tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50320082009-11-10T22:01:46.289-08:00No Idle HandsA page about a knitter, stitcher and quilter, her friends and family...Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.comBlogger435125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-79639024911332235132009-11-09T17:35:00.000-08:002009-11-09T17:38:04.377-08:00Praise the Lord!Twenty years ago, The Wall came down! The World has never been the same since.Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-67004801119857470172009-11-03T17:27:00.000-08:002009-11-05T09:12:51.451-08:00"I'm not bossy..."my ideas are just the best." -- Brenda Dayne, atop the Plinth. She's right. And I am too. Chastised for being 'bossy' when I was a kid, I appreciate a Soul Sister now! I was the one who got off her duff and got things going, fer Pete's sake! It was so tiresome to want to do something and to watch others just sit back and wait for someone -- anyone -- to start it! And it Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-91337527239653787632009-10-30T05:59:00.000-07:002009-10-30T06:25:03.321-07:00It's Almost Upon Us (Caution: Rant)I don't do Hallowe'en. Don't come around my place looking for treats -- and whatever you do, don't try any tricks! The house will be dark and uninviting, and I'll be laying low in a back room, stitching, and hoping no one rings the door bell. Or maybe, just maybe, this year I'll sit bravely in my living room, every light blazing, and dare trick-or-treaters toMarghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-45814500551753291132009-10-23T20:00:00.000-07:002009-10-23T20:23:26.312-07:00Happiness Is...A newly-renovated bathroom! Yep, 13 months in this ol' place (built in 1976) and I finally managed to get a bit of renovating done. Actually, it's the most I'm going to need for the next while, as the roofing (house and garage) is less than 5 years' old, and the hot water tank is 2 years' old at most. The renovation was not done for style, either, but to repair some problems -- Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-13427601382885664072009-10-21T10:12:00.000-07:002009-10-21T10:40:29.281-07:00Something Old, Something NewI believe one is never too old to learn something new. Yesterday I took a class in entrelac at River City Yarns in Edmonton (their south-end store) -- and had a great time. I came away with the beginnings of a new scarf made in "old" (read: stash!) yarn, and I think I might have just found another addictive knitting technique. The yarn is Emu Super-wash DK, 100% Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-1631423487508461422009-10-18T07:33:00.000-07:002009-10-18T07:48:00.973-07:00Have You Noticed?Yesterday i was doing my grocery shopping at a major Canadian chain grocery store. I bought a 3-lb. bag of Macintosh apples for $3.98. Nearby, was a tiered display of bags of apples on sale for $2.99, with a prominent sign for each variety, and the price. Why didn't I buy one of those? Because....if you looked closely, those bags were only 2 lb.! You were paying less, Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-49023771350281552552009-10-12T08:25:00.000-07:002009-10-12T09:17:05.483-07:00Happy Thanksgiving!Taking a page from my daughter's blog, I am answering her question: What are you thankful for?In no particular order, I am thankful for:the peace and quiet of my home;classical music;jazz;my senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, intuition;my kids, without whom there'd be a great hole in my life;roses;peonies;long-lasting friendships;new friendships;an enduring marriage;Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-7465693030309408452009-10-01T10:40:00.000-07:002009-10-09T14:19:00.367-07:00It's October Already!!And the big excitement for me is the launch of the Visioning Project through SAQA University. It's a year-long endeavour, during which 125 fibre artists in various stages of their careers will work on stated goals, support and learn from each other, and emerge -- hopefully! -- on a higher level than thaton which we entered. This is my stated goal:"To develop a cohesive Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-51092353102866243612009-09-17T13:54:00.000-07:002009-09-17T14:04:00.882-07:00She's One I'll MissI've just heard on the CBC radio that Mary Travers has died; I've found this from the Times of London online. I grew up with her through my high school and university years, and loved the beautiful and thought-provoking songs and music they sang and played. At a time when so many contributors to our entertainment culture are passing, Ms. Travers is one whose contribution, Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-43922758909018510852009-09-11T20:07:00.000-07:002009-09-12T05:13:39.635-07:00RememberingFrom my journal this morning:I am trying not to worry, but the shape I'm (not) in is occupying my mind greatly. That, and being forgotten again at birthday time by D, J, and C, in a way. I should let this roll off. They are busy women and now live far from me -- farther, as my neighbour says, than I live from them. My SIL did call me on the day, yes -- "to check up on me", she said,Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-26302474957702814892009-09-02T13:57:00.000-07:002009-09-02T16:51:46.119-07:00Where to Start? (Watch the Subtitles)It's hot! It's September, for pity's sake, but it's hot! Of course, it's not Labour Day yet, so perhaps the Weather thinks there's still time for July weather. Whatever it is, I am enjoying it -- particularly sitting out under my trees in the late afternoon, knitting, stitching, or reading. Right now, however, it's 27C, according to the Red Deer Airport, Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-40633554356590838162009-08-12T09:12:00.000-07:002009-08-12T09:25:14.280-07:00Though it's cooling off now...For the past couple of weeks, we've had some lovely, warm summer days that have stretched into gentle, warm evenings -- such that I could read, knit and/or stitch outside until dark, citron candle glowing to keep the bugs away, and a sip of something cool at my elbow. Diesel often enjoyed this time with me, finding relief for his hot, furry body in the cool of the Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-37271859569392582382009-08-06T10:43:00.000-07:002009-08-06T11:18:24.989-07:00It may have just let up...It's been raining almost continually for the past 3 days and, much as we need it, right now I'm longing for some sunshine to balance it off. I don't know about you, but I seem to run out of energy more quickly when the skies are dark and gloomy. If's certainly easier to fall prey to my "demons" when the rain can't seem to let up. To compound the sense of darkness, theMarghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-85854022220819691452009-07-25T16:59:00.000-07:002009-07-25T18:11:40.543-07:00How's Your Summer?Mine has been very busy so far, with 3 guests between June 9 and July 9. First, there was my cousin J from Scotland. I took him to see the Columbia Icefields near Jasper, where we walked on the Athabasca Glacier. I hadn't been there in years, so the Interpretive Centre, hotel and gift shop were all new experiences. We both learned a great deal, and were totally bowled over Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-4064748346338156322009-06-08T12:00:00.000-07:002009-06-08T12:51:40.364-07:00Almost Summer... And we're still having frost warnings! Nonetheless, my garden is thriving (we finally had a good rain yesterday afternoon) and I'm loving the view from my kitchen window. This is my lilac, at the end of the back yard. To the right and up the yard from it are two flowering crabapple trees -- one pink and one deep burgundy (with matching leaves), and there's another one -- Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-30654194810079941872009-05-14T06:36:00.000-07:002009-05-14T06:45:40.936-07:00Planned to be ObsoleteSigh. My two-and-a-half year-old bread-maker is having a problem. The parts that secure one of the bread-mixing paddles to the bread pan have come loose, and fall off during bread-making, with sometimes troublesome results -- such as incomplete mixing -- so that sometimes I end up with a full loaf, sometimes a 1/2 loaf, and sometimes just "cooked flour".Sigh. I've hammeredMarghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-20643357234445251832009-05-05T09:02:00.000-07:002009-05-05T09:21:14.112-07:00Catchin' Up with PhotosI've been knitting away -- and working in my yard/garden -- so haven't taken time to post. However, today is cloudy and cool, presenting the perfect opportunity to do a bit of desk-and-computer work.First, to the pending garden -- AKA the sunny counter in my back room -- where the cherry tomatoes have been transplanted to larger pots and are growing apace! Not to be Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-84182190091728433862009-05-02T08:22:00.000-07:002009-05-05T09:21:37.051-07:00I Keep ForgettingThat I'm not a kid; that almost-57 is closer to 60 than it looks... Yesterday I took advantage of the great weather and spend 4 1/2 hours raking my back yard and getting the leaf mulch off my plants and bushes. I swear I took breaks -- 1/2 hour after the first 2 hours, and another hour (for dinner) after the 3rd...but I awoke at 3 a.m. with a nasty surprise. Now, I've been Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-35882400469199843792009-04-22T17:25:00.000-07:002009-04-22T17:38:30.099-07:00Earth DayWhat have you been doing?I haven't done anything...out of the ordinary. Why?I compost. I've done so for years. Even after my move out of the city, I have at least 1/2 a compost bin of lovely stuff with which to fertilize my new garden beds;I have a blue box. Even before the City took over recycling (and put my private recyling company out of business by not hiring it on a contract), I Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-25747510248783068902009-04-13T13:43:00.000-07:002009-04-13T14:31:49.874-07:00Sheepy Saturday!The weather was gr-r-r-eat, the company was too...and I came home with about 5 lb. of Shetland fleece, too boot. Here are the photos:These wee guys (gals?) were excited to be watching the action in the shearing area. I think they're Cotswolds, or CotswoldXes. Aren't they cute?! Tracy, the shearer, began with Penelope, which I think is either a Shetland or a Columbian. After Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-10502877122989070512009-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:002009-04-11T07:07:02.134-07:00Ah, Well... Maybe next time. My entry, "Picked for the Ripening", wasn't selected for The 2010 Quilting Arts calendar...but the subject matter (tomatoes) was popular. I'm looking forward to actually seeing the pieces. The tricky bit with entering a 12" square piece using 8"x10" photographs (that's right -- no e-mailed images) is that colour is really an issue. While I did my best with the Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-48222676197349719282009-04-08T10:39:00.000-07:002009-04-08T11:00:04.711-07:00A Shawl and a Sock I've decided I need another pair of hands to do all of the knitting I want to do. I've finished the first of my pair of Guernsey Socks from Clara Parke's Knitter's Book of Yarn (pattern by Amy King) and have cast on my first toe-up sock -- a Little Shells sock, also from KBOY, designed by Shelia January. So far, the toe is proceeding as directed. It's been great to have a wee Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-4562552891940054472009-03-31T10:45:00.001-07:002009-03-31T12:23:07.506-07:00All Manner of ThingsI've had some photos sitting on my camera for some time, so I thought I'd share them with you. Even though there's snow still all over the place here, I am feeling cheered because Sunday afternoon, when I got home from church, my cherry tomatoes had sprouted!A second harbinger of spring? It was so warm that afternoon that I gave in to an impulse, hauled the work table out of Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-26955404275237223452009-03-25T07:10:00.001-07:002009-03-25T07:15:06.266-07:00It Opens Tomorrow!At the Cumberland Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario...The 'flip side' of the SAQA Synthesis exhibit. The "original" exhibit opens later this week in Cape Breton; there are two because the Cumberland wanted the exhibit in its gallery at the same time.Solution? Get as many of the same artists as possible to provide pieces for the Ottawa location too. There are 22 of us; my piece,"In Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5032008.post-59724112257763905802009-03-18T06:14:00.000-07:002009-03-18T06:39:46.905-07:00In the Pink I've been Ravelling all week, embarrassed by my stash, and working to reduce it. In the process, I've made these two "Rollin' Baby Berets" -- so cute, doncha think? They'll be going to the Family Services in Lacombe. Next, I joined the Monthly Dishcloth group, and produced a Pot o' Gold in time for St. Paddy's day yesterday. I'm now working on the mid-month project, awaiting 'Day 2'Marghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472013513744969837margblank@xplornet.com2