Bloom where you are planted. I do not remove these when they pop up in spots like this till the blooming is done.
So pretty and a marvel up close. ( Taken with my cheap phone...I miss my old macro camera feature.)
Here is one of the Laura Wheeler quilt pattern Pinterest sites featuring some of Laura's shared designs....Laura Wheeler Quilt Patterns. I've been reading there is a mystery surrounding who Laura really was. That seems like a shame as that lady's patterns, whoever she was, were renown and reached so many women in many countries. Laura published a version of this pattern below. I've been going down a rabbit hole to find out more about it-it's called Little Boy's Breeches. Anyone familiar with it?
It would make an interesting EPP project. Btw, here are two friends who explore these older patterns and history... Michele often chats about many vintage patterns and interesting tidbits on her Pennsylvania Piecemakers blog as does Melva at Melva Loves Scraps. I always find it interesting reading about anything vintage and the attached meanings and history. It's become popular to reproduce the look of old fabrics and cross stitch samplers, the kind stitched by girls and young women a century ago. And modern day cross stitchers are enjoying working them by the droves. They are being encouraged to attach an identifying label so someone in the future won't mistake their work for that of an original stitcher.
My Cardinal Rule is at this point now. Cardinal has his beak and wing. I did switch the white nest for a medium brown bit that in reality is darker than showing here. Thank you all for taking the time to comment about this particular matter.
I also decided not to use the pale orange blooms? because when I laid them all down they too seemed to be a little distracting and there were quite of few of them...
Instead I foraged a few pieces of deep red scraps and cut more holly berries. None of those are attached, just trying them out. I have enough wool to make a backing which will be next.
If you have never worked with wool, you should know how lovely it is to stitch on. It is very forgiving and so soft to the hands.
I also pulled out a couple aqua pieces to stitch more appliqued Hour Glass Blocks. The July RSC colour is aqua which is a difficult colour to pin down sitting as it does between blue and green on the colour wheel. (I looked it up). It is probably the scantiest of the colours I have on hand. And I haven't fallen off the fabric diet. Sticking to my guns. (I wonder where and how that expression came about.) I had two packs of 40 each Bella cream blocks and I've used them all. Sewing a couple of these here and there adds up.
Did Mother Robin nail true aqua?
I'm looking forward to cross stitching this weekend. And thinking about my next cross stitch project which will be another bee, a most suitable summertime theme.
A very happy Glorious 4th to my American stitching friends! I admire the eloquent words of your Declaration of Independence written by 33 year old Thomas Jefferson. So young and so full of hope!
Writing outside this morning. 8 am and already 25 C. We have a heat wave warning but it is very pleasant just now. A little breeze is blowing too. I must be a pessimistic gardener. In front of me is a Blue Beech tree I planted here years ago with little expectation that it would grow.
Well grow it has and is now at a point of crowding out the other things I've planted like the Weigelia. It was a wild shoot that had sprouted on the opposite side of the house and I read that it was slow growing. I do like it- especially the way the leaves alternate daintily along the branches ending in a tuft of little leaves. It's disappointing now because it will have to be cut down or trimmed back unless I figure out a way to dig up the roots. The early spring, though so wet and wild at times, was especially good for all the growing things. The garden is amazing this year.
I removed the robin's nest from the front door light. I knew there were two fledglings and there usually is three. Sadly one of the eggs did not hatch. What a gorgeous colour that is!
I took outdoor photos of my weekend stitching. More Hour Glass blocks.
And also Tiny 9 Patch blocks on white batting resembling snow in this June light.
I shared Thrifted blouses in this post. Still on the topic of clothing this body of mine...I must tell you what happened one morning when I pulled on a pair of those elastic waisted capris from Walmart. The waist was so tight I was uncomfortable. I always buy size large so I can be comfy in such things so all sorts of thoughts, all negative and down on myself, went through my mind. What is the point of the exercising, eating right, etc. blah, blah, blah. A little later, I changed into long pants to go in the garden (tick coverage) and glanced at the tag on the capris...size small! Make no wonder they felt tight! I'd picked up the wrong size and I know exactly how that happened. Didn't take the time to get out my reading glasses in the store. I'll pass them along to younger daughter.
I'd brought out my cross stitch piece to lay a few stitches. Natural light is the best. But it's a bit buggy and the temperature has risen. Time to go inside, get some laundry going and check on Ned and Tony.
To my left
In front of me
I do enjoy living in our little private forest! I hope you too have lots to love and lots to do this week and best get at it.
I just flopped into my chair feeling a little bit winded. I just cleaned all the baseboards here in the main area and while that was not hard, being on my knees and all the getting up and down was. That is definitely getting to be more of an issue with me. Can't tell you the last time I did them so thoroughly. Such a good feeling to have that satisfying chore done. Some small dust loving creature could have been making a home anywhere here. And a few spiders definitely did!
I made myself a little snack. I never buy Bosc pears, only ever the Bartlett, but a couple appeared in my weekly box. With a little feta cheese, I'm finding them delicious. I don't think I'd ever had one before. Have you?
My flowering Weigela shrubs are awakening. How welcome the tiny blooms!
The spring sunshine livening them even more. Not fully focused but pretty nonetheless.
I've given my cross stitched Pileated Woodpecker a little attention. This is 2 over 2 stitching on 28 count Light Mocha Cashel linen. And yes, the called for colour for that tree on the right is pink! DMC 152- medium pink... debated changing it but decided I will stick with the designer's choice.
And out have come a few blues. I have a lot of blues actually; well, compared to the other colours, for sure. These appliqued Hour Glass blocks are turning out to be a great So Scrappy RSC project.
LeeAnna's prompt this week has to do with our summertime fashion choices. I have several summer skirts and a couple of dresses that I love to wear. I never wear white pants...do you? I guess with dogs and what I get up to around here, I just don't find white practical. I also never wear shorts. I always wear capris and usually black. I'll share photos of some of my summer best thrift finds next time. Btw, love to read your responses to LeeAnna's, Not Afraid of Color, prompts. Interesting, fun, definitely learn new things and a way to get to know you better too.
There's more I want to talk about but I don't like the posts getting too long. Take care all of you whether coping with heat waves or frosty mornings these last of May, 2024 days.
The garden and land is getting a summer look with so much green grass and sprouting leaves everywhere. No matter the season or weather my morning routine is exactly the same... get up and get out.
I take Ned out for a big walkabout first thing. How tall our trees are!
Then back home where he gets fed and I get a coffee. Then I usually get my laptop out and work a little on my blog or photos or emails. What about you? Do you have a morning routine? This was our latest Prompt from LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.
On Tuesday we had a late afternoon violent thunder and lightening storm that lasted a couple of hours. It got dark enough to need the lights turned on and the wild wind bent the tree tops which worried us. And it rained so heavily our gutters couldn't handle it.
But it all cleared up without a power outage and none of the hail that some places got. Phew!
I baked a little treat for us this week. I'd torn this recipe from one of the Costco magazines and since we both love scones/biscuits, I gave it a try.
I used whole wheat flour and added cranberries and chopped strawberries and didn't cut back the sugar which I usually do. Not as pretty as the picture but tasty with a mug of tea.
I put all my appliqued scrappy Hourglass blocks together and realized I need more colours especially blues. Seems I have just one sad and lonely blue block there. Thank you those who suggested more darks to form contrast. I have no shortage of dark scraps.
So back to the scrap bins I go!
Speaking of which, I continue to cut scraps into more appropriate sizes rather than blobs. I'm using my Marti Michell's template set and the pieces will be stored in marked bags from now on -rather than left in a bin able to mill about and get totally jumbled up.
I never mind doing this chore; seeing the pretty fabrics up close is enjoyable and reminding me of the projects sewn with them too. I get in a fit of doing this from time to time when I feel overwhelmed by the yardage on hand...which seems to be bothering me more lately. However, I'm happy to say I've stayed true to my fabric diet so far this year.
This is a wonderful block I found at Free Patterns web site. It is called Bountiful Blessings. They have covered all the hobbies with free patterns to sew, crochet, knit, quilt, cross stitch, etc. so lots for you to check out. What a pretty table topper this would make!
Since I've been researching how to use my Tiny 9 Patches in an interesting arrangement, I've found many different patterns. Below is one such...Sweet Menagerie, a free pattern from the folks at Moda Fabrics.
I've been watching Peter Santenello videos for a few years...think I started during the Pandemic. Peter visits different areas of the US- mostly out of the way spots, doesn't do anything political, just speaks to local people to learn about their lives. It seems everyone has a story and some are so fascinating. He also tries out whatever is the local food which I enjoy. This is the one where we learned so much about West Virginia and the coal industry which is doing quite well just now.
Our house guest, Petey, has gone home and Ned has been catching up on his rest. Similar to human house guests, he found Petey amusing but the busyness very tiring. Interesting how two dog brothers can be so different.
Hope you all have a good weekend doing something you love!
Happy May to all! Though it feels a little like one step forward and two steps back, spring is getting here. Fresh snow out west; here no snow but cold overnight and early mornings have a chilly wind. But it doesn't stop the two who venture out every morning for a good walk. Of course, one of us is wearing a fur coat so he's going to be toasty no matter what.
As another Ned said...
"What is the good of your stars and the trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?" E. M. Forster
Time for a Spring Wall Hanging
I have a lone chipmunk this year. And he is very tiny. Usually we have five or six running about so I'm wondering what happened. It can't be lack of winter food. They all were quite busy last summer steadily carting my sunflower seeds back to their den to the point I imagined a huge seed mine underneath our front lawn. I just looked it up and I was not wrong to imagine that because it said chipmunks can hoard up to 8 pounds of seed during a summer if it is readily available. I counted and their hole was and still is 20 of my steps from one of the three bird feeders.
Late afternoon sun gave him a glowy look.
The latest cake from Beth has been finished off. So good! A chocolate one and the recipe is amongst Rock Recipes' 20 Best Chocolate Cake Recipes.
Some women get jewelry but look what Hubby got me...my very own Gorilla Cart. He figured it would be easier than pushing the wheelbarrow and it's got an automatic dump feature which makes it easy to use. It took him a while to assemble and here it is. I love it!
During April I fitted the Chookshed Stitcher's Challenge #9, the Panama Pyramids, into the stitching plans. I was happy with how it went together fairly accurately with just the one row needed easing of the seams to join correctly. Finishing at 70 in x 65 in., it is big enough for a bed.
So all the rows are together and the sides getting finished. Some quilters have cut through the diamonds on the sides which I'm reluctant to do, so I'm going to have a further think about that. I'm going to layer this one for quilting when I sort out the backing. I'd like to stitch a motif in the solid yellow triangles.
It has over 1500 hand stitched little EPP triangles in it! And I enjoyed stitching every single one.
The RSC colour for May is pink. Here are a couple of the appliqued Hour Glass blocks that I'd already stitched in pinks. I don't have much pink fabric and I'm sticking to the 2024 fabric diet.
LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is what does your name mean, as in, are you named after someone maybe or is there a story behind your name. Mom loved my French name which she heard on a radio drama from long ago. It was about a doctor and his nurse who was named Jocelyn. Mom didn't like it to be shortened to Jos and she also didn't know technically it should have had an e on the end for the feminine form. I thought about adding it when I was older but let it go. In all my schooling I only ever knew one other girl with the same name. I loved that my name was rare and different. How about you? Are you named after someone?
I hope your week has gone well and the weekend will be even better.
A frozen mystery meat is thawing on the counter. It must be meat as it's really heavy. Time will reveal what it is and what I can make for supper with it. Any frozen mystery gems at your house?
LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is bed and breakfast or luxury hotel? I don't have a preference but I don't think I've ever stayed in a luxury hotel. I'll stay anywhere that looks nice and safe. I spent two March holidays in a condo on a Florida beach and found that to be wonderful. All the amenities, beach almost at the door, surrounded by fellow Canadians also in a holiday mood, but didn't have to talk to anyone unless you wanted to, of course. When I get my blood pressure checked, I visualize the pelicans (which I'd never seen before and was fascinated with) diving and rising from the sea that I watched while knitting on the beach. The word Bliss comes to mind. Probably some of the most relaxed holiday moments for me ever. What about you?
I've slow stitched more scrappy Applique Pieced Hourglass blocks. So easy with the 5 inch squares pack all ready to go. This is the first time I've used such precuts. Just realized this is a great RSC super scrappy project too.
In the sewing room, more work on the Bramble Blooms with three sides sewn on. And two more rows of the Panama Pyramids have been added. One row gave me such grief but I managed to get it done.
I was disappointed to read that Quiltmania has suddenly, it seems, closed down. As you know I took part in several of their free SAL's and had subscriptions to their magazines at various times over the years. I have a lovely stack of them. They brought a unique world wide perspective to the quilting world that will be missed.
You are going to shake your head when you hear the latest thing I'm trying out exercise wise. I didn't know it had a name but of course it does. It's called rucking and you can read about it HERE. I've put clothes in the bottom of my backpack and then bar bells to wear on my walks. I'd started light with just 10 pounds which really I hardly feel so I'm going to add more weight. The overall goal is to get back into the shape I achieved during my 69-70 year. That was when I wanted to face age 70 in the best physical shape I could muster. Since then I've experienced stress which can certainly side track personal goals. All is calm presently- well calm-ish- and also, knowing my heart is in good shape means there won't be a better time to resume this goal- fingers crossed.
I heard from many of you about the Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls recipe I shared in the last post. They are called Buckeyes-such a fun name, in some states and there are slight variations in the ingredients.
And wow to the news that many folks already knew about that use for castor oil! Thank you, J, for pointing me to THIS SITE that has 6 pages of moisturizing products that contain castor oil!
Meanwhile, I'm on the hunt for a chocolate bar that is low in gluten. I'm sure some of you will have ideas about this. I've tried several health bar types but they don't taste all that great to me. I wonder how Kit Kats fare in that department because I like them for a treat now and then. I just found out Cheerios are gluten free (mostly), something I never knew. I guess if you live long enough, you know it all. The tricky part would be what gets remembered.
Hope your weekend is wonderful and your stitching fingers will be flying!
