a finish for Christmas ....

Here's a Christmas finish.  The pattern is from  Quilts by Cheri  I modified the size and used my favourite  fabrics - dropcloth, ticking, burlap plus a few other scraps. ^^  It was a fun make at the cabin this summer.

The other day when I was out for a walk I met up with a  chubby Jack Russell out on his own - his feet were cold - it was a busy street - he wouldn't come to me.  On my return he was nowhere in sight and I hoped for the best - I stopped in at the hardware store and there was the little fella - he'd gone that far and slipped in when the door opened and was recognized .... they were keeping him safe until his 'dad' showed up.  Aren't people wonderful?!  In the store the little fella came over to me and we introduced ourselves.  ^^

life is a one time offer .... use it well

lucky me ....

Lucky me to be chosen to receive one of Andrea's Christmas RAKs.  

This is the beautiful ornament and card ...

 

I'm thrilled to bits and my keepsake box is growing. 

 It's already hanging on the tree.   

 Thank you Andrea from the bottom of my heart.

how you treat people tells all

 

a Christmas unfinish ....

I haven't decided how I'm going to finish this one but most likely it will become a mini quilt or a cushion cover - it's a design by Theodora Cleave .    It was coffee stained to age it and I'd like to keep the wrinkles - it was something I worked on at the cabin.   I am very fond of Theodora Cleave designs. ^^

Just the other day when we were out and about we drove through a small town and I spotted a quilt shop - these are few and far between in our neck of the woods - and my fella promptly pulled into the first vacant parking spot.  ^^  Of course, I picked up a wee bit of fabric and this piece is what I think I'll use with the stitchery - it's not as pink as in the photo and the shades of red look good with the variegated red used for stitching.  I liked the prim look of it ....

I recently read the long range forecast for this winter - it's not good so here's hoping they're wrong.  They were wrong with most of the summer forecast so there is hope.   By the way we have no snow here yet. ^^

I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for some SSS. 

do the right thing even when no one is looking - it's called integrity

taking advantage .....

We took advantage of the unseasonably mild weather this month and one of the places we visited more than once was Lake Manitoba Narrows which is commonly referred to as the narrows.  The views of this big lake are awesome.  These photos were taken at the marina although everything has been put away for the winter.  The best view is from the causeway but there's no room to stop.

 the purpose of life is to live it

getting ready to mail .....

Here are a few things that I'm getting ready to mail ....

  Love is by the little stitcher ;  the bird is a  Luli design.   I  love the red mouse and believe me it would have been very easy to keep for myself.  ^^  And how could you not love the quirky moose - another one that I'd like for myself ... 

We've just had a spell of record breaking warm weather and enjoyed every minute of it.  Best part was all the sunshine and no precipitation.  The forecast says snow by next weekend and I think I'm okay with it.  

 "I'm ready, my Lord" - Leonard Cohen

exploring ......

Alas, this is the first time in 12 years that we've had to deal with time change since we've been living in those parts of Canada that don't have DST ... I really wish the entire country would stay on standard time year around.

Since we're having beautiful warm and dry (yes, dry) weather we've been exploring our new surroundings .....

one of the quirky oaks at Dauphin Lake

Turtle River flowing into Dauphin Lake - the river is very  high for this time of the year and would you believe that all this water will eventually flow past our cabin

Turtle River Cemetery

beautiful poplars

 Makinak - you can see the foundation of the old school on the left

also at Makinac - possibly an Anglican Church

a lovely view 

these horses called out to me when I was taking pix across the road but when I approached the white one was bashful

a beauty in it's day and still is 

these are jackpine

if only it could talk ...

makes one wonder about the family that lived here or was it actually a small barn

 at the cabin

where the calendulas (and sweet peas) are still blooming
 

 Dauphin Lake 

 Makinac United Church est. 1910

beach combing on Dauphin Lake

 this is the Manitoba Escarpment, locally referred to as 'the mountain' - 

beautiful Riding Mountain National Park is found here .

keep smiling .... it makes people wonder what you're up to