Soup, Muffins, Wood Workout, Hand Quilting and Free Patterns

I'd put my chicken carcass on the stove to boil down to make a base for yesterday's chicken soup.  Half an hour later I thought what on earth is making that smell.  I went to the kitchen to investigate only to see it was my chicken broth bubbling happily away. Thankfully I always start with lots of water in the pot and a low heat.

 Totally forgot it-wiped from the brain and now I can see how old people can start fires in their houses, right under their noses. Hubby says it's because I'm always juggling a number of things at once. I tell him that's just being a woman and I've been doing that all my life.  Besides which, at that time, I was juggling or attempting to juggle exactly two things...the soup and a bit of reading. Thankfully our smoke alarms (which are very high up with the ceilings here) have 25 year batteries. 

I added tinned tomatoes to this one... San Marzano is one of my favourites. 

The weather has been wonderful. The warmest November I've experienced here in Ontario. Last year this time there was snow on the ground and the pond was so frozen we could walk on it.  With temperatures up to high teens most days, nature is reacting like it's spring. More new growth here in the purple globe thistle for instance.

Maybe I could blame that lapse in memory on being sapped a bit physically. Loading wood on the trailer and then stacking it next to the house the last couple of days was quite a workout for us both. I noticed how differently we react to a little physical labour. I ache a bit whereas Hubby gets really tired and needs more sleep. I've noticed after day 3 of moving my body like this I've been sleeping better as well.  So thankful we can both still manage these chores. 

We have the other half of our wood order coming Saturday. We are already thinking we will stack it at the drop off and cover it well. Save us lugging it up here to the house and that way we can space out our wood getting trips as we need it. 

 I have a bunch of other things to share this post.

Let's start with food, my favourite topic and combine it with the season which normally (how much nothing seems to be normal this year) is one of comfort food.

Crosby's Molasses has a free e-book section. I downloaded Comforts of Home- 20 recipes for Homemade Comfort Food.  Molasses has 25% fewer calories than sugar so if you like it that's good. I'm not a big molasses fan but I love it in baked goods. 

Crosby's Comforts of Home E-Book

I made a batch of loaded bran muffins...raisins, dates and pumpkin seeds added to these. 

I found this wonderful free tree pattern with a tutorial from generous Leanne at Devoted Quilter named Ticker Tape Tree.  Super easy, really neat how this goes together and another scrap using pattern. I'm going to get out my green scraps and give this a try one morning very soon. I'll finally get to use green thread in the machine. 

Rachel at Stitched in Color and Lucy at Charm About You are co-hosting a sewalong called Geesey Geesey. A chance to practice keeping all the points when making many many geese. I'm thinking this could be an excellent candidate for the RSC which I assume will start again with colours in January. Or right now in Christmas fabrics. 

This colourway, which looks like Art Gallery fabrics to me, is appealing. I like how vintage patterns take on a completely modern look depending on the fabrics. 

I have to prep more spool blocks for the Medallion quilt and make the last of the fans to total 18.  

I love how hand quilting looks and feels. It is addictive and maybe that has to do with the soothing effect of this kind of slow stitching. 

Here I took the Halloween Sampler out of the frame to get a photo. Enjoying this stitching very much and getting a hang of how much slack I need in the cloth to get the rocking motion going.

A couple of woodpecker photos taken from a great distance down by the pond. Interesting how they use their tails for stability. They are enjoying the suet cakes I've put out and I'm seeing more of them. Update: This has been identified as a yellow bellied sapsucker by birder friend David at Travels With Birds.

Hopefully I'll have further opportunities to get better photos. 

We are off to do a grocery and dog food pickup. Hope your Thursday is a great one. 

As always, linking this post with Not Afraid of Color, Paying Ready Attention, Inquiring Quilter, For the Love of Geese, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Alycia Quilts, Quilting Applique Patchwork, Viewing Nature With Eileen and It's a Small Town Life. 

Inspiration, Indoor Gardening and Outside Chores, Fans Quilt, Free Patterns,

We've been blessed for a week now with unseasonably warm temperatures. Just wonderful for walking outside and doing more chores like gathering kindling and window washing. Here is a look into one half of my indoor garden. I use the 3 step ladder for the washing- too bad if the window is higher than that! I just can't risk going any higher these days. You can see my kitchen window in the background and just beside the top of my shoulder is my camera with the good zoom pretty much set up there permanently.

While out there, I heard a loud and familiar tapping on the house. Rounded the corner and there was Mr. Woodpecker pecking away at one of the knots in the house siding. Every few months, one of them decides this is a good idea. 

I can't tell if this is a Hairy or a Downy but Murphy decided to bark at it which made it fly away. 

I had made a large curried butter chicken recipe and then decided to try my hand at making naan bread to go with it. We both love the naan bread you get at Indian food restaurants and I'd been told it is easy to make. After researching how to make it in the bread machine, I chose one recipe and gave it a go. Of course, I got busy right at the crucial point of taking the dough out of the machine and when I checked, the baking process had already started. Darn it. So we had a loaf instead and it is quite tasty. I've never added yogurt to a dough before but it was good.  I will definitely be trying to make real naan bread another time. The recipe is here at the Taste of Home site.

Our Saturday night movie was The Lie starring Peter Sarrsgard and Mireille Enos (of The Killing fame). It was good...certainly portrayed parental agony well and held our attention.

I've added stitching lines to what I was calling parachutes and have since renamed them Fans. That is more in line with the Japanese theme anyway so thanks goes to Patricia (no blog) for that idea. 

Just wondering how many now to make. Perhaps 18 which would give me 7 rows with alternating 3 and 2 fans for a nice sized hanging. Does that add up?

I'm using a running stitch and this Sulky variegated thread in red, white and blue. Fun stitching. I'm also using my Hera tool to mark the lines. Since they are short lines and on dark fabric, it is working well for this.

Inspiration

Jenny of Elefantz has begun a free stitch along she is calling Joy to the World. It features her unique designs on a traditional Christmas theme. The first two blocks are at that link.

I love houses and one of these days I'm going to start a house quilt. In this marvelous video below, Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts shares how to make a tiny house, a perfect use of small scraps and could certainly be a Christmas theme as well or an RSC Challenge at So Scrappy. Her small quilt is so cute too and I like how her earrings match her top. 😊

I also like this project...more scrap busting possibilities and the reusing of those lovely Moda ribbons...I have a few of those myself.  From the talented Jen Van Orman and the link with instructions is HERE. 

2 Humane Mouse Traps-Number of Mice captured and released, 12!! An even dozen; who knew so many mice run around the garage at night! 

I have bird feeders to fill and wood to stack. Always chores here to keep the old body moving which is a good thing. 

Also have to link this post with these fabulous parties:- Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt, Our World Tuesday, My Corner of the World and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. 

Mindful, Meaningful, Tiny Happy Thursday Things

 Autumn is deepening here in Canada but all is well and my sincere hope is that all countries are as peaceful and calm, if not right now, then very very soon. 

 I'm rereading this book, 10% Happier by Dan Harris and enjoying it very much.

 The author got to sit down with all the greats in terms of life coaches, gurus, spiritualists, etc. including Ekhart Tolle. He is very frank in his estimations of these people. You might remember Dan was the guy who suffered a panic attack on the air during a live ABC news broadcast. His quest, to quiet that voice in his head, appealed to me and his conclusions were also interesting. I especially like the Instruction section in the Appendix. 

I did get to have my own little trick or treater, namely, grandson Robbie, drop over for a visit. They were driving their side by side machine decked out for Halloween. A whole lot of fun.

And he was a zombie, my favourite. 

 The neighbours in the area had all agreed to put treats out at the end of their driveways and a lot of folks were sitting outside and also had treats for the adults.  Ironically, the result was a lot more greeting of each other than normally happens in these subdivisions, though socially distanced. In fact, it was declared the best Halloween ever. 

I think about the barred owl every time I walk through a section of the wood with large deciduous trees. I've seen the owl there four or five times now matching the number of years I've lived here. The very first time I saw a barred owl in my life  was when we were moving in and the moving truck I was sitting in rounded a turn in our driveway and there was one sitting right in the middle of the road. I was so happy and took it as a sign I was meant to be here.  In the woods he shows up as a curious dark blob and I recognized him right away.

 This time I had to race Murphy back to the house and get my camera. He was far away and keeping himself hidden in the trees. Lucky I spotted him.

 I managed to take a few photos before a blue jay suddenly appeared and started harassing him.  So off he flew. But I am ever so pleased to have seen him again. He watches me every time too with that way they have of turning their heads and that feeling with those large eyes on you is so different from other birds.

I treated myself to a new fountain pen (yes, it's the little things). It is a Cross, a much cheaper edition, but still writes beautifully. I've mentioned before I'm rather particular about what I write with...always black ink and not fine line. I'm a Virgo, can't help it! That's a beautiful book my sister gave me...she always picks the perfect book as a Christmas gift. She's a retired librarian and it has been true all her days that books are her life.

I like this. I took Daughter's mum pots from last fall and put them in my garage for the winter. I wanted to use the soil as these containers usually have lots of fertilizer, etc. in them and mixed with my composted dirt would make a good blend this summer.  When I went to get them in early May, I was surprised to see a little green growth on them both...this after the whole winter with no water or sun. So I put them outside to see what would happen. And here they are in October.

 Both grew back a lot of the mums though not to the number they had in the beginning. So I guess the point is to save these pots you buy because the flowers just might regrow the next year.  These are now back in the same area of the garage and we'll see if it happens again next spring. 

In the sewing room 

I didn't show the actual final finish of my tabletopper, Flower Garden quilt. It is rather large and I love the vintage style look of it. Definitely a design my grandmother would have made. Here it is front and back

I'm still laying stitching lines on the Halloween Sampler but I must admit, I've kind of lost interest for just now but I'm keeping it around for those odd moments.  I tested the blue marker and it will wash out. 

Now hexies once again are on my mind. More about that later.  I'll share a few stitch alongs gearing up for Christmas stitching next time...those are always fun to check out. 

So happy to link with Not Afraid of Color, Paying Ready Attention, My Corner of the World, My Quilt Infatuation, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Viewing Nature With Eileen, I'd Rather B Birdin' and It's a Small Town Life. 

 

Scrappy Baskets and Parachutes Applique, Rebecca- the Movie, A Thanksgiving Cactus

I dreamt the other night that I was swimming. It is a recurring dream and the water is what this dream is about. It's an ocean with warm, clear blue-green water. (Nothing like the North Atlantic at home where I grew up). It feels beautiful as I effortlessly swim through it. I'm thinking all the while, this is so wonderful. I'm a much better swimmer in this dream than in real life where what I do barely qualifies as swimming. I've had this same dream very occasionally but going back some 45 years; it is like a visit from an old friend. What it means, anything or nothing, is a mystery to me. But I do love swimming and the old body really benefits and these days it is missing that daily swim very much. Lately I've noticed little aches and stiffness that I do not feel during the summer. 

Anyone care to venture an interpretation??

 After all the hand stitching on very large pieces I've done lately, I feel a need to go small again. Back to Basket Case, the applique scrappy basket project started by Michelle Ridgeway. It felt satisfying to finish a couple of these in an evening and I can see why so many of you stick with small projects these days. 

I also appliqued several more of the Parachutes blocks. This was fun choosing the fabrics, and discovering the Sweet Honey Kisses for Riley Blake fat quarter bundle in the cupboard . It suits this idea of Japanese style stitching as I plan to practice some Sashiko embroidery on the border. Thank you for the comments with suggestions on how to finish these embroidery wise. Learning about new notions/methods/techniques, etc. is important for me. I think I'll set this as my OMG this month.  As this will be another Christmas gift. 

We've decided to have Saturday nights as movie nights; well, actually I decided and Hubby is going along with me. We normally don't watch movies so that's why I'm mentioning this as a thing. The first we watched was  Rebecca, the remake of Daphne DuMaurier's novel on Netflix. When I read this book at 17, I so identified with the young heroine, it was almost painful for me. Lily James does a good job of the role in this version and Kristen Scott Thomas makes a formidable Mrs. Danvers. Do you know this is probably one of the few novels-movies where we never know the name of the protagonist. That clever Daphne.

 The Christmas cactus plant lived outside all summer. I have it indoors now and it is blooming, has been for the last three weeks. This surprised me till I read that if you have a Christmas cactus that blooms in Oct/Nov, it is probably a Thanksgiving cactus. I'd never heard of that. 

And a squirrel had chewed off a good sized sprig which I put in a little water on the window sill. That is blooming as well. 

Well, that's about all the excitement we can take here at the wooden house. I'll leave you today with this photo of Murphy girl lying in front of the fire and also catching some rays from our rarely seen sun this week. She follows the sun around the room so it must feel good to her old bones. 

Oh and then there is this which is well worth a read. 

I know these tiny little things mean a lot to me and my mood when I venture out and about. I try to return them. 

Joining these linky parties...Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Life in Pieces, What a Hoot Quilts, Gone Stitchin' and So Scrappy. 

Medallion Quilt, Dreamy Hearts Finish, Jenny Wren, Free Patterns,

 One of the things I love this week was getting a photo of a wren. I've often caught sight of them down by the pond because I think they like the heavy shrubbery on three sides. There is a meadow there as well and loads of grasshoppers which I know wrens are fond of. However, it was right in front of my kitchen window that I managed to grab two quick shots of this little guy while he was checking out the decaying plants.

 In the third shot I took he was a complete blur.

This was my redworked wren from that Crabapple Hill Designs series, Flight of Fancy.  Perhaps I've shown you all of them now. 

We don't have the banks of sumac here like those that lined the farm driveway, but there are a couple of bushes. Amazing reds this time of year. 

Before I forget, the header photo is one I took a number of years ago. Hudson's Farm puts pumpkins on a cart in this field every year and you are on your honour to pay for one. You can see the cash box there on the left by the big pumpkin on the end. 

Remember I started a Medallion quilt back in August. I have been working on it a little. I set up the next round which are Spools and have 7 of them sewn. Every little bit moves it forward I figure.

I may have more time to devote to it as my Dreamy Hearts quilt is a finish! It was my October OMG at Elm Street Quilts. I'm happy with it and it is now tucked away to be a Christmas gift.

It is very soft and warm and single bed sized.

Recently there was a great little blog hop hosted by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. Sewists shared their patterns for quick little quilty gifts you can make. Two of our Thursday Likes group shared their work at these posts, Pieceful Thoughts and Life in the Scrapatch.

And I love this too.

Lena generously shares her free pattern for this lovely Moon Flower block at her Lena Pugacheva Art Quilts site. Lena also hosts the Friday link party, Creations, Quilts, Art.

Just love this too- both the hands and the message. The photo is by Newfoundland photographer, Ned Pratt, and is used by Nonia, a non profit organization that has been selling hand made goods by Newfoundland and Labrador women for over 50 years. These are the hands of one of those women. 

I know by working with wool and fabric I am doing what my mother, both grandmothers and the one great grandmother I knew as a child did. That great grandmother had snow white hair, sewed quilts by hand but it was her gold tooth that fascinated me.

I'm thinking this morning about how the fate of humans all over the globe may well be in the hands of  scientists and researchers. They are working tirelessly to achieve the perfect concoction of a vaccine for us, one that will be safe in and of itself and also protect us from this awful virus, a monumental task. I am very thankful for them, their knowledge, unceasing labour and care. Here is a link to a Q & A with one such American researcher talking about how their quest is going. 

Also love these meet ups on the net;-   Not Afraid of Color, Creations Quilts Art,  Paying Ready Attention, My Quilt Infatuation, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Alycia Quilts, Traffic Jam Weekend, Viewing Nature With Eileen and Quilt Fabrication. 

 

Pumpkin Soup, Auction Bidding, Binding Stitching, Christmas Quilts, Mouse Update

 When in the work world, I often lamented not enough time for my hobbies. I used to think I would spend all morning reading for instance, when I retired and had nothing else to do. However, to sit around reading in the mornings still doesn't work for me. My days must still have busyness in them but, what do you know, there is no end it seems to the things to do. Filling the hours is not only not a problem, it is uncanny how busy we seem to be and this is even in a semi-lockdown situation.

Autumn Ornamental Grass at the Farm

For instance auction bidding took up part of one evening. Pool stuff, a headboard for our bed, duck decoys all caught our attention and we won everything except the ducks which were my favourite part. We were willing to go to $50 and they sold for $55.  There were four wooden and one ceramic. This is a house that totally suits ducks. To do this week will be venturing to a new part of the city to pick up our winning items. 

Last night I made the barest of meals. A pumpkin soup cobbled together with veggies from the fridge added to a large can of pumpkin. One of the recipes I consulted suggested adding maple syrup and despite misgivings about it, I did, a little at a time, taste testing all the way.  It was good and gave the raw pumpkin added flavouring, which if you've ever tasted it, you know it needs. Toast rounded out that supper.  Feel like I should come up with something with meat for tonight.  Protein, iron and all. 

About meat. I must research and order a Sous Vide for us. I've talked about it for years now-even here on the blog, and don't know what is stopping us. If I'm going to pay for grass fed beef, I should be cooking it carefully and properly. Apparently these things take all the guesswork out of it, a good thing for me these days. And they're not just for cooking meat. Even oatmeal can be cooked perfectly with a sous vide. This video explains how versatile it is. And I do like my small appliances!

Look what's keeping my lap warm these nights.  I machine stitched the front of the binding and am now hand stitching it to the back.  I picked more modern and not exactly flowery kind of fabrics for the binding but ones that have soft colours to suit the hearts. This must be finished this week no ands, ifs or buts!

Down the Rabbit Hole Looking: I found this free pattern for a more modern-ish looking Christmas quilt I thought you might like too.

The link is here at the All People Quilt site.

While searching about I found more I liked here - Swoodson Says- 30 Modern Christmas Quilt Patterns, so you can take a stroll through yourself.  It's from 2018 but still more or less modern I guess.

Mouse Update

 Two Humane Mouse Traps- Mice captured and released to date-6

I forget just how tiny mice are. This one was itty bitty with a tiny sharp nose. Yes, I have old batting and cloth in there because it is cold in a metal box on a concrete floor. There is also crackers with peanut butter. Daughter said I'm providing hotel accommodations, mouse style.

As long as it keeps them out of the cars, that's all I care.

Here's hoping all of you have a great week.

Linking this post with Kathy's Quilts, Our World Tuesday, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Home Sewn By Us and The Jesh Studio.