The birdsong alone is worth a very early morning start to the day. A switch has been turned and it's like cue the sun, the birds, and all the growing things too. Here Ned is amazed by the sprouting leaves that have appeared seemingly overnight.
Note the fallen trees and branches; ice storms are very hard on old trees.
And it's definitely spring when Ontario's provincial flower is in bloom...the beautiful and delicate White Trillium. If I had a wish to improve it, it would be that it become hardier and last longer.
And it is also the Ohio state wildflower. Speaking of these flowers, I'm starting to prep my State and Provincial flowers project. I need 12 inch squares according to the directions. I've been digging out some whites for that and fingers crossed, I have enough.
Meanwhile here are EPP Starry Hexagons, the green ones together to share at the RSC So Scrappy party. I've sewn more in blues and reds because I have a lot more scraps in those colours.
And I couldn't resist taking a photo of this corner of the hall carpet at the hotel last week. HST's are everywhere and I liked how the design used a little one to turn the corner. Neat, heh.
I was so happy to grab kitchen window photos of this second time visitor to the bird feeder area. How fortunate I hang around my kitchen sink so much! I think it's the same falcon I spy now and then near the pond and am never able to grab a shot. And make no wonder I've never gotten to photograph them in the air...they are the fastest of the birds and can reach up to 200 mph! It didn't hang around here either so these were quick shots with no time to adjust settings.
Just enough so I could confirm that I was actually seeing a Peregrine Falcon.
I was asked what did I mean by cheesy bread. And at the risk of disappointing you if you had in mind an artisan cheese bread something or other, I'm sharing it. It's basically bread...in this case I used naan bread sprinkled with grated Gouda cheese and set under the broiler to melt. Of course, it can be fancied up with chives or green onions or spices. It goes well with just about anything, in this case, beans and wieners, and Tony enjoys it.
I have the pin on the sidebar for Featured Post where I review old posts and choose one each week to share. I'm enjoying it for myself as it is nice to go years back and see what I was sewing and cooking. I think I'm remembering well overall but so many things need that little jog.
I promised a few photos of my weekend away to downtown Ottawa which according to Google maps is a 41 minute drive from here. It was exciting to be in a city but I had mixed emotions about what I saw there. A lot more folks suffering around the streets and we were warned about not walking at night in an area that had always been an interesting/wonderful place to stroll and explore. But on the upside the Chateau is still so beautiful- I love it there. This is the view from our window looking towards Parliament Hill.
And they have a dog mascot now. A black Labrador Retriever named Stewart. He has an interesting background...he flunked out of Guide Dog School but for an awesome reason...he was too friendly. We kept checking his area but didn't get to meet him.
The tulips were everywhere and we worried about a frost warning for Saturday night but it didn't dip below 0C.
We went to the very large Rideau shopping mall and I got to roam one of my favourite stores, Simons. I could have bought many items- I especially love their scarves and summer hats, but settled on a colourful summer blouse I'll share soon.
Meanwhile, back at home, that same glorious day I'm admiring tulips, Tony attended the poutine festival at the local Beckwith park with Robbie and Brad. In case you don't know, poutine is a French dish where regular fries are coated in gravy and cheese curds. It doesn't sound like it, but it is delicious.
Now back to real life and the mundane stuff...We have our new fridge and I like the see through drawers and how the freezer section has shelves, not one huge drawer things get lost in like the old one.
And I've begun the garden clean up including scrubbing the bird bath. No sooner did that and a chickadee took a bath which was gratifying and almost like it was thinking "it's about time!". But there's lots more outdoor work to be done.
✅I found this awesome free online jigsaw puzzle site...Jigidi, where you do not have to give any personal info. It offers many, many categories...my favourite is vintage art and you control the number of pieces too. There are many options available that I haven't explored...like turning them into greeting cards or creating your own puzzles. And it also has a huge number of puzzles featuring quilts too like this pretty one.
And in stitching I got out the EPP square in a square blocks I'd begun for a past RSC and have been adding another border. I used mostly darker scraps for these and they fit Taryn's present Scrappy Meets Thrift Challenge too. Check out the Repro Quilt Lover's SAL if you like using up scraps. I don't have a lot in green as it turns out but these few fit.
Readers Questions/Comments
Elaine kindly wrote me to say she thinks the tower in my cross stitched England Quakers project is the Ackworth School tower.
It does look like it!
And what seconds that thought is the fact that this was founded as a Quaker school and still upholds Quaker values today.
Someone wrote to ask about where I got the free diamond template shape I'm using for the Starry Hexagons. I checked back in my messages and can't find that message anymore to reply personally. I'm so sorry about that. Here is the link I use to find free diamond patterns for those scrappy EPP stars. Alice Caroline BOM Shapes
And thank you all for the continuing messages regarding Tony's health. We love that you share your stories about fatigue - it's always good to know you're not alone and it's a learning experience to know what worked for others. We have explored his iron and protein levels and he is taking vitamin B12. And the cardiologist has scheduled him for a stress test and another CT scan in attempting to further his understanding as to why he is so weak. The investigation is kind of ongoing, I guess.
LeeAnna's, Not Afraid of Color, question this week is have we ever ridden a motorcycle. I did once and absolutely loved it. But it is odd that Tony has always ridden motorcycles and I've never ridden with him, come to think of it. Maybe it's because I would need the equipment or something.
I hope you all have a wonderful end of week and something fun in your weekend too.
Then I realized he wasn't alone. There must be others about too.
I've pulled a few fabrics to work on Block 2 of Liberty's Birds.
This is perhaps my favorite block. Do you think that is the glorious eagle? And one of my favourite motifs, a wreath is on this Block 2 which is called Justice's Wreath.
To do with cross stitching, I did a test using one strand of thread over two as suggested by readers. I like the look and it provides enough coverage but, my, using one strand of embroidery thread is so fine and tiny.
I can flip this piece of fabric and begin again...it's quite long. I always go bigger with the size because I have a fear of running out of fabric. Can you make out my new teeny tiny stitches here?
Taken outside in early morning dappled light.
My Big News!
I went on a little Mother's Day getaway...two nights in a hotel downtown Ottawa, Chateau Laurier. I'd dug out my old suitcase and even older spring coat, which, considering the rather cool temperatures, I needed. I had to put them out on the back deck to air out...goodness knows what our basement would smell like to others!
That coat which is more grey/beige than the photo is showing, is so old- at least 12 years. Though the sales lady at the time told me it was classic, I wonder if it is still so. But then women over 40 are supposed to be invisible, so it wouldn't matter what I've got on. I wouldn't have given this a thought but the downtowns of cities are where the really cool people are. You know the ones who dress in black. The last time I was in downtown Toronto I couldn't get over the number of young people dressed in fancy sports like gear. I noticed that's where the thin people are too. Anyway, such it was.
Two things I took with me for down time in the room...
This book, the Booker Prize winning The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright. I think I got to read three pages.
And for stitching- something with few bits and bobs to keep track of...the Floralies embroidery project. Never got to take this out of the suitcase but comforting to know it was there.😊
In my absence, Tony was well looked after by SIL Brad and Robbie, so no worries there. And he is quite trustworthy in regard to not endangering himself by trying to do something heroic like climb on the roof or even a ladder, for that matter.
I will share some photos of my little getaway next time. Thank you for all the comments on the dresses I shared in the last post. And a Belated Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers and grandmothers too.
My sole lilac tree is starting to sprout. It's very old and getting slower to bud every year. In fact I had thought it was done, and am delighted to see these few sprigs.
The Trout lilies have opened.
And just like that, I spy a Dandelion too.
Though cold and rainy so far, spring is moving along in our neck of the woods.
Yesterday I put all my Basket Love bits up on the back hall wall to take stock. I made note of what I need to finish the baskets and how to keep brightening the overall look...yellows seem to help. This definitely has a primitive vibe and I'm enjoying using men's shirts fabrics too.
I've sewn more of the Broken Dishes blocks to practice accuracy.
It is pleasant, stress free work in the sewing room while listening to a podcast. Sometimes I listen to Mel Robbins depending on the topic.
Anna on Quilt Roadies thanked her viewers as they were able to tell her she stored the sisters... Kathy Schmidt and Bonnie Sullivan's patterns together in one of her Yazzii Bags. And said bag was hanging in plain sight. Yazzii Bags are really neat, btw; they are so pretty and there is a carryall bag for just about every stitching need. You can check them out at that link.
Weather events have to be the worst as there is really nothing we can do about them. We had a crazy weather report last week...wild temperature swing, possibility of hail, winds at 110 mph and a severe thunder storm. Oh and a possibility of a tornado was thrown into the mix, a surprisingly common thing here during summer. The day was lovely though with a bit of sun peeking through clouds and the warmest day so far and where we were going was far from where this forecast was predicted. According to the radar we were going to miss this band of weather completely. So we headed off. Sure enough we had a splendid day out but on our way back when still in Ottawa, it suddenly all changed. And when I say sudden I mean in a matter of minutes. While in a long line of five o'clock traffic, the sky darkened, the wind whipped up and rain started to fall. In seconds, it was falling in sheets...at times looking like a white sheet completely obliterating the landscape and pounding on the roof. Just able to glimpse the red brake lights of the car in front of us now and then. We knew we needed to get off the road. As we were desperately looking to see how we could manage that, a sign of a church came visible, St. Stephens Anglican Church. We were able to make a quick turn into their parking lot and get out of the traffic. My heart was beating so fast.
And within minutes, it was all over. The sun came out! Feeling so thankful we resumed our journey, now seeing trees down but none across the road thankfully, one car accident...how there weren't more is a miracle, and an ambulance blared past us. Later I read the weather incident was caused by the cold weather we've been having so far this spring meeting the warmth of a sudden heat wave. There were many accidents and damage to property reported. On the news they said Ottawa has very high home insurance rates due to the increased frequency of extreme weather events. It sure seems like there are more "events" these days.
Okay something fun after that! I mentioned I'm checking out older lady summer dresses online. Amazon has an amazing stock of such. But I have requirements like it must have a sleeve and a higher neckline. I wonder could the strings here pull up the neckline a bit more. I would wear summer 3/4 length leggings under this I think.
I like how comfy this one looks. And like the one above, got great reviews. Do you go by the reviews?
I should mention I have a strict price point with summer clothes. Our season is not long enough to warrant paying a lot of money for an item-unless there is a special occasion of course. The dresses I'm showing here are less than $25C.
And I like this one...so easy wearing I think. A cotton linen blend-a bit baggy looking but comfy too...this would be great around the house and I like the blue.
I have my summer clothes out and hanging in the closet. It really doesn't look like I need anything new...it never does, does it! But it's nice to get something so I'll keep you posted.
Our local cardiologist's office called Tony for an appointment. I'll talk more about that next time.
The Phoebes are building a nest on the old speaker at the back of the house again this year...two in a row. I can watch them from my chair in the TV room window. The two of them spent ages flying back and forth from a nearby tree to the site thoroughly checking it out before giving it an okay it seems.
They are both bringing material now I notice but I can't tell them apart, though one seems a little darker which might mean the male.
Working together which is nice to watch. They are beautiful birds who build a very sturdy nest with a moss/mud foundation. And they do us a favour by eating mosquitoes. That will become meaningful any minute now!
We both love mandarin oranges and one of these tiny ones is enough for Tony. But it is the thrifted crocheted doily that I want to talk about.
It has extra material on the middle of the four corners. I wonder how many of you remember this. I think the extra was to poke up in a wave and be starched into that shape. Do you remember your Mom starching doilies? Mine did.
Below is my tableside work bench in the TV room just below that window I mentioned above. I have a special gift for collecting things around me where ever I sit. Here there is my hand stitching, my 5 lb weight, sparkling water, and dark chocolate coconut almonds for sustenance during the long night of TV viewing, LOL. What you can't see are...my Ott lamp poised on a narrow book case, my small cosmetic bag with nail files ( because with cross stitching, the nails have to be smooth) and lip conditioner (dry winters), my needlebook, a large ceramic cup for pens, pencils, scissors, etc. and my plastic bin case ( you can get a glimpse of it there) that contains threads, glue, pins, etc. I try my best to have whatever I need for the evening at hand there so I don't have to make trips back through the main area to the sewing room. And I don't know why that sounds arduous but by that time of the day, it just seems so.
I also have a stretchy resistance band there, but truthfully, I'm not sure if I use that correctly. Resistance training is having a moment now especially important for seniors apparently.
What about you? Do things accumulate around your stitching chair as well?
And as you can see, I've begun stitching EPP stars in the May RSC colour, green. Joining the party at So Scrappy.
The new fridge has been ordered and will arrive next week. Though eager to have a fridge again I believe it has been healthy for me to use the stairs so much each day. Maybe that's why I'm feeling pretty good fitness wise...with spring conditions underfoot so much improved I've been taking Ned on two long walks, morning and late afternoon. And I've been using my Cubii at night too. Tony also takes Ned out some days for a brief jaunt up the laneway. Ned, btw, has an enclosed one acre back yard to use but won't stay out there without one of us with him. Again this year, a groundhog is out there thinking it is his garden.
Lori at Humble Quilts is running a SAL featuring The Tree of Life block, a traditional two colour one. Lori's is red and neutral and she has been using those triangles on a roll which interested me too. Though practising my HST's, I don't think I could be accurate enough to manage this block.
Here at the Fat Quarter Shop you can find a free pattern and video instructions from Cheryl. And with vintage patterns in mind...here is a link to Q is For Quilter and their marvelous bank of free patterns both for quilting and embroidering. I love scrolling through those posts and just dreaming of stitching.
Recently I asked if any of you knew the name that the hst's in a Broken Dishes block had formed. We all get by with a little help from friends. I was watching Quilt Roadies on YouTube, an episode called Quilting Settlesthe Heart and Mind and Anna shared her very cute Kathy Schmitz bunny she had made.
She knew she had the patterns to stitch the other animals in Kathy's series and went looking in her craft room which she calls the bee hive. Anyway, she can't find them and she wondered if any of us viewers maybe saw where she had put them when she shared them with us a while back.😄But I know exactly how she feels because even with my efforts to have designated stations, files, containers, baskets, etc. in rooms, I am always searching for something...glasses often, phone sometimes, books, etc.
Btw, here is Ruth the Rabbit, one of the sweet embroidered animals she was talking about...Kathy Schmitz if you'd like to check it out.
I'm eager to get outside in the garden and get clearing the flower beds. I don't like to do that too soon as I want to give overwintering critters a chance to crawl away. But soon now, maybe if the weather cooperates, even today.
I'm checking out a couple of super comfy summer dresses online that I'll share next time. It's been a long time since I shopped for clothes. I dressed like a lumberjack all winter what with the wood carrying and all. So it's time to spruce up a little. I also will share a frightening but thankfully short lived experience I had.
Take care, dear readers, each and every one of you!
Pouring down rain lately made for a couple of drab mornings. One of those mornings, I used my thrifted umbrella, the one that is kind of useless as it doesn't really keep the rain off just sort of but I love the shape and colour. I bought it years ago and it remains my most unusual and probably most impractical thrift buy.
It's unique enough I always wonder about who owned it before me. It's got a real wooden handle too. This was at the end of the walk and I'm actually wet. Form over function in this case!
Though wet, Ned and I don't mind; the earth needs a good wash.
The fox I showed before has been sighted a few times lately. I've decided to use this bear bell on our walks.
I've attached it to the handle of Ned's leash and it makes a continual tinkle. With a further shake, it sounds more like a clang. Hopefully, it will be enough to warn off the fox or any other wild things crossing our paths.
My stitching this week is working on the Basket Loves handles and border. I've decided to use brighter fabrics for the handles backing for contrast and to brighten up the overall look. I've now finished the bottoms- I think there are 12.
How appropriate...look at the difference a week can make. Though none outside yet...tulips on the wall and outside visions of green and sunshine.
My indoor White Polka Dot plant survived the winter and is now doing this. Seemingly shedding the old plant by growing a brand new one in the middle. I looked this up and it said it is the sign of a vigorous plant to be able to do this. Maybe this one just really loved coffee and egg shell water.
A Few Happy Scrolling Sites
I'm so happy to see Jenny of Elefantz is back blogging. I think I've always been drawn to her because she seems to be more of a hand stitcher than one working with the machine. Lately I've enjoyed seeing her branch out into stitching sashiko, for instance. And I was thrilled to hear Tilda had chosen her as one of their Australian designers this year. Jenny very generously offers many lovely patterns for us to stitch. I've downloaded her free Pear Hive pattern.
HERE is her beautiful post about how to stitch lazy daisy and sew very neat backstitches. I once tried the test to compare my stitches to hers and, of course, she fit in many more in the space. Hence, hers look tiny and perfect. HERE is the link to her updated free patterns. And she is presently running a BOM for needleworkers, also free. I'm also in awe of how Jenny and her hubby contend with the climate where they live and strive so hard to maintain a garden and grow vegetables too.
SoeDiDee was another interesting site I've come across in my internet wandering. They have all the cross stitch designers listed and when you visit there, the free patterns are listed as well. Interesting viewing. I went there in the first place because Dutch Comfort was stitching a free pattern that caught my eye. It took a bit of looking to find it but here is the link to Reindeer and Friends, a sweet design from Twin Peaks Primitives. You can pop over HERE to see Nicolette's lovely version.
Here at Phoebe Moon, there are neat free quilt patterns too. Pumpkin blocks always grab my attention.
All the fabric designers offer a section of free patterns. At the Marcus fabrics site...Make it With Marcus, you will find many lovely patterns if sometime you are in the need of relaxing scrolling.
But back to spring...lovely music too...
Be sure to drop by Not Afraid of Color to see what other folks posted as their wonderful likes this week. I hope you have something happy, lovely, or uplifting in your day, this last one of April, 2025!
I took this photo from the sewing room. He was so close to the window I could study his ears, which I noted moved independently of each other.
The day before we had our Easter company, I took advantage of a burst of energy and spent the day going full tilt. Do you know what that means? Is it an expression you use? Anyway, I vacuumed the whole house and then put Nellie to work mopping it all too. I put out the garbage but before that I'd cleared out a huge cupboard in the back basement and a number of items made it into that garbage. The clearing out mood continued with a deep dive into one of those huge side bottom cupboards in the kitchen, the matching pair I have that are so deep and dark things get put in there and lost forever. Will you think badly of me if I tell you I found a package of black rice dated 2019. I was sorry I'd forgotten about it and never ate it because it seems like an interesting food. I later tossed it around in the woods and then worried it might sicken some animal or bird that ate it. I wonder would it...😞 But I kept going...dusted the tv room and cleaned all the bits in the two bathrooms. I also swept the front and back verandas. Then I said we're going out to get McDonalds for supper which we did. I had my "jump over the moon" energetic, spring cleaning kind of day. About three times a year, the whole of the house gets a clean like that.
Have you ever had a day like that? Where you have boundless energy and feel so good getting badly needed things done. That reminded me of this cute cartoon I came across on Etsy...from Feral Town. I got a chuckle from the other featured animals and the very clever remarks, too.
Thanks Readers!
Recently a couple of you let me know you'd gotten suspicious emails from me. I appreciated this and had Tony look at my laptop. He ran a program to clean it up...ok that's as technical I can get about whatever it was he did. There are a few more safety measures in place now and how my comments are working has changed. But online security is an important issue these days and I wish I had more interest in computer matters. So big thanks!
Several of you wrote to say the pattern formed by those HST's was called Broken Dishes. I should have remembered that but forgot.
When I spoke about my problem with the threads looking crowded on that sheep motif of England Quakers, I heard from two readers. Patricia M. and Sandra O. (not the actor, LOL). They both kindly mentioned perhaps I should be stitching on this particular 36 count linen with just one thread not two. I've never cross stitched with one thread and hadn't thought of that as a reason why I'm not liking how my stitches are looking. I'm going to have a think about it...maybe I need to start over with the one thread or maybe find another piece of linen in my stash to start it again. But thanks, ladies, for mentioning that. I always love suggestions. Further to this, I've done more research and it seems I should be using one thread on this linen. It seems I am still learning...you'd think being into your 70's, you'd have your act together. Well clearly, I don't!!
So my slow stitching in the meantime is on my Year at Hawk Run Hallow project, working on the August block while mulling over that other issue. This is where I was.
I found stitching on this linen so easy compared to the England Quakers fabric, I couldn't believe it. I've made good progress.
Meanwhile I also want to share with you this quilt below, one I don't think I ever showed fully finished. I came across it in the old sewing room closet during that cleaning spree I was on. I have a habit of not sharing the things I fully finish. By the time I stitch the binding which is so boring to me, I figure you are tired of seeing it too. During Covid, Quiltmania offered a free SAL (which they did every year).
Here on the wall in the back hallway.
And this one taken outside in natural light.
Should have given it a press!
Many quilt designers offered an easy to stitch block and these were the 11 I chose. Some of these blocks were sewn for the RSC when red or pink rolled around. I especially enjoyed stitching the applique blocks and think this one below might be my favourite, tiny hexagons surrounded by hearts. Remember how the whole world seemed so united during that crisis. That part of it was amazing in a good way. Funny and strange how that feeling has shifted to the opposite in now not dire circumstances.
And on the baking front...lately I've been making batches of the Jumbo Breakfast Cookies to have on hand, each time using Rice Krispies instead of Cheerios. I add oats, pumpkin, sunflower, chia seeds, walnuts, etc. and cut the sugar about a third and use mostly honey. They are a bulky cookie that you can make quite large if you want to. I really like them for a mid afternoon snack with a cup of tea. Sally's Baking Addiction
Anybody else notice how tiny packaged store bought cookies are these days?
I've noted a couple of wonderful free patterns that I'll share next time. Meanwhile, I'm off to the library to have a poke about. Hope you are all doing well and your stitching fingers are able and flying!
