Thursday 9 January 2020

Remnants- Christmas, Words, Garden, Fabrics, Home

 A while back I posted a little verse from Proverbs about using kind words.  I was thinking this morning about how some words said to us even decades ago, stay with us, maybe forever. It could be stinging words, but also may be kind or complimentary words. Like the first boy I liked when I was about 14 told me one day that I had nice teeth and I was ever so pleased-he knows I'm alive and he thinks I have nice teeth!  I always smile when I remember that-his comment and my reaction.  Do you have such a story about remembered words?
                     
                                    Image result for memory is the power to gather roses in winter
Finding something of interest in the sad Hydrangea remnants is this little guy....can you spy him?  There must be something good there because they leave the sunflower seeds at the feeder and rummage around in these patches of my ugly gardening. His colours blend well.
Remnants of Christmas, some that will linger a long time,..
Small treats

This beautiful plant, a Madagascar Jasmine, will be my pleasure to try to keep alive! Must read up on it.
My sister sent me this lovely ornament, a cardinal.  I love it.
And my ex who is my friend gave me this...
So Christmas 2019 is pretty much all tucked away.

This past week I've been engaged in some pretty but kind of mindless machine sewing.
Sometimes I have to take a break from the stitching that is more concentrated like counting linen threads in cross stitching and do what I call mindless sewing.

Those thrift store remnants- the pretty Christmasy ones, yielded enough smaller blocks for me to make a number of chains. I added white and green or red from the scrap bin because I could see this could turn into enough for a small coin style quilt.

 Of course, like most stitching ventures, that didn't end there. Shopping became involved.
This led me to a little online purchasing-more about that later.

With that I come to the last item in today's remnants theme...
 North America is peppered with abandoned communities and my home province is as well.  One of these made the news recently when one couple made the decision to stay on even after the lights were finally turned off-literally.  The community is Little Bay Islands and the couple is Georgina and Mike Parsons.  Their story was told in the National Post and in this Washington Post article .  They have also started a facebook page called Kintsugi chronicling their days living off the grid in a ghost town that can only be reached by sea and that sea is the great North Atlantic. I invite you to check it out because Mike writes exceedingly well and also very touchingly about his feelings.                          Image may contain: sky, outdoor and water
With their dogs, their chickens, solar panels and their wood stove, they are determined to not only just survive, but to live a meaningful life and enjoy the experience of supreme solitude that can be found in a deserted Newfoundland outport.
Great to link up with Not Afraid of ColorFloral FridayThe Inquiring QuilterThe Needle and Thread NetworkViewing Nature With EileenQuilting is More Fun Than Housework,  Tish's Adventures and It's a Small Town Life.



31 comments:

  1. I will check out that story you link to for sure. The photo of their house has me intrigued now I need to find out why all people left - I wonder do they like their solitude or would they welcome people to come live there? what wonderful gifts you have and I still have a small bowl of chocolate hidden away - if I left it out hubby would consume it all in one day

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  2. I love that bowl that you have your treats in!

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  3. The owl and silver thing is so lovely, also the animal how it´s sitting there.

    Nana

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  4. I can't believe how well your friend blends into the hydrangeas. Very cute. The Christmas remnants are perfect for a coin quilt. Oh my- the story of Mike and Georgina is so unusual-kinda heart breaking to me. But, they sound happy with the arrangement.

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  5. Hi Jocelyn! So many good things you've shared today. Reading the articles about the Newfoundland town is so fascinating. I feel for that town and how it has been deserted. It just makes me sad. I have followed them on FB and will continue to enjoy his/their posts. Thank you for sharing that! That little squirrel is really enjoying your dried hydrangea plants. It must have some good stuff in there! The Madagascar plant is gorgeous! I hope you keep us updated on how it survives. I know Shannon and I will read about it with fascination. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  6. Kind words always make us smile and chocolate always mades our Dad smile!

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  7. Love your little Christmas remnant coins..amazing that family's decision to stay on all alone..i will definitely check that out...hugs, Julierose

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  8. Loved seeing all your remnants of Christmas, Jocelyn! The squirrels are always out in our yard foraging around, too, and I enjoy watching them like you. Your strips of fabric stitched together in coin style are so appealing, and I'll enjoy seeing what you do with them!

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  9. Pretty little Christmas coins, such a good what to use upbsmallscraps, and one I haven't tried yet.
    My Christmas bits and pieces are still out, thats because we are away on holiday in our caravan. So I guess I will be busy packing it away when we return home.
    You showed us some pretty gifts, love the cardinal from your sister.

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  10. What a happy, sweet post! I particularly enjoyed the photo of your fat, sassy little squirrel! And the pic of the harbor, there. What a beautiful place; I clicked over to the facebook page and explored for a bit. I could definitely live that way (provided I had a well-stocked and well-lit quilting room)!!

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  11. Yes, I still have some Christmas candies standing around.The squirrel under the plants is almost hidden. Cute little fella.

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  12. Your remembrance of the comment about your nice teeth made me smile and yes...I remember many things that was once said .....and they still make me smile. There always seems to be some kind of Christmas goody still hanging around after the holiday is over! Such a cute little squirrel in your flowers! I am so interested in reading and keeping up with the couple that you have linked on your post. Will also go to the other link after visiting here.

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  13. Thank you for all you shared today. I read the National Post article. It reminded me of the Michael Crummey book we did in my Book Club a year or two ago — Sweetland. It’s sad to see so many of these communities disappearing.

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  14. That little squirrel is about the sweetest thing I have seen in a while. I LOVE IT! Thanks for linking up! You make my day :)

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  15. Mmm... chocolate and Lindt. I love that little owl! I'm not sure I'd want to live that remotely, but I admire being that self-sufficient.

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  16. I like isolation, but that is crazy.
    That little wol is adorable.

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  17. You certainly have lots of wonderful treasures in your post, Jocelyn! The photo of the little red squirrel among the hydrangeas is super cute. I love the owl ornament your ex and still friend gave you. I bought one of those Madacascar Jasmines a few winters ago. It's white blooms had a wonderful scent.

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  18. What a lovely, peaceful post, and I love the potential Christmas coins quilt. Is that pretty ornament from you sister one that you can shake and those sequins (if they are sequins) move around?

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  19. What an awesome pic of the squirrel in the hydrangeas. I have left over chocolate too. Hmmmm. Great ornaments. I like your holiday coins. Thanks for sharing the article about Little Bay.

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  20. Love your red transfer ware bowl, and that cute owl! Thank you for introducing us to that couple on that icy island in Nova Scotia. So interesting.

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  21. in my house I' would have all that chocolate eaten by now, and then complaining to myself that I can't sleep at night and my pants don't fit!

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  22. Wow, thanks for sharing the Newfoundland story. What an amazing decision they have made.
    I love that you are friends enough with an ex to be gifting presents, that is also very heartwarming, and the owl is cute. Not as cute as your squirrel friend of course!

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  23. Hello Jocelyn. My mother used to have those jasmins. In Holland we call them bridal veil. On your blogpost you wrote about the sew a long of the tiny xmas tree Temecula quiltshop. I joined and could make a nice xmas present. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend.

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  24. Hello, I always choose to be kind. It cost nothing to be kind to others and yourself. I love the pretty cardinal ornament. The jasmine is such a pretty scent. Thanks for sharing the story on the Newfoundland couple. Cute squirrel. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thanks so much for the visit and comment on my blog.

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  25. What a lovely post. I have to hide the leftover chocolate or my husband eats it all. I remain friends with my ex, too, although now that I'm retired, I rarely see him. The little owl is cute and the cardinal is a perfect gift for a bird-lover like you. Going to go read about the Nova Scotia couple next.
    Pat

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  26. I love the little owl and the pretty arrangement for your table. Fresh green sprigs smell so wonderful in the winter. Enjoy your weekend! Your little critter is a cutie!

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  27. I love the ornamental plant, it will look great in any surface of your home. The squirrel (both, actually) is also cute :) Thank you for your kinds comments in my blog, I've re-done my little ornament, just in case you want to have a glimpse of it ;)

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  28. I look so forward to your posts even if I am late for the party! I like that reading about that couple up there! Very interesting! Great use of Christmas scraps! I've been contemplating making a coin quilt and will enjoy seeing yours! Wonderful gifts from friends and family! You are blessed indeed! Hugs!

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  29. We didn't get any treats this year, which was probably a good thing when you consider we're trying to lose weight (mind you, I could be convinced to *help* you eat those Lindors!). Your cardinal ornament is lovely.

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  30. Such wonderful Christmas memories! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.

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  31. Coin quilts, so simple but effective, are one of my favorites. Love the way you used the Christmas prints. Must keep that in mind. I enjoyed reading about the couple you linked to, but cannot imagine living in such isolation.

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My favourite thing about having a blog is hearing from you. I appreciate it so much and I will definitely check out your blog too. Thanks!