Thursday 7 November 2019

Super Thursday Thoughts

Hello, I have so much to talk about and be grateful for on this Thankful Thursday.

It was a cool misty morning down at the pond recently.  As I neared this spot, I caught sight of two white tails...deer, leaping through the brush.  A very autumn look to the landscape that I decided to show you as we have a light snow falling so it does not look like this today.
My old Christmas cactus is rewarding me this year by sending out a few blooms. I've had it a few years with no blooms not even when it was given to me. Why now I don't know.
These are an orangey colour. But they are pretty up close.
I had no idea these Hallmark Christmas movies were so popular till I started reading blogs and it seems a love of these movies goes hand in hand with stitching. Definitely should be on some of your Christmas lists. They are available from a bunch of sites. I typed in Hallmark Christmas Movie watching sweatshirt and many variations on the same theme turned up.
                                        Image result for christmas movie sweatshirt
And Christmas stitching is starting to crop up.  At Sew Can She, Caroline shared this.
                                            The 15 BEST Free Christmas Stocking Sewing Patterns on the Web!

Before I start anything Christmasy I've got to move a couple of projects forward.  Namely the Dresdens.  Hand stitching slows this down that's for sure.  But I have 12 more ready to receive their little black circles.
Interesting and a bit confounding, still lots of scraps.
About the Pumpkin custard...we liked it!  I would use regular sugar next time as the Stevia came through as almost too sweet. I would shorten the cooking time too. Mine was a little bit too set but still tasty.  It's interesting how pumpkin can blend in and not taste exactly like pumpkin in these mixtures.
Warm and cozy - my knitted squares blanket is also cheery against the wooden walls. And a great way to use up yarn scraps.  My inspiration for this project was from the amazing Jane Brocket at YarnStorm where she shares her quilting, cooking and crocheting too.
Many of you are following Jenny of Elefantz as she discusses the various sections in this book of  Jane's,  The Gentle Art of Domesticity available here at Amazon.
                                 
The dogs and I along the deciduous tree trail; the sun was bright enough I had my eyes closed. Thought I'd share this one too while we had our blanket of leaves. (No these are not my "good jeans")
Hope you are staying cozy or cool where ever you are in this amazing world of ours.
Sharing this post with Not Afraid of ColorIt's a Small Town Life, The LLB Gang, Floral Friday FotoCreations, Quilts, Art...Whatever and The Needle and Thread Network.





20 comments :

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

I love that first photo you share and also like seeing you in the woods! It looks like you have a nice place to walk and visit nature. I have two Christmas cactus's and they both look like they are going to bloom but one of the cactus's is falling apart! it started in the summer now and then I would notice a piece fall of one but I really didn't think anything of it but just a couple days ago I went to look at them - they are on a window sill behind the open plantation blinds and found a lot of pieces laying on the sill! I picked up a bag of cactus soil and have laid the pieces in it to see if they will root - and a lot of the pieces have what looks like a tiny flower bud on the tip :(

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Oh, I love that photo of you surrounded by your dogs and many, many leaves. Such a pretty shot - the sunshine felt so nice on your face, didn't it?! The first photo is stunning as well. And all things Hallmark - there is definitely a large following. That's why they start all the movies so early! Finally, those knitted squares look so beautiful on your bed. Something so simple to make, and what a great use of leftover yarn - I can just feel how nice and warm it is. ~smile~ Roseanne

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Jocelyn love the photo of you and the dogs!!! The knitted squares looks warm and toasty and love the bright colors. Love the first pic too it evokes emotion

Shannon said...

That first picture of the pond is fantastic! I'm hoping to get out with my Blue dog this weekend, Bentley loves walks too but can only go about a mile before he gets too exhausted so he's limited to walks around the house. Your Christmas cactus is fabulous! I've never seen orange flowers like that before- and I really love the orange edge that turns sort of peachy in the middle. How cool that it started blooming out of nowhere! Have a great week!

Michelle said...

My mom has a Christmas cactus and has good luck with it, but I don't know anything about growing them. Yours is turning out beautiful. Thanks for linking up today.

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Oh my-that knitted blanket is just so pretty. And, the sweatshirt is too cute. That's a lot of Dresdens! I really like seeing your surroundings- the view at the pond is peaceful.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Looks like a most wonderful time you were having out with the dogs. We've had the Hallmark Channel on here already. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Nancy J said...

Definitely cooler up North, gloves and gumboots. Love the trees and leaves, we have had a very hot day or two, and so much warmer overnight as well. Time to have all the windows and doors open again down here. Even managed to get out some summer clothes.

Libby in TN said...

Love your misty photo. We have a lot of mornings like that here on our lake. I like the color of your cactus. Mine was so pretty last year. I repotted it after it finished blooming and worried that I might have damaged it, but it is starting to set buds.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is a beautiful spot you live in, Jocelyn! I can just imagine how much you enjoy walking the dogs there every day. I have Christmas sewing projects to get started on, too, but just not quite ready to be done with those fall colors yet either!

Ruth Hiebert said...

That first picture is beautiful, but then all the pictures have interest and beauty to them.You are a busy lady.

PaintedThread said...

Your cactus is pretty. Pumpkin custard looks yummy. Walking in the leaves is so much fun. It looked like a beautiful day.

MissPat said...

I have 10 Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti and some of them have started blooming. Two have blooms only on one side which gets more light, but will eventually bloom on the other side too. I have one orange one that is usually in bloom at Halloween. That picture of the pond was ethereal. You take such good photos.
Pat

Yvonne said...

It looks like your autumn is changing into winter soon. Love your outdoors pictures. You live in a beautiful area.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

It's easy to think about what we have to be grateful for, and nice to talk about them too. Your knitted cover looks pretty and comfortable. You have a great area to walk with your dogs. We are in for an early bout with winter cold and snow next week. We'll be staying in, in Northern Indiana.
Have a great weekend.
xx, Carol

Rosemary Dickinson said...

We had a little snow here today too. Just flurries but winter is on it's way! Your knitted squares blanket looks toasty! Perfect for this weather. Great picture of you with your dogs. Stay warm!!

K Reeves said...

You have some glorious scenery there, Jocelyn! I have a knitted blanket in the works, haven't knitted a block in over a year, but it is now calling my name big time, so I think it will become the next big project. 🙂

Michele McLaughlin said...

Beautiful post! I love your knitted blanket--it looks so warm and cheery against the wood walls! I kept trying to post about this blog got lost in Jenny's posts about Domesticity. We are bracing for a tough winter here too. We had flurries on Thursday which is really early for us. I love the photo of you and your dogs! Such happy days!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Lovely to see the photo of you and your furry companions. I love your knitted blanket and wondered if there was enough left in my stash to make something similar...hmmmm. I wonder if I could make it using different weights of yarn...hmmm. I laughed when I read the bit about being confounded over the amount of scraps still remaining because I just pieced 10 large crazy quilt blocks in hopes to reduce my stash. Funny thing...didn't even make so much as a dent!

QuiltGranma said...

I've found that the cactus needs to dry out a bit then get watered, then into a dark place for a bit to get blossoms... kind of like out in the desert when a rain shower comes by then the desert blooms. I had mine out on the porch this summer, with shade from the eves so the segments would not burn. I'd forget to water then out there. When I brought them in they set blooms because I'd watered them. (brought them in before the freezing weather happened) I've had them in many colors, orange, pink, fuchsia, even a red one.