Quilting Gallery » Other Stuff Happening in the World

Ballerinas

Mishka — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:57:15 +0000

This past weekend, I headed to the Toronto area to visit with family. My nieces had their first ballet recital. Lucy is 6 years old and Alice is 3.5 years old. They were absolutely adorable in their performances. They looked like princesses in their beautiful dresses.

Photos taken by their Auntie Jennie.

The Magic of Christmas

Mishka — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:03:17 +0000

My sister and her business partner put together a community magazine in the small town they live in called Uxbridge Town Talk. For their December issue, my sister interviewed her daughter, my eldest niece, Lucy.

It’s a sweet and endearing post. Read it here: Capturing the Magic of Christmas.

I couldn’t help but laugh when Lucy suggests to google elves to find out how many kids Santa has.

I can’t wait to see my nieces over the holidays. I know they are very excited to meet Milo too. Speaking of him, it’s his 3 month birthday today. Yesterday he went to the vet for another check up and vaccines. He’s gained a full pound. He’s up to 4.51 lbs (or 2.05 kg). Tonight we are going to see a trainer for an evaluation and tomorrow night we start puppy kindergarten. It’ll be a learning experience for us both.

Oh Thank Cuteness – Milo’s Adventures

Mishka — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:03:26 +0000

Thank you to everyone for the warm welcome to the Quilting Gallery last week. I am so happy to have quilting friends all over the world. My Facebook friends say their day is not complete until they get their Milo fix! You can follow my mom and me here. She posts a daily photo of me.

Our friends over at Generation Q Magazine have invited me to participate in their Oh Thank Cuteness! fun. You can write your own cuteness post to participate and link it up over there too.

Last week was filled with lots of adventures. I got to meet three of my Aunties. SuzeMuse brought me this great toy that I play with all the time.

My Auntie Gailene came over for lots of cuddles. I was really tired and not the best host as I fell asleep.

Auntie Viviane came over on Saturday and we went to the Mall to meet the funny guy in a red suit. I had to make sure I got on Santa’s good puppy list before I start doing naughty things.

Waiting my turn to see Santa.

Special delivery from the North Pole.

This is my crate, I sleep in here at night and when my mom has to go out. I really like it in here and I go in by myself most times.

I like sleeping in my bed too while mom’s working.

Big yawn!

Here I am wearing my Harley Davidson shirt, but my mom lost it, so now I have to wear my coat, which I hate. Mom found this really cute fleece coat pattern, and she’s going to try to make me a new coat… it’s gotten COLD up here in Ottawa.

Mom’s working on a scrappy wonky log cabin quilt that will be donated to Victoria’s Basics quilt drive. I helped test out the softness.

You can really see how tiny I am in this picture. The finished blocks, with black sashings are 9″ square.

Yesterday, I started going in the elevator by myself. Mom’s so proud of me, but she says now I need to learn manners to let people off the elevator before I get on. That will be next week’s lesson.

I hope you enjoyed my first blog hop appearance. Don’t forget to head over to Generation Q and share your Cuteness!.

Introducing Milo

Mishka — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:35:39 +0000

Hi there! My name is Milo, wanna be my friend?

I was born on September 6th, 2011 and I’m 10 weeks old.
I came to live with my new mommy last Friday.

Here’s a picture of me and my brothers at two weeks old with our mom.

My mom is a Spaniel, Shih Tzu, Pug mix and weighs about 13 pounds.

Here’s my dad. He’s a Chihuahua and Yorkie mix and weighs about 5 pounds.

Here’s a picture of me at five weeks.

And a couple of pictures of me at 6 weeks.

And a photo of me at 8 weeks.

I went to the vet on Saturday and she says I’m perfectly healthy.
I weighed a whopping 3.5 pounds and the vet thinks I’ll get to be 10 pounds when I’m fully grown.

I nap all the time.

I have a new bed and lots of toys at my new home.

I have a new coat too… winter is coming.

I helped my new mommy as she was drawing a quilt design the other day.
I’m going to be a great quilt inspector.

I love to go outside and do most of my business out there. Mom needs to learn to get up, dressed and then let me out of my crate in the mornings to go outside, cos I gotta GO!

If I see you walking on the sidewalk, I will try to chase you, and if you don’t stop and say how adorable I am, I might even bark at you. Mom says I need Puppy Kindergarten.

I really like my new home! Mom says I’m a great addition to the Quilting Gallery staff.

I’m participating in the Generation Q Magazine’s Oh Thank Cuteness fun. Visit friends over there for more cute!

Updated Oh Thank Cuteness! – Milo’s Adventures

Let us not forget the Heros

Mishka — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:11:40 +0000

Remembrance Day | Veterans Day

~ Remembering ~

By: Ruth Gallant – November 11, 1998

Today is November the eleventh
A day to reflect upon heroes
And all that these men gave
To create a safer world for us
Through war they fought to make us free

I look up at a portrait
Of a man I never knew
He was my mother’s brother
Who died in World War II
A hero through and through

He was only thirty-five years old
When his life came to an end
He fought so others could be free
And in doing so died
Like so many other courageous men

So today I think of him
This man I never knew
And so many others who died
In lands across the sea
To keep freedom for you and me

There is a special symbol I wear
So proudly today upon my chest
It is a simple red poppy
For these men who died
Along with my thanks to each one

Freedom rings today
In this my homeland of Canada
But across the sea in foreign lands
Lie the bodies of many brave men
Who fought to keep us free

God Bless them today and always
And may we never forget
Just what each gave for us
Let’s remember they were the best.

In memory of Lance Corporal GEORGE HARRY ROWE who died on March 24, 1941

Published with permission from Ruth Gallant.
Please do not copy or republish without permission from Ruth.

Published: 11.11.11 11:11 (EST)

The Noise Makers in my Neighbourhood

Mishka — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:28:01 +0000

Warning – a massive number of photos included with this post, and only one quilting-related one.

Last summer, the construction workers started jack-hammering for the Tribeca Condo complex being built in the block behind the building I live in. You can see the big hole in the ground on the right of this picture. I actually took this photo of the eerie storm clouds rolling in over the Ottawa River and Quebec one night a few weeks ago.

Last summer was very noisy and filthy with the dust generated from the project. I had planned to move this past Spring, but then Daniel got sick and passed away, so I put the move on hold. More pictures of the big construction are further below.

Little did I know what would begin right out my back window.

It started in April, with some exploratory drilling into through the parking lot out back and into the underground garage. I thought the construction was bad last year, this new construction was 10 times worse.

One of the evil concrete drilling machines and three power generators for the hand-held jack hammers.

They brought in a second concrete drilling machine, here they are conspiring to make life miserable for us that live/work here. This concrete drilling went on for three weeks. I work from home, and after the second week, was sure I’d lose my marbles, or be arrested for having killed the construction workers. I took off to a bed and breakfast about an hour out of town for the third week.

Soon, I’ll be able to re-hang the 8 pictures that fell off the wall, due to the concrete drillers.

All that drilling generates a tremendous amount of dust. I don’t think I’ll ever get my apartment totally cleaned again. So much for having done my Spring cleaning in March, I’ll be doing it again soon.

Metal rods have been installed everywhere to hold up the concrete pillars that have remained.

Starting to build the base for the new roof. It’s been interesting to see how they build this.

Every piece cut and fit perfectly, just like a quilt top.

Uh oh, look what fell off the balcony, wanting to be immortalized forever in the cement. Thankfully, the kind construction worker rescued my Aurifil thread for me. It was slightly dirty, but not damaged at all. Aurifil can now proudly proclaim their thread spools will survive having been dropped 5 stories. (Actually, it rolled off my table, it wasn’t intentionally dropped! Though the construction workers wanted to know why I threw a dog toy over my balcony… LOL)

The metal bars are in place, electrical wires run and the rest of the foundation is being reinforced.

Concrete pouring is said to start late this week. Hope I’m home so I can get some pictures of how it is done. Maybe I can sneak in and add my hand print!

With all the noise and dirt, I needed some colour and life on my balcony. Here are the flowers I planted this year. I kept it simple in the hopes that I’d actually remember to water them and they might even survive. Sadly, they aren’t doing too well, I don’t think they like the construction either.

With all the noise, the rats with wings haven’t been around as much as normal this year. They usually come by on long weekends or Sundays.

They wanted to make a home in my metal watering can, but I fixed that idea by putting a couple bamboo sticks and garden thingies in there. They are none to happy about my solution!

A few more photos of the Tribeca Condo complex out back. I doubt I’ll stay here long enough to see it to completion. Rumour has it that it will be a four year construction project. They are supposedly also building 6 stories of much-needed underground parking.

I long for the peace and quiet of the weekends!!

Amazing Flowers

Mishka — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:33:43 +0000

My Aunt sent me these awesome photos that she received via email. I’m not sure exactly where they came from, but this is the note that was included in the message: The First park in Guinness World Record by The Largest Number of Hanging Flower Baskets—Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

I could not resist sharing, look at the quilt patterns!! Enjoy!

The Beauties of Spring

Mishka — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:20:59 +0000

Some pictures of Spring that I took while walking in my neighbourhood last weekend. You can click the small image then scroll through the bigger photos on the next page.

Pretty Bouquets

Mishka — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:27:00 +0000

Thanks everyone for your heartfelt comments on the blog, Facebook and Twitter. Daniel was well-loved around the world.

Pretty flowers from my parents:

Edible fruit arrangement from my sister and her family:

Pretty pink flowers from the wonderful gang at Centretown Veterinary Hospital:

You were your Momma’s Baby Boy

Mishka — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:13:58 +0000

You came to me as a two-year-old. Scared, frightened and obviously abused.

Daniel hiding in the bed frame after our move to Ottawa.

You were rescued from a cold winter’s night, found eating garbage, by the Minister and his wife in my parents’ old home town. You cowered in fear whenever anyone came close.

You were beautiful and had the most gorgeous green eyes.

Daniel - my most favourite photo of him.

I won’t lie, your brother Pal, he hated you at first when you came to live with us.

Pal, my first to steal my heart.

For the first 48 hours he was so angry. He’d scare you into hiding and would not let you leave the safety of your hiding space. He hissed and he growled. I almost returned you, fearing that Pal would never accept you into our lives.

Quickly, Pal realized that you were no threat to him. You were always submissive, never an alpha cat. You did nothing unless Pal did it first. From eating, to jumping up on the furniture, to stalking birds. You followed Pal’s lead always. He taught you not to be afraid. He was your big brother.

This food is good, Daniel.

Pal loved cardboard boxes.

Pal sleeping in his box.

I’ll never forget the day you decided to chew on Pal’s box, I laughed and laughed, as Pal slept on obliviously.

Daniel chewing the corner of Pal's box as he slept in it.

Eventually, you claimed the box for yourself.

Pal on the floor as Daniel slept in his box. Victory for the first time!

You and Pal were best friends and brothers. Always together.

Pal and Daniel sleeping outside.

Pal and Daniel sleeping on their Mom's bed.

Pal and Daniel sleeping on the top of the couch.

Very unexpectedly, we lost Pal. He passed away with what was suspected to be a massive heart attack. No warning at all. He hadn’t been sick and had even been to the vet’s the week before for a check up. He curled up into his favourite sleeping place, a laundry basket, and passed away.

Pal sleeping in the laundry basket.

I cried and you cried for weeks. Neither of us expecting to lose Pal so soon and so unexpectedly. Hearing your meows of sorrow and loss, broke my heart.

No longer having the alpha cat to tell you what to do, you became a Momma’s Boy. You found your voice and chatted constantly. You were never far from my side as I worked.

Sleeping in your basket beside my desk.

You were my quilt inspector and stole bobbins and thread spools to bat around on the hardwood floor.

Is that a quilt for me mom?

You played hide ‘n’ seek every single day. But you always hid in the same place and would give yourself away by your loud purring. It was your morning ritual.

You loved having visitors and would run to greet them in the hallway. You loved your Aunties Julia, Gailene, Viviane and Caitlin best. They knew the minute they sat down, you would be on their lap.

You welcomed Slade into our home and taught him not to be afraid and how to play. You grieved when we lost him 2.5 years later.

Slade

Slade and Daniel

You dreamed of catching the pigeons that landed on our balcony.

Watching the birds.

You loved to play with your feather toy and spent hours chasing the little red dot of your laser pen. Milk-flavoured Temptations were your favourite. You were fascinated by water. An ice cube in your water dish would entertain you for 15 minutes.

You loved to be outside for hours.

You were a very good boy, sweet natured, loving and obedient, for the most part. You wouldn’t eat human food, but that didn’t stop you from trying to steal my dinner. A left-up toilet seat made your day and a watery mess for your mom to clean up. You had a gentle soul and touched the hearts of many.

Dr. Black and Dr. Sine from the Centretown Veterinary Hospital tried so hard to save you this past month. It wasn’t until after you had passed away, that we discovered you had cancer everywhere. How you managed to survive so long is a mystery.

You were Dan, Danny and Daniel, but most of all you were your Momma’s baby boy.

Thank you for your love and sweet kitty kisses. Rest in peace my baby.