Inspiration, Indoor Gardening and Outside Chores, Fans Quilt, Free Patterns,

We've been blessed for a week now with unseasonably warm temperatures. Just wonderful for walking outside and doing more chores like gathering kindling and window washing. Here is a look into one half of my indoor garden. I use the 3 step ladder for the washing- too bad if the window is higher than that! I just can't risk going any higher these days. You can see my kitchen window in the background and just beside the top of my shoulder is my camera with the good zoom pretty much set up there permanently.

While out there, I heard a loud and familiar tapping on the house. Rounded the corner and there was Mr. Woodpecker pecking away at one of the knots in the house siding. Every few months, one of them decides this is a good idea. 

I can't tell if this is a Hairy or a Downy but Murphy decided to bark at it which made it fly away. 

I had made a large curried butter chicken recipe and then decided to try my hand at making naan bread to go with it. We both love the naan bread you get at Indian food restaurants and I'd been told it is easy to make. After researching how to make it in the bread machine, I chose one recipe and gave it a go. Of course, I got busy right at the crucial point of taking the dough out of the machine and when I checked, the baking process had already started. Darn it. So we had a loaf instead and it is quite tasty. I've never added yogurt to a dough before but it was good.  I will definitely be trying to make real naan bread another time. The recipe is here at the Taste of Home site.

Our Saturday night movie was The Lie starring Peter Sarrsgard and Mireille Enos (of The Killing fame). It was good...certainly portrayed parental agony well and held our attention.

I've added stitching lines to what I was calling parachutes and have since renamed them Fans. That is more in line with the Japanese theme anyway so thanks goes to Patricia (no blog) for that idea. 

Just wondering how many now to make. Perhaps 18 which would give me 7 rows with alternating 3 and 2 fans for a nice sized hanging. Does that add up?

I'm using a running stitch and this Sulky variegated thread in red, white and blue. Fun stitching. I'm also using my Hera tool to mark the lines. Since they are short lines and on dark fabric, it is working well for this.

Inspiration

Jenny of Elefantz has begun a free stitch along she is calling Joy to the World. It features her unique designs on a traditional Christmas theme. The first two blocks are at that link.

I love houses and one of these days I'm going to start a house quilt. In this marvelous video below, Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts shares how to make a tiny house, a perfect use of small scraps and could certainly be a Christmas theme as well or an RSC Challenge at So Scrappy. Her small quilt is so cute too and I like how her earrings match her top. 😊

I also like this project...more scrap busting possibilities and the reusing of those lovely Moda ribbons...I have a few of those myself.  From the talented Jen Van Orman and the link with instructions is HERE. 

2 Humane Mouse Traps-Number of Mice captured and released, 12!! An even dozen; who knew so many mice run around the garage at night! 

I have bird feeders to fill and wood to stack. Always chores here to keep the old body moving which is a good thing. 

Also have to link this post with these fabulous parties:- Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt, Our World Tuesday, My Corner of the World and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.