Deep in Winter Wonderings

I was up early and out the door to refill the bird feeders. I've added a third this winter as it's turning into an especially cold one. Wind chill then was -35C ( up from the -39C low overnight) and wind in strong gusts made it most uncomfortable. That cold makes it such a relief to be out of it and back into the warmth of the house. But there are drifts over the front steps so I'll be back out there soon to shovel which will warm me up. 

I always feel lucky to get a glimpse of an owl and to get a photo even more so. But my odds are a little higher this winter as I've sighted one around the feeders twice now. However, these photos were taken from quite a distance down by our pond where I play ball with the dogs. I was so fortunate this distant "blob" turned out to be a bird rather than a clump of leaves which has happened sometimes. I'm thinking it's the same one that is sometimes nearer the house.

I'm cautious with owls because they always show they see me and I know what their talons look like. They watch me with those big eyes and move their head when I move. Though I must say this drowsy one seemed more intent on soaking up the sun's warmth than caring about me. This is a Barred Owl as identified by the bars on his feathers.

What a beautifully feathered fellow!

No winter lasts forever and thoughts of warmer days ahead are in my mind as I look through the Veseys Seeds online catalogue. In particular, since I've had good luck with Geraniums, I'm checking out a couple different varieties to plant this spring. Some of you mentioned Zinnias to me so I'm going to give those a go too. I also want to plant more Japanese Anemone bushes around the property. It's a huge favourite with the bees, blooms well into the fall and is so pretty too.

 I'm still appliquing more of the tiny baskets in blues and did finish one in February's dark green RSC colour. They are not exactly a quick stitch but I'm enjoying working on them, nonetheless.

In this photo below I'm ready to go shopping with Beth and was attempting to show you the scarf I knit years ago in 2014 and still love to wear every winter. I didn't realize that between the phone and the wooden bar in the mirror you wouldn't really see it, duh. I also wish I'd closed that closet door. And when I call our house the wooden house- it really is. The floors, walls and ceilings are all beautiful wood. 

 The scarf has jewel tones in reds/pinks and having colour up around my face is a good thing these days. It is a one line pattern and you can check it out at my post there. It was passed on by Stephanie on her Yarn Harlot blog years ago. 

My hair is so white and as I've said, I don't mind it at all. Both daughters have been urging me to stop cutting my hair so short and grow it out a little, so I'm doing that despite how wispy it is. The Moroccanoil Texture Spray is helping with that. HERE is the Amazon link if you'd like to check it out for your locks. 

Tony's ear syringing didn't work so we are back to the ear clinic tomorrow for a second try and he's also unhappy with his new glasses so we are going back to Costco to see what they can do about that too. Poor fellow. 

We've been enjoying the Olympics Figure Skating very much. Are you watching? 

Hope your February is going well and your stitching fingers are flying. 

I'm happy to join these linky parties...Alycia Quilts, Creations Quilts Art and Quilting Patchwork Applique.

Christmas in April Photos, 4 at a Time HST's, Floralies Thinking and Embroidering

 Spring has been put on pause while we had a day and half snowstorm starting Tuesday and actually have had light snow falling every day since. Lots of the fresh stuff on the ground and trees; it makes for pretty photos. So Christmassy....big sigh.

We've had snow much later than this here so I'm not that upset. Though still below freezing overnight,   it's getting to be more pleasant by noon so this snow won't last.  And in spite of this or to spite it, my mind has turned to gardening thoughts. I'm interested in exploring a new to us perennial, Hellebores or Lenten/Christmas Rose, for this year's addition. Supposedly very hardy which it will need to be here with the swing from freezing to extreme heat we can experience heading into summer. Aren't they pretty.

 I've added many flowering bushes over the years so I thought maybe a new blooming flower for the garden is in order. Of course, Amazon offers lots of choice for seeds but it will be a while before I'll be digging  the ground. I'm going to explore another way to start them, not the toilet paper rolls this year. More later about that.

A pile of "stuff" always accumulates where my chair is in the living area. I'm still very much into paper and not using the various aps on my computer for note taking. I have to write things down with my black ink pens still. I keep a (mostly) daily journal of my food, vitamins, exercise, mail orders, etc. I have another little journal where I note things I read around the net or free patterns, etc. so mostly internet stuff to do with books or my stitching hobbies. I also record what we watch on tv. 

Yes, I'm beginning another Louise Penney book I got at the library...I've not been able to get "into" her writing but so many folks have, I believe I'm missing out so keep trying. 

We have finished Wolf Hall and enjoyed it very much. 

While I sorted our winter bedding to stow away and pulled out the summer sheets-yes I did that! etc., I watched/listened to several YouTube videos about that era and learned more about Thomas Cromwell.

 And I have a confession to make...I also keep up with all the Royal Family news. I enjoy hearing the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gossip too. I like Palace Confidential in particular.

In the sewing room...yes I actually got in there and practised stitching HST's. I've mentioned before I'm at the kindergarten level when it comes to quilt measuring and cutting. I noticed that Jennifer, The Inquiring Quilter, offers a number of wonderful YouTube videos about the various methods of sewing these. I decided to sew along to this particular video which shows how to make four at a time.

 And sewed a few for practice. 

Now Jennifer doesn't prefer this method because of issues with bias stretching. In another of her videos I saw how Thangles could be used to make very accurate HST's. Sounds like a good thing for me to use. HERE is their website if you'd like to check them out too. 

This week I was embroidering...and with thoughts of pretty garden flowers, the Floralies project got some attention. Translated from the French, that means Flower Show.

This is a welcome break from the thread counting my cross stitched project requires. I prefer a small needle for all my hand stitching. Someone asked which size and I'll have to take note the next time I get one from the packet. 

I'm going to end this post as I don't like letting them get too long and chance boring you. Apparently I'm gabby on paper...not so much in real life. 

Hope you are all well, that it is beautiful seasonal weather where you are and you are enjoying your present stitchy projects, too.  

Enjoy joining linky parties like...Sew and Tell, The Inquiring Quilter, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Kathy's Quilts.

Garden Beginnings, Tiny 9 Patches, Cross Stitching, Turkey Pot Pie

 The storm is past and power has been restored for everyone. Then it was really cold like we had dialed back a season back to winter.  However today, spring hopes are revived as it is going up to 15C.  I did pick up my seed packets while out and about yesterday. I found out last year that these are classified seasonal and only available on the shelves for a brief time, so have to get them early. I bought more of the Zinnia packets because I had good luck growing those last year and they stayed in bloom so long. 

I'll be setting up my makeshift green house in the large back room of the garage again this year. A very large window there provides enough light. 

We've eaten our very hearty turkey pot pie I made from the various Easter meal leftovers. Beth took the carcass to make soup. I used the gravy that was left but yet the pie was on the dry side. Perhaps I should have had it on a higher rack in the oven.

It does look a little dry, doesn't it.

 My stove is very old and I've had to add a few degrees to get the recommended temperatures; perhaps the pie didn't need that as it looks a little overdone. I've never had that dry pie problem so I really don't know. It was very tasty though and we gobbled it up.:)

 I've stitched more of the tiny 9 patch, 3 inch squares still alternating sewing methods. Here are a few in various yellows, April's RSC colour. Mostly cheddar it seems.

Took a close up photo so you can see that tiny village on the vintage table cloth, another of my thrift finds. I don't know why, but I always feel nostalgic seeing these kinds of illustrations, etc. That's about the books of my childhood I guess. 

Slow stitching is helping my Pileated Woodpecker grow his beautiful red crest. It gets its name from the Latin word for that crest. The main red is DMC 347 and is an interesting shade, sort of soft red and my eye sees a purplish tinge to it. Officially it is described as a deep salmon colour.  Not possible to see its' true hue in this photo. 

Petey stayed overnight with us recently. He is very loving and much more demonstrative with us than Ned is. That may be because he lives with Abbey and feels he has to compete for human affection. Here he's asking me to close the computer and go play ball. He'd brought the ball to me a minute earlier.

Ned idolizes his brother!

Thank you for remarking on my Second Best Thrift Find post. In particular, I heard from so many people familiar with the Petit Point china set. Though the pattern is discontinued now, it was very popular back in the day. Since cross stitching is having such a revival, perhaps the Royal Albert folks should bring it back. Or develop an updated modern version. 

And thank you, P, for pointing me towards this set, the Royal Winton Grimwades Queen Anne pattern, also very popular and their design depicts the linen lines too which is unique. 

Here is the tea pot. I just love looking at the designs of things. Stitching a tea pot quilt is on my bucket list. I think Kaffe has one. 

Seeing this made me wonder if it was inspiration for the beautiful Tilda Flower Embroidery Pixel Quilt pattern. HERE is the link to the free pattern to stitch this beauty which is labelled EASY, btw.

Meanwhile, next post I will tell you about two small but important things I happily discovered and use in the sewing room. 

Hope your week is off to a great start!

 Happily joining the linky parties at Songbird Designs, A Quiltery, It's a Small Town Life, Creations Art Quilts, So Scrappy, Kathy's Quilts and Alycia Quilts.

Christmas QAL's, Gardening, Cod Fishing

 I have written about how I kept the wild Mullein in the garden because the birds and bees like it. It was interesting to hear from several readers about Mullein in their gardens. I guess there is a movement to protect this valuable plant and it is now being harvested for medicinal uses. A great article on this weed is here... Mighty Mullein, thanks Reg for that link. I also found this plant featured on fabric. I had no idea of the long and ancient history we have with Mullein. 

 I was fortunate to capture a little Downy Woodpecker enjoying my Mullein plants on Friday. It spent ages balancing on its tail moving up and down the length of the plant getting what from it exactly, I'm not sure. Sorry, photo is overexposed by bright sun and the photo adjustments are even less than I had on the former Acer, sigh.

Back inside...While I'm learning about how to quilt Painted Lady and had the batting all spread out, I thought I'd choose another WIP to get layered. I chose this one from a QAL back in 2020...the Book Club Hand Pieced QAL which I enjoyed and wished a similar one could be run again. 

And this morning here it is all sandwiched with its pin puckers. This way if the mood should strike me to work on it, it will be all ready and waiting.

Two Free QAL's for Christmas Stitching

Sherri at A Quilting Life has been generously running free BOM's for a few years now. Her latest is being sewn in reds and greens for Christmas. Very detailed instructions and can also be sewn in other colours of course. In fact I thought of autumn colours. 

Jessica Dayon also has a number of  free QAL's at her site including this one called the Holly Jolly Block of the Week. Loads of instructions too and videos. Thank You, Jessica!

I've been busy! We have Petey staying with us while his family is on their annual trip to Newfoundland. We've started to move wood from the pile down in the meadow up to our veranda for the winter fires. So happy to have older grandson, Jack's, help with that.  And we've been working on reinforcing the fencing in the back yard so the dogs can't get out and wildlife can't get in. 

Meanwhile, here is a happy photo of younger grandson, Robbie, successfully cod fishing in Newfoundland.

While there may not be cod fishing in your weekend, hope it is wonderful too!

Sharing this post with also wonderful linky parties like Not Afraid of Color, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, The Inquiring Quilter and So Scrappy

Redwork Stitching, Marking Pencils,Gardening, Movies

 I shared a photo of the vines that grew so well in winter inside the house a while back. Here they are still alive and well outside all summer. I had put a few seeds in soil just to see what would happen knowing that, while I had no success growing pumpkins, I loved the leaves and these, whatever they are, look so pretty. A very tiny critter also loves them as there are little nibbles taken in some of  them.

And the Marigolds are the ones I grew from seeds planted in my garage green house in May. I have three pots of them and they grew well but were late to flower. I also planted a new to me flower- Zinnia seeds at the same time and here below are what remains after another critter raided the plants when I first put them outside. These have surprisingly strong stems and faint quickly without water. This is an annual and I'm going to try to harvest a few seeds for next year. 

Thanks again to Texas Quilt Gal, Linda, for mentioning the heating mats for propagating seeds indoors. I will definitely be adding more next spring. 

Inside, while I've layered two quilting projects, I've spent my evenings in front of the tv stitching 2 more patterns from Mom's redwork project. Here are the Caribou and the Moose, two very common animals at home. 

I ordered these erasable marking pencils from Amazon...here is the link (not affiliated) Amazon Clover Water Soluble Pencils and they came to me all the way from Hong Kong.  Three colours to a pack-white, pink and blue and they are another way to achieve removable marking lines to follow for hand quilting. Work perfectly but wear down fast. You need to keep a sharpener handy.

Jack and I went to see this movie. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot. I realized I  knew very very little about that whole event. Wonderful performances. I was surprised again by how comfortable movie theater seats have become with the movable head and leg rests, especially good when you are sitting there for almost four hours.

We are hoping to see the Barbie movie this weekend. 

I'm off to make lunch. Daughter gave us a basket of locally grown tomatoes and they are delicious. Hubby loves a white bread tomato sandwich with a little mayo, salt and pepper. How about you?

Hope your week is going well!

Happily linking with Creations, Art, Quilting and Kathy's Quilts. 

Chocolate Cake, Monarch Applique, Garden Blooms

 It is a surprise each time I step out the front door and look at the flower beds. SO much growing and flowering without me having to lift a finger these days. Summer '23 will be one to note; I could say this summer has been good on flowers, which is phrasing used at home. 

I just have to show you all by itself the Madagascar Jasmine...what is it now, 5 years old maybe and I've never seen anything like this. If I coaxed a flower or two from it before, I rejoiced. But Mother Nature does it better and the bouts of high humidity she provided certainly worked magic on this beautiful vine. I sometimes step out on the veranda just to look at it, such a gift that literally keeps on giving, so gratefully received from Tony's former inlaws. 

Other beautiful things...Beth's cake to us this month is a favourite...dark chocolate with marshmallow frosting. We are all enjoying it very much. Rock Recipes Black and White Cake

From Maude Smith such beautiful tea towels! Also dogs, butterflies, flowers, all the wonderful things, etc. are available.  Like this one...Isn't it gorgeous! I think I'd have to pin this up somewhere rather than use it for dish wiping.

I was following a link Nancy at Joy For Grace gave us in her latest post and went to read more about managing scraps. This article at All People Quilt turned out to be very interesting with a great video helping you discover your scrap saving philosophy and yes, we do all have one apparently. How to Organize Scrap Fabric. 

Today's stitching to share is slow stitching applique, my start on the Monarch project. I'd already picked fabrics and drawn a few shapes and cut out the freezer paper templates. Yes did that. Here are four of the smallest of three sizes. Definitely tropical butterflies at my house. I've been playing around with the shapes a little so they won't be identical.

The air is cooling off making walking much more enjoyable too. Seasons are good.

 Hope you are able to rest and feel the calm you deserve on this mid August Sunday.

Also happy to share this post with Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Songbird Designs. 

Thrifting, Painted Lady Quilt, Nature's Medicinal Plant, Free Pattern

 Today is the first day in over a week with nothing on the agenda. There have been lots of appointments lately and visiting too. So this rare day stretches before me- I can decide myself when to exercise, read, stitch, roam about with my camera, etc. and up first is getting this blog post finished.

Below, the Day Lilies and my four pots at the further end of the veranda...I'm awed by the wonderful growth. I've let the wild Mullein grow...that's the two tall plants on the right. The leaves, seeds and yellow flowers have amazing nutritional qualities for people but I keep it for the bees and insects to enjoy. The flowers have a staggered opening, providing nectar for bees from early July to frost in the fall. 

Younger daughter Beth and grandson, Robbie, have collaborated to make a Youtube channel named The Adventures of Pete and Abbey. A little summertime in between camps activity for Robbie. They've had fun coming up with the music and ideas they could use. In this one, Petey came in and out of the room about 14 times before finding Beth which we all found hard to believe. 

Being intermittently frugal like I am...I do enjoy searching through thrift stores. Treasures are waiting there to be found has been my experience.  I don't collect as such anymore but if I see something special I will buy it and sometimes for others. Tony has had a number of Dalmatians in his life and the last one, Lacey, was still alive for me to care for at the farm in our early years together. I saw this mug and had to buy it and here it is amongst his little Dalmatian collection, belonging and looking like it was always there.

At Value Village that same day- the very one where I have dropped off books and quilting magazines, I couldn't resist buying ten of these magazines priced at 99cents each.  I'm incorrigible! That colourful scrappy Bear Claw quilt caught my eye and these were/are excellent magazines, still providing a wealth of quilting information in each one. 

Summer Finishing School is not over for me. I have one more project that I want to completely finish before September and it is this one.  A 2018 scrappy wool project called Painted Lady, design by Laura Heine. It is a flimsy and I've been enjoying adding embroidery touches here and there this summer. It would make a wonderfully colourful wall hanging once backed and quilted.  

I had to do repair work on my sewing machine recently. I woefully neglect it and couldn't remember when I'd changed the needle last. It seems like I resent the time spent doing these chores- time taken away from actually stitching. I keep the manual handy and there are a series of excellent videos online dealing with my particular model. So I have no excuse.  I must say my Singer Quantum must be good to keep on stitching the way it does with absolutely zero maintenance, poor thing. 

Free Pattern today is from Laura's Fibre Works site.  Mr. And Mrs. Claus Runner.

Love this adorable Mr. and Mrs!

Hope today allows you time to yourself to do what you love!

Happy to link with Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Songbird Designs, The Inquiring Quilter and  So Scrappy.

Solidarity Flimsie #1, A Special Book, Everything's A' Bloomin'

Everything is blooming!

Including a Clematis Sapphire bush in a shady spot.

I'm trying to "tend the garden" these days. Short spurts of weeding here and there; it has to be short as the heat has been killing. We are just not acclimatized to this kind of humidity either. But the flowers love it. The soil in the beds is very rich which means the weeds love it as well.

 I've thought of my Dad's mother, my grandmother, who had not only a flower garden but a vegetable garden to tend each summer. In that outport it was mostly women's work to plant and tend the vegetable garden, though I remember Granda giving her a hand at times. They grew enough potatoes, turnip, carrot, cabbage, beets, and onions to last all winter stored in their root cellar. By the time I arrived for my visit at the end of June, the last of the potatoes would taste sweet from being there so long. 

One of Dad's cousins who grew up with him, wrote this book, More Than Fifty Per Cent: Women's Life in Outport Newfoundland, for her Folklore master's thesis.  It chronicles women's work in that little outport...in summary, women's work is never done. You've heard the old rhyme, men may toil from sun to sun but women's work is never done and of course, this would certainly apply to farmer's wives as well.  My grandparents are cited in the book.  Available at  Amazon -not affiliated.

I have enjoyed working with these cheery blocks again. I have good memories of stitching so many appliqued different and unique blocks. I looked up how others have put their Solidarity quilt together. The blocks are different sizes and it can be tricky to sort out an arrangement when that happens. I stitched 15 blocks so have divided them into two projects. Here is the first one ready to be layered and quilted. I'll use that same pretty green in the binding. I love the fir tree shadows in this photo.

The backlit view like stained glass is always pretty too. Will enjoy linking with the party for reds at So Scrappy

I would like to have this bound and layered this week. Especially doable as Rainbow Neighbourhood is almost finished! Amazing what you can accomplish when you actually spend time in the sewing room doing it. :D

Thanks Joanne and Michelle for confirming that line of poetry for me. Yes it is from Robert Herrick's poem that features the more famous line Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. I had to smile because young "maids" in fishing communities and on farms had little time to gather rosebuds. And I must say I very much enjoyed reading what your "time wasters" are so thanks for sharing.

I need to show you my hair these days. It is a little naturally curly and the humidity makes it frizzy and a bit wild. I'm still growing it out from the Pixie cut I gave myself and it is the longest it's been in ten years! I'm letting it sit on my head like a wild bird nest! 

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Happily linking with The Inquiring Quilter, Songbird Designs, Quilt Schmilt, My Quilt Infatuation, Sew and Tell, Finished Friday, Alycia Quilts, Kathy's Quilts and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

 

Rainbow House, Garden Blooms, Cardinal Couple

I showed you Mr. and Mrs. American Goldfinch- here are Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal. Not a great photo but it isn't often they are this close together. They are around a lot so I think nesting nearby. 

My arms are a little tired typing. We trimmed low hanging branches up and down the laneway and it was my job to gather them from the ground and take to various big piles around the property. I used the wheelbarrow and my arms got a bit of a workout which is good for them. Much more of this to be done. I couldn't resist taking a few photos of the garden growth.

Gardening is very rewarding.

I especially enjoy seeing the flowering bushes I've planted come to life each summer.

 It's also fun to have another house finished for the Rainbow Neighbourhood QAL. 

This one looks summery to me and I used Kona Carnation fabric for a few of the sections. 

Up close I loved the shade which is hard to capture in a photo. It's between pink and peach to my eye. Joann's has it on sale right now I noticed (not affiliated).  I wonder where else I can use it, perhaps the Monarch project. Speaking of which, I've started drawing and cutting the freezer paper templates for that project. Can't wait to get it started as I love applique. But first I have to decide about borders/sashings for the Rainbow houses. That's up next.  I have a few ideas.

I very much enjoyed a family birthday get together on the weekend. It was good to get out the nicer things, enjoy Chinese food which we hadn't had for a long time and especially to have a few laughs together. 

I hope your week is going great. 

Happily linking with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Alycia Quilts and Quilt Schmilt.