Wooden House Wintry Wanderings

It seems to be all about the weather here in the winter months. Saturday,when I went out with the dogs, the temperature was this with a wind chill of -34C. 

But the sun was shining and I could feel its warmth on my face. That was so nice while on the pond throwing the ball for the dogs. Then it warmed up and here in winter, that means the snow comes. We have a few more centimeters on the ground and it's still snowing. The school buses are not running this morning so another snow day for most kids. Here is my backyard winter wonderland taken through the window just now.

Yesterday's weather was a good excuse to stay cosy all day in my fleece top and polar bear fleece bottoms. 

Enough about the weather, on to more important things like stitching. 

When I'm watching YouTube, sometimes a video suggestion will pop up and I'm so glad this one did. That was how I found out about Becky Goldsmith's tiny baskets. I remember when some folks were stitching these in a project called A Tisket A Tasket and that would have been many years ago. I decided to give them a try mainly because I need to use up more small scraps. The pattern is free. I just love stitching these tiny baskets. And Becky's video featuring the tutorial is just wonderful. 

I learned something brand new to me. And that is you can wet fabric to get it to turn/fold a little like at the top of the handles. That actually works. What a great scrappy project and I'll be matching up with the colour for the monthly RSC colour while I stitch more of them. They are 3 inches and while they stitch up quickly, they are a bit fiddly.

I have to be careful not to get obsessed with stitching them. 

I have the Blackbird Designs Christmas Tablecloth almost finished. The three pieces are joined but I have some minor stitching I want to do like add more embroidery to the leaves on the right side, for instance. Then I'm going to retire it for this year with the hope and plan of quilting it next fall in time for Christmas.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt last week was about using planners/calendars. I always have a yearly calendar type book to write in and note appointments, etc. Here is last year's and my newest one that I bought at a thrift store. Yes, it was totally baffling to me why a 2026 book would be there. It was obviously brand new with the Winner's tag on it and one of those finds that makes me think they are there just waiting for only me to come along. 

We've added The Pitt to our nighttime viewing and are enjoying getting to know the characters. I can see why it won two Golden Globes. Any of you watching?

My week is filling up with appointments including another CT scan for Tony.  I am very thankful this can be done at a local hostpital so we don't have to drive into Ottawa especially with all this weather. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to write a comment on my posts. We both read them and take encouragement from them. 

Very happy to share this post with linky parties like the Inquiring Quilter who just celebrated the 9th anniversary of hosting. Congratulations, Jennifer! Also sharing with  Sum of Their Stories, Creations Quilts Art, Alycia Quilts, Kathy's Quilts and Melva Loves Scraps.

                                 

Wildlife Shenanigans, EPP Project, Christmas Embroideries

Well, my heart was in my mouth this morning as I let out the dogs. While opening the patio door, there was a tiny rabbit hopping into the garden and going under the deck. Luckily the dogs were headed off in the opposite direction. I stomped my feet on the deck so it would hide and it must have as they didn't even smell it. A close call and so happy this does not happen often, maybe once a year. The fencing around the back area is doubled in some places to keep the dogs in and wildlife out. Unfortunately something very little can still get in under the gates. 

Meanwhile, a small flock of turkeys meandered through the front yard on Tuesday. It was the most together I've seen since last year. While watching, they suddenly did something I've never seen before. They alerted to something, bunched up together, then fanned themselves out along the edge of the laneway all the while making loud noises. I have never ever heard a turkey make a sound before. And the sound was not a comical gobble, gobble. More of a strange honk. Can you see what they were reacting to?

 At first I just couldn't figure out what was going on with them. Then I saw it. 

Sorry for the awful photos as I had to run and get my phone. And then was worried as I didn't want to witness something awful let alone photograph it. And the fox hung around for a bit and was obviously weighing its chances. But luckily for the turkeys and me, it finally moved off. 

There's safety in numbers!

Enough wildlife drama. I worked on my 2025 RSC EPP project last weekend. Here it is on the sofa. I still have about as many Hexagons to sew on. It is very, very scrappy and colourful. 

Thank you for the ideas about how to stitch orphan blocks together. I do have lots of white fabric and as I said before, reds as well. There are options. I did a check online and there are a number of Youtube videos showing how to do this very thing. More on that later.

Someone asked for a close up photo of the embroderies and here they are together under the dining room light which is yellowing. 

Perhaps this one is better. Simple running stitch which works up quite fast.

When I gave this one a turn, I was struck by how different the design looked. Threads, ugh.

We just finished this series, Death By Lightening. The performances, especially Matthew MacFadyen's, were wonderful. I love learning about the presidents and their wives. Here in Canada, our Prime Minister's personal life is very private and the wives usually have a very minor public role and are seldom seen. 

The phrase death by lightening was a line written in a letter by Garfield himself ..." Assassination can  no more be guarded against than death by lightening" just months before he was assassinated, as it turned out. Our politics here in Canada seem so tame and boring by comparison. 

Back in the fall, I discovered this new to me tea and I've been enjoying a cup with frothed almond milk for a mid afternoon little treat.  

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was about making paper turkeys in school. I don't remember doing that; in fact, there was very little time spent on art back in my school days. Much more time was spent on learning cursive writing. But my daughters definitely made those paper turkeys in early school days. 

Isn't this time of year a wonderful time for stitchers! There are so many beautiful fabrics and patterns flooding the sites. I'm sorely tempted but sticking to my 2025 plan of not buying any new fabrics. Don't have that long to go now so just might make it. 

Hope your plans are working out too. Take care all of you!

So happy to have linky parties to visit and share with like The Inquiring Quilter, Days Filled With Joy  Alycia Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Kathy's Quilts, Songbird Designs and Creations Art Quilts.

 

Morning Routine, Quilt Finish, Embroidering Flowers, Wildlife

So it is Halloween here in Canada and a very wet, cold one in our corner of the country. Here is what I've done this morning before sitting down with a cup of half caf. 

Fed the dogs and let them out and back in. Put cream on Ned's little spot he's licked too much. Also had to chase him to get a tissue from him. Boy, does he love tissues and he has an insane ability to sus them out! 

Ran the swifter over the floor in the t.v.room and this main area. Dog hairs and threads, ugh! Btw, I saw a hack online to cut up an old sock and use on the swifter and it works really well.

Watered my plants...all have been given severe cuts and repotted since bringing them inside for the winter. The Geranium is actually reblooming since the cutting.

Nice to have so much green in the house again.

Moved the recycling to the outside back deck and tidied it. Something tipped it over in the night but couldn't get the lid off the big can I use out there- thankfully.

Remembered to get ground beef from the downstairs freezer to make spaghetti sauce for supper. Also brought up two sheets that dried on the line down there and folded them and put them away. 

And the best bit...watched two large deer make their way across the front and up the lane way. And took photos. First sighting through the window on the back stairs, while bringing up the sheets and meat.

Deer look alike; they rarely have a distinguishing feature other than size. Just look at the leaves...a true carpet.

What is your morning routine? I decided not to include any exercise first thing this morning as I was on my feet a lot yesterday and will be again later today. 

I read an article lately called Celebrating The Science of Quilts that I think you might enjoy. The link is found HERE at Hyperallergic online magazine. The article included this beauty below, Pot of Flowers Quilt With Birds, made in 1860. Photo is Julie Schneider's and she also wrote the article. 

I love how nature has played such a huge role in quilting for inspiration, colours, textures, ideas, etc. 

We are enjoying the new season of Slow Horses. I confess I don't always follow the story lines but I do enjoy Gary Oldman's performance and I absolutely love how Kristin Scott Thomas looks like her own lovely self. You know what I mean. She has not plumped up anything the ridiculous way so many are doing.  

My enjoyable embroidery piece, Floralies, is moving along. This is a great project for when I have those smaller time frames and want something in my hands. I hope the colours are showing as they are so pretty. 

My goal is to finish this before the new year.

 I'm happy that the Propeller quilt is all done. I put it through the washer and dryer; nothing shrank and it is quite snuggly just the way I wanted it to feel. 

Here is the bright blue apples fabric on the back which I brought around to the front for a narrow border.

It finished at a good lap size of 48in x 50in. 

So happy with it. Here it is on our bed with my faithful assistant assisting.

I also worked on the four pumpkin tablemat. And I'm thinking of making a Christmas quilt this year so having fun looking online for a pattern, one labeled advanced beginner which applies to me on a couple of levels. It's time I pieced something on the machine. I just realized this...I must check out my post over there on the right...it's got a bank of free Christmas patterns link. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is about handing out candy for Halloween Trick or Treaters. We don't get any kids here this far away from the cul de sac. In the old days, I used to dress up to hand out candy. I loved being a witch and I once really frightened two large boys (ones who were definitely too old to be trick or treating) who were not expecting a witch to jump out. They ran away screaming which I did not expect. BTW, I didn't jump scare any little kids, just for the record.

Hope nobody is jump scaring you...they're the worse, and everything is calm at your place. Take care all!

Happily sharing this post with Alycia Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Kathy's Quilts, Songbird Designs, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Quilting Patchwork Applique.

Beauty Product, Embroidering Pumpkins, Amish Hexagons, Shows to Watch

 It's the flight of the geese season now, a natural cycle here in Canada. I've never been able to get a good photo of them with their marvelous vees marking the sky. But I am getting photos of the bright colours beginning to mark the landscape these days too. We both noticed it's getting darker earlier too or "closing in" as the old people called it.

I was dropping something off at Beth's yesterday and couldn't resist taking a photo of her pretty front veranda view.

I like how in these newer subdivions they don't mow down all the trees. On their two acres, she has many squirrels and birds. 

My Ligularia was affected by the drought though I watered from time to time. 

I noticed the flowers were not quite as large as usual and they bloomed later. Because of the size of the leaves, mine are sometimes called the Tractor Seat version. And while one of the last perennials to bloom these are fading faster. 

I had traced one of Pinker n Punkin Quilting & Stitching's Saltbox House patterns and decided to finish it this October. I used a chain stitch to make the pumpkin stand out a little. You can check out the latest very cute autumn cross stitch freebie, Pumpkin Crow, HERE. Thank you, Melisa, as always, for your generosity!

I came across Ginnie's video of how to make hexagons without paper templates and that caught my attention. I was so intrigued with this method I had to give it a try. 

The finished product is quite accurate and it is definitely liberating to make these without having to trace and cut many paper/cardboard templates. And they whip up very quickly. I used this men's shirt with pretty dark pink striped fabric; maybe these could fit in a Christmas project if I make enough for a border. 

I think these are also called Amish Hexagons. Perhaps you would know.

A beauty product I've been enjoying is this one called Fat Cheeks. Older daughter, Amelia, showed it to me. My skin is getting paler I notice. I never did have much colour...someone once said to me you look like you've seen a ghost...no, just my normal pallor I said. I don't even seem to redden up a bit when exercising any more. This one adds a little pink colour with just a light application. I bought mine at Walmart. 

We rewatched the American version of Getting On (it is originally a British show) and enjoyed it so much. The cast is awesome including the wonderful Laurie Metcalfe. Also there are guest starring roles by many famous actors. The setting is a hospital ward for elderly post op patients. It is all outrageous and funny with lots of antics by the patients and the staff. 

!There are lots of fecal jokes so it might not be for everyone. But I thought the final sentences of the series were worth noting... first Dr. Jenna-Laurie- says something like this...There is no justice in this world; we just have to show mercy to each other. And Nurse Didi replies, because that's what we can give to each other. 

So I hope you all are giving and receiving a little mercy these late September days. I have, first up, dogs to be walked, then floors to be cleaned. Then I'll be free to stitch!

So happy to link up with Alycia Quilts, Days Filled With Joy, Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Quilts.

 

Can You See It?, Videos and Shows to Watch, Slow and Fast Stitching

August has brought welcome cooler temperatures here this week to the Ottawa Valley, Canada. The season of growing things with all the greens and the buzzing things is at its height...this meadow below was literally abuzz, so much so I would not walk through it. In particular, there was a large fly there we used to call stouts as kids. Have no idea what exactly is a stout but we were afraid of them as they could bite. 

Speaking of green, I saw this frog and was intrigued by his 2/3's brown and 1/3 green colouring. This one has his bases covered to blend in with either mud or plants. Nature is amazing which seems like not nearly strong enough of a word to even begin to describe it. 

And speaking of blending in...one morning we rounded the path to the pond and something at the furthest end caught my eye. I immediately led the dogs away and went back by myself to investigate. Another of my "can you spy it" shots. Something so tall and standing so still to almost camouflage itself.

A Great Blue Heron

I was sorry it was so far away and also it took off just as I had adjusted my camera. I would have loved getting a better photo of it. Oh well, I saw it and enjoyed the sighting.

I'm still using the Bear Bell on Ned's leash to alert any critters nearby when out on our walks. So far we have not met any so I hope it means the bell is working. 

Michele in this post at Pennsylvania Piecemaker mentioned she watches Sue at From Small Things on YouTube. I'd also discovered Sue and am enjoying her unassuming attitude and also thrifty ways all the while sewing marvelous quilts. She can get the most amazing deals on men's shirts to use for quilt fabric at regular church rummage sales, for instance. As well as all the great Oceans quilts, Sue shared and demonstrated two things that I've noted to purchase. More on that later.

Meanwhile, I've been stitching more of the Propeller blocks to bring my number to 60. Each little block is hand sewn then the four propellers machine stitched together. I'm sorry to be boring you with more photos of this simple block but this happens when there are not that many WIP's being worked on. 

July 30 was International Embroidery Day and I did stitch along while watching the amazing YouTube video. I just loved seeing so many stitchers from all over the world - I wonder how many countries were represented. And the great variety of methods they shared was incredible. Oh my, some of the surface embroidery pieces are works of art truly. 

I've stitched up to V ( no U in this alphabet) in my G. Leger 1898 alphabet. I'm eager to get to a pear but I've realized the alphabet actually takes up most of this design, not the pears or house. I don't know why I'm just understanding that now. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees. These are the fanciest letters I've ever stitched.

A small matter but one that makes a big difference...Tony has put new lights in my sewing room ceiling fixture and I've decided not to put the very heavy ornate light dimming shade back up. It is wonderful to have this much improved lighting and will be especially important in our short darker winter days. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's conversation starter this week is did you play with hula hoops? Yes we girls all had hula hoops on Charles Street, Corner Brook, Newfoundland where I grew up. I am reminded of that as we are watching Offspring on Prime and in the opening song, which is really catchy, one of the characters is swinging her hips in a hula hoop. The Australians have a brilliant way of combining serious with humour so we are enjoying this one very much and loving that there are so many seasons.  

I enjoyed reading your reactions to the photo of my messy sewing room I shared last post. How kind you all are! And funny too. No, sadly no, I did not throw scraps all around just for the photo, LOL.

Hope something is putting a smile on your face and stirring your creative juices these days while you try to stay cool or keep warm, wherever you are in our big wonderful world. Take Care All!

Happy to share with these linky parties - Creations Quilts Art, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, The Inquiring Quilter and So Scrappy.

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 Quilts, Creations Art Quilts, It's A Small Town Life,  Sum of Their Stories, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Quilting Patchwork Applique.

Snowy Goings-On at the Wooden House

 My eyes are drawn to the tops of trees these days. No leaves so I've been rewarded with a glimpse of something or other-birds, nests, etc. Lately I've twice seen a turkey way up in the branches. Especially up so high there, they look completely out of place. How do they rest that long neck I wonder. Surely it can't be comfortable. Once a week, a flock still wanders through the front yard area. And lately a small flock of Dark-Eyed Juncos has been around the feeders. They are on their southern holiday from the Arctic. What hardy birds! I liked how the shadows on the snow looked interesting in this photo. 

Then it warmed up so much that the snow began to melt. That meant all these hanging snow covers on the eaves slid down and dropped. It sounded like gunfire at times; Ned would bark but then he got used to it.

Staying calm with hand stitching...I've been stitching EPP Stars in the evenings while watching tv. We just finished The Bridge which made me hate drugs all the more. What a scourge on society that illegal trade is! On a lighter note, we are enjoying this Netflix series, Zero Day, starring Robert De Niro.

I've prepped several stars in yellow which is the RSC So Scrappy colour for March. I finished one last night. Yellow will work well for the side triangles with the blues too. I don't have much yellow fabric but I am excited about using different colours now for these edge triangles.

I received my Quakers in England pattern from 123Stitch.com, who provides such wonderful service.  It's a rare treat to get stitchy mail as my determination to not order any/much stitchy stuff is holding strong.

And the pretty DMC colours to use too.

You too can eat your marmalade toast off a Royal Worcester Mansfield gold trimmed dinner plate ( $30 US) if you pick them up at the thrift store for $3.99, :). 

 I can understand how folks are tempted to become resellers.  A part of me is tempted myself if it weren't for the bit of having to deal with money. Is that something you would like to try? YouTube is full of channels of folks sharing their thrift shopping ventures and how much they later make on different items.  

Though not a reseller, the most well known person in giving you an idea of what items are worth is Dr. Lori who has a PHD in Antique Appraisal. She is so knowledgeable in just about everything including purses which is covered in this video. I was very impressed that she can not only date dishes but electrical cords used on lamps. She can tell what is original to the age of the lamp, etc. Perhaps you might like to know what some item you have is worth. Pretty sure she has covered it in one of her videos. 

On that happy note I'll stop blabbing on. The dryer is getting put back together as the needed part arrived and I've been giving Tony a hand-I'm a good holder-upper. Which reminds me...LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color had a prompt for this week which was what compliments you and your spouse might give each other. Tony has given me praise for how hard (he thinks) I work at everything...the house, our healthcare, my fitness, my hobbies, etc. I compliment him lots on how smart he is like being about to fix the dryer, any of our computer glitches, financial dealings, etc. He's so fortunate his brain is still sharp as a tack even though having the feeling his body is physically weakening by the day. 

 Robbie's hockey team is in the playoffs and we have a game tonight which we really look forward to. Hope there is something in your day to look forward to too.

Take care all of you!

So grateful for linky parties at Quilting Patchwork Applique, Melva Loves Scraps, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Quilts.