A West Coast Visit

Our recent trip to Vancouver Island was a trip back home for me.  A week spent visiting family and good friends was good for the soul.  After arriving early in the morning a month before Christmas, we were welcomed with a "Christmas Morning Wifesaver" brunch followed by a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings and delicious apple pie for dessert.  It was wonderful to be with my family.  We loved the fact that the first three days of our stay were sunny and bright and as a result the rainy days that followed didn't dampen our spirits at all.   Since arriving home the cold days of winter have meant I've had time to decorate the house, to wrap presents and start baking.  We went to a lovely family gathering in the city last weekend and will be looking forward to seeing most of our Alberta family here at the farm on Christmas day or over the holidays.  I'll be visiting you again soon and will look forward to catching up on everything that's been happening to you.  My first priority is to get my Christmas cards in the mail.  See you soon and hope that all you are accomplishing all the things you want to as the countdown to Christmas continues.  

Sewing's My Hobby

This month has been quiet so I've been quilting.  I've found myself thinking about how thankful I am that I've always loved making things for friends and family for Christmas. My grandmother taught me to embroider when I was 8 or 9.  My mom taught me to sew on her Singer Featherweight when I was 12 and that was such a gift.  Mom showed me to use a pattern and later a friend who was taking a home economics class taught me how to make tailor tacks-what an important lesson that was.  We gave each other sewing kits that year and I had mine for years and years.  At the age of 12 my grandmother let me choose fabric and a pattern for an Easter dress.  The next person to encourage me was my tiny Irish godmother.  She usually had a seamstress make her clothes but trusted me with a length of pink mohair fabric and I sewed a suit that made her seem as elegant as Jaqueline Kennedy. She paid me for my work. Imagine trusting a fourteen year old with mohair!

my high school graduation dress

worn in Hawaii

a dress for my daughter

"Mom - I'd like a pink lace dress..." so she wore it for her grandparent's Golden Anniversary

There was a period of time in high school where my sister and our friends all wanted white duck squall jackets so I worked hard to complete their orders. I started going to dances and in those days brocade and crepe were the fabrics of choice.  I sewed graduation dresses and several ball gowns for my sister and myself.  As the years passed I always enjoyed making many of my clothes, including bridesmaid dresses and my own wedding dress.   I took a course on making stretch t shirts and made several for the farmer and my father. When our son and daughter were young children I enjoyed sewing for them.  I made nighties, overalls, dresses, short sets, Hallowe'en costumes, dance costumes and doll clothes.  Quilts were made for each new niece, nephew and for my friends babies. Pillows, curtains, placemats, table runners, Christmas ornaments and carry alls were favourite gifts to sew. I've enjoyed sewing for over 50 years and I guess you could say that some of my favourite things are my sewing machine, fabric, needles and thread.  My lifelong hobby is just the thing to keep me occupied through this cold month of November - what are you doing to keep busy this month?

November 11th

Today Canadians remember those who gave up their lives to ensure our freedom.  At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month we remember them.

In this electronic age there is an interesting project hosted by the Ottawa Citizen that
honours those Canadians who have lost their lives while serving as active members of our Canada's Armed Forces.  Names are randomly generated and posted 11 minutes after every hour on every day of every year.  It is estimated that the list of veterans who lost their lives while serving as active members of the military will continue to be posted until the year 2025.

We Are The Dead

@WeAreTheDead

Remembering the names of Canadian Forces members killed in the line of duty, every hour at 11 minutes past the hour. Presented by the Ottawa Citizen.

Ottawa Canada · http://bit.ly/uQ2hrx

You can connect to it here.

Last year I posted about a visit my daughter and I made to the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Rome, Italy.  I will never forget how peaceful and beautiful that cemetery was.  You can read about our visit here.

Harvest's Done!

This month hasn't gone as predicted but all is well now.  We had our third snowfall this weekend and it looks like it's here to stay.  Harvest is finished...actually it's been 10 days of a much easier pace for the farmer but there are still things to be done.  This harvest was the most difficult ever because of mechanical breakdowns on the swather and combine but finally when there was a short window of time between snowstorms - after the grain had dried somewhat- two neighbours brought their combines and other equipment to help the farmer get his crop off before winter.  It was amazing to see 3 combines working until late at night racing to get the crop off but luck held out and it worked. It looks like this will be the last big harvest for the farmer.  he's waiting for a hip replacement next spring and everything was so much harder for him to do this year.  At this point he's reluctantly resigned himself to the fact that he needs to rent the land out so arrangements will be made and he hopes to keep active when the opportunity presents itself.  Perhaps the farmer he's renting to will need someone to help....in the meantime there's plenty to be done on the farm.  Grain needs to be hauled and the equipment will be serviced before being put to bed for the winter.  Here's a glimpse of harvest on the farm this fall....

When the ketchup can is empty he knows the nuts and bolts are back on the combine...

The endgate is closer than the workbench - less painful steps...

 
Finally enough wind to dry the wet fields -combining for just a few hours...

 Five days and a snowstorm later it was dry enough again but only for a day... so 4 men, 3 combines,
2 grain trucks, a grain hopper and 10 hours of combining into the night resulted in 120 acres of barley in the bin.

 Big Red is filled to the brim waiting to be unloaded...

It's not like the old days now...

 Since time was at a premium a new contraption augured the barley into a plastic tube which will keep the grain from spoiling until it's time to ship it to market.

 Harvest's almost over - thank goodness!

And then it snowed - no photos yet - I'm not at all happy about being surrounded by white.  I've got at least six months to get used to it so I'm in no rush!