Thursday 28 May 2020

Sun On My Back, Needle in My Hand, May Blooms

Hello all again.
  Hubby had been hesitating to go for a ride with his little gang of motorcycling men but the lovely sunny weather last Wednesday tempted him and he went. Of course, he thoroughly enjoyed himself. Met the group in a parking lot where social distancing was not a problem and off they went. They did not stop for lunch like they usually do but he came home a tired but very happy camper. And that's a good thing here at the wooden house where we are still very much in isolation otherwise.  Here he is with his Ryker,  a three wheeled motorcycle.
Sun on my back and dirt under my nails. There is always something to do in a garden. It reminds me of going into the sewing room. I'm never there long before it's head down working away at something or other. I made an order to a local nursery and they say they have a bridal wreath spirea in stock so I added that to the list. Yea!
 However, my gardening has been derailed by this. When it's 20C at 8 am you know it's going to be a hot one.
The temperature that day reached 36 C (that's 96.8 F for my American friends) with high humidity. I can take heat but at a certain point I find the humidity draining.
 I cooked a roast chicken dinner that day! The day before we had picked up a grocery order (on line and no contact service) that included the largest fresh chicken they offered and I didn't want to freeze it.  So I put it in the oven when I got up and had it cooked by 9:30 before the heat got too bad. We enjoyed it with vegetables and last night I made leftovers into hash.  The last of the chicken will make a curry tonight.

I trot about the property every day with my camera and last week found the white trilliums, the pretty provincial flower of Ontario, in bloom. It is also the state wild flower of Ohio.
 Blooming a bit later for us here because of our wintry spring.  They are white but if cool temperatures touch them overnight become tinged with pinks and violets. Another delicate flower blooming on the forest floor.

Visitors
Found this little guy, a painted turtle, smack dab in the middle of the back yard concrete steps. He looked dry and very dusty. Where had he come from?? I took him down to the pond where he will be much happier I'm sure.
No sign of that crazy robin, thank heavens. However, this little fellow crashed into a window; something I've not had happen here. Photo taken through the window. Any idea what he is? His breast was quite speckled. A baby maybe.
 I held my breath while watching out for him but after about 15 minutes I could see him moving; another 5 minutes and he was gone. Thankfully! We had a terrible time with this at the farm and I had to put up these whirlygig things which worked well.
I'm finished all I want to do with the Book Club Hand Pieced QAL project for now; it is a flimsy. I need to get my hands on some very thin batting to hand quilt it somehow.
 Hubby did the honours for me so I could get a shot in the sunlight.  Finally a photo that shows the true colours.
 I'm very happy I participated in this wonderful SAL. Always new things to learn! This was my OMG for May over at Elm Street Quilts which I achieved for once!

I've been cross stitching mornings usually early with the light so bright.  I am experiencing a little eye strain so have to pace myself. Oh this skater needs his head! Funny how the camera shows you things you didn't notice.
This Sunday is our SAL link up party time hosted by Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea.  We are all astonished by how fast three weeks go by!
So we must be having fun!
AvisClaireGunCaroleSueConstanzeChristinaKathyMargaretCindyHeidiJackieSunnyHayleyMeganDeborah, Mary MargaretRenee, CarmelaJocelynSharonDaisyAnneConnieAJJennyLauraCathieLindaSherrieHelen

Our Thursday is another hot one so our walk was early and now sheltering inside.
Always glad to link with Not Afraid of ColorFloral Friday FotoPaying Ready AttentionConfessions of a Fabric AddictFrom Bolt to BeautyKaty's QuiltsViewing Nature With EileenMeadow Mist Designs and It's a Small Town Life.















33 comments :

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is a very cool-looking motorcycle your hubby has, Jocelyn! I know exactly how he felt seeing his friends again, even with social distancing - it makes such a difference. Those trillium are so pretty - glad found them! Your hand-pieced quilt looks wonderful, too. I am stitching my rows together this week!

Libby in TN said...

Cool Dude by that trike! Trillium was one of my mother's favorites and we had a bed of them at our last house. I bet I could put some in our shade garden. We had trouble with the birds hitting the windows at our last house because in many places you could see right through the house. Not so much of a problem here, but I do hear one every now and then.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your stitching is so pretty and I love your banner too! Glad your hubby got to get out for a ride...feels great to get outside and do something FUN! Take care! LOVE that little turtle! HOW CUTE!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Lovely photos - all of them. I can almost see the dazed look on that bird's face. I'm glad he wasn't hurt. Congrats on finding and moving the turtle! DH's ride looks nifty. The three-wheeler has to be much safer than the two-wheel version of the motorcycle. I'll bet it felt great to be back on the bike after a long winter. Ahh, the wind in your hair so to speak. Your quilt top looks wonderful. Take care and stay safe. ~smile~ Roseanne

Nancy J said...

That is so hot!!! We3 are in Celsius down here, and maybe 5C early this morning. The wee turtle, so glad he was found and moved to a safe place.Hand pieced and now for the quilting, hope you find the right batting, is there a very thin bamboo or cotton one? Any one that the needle goes through more easily maybe.

Robin said...

Adolescent robins have speckled breasts like this little bird. I hope he's okay. We have birds hit our front window at certain times of the year. One time we came home from church and had a red tail hawk standing dazed on our front porch. It took him a while to right himself, about 1/2 hour, and then he flew off. Again, it was an adolescent.

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

I love the look of that motorcycle - I bet he had a fun much needed ride. It is the humidity here that I always find so draining - and our heat the weather says arrives next week along with the humidity so I will need to make sure to not walk in the middle of the afternoon now. Roast chicken sounds delightful! my trillium never flowers like that mine is green leaves like usual and then very thin three petal "flower" that are more green then any other color

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love those Trilliums . Simple yet lovely. The bird that hit the window is likely a mature Thrush. Perhaps a Swainson's or Hermit Thrush.

Jenny said...

Your hubby must have so enjoyed his bike ride with his friends. Pretty flower pics and I'm so glad the little bird recovered and flew off.

Nancy said...

Ohh, I love your new header photo, Jocelyn. Beautiful work.
Do you ever ride with your husband? I should think it would be lots of fun.
Such sweet animals. Birds fly into our windows sometimes and, thankfully, usually recover and fly away.
When you mentioned that the trillium is Ohio's state flower I wondered if Ohio had made a change and I missed it. It turns out that the red carnation is Ohio's state flower and the trillium is Ohio's wildflower.
I hope you stay cool! Ohio jumped from mid-spring temperatures to summer heat and humidity this week, too. Ugh to the humidity but hooray for the sun!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

It's nice that your husband got to go out and see his friends. I think we all need that as long as we can do it safely. Such pretty flowers! I've heard of birds flying into windows but that hasn't happened to our house yet. Your area go so hot! We almost hit 90 degrees yesterday but not quite. It's supposed to cool down over the weekend.

andy's colours said...

Well I can hardly believe the temperatures. It was so cold just a short while ago and here in northern Germany, we're still under the 20°C mark. Down south its been a lot warmer, of course. Poor bird, does look very much like the kind of thrushes we have around here and which have become very rare, I'm sorry to say. Everyone is yearning to get out and be with other people, but we still have to be wary. My dad has decided to visit us for my birthday, but because he is not too careful about going out and seeing people I daren't risk asking my mum to come as well, she is a high risk person. Must work that out differently to be on the safe side. You take care and do things gradually and sensibly.
Andrea L.

Villrose said...

It really is hot! Here it's nice and warm with 20 C, and cool nights. Still able to do some gardening.
What a cute turtle. Hope it is ok now.
Have a lovely weekend!

Brian's Home Blog said...

We do love your stitchings too and your hubby's Ryker is something, we think Batman would approve. We're glad the wee birdie was okay.

PaintedThread said...

That three-wheeler looks cool! Wow - hot day! Pretty trilliums. I've seen some that are blood red. That looks like a hermit thrush. I've never had one come near the house. Glad he recovered! LOVE that flimsy!

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Yay for hubby getting out and having fun. Seems like you just had snow!! Those trilliums look delicate and just pretty. Love that cross stitch project.

Lynn said...

Always enjoy your posts. Glad your husband had a ride. The Lillium look gorgeous and the bird and tint tortoise. Look forward to seeing your hand quilting, that's a pretty top.

Michele McLaughlin said...

Whoa--wait! How are you having those temps there so early??? Even we haven't been that warm but the humidity has been awful the last few days. I just love your garden photos--pretty trillium!!! Great turtle too! Your projects are wonderful. Nice to see the QAL all pieced and love that cross stitched project!!! Stay cool and I hope you can resolve the bird crashing problem sooon! Stay well and safe!

Eva H. said...

So wonderfull reading!Your husband go out.My oldest son(and too granddaughter)have motorcycles too.It is their big hobby.His wife goes with him and loves it.But granddaughter Katya goes alone.Her husband don´t likes it.I don´t saw the flower Trillium.I very love flowers,but I don´t saw this.We had 5°C at morning-it is 16°C now.
My best greetings to you and all your friends here.

Nana said...

Poor little bird.

Nana

Michelle said...

Love that Ryker! Looks like it would be fun to ride. We have trillium that bloom on our farm here in Kentucky, but I haven't hiked down to the spring to look for any lately. Thanks for linking up.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Neat motorcycle. I don't think we got as warm as you. Gorgeous trilliums, one of my favorites. Love your quilt. LOL missing skater head. I discovered I had a block turned wrong in a quilt recently. Pics help us find the errors.

karenbbsnow said...

Good morning from London ON. Beautiful flimsy, such interesting blocks and lovely colours. Looking forward to seeing how you hand quilt it.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Always so many fun things to see and read about when I visit with you. I love your trilliums - always a big sign that spring is finally here (altho' with the temps the past few days one wonders if spring is just going to give way to summer already).

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Looks like the little bird that crashed into the window is a juvenile American Robin, probably freshly independent with still much to learn. In terms of the heat, it is hard to believe that less than three weeks ago we had snow, which was quite awful in May, but I think I even prefer that to the oppressive heat and humidity of late.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love roasted chicken, yum! But, turning on the oven on such a hot day does not feel good. I love the cute turtle and robin. The trilliums are beautiful, one of my favorite wildflowers. The quilt looks pretty, well done. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend! PS, thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.

Michelle Ridgway said...

That's a neat looking bike! You certainly did have a hot day. Your quilt is beautiful and your cross stitch is coming along nicely. That flower is so beautiful! Interesting how the weather effects it. Poor wee birdie, glad it recovered!

Anu said...

Hello. I enjoyed reading and watching your blog. Thanks for sharing.

K Reeves said...

February is coming along very nicely! Yes, he does need a head! The triliums are incredible, so delicate and perfect. Happy stitching, Jocelyn!

QuiltGranma said...

That tiny turtle is SO CUTE! Thank you for taking us along on your walk!

Cheryl said...

Great sampler, I like the variety of the blocks.

Stewart M said...

Interesting vehicle! I like a go on one of them! I think I would be better at that than needle work!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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