Life is Good

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Barb

Guess what I got Wednesday.  You guessed it.  Timbits.  I had held out long enough.  It was a glorious day for a walk and Dear Hubby came home from work early.

And besides.  I had run out of coffee.  We can’t have that.  Tim Hortons was calling my name.  Dear Hubby and I walked over.  I figured I was going to need to burn off a few calories.  Might as well get started on ’em.

There were flowers along the way…..

 

I love the colorful awnings on this building.  I think it’s a restaurant.  Sports Bar, maybe?  I have no idea what they serve there.  But I bet someone will go to their handy-dandy translator online and look it up for me.  And look at that glorious blue sky!

There are flowers outside the front of Dear Hubby’s apartment building too.  And look at the green of that grass!  Everything is very green here.  Especially compared to my last visit in April when everything was still very brown and wintry looking.

Dear Hubby carrying the goods into the building.

Pretty flowers.  And Timbits.  I did eat some on the walk home.  You didn’t think I could wait until we walked back, now did you?

Aaahhhhh, Timbits.  20 heavenly bites worth.  What?  You think there is more than one bite per Timbit?  Not on your life.  I pop the whole thing in my mouth.  Less messy.  This time after much pointing and speaking slowly, I think I got the ones I wanted.  Raspberry and chocolate and those wonderful powdered sugar ones with jelly inside.  Yum.  And I said “a couple of lemon ones.” But I think I got 6 or 7 of those.  Perhaps couple doesn’t translate to two in French?  Sheesh.  I guess I have to brush up on my French just to order Timbits. 

I had them for an afternoon snack and then dessert on Wednesday night.

And this was breakfast yesterday.  I’m practicing restraint.  And making them last.  Had a few for afternoon snack too.  Then a few more last night while watching the Rangers.

And they might even be breakfast today.  And Sat/Sun/Mon and beyond.  But only if I walk back on over to Tim Hortons again.  I finished them off before bed last night….. sigh.

Still stitching stars, but now with sticky fingers,
Barb

Posted in food, vacation | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Star Command Central

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Barb

Reporting in on Star Making Mission here.  The stars are coming right along!

This is Command Central.  Everything I need right at my fingertips.  Finger pincushion? Check.  Thread? Check.  Scissors? Check.  Water? Check.  Phone with audio book plugged into speaker? Check.  And the pile of stars grew……

Here’s my design wall bed.  The only thing white I could find for a background was my robe.  So on my robe they lay.  I spread these out just because I was deciding about whether or not to make multi-fabric stars too.  I decided not to.  I like the stars better all one color.  Don’t tell me you like the other ones too.  I’ve already put that decision behind me.  And I absolutely refuse to change my mind.  Absolutely, positively.  I think.  Oh, I am stuck in the Land of Indecision!

Remember last week I showed you how I was cutting out the pieces while watching Mitchell’s baseball game on my computer?  Well, over the weekend we took a road trip and I continued cutting in the car with my scissors.  We had an hour wait at the border crossing and it was nice to have these to keep my hands busy.  But it’s slow going with scissors compared to a rotary cutter.  I’m just happy that cutting with Inklingo gives me lots of options to suit my location!

The other thing that forced me to arrêt (excuse me while I digress into the language of the hour) with the cutting the other day was the horrible cutting mat I’d brought along to use.  You can view it here if you don’t remember.  Those white mats just don’t work well.  So off I went to buy a new Olfa mat.  Olfa just makes the best mats!  And I needed to have one to leave at the apartment.  So that I have supplies on my next visit too.  I will finally have this apartment fully stocked and ready to go about the time Dear Hubby’s job is done and he returns to Texas.

Hint:  Arrêt is the word on all the red octagon signs out on the street.  It’s the one word that I can remember.

By the time dinnertime rolled around my little piles of cut pieces had grown considerably.  I love little stacks of fabric shapes.  Aren’t they just cute?

And let me remind you that apparently the people of Montreal don’t have time for quilting.  Not a quilt shop in sight!  So we had to drive to New York for a cutting mat.  If anyone knows of a quilt shop close to Montreal (and by “close” I mean within 100 miles), please let me know.  I’d love to see what Montreal quilters are making.  If there are any Montreal quilters.  How is it possible that they don’t quilt here?

After dinner I got a bit distracted.  I figured out a way to watch the Rangers while I’m in Montreal!  I was so excited I watched them on both laptops for awhile.  I was figuring out which one had the better picture.  It took awhile to figure out.  They were pretty equal.  So after dinner was done and the dishes washed, I played with computers and watched the Rangers.  It took me awhile to settle down to my stars stitching again.

Here is the stack of completed stars now.  I still have a ways to go, but I’m on a mission.  And I have a deadline.  And I have a good audio book to entertain me by day and the Rangers to entertain me by night.  Life is “practically perfect in every way.”  (Name that movie.)

For those of you who are curious, I have not had any Timbits yet.  I was all prepared to walk over to Tim Hortons to reward myself for the pile of stars completed yesterday morning, when Mother Nature had other things in mind.  Pouring rain.  All the rest of the day.  And me without even an umbrella.  So the Timbits had to wait again.

But today……. (insert evil Timbits-craving grin here)…. the sun is shining gloriously and the temp is cool and wonderful.  And besides that, I’ve run out of coffee.  Horrors!  A visit to THs is very necessary today.  I will reward myself after I have completed at least 2 more stars.  Later today, you may find me in a sugar-induced coma with the Rangers playing on my computer and stars at my feet.

Hugs from Star Command Central,
Barb

Posted in Inklingo, quilts, vacation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Texas Baseball…..in Canada?

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Barb

I had a very fun first day in Montreal.  I cleaned the whole apartment, did 3 loads of laundry, drank 2 cups of Tim Horton coffee and wrote a blog post.  And that was just in the first 15 minutes after I got out of bed.  Must have been the TH coffee.  Extra high test or something.

Then after lunch I watched baseball!  I know you are excited about that.  But this game was extra special.  My dear friend, Suz, was at this game in Round Rock, Texas.  And I streamed it on the internet.  Live.  As if I were there.  It was great fun!

And look!  Not only did I watch the baseball game, but I actually accomplished something on my quilt project.  Aren’t you impressed?  I actually cut out some more star points.  But at this rate I’m gonna need an extension on my deadline.  So I’d really better get crackin’ next week for sure.

Meanwhile back at the baseball game….. it was the High School 5A Semifinals.  And Suz’ nephew is the shortstop on one of the top 4 teams in the whole State of Texas!  And I got to be a part of it all the way in Canada.  It’s a small world after all.  (Now try to get that song out of your head.)  Please note that the star point fabric piles are growing.  Even if it’s ever so slowly.

That’s Mitchell up to bat.  You can even read his name on the bottom of the screen.  I was very excited.  And I was constantly scanning the crowd to see if I could find my dear friend in the fans.  Pretty hard to do without pause and rewind.  I don’t recommend trying to cut fabric pieces while scanning crowds.  Luckily I am not missing any fingers today.

You’ve actually already seen a bit of my quilt project.  It’s the cute little Texas Stars!  I’m hoping to get this quilt top totally pieced while here in Canada.  I have a deadline remember?  I can’t wait to start stitching stars together.  I’ll keep you updated on the progress as I go.

Just one more baseball pic…..

Here’s Mitchell.  Up to bat.  In Round Rock, Texas.  And on my computer in Montreal, Canada.  Amazing.  And now on my blog.  Just for Suz.  It’s a small, small world.

Hugs,
Barb
P.S.  Arlington Martin lost the game today.  But they were one of the top FOUR teams in the whole big State!  And just one game away from the Championship.  Way to go team!

Posted in Inklingo, quilts, vacation | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Where Am I? Part Deux

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Barb

Here are a few hints……

Did you guess yet?

How about another hint…..

My coffee this morning.  Yum.

Remember this?  The microwave.  And I still don’t know what those words mean.  Anyone have a French dictionary?

What’s this?  This pic probably really threw you off.  Something new has been added to Dear Hubby’s apartment.  A TV!  No more watching the washer for entertainment.  Well, except for the fact that he only gets 5 channels and 3 of them are in French.  Last night I entertained myself watching NCIS-LA….. in French!  It’s so not the same.  I hate it when lips don’t match words – even when it’s just off a little and the language is the same.  This was actually painful.  But a bit funny too.  New things to entertain.  Just what I needed.

Yesterday shortly after I arrived, I remarked to Dear Hubby that the place was dusty.  (Nice temps lead to open windows all the time.  Thus, dust.)  His reply?  What?  I saved it for you.  Figured you’d have the whole place cleaned up in 15 minutes.  I knew I should never have given him a link to my blog.

Getting here was quite an adventure.  I’m sure I’ll tell you all about it soon.  I have much to share.  I’ve been saving things for while I’m here.  I’ve been looking forward to lots of blogging and sewing.  This time I have a project with a deadline… and you know how I am about those deadlines!  I’ll share pics of that soon.

And for your commenting pleasure today, how about answering this question…..

How many days can Barb hold out before she gives in to the Timbits?

My mouth is salivating at the thought.  But I can’t start on them now and gain 20 pounds while I’m here!  I’m holding out as long as possible.  How long do you think I can last?

Off for my second cup of Tim Horton’s and back to the washing.  I couldn’t wait to start up that cute little washer again.  The sewing comes out today too.  After all, I have a deadline.  And you know how I roll with deadlines.

Hugs from Montreal,
Barb

Posted in vacation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Two Stars and a Box

Posted on June 2, 2012 by Barb

I’m on a box kick these days.  Ever since I was introduced to the boxes that Cathi at Quilt Obsession uses for her Inklingo projects, I’ve been on a mission to find some cute little boxes for me.  And when I found out her Dear Hubby finds them at Dollar Stores, I think I hyperventilated.  I mean, here in Texas we have a gazillion Dollar Stores.  Dollar Tree, Dollar General,  Dollar Store, the 99 Cent Store (guess they had to beat out those dollars by a penny), Dollar Bush, Dollar Corporal.  Well, maybe all except those last two.

So I’ve only been to the 99 Cent Store so far, but I found a very cute box.

Isn’t it great?  And hey, when I’m quilting, I’m all about the party.  I thought it was appropriate.

See how nicely little printed and cut Inklingo pieces fit inside?  And because I am also obsessed with Inklingo these days, this little box was perfect for my latest project.

And here’s what I’m making!  Cute little Texas Star blocks.  I actually made these two last night.  I just got the fabric yesterday and then got all crazy about getting some things printed and stitched before I headed to bed last night.  Or maybe it was the caffeine from the 42 glasses of Dr Pepper I had with dinner.  OK – maybe it was only 4.  I was wound up.  And actually I headed to bed very early this morning. 

I would have made more, but I was also glued to the History Channel’s mini-series about the Hatfields and McCoys.  It was intense!  I had no idea about the real story behind that famous feud.  And it’s very hard to get much printin’ and stitchin’ done when you’re hangin’ on to your couch with white knuckles.  Just sayin’.

So today I am happily printing lots of Inklingo pieces to fill up my new box.  I have another project coming up with this star pattern and I think I’m gonna need another box.  Especially if I can find them for only a dollar.  I’ll be filling up my shelves before you know it.  Anything that can keep the piles organized makes me very happy.

Ooooo – that gives me another idea.  How about fun boxes for all the stuff that piles up around here?  A cute box on the coffee table to throw all the clutter into just as the doorbell rings when someone drops by could be a very good thing.  How about one that lives on top of the refrigerator to hold all the mail that normally stacks up on the kitchen table?  On second thought, I’d forget that one was there and spend three days looking for where in the world I’d put the mail.  But one that sits on that counter space where all the clutter normally hangs out, with the clutter hiding inside sounds like a winner to me.  Anyone up for a dollar store field trip?

In the meantime, I have more Inklingo to print and some stitching to do.  I want to figure out how to fussy cut some star points out of that fabulous striped fabric too.  Gotta do some Inklingo research for figuring that out.

If you haven’t checked out Inklingo yet, you can read more about it here:

Quilting on the Go with Inklingo

You can also find more Inklingo projects by clicking on “Inklingo” in the Categories at the right side of your screen.  Or just go to inklingo.com.  Be sure to tell Linda that you heard about it on Just Sayin’ Sew.  And tell her – and Monkey – that I said hello.

Be sure to check out the cool Texas Star quilt on the header over at Cathi’s blog.  That link should also take you to the “boxes” search I did, so you can see some of her cool boxes.

Back to my stars and maybe some lunch.  My schedule is a little off today.  I think I have my days and nights mixed up again.  Dear Hubby will not be at all surprised.

Hugs,
Barb

Posted in Inklingo, quilts | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments