Memories Monday - It's time to say goodbye

For the last eleven years, I have been writing poems in memory of my son.  But this year it is a little different.  I tried to write something and nothing was going right.  Instead I painted a rock and I placed it below the memorial tree, an dwarf Alberta spruce that we planted when we move to Vernon. This tree has been relocated to the backyard and I could see it directly from my sewing room.  There's no explanation that I can provide why I never could write a poem.  It doesn't mean I am not hurting anymore, it doesn't mean we have forgotten and definitely not because we don't miss him anymore. I am a little sad because I decided to quit blogging as of today.  

Marker Monday - So cute

About a month ago I received a card from my MIL and inside there were at least 14 little fabric squares that is about 4" x 4". At first I was wondering why she sent it.  Maybe she thought I would be able to make something out of it.  I truly didn't  have any idea what I can use it so I just put it in my fabric basket for another day.  Since I have been busy sewing masks and then I got a new project to make a toddler sleeping bag (cotton fabric x 2), these tiny little square just got shove on the side.  But this weekend, while cleaning up my sewing room, I saw these squares again.  I seem to recall some type of bookmaker that maybe I could try.  All the squares were used and I made a total of five bookmarkers.  I decided to send a couple back to my MIL and I also send a couple of girlfriends, one each and I am keeping one for myself, in case I get back to reading books.  LOL.  

The zipper is at the bottom.  

Multiples Monday - Many Masks

One of my BFF from Ontario suggested that I sell the masks that I have been sewing. After I had made many masks for family and friends both in Canada and USA, she was convincing me that I should really try and sell them.  I had to really think about this because that means I will have to make more, many more sewing hours but at least I get a little bit of money from the materials and my labor of love. LOL.  For the past couple of weeks, I had a few small orders, sometimes 3, 4 or 6.  This weekend, my massage therapist asked if I was sewing home made reusable masks.  So I say yes but didn't know how many she would need. Yesterday, she told me they need 80 masks.  OMG, I need to hustle.  So if I don't post anything for a week, you will understand.  Since I don't have my MIL, who use to be my assistant for cutting fabrics, which she was so great at it, I have to do everything.  Not complaining, but they need the masks before the end of the month.  In the meantime, these are the latest collection which I thought were cute. 

Managing Monday - One more try

As I have told you before in my other post about plants, I do not have a green thumb and I am surprised that the plants I added to our garden last year have survived the winter and some are actually doing well.  I tried to clean up a lot of the pots that were left from last winter and one big one broke into pieces.  I guess there were a lot of water left inside the pot and when it froze, it expanded and it broke.  Anyway, there were a couple of still good pots that I thought I would keep and all the other plastic and non ceramic, I recycled them.  Yesterday, although it was mother's day and I normally don't do anything, we decided to head out to one of the local nursery and get a few flowering plants.  I really don't know which one would look good for my two big red pots. But since they were busy, there was not time to be picky.  I bought 4 different types and my hubby bought two cedar trees to replace the two that did not survive the winter.  So if you are a master gardener, I am sure you can tell me all these plants that I got.  I took photos of all of them and so I can check in a couple of weeks if they are actually growing.

Manageable Monday - To plant or not to plant

Last year I planted some flowering plants in several pots as well as some on the ground.  My problem is that I am not a true gardener and don't even like watering plants. I have a few indoor plants that are really doing well only because my hubby took charge of watering them.  Although this year there were some pretty flowers blooming but they were planted by the previous owner and each year they just come up in the spring.  Now my dilemma is whether to just buy a couple of those hanging basket with flowering plants or not doing anything.  There are plants on the front yard but not colors except when the roses comes up.  I know that the front yard will look alive when there's colors but I am not convinced that the plants will stay alive the whole summer and fall. A few days ago, I took a couple of photos of the new blooms.  By the way, I have one rhubarb plant located beside the front step that is back to life.  The past couple of years, I have harvested rhubarb and was able to make a small jar of jam. Usually I could get some by early summer and early fall.  Each harvest is about 4 to 6 stalks. Are you getting your garden ready now that you have all the time at home?

My neighbor delivered 5 of these Gerbera daisy because she knows it's my favorite.

Believe it or not, I have a few of these with a variety of colors.

My one and only rhubarb plant, check out how skinny the stalks are.

Meanest Monday - An old story

Last year when my hubby was getting his mom's house ready for selling, he found some boxes, etc and he found some interesting photos and hidden treasures. LOL.  But out of all the items he found, this newspaper clipping was the most interesting one.  I guess the story behind it was that he had read it from the local paper and clipped it.  On mother's day, he inserted it on a card he made for his mom. At first I was thinking of typing the whole story for this post, but instead I took a picture of the article and paste it below.  I hope that you enjoy reading this article as much as I did. Maybe I should have reserve it and waited until next month, but what will I post today.  Thank you to all the meanest mom.

Masks Monday - It's better than nothing

Last week I had a request for some home made fabric masks.  Of course I checked online and to see if they have patterns and exactly what they are using for linings.  Anyway, one evening, I did a prototype, then the next day, I made around 7 of them in an hour.  The next day I made one for my neighbor and her daughter.  Finally, I decided to make some for me specially now that there's way too much dust on the road when we are walking.  In another few weeks there are going to be some pollens, flowers,etc. and I am sure I will be using some

of the masks I have made.  But although I know that they are not going to protect me from

the virus, when I go out to get some groceries, I might end up using one, because it's better than nothing.  I also believe that when you are wearing a mask, people will tend to stay even further from you.  Anyway, check out what I have done while staying indoors.  One of my neighbors suggested that I should wear the OILERS, then people will definitely stay away form me.  I guess that's a joke around our area.

Mandatory Monday - Time to get organized

There are only 59 days left before the 2019 Income Tax deadline.  For some it is easy because they just hand everything to their account and it's done.  Others will use tax companies that sometimes gives you the refund ahead if you are receiving some credits.  And then there are those like me who has done it since the beginning of time.  Except when we returned to Canada a few years ago.  We were lucky because our next door neighbors were accountants.  For the first two years they did the taxes for us.  This year my hubby decided to do ours.  Not only does he has to do Canadian Taxes, he also needs to do a US one.  Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that he is taking the time and making sure that each line, each number, each form is completed meticulously.  My only concern is that we have two different deadlines. April 15 and April 30.  Of course when you do it yourself, sometimes you might miss a section or the calculation is off.  But for some reason, the government agency responsible always makes sure your taxes are correct and if it is incorrect, it will reflect in your assessment.  For most of the time that I have done my taxes, the amount owing or credit is only a few dollars different.  But some of the years, I am just dead on to the last cent.  What is the point of today's post?  Start prepping your papers and complete the forms sooner than later.  Once it is submitted who cares when you get the refund or assessment.  You know that you have complied with the law and regulations of being a citizen of Canada.

Magically Monday - Deconstructing a dress

Lately I have been watching a few episodes of The Great British Sewing Bee.  Sometimes even if they are older episode I would still watch it as long as it's one that I have not seen.  The part I like is the second challenge because it is when the contestant really shows their creative side and their speed to put together a piece of clothing from the two materials that is thrown at them.  For example, the last one I saw was when the gave them an umbrella (outdoor) and a lounge chair (outdoor) which is a bit thicker material and both stripes.  Everyone of them created something magical using both fabrics from the two items.  Last week my neighbor came to me for some help with a dress that she wanted to wear to a Christmas party.  They were asked to wear something from the roaring 1920's also known as flapper dress and headband.  The dress she brought has never been worn and I was hesitant to practice on deconstructing it.  Luckily I have an older long black dress that was too big for me and I was just going to donate.  She was happy that I agreed to take on the challenge of deconstructing this dress to give her more room.  I also need to design and make her an head band in the same theme.  I measured her and told her to go home and I'll have her dress and headgear ready in a couple of days.  The first day, I remove the stitches on the sides of the dress, then I cut off 8 inches from the bottom of the dress.  I used that material to place on each side of the dress to make some room for her hips.  Then I added some white ruffled material for the sleeves as she prefers to cover her arms.  She came over to try the dress and it was a perfect fit. Yeah.  Next day I worked on the head band using fabric, sequence, lace, feather and ribbons.  In addition to this, I offered to curl her hair on the day of the party.  Once it's all put together, she will be going back in time and feel like the Great Gatsby.

Mexican Monday - Colorful arts

Last week we decided to take a short trip and spend a few days with my cousin who lives in Blaine, Washington.  There were two reasons for the trip, not that we needed a reason.  My hubby had ordered a few items that can only be shipped in the USA.  Also he was checking one of his favorite store (tools, etc), and they were having a big sale.  While we were visiting we helped my cousin remove an old microwave and install a new one.  Since she was having some renovations done in her bathroom, my hubby helped a little bit and did a bit of demo.  In appreciation for what he had done, my cousin took us to dinner at a Mexican restaurant which was recommended by one of her contractor.  The food was amazing and the portions were huge.  My entree was enough for two meals and I ended up having a box to go.  What was very interesting about the restaurants was the very colorful and artistic chairs they have all over the place.  There were a variety of different designs and I took some photos of my favorites.  Since I am practicing my Spanish, I have named each of the chairs myself. LOL.

El pajaro

El barrio.

Las fruitas.

Dos tucanes.

Los pescados.

El campesino.

Minions Monday - The old and new

For those of you who knew me from a long time ago, you might remember that I use to have some Winnie the Pooh collections (in the early 2000).  After 10 years, it was time to let it go.  Since then I didn't have anything that I wanted to collect until the Minions Meyhem started. 

First I got Kevin, which is the one that when you press his tummy, he would speak in a variety of languages that you can't understand.  Then I started finding Minions Cotton Fabrics and started sewing items, like my luggage tag, pouch, etc.  During our last visit in the USA, I stumble upon a couple of key holder at Rite Aid, of course it was one sale.  The lastest addition to my collection is Bob which I got from a neighborhood garage sale.  The owner (a man in his 40's) sold it for $2 as long as it will be in a good home.  And from the way I held it, he knew it was going to a good home.  By the way, he said that it spent over $50 USD at the fair in Orlando.  It looked so new, the tag was in it.  When my cousin in law was shopping for fabrics in the US, she found a bunch of other minions fabrics and got me some. Now I have a collection of a variety of design and colors. Are you a minion fan if so which one do you like?

Measureless Monday - Sometimes it works

Sometimes when I have leftover ingredients that needed to be used, I would try make use of that ingredient.  Last week I was making a Pineapple Filled Bars and I ended up with extra crushed pineapple.  I tried to look for a similar recipe for a muffin but I could not find the exact one I like, so I just thought of just combining ingredients that is for a regular muffins and just add other ingredients.  It turned out really moist and yummy, so I am sharing the recipe.  Here it goes.

• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cups oats
• 1/2 sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 crushed pineapple
• 1/3 cup flaked coconuts
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup berry jam
• 1/4 cup yogurt

Mix all the dry ingredients and then mix all the wet ingredients.  Then mix until just combined. Scoop into a muffin pan lined with cupcake paper. Baked at 375 F for 25 minutes.

Meticulous Monday - Master Quilters

The weather is definitely getting cooler as the women of Vernon are showing off all their hard work at the Quilt Show this past weekend.  I decided to check it out and there were so many amazing works of art.  Hours and hours spent creating each and every square, each and every piece means something.  After spending half an hour going around through the displays, I have realized that quilting is not my thing.  Although I have tried making one which is nothing compared to these pieces.  A couple of years ago, I tried doing a quilt of the map of the USA.  It actually came out OK but nothing intricate or meticulous as some of the pieces that I will share with you.  There were a lot more pieces that were similar in design as well as bigger and smaller pieces.  What I am sharing today are my favorites.