Friday, April 29, 2022

Gratitude #63

Welcome to another post of appreciation for the little things in life, that become maybe not so little because they lift up my spirits. I must admit said spirits have had a lot of in the dumps time these past few months. These posts are so good for my mental health, and I've heard from many of you how much you enjoy them, so that makes me glad, and thank you for telling me. The lifting up just amplifies doesn't it? If you'd like to read some more of these gentle, grateful posts, please be sure to head to LeeAnna's blog, our wonderful host, at Not Afraid of Color, where you can find her post and links to those of us who post weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, like me. I take photos, make notes all month long. Gratitude really becomes a habit.
My first love is my beautiful magnolia tree, bought in the spring of 2017 shortly after we'd moved here.
It's not a quilt in a tree; it's a bag in a tree with Quilt in a Day founder, Eleanor Burns' new fabric line.

This month is a day late because my Thursday post, Judy's Bloom Project Hop for Benartex (where there is a giveaway!), was scheduled for Thursday, so I opted to have this post publish on Friday. For those of you regular readers, watch for the DrEAMi (Drop Everything And Make it!) post and linkup on Sunday, since Saturday is another installment of Pop Star sewing instructions. I haven't done four posts in four days in quite some time!

2. I like Seth's Blog. I get his posts in my inbox. This one: Generation C - Seth's Blog is such a cool description (ha, cool) of what this generation will probably be known as thanks to Covid, carbon and climate. Worth the one-minute or so read.

3. I like this video: Fun times on a trampoline had by.... two black BEARS!

4. I do not like talk shows, but I enjoy a few podcasts, one of which is renowned journalist, now retired, Peter Mansbridge's The Bridge. A couple of weeks ago Peter had Bob Rae on Canada's ambassador to the UN. He enlightened us on the Ukraine situation and Canada's and the UN's roles. One of the features is every Friday, 'Good Talk'. A couple of weeks ago Chantal Hébert and Bruce Anderson gave us their non-partisan and educational take on the budget. I learn so much from this podcast.

Another one I listen to from time to time is Glennon Doyle We Can Do Hard Things. Episode #81 Pro-Aging: Why the Best is Yet to Come with Ashton Applewhite was especially good. One of the things Ashton said I had to write down:
"Like racism and sexism, ageism is not about how we look; it's about what people in power want our appearance to mean."

5. I like this 5-second reel Coyote and Badger that randomly showed up after a reel of one of my favourite follows, Mr. Domestic. Why don’t we have more of these underground passages for animals? It should be a law IMHO. In Windsor we are looking into constructing a green overpass over a major highway for mammals and reptiles to cross from one wooded area to a wetland/wooded area, and finding the cost prohibitive, of course... But what's the alternative, as my friend John likes to say: extinct species - 91 snakes killed in ONE DAY there, 30 of which are endangered species, cars hitting deer, racoons, mink, etc. A proposal to close a 2-lane fairly major thoroughfare in another part of the city for a certain time period during migration of turtles and reptiles, several of whom are endangered, has not happened. I am so tired of and depressed about the lack of concern for our fragile ecosphere. I sign petitions, I write letters, but business is more important, always the dollar, and meanwhile we are losing animals daily.

Ontario has lost half - HALF of all six of its swallow populations I learned today, and also that Lake Ontario is the least protected of the Great Lakes. Source: Nature Canada Watch the video on that page about Dunnville Marsh which is half way between Hamilton and Buffalo, close to Lake Erie. It is awe-inspiring just on the screen, so I cannot imagine how incredible it would be in real life to experience that.

6. I like that something the Liberals campaigned on has come to pass: Canadian Blood Services is changing the way they screen donors, asking "if they have had multiple or new partners, no matter their gender or sexual orientation" and then "screened on higher risk sexual behaviour". They previously used to target gay men, so this is a major change, and a positive one. Giving blood was a priority in my family; both my mum and dad were longtime donors, and I've got back into regularly donating.

7. A couple of good books I've read this past month are The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams (thanks Diann at Little Penguin Quilts for the recommendation, loved it), Washington Black by Esi Eduygan, and Hamnet and Judith by Maggie O'Farrell. I'm currently reading and really enjoying Circe by Madeline Miller. I read her The Song of Achilles and loved it.

8. Take listen to this piece by Arvo Pärt, Da pacem Domine. It will take you away...
I bought it off Apple Music so I can use it during my yoga classes. Ahhhhh. I have learned that I like a lot of Pärt's music, thanks to Tom Allen and Julie Nesrallah, two hosts of shows on CBC Music.

9. I like, and I am humbly grateful for, and quietly thrilled by, how many people like and have bought my Pop Star pattern. I am in love with the fabrics I am using to sew the throw version.

These are from Amanda Murphy's upcoming line, winter & holiday jewels, available in quilt shops in May/June. The quilt is on my sidebar.

10. I like this meme. We really don't have a concept of just how much large numbers are, and this is a good way. I once read another that used the thickness of a banknote ($10 bill for example) to give an idea of how much a million is: slightly over 333 feet, aka 30-35 storeys, aka longer than the length of a football field which is 100 yards or 300 feet. Crazy.

11. I really like the show Diggstown. It is filmed in Halifax, a place I hope to get to one day soon. I recently finished the third season, and do not know how I will last until Season 4 comes out this fall. The show follows a group of lawyers and their cases. It deals with some tough issues in our country. In the season finale there were a few quilts in the scenes, always a thrill for me. A bigger thrill was knowing the quilt maker of the ones I spied is a friend of mine!!


Excuse the blurry shots, but both of those quilts are made by Anja! Yes, that Anja of Anja Quilts! I know she'd mentioned it a while back, but what a thrill to see them. There is a third one, but I missed it. I may be rewatching the finale closer to the launch of Season 4, so I'll try to catch it then.


10 comments:

  1. All great likes! How neat that Anja has quilts in a tv show.

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  2. I'm so glad Pop Star has been such a favorite. It is a beautiful design. Fun to see Anja's quilts!

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  3. If you don't already watch it, Hudson and Rex will give you a crime solving dog and the beautiful scenery of NL.

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  4. I love Seth's blog, too, and read it daily. I also love that Anja's quilts are in Diggstown. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  5. Hi Sandra! No way - how cool that those quilts are by Anja!!! WOWEE. What an honor for her, and well deserved one at that. Thanks for the sallows link. Thirty-one snakes gone in one day. That makes me sick. And the turtles! I actually had a turtle crossing the road in front of me early one morning. I stopped and got out of my car as if I had car trouble . . . and waited for it to finish crossing. The guy behind me wasn't too happy but I couldn't let someone run it over. {{Hugs}} a bunch! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  6. Yay to see Anja's quilts! I'll have to watch the series! It sounds good!

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  7. Most of us do have so much to be thankful for if we would only take the time to realize it. I'm grateful for people like you who post links to thoughtful and thought-provoking ideas as well as feed our need for creative stimulation. Enjoy your weekend.
    Pat

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  8. Your magnolia is beautiful, Sandra! Perfect spot to show off your new bag. I always enjoy your gratitude posts - you give me lots to think about. Good book are a huge blessing to me! So glad we can share titles. How amazing that Anja's quilts are in that show, too. I bet that's a thrill for her! Now, off to read the next PopStar steps!

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  9. This post was really good Sandra!
    "Like racism and sexism, ageism is not about how we look; it's about what people in power want our appearance to mean." - this is so true and worth remembering

    Anja's quilts!!! Wow - I remember she mentioned they would be in a film and promptly forgot. How exciting for her - Amazing Anja!

    Book recommendations are always welcome and I have copied these into my list to check out.
    Thanks!!!

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  10. I really enjoyed this post. This is the most incredible music!!

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