Sunday 8 November 2020

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 QuiltsSmall Quilts and Doll QuiltsLove Laugh QuiltOur World TuesdayMy Corner of the World and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework




18 comments :

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

I didn't care for the house quilts much when I first saw them but they started to grow on me this year so much to the point that I am actually thinking of making one too - but I have so many started I will probably change my mind. Looking forward to seeing yours! Your plants look so pretty - we get wood peckers occasionally pecking at the house too :(

Brian's Home Blog said...

Those are very pretty stitchings and those silly wood peckers can make some noise, but they are such good looking birds!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

We've been lucky here not to have the downy woodpeckers or flickers pecking on our house, but we have had visitors try to shoo them away when they come to our suet feeder! Your fan block is a pretty one - and that is a good name for them. I saw Jenny's Nativity stitch-along! It's very tempting.

Ruth Hiebert said...

THis fall seems to have been pleasant across the country. your quilt work looks wonderful .

Kim said...

Oh, you are very kind to those mice! I am afraid I would not be so. =) Sorry. I love your fans. Those are sweet little houses and I can just see some of those pretty Christmas ornaments on the tree.

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm slowly making my way through fall chores. It's tough in this warm weather, though!

MissPat said...

Yes, the weather has been delightful. Two more days, may set a record for high temperature. Window washing is on my agenda, too. Our neighbor has cedar shake siding, and the woodpeckers are regular visitors. Your fans are very pretty and the variegated thread adds interest.
Pat

Sherrie said...

Hi Jocelyn,
love your fan quilt...so pretty. Thanks for the link to the Stitch a long..I'll be checking this one out. Your plants look so pretty in your window..have a great day!

PaintedThread said...

My nann never comes out as nice as store bought (or restaurant!). Naan is soo good. Curried butter chicken sounds good, too. Love how the parachute/fans are coming out.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Your quilts and stitch projects all look beautiful. Love the woodie, I hope it isn't damaging the wood. Our weather has been great lately, I enjoying some outdoor time. Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead!

Denise :) said...

Your kitchen window looks so happy!! I love plants! You have a green thumb. Your little woodpecker is cute! I can never tell a hairy or a downy unless I can see the length. It is hard to tell with your visitor (intruder?)! Your fan looks amazing. And I love those little patchwork ornaments! Thanks for sharing the link -- they'll make sweet favors for my stitching pals!! :)

Magpie's Mumblings said...

We often use naan bread to make mini-pizzas...yummy. Woodpeckers can be noisy and I suppose not so good to have them drilling holes in your house.

Arun Goyal said...

What a lovely assortment of plants on windowsill. It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to gardening where you can share about plants and flowers here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/11/bees-and-butterflies-on-flower.html

gladiquilts said...

Hi Jocelyn. Just catching up with your last 3 blog posts. I adore your fans project!!! I've made 4 quilts featuring fans - 2 large and 2 small - and have more in mind. Also like your baskets and a basket quilt has long been on my "to do" list. Loved your owl pics - I can hear them in my back woods, but rarely see them. I can't imagine getting pictures!! The book recommendation looks interesting- might check it out. Thanks so much for sharing all this!

gladiquilts said...

Hi Jocelyn. Just catching up with your last 3 posts! I adore your fans project. Fans have always been a favorite and I've made 4 quilts featuring them. Like your baskets too - a basket quilt is on my "to do" list. Amazing owl pictures! I can hear them in the woods behind our house, but a sighting is rare. Thanks for all you share!

Angie said...

Jocelyn - you are my inspiration for adorable Christmas and vintage embroidery/projects. I keep adding more links to my favorites, and one of these days I will get to them. I am glad I am not the only one with woodpecker visitors! And now I am off to talk to my hubby about naan bread - I have a hankering!

betty-NZ said...

I am happy to admire your handiwork! Very impressive.

Thanks for sharing your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Believe it or not, I have made naan bread - only once, but it was delicious. Now we buy it in the grocery store and since we cook Indian food two or three times a week it, along with basmati rice, is a staple around here.