Stitching Tools and Pumpkins, Mother Trees and Thanksgiving Prep

Our Mother Tree on the house side of the lane way was, as usual, spectacular this year. I wondered how the drought might affect her, but no, the display was awesome. Carrying on no matter what just like a good mother. 

It's a shame that you can't really tell how large the trunk is. I can't get my arms around it.

And speaking of maple leaves, Rachel at Stitched in Color is hosting a SAL called Under the Maple Tree featuring her beautiful Maple Leaf quilt. Details HERE. Isn't it gorgeous! I don't have the skills for this but many of you splendid stitchers do. 

I'm still hand quilting Propellers. I use these tools...my Hera marker and the General Sketch & Wash pencils (Amazon link is HERE); I learned about both those items from the marvelous Australian hand quilter, Hilda Baird. 

I'm also finally using my "good" scissors, the Gingher ones. 

Here is the link to Hilda's Instagram page where you can ogle her wonderful quilts. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I never forgot her name because my mother had a good friend for many decades with the same name and, in fact, the two women look remarkably alike. HERE is Hilda's blog chronicling her quilting journey which is still online though she is on Instagram these days. Isn't it marvelous how we learn from each other through the online sharing!

I've appliqued all the pumpkins for this little hanging. Each stem has a round of blanket stitch too. I plan to use black for the first border.

There are two sets of eyes on me all the time these days. Here's one. And a couple of things to note here.

Besides sweet Petey, my Cubii is there and I use it most nights for 20 minutes and my 5 lb barbell is on the right. And about that, when I started with the barbell, I could do 5 or 6 lifts with each arm. Now I can do more than 25 before the burn starts which goes to show you can improve even at my age, 74. I'm always thankful I feel well enough to do this, of course. I've noticed if both things are handy/within reach, I'm more likely to use them. Btw, I've begged Tony to try to do these things but he has zero interest and I guess if I felt like him, I would too. 

It's Thanksgiving here in Canada tomorrow. We will be having family here for a turkey dinner, something I love doing. I do most of the preparations leading up to it like having the table set, serving dishes out and even the pots ready the day before. I've done my grocery shop and have everything in sight; I can't risk having to take time or energy doing deep dives into cupboards on the day of. Dessert, an ice cream cake, is already made and in the freezer. I'm going to cut a couple of the Hydrangeas to display. They have steadily darkened with overnight frosts. This was taken in my sewing room. Aren't they still so pretty! This is a flowering bush I highly recommend as it blooms all summer and well into fall.

I'll be back soon with  photos of the dinner which, fingers crossed, goes well. Meanwhile, I hope your stitching fingers are flying and all is calm with you and yours. 

 Thankful for the wonderful linky parties too...Songbird Designs, The Inquiring Quilter, Sum of Their Stories and Quilt Schmilt.