Hand quilting course - more than I bargained for.

 Brit came to teach Nicola and I hand quilting. This was something I remember thinking that I might like to do when I retired but on watching Nic quilt, had decided quilting would drive me crazy (cutting little pieces, ironing, precision stitching, having to be exact/precise..). Nicola has always professed to hate the hand work involved, so I was surprised she was interested and she was surprised that I was interested and Brit was just excited at being able to teach and pick "happy colours".

Brit had bought a couple of examples of hand quilted spreads. What a lot of work! Of course Rasta had to also inspect them.

Ready to roll - Nic bought her sewing machine and Ott light, then there's the ironing board and iron, hoops (we didn't end up using them) and various paraphernalia. In the white bags; our kits. I hadn't really thought it through but we first had to create the pillow top, to quilt. This meant sewing little bits together, Oh my. I immediately had to make a trip to the bathroom.

With Nic's amazing machine and under Brit's gentle tutelage I was able to sew these little squares together and on to the white centre. Then sandwich with batting and backing. Then mark the lines and choose the thread.

Then on to the part I was looking forward to. Nicola and I both found it relaxing and rewarding, and the "happy colours" helped too.

That evening we toasted Nicola's retirement, in champagne.

The next day we finished the last of the hand quilting and Nicola finished the sewing on both her and my cushions.

Neither one of us like to get our pictures taken so, of course, we goof around.

My cushion, in its new home, in the sunroom.

The first day it was crazy blizzard and blowing snow but the second was beautiful and Brit took the opportunity to take

a couple of photos with her phone.

We talked quilting, rug hooking, combination pieces and knitting and now I have so many projects.

I deconstructed a floral rug that I had started on decades ago and knew I would never finish. Made these 3 little mats. They are now for sale in the gallery; Tea for Two.

Meanwhile Cigi was working on her own art project. Photo from Daycare.

Still more lake ice to reflect the sunset.

Kitchen and another frosty walk.

As soon as I moved in, corners of the kitchen countertop came off and, although I glued them back on, they came off again. Then I found that the laminate was separating from the base as well. More gluing? No, I decided to replace it.

Cleared off and ready to be replaced. I also took everything out of the bottom cupboards (and purged) and took all the drawers out.

During the demo

New quartz countertop.

I purged again while putting things back away. Anything that I hadn't used since I moved in (a year and a half ago) went.

I can't stop taking pictures of winter sunsets.

Rick and I took a chilly walk at Selkirk Provincial Park.

The light was really poor so

I just played around with photos of winter flora.

Deliberately shooting into the sun.

On another cold Hamilton walk, Rick took this photo of Long tailed Ducks.

Closer to home, a Mourning Dove.

Ice

building up on the Bay.

T-t-too c-c-cold to f-f-focus

It has been rather cold for walking but Rick and I, instead, went for a drive with the intention to get out of the car and walk a little if we found a place out of the wind.

Pancake ice on the lake.

Sea mist evaporating off the lake

hiding the Laker.

First stop was down to Port Dover harbour to see where the waves had created ice sculptures.

It was so cold that my camera groaned when I turned it on

and it took forever to focus.

Ice pancakes in the harbour

and the pier covered with ice.

We drove down to the lake at various places on our way to Long Point.

Ice fishing huts, awaiting the start of the season.

Near St Williams, in the Inner Bay, we were told that the ice is 5 inches thick.

At 6 inches thick they will start putting the wooden ice huts out instead of these ice fishing tents.

Of more interest to us was this home made ice sailboat.

He was dressed in a snowmobile suit and a helmet

and with a strong wind and smooth ice he really sailed along fast.

The Nature of Norfolk facebook page had so many Snowy Owl photos that we were scanning for them constantly but had to settle for this windblown

young Bald Eagle

and a mature one in flight.

On a slightly warmer day we went to Waterford ponds. Silly swans could have flown south!

instead of huddling on the ice.

They were skating on the other end and the trail was icy enough we felt we could have skated on it. We didn't walk far as it just didn't feel safe even though at 4 degrees it was much warmer than the previous day

and my camera was much happier. I think this is a Sharp Shinned Hawk.

Next to the Antique store in Waterford there is now a craft Brewery

so we popped in to Wishbone brewing and Rick bought a can of IPA to try. The old building has also been converted into loft apartments with one Airbnb.

Back home and I have finished hooking my Tree Spirit and now have to decide how to finish him.

Stunning sunset

before the snow storm.