It’s been a while….

One of the best things about retirement has been the freedom to do just what I want, when I want to. So just over a year ago I decided that classes of 89 students over Zoom were just too big for me to feel great about, and I stepped down from my role as Sessional Instructor in the Faculty of Education of Ontario Tech University.

In the year since, I have focused on my roles within the Pine Tree Quilters’ Guild of Muskoka, first as President and now as Program Co-Chair. I have continued my vocal practice as Musical Director of the Men of the Sound (from May to December), and chorister in the Parry Sound Singers (from January to May). I have stretched my creativity through new quilt designs. And I have continued to judge at our local fall fairs, and will soon be a Director on the board of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. Last spring I was invited to fill in as pianist for one of our local churches, and I have recently moved closer to home, playing for services each Sunday at Dunchurch Knox United. And this spring I’ll be in the pit band as keyboardist for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts‘ production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

This month will feature my first “gig” as a guest presenter at the Orillia Quilters’ Guild, sharing my experiences as a judge, and helping quilters prepare to enter their quilts in local fall fairs. I’ll attend my first board meeting of the OAAS, and following three days of the annual Convention in Richmond Hill. I’m participating in the Canadian Quilters’ Association’s True Colours Quilt-Along, both through constructing and then quilting the twelve blocks, and as designer of the 12th block, which will be released in April. And I signed up for the Mystery in Bloom quilt-along, but I don’t yet know what it is going to look like. As works in progress, I am hand-quilting Libs Elliott’s Le Fin du Monde quilt, as well MSQ’s Ingrid’s Wildflowers embroidered quilt. And a queen-sized maple leaf quilt is almost full pieced, in anticipation of a fall wedding in our family.

If you have a suggestion to add to my “to do” list, or would like to invite me to join you on one of your adventures, please let me know!