Project #1065 (and 66)

My favourite question (NOT) is:  Have you finished your house? 

We started building this house in November 2005.  With my amazing math skills, that would make it 6 years since we started.  I expected we would be completed at the end of 2010, but good behaviour (or the dastardly cancer if you like) put that plan aside.

So, here we sit at 6 years, about 98% complete.  It's probably less, but that's what I like to tell people.  Completion is in the eye of the householder. 

Truthfully, it's mostly finishing yet to be done.  Oh, that wasn't truthful at all, the bathrooms aren't really 'finishing' are they?   Anyhow, last weekend S did some might fine 'finishing' by closing in the electric panel housed in the pantry.  Great job job I'd say.   Take a look:

Doors closed (handles not on yet)

Hidden panel

Now, after I open my wood floor laying business, I'm going to open a tiling business (again, NOT).  Bathroom tiling moves very slow, and while I enjoy it, it's kinda messy.  Plus, I can't mix too much mortar, as it will harden before I finish.  I manage to mix about enough for one row at a time.  This is the progress of about a month (remember, we're talking weekends here): 

tiling in progress

Close up

 
What is missing from the tiling industry is a spatula.  I have no idea how you get the mortar out of the bucket with that stupid flat metal thing, yes, the trowel.  So I bought me a fancy kitchen spatula.  Things will move more quickly now.  Only took me a month to figure that out.  Did I mention I'm also grouting the tile at the town house....by finger, no trowel.  Long story. 





Project 1067 coming soon....  















Enjoy your weekend.   



p.s. isn't it the most amazing thing when the sun shines on the snow and the day is ever brighter because of it?  Hate snow, but love the light. 

Tofino

We are so lucky to have a place to stay in Tofino.  Right on Chesterman Beach, just down from the Wickaninish Inn.  Miles and MILES of beach.  Monkey thinks he owns the beach - other dogs beware.  He gets decked out in his little wet suit, and off he goes.  This year, he learned to body surf.   However, in October, the ocean is a bit cold, and small schnauzers start to shiver after about 10 minutes in the surf.  

However, they are happy (?) to pose for some photos when dry...... (clearly, I'm lucky I have a day job to fall back on, photography was not my first calling). 

They are both employing their driftwood cloaking device.  Just try to find the grey schnauzers in the drift wood or sand.  Not easy.

Oh, and did I mention the ball thrower?  Just one glimpse of that stupid piece of blue plastic and the barking begins.  From the door to the beach, BARK BARK BARK BARK. How is it possible to be so little and have such a loud shrill bark?
 

There are so many reasons to I like going to Tofino apart from the beach, and the peace and quiet.  Two others high on my list are Goats on the Roof in Coombs (yes, there are goats, and yes, they are on the roof... but I have never seen them there). But they have great shopping, goats or not.

The other thing I love is the tradition of putting Hallowe'en pumpkins in the forest at Cathedral Grove.  What I discovered is that it doesn't happen until after Hallowe'en has passed.  Then, everyone from Port Alberni, I guess, takes their carved pumpkin and displays it along the road.  Usually, we go to Tofino late in November, and the pumpkins are mostly mush.  This year, we caught them on November 2nd, in all their glory: 

Ah, Tofino.  Thanks to Rim Cottage for another wonderful weekend.

Walking is easy.....

Cancer is not.  That's how the ad goes. 

My friend Sarah disagrees.  She has fused discs in her back, and even sitting is hard.  Barbara and Elizabeth were in a very bad car accident, and Elizabeth has recently had surgery that makes walking hard for her.  They probably disagree.

But I can walk.  I've had back problems that have made it difficult to do.  But I had cancer.  I can speak from experience - walking is easier.  So, for Sarah, Barbara and Elizabeth, I walk as you aren't able.

But all the things you miss. Friday, when the sun was trying to come out, and the temperature hovered around 10C, the air was fresh, the tree frogs were singing and walking was the best thing on earth! 

Especially as I left the dogs at home.  No stopping and peeing or smelling the trees, no barking or pulling at the leash.  Just quiet walking.  No ipod.  

Walking is easy. And peaceful.  And I better go do it now!!  60km to conquer in August. 

If not now, when?   RJ

Light up a Bubble

What if everyone blew bubbles instead of smoking?   Wouldn't that be a good world? 

Boobs for Everyone!

Reading a recent post at Krista's blog PoppyPrint, I've discovered how to make boobs! Look!

Check out this site if you want to make some too.   Love Mrs. Moen, and thanks to her for the photo above!

So many women lose their breasts to cancer, it's good to make a few to share. 

When life gives you scraps...

 

Of course you make a quilt. 

And what's quilt making without a four legged helper?  Apparently, quilt strips make a fabulous belly warmer.   Especially when they are flannel.










After I pried the pieces out from under him, this is the almost finished product:

 


Let me explain the scraps.  A lady in our community makes flannel boxers and pyjamas.  She has tons of off cuts, which were just being thrown away. Never one to miss an opportunity, my friend and fellow Fore Shore quilter Dianne grabbed all she could, knowing we could use them.  The quilts we make will be given to a several charities here in town.

I had to work with what I had, so the blocks were cut at 4 3/4" and the sashing at 2".  I fussy cut sashing squares to showcase the monkey faces.  I only have the two fabrics, and not sure how to finish it - a plain border?  More dots?   I did buy some other brown alphabet fabric, which you can see in the photo background above, but I think it's too busy for the front, and it's a different brown than the dots.  Damn that woman in the quilt store who told me it would work! It's the back for you, matey.    

I'll do my best to have it completed before Christmas....we'll see.

Just do it!
Rebecca

Lovely Little Pumpkin

Bad Blogger, no posts, so here's a quickie.

A great little fabric pumpkin.  More to come, but here's one for starters.

If you would like to see more pumpkins like this, check out the easy peasy tutorial at Pink Suede Shoe

Happy Hallowe'en!