First of all a happy birthday to that most famous Canadian, my dear Dad.😍🥳
He was born on this day, in 1926, in the little town of Legal, (it’s French, so it's le and gal as in girl, emphasis on gal) Alberta. He always gave us kids a chuckle because each year he’d write on the wall calendar ‘the birthday of a famous Canadian’ much to our mum’s annoyance, though we knew it was feigned annoyance. Well, mostly feigned! My annual QAL has evolved into starting on my birthday, and ending on my dad’s.
Without further ado here is my twin-size flimsy! I'm so pleased with how it turned out.
I didn't take progress shots other than when I had the top half of the quilt done, and suddenly was worried about (overthinking) the turquoise and pale green pinwheels. I thought that the pale green of the 'grass' for the houses blended in too much to the pinwheels, so I made a turquoise and yellow pinwheel, pinned it over one of the original pinwheels and sent off an email to my good friend Helen of Word Weaver Art (check out her paintings if you haven't done so yet) to ask her valued opinion. She said she wasn't bothered at all by the original pinwheels, they were subtle, and agreed that the yellow might be overpowering. So thank you Helen; I'm so glad I asked you, and I'm so happy with the final quilt.
This is a short post as, like a few of my friends in Quilting Blog Land, after more than three years of avoiding it, of getting vaccinated and boosted, I have contracted Covid. MacGyver got it first, and we have absolutely no clue where/who/how because the only places he had been were the usual: Canadian Tire, Lowe's and Rona, with one grocery store thrown in. No homes of friends, no close quarters. This 'cold' I caught from him was pretty much identical to the cold he came home with when he was visiting Brianne and Brady in early spring which was not Covid (he tested and was negative, and I didn't catch it).
It was just a fluke that on Monday my spidey senses said, maybe I should do a rapid test and yep, boom, within a minute it went positive and stayed that way. Luckily it's a mild case for both of us: chest congestion, cough, headache, no appetite, and feeling a bit weak. I've had much worse colds/flu. Apparently this is a milder strain circulating but I am so grateful for vaccines and boosters which also help to lessen the intensity of the virus. I have listened to my body that said it's time to have a nap, Sandra, and as a result, I had two naps in two days! That's unheard of for me. When I said to Brianne that I think Dad is worse than I am, she said, and I quote, "I think maybe you are, considering I have never heard you utter 'I' and 'nap' in the same sentence in my life."😝 Well, I made it through today without a nap, so that's a good sign. When you read this it will be day 5 and MacGyver day 8. We've taken cold/flu meds (he's been off them for two days now) and they've helped tremendously.
Happy quilting over the next 15 days! Once I start quilting my top, I will do a post with some suggestions. For the throw, please check out this post which shows you some closeups of how I custom-quilted it.
Be sure to check out the hashtags on Instagram to see all the beautiful happy house blocks and quilts! #rainbowneighbourhoodquilt and #rainbowneighbourhoodqal
Update:
I decided to open the final Linky Party on this blog post. It will be open until midnight July 1, Canada Day, a fitting day to end the party, yes?! You can link up more than once, so link up your flimsy now or at any time between now and July 1, link up your flimsy now and then come back and link up with your finished quilt once you have it quilted. Email me a photo or your quilt top and/or finished quilt if you don't have Instagram or a blog, and I will post it for you!
This seems to make more sense to me, but if you see a problem with it, then please let me know by email or in the comments. I am feeling almost 100% and drugs-free today, so I think this seems the logical and simpler way to handle the final parade.
Hi Sandra, sending you good energy to feel better soon! Definitely good to hear that your symptoms are mild. Get some sunshine too, always good for healing.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt top is lovely. I really like the dark background as it makes the colors sparkle.
ReplyDeleteI love this quilt so much because it holds a story. I want it to be on the inside cover page of a children's book, a book that tells the story of the neighborhood and the people who live in all the colored houses.
ReplyDeleteI think the pinwheels are perfect... important to be there to break up the dark colored background, but not noticed on first, or even second, glance. They don't try to make it a quilt about pinwheels at all.
Good job vaccines and boosters that may not keep you from getting it, but at least let the case be mild and not life threatening.
Oh no, on the Covid! Hope you both feel better each day. I love your newest Rainbow Neighbourhood top - this is definitely a quilt with a story! I'm glad to see that actual final parade isn't for a couple of weeks. With company in the house, I haven't gotten much sewing done. Blocks are complete, sashing is cut - I just need access to my sewing machine! Happy Birthday to your dad!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of the twin size version. It's why I fell in love with the pattern in the first place. But knowing me, I knew it would be too much at this time. So I pivoted. The houses were fun and the pattern is in my stash, so someday maybe. I'm so sorry that Covid came to visit. My case, last August was pretty mild, but made me thankful we had vaccinated, boostered and generally stayed home. Like you said, I've had much worse flu/colds over the years. I think we just accept it as a winter ailment that may or may not affect us. We will continue to vaccinate and take extra care as we get older.
ReplyDeleteFeel better soon, glad it wasn't to bad for you.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you both caught Covid, but very glad that it's a mild case. I didn't catch it till this January. In some ways I really felt like I'd lost a game. Avoiding it all those years when it was so bad only to catch it after I retired. Your Neighborhood quilt turned out beautifully. Hopefully you've turned a corner and won't need the cold and flu meds or a nap for a long while.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you are not worse! Sorry about the COVID. Your flimsy is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea where my husband got Covid, either. He had been here at the hangar working hard for 5 weeks straight. I do hope that both you and your husband feel fully better quicker than we did. Rest up; I got stir crazy, but it really is what the body needs to heal. I'll be thinking of you!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Sandra. So sorry that you guys got the bug. Hubby brought it home from ???? and, like the Energizer Bunny, he was back to normal in 4 days. Mine lingered much longer and I took Paxlovid (age and asthma). Still have a cough 3 weeks later and tire easily. Oh, taste is still off. I love your finished top. It has been fun making these houses. Mine is out to be quilted and I hope to have it back late next week. Can send a photo of the flimsy. We've had so much rain over the last week that it is a not very great shot indoors.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteRemembering your Dad and the celebration. Your homes are so bright and beautiful, and I look forward to seeing the parade.And as for Covid, I do hope you both recover well, rest, rest, and more rest was what I found to be the best solution.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, so sorry to read that you have contacted the dreaded Covid. We have both been lucky here to have avoided it so far, and we had another booster about a month ago.
ReplyDeleteGot your email about Covid & was completely stunned as it is summer over there & (I thought), not as prevalent as in the cooler months. We've been told that some of us have had it with absolutely no symptoms at all, which is worrying. We are all boosted up too. Get better soon. I'm loving your twin version, though I've only done the small one & am now contemplating an allover pattern for the quilting as it could be touch/fondled by lots of little hands at the Special School. I had so much fun doing this & using scraps. Didn't make much of a dent in that department though. Take care & hugs. PS: I'll try and do a post & link late today, as we are off (while it's fine) to cut wood up at our friends' property.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you caught the virus, but I’m glad you’re feeling better. I love your quilt and can’t wait to see how you quilt it. Mine is ready to start quilting this weekend - just simple straight lines. Trudy-the odd elf
ReplyDeleteHope both you and MacGyver feel better soon! Love the dark background it makes the houses shine!
ReplyDeleteUgh....so many people again are getting it. I am so pleased with my top and it is on the frame to get quilted next, so you may see a second linkup soon....well right around July 1 as the baby quilt has to go on next. And of course, a happy heavenly birthday to that famous Canadian.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra, take good care of yourself! I'll be back on June 30th, in whatever state the quilt is in! Now I'm going to make an appointment for my next booster, since I didn't get another because I had it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your COVID vaccinations and boosters have paid off! That's great. Napping is AOK, and your COVID excuse should be taken advantage of. Your quilt is very pretty. Your "famous Canadian" Dad has a fun sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun quilt top, Sandra! Looking forward to the parade of finishes.
ReplyDeleteHope you get through it well. I caught it in April and I think I have it now as well. Fever and other symptoms for a couple of days but am feeling like myself again today. I am vaccinated and boosted as well and think that helps.
ReplyDeleteI love love love these cute house quilts. Quilts with little communities in them are my favorite, and I just finished a top with them called Color My World, but I have not yet posted it. I will be piecing the back today.
Well, Sandra...I made it, and early at that! I hope you are both feeling much better. Take good care of yourselves and thanks for this QAL. I really love your pattern!
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