Trying Again ....

Oh my goodness, has it really been a whole year since I wrote a post for this blog?  I think instead of trying to play catch up, I'll just re-start with what's been happening recently.  And hopefully, I can blog more often this time around!

I signed up to take a piece-quilting course so for the past few weeks I have been spending my Thursday evenings in the company of 2 other ladies learning how to piece a log cabin lap quilt.
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The process was a steep learning curve for me but I must say that I enjoyed every class and learned something new in every part of the course.  I had never used a rotary cutter before so that was a skill I had to master before I could really get going on the project.  Fortunately we had a lovely, patient teacher who guided us every step of the way from choosing our fabrics right up to putting our quilts together. 

Twenty-four squares were joined together; here they are ready and waiting to have to have the borders sewn on.  

Another step in the process was using the chalk pencil and template to mark the design to be stitched.  I love the little heart; there is one in each of the corners.  The colour is off in this photo, though.  It must be the lighting because it looks almost purple and it is really burgundy and pink.  

My almost finished project is now set up on a frame at our local Seniors' Centre, where it will be quilted.  And here I am. learning another stage of the process.  Sure is challenging to make those stitches so small and even!  

All in all, it has been a great experience .... challenging myself to learn some new skills, enjoying the fellowship of the other ladies and best of all, I will have a lovely new quilt to snuggle under while reading or watching television.  

Have a good day, everyone!

Nanny Anny

Maple Syrup Festival

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the Maple Syrup Festival in Elmira, Ontario today.
This year marks the event's 50th Anniversary and although it was a bit chilly, it wasn't raining or snowing.  

Of course, my first priority was to head for the main food tent where I had a yummy breakfast of pancakes and locally produced maple syrup.  

 

Then I enjoyed a leisurely wander around the outdoor craft and food stalls set up along the town's main street. There were lots of creative people showing and selling their handiwork.  
     
                             I really liked these photographs arranged to spell words.
                                    This one was all ready to smile for the camera.

                                                    Some other lovely craftwork.

 

 

I love these old baby carriages on display at the antique show. 

 

 

 

There was some interesting food to sample, like these unusual one-piece potato chips! 

 

                                           
Further along the main road, the sap was being boiled in big kettles over an open fire.

And the star of the show ...... jugs of sweet, golden maple syrup.

 

More than 2000 people volunteer during this annual one-day festival and profits from the day's events are distributed to charities and organizations within the local community.
It's a fun-filled day for the entire family and well worth a visit if you live in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Small Scale Renovations

 

Well, I am happy to report that I am finally getting around to finishing up my 1:12 scale dollhouse.  I did not build this one, but purchased it second hand and it needs a bit of work doing to it.  I’ve cleaned it up and now it’s ready for floor coverings and wallpaper.  I will have to do some repair work on the exterior and roof as well. 

I’ve been meaning to get this house spruced up for a long time so I am pleased that it has finally crept up to the top of my ‘to-do’ list and I’m ready to get it finished so that I can furnish it with all the lovely little treasures I have collected, been given or made over the years.

 

                                        Dollhouse Interior

 

My little house will be set in the 1950’s so I will be looking for some nostalgic/retro styles of wallpaper and it will be fun to spend some time looking through my stash of miniatures to choose just the right items to use in the rooms.  I’m looking forward to completing this project and will post pictures as the work progresses.

A cloudy, grey and windy day with a few snow flurries here; the temperature is only -3 but it is feeling like -10.   

Have a good day, everyone!!  Cheers, Nanny Anny 

Snowstorm yesterday ... sunshine today!

Well, the sky is blue and the sun is shining again after yesterday’s snowstorm.  The snow banks along the streets are still very high; it’s going to take some time for it all to melt, even when it finally warms up to that stage.  It has been a very cold winter here with far too many days when the temperature has registered in the -20’s or even colder with the wind chill factor.  I’m definitely ready for some warm, sunny days!  Come on Spring!!

 

 

With that in mind, I have been busy sorting through my winter clothes and have set aside everything that I did not wear this year.  I figure the chances are good that if it didn’t get worn this year, then it won’t be worn next winter either so it’s all getting bundled off to the local thrift shop.  No sense storing it when I’m pretty sure it’s all surplus to requirements.

I had a comment from a bloggy friend who noticed there were no current posts and wondered if all was well.  Yes Mum, I'm pleased to say that everything is fine but thank you so much for your comment and for noticing my absence.  I shall try very hard to keep up a bit better and get into the 'blogging mood' more often. 

 

Have a good day everyone!  from Nanny Anny

 

 

  

 

A Brand New Year ....

Belated Happy New Year greetings to everyone!! 

Well, I've been thinking about resolutions but it seems they have a habit of falling by the wayside very quickly so I needed to come up with some other ideas for taking some positive steps in 2014.

There are a number of sort of long-term projects that I have on the go but I don't seem to have any regular schedule for working on them so I have decided to try and remedy that situation.

I have several decades' worth of photographs that I need to sort through and arrange in scrapbooks instead of leaving them to languish in numerous cardboard boxes.

I have a lovely, big 1:12 scale dollhouse that needs to have floors finished and wallpaper applied to the walls.

I have a rather large Family History database that needs to be printed out and arranged in a binder along with the relevant photos and certificates so the information can actually be read and enjoyed.

And I have a blog that I started way back in August and haven't posted on it since then! 

So I think I will focus on just making a promise to myself to work on each of these projects once a week for starters and see how I get along.  Seeing progress in any of these areas will, hopefully, encourage me to want to work more often on them. 
 

Also, I need to be more dedicated to monitoring the food and fitness areas of my life. I need to shed some pounds and generally tone up so that is something else to work on in the coming months.

 

 

A little vignette on my bookshelf.

 

 

I hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas and New Year celebrations.  I had a lovely time with family and friends ..... lots of fun and good food, some lovely gifts and some nice quiet time, all the while trying to remain mindful of the reason for the season.  Now it's time to pack away all the decorations for another year and get back into a regular routine.

Best Wishes to All .... Nanny Anny

Day Tripping .....

I’ve enjoyed a few day trips out and about this summer.  I am fortunate to have an Attractions Ontario card (available from my place of employment) so receive good discounts or free admission to many of the province’s tourist attractions.

One of my days out was a lovely trip to Toronto, including a visit to the Toronto Islands with my DD, DSiL and 3 of my DG’s.   The ferry ride to the islands was aboard the ‘Sam McBride’.  Interestingly it was put into service back in 1939 so the first time I rode it, at the age of 5, it had only been in operation for 15 years.  Now, nearly 60 years later, it is still making several crossings each day, carrying visitors (and residents) to and from the island ferry docks.

 

It was a nice day (sunny but not too hot) to visit the Centreville Amusement Park where I had a couple of rides on the lovely antique carousel there and had a good time watching the little ones have a turn on the fun rides and amusements.

 

 

                                                   

                                                      The lovely old carousel.

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Then I enjoyed a nice walk along the lake shore to the Gibraltar Point lighthouse.  It’s the oldest of its kind on the Great Lakes …. about 205 years old, I believe.  Sadly, the interior is not open to the public but the outside has been kept in good repair.  Its location looks a bit odd for a lighthouse; instead of standing proudly on the edge of the lake as it did in its prime, it now stands inland and is surrounded by trees instead of water.  This is due to the build up of so much sand over the years that the beach is now actually quite a distance away from the lighthouse.  The light keeper’s house is long gone but there is a rather interesting story about an early lighthouse keeper who went missing and the area around the lighthouse is reputed to be haunted. 

 

            Gibraltar Point Lighthouse .... still standing tall after more than 200 years.

 

Hope everyone else is enjoying some great summer-time adventures!

Bye for now …. Nan

Home Grown .....

Well, it has been a bit on the cool side here for a couple of days; still nice and sunny but not hot, the way I like summer weather!

I was out of town last weekend for a nice visit with an old friend and her hubby.  They lived in a rural environment for several years but last summer they moved into the city.  They now live in a fourth floor condo but that hasn’t stopped them from growing lots of lovely fresh salad fixings right on their balcony.

 

 

 

Doesn't it look yummy?

 

 

The results are really quite impressive and we enjoyed a very tasty mixed salad, with the ingredients all freshly picked from their ‘container garden’.   It’s quite amazing what you can do with just a few containers, a handful of seeds and a bit of effort.

 

Bye for now, Nan