Thursday 9 May 2019

Spring Things, Free Patterns, Kindness Counts

I grew up with the saying" it's bad to be poor but it's worse to be sore." Feeling grateful this week, yes! I had my annual check up recently, with a couple of tests I've never had before and they turned out normal. Always a relief when that happens at any age but especially at mine. I never take good health for granted, not for one minute.

A flowering is happening! The trout lilies, first woodland flower of spring, are finally putting on a show.
I made what I call a "cooked dinner" for Hubby recently...a pork roast, cauliflower with cheese, green beans, homemade applesauce and this dish there on the left.  At home in Newfoundland, this is served with gravy. Mom made many different meals where her biscuit topping would be used.  People call it different names- a crust or a paste. It is really a basic biscuit and I used to put it on top of whatever meat I was cooking.  Now I use a casserole dish to bake it.  It's good leftover with a little butter and jam too, if you forget about the carbs.
There are numerous variations but this is the recipe I use...


My head got turned by this Springtime celebration fabric... called Spring Awakens For Henry Glass by Debi Hron. At Debi's site you can see how gorgeous and sweet her designs are, as well as download a free pattern using this line. The colours are so vibrant and the owls are adorable.

                        
Another springtime event. The very unlikely places robins choose for their nests. Like this one at daughter's house right on the wall by their front walkway next to the garage.  She flies off when someone walks by which is a lot when they are home.  
But she has stayed to lay her eggs with all of us marveling at that wonderful shade of blue.
My little wall of photograph blocks is growing. Today I'm going to start stitching these into larger blocks. I find that easier to work with than long strings.  So far I've used only scraps for these so I'll see how big a piece I can make before deciding if I want to dip into my stash...and if I like it enough for that.


Jacquelynne Steeves has released her latest free BOM project.  She led a popular one last year called Save the Bees which are still in need of saving, sadly.  This year's project is called Happy Little Things.  The link is here for the sign up.
                             

Members of yet another of my online facebook groups got into a real fuss and the administrators had to step in and shut down some of the commentary. I'm really surprised and disappointed that someone posing an innocent question can somehow make people turn on each other with unkind words, on a stitching forum of all places, nothing to do with hot topics or anything. Yikes! 

I believe this....
                                      Image result for unexpected kindness is the most powerful
                                    
We all know how good it feels when someone is kind to us even with the smallest gesture or word.
I hope there is only kindness and light and laughter in your day.
(Sorry the font sizes changed during this post; one browser shut down on me and I had to finish in another.)
Happy to be linking with Not Afraid of Color, It's A Small Town Life, The Needle and Thread Network, Sew Fresh Quilts, The Inquiring Quilter, Esther's Quilt Blog Creations-Quilts, Art and Whatever and Paying Ready Attention









26 comments :

Brian's Home Blog said...

I'm all for kindness, every single day. Hooray for Spring flowers and yummy food too.

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

I am shocked about some comments I see on Facebook-especially on the sewing groups. Congrats on your healthy good news checkup. I understand how good that makes you feel! Your photograph blocks look difficult but pretty. I like Ms Steves also-she is so talented. I might have to try that large biscuit-it looks easy. I'm all for easy and quick. Great post. mary

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I am only on one facebook group now that has very little chatter I quit so many due to nasty comments coming from one insignificant comment or question - I can never understand how something can be taken so out of context or misunderstanding and so many fly off the handle over it - especially nasty as it comes from a group of people I would think were good people.
Glad you health is ok - it is always good to get those check ups out of the way - for me I got some done in November and now dentist, eyes and then regular check up with my specialist later this month - it will be good to have them all out of the way.

Home Sewn By Us said...

Good Morning Jocelyn! Tests turning out normal is a fabulous thing. No need to borrow trouble was our saying, but it’s still nice to not worry about something unknown. Forget about carbs – yes, that is my motto very often. That Newfoundland dish looks delicious as do the other treats in that meal. And Robin nest selection process – yes, they do not have common sense do they? I swear they pick a spot at random, like right near our patio doors. We haven’t gone out a lot recently because it’s been raining and cold. However, we will be going in and out a lot now that the weather is improving. And that color of blue – Robin’s egg blue – makes me think of the movie Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House. Mrs. Blanding wanted one of the rooms (dining room I think) painted in Robin’s egg blue. {{Hugs}} and Happy Mother’s Day to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I believe in kindness. It is best to say nothing, if you can not be nice. The Robins eggs are so pretty. I am so happy you received a good health report. The meal looks delicious. Happy Mother's Day! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!

LA Paylor said...

I save your likes list for the end, as dessert. I love them all! Well, I would if I'd ever had that carb dish because anything like that is good. We've been having califlower more lately and I just love it. When I underwent acupuncture allergy treatment, I was restricted on foods, and cauliflower was always allowed, and I found I loved it bare and steamed. It tasted sweet to me. Leeanna

Shannon said...

Your dinner looks delicious! Biscuit especially. My mom's biscuit recipe is so tasty I have to avoid making it otherwise I just eat it all (of course with butter and jelly or honey). Love to see the spring lilies popping up too!

Small City Scenes said...

If you can only be one thing in this world---Be Kind
You have a nice blog
MB

Nana said...

Thank your for giving us the links.

Nana

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

That is so true about unexpected kindness. I give...AND receive this every week when I volunteer at the Hospice house. It sure makes a difference to show kindness. Love the nest with the pretty eggs. What a great photo!

Jenny said...

Mmm, roast pork, my favourite! The meal looked amazing, and I guess the kitchen smelt divine. Such a lovely blue colour on the eggs, do hope they hatch successfully.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I haven't seen trout lilies since I was a kid, so I was happy to see your photo. 'Spring Awakens' is on display in the front window of the local quilt shop at the moment (or was when I was by the other day)...very cute. I don't understand why people have to get their knickers in a twist so often on social media. It seems that people jump all over one another for no valid reason. My mother always said that if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. She was right!

Michelle said...

Nothing quite like the relief when a test turns out normal. Whew! I know you are glad. Thank you for linking up and have a great weekend.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

So many things to like in your post, Jocelyn! That fabric line is wonderful, and so very tempting...:) How fun to have a nest of robin's eggs to watch! And your biscuit dish sounds yummy! Your photograph blocks are so much fun - what a great quilt they will make.

PaintedThread said...

Such pretty robin's eggs. I like Spring Awakens. Your little blocks are pretty - so many of them! And that blueberry whipped cream thing on your side bar (not part of this post) looks delicious!! :-)

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I really love your photograph blocks. I don't think I've ever seen that before. Great idea! It's so nice to see flowers blooming. Thanks for adding your recipe. I'm on Facebook but I don't really say too much. People seem to get upset very easily! I love the color of robin's eggs. My favorite blue!

MissPat said...

It was lovely to see your trout lily blooms. Mine have no blooms this year. Last year, either the deer or rabbits mowed them to the ground. This year I protected them, but apparently they weren't able to store up enough reserves to bloom. Thankfully the leaves are growing well, so hopefully next year I'll see the delightful yellow blossoms. We've had birds nest in the most inconvenient places, too. I've had them nest in the hanging flower baskets which makes watering extremely difficult.
Pat

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

What pretty flowers. Robins, rolling eyes, but not as bad as my chickens when I let them free range. I found an egg this morning in the mud by the baby chicks pen.

Michele McLaughlin said...

kindness is KEY in this world. Your trout lilies are fabulous, like the daffodil of the wood? I'm so intrigued with them. I love your quilt it is really coming along! Have a great day!

Allie said...

Yay for normal test results!! The trout lilies are gorgeous, and popping out here too. We have a robin's nest on the top of a drainpipe - the first year we were here, she nested on top of our electric meter, right next to the garage door. Which was going up and down all the time....she learned! Love your photograph blocks!!

Snickelfritz said...

A Robin built her nest right where we come into the house on our porch and she is forever flying back and forth. We have painters painting the house this week and she is in a tizzy with all the things going on. I hope those little birds get hatched!

Lin said...

It's amazing how people can be so unkind over such little things. Just concentrate on the beauty of nature - the little lily flower is gorgeous and the blue of those eggs is amazing! xx

Yvonne said...

I agree with you, being kind and grateful are things I try to live up to every day. Even when it is hard after been treating bad....
Your dinner looks delicious, I love the way you prepare your food. So much different than the Dutch do.

Jenn Jilks said...

Lots of good news all around. Nice dinner.
Those birds nest in the strangest spots!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Really enjoy your photograph blocks! So sorry though that people can be unkind. I just don't get that! One of the things I love about quilting is that we all approach it differently. There aren't any rules, just interpretations!

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