Artists inspired by spring

By Kathy Smith

Battlefords Art Club

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.” — Hal Borland Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal and new life.

I hope you all eat lots of chocolate. Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behaviour by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition both physically and mentally, SO EAT LOTS of CHOCOLATE! Things are beginning to ramp up at the art club. Attendance on Tuesdays is much higher and you can feel spring in the air. As a club we have greatly enjoyed the workshops given by our members and will enjoy constructing “fascinators” for the Fred Light Museum’s Mothers Day Tea. We are in the planning stages for a show and sale at the Chapel Gallery June 29 and 30. Watch this space for ongoing information. Some of the works of members of the Battlefords Art Club. | Photos submitted

The Quilt Patch Quilt ‘til you wilt

Submitted

Rivers’ Edge Quilt Guild

A talented group of 23 quilters attended our “early” April meeting which was moved up to March 31, due to Good Friday being the first Friday in April.

Committees provided information to the guild on recent donations, one of which was a quilt to the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation for their recent ladies night, hoping someone went home with a beautiful quilt while raising money for the foundation.

Upcoming projects planned for the month of April include a foam bag on April 13, and bowl cozies April 27.

Another quilt retreat is being organized for May 11, 12, 13 with an opportunity to work on another organized project or just your own project while enjoying the company, conversation and quilt games with the other quilters, lots of fun and laughter is usually had by all.

The organization of a bus trip to Saskatoon for a quilt show in October was also the topic of conversation and information. If any member of the quilt guild is interested in the bus trip, they should contact Barb or June as soon as possible.

The best is always saved for last at the meeting which is “Show and Tell.” More than 25 quilts and other projects were displayed by eager members. Beginner or experienced quilters are always welcome to join. For more information please call Carol (306-445-4352) or Heather (306-445-6776)

Next monthly meeting is scheduled for Friday May 5, 1p.m. at the Don Ross craft room.

Spring tune-up essentials

After a long, cold winter, spring is in the air. This means it’s time to give your car a little TLC before cruising in the sunshine. Ensuring everything is in tip-top shape before you hit the road can help you avoid costly breakdowns. Here are eight essential spring tune-up tasks.

1. Battery. Most batteries last five to seven years. However, cold winters are notoriously hard on batteries. With warm weather on the horizon, ask your mechanic to check the condition of yours.

2. Windshield wipers. Ice, snow and freezing temperatures can take a toll on your wiper blades. Therefore, when the weather warms up, it’s a good idea to check your blades for signs of wear and replace them if necessary.

3. Tires. If you installed winter tires on your vehicle, now’s the time to have them swapped out for summer ones. The rubber treading on winter tires wears out faster in warm conditions. If your car is equipped with all-season tires, inspect them for tread wear, cracking or other signs of damage and replace them if necessary.

4. Hoses and belts. Harsh winter weather can affect the life of your car’s hoses and belts. It’s best to have them inspected by a trusted mechanic for cracks, leaks, fraying and stretching to ensure they’re ready to go the distance this spring.

5. Filters. Ask your mechanic to look at your vehicle’s engine and cabin filters and replace them if needed. A dirty cabin filter can cause your air conditioning system to malfunction, and a dirty engine filter can put undue stress on your engine.