We are hosting a big party right now: the Olympics! At our house we are watching a lot of Olympic coverage; it's so unusual to see the Olympics when they are only three hours away, rather than the normal middle of the night on the other side of the pond. People sometimes ask me if I cheer for Canada or the US, and the answer is Canada! I've been here since 1983. I know my mother, may she rest in peace, would never have let me leave Tennessee if she suspected I would never come home. But I fell in love. Not only did I fall in love with my Canadian husband, I fell in love with this country. I didn't know anything about Canada when I applied to do my Master's degree at McGill; I didn't really understand at a gut level that it is a different country. And although I had taken two years of French at university, if I had really understood that they speak living, breathing French in Montreal, I would have been too frightened to make the leap. It was a big enough challenge to my timid soul just leaving the south! I became a citizen of Canada in 1995 (retaining my US citizenship, as well.) I've never completely adjusted to the Canadian winters, I must admit; I think I had passed the critical period for winter sports before I immigrated! But I do know the rules of hockey, from years of cheering for the Montreal Canadiens. Last night we cheered for Team Canada, as they beat the Norwegians 8-0; here is a photo of our cheering section.
On the long weekend, my husband and I went down for a walk along the lakeshore. Lake Ontario is frozen solid. People were paraskating, the iceboats were out, and folks playing hockey so far out that they looked like ants from the shore.
There are huge ice shards along the shoreline. We haven't had much snow so far this winter - all our snow seems to have been rerouted South. Thanks, guys!
And I did get some sewing done this weekend - I finished all my black blocks for that red and black star quilt. Thelma has decided it's not for her, but I am really feeling the love. I'm still waiting for the remainder of the fabric I ordered to arrive before I can do the light blocks. This is going to be a favourite, I can just tell!
16 comments:
Lesly,
What a wonderful post, I just assumed you were native to Canada. I've been to Canada once, Montreal for a conference. It was lovely! The Olympics make me want to pop up to Vancouver. The Olympics are wearing me out, and I'm not even skating or skiing, but they're on soooooo late.
WHAT'S UP WITH THOSE BLOCKS... I LOVE THEM!!! This quilt, it's out to drive me to distraction!!
What a lovely post. We too are glued to the TV most nights. Had an Olympic Opening party too. Girls are sporting those mitts too. We just got some more snow overnight, just when the roads were almost clear, they don't plow side streets in Calgary, ugh. Have a great day. I hope to get some sewing in today!
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us! Canadians are a huge mystery to me. Maybe because I feel they're so no nonsense, and I'm just a fluff ball full of it sometimes! LOL
The ice is incredible! I'd heard the Great Lakes were freezing over, so thank you for an eyewitness picture!
The blocks, as always, are yummy!
Cute cheering section, those shards of ice are amazing, and I'm loving those blocks!
The cheering section looks really comfortable. Love the blocks for Paprika.
I love how your quilt is shaping up.
I had no idea you were from the South - I can see how adjusting to winter in the arctic would be a challenge. :)
I only wish they'd telecast the Olympics live, especially since I'm on the W. Coast. We've watched a little, but the kids grow bored of it fairly quickly.
What absolutely smashing blocks! Kinda warms you up just looking at them! It is looking like a gold medal quilt. 8^)
I have bought more of those mittens than I can count. Have sent them all over the world (and have kept some for the family).
I don't think the Great Lakes froze when I was in Kingston for school - your pictures look amazing.
As for those blocks, they are wonderful. Not sure I'd be up for that challenge.
Lesly, your blocks are incredible. I love those blacks mixed in with the reds. Congrats to the Canadian team! I've enjoyed this post. I knew you were a "Canadian transplant", but didn't realize you were from the south. Big change from Tennessee to Canada I would imagine...especially the winters. Your cheering section is adorable. We are watching the Olympics now....I have my laptop handy for use during the commercials.
Wow, what amazing ice photos! And your blocks look fab - they're going to make one cool quilt!
I think Canada is a wonderful country even though I don't live there. When I lived in Seattle, we visited Vancouver very often (had friends there) and I could move there in a minute. It's gorgeous!!
I love your blocks...they are beautiful and such interesting fabrics and colors you chose! I can't wait to see this one finished!!
Lesly, your red and black quilt is looking awesome. And I loved your dog hanging off the couch, watching the Olympics with your snowball quilt in the background! We're big Olympic junkies too. We're just up the coast from Vancouver and we wish we were there watching them in person.
DH keeps saying that we need to visit BC someday. I'm really enjoying all of the Olympics too. Love the look of your red and white quilt on the back of the couch. Mine is coming along.
That is beautiful! I love the red & black star quilt. The frozen lake sounds so cool. I have never seen/been on one, but my husband grew up in Minnesota & has memories of playing on the frozen lake in their back yard. Sounds whimsical.
Thanks for entering the giveaway.
Amber
I love, love, love those red and black blocks! Gorgeous . . .
AHHH - you're making me miss "home". See I've done the opposite - lived in Canada until I was 40, then moved to NC. We've been rooting for Canada too!! Gotta admit - not missing the winters, though we did have a little snow here - 6 - 8" - it was a huge deal. Here, at our house, we were secretly laughing!!
Looking forward to your block fabrics. Sounds like fun and what a gorgeous quilt it's going to make!
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