Sunday, 6 July 2025

Finding Calm, Feelings, String Quilts-Old and New, Applique Too

 I was just getting used to it being June and now it is July. I feel like I've been very busy. Tony had his drivers' license renewal which, being over 80, meant he had to go to the office and do the testing which he aced. I find it odd they don't check how your feet or any reflexes are. Shouldn't that be as important as knowing how to draw a clock face to include 10 past 10. However, I've read seniors still have the least accidents of all age groups, so maybe it's all okay. 

Here is Petey pointing out my current book, Louise Erdrich's The Sentence which I'm enjoying now after an iffy start but I'm at page 37 and it's growing on me...the good writing is drawing me in. 

That was one of my two very enjoyable outings last week. The library was extra busy with two groups of children, one tiny tots and the other middle school aged teenagers, there for activities. The sounds of all their voices...the older ones discussing a book and the little ones being read to by a very enthusiastic volunteer were just awesome. 
I saw this book and took a picture. Cross Stitch = Calm   Yes, so true and HERE is a link to Leah's book to purchase which features 40 patterns to help you de-stress.
Acceptance versus Giving In
How are you doing with the calming bit? I know I'm not the only one struggling with achieving that. But I'm doing all I can to keep the big bad thoughts at bay...these weeks are having their ups and downs, that's for sure. And we are having ongoing discussions surrounding the difference between giving in/up and acceptance. I think acceptance is positive overall and that is what Tony should strive for. But he sees any move in that direction as giving up. And who knows, if in his shoes and feeling weaker by the day, I really don't know how I'd feel. I am a solutions/plans kind of thinker so perhaps would want to keep up the search too. I just don't know. What do you think? 
I'm looking forward to a sit down with our gp soon...he's a good listener and chatterer and good with Tony too. But Tony has another scheduled test before that will happen. 
Meanwhile, the sewing, swimming, constant dog walks and ball playing-all things I love- are great and very positive distractions for me. 

Speaking of ball playing...One sunny evening this week, we went to watch Robbie's baseball game. We brought our chairs to one of the five baseball diamonds the local town has; they are all named and the one we were at is called Brickdust Field. Like the hockey, boys and girls play together which is nice to see. Baseball games are long...about two hours, but they moved it right along so there was always action. I like how sports teach kids rules, not only about the game, but about their behaviour too. The spirit of fair play and especially respect for each other is paramount. I liked how the coaches called out  encouraging words to each and every player no matter how they played. 
Writing that just made me think of the song What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love. That was Burt Bacharach's wonderful music composed when the U.S. and the world were so divided over the Vietnam war. Amazing how the words still very much apply. "Not just for some, but for everyone." 

I'm finding my own kind of calm in the sewing room and enjoying sewing what I know will be the last of the blue strings blocks. Truthfully, I find these a little boring but it's not the strings fault. And I'm pleased with how the blocks are piling up. I found a bag of men's handkerchiefs, you know the very flimsy kind, I'd bought at a thrift store and decided to try them for the backings.
  I did read that it would be good to provide a sort of stabilizer for these very thin fabrics. This starch below was recommended and when searching online to buy it, I found it was available at my local Walmart.  I also use this Dollar Store spray bottle to help iron out wrinkles and spray my indoor plants in wintertime.  Do you starch your fabrics? I've never done it.                                       
 I was poking around in the old sewing room where I have a number of projects pinned to the wall and noticed this one. That's Tony's kangaroo there from his time in Australia, just one of his world wide work adventures.
I took it out in the light of day and thought I really should finish this one. It has scrappy strings in neutrals for the backgrounds.
And simple applique.
I wonder where that idea came from as I surely would have seen it somewhere online. If you know, please remind me.
I've rambled on too long and that happens when I don't write for a few days. Next time I'll share my bread machine review- yes, we are enjoying homemade egg bread!
Take care all of you!

Monday, 30 June 2025

Flowers, Birds and Books, Slow Stitching Too

 This is beautiful ground cover if you need such in your garden. I find the name an unfortunate one for something so pretty...Lungwort. All the colours at once...purples, pinks and violets but tiny so easily missed. I also note they do okay in the shade here.

After missing out on the Phoebes fledging, I'd been keeping a close eye on the robin's nest on the front veranda. Sure enough I was able to watch the last of the three fledge, a great thrill for me. He was outside the nest early morning, the others already gone, and I watched as he would go to the edge, fluff his wings but then move back to the nest again. 
This went on for some time with him always moving back to be near the nest which must have represented great comfort to him.
Hopefully, his speckled brown plumage will help camouflage him. 
 I had things to do so I finally thought I'll give it another minute. Sure enough that's the moment he just took off and flew perfectly all the way across the side meadow and disappeared into a tree. He finally did it. Good luck, little one!

My library books are automatically renewed these days so the pressure is off to read them in a certain time frame. This made me think of Mom as it was a sticking point about book borrowing from the library for her...she didn't like the pressure of having to read with a time constraint. Do any of you feel like that? But I just got my list in an email and there are two books there I've completely forgotten and questioned whether I'd checked them out. But one is the Illustrated Guide to English Paper Piecing and the other is Flower Farm Sampler. They both certainly sound like me, don't they, so I'll have to issue a house wide search warrant I guess.

People were talking about the main character in this book being unique. I did enjoy some of Eleanor's thoughts and how she expressed them.  Do you think loneliness is the new cancer, as Eleanor does?

Update...after tearing the house apart, both mislaid books were found accidentally under scraps but appropriately in the sewing room which is not a place I read at all so I didn't even think to look there. I do seem to spend/waste more time looking for things these days. Which makes me wonder if this is the start of something big but not in a good way, if you know what I mean.

Isn't Shelley's Flower Farm Sampler quilt beautiful! I found it to be more starry than flowery but gorgeous nonetheless. The best price I could find for it to purchase was here at the Fat Quarter Shop -what don't they have!
I've been stitching more string blocks and also added another letter to my cross stitched alphabet. Enjoyable slow stitching on this project which is being stitched on 32 count linen. The lighting in the sewing room is downright awful. I've asked Tony to help me do something about that.
Tony emerged from the dermatologist's office scraped and wounded looking. His face has taken a beating over the years- only in the doctor's office. Two basal cell carcinoma spots were dug out and several others, one on his scalp which the doctor gave the very medical label of old man's skin spot. Tony survived his other medical procedures last week and now we wait for the reports to be sent to our family doctor. One he discovered, he'd done almost exactly one year ago with nothing wrong found. So he's been on this path a while now and still no answers. 

It seems I'm doing more online grocery shopping than ever. With same day or next day delivery, it's giving an almost recluse like myself another reason not to leave the property. For all the stuff like detergent, bird seed, tp, etc., the less handling I have to do the better.  And I've been buying a few items by the case like almond milk, cream of mushroom soup, tinned tomatoes, tuna and salmon. The convenience of this just can't be beat. BTW, I've bought my flour to give the bread machine a whirl...should be interesting.

I was inspired by Christine in that video I shared last time to make a very hearty meal for our supper Saturday night. It was a bean and ground beef concoction, one where you can add all kinds of things, really whatever you have on hand. I used kidney beans and a can of Heinz beans which is Tony's favourite. I added corn, peppers, etc. and chose not to use macaroni but instead made mashed potatoes for us. I have leftovers and maybe will serve it with rice this time. I won't share a photo as it really doesn't photograph well, certainly not appetizing...I tried.

I've rambled on enough for this chat. Hope all is well with you and thanks so much for stopping by.

Sharing with Kathy's Quilts


Thursday, 26 June 2025

Two Stitchy Project Updates, Back to Basic Recipes, New Small Appliance

 Walking has been a challenge here lately because of the heat. I experienced something I've never felt before while down at the pond the other day. One of those breezes that wells from the ground came up and it blew hot air at my face. So hot! The poor dogs were panting so we three just hightailed it back to the house where I'm so thankful our AC is working again...only were able to use it once last summer. The thermometer told me it was 35C which I think is like 94 F or close- you have to agree with me that is hot! Kudos to those of you who live in hot climates especially ones with humidity. Tony says I'd adjust if I had to but I'm not sure as humidity especially just makes me melt..one day last week we had 100% which doesn't sound possible. My hair has been such a mess. But that's all small stuff, every single bit of what I just wrote... enough whining, it is summer with glorious sunshine and massive beautiful growth in the gardens.

Here is something I've discovered loves the heat...the Coleus. This is one of my indoor houseplants and was in sorry shape after a long winter with little or low sun. Wish I'd taken a before photo. Here it is on summer holidays out on the back veranda and loving it. The light intensity has turned the leaves gorgeous purples. 

I've been doing some pinching to make it fill in as it has a tendency to become spindly. And thank you for the plant tips...I learn so much from you all, please keep them coming. 
In the sewing room...

I've been busy machine stitching more blue strings blocks. As I've said, my scraps appear to be unending...silly me, I'd thought that would be why I would have to end this project. Now I'm wondering how many blocks to make. This is 20 and I think 20 more would create a good overall design. What do you think?

I'll have to do more checking around the net to see other arrangements.

And I've been matching handles to basket bottoms too and have made 15 3/4 so far for the appliqued Basket Loves project. These have been fun to hand stitch using a blanket stitch edging on the handles. Must realign that handle on the far right bottom which is unsewn. I'm now at the stage of thinking of whether or not to end the basket making part of this project. I have the appliqued border finished too for one side and have to think about the others. 


Norma said not to fret about getting the handles perfect, after all this is a primitive style project, but I noticed hers were all identical and perfection, of course. Her site is Timeless Traditions Quilting if you'd like to take a look at her sweet patterns. 

So here is my new small appliance. The Kitchenarm Smart Bread Maker...

I'd given up on bread machines as the last two broke and Tony couldn't fix them and they were not worth paying someone to find out what was wrong. I hate the idea of more waste in the landfill. But I
really missed the convenience of having a machine that made a perfect loaf now and then. This one popped up in my feed one day and I saw it had the most 4.8 to 5 star ratings of any other machine on the market and it's a company that makes only bread machines. I broke down and ordered it. I received an email immediately from their webpage inviting me to explore their recipe site...Kitchen Arm Breads where I noted there is a recipe for sourdough starter.  Tony loves bread so much so very soon I'll let you know how it fares. 

I enjoyed this video below and not just because the featured cook, Christine, is a fellow Newfoundlander which was fun. It is about money saving hacks regarding food and included recession proof recipes to make the kind of meals our grandparents and, for me, my mother, would have made. Simple ingredients all and so healthy too. And it reminded me I need to make Oatcakes.

Married to a Nova Scotian for 34 years in my first marriage, these were almost always in the house. I remember being able to bake them even on Baffin Island because they don't require eggs.  I'm sharing Kelly Neil's recipe and, little tip, she says you'll need an empty Spam can, of all things, to cut the perfectly rounded corners. That bit was new to me.

Our kitchen sink blocked up again and made a mess. But on the upside, we got to clean out the pipes like they'd never been cleaned before so maybe that will prevent this almost usual thing from happening any time soon. And an additional up side, I got to use a tip I saw on YouTube that old black tea is good for cleaning wooden floors. I made a large pot of it and used it on the floors after the spills were all cleaned up. It made the floor look very clean with a nice matte kind of finish. It's definitely so much cheaper than bought cleaners...I used 4 well steeped teabags and you would think this would be better for the environment too. 

This has been a very busy appointment filled week for us with still two more to go, one with the dermatologist this afternoon to check on Tony's skin cancers, then back to the imagery clinic tomorrow for part two of his chemical nuclear stress test. Tony has a good tolerance for all this and it never affects his mood, which is a blessing. 

I hope you are staying cool or warm wherever you are in this big world of ours!

Do check out Not Afraid of Color where folks are also sharing their likes this week. Sharing this post with wonderful linky parties at  The Inquiring QuilterAlycia QuiltsQuilt SchmiltThe QuilterySmall Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Whatever.





Sunday, 22 June 2025

Scrappy Starry Madness, Free Patterns, Cross Stitching Too

Halfway through the year now and past the halfway point of June. I wonder where are all those hours we were promised for retirement...when time on your hands would hang heavy- an expression first recorded in 1760, btw.-I was curious enough to look up that expression. But no, though my days begin early there is still not enough hours to get everything done. I struggle not to have the feeling I'm getting behind. Behind what exactly is a bit of a mystery. But there is always something that needs doing and mostly, I'm thankful to be keeping busy. In fact, this busyness seems to have improved my overall sense of well being and removed some of the mindless fretting I'm prone to do from time to time. 

 Part of my well being is the enjoyment I'm getting from my present day sewing projects. It's wonderful when you can sustain the interest and enjoyment still months into a project.

 I think this one below, the EPP Starry Hexagons, would definitely qualify as a comfort project according to Emma's, The Vintage Sewing Box, definition. And HERE is a link to her Free Pattern page where she shares very sweet projects like needle books and pouches. 

Scrappy Starry Madness
Though still in their cardboards, I thought I'd throw them on the wall to take stock of how it's coming along halfway through the year. I like how the yellows are standing out. Sadly I just have three using orange, this month's RSC colour at So Scrappy. I have around ten more stars completed, most of them blues which shows what my colour preference was during my fabric collecting days.

And I've laid more stitches on G. Leger, 1898. Alphabets are very popular motifs in the cross stitching world, especially for samplers and are so enjoyable to stitch. HERE is a link to the pattern at 123Stitch if you want to read more about it. I ordered the DMC conversion threads to use. 

Petey is still with us and perhaps we'll get to keep him now for the summer holidays. That would be awesome. He is so lovable, attentive and a much better guard dog than our equally lovable but verrry laid back Ned. Here are the lads as Tony calls them down in the meadow where he mowed a path for us...to help with the tick situation. We do two walks a day down there and a couple of ball playing rounds in the back yard too. Here they are enjoying all the fresh smells from overnight.
Not sure how much ball playing we will do today. We have a heat wave warning...a possible high of 36C and humidex of 45 or higher! My phone went off in the night with, of all things, a tornado warning. Funny how I don't think of tornadoes happening at night or getting weather warnings on the phone either for that matter. Anyway, I've checked and nothing happened around here thankfully. 

Next time I'll share a new small appliance...it's been quite a while since I bought one and I'm excited to try this one out. 
Thank you for all the comments on my last post...they put a smile on my face and I want you to know I note and take all your suggestions to heart. Hope this week, the last in June, will be awesome for you all.
Also awesome are linky parties like Kathy's Quilts where Kathy is celebrating 13 years of hosting her slow stitching party! Also sharing with Small Quilts and Doll QuiltsLife in PiecesMelva Loves Scraps and Songbird Designs.
 



Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Stitchy Wizardry, Blue Strings, Summer Desserts

 Well summer is upon us...it happens around this time every year :) no matter what the weather or temperatures. And what a marvel it all is. From the very early morning light to later sunsets, I am trying my best to take it all in and appreciate it. For it all moves by quickly...take the Phoebes with their nest on the sound box on the back of the house, for instance. The family...three little ones, are already raised and gone. They must have snuck out in the dead of night for me to have missed them the way I have. 

Such a sweet little bird...
Here are six blue stringed blocks. Fun machine stitching for me- I can say that now and mostly mean it. I can see there are a number of patterns these blocks can make, a decision to be made further along. 
 But I need to figure out a way to move the process along...the choosing of the strings and how they match each other seems to take me forever, etc. And I'm not sure that matters much in the overall end look of them. Also just a little unhappy that the scrap bin appears to be almost still at the very same level as when I started. As so many of you warned me it would be. 
What stitchy wizardry is this!

Below is Jenni Oliver's 1987 cover for The New Yorker, one of twenty eight paintings of hers the magazine used over the years. She deliberately didn't put people in any of her work so, per her wish, we are left imagining the lucky person who would use such a pretty sewing space. 
I watched this video featuring Jen Kingwell. I had no idea she was such a fervent hand stitcher and only uses the machine when she has to. Her lively designs are unique and interesting.
                                         
Here is one of Jen's latest patterns- it's called Burrows and Boughs. There is always a lot going on in her designs. More to be found here...Jen Kingwell Designs.

Are you watching This is Us on Neflix? Tony and I are enjoying it very much. Heartwarming I guess is what you could call the stories. 
If you are looking for a great summer dessert recipe, I have one for you...Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle. This blog called Country Reflections ended in 2015 but the recipes are all still there and I liked how they used just the regular old ingredients if you know what I mean. I love trifles in the summertime both for how easy they are to make...kind of assembling rather than baking/cooking if you have a store bought pound/sponge or angel food cake and how you can include all kinds of fruit. It's an especially great dessert because everyone always loves them. BTW, I couldn't find a name for the lady who wrote that blog so if you find it, please let me know. 
Taste of Home offers another variation of a strawberries and cream trifle. It's so easy to make this dessert look mouth watering... 
 So here I am thinking of delicious desserts and enjoying the blooms like the flowering Weigelia flowing onto the veranda. I planted three of these in bright colours that Tony loves and all three are blossoming well. What shade of pink would you call this one?
All the while I'm keeping a sharp lookout for ticks (two so far taken off Petey). Speaking of which we send well wishes to our blogging friend, Julie Rose Quilts, who is thankfully recovering from side effects of medications against tick borne illnesses. A lesson that my vigilance is warranted for sure.

We had chicken with mashed potatoes last night for supper. Yes, that's right I have a chicken to use to make my favourite- soup. Crock pot time!
Hope your week is ending on a high note! 

Check out Not Afraid of Color where folks are sharing what they like this week. And loving these linky parties...Alycia QuiltsCreations Art QuiltsIt's A Small Town Life,  Sum of Their StoriesQuilting is More Fun Than Housework and Quilting Patchwork Applique.

Saturday, 14 June 2025

My Second Best Thrift Find, Summer Hand Stitching, Cold Water Swimming

The birds are sweetly singing and the earth is blossoming forth as the old saying goes. What a treat to be in June, even a June that is only slightly sunny with a cool edge to the breezes. And the beautiful flowers don't seem to mind at all. I love my Irises.

And this combination of colours...the purple, violet and deep down, that extreme yellow...
I finally got into another thrift store. And the sentence You need this like you need a hole in the head definitely applied. I have a small collection of dog figurines mostly found during my thrift store jaunts. When I spied this one of a German Shepherd so like Rex I just had to have it even though it had a very unthrifty price tag of $22. It is in mint condition and features the Alsatian German Shepherd with the sloping back just like Rex. 
I got excited when I recognized the mark of a V and an embedded number-CH 618, on the bottom- I knew this was a Goebel, the Hummel figurine folks. My dog turned out to be my second best thrift find next to my Petit Point Dish Set. Oh my. Here is what one seller on Etsy is charging. Approximately C $166.73!
Here is Rex under our tree back in 2012 and I still tear up just thinking about him. Beautiful and faithful, the best boy ever ( I can't let Ned hear me say that.)
My other real bargain was this long summer shirt by Olsen. I paid $13.98 for it and I know a shirt like this would be over a hundred dollars brand new.  
Finds like these...things I love and that are sure bargains is why I love thrift stores. You really never know what you will spy but for me, the genuine fun and enjoyment is always in the hunt.

I got a chance to do some veranda slow stitching last Sunday. With a light sweater, the temperature was lovely though the mosquitoes were awful and I had to use some bug spray- which I hate- to be comfortable. Here I'm stitching Floralies from Canevas Folies which is an online shop in Switzerland. I think they now have PDF options too which they didn't have when I bought this kit. I have my eye on their Christmas Robin design. 

 I also am stitching more handles for my Baskets Love project. I got myself organized and made a bit of an assembly line. 
I'm using blanket stitch around the edges. This is a project destined for the wall not a bed so it can afford to be somewhat flimsily hand stitched by me. 
I'm doing well with my summer sewing machine challenge to myself. I've now finished four stringed blocks. More about that next time. Happily sharing with Quilting is More Fun Than Housework where when I write that my brain always says yes it is.

I'm enjoying seeing how so many of you are embracing June's RSC colour, orange. Wow, so many lovely blocks and projects in that colour. I like how some are making Halloween blocks which is clever to get so ahead in the quilting game, LOL. So Scrappy hosts the weekly party.

Our pool is open and I've been swimming which feels wonderful. I've decided not to heat it this year as I enjoy how the cold makes me feel. I have no idea if it helps the immune system or has any other health benefits as such. We are all different and what works for one might not for another. But I believe this is good for me. In fact, something I do all the time is turn my shower to cold before I finish...it seems to liven me up which improves my mood. Tony is totally aghast at the very thought of doing this! Are you with Tony? 

LeeAnna's, Not Afraid of Color, prompt this week has to do with learning to swim. I learned when I was 9 or 10 at the Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, Newfoundland where the beautiful Humber River flowing through formed a mostly natural swimming area. I wasn't a strong swimmer, still not, so very cautiously always stayed in the cordoned off section. 

Come to think of it, maybe those early cold water swimming experiences set me up to enjoy it all my life. Who knows!

Anyway, hope there is lots of the good stuff happening in your life to liven you up!

Meanwhile linking up with Life in Pieces and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Tuesday, 10 June 2025

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!