Busy July, In the Garden and Stitching

Truly I got a fright when I glanced out the kitchen window and saw this hulk type animal under the feeder, so different from what I am used to seeing there. I first thought it was a bear! This is just the second time I've seen a Raccoon here on this property. I went outside, gave a few loud claps and it ran off and to my surprise, up the side of the garage and did so with remarkable agility. I haven't seen it since.

Another strange thing I witnessed was this... I've never seen a turkey lie down before and I thought it was dead because its head was down as well. It was a huge relief to see it looking about. She was there for an hour or so before getting up and moving off. It was one of the high humidity days and I wondered why she hadn't chosen a shady spot if heat was the issue. 

It's been a very rainy summer so far with high humidity and many, many thunder and lightening storms which seem to roll in late in the day. One stalled over our heads here and lasted four hours. With every clap, Ned and Pete would bark which was not great. But even they grew tired of doing that when it wore on and on. Many people lost power so we felt lucky we didn't. There's been flooding of homes too, sadly. I've begun swimming earlier in the day because these storms seem to build as the day progresses and my only rule for not swimming is if there is lightening in the forecast. I'm enjoying the swimming very much, btw.

I do have more Stitching Progress to share, in spite of the fact I feel like I spend one quarter of my time just looking for things. On Summer Feels, my pears are finished and I'm working on that interesting flower pattern on the right. 

I don't think I showed you my finish of Painted Lady by Laura Heine. Laura's site is Fiberworks if you'd like to check out her amazing collage type art work and kits. The photo is a little dark because I've put this one on the wall in the t.v. room and the lighting is dim in there. Stitching with embroidery wool on wool is a dream and so much easier on the eyes than cross stitching on linen like above. 

That's a primitive painting there that Tony bought at an auction and to the right is how I corral my cardborad and papers to use for applique templates. 

I found a good choice for the backing with this bright blue fabric that's chock a block with flowers in bright blues, reds and yellows just like the appliques. I brought it around to the front for the borders.

The cleanup in the Sewing Room brought to light a very scrappy project I'd started some time ago? ? and tucked away. I had cut out a lot of very small quarter moons so I've been using them up to stitch a few more of these little appliqued blocks. They are about 5 inches finished and another great way to use up scraps. I laid them on the dining table for a picture. There are a number of options for final layout with these so I'd like to continue to stitch a few from time to time.

We've been to Robbie's baseball games and celebrated a birthday with Brad's family. I spend a little time in the gardens most mornings weeding and clipping. I've finally learned not to try to do it all in one session. It's wonderful to get up close with all the growing things and the beauty here still amazes me over and over. And the heat and rain have greatly benefitted the growth of all those wonderful things. The sun is shining today and there is a promise that it will hold all day. We are thankful too for our A/C. I'll save speaking about my fears for another post.

Our front steps this morning with the Hydrageas now in bloom. 

I do hope your summer or winter is going well. Take Care all!

Slow Stitching Projects, June Busting Out All Over

 Can you see him?

I feel a little sorry for the critters whose only defence is to stay stock still. 

So far I've been enjoying June very much. And I've been sticking to my plan to pare down computer time during the summer months. I've discovered how much extra time in the mornings that frees up. One way I'm using that time is undertaking a huge clear out in the sewing room which overwhelmed me at first. But I remembered that old saying How do you eat an elephant?  Bite by bite. So that's what I've been doing- one drawer at a time and after a sad overwhelming episode the first day, it's been going well. The major issue is not me; it's that the space is way too small for all I have stuffed in there. I guess that is my fault for being such an avid collector over the last 20 years, but I don't want to part with any of it just yet. Tony stopped and watched me there with the piles around me and just shook his head. He wouldn't say anything as he knows he is guilty himself of hanging onto things...on this property, he has a small garage, a very large barn/garage and a room in the basement holding all his collected paraphernalia. 

Meanwhile, I'm continuing my calm stitching which is hand stitching of any sort for me. First up is cross stitching. Here is where I am on Feels Like Summer. My eyes are adjusted to using my #4 readers with this 32 count fabric and I'm enjoying stitching one over two with the vibrant colours. I should also mention I am using my own thread stash for this one and choosing as close to the called for colour as possible. I like the way these tomatoes were charted. 

Also with slow stitching, I've finished three panels of the EPP Hexagon project. I need six in all for the size quilt I want to make. I'm staying with using up scraps for these and enjoying the whole process from cutting the templates from old flyers, choosing fabrics and colours, making the hexagons and finally sewing them together.

I've added to my appliqued quarter Dresden project too. I've sewed 34 of these blocks so far and would like to make 50. 

 Being outside taking in all the sights underfoot is certainly making June a beautiful month and time of year for me. Every time I'm out on one of the paths and something sweet and beautiful catches my eye, I remind myself how lucky to be here still. Such a diversion from worries and cares. 

I'm surprised by all the bloom as it's been a very wet start to the summer. I had planted more of these Bridalwreath Spirea bushes when I found out what wonderful and easy bloomers they are.

So lovely.

And this one below is actually a form of Lilac tree. I'll have to do more checking to confirm which one. I had wanted a Lilac tree as the one that was already here is so elderly though still sending out a few blooms each spring. This one continues to bloom abundantly. I put old coffee grounds around the roots of my flowering bushes each fall and I really don't know if that helps, but it certainly isn't hurting. 

Tony is out in the big garage working on fixing something on the big mower. I've given him a pillow because I know he has to lie down when taking breaks. I have so much admiration for his determination to keep going. At this point, I think it is pure willpower that is fueling his body. He has decided to sell his Spyder as he really shouldn't ride anymore which is a most sensible decision and relief to me. 

I've been swimming between the rain showers we've been experiencing every single day. Someone said the rain is why the trees are so green and leafed out this year after the drought last summer. Or maybe our eyes are just so astounded to see so much green after a very long, very white winter. 

I hope you are enjoying the season where you are. " The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."  W. B. Yeats

June Stitching and Summer Joys

 I wonder if your head is spinning like mine. Each day is like the blink of the eye. I'm no sooner up and starting the morning when it seems I'm closing drapes and shutting the house down again. Perhaps that is a good thing as it means I'm busy which I feel I certainly am. 

Outside, the world has come alive and so quickly it seems. It's always a pleasant surprise how much colour there is this season of the year. Even the Dandelions are so welcome. I'm calling this one "Me and My Shadow".

And here are the pretty Primroses. I don't know what you would label those colours, but they sure are vibrant.

And my elderly Lilac tree is in bloom too. 

I promised I would show you my latest fitness device. It is called a Rebounder and is one of those home trampolines. What's really surprising me about it is I thought I'd be able to jump forever on it- what fun!- but no, I do feel the exercise part of it as it raises my heart rate quite quickly. A mere 7 minutes is all I'm managing right now. 

I'd been swimming every day too which is wonderful but rain with thunder has sidelined that exercise the last three days. I'm not heating the pool and like last year, I do believe the cold plunge part is good for me. 

My stitching fingers have been busy too. I put the totally hand stitched Lone Star Medallion quilt on the wall for a photo. I'd backed it with a white fabric that was a sheet...Tommy Hillfiger actually, so a good quality.  It was fun getting it all appliqued but then fiddly getting all the points and dips joined neatly to the backing. I measured and each diamond is exactly 43 inches which amazed me considering all the little hand stitches in this project and how it's been mauled with all the handling for each step along its journey too. 

I'm also working on the table topper Primrose Flowers piece. More hand quilting which also involved decision making. After trying two templates I had on hand, I settled on drawing a little mod flower shape and that's what I'm using for the quilting lines. This should not take too long. 

For the backing, I used an old sheet from way back in the day that is still very sturdy and perfectly suits this project. I actually remember the Mod Flower craze back in the late sixties. It wasn't my taste but I did have one align dress with flowers on it. 

That black thingy there is my magnet; I wave it around my chair and in the sewing room all the time as I'm always worried about the dogs and pins. 

I've been waiting a long time to get this library book below and finally it is my turn. It's material obsession two by Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty. 

I love how Sarah creates these wonderful and surprisingly large quilts with hand piecing and mostly in her lap. There are two particular quilts in this book I've admired for a very long time and would love to make and the patterns are there for me to copy. That's one of the things that gives me a little leap of joy these days. Here is Sarah talking about one of them, Jazz Hands, which is pieced with that kite shape there. 

I'm continuing my summer plan to spend less of my free time on the computer. As a result, I'm definitely spending more time outside- gardening, walking, swimming, etc. and inside- stitching, reading and scribbling. So far, it is the garden that is definitely benefitting the most from this plan.

My Phoebes have fledged. I think there were three little ones this year. It's very difficult to get a good photo as this nesting spot is very tight to the overhang and hidden slightly. I thought of getting a step ladder but I didn't want to disturb them. Pretty sure there are three there. What do you think?

On that very hopeful note, I'll end this post. Oh yes, before I forget again, this is also my summer of dresses. I've had great luck at thrift stores finding a few for summer. I'll share the latest next post. I hope your summer or your winter is off to a wonderful start. 

 

Spring Cleanup, Finishes, A New Start

 Here are the dogs taking a dip one day when the clouds did a very unusual thing.

They swirled and darkened above us in the center with a rim of brightness all around the horizon's edge. It looked like we were under a bowl of doom, LOL.

  It was both neat and threatening looking. And I wish I could have captured some kind of surround photo. Everyone's complaining about the cold and cloudy spring. The weather people keep promising higher temps that don't happen or there is a chilling breeze. 

My Merlin Sound ID ap is identifying usually seven or eight different birds around the pond every morning. Nashville Warbler is the new one to me but I've yet to see it. Keep hoping to.

Meanwhile, here is the second brightest bird I get to photograph, the Blue Jay. 

My cross stitched project that is an homage to Mom is finished. I think of her every day, usually with something I want to ask her about. 

And here is my next summer cross stitching project, Summer Feels, from the clever folks at The Artsy Housewife. They have an Owl design that I love, but my rule is this one has to be done before ordering another.

 I don't stitch on coloured fabric that often but the design certainly suits this pinkish shade of 32 count Belfast linen called Sorbet. I already know I will struggle to show you this colour as it really is.  

And here are the flosses around my upside down very tiny start.

My FPP Primrose Flowers small quilt is at the flimsy stage. I've sized it to fit a certain side table here. These blocks are pretty and the FPP makes the sewing go quickly. Now to choose a backing and get it layered for quilting.

Meanwhile I'm almost finished the quilting lines on the Lone Star Medallion. I'm using the seams as a guide.  I'm also using Frog Tape to help keep the lines straight too. Any of you use that?

 May has been a productive month for me. I've changed over the bed linens and reorganized three closets. I've cleaned out the flower beds in front and to the side of the house...still have more to do in the back yard. I tidied up the laundry area in the basement where I also keep all my plant stuff. It's one of those places where you dump things and can get messy after a while.

 There have been three ticks on me so far and I do a check every night. I'm using the OFF Tick spray and so far it seems to be working; last year I'd found 7 or 8 ticks at this point.  

Yes this is the center of a Tulip. Besides the brilliant yellows, I like the hexagon shape and the brushed edges of the brown.  There's so much more beauty to see when you look closely. Plants don't disappoint...unlike weather, people, politicians, etc. LOL

I do hope there is nothing disappointing you! One final thing... I've bought a fitness device that I'm loving. I'll share next time. 

Old and New Stitching Projects, Spring Delights

Outdoors, the world is awakening; every thing from the biggest to the tiniest is changing now. I'm out tramping about three times a day so as not to miss anything. I almost missed the White Trilliums, Ontario's provincial flower. They are a little scarce here on our property and bloom far apart so was happy to spy this one. 

Also happy to see these all over...white Dog Rose.

Flower centers are so interesting! Not wild but can you guess which spring flower this is?  

Meanwhile, inside I've been keeping with my plan for a little machine stitching now and then. 

 I've stitched four more Flicker bocks. There is very little orange, the RSC colour for May, in my stash and what I do have is being saved for a Halloween applique quilt. This burnt orange will have to do. 

And it's time to share with you a new quilty start. I'm always late to any new pattern craze and have had this one in my file for a couple of years now. It's the Liberty Puddles quilt. While I have a few bits of Liberty fabric, I won't be using them. I'm continuing digging deep into my scraps instead. Hexies are the perfect pattern for using smaller scraps. I'm hoping by choosing the very bright yellow it will give all the so so patchwork hexagon colour mix a lift. HERE is a link to free printable Hexies in sizes ranging from 2 to 4 inch.

And you can get a free 1 inch pattern at the pretty AppleGreen Cottage site HERE.

I'd wanted to use up this green fabric below, kind of a spring green for the solid Hexie borders. This is a piece I've hung onto forever. 

Then I worried about running out of it and finding a match would be a challenge and also break my plan not to buy any more fabric. The yellow is easier to match up and I think I have enough on hand to get this one done. I'm, per usual, cutting the hexagons from old flyers and papers. EPP is the perfect sewing in the evening in front of the tv. This is #2 panel this size I've made so far.

 Did you know they are putting vitamins in coffee now? We received a notice that Tony's Nespresso coffee is available with B12 added to the pods so we've been using them.  I've been worried too that, with his waning appetite, I haven't been able to get enough protein into him. We decided to give one of those meal programs a try. This one, Factor, promises more protein in the servings. Anyway, our first box is proving to be successful as he is enjoying the meals and eating most of the servings. Last night he had green curry with rice and vegetables and really liked it. That's my salad there.

If he likes these it would take a little pressure off me to keep him fed properly. 

I really liked what Prime Minister Carney did for the Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, who was part of NASA's Artemis II team who flew around the moon. He presented Jeremy with the Canadian flag that was flying on our parliament building Peace Tower the day they successfully touched down off California.  

In far less exciting news, we are getting the pool opened this afternoon. I plan not to heat it again like last year and I'm really looking forward to a daily swim.

I hope there is something you are looking forward to too. We must do our best to keep moving and enjoy the odd treat from time to time too. 

Marvelous May, Floral Beauty, Slow Stitching Updates

We don't get to see sunsets here with the way the house is situated but we can occasionally see the effects of sunsets like this one below. The woods in the back yard were glowing with these vibrant colours; it looked surreal. 

I love when I manage a sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker, even better when it stays just long enough for me to grab a photo.  Any of the large birds are thrilling to photograph even when from quite a distance. 

 

My stitching fingers have been busy. For embroidery, I picked up my French Floralies piece to work on this week. Here is the chart posed beside my Madagascar Jasmine which is happily sending out new shoots. I'm always relieved when these older plants survive the winter. The beautiful white flowers are very similar to Magnolias which, btw, is the state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Here is a photo of enjoyable veranda stitching on this project last summer with pink Wiegelia bushes in bloom. BTW, if you are thinking of new flowering bushes for your garden, consider Weigelias as they are so hardy and bloom for long periods. The pinks they come in are gorgeous too. 

And now it is finished. Surface embroidery is one of my many loves and of the twelve different stitches used in this design, satin stitch is my favourite. HERE is the link to the Canevas Folies site where you can see other gorgeous kits and patterns they offer. Canevas Folies is French for canvas/ tapestry whims or follies. Some of you may be interested in this link which takes you to their blog and the step by step instructions to Needle Paint an apple. It is easy to follow and you can achieve stunning results.

Tony thinks the photo isn't doing it justice which is a nice complement. He seldom notices these things. :)

I've finished the quilting lines on my Flowers and Butterflies woolen piece- photos later, and now have my Lone Star Medallion quilt topper is back in the quilting hoop and about time too. Here it is last summer. I did layer it up at the time, began the stitching and didn't like how untidy my lines looked so took out all the stitches. So maybe second time now will be the charm. 

This was stitched using EPP so it took a while to remove the paper triangles too. I'm so eager to get this one finished. Sigh

We've been busy with appointments including another one for Tony where we met our new doctor. He's at least twenty years younger than our last and we both liked him very much. He gave Tony the very good news that the lung nodule has not grown and he also had a suggestion about his medications. The one he takes for high cholesterol is known to casue tiredness in some people so he wants Tony to half the dosage to see if it makes a difference in his case. Tony was surprised (and to be honest, a bit angry) as no doctor has mentioned this to him before. Of course, he will give that a try and it buoyed his spirits to think he might have a chance to feel better. 

 

Dog walking has been wonderful especially seeing up close all the changes with spring taking hold now, in spite of it being a wet, cold one. I'll leave you with a photo taken from the tv room window (that has a screen on it) of my deliriously happy pups relaxing on the back veranda. Note the snow shovel that needs putting away- finally!

Also from that same chair, I'm watching the Phoebes who are back-yeah!- and using the same nesting spot on the wall as last year. I do hope things are also going well for you wherever you are in this wonderful world of ours!