Pieces of the Past Flower Garden Block, Scrappy 4 Square,Blocks, Soda Bread, Flowers Outside!

From the journal of talented Alexandra Schmid.  An illustration I think our watercolour painting friends, LeeAnna and Mary, might like. And sadly, mess is the word. For all our technology and advancements, a virus is going to leave quite a mark on mankind.  But we are doing our best to make the best of it all and I love that.

A few other things I love...
We are enjoying watching The Village on Brit Box and I think I've had tears in my eyes once every episode. Warning: It is grittier than most of these shows tend to be, though after the first episode it all eases up. Maxine Peak is a favourite of ours from her Silk days.
                         
And Tilly our turkey has been visiting the feeder regularly early morning or late afternoon for a week or so.  She loves scratching underneath and seems to be having good luck. I read that they are omnivores and eat a variety of items.  I hope she is eating ticks.

Here she is fleeing by way of the side garden. Look how green it has become over there.

I love how people have taken to their kitchens to cook and bake during this time. Wonderful recipes turning up. I'm hoping to make banana oatmeal muffins soon and clear out those old bananas I've stuck in the freezer.
  I did make another soda bread loaf last week and added raisins and a little sugar this time. We enjoyed it almost to the end. It dries out quickly. I had thought of making a small bread pudding out of the leftovers but we didn't leave enough for that so Murphy got the last piece.

I'm happy there is more light and what there is of it, seems brighter. It is May after all but with the possibility of snow in the forecast (thanks Polar Vortex!), it isn't a given that there will be warmth.  But all my indoor green things are greener. And sighted on our trails, the trout lilies are blooming, a sure sign of spring. Such a delicate flower to bloom on a forest floor. I love them.

I've been continuing to stitch scrappy four squares as a border for my baskets. I will have cleared out almost all of the smaller scraps of browns, creams and odd yellows by the time I finish this.

My hand stitching projects are progressing.  Love how the various pieced sections of the Flower Garden block make such a star.  Everyone loves stars! From Melva Loves Scraps Pieces of the Past SAL.

A few bright spots in the garden. Worried now they'll get clobbered by the weather on the weekend.

No raking just yet.  I read we need a daytime high consistently 10 C which we have yet to achieve. And with overnight below freezing temps, I'm sure hibernating insects have not been awakened.

Murphy outwits us every time and manages to plunge herself into the pond on most walks. Oh how she loves the water! We watched her one day lie in a puddle and flip to her back wriggling about even though there was hardly any water.

But yet when we give her a bath, she looks sad and bedraggled like we are punishing her.
Hope this Thursday finds you all well.
Love linking with Not Afraid of Color, Paying Ready Attention, My Corner of the World, Quilt Fabrication , My Quilt Infatuation, Floral Friday Foto, Brian's Home Blog, Gone Stitchin', I'd Rather B Birdin' and the Needle and Thread Network.