Salmonella. If you belong to one of these groups, it's particularly important to be aware of this advice.

•Main Page - Potential Salmonella Contamination - Certain products manufactured in the USA and Canada containing Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein (HVP)

Today its recalled food flavouring ingredients, wonder what it will be tomorrow, or next week.  Stay safe, make yourself aware of what it is your eating and wash those hands, cook the food properly, and cross your fingers the rest will all turn out okay!

I guess if you've made time to read my rant today then like me we're both blessed and above ground, so have yourself a totally FRIENDTASTIC day today.

"With Glowing Hearts" - The Paralympians!

While the world was mesmerized by the games of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver this year the PARA OLYMPIANS  were making ready to kick  off the 2010 Paralympic Games scheduled in Vancouver on March 12.

On March 3rd, 2010 three days after the Olympic Games Torch was extinguished in Vancouver, the 2010 Winter Para Olympics Torch Lighting Ceremonies took place with Five-time Paralympic athlete Arnold Boldt sharing the flame of hopeful paralympians in the Chamger of  our nations capital, Ottawa and also unveiling as a first,  Paralympics own distinctive emblem.   No longer do the winter paralympians have their logo's piggy-backed with the olympic winter games logo.  

The Torch Relay has already begun and will be followed the 10 days to Vancouver which began yesterday in Canada's capital, Ottawa.  Today, March 4th in Quebec City........making its way to Vancouver.

I hope the media coverage is as extensive and as well carried out as it was for the first set of games we were all thrilled by.  The more extensive the coverage the more the world becomes ever more familiarized with these olympians whose achievments are as monumental as those of any other olympic medal hopeful.

Brian McKeever is one such Olympian!   The thought of his racing in the Canadas' four man team at Whistler was so exciting and I for one was looking forward to coverage of the event so that I could cheer him on.  Sadly, and it was sad, that he wasn't included!  I for one thought the team couldn't have done any worse if Brian had been included.   Lets hold onto hope that in 2014 he will be among the team members on the podium to receive a team medal then! 

I am hopeful that through the media,  this 2010 Para Olympics will gain noteriety and that more and more of us will stay tuned and as glued to our television sets or in the stands, or on the slopes to watch as many para olympic events as the camera's and sports reporters will capture.   I so applaud these men and women who overcome all obstacles to join in on the sport of their choice.

GO CANADA, GO PARA OLYMPIANS!!!!!!

Oh My Goodness, this isn't what you want!!

I have been dreaming of doing something different with my tote bags for a while now.  So very early yesterday morning I began jotting down on paper just how I thought this new sometings might be accomplished.  No, I wasn't really being inventive, just curious to see if my idea would work, so far I really haven't seen it, but I know if I have thought about it it is certainly out there in the market place....LOL

Yesterday, I was chugging right along doing my thing when all of a sudden trouble struck!!!!  One minute your fine, your working away at the sewing machine and the next moment your on your way at top speed to the washroom!  YEP the dreaded Norwalk Virus has come calling....

My mother took ill Monday evening and twelve hours later that poor old lady had finally stopped vommiting.  She was so exhausted, so very bone structure sore that I had honestly considered call 911 to have her hospitalized - but after a telephone call to the doctor was informed from my description of the symptons that in all likliness my mother was suffering from a flu virus.  She said Norwal - a 24 to 48 hour virus that was powerful but not deadly.

Since my mother is prone to stomach vommitting I had no clue as to it bein a virus, but after conversing with her doctor I set out to clean as many surfaces as I could, managed to get all of the linens I had used with her into the washing machine and washed with very hot temperature water and bleach. 

Oh my goodness, we had had visitors and I had been out in a group atmosphere that night, more than likely I was out leaving Norwalk behind.  I was feeling so guilty some people were even going on vacation and the thought I might have made them sick or possibly sick enough not to be able to leave when they would have to was really upsetting.

Sure enough, like I said, working away at the sewing machine I felt not well all of a sudden, no real warning to the onslaught, I managed to make the bowl in time, after than a bucket with some water in it became my contstant companion.

Needless to say there was nothing I could do but let the virus work its way out of my system and hit the sheets.  It was now my turn! 

This afternoon I am feeling so much better, but, try as I might I cannot trace the origin of how it managed to get into this house in the first place.   Needless to say, it is a winter malady and visit hundreds of thousands of people and can be so easily transmitted, why, because the person transmitting doesn't realize they have it until it hits them and then, of course it is all too late.   My brother telephoned an hour ago to say he'd suffered through it all last night and looks like the sister-in-law will be its next victim and goodness knows how many others in our community will suffer because he owns and operates a store...Oh joy.

TAKING precautions in winter is really what I believed I had been doing, obviously not enough because I too managed to have it even though I washed my hands after each contact with mother, I washed down all surfaces which she may have come into contact with with dettol, but, this just wasn' enough nor did I accomplish it soon enough.  It was already stalking my home.  From the Department of Microbiology of Mt. Sinai Hospital, this very informative site, describing in much better detail what I have been attempting to describe to you.   SO if you only know about flu - you'll discover more about this virus and what you can do to make it leave your house sooner rather than much later.   Remember to quarantine yourself, or your family until it has run its course, wash, wash and wash those hands, keep detol in the house (you never know when it will be needed), or you'll be sending it out to inflict others within your network of family, friends, co-workers and the unsuspecting public.  I have a suspicion that is where I managed to get it from - I am a member of the unsuspecting public.   and if your out and about use a handcleanser that is very high in its alcohol content such as those you can buy in a drug store.  

With compliments of Stock Photography and Stock Footage  I scarpered these images....


Not exactly a creative blog today, but hopefully one that informs and puts you on your guard.  You know it is out there just waiting to strike!

Good news is, I'm feeling 100% improved over yesterday, so, the doctor was right 24 to 48 hours and you'll be fine!

I'm back at my sewing machine.  If you haven't been reading all I have written today, no blame from me but like me your still above ground so I wish you a very FRIENDTASTIC day today. 

Etsy my Shop in Cyberspace

Today I'm working on revamping my Etsy shop and the completing custom orders.  Orders which will become world travellers.  One such order will remain in Canada, one piece on its way to Great Britain and another will eventually end up living in  Japan.   I've sold bags, totes and other quilted items to people living in the United States, some have been sold to Canadians and a tote made it all the way to China.  Adding a tote to a new destination is so exciting.  I have Etsy and its' e-commerce skilled team to thank for this excitement. 

Are you a crafter, hobbiest, an artist, sculptor, glass blower, do you work in exciting and different new textures and mediums?  A stay at home mom or dad with crafting skills?  These can be sold to others, and speaking only for myself, a person can only make so many items for family and friends, then it is time think of selling some of that beautiful or interesting work you craft so that you can continue creating.  Maybe you haven't given thoughts to selling your crafts, but should you want to and are looking around for a place to do that online, you couldn't make it any easier for yourself.



Etsy became the place for my craft in fabric.  Selling Locally is great, but as my collection of quilted goods continued to accumulate, I needed to find an outlet for selling.  Etsy is a place where even small entrepeneurs like myself can set up shop.  The process was so easy, Etsy designed it that way!   The process of updating and adding new inventory is simple to accomplish too. 

As a retired baby boomer and on a fixed income, I found Etsy to be financially manageable too.   Making the decision to open a shop was one of the best things I have ever done, I had nothing to lose and so very much to gain.

Etsy Shops is just the place to be!  Etsys' Mission statement states 

Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers.

        Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice:

        Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.

For me it is the best alternative, as I sell locally in the summer months, but winters are fairly sparse for local or tourist trade.  Makes sense to let Etsy help with the shop set up, it is inexpensive and becomes a nice win win situation.  While I recognise I won't become a millionaire, this place in cyberspace affords me an outlet for my items and I can draft away to my hearts delight. 

Time to get on with my day, and as aways if your reading this then you and I are both blessed as we're both above ground.  Have a simply FRIENDTASTIC day today. 

Back To Bags

Since Frost Fest is over I can now complete some of the listed items on my to do list which have been in the works waiting my attention.  Now it is catch up time and projects which I had on my to do list need to be completed. 

It has been a few weeks since I tackled the totes waiting to be made, so this morning I got busy quilting the fabric and made this one, with long and sturdy shoulder straps.  I also decided to make this one using a different technique than is normal for me.  I am pleased with how it turned out.  This fabric was chosen for this tote by my friend in British Columbia who I went to school with in the late 50's.  Ouch, saying this out loud makes me feel old.  Its size makes a very practical bag for everyday use and come spring she'll begin toting it around to be certain.

It measures  16" in its width by a height of 11 1/2" and a depth of 2 1/2", long comfortable sturdy straps compliment this bag making it more a shoulder bag than a tote.   I incorporated lots of pockets to hold a variety of items, its width was chosen so that a bottle or two of wine could be transported even though the pockets would be filled.

Not too shabby, good length straps and lots of pockets and strong to last a long, long time and totally machine washable.

Back to sewing now.

Have a wonderful FRIENDTASTIC DAY.

A New Adventure into E-Commerce

I did it, I finally took the time and found myself a domain of my own.  How this will play out in my forray into e-commerce I simply don't know.  Somehow, someway, somewhere there had to be a space for all of myself that I seem to be spreading around cyberspace!

My Etsy Shop has been up and running.  I wanted more than just a shop though.  Reading the help sections that Esty offers its patrons, I discovered an application I couldn't not explore.  The big THEY in business, say advertising is so very important, but how best to do that?  Today with the help of Soopsee a certified application for Etsy shop owners I might have accomplished that.

Through the wonderful Etsy Team who all really work hard to bring vendors and buyers together, doing their best to find wonerful applications for its vendors to make use of for their shops. Great ways for vendors and buyers and prospective buyers to interact with one another, not only does the team help a vendor to set up their shop but they go far and wide to find strategies and tips and techniques to help.  

Today I found myself some more help and in doing this, since I am not a computer saavy "Bill Gates" type of individual,  I discovered that any computer newbie can do it too.  Soopsee made it all so easy and at this time, it is also very affordable for me to set up a site.  Waiting too long I may possibly not done so if the costs involved had been much higher than they are at this point in time.  No matter what your shop sells, Soopsee can help you to obtain and maintain a web site to compliment your e-commerce site, your blogs, your facebook or twitter accounts and puts them all in one fine space for you and everyone else to see.   I know for a fact that Soopsees' team like Etsys' Team will guide you all of the way and should you need extra help, well, they'll give that as well.

Now my tiny shop is not only visible but has taken on a life of its own thanks to Soopsee, I have a web site.  Thanks to all those intelligent and computer saavy people that work there.  Don't forget, if I can do this, so can you! Drop by Etsy and Soopsee and see what they can do for your shop ideas and selling your handcrafted items.

I'm happy you stopped by this afternoon and if your reading my blog today, then like me your above ground.  I keep saying it's a blessing, because it really is.  Cheers for the moment, and I wish you a wonderful Friendtastic day.  Drop by again soon. 

My Quilt, A MARITIMERS' DREAM

Frost Fest is over and from all verbal accounts from many different sources, it was another success story.  If your interested, why not visit the Frost Fest web site and take a gander at the gallery of pictures there of the numerous people and events taken over the course of the entire weekend.  Needless to say the final outcome will be determined once all of the financials are dealt with. 

Now that the Frost Fest is behind me, another project remains to be completed, that being the sale of tickets on my quilt donated as a fundraiser for my local Lions Club charity, GUIDE DOGS CANADA.  All proceeds raised from the sale of these raffle tickets will go directly to Guide Dogs Canada without one penny being diverted for any other cause. 


My online quilt group wanted to do a round robin quilt project and this is how my quilt took life and the journey of this actual quilt began.

In its beginning I had no idea as to how I would display something I was thinking of visually. While living in a province on the east coast of Canada, I wanted to tell people a story in cloth that would describe this womans' love of the region as well as her passion for quilting, and how in my minds eye my  surroundings might look from the inside out! 

This quilt began to live as each individual worked on the rounds and began to assert my description of my story and what the importance of sight meant to me.   Never, could I have imagined how beautiful this vision would become when set out in fabrics.  The world of textiles and its fabric designers provide quilters with endless possibilities of colour and themed patterned prints and especially with this quilt seemed somehow perfect to be sewn together allowing this persons' inner dreaming become a visual reality. 

I would like to describe for you on how the quilt took shape, beginning with the center and working my way outwards to its border.  A huge debt of gratitude go to Mary G., Kim L., Kris B., and Linda B. without them, their skills, expertise and immagination it would never have turned out so well.  

So here pictorially is the tale of A Maritimers Dream. 

This is the center block, its beginning.  From the window against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds this dreamer looks out across to her neighbour who has a quilt being aired on the fence top. 

  Not only can the neighbours house be seen from the window, but, also the gardens that surround this dreamers' home.  Here in bright vivid colour are flowers in the border surrounding the house.  From there we see the picket fence which depicts a season, one season for each of the four sides which surround the house.  We have spring,  then summer makes its appearance with lush flowers all in their prime after which comes the fall and all its brilliant maple leaf colourations so very rich and vibrant in the advent of the winter to come which is set with white snow, animals and birds that frequent gardens in rural areas.  

Thanks to the designers for the rabbits,

the racoons and nut hatches

and the cardinals in this snowy winter themed fabric.  The last part of the fenced in portion shows of the wonderful red cardinals and other birds of winter. 



  

Then beyond the neighbours property is the forest where trees of all varities grow tall and strong, wild flowers manage to grown amidst the firs, evergreens, maples, ash, elm, oak, and birch with trails worn over time where people make their way towards the sand dunes and the beach. 

Finally the sand dunes make their presence felt, strong and in abundance and waving freely in the winds which drift along the sandy shoreline and into the Bay of Fundy.

This then is my visionary memory of a place somewhere on the shore of the Bay of Fundy where beauty prevails among the rough.

Not the best shot because I simply do not have space enough to properly hang the quilt.  It finished at 67" X 67" square.

IF YOU SEE A MEMBER OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL presiding over a fundraising event, please consider that all monies raised will directly benefit an organization that deal with those who suffer from some form of vision impairment or the total loss of vision.   In addition to those organizations which benefit from the works of those members world wide, disasters such as that which has hit Haiti also benefit, and if you are so inclined, no matter the amount be it pocket change or larger, these donations you give help each and every member of Lions International Clubs to serve those who are in need.

Thank you for visiting.  Again, if your reading this then like me you and I are above ground today and that is a blessing, so have a truly FRIENDTASTIC day.

Tonight Frost Fest Frolicing Begins

Tonight is the night!  Frost Fest Officially begins for this years' mid-winter frolicing good family fun weekend in Seeley's Bay, Ontario!  This weekend is crammed with activities and we hope the Town will also become crammed with lots and lots of visitors.  One wonderfully funny thing was brought to my attention this week.  A member of our Frost Fest Committee submitted a picture with a caption that made alot of people turn to the Weather Net to view.  Penguins in Seeley's Bay, what fun, it looks as if this picture was "Most Viewed" as of this morning.

This picture prompted a lady in the Greater Toronto Region to telephone to enquire about visiting as she would like to bring her children to Seeley's Bay to see these Penguins!!!  This photograph has received 13376 hits so far.  Wonderful!!!  Needless to say, there are no real penguins in Seeley's Bay, just the human life forms dressed as Penguins to add to the frivolity of the weekend.

Tonight we vote for this years' Mini-King and Queen, the Registration for the Scavenger Hunt will begin, the Registration for the ATV Poker Run sponsored by the Seeley's Bay Lions Club with the proceeds going to benefit the Community Food Bank and The Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund sponsored by the International Lions Clubs, and Fireworks Display will take place after the opening cerermonies at our local Leion Branch, kicked off by dignitaries of our area and our Town Crier will lead the Mini King and Queen down to the waterfront to see the fireworks and drink hot choclate and eat scrumscious hot dogs....HURRAH,  all of the planning and hard slogging will now be put to use.  A HUGE THANK YOU to those wonderful women and men of vision and creativity especially to the Creator of our Frost Fest Web site and for his creative advertising abilities which has boosted all of the event activities.  To the owners of the Seeley's Bay Retirement Home who hosted all of the early Saturday morning meetings, plied us with fresh morning breakky and hot beveridges, who have gone above and beyond what residents do to help with and be a part of the Frost Fest Planning Committee.  Thanks to all members of the committee for all their dedication especially to our Fearless Leader to whom nothing seems impossible and to her sidekick who keeps the Minutes of the Meetings and literally rides roughshod over us all, to the families of all members who put up with us during all of it, to their countless hours spent, to those who worked tirelessly canvassing corporate sponsors and media spots to advertise this weekend. To those who have all donated a tremendous amount of hours to see this event become another Annual Success Story.   Now I am sure I will have forgotten something vital about all of this or missed someone special, if I have, I'm sorry!

Needless to say I am still not ready with my to do list looking as lengthy as it did at the beginning of this week, or,  is it because I keep remembering things I forgot and kept adding to the list?  I don't believe anyone is ever 100% ready, but,  ready or not, it all comes together this weekend and it begins tonight. 

IF your in our area we'd love to make you welcome and have you and your family join in on all of the frivolities.

Looks like I"m still above ground this morning and you know what that means,  if your reading my blog we're alive and well and truly blessed so have yourself a very FRIENDTASTIC DAY, me, I'm off to finish this "TO DO LIST"!

REMEMBER FEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH!!

This morning is rather chilly and snow fell overnight, not alot, but enough to make one want to clear their walkways, knowing this and knowing February is officially known as HEART MONTH, remember the healthy rules to doing heavy shovelling, lifting or overexerting.  What you read below is such a well written argument for being heart wise and remaining aware of the symptons of Heart Attack that I am compelled to share it with you.  This was shared through my online e-mail group.

THE MESSAGE BELOW IS OF SUCH IMPORTANCE I HAVE COPIED IT FOR YOU ALL TO READ and SHARE with those in your circles of family, friends and acquaintances helping to keep yourself and others informed about Heart Health and Heart Attacks can save a life, that life could be yours!!!

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read..

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction). Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack.. you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

'I had a heart attack at about 10:30PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might have brought it on.
I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of  water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation--the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00p.m.

After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasms), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!

I lowered the foot rest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts.

She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to un-bolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the radiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull
my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints.

Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body, not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up... which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before.

It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an aspirin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road.

Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road.

Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved!

The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance
could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

*Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends *

As I said in the beginning of this post, this is information I received in an e-mail from an online friend in my group.  I BELIEVE it contains such relevant and important information that I couldn't not share it and it certainly didn't seem to be a fake, never-the-less, it's message is LOUD and CLEAR and of such IMPORTANCE to us all, female and male alike! 

As with all of my previous posts, if your reading this now then your like myself, we are above ground and that makes us truly blessed.  Have yourself a FRIENDSTSTIC DAY and pass this information along if you, like I, believe in its importance and relevance.

After Ground Hog Day!

I remember yesterday telling you all about the birth of my Great Nephew and promising to send pictures, well, here he is.


May I introduce you to my Great Nephew, CARTER born on February 1st, 2010. Here is the first official picture taken while being held by his Dad and Carter must be tired because he was sound asleep, only an hour after his arrival. I cannot wait to see him awake, what the colour of his eyes will be and his hair, which is nicely covered in this picture.

As promised, I also took pictures for you of the finished Pouch bags  made for the Life Sized Penguins of Seeley's Bay for Frost Fest Weekend.  Here they are, probably not the greatest but these are what I ended up making and these will be handy for many years of service.  These are 100% washable so they should hold up well.


The Penguins needed pouches this year - these life sized Penguins of Seeley's Bay wander around Town all weekend and hand out Penguin Pops (choclate suckers) to all of the children they see. They also have with them brochures with all of the listed events and activities happening during Drost Fest as well as a map and directions on where these locations are. SO this pouch is 10" by 12" and has a pocket in the front under the penguin fabric to facilitate the carrying of the brochures. and a plain solid inside to carry all of those delicious penguin pops.
This Penguin Pouch is a tad different, it has pockets on its interior and is 13 1/2" in height by a width of 12".
This is the inside of the black/white Penguin pouch it has lots of room for those Penguin Pops and two inner pockets to carry brochures. I hope these will be useful and the Committee likes them.

He's Arrived!!!

Good February 1st everyone!  I am so excited and happy this morning, a brand new member of our family came into the world this morning kicking and screaming!!!

He arrived at 8:49 a.m. weighing in at 7 pounds 4 ounces, with a whisp of dark hair on his sweet little head and forgive me, I have forgotten how long he is, but he is long and his proud parents have named him one of the fashionable names of this decade, "Carter".  This makes me a Great Aunt.   YAHOOOOOOOO he's here and after being all checked out by his doctor, declared to be a healthy baby boy.  Our family is blessed.

Not only is today auspicious, being Carter's Birth day, but, today the Ontario Government proclaimed a new Holiday for its citizens', Family Day!   Visit  blogTO  you will read all about it in a well written article  by Jerrold Litwinenko who used a photo taken by Duane Brown) of a sculpture depicting Immigrant Family. 
You know, this sculpture really struck a chord with me, I love it.    Another blog  I found and also well written and informative  Ontario Travel  and nicely sets out Family Month and describes this new FAMILY day and has lots of neat ideas about how to spend that holiday.  I think you might enjoy this blog. 

I've shared todays' news with you, and as always I am alive and well and still above ground today which means if your reading this too, I thank you, and as ever we are truly blessed.   Have a wonderful FRIENDTASTIC DAY! 

One Down One To Go

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010has come and gone, meaning, the District Governor's Dinner hosted by our Seeley's Bay Lions Club for District A-4  of International Lions Clubs is over and behind me.  I must tell you that the floral arrangements which my mother made to dress the tables were absolutely gorgeous and she used the Lions colours in those arrangements.   Meaning, one important event is now over and the last for this winter is still to come .......Frost Fest! Only 5 sleeps left before Frost Fest begins and this year from all accounts it will be BIGGER and hopefully BETTER than ever. 

The rain has finally stopped but I know for a fact that many people were coping with water in their basements and with the colder temperatures on the way if that water doesn't dry up nicely before we'll all be skating on sidewalks and the streets, and our ice rinks will need more attention because the water flowed from the higher ground onto the ice and made it rough and untidy, but soon with the colder weather the rinks will once again become groomed with the help from our human zamboni's and Frost Fest day skaters will surely be enjoying the surfaces. 

Dang I seem to be having sewing machine problems again, hopefully though I can work around this problem and finish off those much promised totes for the Frost Fest and some other quilted items to be donated as prizes.... I can't wait to see how well I progress in getting my to do list completed. 

I am so busy I don't have time now to falter, sew, sew, sew that is my motto for this week and next, onwards to the finish line.  I still have the Scavenger Hunt clues and items all packed up too... Wanna come help?

Thanks to a very special man, Rick my Scavenger Hunt Flyer is really neat, I am so hoping alot of families will come and join in on the Family Fun, seeing little ones try and solve the clues and then find the booty and win the Hunt....I am so looking forward to this event and praying it will be a huge success...In my links section you can get to our Fraost Fest web-site just with a click of your mouse.

I have also restocked my Esty Shop and connected it with Big Crumbs....SAVE AND SAVE AND SAVE through BIG CRUMBS.  I mean if your already an online shopper whats the harm in checking this site out - it has 480 Large Retailers and counting and several hundreds smaller online entrepenurial shops, from Esty to e-Bay you'll find many of us there offering cash back, or free shipping, and other types of shopping incentives and this site provides the shoppers with savings and the rest of us benefit of traffic to our stores and savings as well as earnings for small business' earners.  Another idea, if your non-profit group is planning fundraising, this site will provide you with earning for the group too!  People shop, they save your group earns and your fundraising is supplimented with dollars too all done through Big Crumbs and the savings go directly into your fundraiser account, what a neat way to boost your groups earning for the fundraising power.   Again, check out the ad at the top of my esty shop here in the sidebar, click on it and check out BIG CRUMBS for yourself.


The end of my day is now here, but it was a very good day, I was alive and well and that is the most important blessing of all, then to top this blessing off I got to spend time with good people who volunteer their time and energies in helping others. 

Thank you for dropping in and have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Rain, Rain

It has rained all night and all day today and the snow is quickly fading away.  Well so I thought, but the wind has come up and the temperatures are dropping fast, but having gone hunting for the long range forecast, it leaves hope for good winter weather for our Towns Frost Fest.  Our ice down at the Bay was like glass up until last nights rain.  With the dropping temperatures and the snow forecast to be on its way gives hope that the glass conditions of the ice rink will once again make a reappearance.

Yesterday I took the plunge, I joined BIG CRUMBS to avail myself and anyone else I know of the great savings offered through it. It hooks up my online Esty Shop and affords me an opportunity to provide discounts to buyers willing to buy my hand made tote bags and quilted items.  One can but hope it will help me to become a saver as well as an earner.  People who shop online may as well benefit from the savings as well as those retailers gaining more custom.  What a great combination.   When you see the amount of savings you can snare shopping through that site and how much earners can earn, well its positively exciting.  I couldn't help but join.   480 Retailers registered to date all offering huge savings.  People refer other people who shop online anyway why not allow everyone to make a buck or two. Small entrepeneurs like myself really benefit.  I am hoping to do well with it.  Retailers and consumers working in concert and each benefiting from the exercise.

Having said that I needed to make time to list more inventory at the Esty shop which I have done, I feel much better now for having done just that.  Once Frost Fest is over and done with I can finally go back to my beloved quilting, two weeks and counting.

Once I find more time to steal from my to do list I will post pictures of all the totes and bags I have been finishing.

In the meantime I have been thinking about giraffes, those wonderful graceful long necked creatures with legs to have made Betty Grable jealous.  These creatures are my most favorite of all in the Animal Kingdom.    I discovered MongaBay a web site and interview with Jeremy Hance a giraffe expert and Dr. Julian Fennessey.  Want to be in awe, go see the photography.  

In the meantime while your being captivated with my Giraffes I will leave and get back to the work I must do.  Have a wonderful day what is left of it on your side of the computer screen and remember if your reading what it is I have written, then we're both above ground and very blessed.

Out Of Sick Bay

I don't believe it,  here it is Friday again!!!   I have accomplished nothing since Sunday past, all I have done is quarantine myself to my quarters,  drunk water until I could feel my innards sloshing and slept until my bones and joints became stiffer than wood.  

I'm such a fraidy cat and haven't bothered to contact the doctor.  My mother has publicized my ailments and my brother has been badgering me to get an appointment, but all I want is to be left to myself and get over whatever it is that I managed to bring home with me from someone else somewhere else.   Who really knows, but it can't last much longer, can it?  WELL if it does I guess I will eventually have to make it to the doctors' office and take it all from there, but oh how I hate doing that, the images I conjure up are not mentally appetizing and so, I remain here in my quarters and taking my sweet time to get better.  I am drinking gallons of water, eating lots of soups, had some fruit but so far only the cramping has disappeared, I still have the nasties!!!

I am certain some time in between the frequent handwashings while out shopping last week I picked up some nasty germ someone left lying about.   I wash my hands by frequenting the store washroom facilities all of the time.   I keep those anti-bacterial hand wipes in my pocket, I even use that anti-bacterial jell when I run out of those wipes and when good old fashioned soap isn't available.  Obviously I wasn't careful enough. 

I could have picked it up at the grocery store, or the craft shop, or the quilt store, the gas pump handle, or the restaurant where we finally all stopped for supper, who really knows on which surface that nasty germ lay in waiting for someone to come along and carry it off home with them?  So be vigilant, you can't ever be too careful with your health, heaven only knows where the nasties are waiting to ambush you!

Frost Fest is rapidly approaching and I am so far behind in my list of things to have done, I only hope I can accomplish half of the "need to do list".    Not today, today is needed for moving stuff out of the back room of the Hut where the Heater is for the In-Floor Radiant Heating.  The darned thing decided to die this week.  In order to get this old unit removed and the new unit installed, I need to empty out the room.  The man told me I only needed to move so much, but heavens to betsy how can he work in a space already filled to the rafters with Stuff, so from Sick Bay I go to the Hut and make certain that man can do his job properly and not be hampered by all of this junk.

To top off my totally unproductive week the International Lions Club Govenors' Dinner is also rapidly approaching and I have obligations to my Club to get certain things done too.   Who knows how I will accomplish it all, but try is all I can ask of me.

Since having told you all of this I assure you I am still above ground and if your reading this you are too, so have a totally FRIENDTASTIC day and enjoy all of your blessings, I know I will.

The Closer It Gets

You know the closer it gets, the busier everyone becomes!  Yes, February is fast approaching, nothing can really stop it, and I am so far behind it's making me nervous!  I actually spent more time in meetings this week than at the sewing machine... there is a saying from away back and who said it, I just don't know, but it goes like this "the road to hell is paved with good intentions", can you guess where it is I am headed?

I did absolutely no sewing this Thursday or Friday though I had every intention and plans to do so.  The Frost Fest Savenger Hunt got the better of me and I spent those days thinking, planning, talking, and replanning about it all.  We finally have a working ad set up on the Frost Fest web-site but my oh my I had no idea how detailed it all would become.  I thought it would be a simple activity, but, if you plan on families taking part and little ones enjoying the hunt, your mind must begin to think as children do.  I haven't done this type of thinking in nearly 30 years, come to think of it for me thinking could be dangerous!  Silly ole me!!!

Truth be told, I think now all that is left to do is the physicalities of the Hunt.  Registeration of teams, hiding the clues and the game pieces, getting the flags set up so they can spot the area where the clues are waiting for them and then setting these out very, very early Saturday Morning.  That means I have to press my alarm clock into service.  Hmmmmmmmm I wonder where the clock is...

Everyone on the Frost Fest Committee is working hard, these people are dedicated to this event and give much of their time and energies into making sure everything goes off without a hitch.   Making certain people enjoy the winter fun and make a few sheckles to turn back to the community too.   THIS year I hope to eat my first Beaver Tail too!!!  Beaver Tail you ask, here is what it is essentially, nicely described for you from Jens' Food & Whine Blog - you'll love her blog if you love food and wine!  We will have two locations for those favorite sought after treats this year that is how popular these have become.  Here is a picture of a Beaver Tail borrowed from Jens' Food & Whine Blog

Now it is time I stopped playing and get into my day, I already have supper cooking in the crock pot, the dishes being washed in the dishwasher, time to shower and dress, make and eat brunch with mother, and after all that to make my way back to the sewing machine, if I ever want my donations ready for this years Frost Fest.

Again, if your reading this your like me, we're above ground and lets enjoy this blessing today.

TGIF

I love Fridays don't you? Seems like only yesterday it was Monday and already I have forgotten many of the activities I participated in these past four days. It must be a sign of aging, not remembering from one day to the next?

Seeing as it is Friday once again, I have managed to wake late, have two cups of coffee, taken two phone calls, one from each of my brothers and said goodmorning to the day by being greatful that once again I find myself above ground and in good humour. That my friends is a real Blessing.

The difficult work for the Scavenger Hunt for our Annual Frost Fest has been accomplished and put onto paper for approval by the Committee tomorrow morning and now I have only the physicalities of the Hunt to prepare. Oh my, alot of physical cutting and inserting of the clues, setting up the markers and making certain these are too hidden. I wouldn't want some of those teams to hunt for too long. Seeing as I have planned on the hunt taking place out of doors and not having the contestants go into any business establishments, the objects the hunters are to gather need to be in plain view but not too easily found. Saves having those snowy mucky boot marks being trampled all over floors, or customers being jostled or inventory knocked off shelves, besides Frost Fest Activities should be out doors and in the fresh air, which we have plenty of in our Town.

I have ready the Silk Floral Table Arrangements all made by my mother and the tickets and quilt for the Canada Guide Dog fundraiser innitiative we currently have going on. WISH us well in the sale of these tickets because all funds raised will directly benefit those wonderful Guide Dogs.

While your here and if you would consider it, please support my Social Vibe The Vision Charity. It is afterall a wonderful and worthwhile cause.

The Push and Shove is Over

Finally all of the pushing and the shoving of the furniture is over, those large pieces of furniture are all in place and many of the re-organization of the items of the work space is nearly complete.  A few bits and pieces, but there simply isn't enough time to continue until the obligations I owe to the Towns' Frost Fest activities is over.

Today I have errands for Frost Fest that need to be taken care of.  Next is a trip to the Post Office.  I have items to mail and mail to receive and its the receiving I am excited about once again.

If your a Quilter and belong to an online group or a number of groups, ubdoubtedly you've learned of or taken part in online swaps.  I belong to an online group who have been together for the past twelve years.  We've had mini-retreats, large gatherings and been together through thick and through thin.  This year we are starting it off by my hosting a Birthday Block Swap, and what a wonderful block it is too.  We've borrowed a block from The Quilters Cache, the Dutch Nine Patch and chosen the same colour combination as Marcia Hohn has used in her block instructions.

This Block is turning out so prettily, and already I am receiving blocks to my snail mail address.  I had thought to send out the blocks to all on their birthdays, but decided to ask them all if they'd like to have them now instead of waiting nearly a whole year until their birthdays roll around.... I will wait for their replies before telling you the final outcome of that question.

I have already begun receiving huge stuffed envelopes with these pretties inside, what a beautiful Birthday Quilt this is going to make.

Here are some of the envelopes I have already, and some pictures of the actual blocks.  All different shades of blue are being used and they all stand out so well on their own, but combined together will make the quilt I wish to make a stunner.

Look at all of the stuffed envelopes I have so far.







This is a block out of one of the envelopes

This is one of my blocks. 

You see these are all going to be so very different while being all the same block.  Now I really must stop playing and get to those many errands else I will fall farther and farther behind.  Seeing as we are all above groud today, I am wishing you a fantastic 1.