Two Online Goodies, Department Store Muffins, Yuletide Blanket, Friendship Stars

It was fun to read about everyone's American Thanksgivings. From the small and quiet ones to the large family gatherings. Thank you for sharing.

 Last week Hubby got the snow tires on the car just in time for downpours of rain. I'm always happy to have someone else do that chore though when he told me how enjoyable the garage waiting room was with t.v., free good coffee and comfy chairs, it doesn't sound too bad. With a little stitchy project in hand, I would actually have enjoyed the experience. 

This fellow is back around the feeders. I always wonder if it is the same ones that come and go. Cardinals, btw, are the state bird of at least six American states.

 I made the King Arthur Flour's recipe for Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins.  They were really good even with the sugar cut back a bit. I used a lot of blueberries to make up for it.

Do you like my little Sad Fish plate?

Thank you to those of you who mentioned Magpie Murders. We just finished this series and thought it a great one. We watched it on PBS.

I finished my crocheted Yuletide Blanket last year and just took it out of the trunk, hence the wrinkles.  Last year I promised a photo this year and here it is. It was a good challenge for me to work out the pattern which produced a thick, heavy blanket.  I'd forgotten how "weighty" it is.  Free Pattern from Lucy at Attic 24.

Here are my rainbow Friendship Stars so far.  I now have to work out how to align them.  Times like this I wish I didn't challenge myself and just go with some pattern. This was my November OMG at Elm Street Quilts and it will be my main priority this week to turn it into a flimsie. 

Two Online Goodies

#１I started practising a little French with an excellent free online program called Duolingo.  I studied French last in high school and would love to get better at reading it. I started at the absolute beginning and am now on the third unit. It is being presented in small bites, 10 minutes a day, which is enjoyable but not enough for proficiency of course. But it is fun to see what I remember and it is a little brain function practice. Hope to keep at it.

#２The other free online goodie is this one which I find calming...Jigsaws for Adults.  I play on my ipad and have been working through beautiful butterflies. 

I'm feeling a little unsettled this morning...fell on my early walk and skinned a knee. Just minor but I should have been paying better attention. I'm about to pick up my Autumn Quakers to lay a few stitches. That should calm me down. As Kate at The Last Homely House always says...When you get Into your hands, you get Out of your head. 

As always happy to share with The Texas Quilt Gal, The Inquiring Quilter,  Wendy's Quilts and More, My Quilt Infatuation, Creations Quilts Art , True Blue Quilts, So Scrappy and Sum of Their Stories. 

Valentine's Day, Free Radiance Bloom Pattern, Tumbling Blocks EPP, Yuletide Border, And Me

Thank you all for the ideas on how to prevent Miss White Polka Dot Plant from becoming leggy. Top idea was to pinch her back. Which I now have done. 

We enjoyed a takeout dinner and a little treat from daughter for Valentine's Day.

And we joked that this was what I got for Valentine's...I've been wanting one of these for years after seeing it at Daughter's house. I used it right away and loved it. No, it wasn't for Valentine's.  Amazon just happened to deliver it on the day.😊

 I enjoyed Ellie's Quilt Place piece called "15 Minute Quilts".  The idea Ellie puts forward is that one of our projects could be a quilt that doesn't require a lot of thinking. That it's a good idea to have a quilt in progress that can be picked up and worked on even if you only have 15 minutes.  One or two block wonders come to mind. I had to smile at myself because while searching a cache of two blocks wonders to share with you, I got completely sidetracked by this, the PDF for a free download of this quilt EQP calls Switch! There are lots of free patterns to ogle there.

And look at this one.

 This is a free block pattern from Robin Pickens. I spent so much time visiting Robin's site I never did get to the 2 block wonders. Next post!

That reminded me of the Sunday linky party, 15 Minutes to Stitch,  Kate runs on her blog, Life in Pieces. Thank you Kate for that.

And that reminded me of what I keep on hand for my 15 minutes to stitch.  

Also as always part of my TO DO list this week. And thank you Linda for running this linky party, To Do Tuesday, each week at her blog, Texas Quilt Gal, that helps us keep on track. 

I have to make more triangles and blocks for my Tumbling Blocks quilt.

 I'm still working on widening those three large pieces.  I think I may be addicted to EPP. I'm not kidding.

And I'm almost finished the border on Yuletide. Wow, it is now taking me two nights of tv viewing to get one round crocheted. It is far bigger than I had anticipated but that is a good thing. Hopefully this will get all done and dusted this week. And I'm running out of yarn so it must be nearing the end. 

This is me January last year in my happy chair, cross stitching. I'd just cut my hair (too short) but in isolation so who cares. I'm wearing my fair isle fleece tunic from Lands End. Murphy at my feet. Still can't say her name out loud here as someone gets upset.

And on a completely different topic, I am over the moon that things are gradually opening up completely here! We have a date- March 1.  I need more outings. 

Happy to share this post with Quilt Fabrication, Quilt Paint Create, My Quilt Infatuation, The Inquiring Quilter and Life in the Scrapatch. 

Stove Top Macaroni and Cauliflower, Floral Motif Sampler, Scrappy Dresdens, Yuletide Blanket

Monday morning's kitchen window storm view. 

There were numerous accidents, three of which involved fatalities. I'll never understand how things stay open here no matter the weather. 

We are completely cleared out now and the temperatures have plummeted -27C this morning; however, the sunshine today is most welcome. I did three bouts of shoveling keeping our steps and the veranda clear and was so happy that the old arms held up and no soreness. Ironically, I'm actually having little twinges in my right arm from the crocheting. Nearing the last round of my Yuletide Blanket.  It is much bigger than I thought it would be and the combination of stitches is making it dense and very warm. 

 Here is what I'm feeding us vitamin wise for these winter months....

 I made this recipe for One Pot Creamy Cauliflower and Macaroni Casserole.  It is a stove top dish so very easy. I added spinach to mine and some chopped carrots. It was tasty and we had enough to make dinner the next day with a salad. This is Tieghan's photo from her website because my photo did not look tasty at all.

With Fraktur Flowers finished, it was time to start another project. Many folks on   FlossTube are raving about this design, Floral Motif Sampler by The Scarlett House, one of my favourite places to browse. 

 Brenda of Brenda and the Serial Starter stitched this project while receiving her first cancer treatments and found it calming and soothing.  Her treatments worked, btw, and she is well now thankfully. Myself and all her followers rejoiced with her.  

At first I couldn't see what the fuss was about, but as I move to more flowers, I am enjoying it more. It is nice to have the variety and you get a sense of accomplishment when even one flower is finished. I was tempted to try a higher thread count and stitch one over one (threads) but don't think winter light is a good time to try that. So this is 28 count Winter Moon Cashel linen, two over two as usual for me. I am loving the particular shade this linen is, very soft white.

IN My Lap last night, I laid a few hand big stitch style quilting lines on this piece. A bit of fun stitching and a nice break from the counting. 

I have other things to share like free quilt block patterns that I really like but I'll include that next post. So please stay warm or cool, and busy with what you love. 

I especially enjoy these linky parties...Not Afraid of Color, Kathy's Quilts,  Quilting Patchwork Applique, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, The Inquiring Quilter and Creations...Quilts...Art.  

Wordle, Gail's Jewel Box, Wooliest Pin Cushion, New CAL, A Show to Watch

 I have a bunch of stuff to share in this post.  

Have you heard of Wordle?  My sister alerted me to this new word game that folks have gone wild for. One puzzle is released each day and I won't talk about the details here; if interested you can read them yourself. The creator does not want to make money off it so it isn't an app. I think. Doesn't take long to do; I like it. If you try it, let us know what you think.

One puzzle a day found here at Power Language UK

Talented Gail, the Cozy Quilter, shared her Jewel Box quilt with me in an email. And gave me permission to share it with you. Isn't this a beauty! In the blues...there's something about blues together that I love. Thanks, Gail!

Another Christmas gift all the way from Bonavista, Newfoundland, the area where my Dad was born and raised.  This one, a very special pin cushion made from  wool of the sheep in the area. 

That grandmother always spun her own wool and knit many, many sweaters, mittens and socks. The cardigans, mittens and socks were always a part of the Christmas box from them along with new pyjamas each year.  And I have a strong memory of the very heavy bulky hand knit sweaters my grandfather wore under his oilskins fishing. 

My Yuletide Blanket didn't get finished for the Yuletide but pert near. I'm on #64 of the 78 rounds and where I could do three or four rounds an evening not that long ago, now I can just do one.  It is keeping my legs warm as I crochet. 

Lucy At Attic 24 is just releasing her newest CAL, the Harbour Blanket.

  These are the colours and I'm intrigued by the pattern (which is free and there is no sign up necessary) she's using in this one to create little waves. The wool bundle is available at Wool Warehouse.

I did get this table runner finished, the one using Kathy Schmitz's Snowmen embroidery patterns. But I have to work at getting a photo that shows true colours. Slate blues are a challenge. And clearly I need to learn how to depict true colours in my images in general, especially during winter months. I think this center block is a Turkey Track pattern. 

We watched this series, Irvine West's Crime on Britbox and enjoyed it. So often the detectives have emotional turmoil themselves, poor home lives, etc...it's almost a cliche. Well this fellow was so distraught throughout...the character was  in relentless anguish it seemed. I felt sorry for the actor who had to play the role. When casting, the first question they must have asked was Can you cry?

I told you how the cardinals come to the feeders at dusk. I took this photo of the female one evening. I do hope the sunflower seeds are providing them a little nourishment to make it through our cold nights. 

Those nights have suddenly become much colder averaging -20C, but it is January in Canada just outside the second coldest capital city in the world. So Bundle Up time!

So happy to link with Not Afraid of Color, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt, Life in Pieces and Life in the Scrapatch.

Advent Calendars, Pears in December Sunlight, Applique Blocks, Yuletide Blanket

 Besides being fleeting, the sunlight is not especially good sunlight these days. It is weakened and I think of how the sun is really so far away especially in winter for us in our corner of the world. We are careening, it seems, towards the 21st, the shortest day of the year. But the air is good. I compare it to the kind of air humidity creates which I complained about so much last summer and the air these days is superior even while cold. But as always grateful to be breathing still or topside as my grandparents put it. 

I liked how these pears and home made honey, gifts from older daughter, looked in the pale sunlight this morning. I have a thing about pears; I like their shape and their taste.

The three of us here, Hubby, myself and the Ornament Eater, are enjoying our Advent Calendars, a gift from younger daughter each year.  

Mine is the best...Clarins. Their Rose Radiance Moisturizing Cream is beautiful but so expensive. I have a jar and use it sparingly. Then the voice in my head will say things like use it up, you don't spend money on makeup, what are you waiting for, you're thrifty in other ways, etc. etc.  Do you have such a voice?

I've read this recent trend...folks are making the resolution to stitch strictly stash (say that 7 times!) in the new year. And this trend is also circulating FlossTube which is YouTube for cross stitchers. That I can understand as some stitchers there have over a hundred patterns collected. I should be taking the same vow even though my stash is nothing compared to many. But sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by what I have sitting -waiting. 

 Now completely disregard that train of thought and have a gander at a little temptation...

Art Gallery Fabrics has released a video of their new lines for the new year. A little bit of gorgeous is all I'm going to say about that.

On my continuing Christmas TO DO list for this month...several more of the Xmas at Quiltmania blocks are finished.  

And this big-eyed bird. 

I've been testing a vintage style block called Jewel Box for some Christmas machine stitching. Photos next time. 

And I love how Yuletide Blanket is growing. Definitely Yuletide colours and crocheting goes well with the evening tv viewing.

A little smile today...

Writing About Writing

Hope everything about your week is wonderful!

 Also wonderful to link with Not Afraid of Color, Alycia Quilts, Life in the Scrapatch, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Texas Quilt Gal.

Three Stitchy Things, Yuletide Blanket, Hockey Boy

I heard the Barred Owls calling Wednesday night, one to another from different parts of the woods. Hubby saw one on his late afternoon walk last week flying silently and low through the trees, low enough that Ned chased it.  Below is another shot from that photo shoot last month...a little better than the blob I showed you before.( I didn't realize I could "lighten" the photo; duh, always learning!) Beautiful feathers and that very dark staring eye. He was staring at me!

 We had a dash of winter and the pond froze over enough the neighbours' daughter came over for a skate. It was wonderful to see her precise curves in the ice and she drew a little heart in the bit of snow for us to see.  However, today it is pouring down rain, a sodden miserable kind of day,  so I don't think that ice will hold up. 

Hockey is huge here in Canada...think football to my American friends. Grandson Robbie is playing hockey this year in a beginner league. He is enjoying it and working very hard on the ice. He was a complete newbie and his parents are pleased to see how much effort he is putting in. Worthy of the early mornings, etc. Here he is tired and showing he scored four goals. Good fun and exercise!

A while back I posed a question concerning good scissors for the sewing room. Thank you all who responded.  Gingher won my tiny poll and I ordered a pair. They are now resting in my sewing room awaiting the next big cutting project.

So happy to have the three rows of this crochet pattern, Yuletide Blanket, now feeling more intuitive so I can forgo having the pattern in front of my eyes all the time. This is a row of Kelly Green. Going to be a while before it is a blanket!

Three Stitchy Things To Check Out 

This is filed under the category...if I had a granddaughter... Ann Wood Handmade has been running a pattern sale. This Primitive doll caught my eye as well as her Elegant Doll too.

Piecing the Past Quilts is going to be running a free BOW project starting in January.

 It's called Martha's Garden and it is applique and you can see the details HERE.

Jolly Jabber of the Fat Quarter Shop has announced their early winter free quilt along, Heartfelt. All the info is here...Fat Quarter Shop Heartfelt Quilt Along. Beautiful large blocks.

 They used Corey Yoder's line called Beautiful Day which is spring like to me. The free patterns will begin in February and they are hoping folks will donate $5 to the Make A Wish Foundation, a charity I love. 

I've been calling the recent blocks I've shown Quilt Bible blocks when the book is actually called The Quilt Block Bible from Rosemary Youngs. Sorry for the confusion!

Well, lunch is going to be a little bit of breakfast today. Hubby wanted muesli for breakfast and I always want a little more protein in our diets where we have gone so plant heavy lately it seems. 

I'm one of those people that find eggs make me feel fuller too, which in my case, is a good thing. LOL

Hope all is rosy🌹 in your garden. 

So happy to be linking with Not Afraid of Color.

Yuletide Blanket, Creative Plans, Boys In Trees, Neddy Antics

I really liked the contrast in the two colours above...the somewhat strange shade of yellow leaf that just happened to be sitting atop the vivid green mossy stump. 

Creative Plans.  While 2021 was my year of fitness, I'm hoping 2022 will have a more creative focus. I have loads of ideas including, of course, my stitching and photography. I've also been reading about creativity including how creative minds work, in hopes of getting some tips, LOL. Of course, there is a lot on the internet, but it's also great to be back inside libraries once again. That is a big plus for me as I do find them inspiring and missed those outings very much during the pandemic. 

This is a piece by Devon artist, Vickie Lindo, that I really like. The combination of words and applique are interesting. I tried to track her down to give you a link but sadly, could not find one. If you know of a link, please let me know as artist's work should always be fully acknowledged.

I came across Vickie's work through Rachel Taylor who published an artist's review of her HERE. I've been reading Rachel's blog for a long time now; recently it got a remake and is much more jazzed up. 

Here is something from her page I downloaded- 21 Days of Creative Magic List. On the PDF copy it has the spaces to write in your own thoughts and I will tuck it into my new planner (when I get it).

 I'm listening to this audio book, one I know some of you in the Thursday Likes group has already read. Subject matter that is tough but the book is very well written and the audio version is well read. 

Grandson Robbie was here helping me pick up sticks for my fires. He also took a break to climb some trees, such a typical 8 year old boy thing to do. First I had to laugh and then I had to say ok that's high enough!

Neddy, who is what can only be described as joyful to be around Robbie, tried his darndest to join in...

I really like that I was able to start again and work out the tension for the Yuletide Blanket. I had to go down a size in crochet hook as a reader suggested (thank you!) and when I checked, I had it exactly at Lucy's for a tension checkpoint. That red is called Lipstick and it is very Christmasy. 

Neddy thought he would try his paw at crocheting. Not very successfully, I'm afraid.  This is the colour Tomato which is a reddish burnt orange.    Stylecraft DK yarns at Lovecrafts if you want to check out the line.

Meanwhile, inside the wooden house I am practicing great restraint. How so? you say. I'm working on my two main quilting projects and want them to a certain point before starting anything new and there are soooo many projects tempting me. You all know that feeling! 

Linking with these wonderful parties...Not Afraid of Color, My Corner of the World and Brian's Home Blog.