Thursday 6 October 2022

Thursday's Three Free, Gardening, Quilting Tilda, Apple Love and Turkey Time


That tree canopy was where I was chasing a Barred Owl yesterday. Caught two glimpses of it as it moved totally silently through the trees. I crawled through a lot of undergrowth and bushes, craning my neck, trying to find it. No luck but happy to know one is still around.
Recent frost warnings turned into actual morning frost a couple of times so I got busy and prepared my plants to bring them inside. Here I'd moved them to the veranda and at night I throw a sheet over them.  They all grew a lot over the summer so I had to dig out bigger pots in the garage. 
I'm happily slow stitching in the evenings this week. I have a good start made on quilting Tilda. That phrase made me think of Waltzing Matilda, a song we always sang in Girl Guides. Did you sing that song too?
Nothing fancy- outlining each rectangle and x-ing each square while trying my best to keep the stitches even. The fabrics are so pretty.
LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was apples. We had several elderly apple trees at the farm and all produced wonderful blossoms in May.
My Dad ate an apple for his evening snack many years of his long life.  For decades, as a teacher, I would eat a Golden Delicious apple for my recess.  Apples are always on hand here and these days I favour Pink Lady.  I put them in salads and make Apple Crumbles a lot. Are you an apple fan too?
Below I am sharing Still Life with Apples on Pink Cloth by Henri Matisse, 1924. I especially like the background colour of pinks the yellow apples lay on but it is the bold blues that my eye goes to. I wonder if the the jug was an afterthought. I don't know- something about the scale...the apples are basically the same size as the jug. It's fun for a mere mortal to wonder about these things, :D.

So from something sublime to the very ordinary...It seems to be casserole time here in Canada with much cooler October underway now. I made this one from Let's Dish.  I substituted chicken thighs and added a bunch more vegetables- I wanted leftovers.  It turned out great. 

Thursday's Three Free

Links to Jo Avery's Autumn Apliqued Pillow Top pattern are there. Or it could be a table topper too of course. Jo Avery's lovely site is here.

A bright and beautiful Halloween quilt....a tutorial and pattern on how to make this from Jera at Quilting in the Rain found Here

And for my cross stitching buddies, a very cute pattern I found through Vivien's site and thought it worthy of sharing more. You can find the pattern for Loons Lakes Blueberries Black Bears from the Eastcoast Crafter HERE.
All those linked sites are well worth exploring. These talented folks share wonderful ideas, patterns, tips and further links. 
It is our Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday so turkey, not apples, is on the menu for a family get together this weekend. I love turkey; do you?
Hope you are feeling inspired and engaged in whatever gives you enjoyment and contentment!

27 comments :

Jayne Honnold said...

What a cheerful post! I am in apple pie baking mode here lately. Took 2 pies to our daughters on Monday. Yummy goodness, for sure. I love the Tilda quilting - I have little scraps similar to yours that need to be stitched into a pretty little quilt. Might just have to get on it! Have a wonderful day!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

What a beautiful photo looking up into the trees in your woods, Jocelyn! The fabrics in your Tilda quilt are so pretty - definitely looks like a pleasure to quilt. The Lazy Sunday casserole sounds like a dish we would enjoy. I'm going to have to try that one!

Angela said...

The apple blossoms are so pretty! Happy Thanksgiving!

Linda said...

I guess crawling in the bushes isn't as uncomfortable as crawling to do your quilt sandwich - lol! Hope you don't find ticks where you are - they used to plague me when I got near the ground at our last residence in south Texas. Your Tilda quilting is so pretty and what a joy to look at those fabrics while you quilt on them. I like Pink Lady apples too, but give me a good Honey Crisp to eat and a Braeburn or Jonathan to use in baking.
I'm going to post on To Do Tuesday about a different way I found to sandwich quilts . I hope to get the materials for it tomorrow . . .

PaintedThread said...

I love the canopy photo. Apple blossoms are so pretty. That applique pillow looks cool.

Jackie said...

Really looking forward to Thanksgiving. The sons will be home and it will be the first time we are all together under one roof since Christmas. Tomorrow is going to be a baking day around here. That means probably no work on the quilt again.

God bless.

Allie said...

Those apple blossoms make me long for spring, and it's not even winter yet! I love apples. I think the reason the jug in the picture is so small is because it's further away - but the perspective is a little off, typical of Matisse, and delightful. Loving your hand quilting!!!

Cloudia said...

I loved every bit of this. Especially the nature and your Apple digression. What a lovely way to remember your dad

laura bruno lilly said...

Hi Jocelyn - I really like your use of colorful threads used in your hand stitching. It really adds extra fun to an already colorful quilt.
ps-I never check my google account email and blogspot seems to be dependent on it for comments, etc. After all these years, I still haven't figured out blogspot! But will try to keep up with your posts anyway!

audrey said...

I love quilts with pretty fabric. So much better when quilting on them! I love pink lady apples too. My daughter and I try to eat apples through the fall and winter, though her favorite is Honey Crisp.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I love your hand stitching on the Tilda quilt. Love the Lazy Sunday Casserole too. Great idea to enjoy the day. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

We're going in quest of apples (honeycrisps and ambrosias) at the farmers market tomorrow. They're my favourites to eat out of hand. There are some Paula Red's in the fridge that will be going into apple crisp.
Reading your bit about Waltzing Matilda made me think of my dad who often whistled it while he went about his farm work.
Great links, thank you!
And...happy Thanksgiving!

piecefulwendy said...

I'm grinning as I visualize you on the hunt for that barred owl - haha! Good for you, though - I'm not sure I could crawl under bushes and whatnot any more these days! You have some fun freebies that you have highlighted - that pillow is terribly tempting. Maybe that pitcher in the painting is covering up a mistake . . .hahaha!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Yes I remember Waltzing Matilda! Great song! I used to love apples, but pear and cheese is what I miss most! The sites you provide links to are a lot of fun to just look through! Have a great week- think I am behind again in commenting. Hugs

The Cozy Quilter said...

Isn’t fall a wonderful season? We enjoy being outside too. Nice to have a hand quilting project on the go. So many wonderful patterns to stitch…not enough time to make them all. Happy Thanksgiving. I thInk I asked you this before….where do you live? I’m in south western Ontario.

Quilter Kathy said...

I am taking lots of photos of beautiful trees and fall scenes too... I love this time of year (and apples)!
What a great photo of your hand quilting.... enjoy!

Ivani said...

You are making a nice hand quilting, Jocelyn, lovely Tilda quilt.
Apple tree in blossoms is gorgeous. Happy Thanksgiven!

Karrin Hurd said...

Happy Thanksgiving. I remember Waltzing Matilda from somewhere, I don't know if it was Girl Scouts or something else. I like apples, John LOVED apple pie. I love that cushion, thanks for pointing out the link. I love Jo Avery too! Happy stitching!

gladiquilts said...

What a beautiful foliage photo! I’m a huge Tilda fan and your quilt is looking great - have you seen the newest line of Tilda fabrics? I can’t stop collecting them! I grew up eating apples every day and still keep a bowl full of them on the kitchen table and especially liking Pink Ladies and Honey Crisps; getting ready to get out my favorite apple crisp and apple cake recipes 😊. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

So cool that you saw a Barred Owl! And yes, my mom would place Waltzing Matilda on her accordion, so I've sung it many times! Love your Waltzing Matilda quilt and quilting!!! There are 2 abandoned apple trees near our church that are free for the picking, so we have quite a few on hand and eat one every morning at breakfast. I have no idea what kind they are, but their good tasting and no bugs, despite never being sprayed for them.

Nann said...

The local produce stand sources apples from an orchard in southwestern Michigan. Several dozen varieties. Today we got winesaps, Connel reds, King David, and a couple of strawberry bananas. A neighbor has several trees in his yard and gave us two Colonnades (new to us) and two others whose name I can't recall. I do remember singing Waltzing Matilda with great enthusiasm!

grammajudyb said...

I'm late in commenting on your Thursday post, Jocelyn! But I love the whole thing. Tilda fabrics are so pretty. We are apple lovers here too. Wish we had trees sometimes. Glad to know you and also Ned enjoyed Thanksgiving! (I've read your To Do Tuesday post too!)

Angie said...

Jocelyn - even though we have had slight frosts, my petunias and geraniums are still hanging on! But tomorrow they have to go ... we are leaving for the UK on Sunday, and it is time to winterize ... When I was growing up, we had Golden Delicious and Winesap apple trees in our garden - I loved eating them in all forms!

Yvonne said...

I think the painting is more about perspective with the pitcher. Pitchers come in all sizes, so I think it was meant to be there. Your handiwork is always so beautiful. I admire that you have the patience to stick with it to the end. I love apples more for cooking than eating raw. My favorite pie has alway been apple pie. I used to use granny smiths and anothe type that would become a bit mushy cooked together.

Peabea Scribbles said...

The quilt is beautiful. In all my sewing years, I've never made one. Tried once when young, and it ended up all wonky. Love the upward photo of where you were in search of the Owl. Thank you for visiting Pictorial so that I could come visit your blog.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jocelyn, love this post. Came over from Peabea's. Beautiful photo of the tree! I admire your quilting and needle skills. I have none! We eat an apple every single day. Hope it serves us as well as it did your father!

LA Paylor said...

are the apple trees on your property a lot of work? a neighbor in md had two and they needed spraying, pruning, and more...