Thursday 23 July 2020

Awful Night, Farm Sampler Box, Birds and Blocks and Hubby Has a Birthday!

Recently I had the most awful of nights.
 Murphy woke me around 3 am with a very sharp bark and simultaneously it seems I heard too what she did.  A very loud but soft thud.  I got the flash light and looked all through the rooms to see if something had fallen off a shelf or toppled over. Just like the t.v. detectives do (have you ever noticed they never turn on overhead lights; just use their itty bitty flashlights to search). Not a thing out of place.  I've watched enough movies to know not to go down into the basement by myself and I was pretty sure Murphy would have kicked up a fuss if there was a reason to go down there. Of course, by then I was wide awake and stayed up.  Drank chamomile tea and read and watched dawn break.  The first bird sang at 5:10 am. I felt out of it all day and even the nap, something I can count on two fingers I've done in years, didn't snap me out of feeling kind of groggy.  If only there is something I could take for odd sleepless times like that or even if I drank, a little I mean! I know someone who drinks a large sherry at those times and is happily soothed back to sleep.  

 Sorry to start today's post on such a jolly note!
But I made up for it by having a wonderful sleep the next night. Be thankful if you are a good sleeper!

Thank you to fellow birder, David, at Travels With Birds who correctly identified the little guy taking a bath in the water tub (HERE).  I found other photos of what I think is the same bird in the front yard and turns out it is a gal.  This bird is a first for me- so exciting...one to note in my journal. A female Yellow Bellied Sapsucker photographed from my kitchen window.
The mallards are still around the pond. We've seen three females at a time there having a little swim.
Here is one I photographed on an early morning visit. So much easier to capture as they don't flit about!
I was so happy to get a food sampler box from another local farm, Welsh Hill Farm; daughter was trying them and ordered one for me too.  We loved it. Besides the array of vegetables, eggs, herbs, dill pickles and two meats, there was a freshly baked loaf of whole wheat bread with homemade chive and garlic butter. Things were wrapped in brown paper and tied with string just the way I remember the little shop in Maberly, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland used to do when I was a girl and visiting my grandparents.  
I'm going to get our name listed for regular supply as supporting local is a good way to go. 
Lots of happy stitching this week and thankfulness too for this hobby of mine. I can't imagine my life without it! Not tiring of stitching hearts and working with pinks and reds.
Anne Varley's Solidarity block from the Quiltmania SAL. A do over would be to pick a background fabric with a little print in it. These blocks are offering a great chance to dive into my pink and red scrap box!
And a couple more Quilt Bible blocks-and dare I say, enjoyable machine stitching. 
Here is Block 26, my version of Ribbon Star
and #89, Four Patch and Geese.
  I've downloaded Melva's latest block from her Pieces of the Past SAL- the 1936 Dragonfly, a block that I like but will definitely challenge me. Can't wait to try it. 
                                    
I'll close this post on a very happy note. It was Hubby's birthday last week. 81!!!🎈He doesn't have an ache or a pain and has absolutely no problem sleeping. 
 Daughter made his cake, chocolate, of course. Her recipe is now well tried and is delicious.
Tony having his favourite, a Guinness, by the pool with Miss Murphy.                                 
I say that he is not aging but Murphy and I sure are! Also wish he would smile more and show his lovely teeth!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my posts! I read them all when I need a little boost and I try to always return the favour by visiting your blog too or writing back to you. 





41 comments :

Lynn said...

Sorry you had a bad night, but I can relate to the sleeping well the next night. Congratulations on the yellow bellied sapsucker, Great shot. And quilting continues to bring joy and delight. Thanks for your post.

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

Tony looks in wonderful health and how most men would love to be at 81! as for your thump in the night could a animal be bumping against the house - you are in a country setting do you have bear in the area? or it is a loud creak of wood settling or something like that that homes have - I too hear things like that in the middle of night at times. The cake looks wonderful! I need to have a treat like that but I am trying to loose a couple more pounds - ok - more like 8 if truthful and all in my stomach/waistline! I will need more miles on the treadmill if I eat a piece of cake. Your quilting blocks look great - I have heard of the food boxes and it looks good!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Not being able to sleep is pretty awful but it sure feels good when you catch up. Those birds sure are pretty. Happy Birthday to Tony from all of us! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

grammajudyb said...

I hate those things that go bump in the night, I mostly sleep well. Not all night, but I can usually go back to sleep! The chocolate cake looks yummy. I asked DH what kind of dessert I should make next, and he suggested rhubarb crisp, I was hoping for chocolate something! My waistline needs neither one, but.....

LA Paylor said...

well, let me add my comment that I love coming to your place. I felt that pre dawn moment of checking out the thud... and of course you can't just fall back to sleep after that episode. Birds hitting the house sound like that as well as limbs falling on roofs. I know people who take some CBD oil to fall asleep, I drink milk and read a chapter in bed. Murphy is a glorious little silky eel... that's what I used to call my silky-eel black lab. So soft. Happy year to your husband... he seems like the kind of guy who has nothing to prove... he knows who he is and has integrity... your partner in life. Now, pass me a slice of that cake, I'd like some for breakfast
LeeAnna

Michele McLaughlin said...

Oh Jocelyn,I know those nights all too well and don't wish them on anyone! How's the weather been there? It's hot and humid here but hey, it aien't snow! Love your blocks you are working, especially the Bible ones! Happy Belated Birthday Tony! He looks like he is 60~~! Have a wonderful day Jocelyn!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Happy Birthday to Tony! I'm sure we are all wishing for a piece of that chocolate cake now, too! I'm sorry about your discombobulating wake up in the middle of the night - those are scary and do make it tough to go back to sleep. Beautiful photo of the mallard in your pond! I love seeing the blocks you're stitching - I, too, am thankful for hours spent happily stitching!

Radka said...

I had to smile to myself - I presume you mean Tony has lovely teeth, not Murphy? :-)
I am fortunate to be a good sleeper (mostly). We have seasonal veg boxes delivered, so nice and fresh..
xx

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Did you ever figure out what Murphy barked at and the thud you heard? I often wake up during the night and cannot go back to sleep. I am hesitant on taking something although it's not such a worry now that I have been working from home. When I was driving 50 miles at 4:45 am I didn't want to be drowsy! That sampler box sounds wonderful! Such nice fresh goodies to enjoy. Happy belated Birthday to Tony. I enjoyed a Guinness the only time I had one, when we visited Ireland. ~smile~ Roseanne

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Hubby looks content and healthy. Good wishes to him. Your blocks are sweet. I don’t handle those kind of wakeful nights well and I’m groggy all the next day even with a nap. UGH. I wish we had Food Sampler Boxes here. What a great idea.

Linda in Calif. said...

Congrats to Tony. My mother used to scold my husband to smile for a picture and "make it big - cuz you have a mustache". LOL So glad she did. I've taken a small drink to calm me back to sleep before - other times I just enjoy the quiet by myself. I very much enjoyed your post - first time I've been here.

Nancy J said...

Happy Birthday Tony, hope you had a wonderful day...I will be 80 on the 25th, love your cake, and as for the thud, a bird against a window maybe? It is sometimes just too hard to go back to sleep, but that afternoon nap can restore something.

Jenny said...

Happy Birthday Tony! 81 and sleeps like a baby with no aches or pains how wonderful.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I am usually a good sleeper, but occasionally I have a night of restlessness. What a blessing to have your Hubby with you at that age, or any age for that matter. I miss mine daily.

kiwikid said...

Happy birthday to Tony, the cake looks wonderful. Sorry to hear about the thud in the night, we get them here too, usually it is the possums landing on the deck after they have jumped from the roof. You have made beautiful blocks. That food sampler box looks wonderful too. I am always thought a yellow bellied sap sucker was a made up name, now I know otherwise. 😁

Snickelfritz said...

I noticed you didn't wake your husband to come with you to find where the noise came from. If he's like my husband, he could sleep through an earthquake! I have often wondered why detectives wait until dark to search through buildins and yes, they alway use flashlights. I guess it makes the show more exciting never knowing what may jump out of a dark corner. I have many sleepless nights so I do a lot of reading. Happy Birthday to your husband. He sure looks young for his age. Good genes!

Feline Opines, the World from a Feline Point of View said...

We felines loved the bird pictures the best. We love to look at all our feathered friends through our windows.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto

PaintedThread said...

Chocolate on chocolate. Yum!!!! Happy 81! What a rotten start to your day! Hopefully tonight will be better. Your sampler box looks amazing.

Libby in TN said...

It's 7:42 p.m. here and the tree frogs are just now starting up. They won't quit till well after 10 p.m. but, strangely, they all stop at the same time! The birds start at 4:30 a.m. I feel lucky if I sleep from one to the other. Naps only make me groggier.

Jocelyn said...

Some nights I can't sleep either. Ugg... So glad you huuby is such good health. With his a Happy Birthday!

Annemiek said...

Congrats for your husband. Lovely to be in such a good health if the years are climbing. A good sleep is most times debet to that. Good to support the local shops. I live in a small town and i like to go to the small shops, its good they are around they all have their special products and it seems they make more effort against waste and to help you out if you need something special. A bit back to the 50 and 60's as i rembember before all the big supermarkets.
You are working on a great variety of projects. Very nice. Stay safe and love from Holland

Needled Mom said...

Did you ever find what the thud was? Those events wake us wide awake and it is really tough to fall back asleep. It does make for a long day ahead. Yes, we are so blessed to have our stitching. It provides so many hours of entertainment. I can’t imagine life without it. Happy birthday to your husband. That cake looks delicious.

Nana said...

Once awake, I can´t fall asleep myself too. How scary it must have been.

Nana

MissPat said...

I hate those bumps in the night, especially when they sound like they are inside not out. My husband never hears a thing. Both your food box and chocolate cake look delicious. Happy Birthday to Tony.
Pat

QuiltGranma said...

And a Very Happy Birthday to you man. Mine will be 81 tomorrow, and so glad to have him in my life! Black labs remind me of the big seals I would see on the docks at the ocean, but a smaller version of course. Seals are HUGE! I always love coming to visit your place via your blog. It looks so nice there.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Happy belated Birth Day to your hubby! That cake certainly looks yummy. As for bumps in the night, it happens here too. The last time a storage box leapt off the shelf in our storage room and launched itself halfway across the floor. Scared the daylights out of us!
As for your food box - it looks amazing! We belonged to one of those groups here a couple of years ago and were assured that it would be all local produce so we signed up thinking we were helping the local farmers. Oddly, the box pretty much always had bananas which of course don't grow here (!) as well as other things that were totally out of season so we knew it wasn't as advertised. Sure wasn't half as nice as yours!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I wonder what that noise was that woke you up. My husband sleeps through everything. You're working on so many nice blocks! Happy Birthday to Tony! That cake looks delicious!

Eva H. said...

I wish all the best to your husband.We both have nice days
Eva

Nancy said...

So sorry for your sleepless night. I have those pretty often but not because I hear a thump. Did you ever figure out what caused the thump?
I love your photo of Miss Mallard. She's a beauty.
And the food in your sampler box looks delicious. Fresh and healthy!
Happy Birthday to Tony.

moosecraft said...

I think that wondering what that thud was would keep me awake for the day as well! Sometimes it's good to start the day earlier... but waking softly (with birds and coffee) would have been better. :-) Mmmmm....chocolate cake! Happy Birthday to Tony!

Linda said...

Love your pretty blocks! About once or twice a year we hear thud and know almost immediately that it is a tree falling, since we are surrounded by forest. But our dog has never barked about it, and that would freak me out! I'm glad you've watched enough movies to know not to go into the basement - lol! That sampler box looks wonderful, as does your husband's cake. He certainly doesn't look 81!

Deb A said...

Never fun when the bump in the night is not explained away. Glad you were able to sleep the next night. What a neat bird find you spotted out your window! Happy belated birthday to your hubby, who does not look 81 at all! Some pretty blocks you are working on and I can't wait to see how the dragonfly one comes out - I've seen it as crossed canoe I think and have been thinking of trying it out sometime.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

A large sherry in the middle of a sleepless night doesn't seem like a bad idea whether it helps get you back to sleep or not!

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I am sorry you had a bad night, I have had a few of those lately. I hear noises outside, I think it is the raccoons. Murphy is a good watch dog, barking when needed. The food sampler box sounds great, I wish them had them here. Love the Sapsucker and the Mallard. Happy Birthday to Tony, the cake looks yummy. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day,wishing you a happy weekend! PS, thank you for the visit and comment.

Carol Andrews said...

Happy Birthday to Tony. Looks like a yummy cake! Did you ever find out what went thump in the night?

Carol Andrews said...

Hi Jocelyn. Happy Birthday to Tony. His cake looked yummy. Did you ever find out what went thump in the night?

Anu said...

Hello. I hope you get a good night's sleep again. Lovely photos.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Happy belated birthday wishes to Tony!! I'm slowing treading back to blogger. I most often can't go back to sleep if I wake up close to 5AM. Anyway, that's what time my coffee timer starts the brew. Even though I bought a bird book for California, I have not identified many birds out here. BUT, there are MANY Raven on this mountain. I miss my birds in Indiana.
xx, Carol

Susie H said...

Happy birthday, Hubby! Maybe he is smiling ... hahaha! The bird pictures are always nice to look at. Love birds! Now turn out the light and go to sleep! ZZZZZZZZZ!

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

As a single girl the thump in the night is terrifying to me anymore. You are a brave lady, prowling, and looking. Did you ever find anything? The last thump I had was a large sewing machine table falling over in the basement. Neat bird picture. Love your applique, and the blocks are gorgeous. Happy Birthday Tony, the cake looks yummy!

K Reeves said...

I used to sleep through those thumps, but no more! Lately my sleep issues have been due to poor DH; he is having a rough time of it when he lays down. Good health is such a gift! I need to pull out Melva/ blocks and get started! Maybe this month. 😊 You have some lovely blocks in this post, and that cute little sapsucker too!