June New Starts of All Sorts And a Sweet Stitchy Gift

June is a month of new starts of all sorts!

The robins on the front veranda have started their family. I had the step ladder ready and waited till they were over on the far lawn to grab a quick shot of their nest. Two things that impress me about robins...their nest is always a thing of beauty in construction...so strong I've seen them last many winters and the other thing is the rich, gorgeous colour of the eggs they lay. Crayola makes a crayon that is robin's egg blue and the famous Tiffany's trademarked blue is a shade of robin's egg blue. 

It is not just the flowers budding and in bloom these early June days. Our little forest here features many pine, fir and spruce trees that I tried to identify and record my first year. Coming from a heavily forested province like Newfoundland and Labrador, I really should have known more about trees. This large bud below is called a candle and if it survives, will grow into a new branch on one of our pine trees. 

Thinking of beautiful forests, it is dreadful to hear of all the out of control forest fires out west. So much devastation, worry and upheaval too. The smoke has made it to our skies here in Ontario and we have had moderate risk air quality warnings lately. I read the smoke from the Manitoba fires reached as far as Russia!

While England Quakers is in time out, I began G. Leger 1898, a piece I've had prepped and ready to go since the pandemic. This design has several favourite features like two alphabets and pears- two of them as well, birds and a wonderful red house. 

 I'm comfortable stitching with one thread now and kind of proud of myself for giving that a go and sticking with it. And there is a very positive aspect to one strand cross stitching.. it is so much easier to make neat stitches than with wrangling two threads. I'm very happy with this new start. Also happy to link up with other slow stitchers at Kathy's Quilts.

I do have to be careful with eye strain so am using my Ott light on the highest level and stitching only during the day, not at night. And look at this, a needle minder that resembles a heavy piece of jewelry. It is a sweet gift from a reader. 

She said she didn't want to see me stabbing my fabric anymore. That gave me a smile as she'd read that I'd written that quite a while ago.☺ (It is always a surprise to me that folks are reading and paying attention to what I say!) How neat that it is a bee for me...I love it. 

I'm reading this book by one of my old favourite authors and enjoying it. The premise in a nutshell is...you are married, slightly unhappily, with teenaged children and your first boyfriend contacts you... the one you madly, crazily loved...what to do? Mostly told from the man's perspective which made it all the more interesting. But can/will these soulmates give up their present lives to start a new one???

Petey is very attentive to my every move and is always watching me. Here he is tired from ball playing but trying to keep his eyes open and his head pressed against my leg, an uncomfortable position for sure. What a loving dog!

Last week was a very busy one for us and really cut into sewing time. I'm happy to have this appointment free week so I can get in the sewing room again. Here is Block 1 of my quilting new start and it's looking rather lonely.

But these blue string blocks are calling my name and perhaps they will keep on calling till I get to the bottom of my tote...wouldn't that be nice. Dream on!

Hope there is something wonderful calling your name too!

Happily sharing this post with It's A Small Town Life, Melva Loves Scraps, Quilt Schmilt, Alycia Quilts,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Creations Art Whatever, Quilting Patchwork Applique and The Inquiring Quilter. A big thank you to all these wonderful hosts!