Deep in Canadian Autumn, Stitching Projects Updates

The season has moved on and we are suddenly deep into a new month with it. There is now a light frost overnight most nights and certainly cooler temps during the days. I am moving firewood these days using my cart to bring three or four light loads up to the house from the trail where it is stored. I'm using that same thought that a few pieces here and there will add up and eventually I'll have enough on hand to keep the winter fires burning. The dogs are loving being with me on these little excursions. I could get help with this but there are too many good reasons for me to do it alone... being outside in the fresh air, wandering about in a part of the woods I don't normally see and getting a little exercise in the bargain.  Someone else said on their blog about a similar type of chore..."while I can, I must". 

Goldenrod Crab Spider- there seemed to be more of these around this year. They have an interesting feature; they can change their colour from yellow to white depending on the bloom they rest on. I guess that's why I don't spy them often. 

And I spotted a true sign that Autumn has arrived. Many more than usual Woolly Bear caterpillars were on the move in the gardens these last couple of weeks. I moved this fellow to a safer spot.

The boys love running about. Note how the frost changes the colour of the Hydrangeas. 

Truthfully, Ned doesn't run that much; he mostly ambles.

Here is the runner in the family! And look, the trails are suddenly leaf and needle covered.

Stitching Updates

I'm very happy to get this project below moved along. I quilted it lightly with echo stitching using Perle cotton thread, size 8. I'm now sewing on the borders. 

Here are my six panels for the Liberty Puddles copy quilt. I don't think I've shown them all together before and I like them so much I'm tempted to make more of them. That's how much I enjoy sewing hexagons together using scrappy papers and fabric. I think that yellow was a good choice.

 And I've stitched little windows on my autumn houses. I decided that the lights are on.

Flora, my September cross stitched project, has been tucked away and I've brought out my Year at Hawk Run Hallow huge project for October stitching. This is using two threads over two and the colour saturation that gives is to be admired. I'm working on the ninth pattern, September, which is a row of ripe corn. Tony accidentally caught me laughing with him here at his awful camera skills which turned out to be quite lucky. Later I would find 2 of me, both in this pose, and 9 photos of the floor! We both still marvel at taking photos with a phone and when you have shaky fingers, it is a challenge.

I believe Winston's quote here to be true. I'm a person who wants to do everything and to have it all done. Then I can sit down.

Hope you are enjoying these October days wherever you are. Perhaps you have late spring moving into summer now while we await the first snowfall of winter. Enjoy your time with each other, try your best to stay positive and keep your stitching fingers flying!

 

 

Me in My Thrift Find, Hand Stitching Progress and Cake Too

 The only constant in my days is that they are flying by. Does time speed up in the summer months I wonder. We had Tony's birthday celebration last week and he is now 87 and counting. It was a somewhat sad day as he reflected on all the people he has lost including another good friend in recent months. Things brightened up though when we went out for a meal to a nearby restaurant with Beth and Brad. Beth made him a beautiful chocolate cake, his favorite. She uses Barry's recipe found at his site, Rock Recipes, and it was very moist and delicious. 

Everything is in full bloom which is beautiful. This means the weeds are also doing well. I've had to pull out a lot of Manitoba Maple as well as a new weed that grows straight and tall. Every day, I pick a part of one of the gardens to work on and spend about twenty minutes tidying it. Here is the view from my kitchen window these days with the Hydrangeas putting on their usual amazing show.

I said this would be the summer of dresses and I've added a couple to my wardrobe. This mauve one is a thrift store find from Old Navy. Though it isn't slimming, it is light and airy making it perfect for an Ontario summer. And this is as long as I'm letting my hair grow- to the bottom of my earlobes. That Smoke Tree is enormous. 

I'm happy with my summer of 2026 hand stitching progress too. Summer Feels is almost finished. I've just a few stitches here and there to add still. And I've finally gotten a photo that shows the true colour of that background linen. It's such a pretty shade. I've added three butterflies that weren't in the pattern. That is something I would never do in the past but now my thoughts are different. Who cares if I do that? No one is who. What's a summer garden without butterflies and they filled in sort of blank spaces. 

I'm finishing my appliqued Quarter Dresden project too. The last ten blocks are getting appliqued this week. I was aiming for 50 and I think I've sewn more than that. Such an enjoyable stitching project and I've loved every minute of each of the stages creating these blocks. Next will be layout decisions.

I've also been adding to my Liberty Puddles WIP. This was a SAL in 2022 run by The Strawberry Thief over on Facebook and there are videos available. I'm on the sixth panel now. Surely my scraps must be diminishing with all this scrappy stitching. You'd think, right. Here it is on the chair where I'd been stitching on the patio. 

The dogs are loving getting out for a long walk early morning before the day heats up. I shake a Bear Bell to warn any critters that might be about. A fox has been visiting the yard regularly lately and I really would not want an encounter with the dogs.

 They are so joyful running about and that always puts a smile on my face. 

I hope you are smiling too. 

It's a wild world out there. Is it just me or is it getting wilder??? Take care of yourself!

Slow Stitching Projects, June Busting Out All Over

 Can you see him?

I feel a little sorry for the critters whose only defence is to stay stock still. 

So far I've been enjoying June very much. And I've been sticking to my plan to pare down computer time during the summer months. I've discovered how much extra time in the mornings that frees up. One way I'm using that time is undertaking a huge clear out in the sewing room which overwhelmed me at first. But I remembered that old saying How do you eat an elephant?  Bite by bite. So that's what I've been doing- one drawer at a time and after a sad overwhelming episode the first day, it's been going well. The major issue is not me; it's that the space is way too small for all I have stuffed in there. I guess that is my fault for being such an avid collector over the last 20 years, but I don't want to part with any of it just yet. Tony stopped and watched me there with the piles around me and just shook his head. He wouldn't say anything as he knows he is guilty himself of hanging onto things...on this property, he has a small garage, a very large barn/garage and a room in the basement holding all his collected paraphernalia. 

Meanwhile, I'm continuing my calm stitching which is hand stitching of any sort for me. First up is cross stitching. Here is where I am on Feels Like Summer. My eyes are adjusted to using my #4 readers with this 32 count fabric and I'm enjoying stitching one over two with the vibrant colours. I should also mention I am using my own thread stash for this one and choosing as close to the called for colour as possible. I like the way these tomatoes were charted. 

Also with slow stitching, I've finished three panels of the EPP Hexagon project. I need six in all for the size quilt I want to make. I'm staying with using up scraps for these and enjoying the whole process from cutting the templates from old flyers, choosing fabrics and colours, making the hexagons and finally sewing them together.

I've added to my appliqued quarter Dresden project too. I've sewed 34 of these blocks so far and would like to make 50. 

 Being outside taking in all the sights underfoot is certainly making June a beautiful month and time of year for me. Every time I'm out on one of the paths and something sweet and beautiful catches my eye, I remind myself how lucky to be here still. Such a diversion from worries and cares. 

I'm surprised by all the bloom as it's been a very wet start to the summer. I had planted more of these Bridalwreath Spirea bushes when I found out what wonderful and easy bloomers they are.

So lovely.

And this one below is actually a form of Lilac tree. I'll have to do more checking to confirm which one. I had wanted a Lilac tree as the one that was already here is so elderly though still sending out a few blooms each spring. This one continues to bloom abundantly. I put old coffee grounds around the roots of my flowering bushes each fall and I really don't know if that helps, but it certainly isn't hurting. 

Tony is out in the big garage working on fixing something on the big mower. I've given him a pillow because I know he has to lie down when taking breaks. I have so much admiration for his determination to keep going. At this point, I think it is pure willpower that is fueling his body. He has decided to sell his Spyder as he really shouldn't ride anymore which is a most sensible decision and relief to me. 

I've been swimming between the rain showers we've been experiencing every single day. Someone said the rain is why the trees are so green and leafed out this year after the drought last summer. Or maybe our eyes are just so astounded to see so much green after a very long, very white winter. 

I hope you are enjoying the season where you are. " The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."  W. B. Yeats

June Stitching and Summer Joys

 I wonder if your head is spinning like mine. Each day is like the blink of the eye. I'm no sooner up and starting the morning when it seems I'm closing drapes and shutting the house down again. Perhaps that is a good thing as it means I'm busy which I feel I certainly am. 

Outside, the world has come alive and so quickly it seems. It's always a pleasant surprise how much colour there is this season of the year. Even the Dandelions are so welcome. I'm calling this one "Me and My Shadow".

And here are the pretty Primroses. I don't know what you would label those colours, but they sure are vibrant.

And my elderly Lilac tree is in bloom too. 

I promised I would show you my latest fitness device. It is called a Rebounder and is one of those home trampolines. What's really surprising me about it is I thought I'd be able to jump forever on it- what fun!- but no, I do feel the exercise part of it as it raises my heart rate quite quickly. A mere 7 minutes is all I'm managing right now. 

I'd been swimming every day too which is wonderful but rain with thunder has sidelined that exercise the last three days. I'm not heating the pool and like last year, I do believe the cold plunge part is good for me. 

My stitching fingers have been busy too. I put the totally hand stitched Lone Star Medallion quilt on the wall for a photo. I'd backed it with a white fabric that was a sheet...Tommy Hillfiger actually, so a good quality.  It was fun getting it all appliqued but then fiddly getting all the points and dips joined neatly to the backing. I measured and each diamond is exactly 43 inches which amazed me considering all the little hand stitches in this project and how it's been mauled with all the handling for each step along its journey too. 

I'm also working on the table topper Primrose Flowers piece. More hand quilting which also involved decision making. After trying two templates I had on hand, I settled on drawing a little mod flower shape and that's what I'm using for the quilting lines. This should not take too long. 

For the backing, I used an old sheet from way back in the day that is still very sturdy and perfectly suits this project. I actually remember the Mod Flower craze back in the late sixties. It wasn't my taste but I did have one align dress with flowers on it. 

That black thingy there is my magnet; I wave it around my chair and in the sewing room all the time as I'm always worried about the dogs and pins. 

I've been waiting a long time to get this library book below and finally it is my turn. It's material obsession two by Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty. 

I love how Sarah creates these wonderful and surprisingly large quilts with hand piecing and mostly in her lap. There are two particular quilts in this book I've admired for a very long time and would love to make and the patterns are there for me to copy. That's one of the things that gives me a little leap of joy these days. Here is Sarah talking about one of them, Jazz Hands, which is pieced with that kite shape there. 

I'm continuing my summer plan to spend less of my free time on the computer. As a result, I'm definitely spending more time outside- gardening, walking, swimming, etc. and inside- stitching, reading and scribbling. So far, it is the garden that is definitely benefitting the most from this plan.

My Phoebes have fledged. I think there were three little ones this year. It's very difficult to get a good photo as this nesting spot is very tight to the overhang and hidden slightly. I thought of getting a step ladder but I didn't want to disturb them. Pretty sure there are three there. What do you think?

On that very hopeful note, I'll end this post. Oh yes, before I forget again, this is also my summer of dresses. I've had great luck at thrift stores finding a few for summer. I'll share the latest next post. I hope your summer or your winter is off to a wonderful start. 

 

Old and New Stitching Projects, Spring Delights

Outdoors, the world is awakening; every thing from the biggest to the tiniest is changing now. I'm out tramping about three times a day so as not to miss anything. I almost missed the White Trilliums, Ontario's provincial flower. They are a little scarce here on our property and bloom far apart so was happy to spy this one. 

Also happy to see these all over...white Dog Rose.

Flower centers are so interesting! Not wild but can you guess which spring flower this is?  

Meanwhile, inside I've been keeping with my plan for a little machine stitching now and then. 

 I've stitched four more Flicker bocks. There is very little orange, the RSC colour for May, in my stash and what I do have is being saved for a Halloween applique quilt. This burnt orange will have to do. 

And it's time to share with you a new quilty start. I'm always late to any new pattern craze and have had this one in my file for a couple of years now. It's the Liberty Puddles quilt. While I have a few bits of Liberty fabric, I won't be using them. I'm continuing digging deep into my scraps instead. Hexies are the perfect pattern for using smaller scraps. I'm hoping by choosing the very bright yellow it will give all the so so patchwork hexagon colour mix a lift. HERE is a link to free printable Hexies in sizes ranging from 2 to 4 inch.

And you can get a free 1 inch pattern at the pretty AppleGreen Cottage site HERE.

I'd wanted to use up this green fabric below, kind of a spring green for the solid Hexie borders. This is a piece I've hung onto forever. 

Then I worried about running out of it and finding a match would be a challenge and also break my plan not to buy any more fabric. The yellow is easier to match up and I think I have enough on hand to get this one done. I'm, per usual, cutting the hexagons from old flyers and papers. EPP is the perfect sewing in the evening in front of the tv. This is #2 panel this size I've made so far.

 Did you know they are putting vitamins in coffee now? We received a notice that Tony's Nespresso coffee is available with B12 added to the pods so we've been using them.  I've been worried too that, with his waning appetite, I haven't been able to get enough protein into him. We decided to give one of those meal programs a try. This one, Factor, promises more protein in the servings. Anyway, our first box is proving to be successful as he is enjoying the meals and eating most of the servings. Last night he had green curry with rice and vegetables and really liked it. That's my salad there.

If he likes these it would take a little pressure off me to keep him fed properly. 

I really liked what Prime Minister Carney did for the Canadian astronaut, Jeremy Hansen, who was part of NASA's Artemis II team who flew around the moon. He presented Jeremy with the Canadian flag that was flying on our parliament building Peace Tower the day they successfully touched down off California.  

In far less exciting news, we are getting the pool opened this afternoon. I plan not to heat it again like last year and I'm really looking forward to a daily swim.

I hope there is something you are looking forward to too. We must do our best to keep moving and enjoy the odd treat from time to time too. 

Marvelous May, Floral Beauty, Slow Stitching Updates

We don't get to see sunsets here with the way the house is situated but we can occasionally see the effects of sunsets like this one below. The woods in the back yard were glowing with these vibrant colours; it looked surreal. 

I love when I manage a sighting of a Pileated Woodpecker, even better when it stays just long enough for me to grab a photo.  Any of the large birds are thrilling to photograph even when from quite a distance. 

 

My stitching fingers have been busy. For embroidery, I picked up my French Floralies piece to work on this week. Here is the chart posed beside my Madagascar Jasmine which is happily sending out new shoots. I'm always relieved when these older plants survive the winter. The beautiful white flowers are very similar to Magnolias which, btw, is the state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana. 

Here is a photo of enjoyable veranda stitching on this project last summer with pink Wiegelia bushes in bloom. BTW, if you are thinking of new flowering bushes for your garden, consider Weigelias as they are so hardy and bloom for long periods. The pinks they come in are gorgeous too. 

And now it is finished. Surface embroidery is one of my many loves and of the twelve different stitches used in this design, satin stitch is my favourite. HERE is the link to the Canevas Folies site where you can see other gorgeous kits and patterns they offer. Canevas Folies is French for canvas/ tapestry whims or follies. Some of you may be interested in this link which takes you to their blog and the step by step instructions to Needle Paint an apple. It is easy to follow and you can achieve stunning results.

Tony thinks the photo isn't doing it justice which is a nice complement. He seldom notices these things. :)

I've finished the quilting lines on my Flowers and Butterflies woolen piece- photos later, and now have my Lone Star Medallion quilt topper is back in the quilting hoop and about time too. Here it is last summer. I did layer it up at the time, began the stitching and didn't like how untidy my lines looked so took out all the stitches. So maybe second time now will be the charm. 

This was stitched using EPP so it took a while to remove the paper triangles too. I'm so eager to get this one finished. Sigh

We've been busy with appointments including another one for Tony where we met our new doctor. He's at least twenty years younger than our last and we both liked him very much. He gave Tony the very good news that the lung nodule has not grown and he also had a suggestion about his medications. The one he takes for high cholesterol is known to casue tiredness in some people so he wants Tony to half the dosage to see if it makes a difference in his case. Tony was surprised (and to be honest, a bit angry) as no doctor has mentioned this to him before. Of course, he will give that a try and it buoyed his spirits to think he might have a chance to feel better. 

 

Dog walking has been wonderful especially seeing up close all the changes with spring taking hold now, in spite of it being a wet, cold one. I'll leave you with a photo taken from the tv room window (that has a screen on it) of my deliriously happy pups relaxing on the back veranda. Note the snow shovel that needs putting away- finally!

Also from that same chair, I'm watching the Phoebes who are back-yeah!- and using the same nesting spot on the wall as last year. I do hope things are also going well for you wherever you are in this wonderful world of ours!