September

Got a message from work last night...actually woke me up...asking if I wanted the day off. Apparently enough people felt sorry for/ or actually complained about my hacking and coughing that the boss thought I might want a recovery day...hell, yes!! It's very cold here today [okay, it's not swimming weather] and I appreciate another day to schlep around in my fleece jammies and veg. Lots of Buckley's cough drops, lemon tea and juice! I have no fever...my temperature is about 10 degrees below normal [okay about 3 degrees...I'm freezing] so I will sit and watch painting videos, do some sketching, and writing and imagine this fabulous fabric magically turning itself into a perfect kilt..or long skirt and vest...or coat...still can't decide.
My little friend was sleeping on the fence again this morning. Don't know why the howling gale didn't knock him off!Looks like he's not feeling well either!


Yesterday [Tuesday] while we were in town doing chores, we checked the mail at Hepworth and found that a parcel had arrived from BC. Rick's sister Ann used to weave many years ago and I have an extraordinary collection of tea towels and table mats that I love...but now she quilts and this was in the package!!! If it ever stops raining I will hang it on the line so you can see the full effect but its gorgeous!the back side is red waves that look like bird's eye views of hurricanes, the quilting is done in waves and the squares are the complete alphabet in signal flags> Perfect boat accessory!! Thanks Ann, we love it !!!

So I'm off today [Saturday] and it was supposed to be DK Day...dye kilt day... I love my white utility kilt but it's white ...'nuff said. I picked up the dye...blue jean colour. I was going for grey or black but thought I'd start with a softer one first...you can go darker but not lighter. The process is an all-day affair and I have to work 4-10 today so I'll wait for another day off...😥😥 I really don't want to dye it but blue is better than dirty white, and being a utility kilt means I wear it like jeans ...EVERYWHERE I CAN

This is a weight-loss kilt...it weighs 8 lbs. with all the hardware attached to it!It has detachable pockets, as well

And here's the back of that exquisite quilt [not to be confused with kilt] thatAnn Arsenault sent...it's redder than the photo...camera keeps adjusting the light...see the mini hurricanes on the back?? Very apt right now, watching Florence and Helene. And the four corner squares are cool fish ! Love it!

End of summer we know it...

Wow. September already. every time I say how fast the summer went, people keep reminding us [not kindly either] that we didn't actually get here until mid-July...minor detail.
So Rick wears glasses all the time now; I apparently have developed carpal tunnel, so wear hand braces at night to help stave off surgery; the Summer fairies left me with a goodbye gift...a raging summer cold. 
On a brighter note, Quentin is having a good experience at Fanshawe College [ok only one class so far but still...]  He move into a house with 4 other guys...older than him and international students working to their master's degrees. As  his mother says..."Not a bunch of teenagers...these guys didn't spend 3-4 years at university to move across the world and screw it up by partying all the time...they will set a good example for him, and he 'll get a good cross-cultural experience."
 
Our Todd is playing football this year on the high school junior team and so far [yes, only 3 days in] is enjoying high school. It's sad that the bar is set so low. Orientation consisted of a trip to Wonderland and first day classes were "get to know everybody" 
Natasha is is Grade 7 and her day was pretty much the same as TOdd's. They are both going to Air cadets now, and she is turning into a giraffe...not sure where those height genes come from although her cousin Willow, is also a ...willow...very tall and graceful. I'm hoping next summer Tash will fall in love with highland dancing.
We spent the last two days on the boat, cleaning,  removing stuff and planning our attack. When its 37 C it's hard to get much done. I have finally been ready to give in to swimming this summer but with the cold now, I have no energy for it. 
I've become obsessed with the heritage thing...Scotland, clans and tartans...so I found on-line a place to order tartans and [Lindsay, forgive me] I bought the last 3 meters of "Erwin weathered tartan" that was available. It's a rare tartan [nobody orders it...not enough of us,  so it was in the "Clearance " section] and its beautiful! So I will stare lovingly at it for a few weeks before I summon the courage to pick up the scissors. It's going to make really hot shorts being 100% wool...just kidding, but I'm trying to decide if I want a full kilt or a suit. 
Oh and Rick bought his practise chanter ...he wants to be able to play bagpipes by next summer. Anyone have an old set they aren't using?
Yes, living on land HAS affected us but it's probably a temporary condition and reversible when we get back out to sea.