It's been a strange summer.

Mary Katherine Hopkins
Sep 6
3 min read

With the kids back in school and single digit nights....... I declare summer over.

For me, anyways.

Lots happened, some great and some not so.

I lost my older sister in June. It was not unexpected as she had been in care for a while.

But the finality of attending the memorial and helping my niece go through and sort her 'worldly' remains......very sobering.

I had a wonderful visit with my niece and my younger sister who travelled from B.C. but

after a week it was time to come home.

I'm the eldest now.

Interesting feeling.

Early July, my partner celebrated a milestone birthday. I did have a lot of fun organizing a family party (he said he didn't want......until he was there and had a great time.)

But between the two events it became very clear that I was young no longer, old even.

Tired. (The noise, energy and hubbub)

I've grown very accustomed to my silent house and undemanding partner.

The fact that he almost immediately turned to canning tomatoes....... a job I gladly supported, (that means I got out of his way. ) ...really said 'end of summer'.

So summer slipped by.

I did accomplish a couple of things.

A few months ago I brought home some Orphan blocks from a Guild meeting.

These are blocks that are made by another member who for what ever reason is unable to complete the quilt. (The trees appealed to me of course)

I started to work on it a few times during the spring but couldn't decide how the piece was intended to be. I finally put all the extra pieces in my scrap bag and just went with sashing.

It's rather interesting sewing with one arm constantly yelling at you.

And the actual quilting was as simple as I could make using my domestic machine.

It took a long time working on it daily. I was only able to managed brief sessions but it's complete and it will be added to the 100 or so comfort quilts heading to our local hospital.

Then there was a hoody.

I liked it. Actually I love it. I love the colour.

It was an inexpensive purchase last year from Costco.

However the hood started to irritate me.

The weight of the hood dragged the whole hoodie backwards. I was constantly readjusting it. It was a wonderful hood, very generous and large enough you could hide in it.

If I was a sulky teen....... it would have been perfect.

But it was lined with a coordinated fabric.

So at the suggestion of a friend.....I cut it off.

How to use the lining?

Reverse applique.

The whole thing was too large and heavy for me to manage on my sewing machine.

I ended up hand stitching the design.

A Feather

It took about 3 weeks. My arm still fights the handwork or embroidery.

Finished yesterday.