Thursday 4 April 2024

April Snowstorm, Chookshed Challenge, Crochet

 Mother Nature had a surprise in store for us. A winter snowstorm began last night and is continuing this morning. Woke up to this...

Hopefully winter 2024's very last blast. I'm not at all upset as I've been worried about the lack of ground water the very early spring might cause. Perhaps this will help. And we have not lost the power, which they were warning us about, so fingers and toes crossed...

Deanna at Dreamworthy Quilts chose #9 for our Chookshed Stitchers Challenge this month. I was so happy to get out my #9 which is this project, the oldest I think of the WIPs I chose for this QAL. This is my Panama Pyramids.

 I used a marking pencil to outline the triangles and they were all joined by hand. Happy memories of enjoying the process very much and it truly does deserve my attention this month. I have five more strips to join unto those pictured. I began that last night so I'm confident I will work on this one at least to the flimsie stage. And happy to set it as my April OMG over at Anne- Marie's Stories From the Sewing Room blog.

I'm also learning how to crochet a solid granny square. Of all the crocheting I've done, I've never made this particular pattern. YouTube is my friend so often. 

My little corner of the tv room...I enjoy gathering all my projects around me near at hand.

I'm using my Cubii most nights for 20 minutes or so while watching some bit of tv. Year 3 with this. I do believe it is helping to keep my legs strong. 
We watch a lot of BritBox and Masterpiece Theatre. I always like the way tea and a biscuit are offered in their shows no matter, seemingly, the circumstances....so civilized. Tony drinks several cups of tea a day but only has a treat with one. Often I will look for different biscuits like these I found in the international section at the big Walmart. The Fox's Crunch Creams have ginger in them and I like them too. Do you have a favourite small treat like this that goes well with tea or coffee you could recommend?
 Presently, we are working our way through Spooks which features Matthew MacFadyen; he looks so young, like a teenager in this series. Such a good actor and we were happy he won a Golden Globe for his work in Succession

Bad weather always looks worse through a window...so I'm dragging out my parka, retrieving my winter boots from the downstairs cloakroom, hauling on a tuque and Ned and I are heading out in the storm. 

Happy to link with Alycia QuiltsQuilting Patchwork AppliqueIt's a Small Town LifeQuilting is More Fun Than HouseworkSo Scrappy and A Quiltery.

32 comments :

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Don't know about where you are, but we had a massive wind storm Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday. Very glad we didn't have to be out because I'm sure there were a lot of trees and limbs that came down. Luckily our power stayed on but other places didn't have it so good. Then it turned to snow and yesterday afternoon we had massive snowflakes in the air which built up fairly quickly. Don't think it's going to last though.
Sorry I can't recommend any boughten cookies because we never buy them. RC makes ours and has several really good recipes he uses so we always have some in the freezer.

Jeanna said...

You really did get a lot of snow. I'm glad didn't lose power. Panama Pyramids looks great. I admire your hand stitching. Hope you and Ned didn't have to stay out too long.

Gretchen Weaver said...

We had snowflakes last evening and earlier this morning but it didn't accumulate. Now the sun is shining. Panama Pyramids is beautiful! Happy stitching!

Anonymous said...

One of my go-to treats with a cup of tea is graham crackers with almond butter (I have a peanut allergy, so cannot do peanut butter)….I like that the graham cracker is not so sweet.
Love those pyramid blocks!
Hope your snow doesn’t hang around too long….my father always said snow that hangs around is waiting for more!
I don’t think I have commented on your blog before, but I always enjoy reading about your needlework, your adventures with Ned, your trips to thrift shops, your projects with hubby, and, of course, all the lovely cakes from your daughter! Every time you show one of those masterpieces, it makes me want to eat something sweet!!
Sandra B
scb23229@yahoo.com

Jenn Jilks said...

We liked Spooks, too!
Good thing you didn't lose power. Our sent off, but came back up.
It is disconcerting. I refuse to shovel, though! 😆

Jenny said...

You and Ned heading out into the storm - that could be the starting line of a mystery novel! Hopefully you made it safely back indoors again.
We are home again after our Easter trip, but sadly I have come down with Covid I expect Robin will be testing positive today too. So I will probably be a bit sluggish starting any of the months challenges.

MissPat said...

After a winter of almost no snow, it's frustrating to have it arrive now with the spring flowers. We had rain all day yesterday, but snow is forecast for tonight and tomorrow.

It will be satisying to get that oldest UFO to the finish line (or at least to a top).
Pat

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Lovely quilting
I hope you two had a nice walk in the snow storm.

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

more snow - the last thing most want - a little chilly nights here and hopefully the end of that too - down to 38 tonight for us. I want the windows open again.
I watched Spooks and enjoyed it. I use my Cubii daily - or should I say in the early evening before I start quilting - I hope it is strengthening my legs as well

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

We always count on spring snows to bring needed moisture around here, too. Looks pretty outside your window, and I hope you enjoyed your walk with Ned! The Panama Pyramids project looks happy with the sunny yellow full triangles, too. I enjoyed Matthew McFadyen in MI-5, but haven't watched Spooks yet.

Jackie said...

Lots of snow there, but the moisture is needed. Now that our snow is finally gone I am hoping for a lovely rain or two to wash everything down.

I really like that pyramid quilt.

God bless.

dq said...

A Cubii sounds like a good idea.

So you are hand piecing the triangle quilt.

PaintedThread said...

That's kind of how our yard looks today, too! Wow - all those pyramids! Mm.. those crunch creams sound good. I think anything goes well with tea (although my grandmother told me all ills were cured by tea and ice cream). :-) Stay warm and dry!

Quilting Babcia said...

The mottled yellow alternate triangles are perfect for highlighting your pyramid blocks. A very effective combination! We are getting snow showers tonight though I think any accumulation will melt by midday tomorrow. Are you in the area of totality for Monday's eclipse? We're about 99 percent here but weather is now forecast for scattered high to mid level clouds.

Nancy J said...

I recently watched " Apples never fall" and " Mr Bates v The Post Office" the latter a true story dramatised.Hope that snow goes very quickly and you will be on the way to spring.Will you see the eclipse or are you too far south to get the total package???

Anonymous said...

omg how beautiful when one doesn’t have to go anywhere!! what bird was that outdoors? I thought it might be a turkey. I adore your triangle quilt. i admire the handwork. you are clever pumping your left
gs while sewing. great idea.

Anne Kirby said...

Aldi's sells chocolate dipped cookies. I prefer the dark chocolate. They are decadent!! Stay warm!!

Lin said...

Good luck with your challenge - and the snow! We did the Spooks series a few years back, oh so good. xx

The Cozy Quilter said...

Thé good thing about snow in April is that it doesn’t stay around for very long! It sure looks pretty! I hope you enjoyed your walk in the snow with Ned. I have never learned to crochet but often check out YouTube for knitting advice. It’s a great resource.

Helen said...

Snow in April! Yikes! And, was that a big turkey I saw digging in the snow?

Linda said...

Oh I'd love to be heading out to walk in that storm! Looks so peaceful and inviting through your window. Panama Pyramids is so very pretty!
I like any kind of cookie with tea, and I will eat a homemade cookie for breakfast with my coffee sometimes. When I was in college, Granny lived with Mom and Daddy and would make her wonderful homemade sugar cookies for me to take back after I visited on weekends. I'd have a couple of those for breakfast, along with an orange soda - lol! She put them in a shoebox layered with wax paper, and my roommate and I would have them devoured within 2 or 3 days.

Susie H said...

I'm so glad you'll be working on finishing up Panama Pyramids!! It's definitely one of my favorites of yours. Not to mention that yellow must look so cheerful in spite of the snowy situation up your way. Bet Ned doesn't mind near as much as his human walker! Lol! Hope you had a good walk. Keep up with the exercise. My mother's P/T place's motto is: A body in motion stays in motion.

Rose Marie said...

You were the person that got me hooked making those pyramids and I’m so glad it is finished. I’m cheering for you to finish yours.

Anne-Marie said...

I love the project you'll be working on this morning. I don't love the snow, other than for moisture. We had a pretty dry winter, but we've had tons of rain this spring.

grammajudyb said...

They are predicting a Winter Storm from Saturday evening until Monday morning. Hopefully we’ll keep power on and just stay indoors and sew or read. It’s been unseasonably warm lately, so this will be different! Enjoy your stitching time. My go-to treat, if I need it , is graham crackers with store bought frosting. Or just butter in a pinch.

Gwyned Trefethen said...

Tea, digestive biscuits and Brit TV - What's not to love? Even better with some handwork. Thanks for sharing the snow outside your window.

The Joyful Quilter said...

You had snow and we had temps of nearly 80*F. SEW fortuitous that your Panama Pyramids was chosen for this month's challenge, Jocelyn, since YELLOW plays such a prominent role in that quilt!! Best of luck with making some really good progress on it.

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Pretty Panama Pyramids blocks! It's going to be a lovely quilt, I love this yellow background. I'm glad you didn't suffer from the snowstorm, hopefully the snow will not last!
Thank you for sharing ;)

LA Paylor said...

I love those cookies, remember them from my time in Canada. I don't associate a sweet with tea, but have a home made cookie in late afternoon sometimes
your handwork is glorious
LeeAnna

Michelle said...

I think the snow is finished for us, but I like the fact that you are going out in it. Nothing like fresh air and sunshine everyday! Thank you for linking up.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Panama pyramids is amazing!! I like that you have it out again!

Angela said...

I think I would enjoy having Britbox. Great that you got some snow to add moisture! Summer will be here before we know it.