I dropped off my tote bag today at Findlay's; mine was the 13th bag entered in the charity auction to benefit the food bank and Habitat for Humanity. The public votes for their favourite bag and the person whose tote gets the most votes wins a Brothers sewing machine.
For my tote bag I chose to make it using plain canvas-like cotton. I stencilled the back with an off-white fabric paint. Really like how that turned out. For the front I used three colours, outlined the stencil with embroidery thread and added buttons to the centers.
The butterfly print I used for the lining is one of my favourites. Went crazy with the pocket and used a paisley cotton from my scrap bag. When the lady at the store looked at my bag she said she liked the inside better then the outside.
I had no response to that.
In a matter of hours, I made these shorts for TG with fabric that she picked out of my stash mountain. Couldn't resist adding the label from my collection.
For our last hike together we climbed up to the top of Gibraltor Rock. Just the four of us at the top treated to an airshow between an eagle and a hawk.
Looks like someone is getting ready for winter.
No, this is not our summer place. We are still looking.
This top sheet has been around a long time; the fabric is so thin that it doesn't take much to put a tear into it. To mend it I cut the back from one of my old white t-shirts and stitched it onto the sheet with embroidery thread and large basting stitches. Then I went around the whole square on the sewing machine. It will be going back to UBC with Maura; I'm hoping it will last one more year.
It was late by the time we got to the trailhead but we made it all the way to the top to the radio tower.
Our knees took a beating going down the elevator trail; it is straight down, no mercy!
The rest of the way on the upper doug daws trail and red tailed hawk trail was no sweat and great views.
After that gruelling hike I made Deruta salad for lunch; hard boiled eggs and cooked carrots.
And for a late dinner we feasted on chicken piccata ( thanks to the Barefoot Contessa) swiss chard from Deadman's Creek and corn from Chase.
The thunder and lightning storm started about six, an hour and a half before TG's plane was scheduled to arrive. So they sat in Calgary until the storm passed. It was still raining like crazy when we got to the airport but she is here safe and sound.
For dinner we had wild BC salmon that we bought at the Farmer's Market; it was great. Mr. Cowboy made Japanese spinach to go with it and it was a hit.
Riverside Park is 200 years old so we went down and took in the festivities. We would have gotten our faces painted but the line-up was a bit too long.
It was hot down at the park so we headed up to the Hot House Bistro for lunch; always good. And of course we ended a wonderful meal with the sinfully good sopapillas dipped in cinnamon butter.
On the way home we always drive by TG's favourite house (forgot to take a picture) and just up the street there was a wedding going on.
We have been out here many times to beach comb and enjoy the peacefulness of the place. But today we actually visited Tranquille Farms and came home with just-picked spuds, crunchy red peppers, and some good looking garlic.
It's the unexpected, like these flowers from a friend, that can put a smile on your face.
I actually made a rolling pin in my Joinery Pre-App course but it is so big and heavy that I have never used it. All these years I have been rolling out my pie dough with a rolling pin from who knows where made with I have no idea what kind of wood. But no more. Maura scouted one out for me and it is perfect. Three pounds of maple from Maine. Can't wait to do some rollin'.
My favourite time of the year when the market stalls are piled high with flats of raspberries and blueberries. It is lots of work washing and sorting the fruit for freezing but come January inside it will be summer while outside it is winter.
