Shopping, Canadian Thanksgiving, Halloween Embroidery

It's Thanksgiving Day in Canada! Which means a large meal will be eaten while giving thanks for all the blessings we enjoy.
This was my turkey from several years ago.

My big yellow pot is on the stove...I like to cook the carrots, turnip, parsnip and cabbage all together.

 I had a moment of panic yesterday when I went to get the turkey I had bought out of the freezer to begin thawing.  It states clearly on the package cook from frozen state. I've never done that before and not only that, it is pre- stuffed, something else I've never used. I know I thoroughly enjoyed my grocery shop ( one of those times I totally lollygagged looking at all sorts of new to me stuff) for today but where was my head! So now I'm a bit concerned about it.  I cook a turkey whether or not we have company on this day.  But this year we do which makes it a little special.  And makes me want the turkey to be really good.  Isn't that just the way though!

I'm enjoying appliqueing the other Dresden circles.  Great stitching in front of the t.v.

And I've added a little embroidery to my autumn lineup.  While my light box was out this week, I traced these simplistic designs from a pack I'd bought years back from Homespun Hearth by Buttermilk Basin. They are called the Vintage Halloween Collection. I plan on using black DMC with maybe a little yellow or orange here and there.

Funny how a pattern or project will just have "its'time has come" moment.
Those are threads I inherited from Mom when she could no longer cross stitch.
Perhaps I can work the 6 little pictures into something with the Dresdens.  Love the idea of possibilities like this.

This is our monthly SAL link up time hosted by Avis at Sewing Beside the Sea. Check out this list of international stitchers to see some truly lovely stitching.
Avis, Claire, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Helen, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Clare, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne

I love these little Quakers that are my cross stitch project but slow going as I've been consumed with the autumn stitching and more outings than usual lately.

Has anyone else noticed that mustard yellow is a popular colour right now. I don't dislike it and with white hair it seems I can wear it.   I bought this turtleneck at the grocery store- it is JoeFresh, perfect for layering and a real mustard colour unlike the photo.

Plus it goes well with that new scarf I bought at Chapters. I loved the combination of deep teal with the burgundy/pink stripes/designs.  You can now buy it at this Indigo link for  60% off what I paid for it !!

As I mentioned we are still enjoying a busy stretch of outings. We try to time Hubby's medical check up appointments for months of the year when driving conditions are not a concern. While out and about, we usually get lunch somewhere different or drop into a shop or two on the way home. This will slow down when winter closes in so enjoying it for now.

Last look today...Mr. Fox watching me watching him down by the pond shed. Don't worry, this is closely cropped as I was far away but he was keeping a close eye on me I realized...watching me before I saw him.

Well, those veggies are not going to peel themselves, so I'd best get going. I love cooking this meal and I'll show you what I made for dessert next time.
Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today.  We have blue skies and sunshine adding to our day's enjoyment.
Thankful for those who host link up parties. This post is linking with Kathy's Quilts. Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Pretty Piney Quilts and Viewing Nature With Eileen,

Prince Charles, Fabrics, Killdeer, and Me

Nature's yellows are popping up all over the place including along our driveway. Joyful is how these vibrant colours make me feel.

I mentioned I would be popping into Sew For It on our way home from Hubby's appointment. That I did and bought these fabrics.  A subdued lot but what I was after.

Sulky threads are available there so bought two of the variegated that caught my eye.

 Quilters were there cutting fabric for a class stitch along. They seemed to be cutting hundreds of pieces which I know some of you love to do but was mind boggling to me. And they told me this was Day 2 of the cutting!  Mind you the quilt they would eventually get to stitch was breath taking so it will be worth it.

I love phrases and sayings so this video was entertaining to me.  Prince Charles is now the longest heir apparent in British history by a long shot. And it doesn't look likely he'll get to ascend the throne any time soon. Here he is reading his favourite poem and a nod to Shakespeare for so many wonderful phrases we use in everyday speech.  Who knew!

Little grandson and I watched two Killdeer birds down at the pond.  When I said they were Killdeer, he said I don't like that name. So I told him the name came from the sounds they make. We listened but the soft squeaky sounds these two made didn't sound like anything to us.

I had to share this so Sally at Crafts, Cavies and Cooking could see it. I'm sure she has been to guinea pig parties where dress up was involved. I had to smile looking at these itty bitty costumes to be found at Pet Smart or Amazon.
                               


I love sewing together these little squares out of all the leftovers from the basket blocks (with bits added). Starting to look more like border potential and it soothes my thrifty side. (How did that green one sneak in there!)

This little wild flower in the meadow by the pond is bravely hanging on in spite of the frost nipping its leaves.  I think it is Hairy Willow Herb.

I liked this saying...labyrinth indeed, sometimes I think I am full of intricate passageways and blind alleys, an elaborate and confusing work of art, certainly a puzzle to even myself at times. More in the past than present.  Hubby's succinct advice... you overthink...stop it.

Perhaps I'm heeding his advice because I'm feeling less complicated all the time. Or is it a positive byproduct of aging I wonder. Who knows!
On that positive note I'll end today's post. Hope all is positive in your world today.
Lots more positivity to be found at Not Afraid of Color, For the Love of Geese, My Quilt Infatuation, Quilt Fabrication, Skywatch Friday, The Inquiring Quilter, Creative Compulsions, Floral Friday Foto and Paying Ready Attention.

Autumn Stitching, Scrappy Flags, Geraniums

 I worked in the garden Friday and Saturday and replanted the geraniums to inside pots.  They were so pretty in their driveway pot.

The pot itself sitting on a stump was here when we arrived and is lowly disintegrating into the ground.  In fact, this summer, something dug a hole in the bottom and was using it as a home.  It must have been cosy and imagine having flowers on your rooftop! This reminded me of those fairy houses people are making in their gardens.

I made this Chatelaine recipe for cauliflower and split pea soup.  I cooked it in the slow cooker which was so convenient. My aging cauliflower got mostly used up. How thick do you like your pea soup?

We've been enjoying lots of tomato sandwiches with locally grown tomatoes. You just can't get the same flavour from the imports we'll have to rely on later in the season.
 Local Newcastle, Ontario apples were available at Costco and we've been munching on them with a little gouda and water crackers. These Golden Delicious are huge.

I had no problem making 10 more of the scrappy flag blocks.  They are super easy to stitch. I decided to use some oranges this time with the greys and tans.  Perhaps some green ones next.

And the good news is that I've begin the autumn stitching.  Since I've been knee deep in dresdens, I thought I would make a large full circle one.  Initial Plan is to stitch 4 of these and I'll make that a goal for this week.  I'm mostly using some Fig Tree & Co fabrics that are an older line.  More about this later.

Rex's issue with the stairs is worsening and we are thinking of moving into the upstairs tv room for our nightly viewing instead of trotting down to the basement. It would be ok if he went down and stayed for the evening but he insists on following me up and down as I fetch supper on a tray and then tea and dessert for Hubby.  By the end of the night, one of us must stay close behind him to make sure he doesn't falter on a step.  Or is the exercise good for him. The vet says he hasn't any arthritis or any health issues really. Yet, on our walks, he is very very slow moving.  What do you think?
Meeting little grandson's bus this afternoon and paperwork before then.
Hope your week is going well.
Linking with Home Sewn By Us, Em's Scrapbag, and Pretty Piney.

Free Butter Churn Download, Dresden Drama

All quiet at the wooden house. Lovely sun yesterday and we both did work outside.  Hubby bought a new chain saw so had to give it a try out.  Lots of dead wood around the property to practice on.

Are you like me in this regard?  Find it hard to think of whatever you are using for a "design wall"- in my case, a fuzzy backed plastic tablecloth as a design wall.  It seems a bit pretentious for me to use that term but I do because then everyone knows what I'm talking about. Fabric grabbing wall doesn't sound right or just the wall. I don't know.

Do I think I'm making headway with this project?  The quarter Dresden blocks I'm talking about...I had other things on the wall so these had to be spread out around me as it were.  The light box has come in handy in keeping continuity of size throughout them.
Let's just say these blocks have turned out to be more work than anticipated. I'm tempted to leave them for other projects but I aim to get them to the block all done stage before starting the autumn project. That is my incentive. But the circle bits do go fast even with hand stitching them.
Someone asked...no I haven't counted the blocks yet but will very soon.
In their defense, they are very colourful!

I had purchased a set of Kim Diehl's Butter Churn fabrics and then restocked for that table runner I am making. I came across this design using them called Butter Churn Basics at the Quilt Inspirations site and that link will take you right to the free downloadable pattern.  Isn't it pretty.  Are these shades that appeal to you?
                                      
Glancing out the patio door, I saw this little guy sitting on the rail in the sun.  He was motionless long enough and in an odd position with his nose to the rail, it made me concerned. But after about 15 minutes and time enough for me to take a couple of photos, he scampered off.  I hope he was just basking in the October sun on the warmed wood.

Notice the way he's using his tail like a little blanket.
Cloudy today so it's into the sewing room I go!
Happy Sunday All!
Linking this post with Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Sum of Their Stories and Viewing Nature With Eileen.

Chinese Lanterns, Laundry Basket Pumpkins, Nature

Anybody growing Chinese Lanterns?  We had quite the patch at the old farm and I loved bringing them in for a bouquet this time of year.  They always reminded me of pumpkins and autumn.

A hardy perennial that had spread wildly in the field beside the barn, it is a symbol of friendship. Chinese lanterns lend themselves to watercolours very well. This pretty version is by Elizabeth Herrman and you can read more HERE. Mary( Mary in Peoria Handmade) and LeeAnna (Not Afraid of Color) what do you think?

                         
Oranges in nature are so vibrant. Including the little woolly bear caterpillar that is migrating around the garden these days. Love spying them. Beside it is a crysalis of a moth; no idea which one.  Did you know woolly bears can predict the kind of winter we are going to have?  The wider the orangy brown in the middle, the milder the winter to come. Looks like we are going to have it milder than usual. Wouldn't that be nice?  You can read all about the folklore behind this legend here.

I have Edyta's pumpkin hanging on the wall.  Have memories of loving all the stages of stitching these.

I'm making a hanging sleeve for the Sew Spooky hanging which is going to a new home.  Several YouTube videos have been helpful with it.

I think the straw pumpkin head woman was my favourite.

 I finished the second batch of peaches with peach and plum muffins.  They were so good and I wish I would not overbake...these were a little dry. I sprinkled a little turbinado sugar on the tops.

Canada geese have just begun their very large migration southward. With rainy weather on the weekend, the skies were suddenly moodier.

I have this ebook from the library finally, been on hold for ages, and begun reading it.  I enjoy Kate's writing style and phrases,etc. but something about the plot, the tricky flipping of time elements is niggling at me.  However, I know I will finish it.
                                             
We are off downtown for one of Hubby's medical appointments. A glaucoma checkup which should go well. I hope to stop at this fabric shop on the way back home- just to look, :) while Hubby has a coffee at the nearby McDonald's.
                            
Hope all is well with you!
Linking this post with Not Afraid of Color,  It's A Small Town Life, Paying Ready Attention, For the Love of Geese, My Quilt Infatuation, Floral Friday Foto, Holunderbluetchen and Quilt Fabrication.                           

Links, Autumn Stitching, Flag Blocks and Crochet Too

This is not just a Tuesday TO Do post but a must do list!
  Soak up the last of the colour in the garden and these pleasant temperatures we are still enjoying.  With news of the snow storms out west and various parts of the US, we know it's coming!
The beautiful and very hardy Japanese anemone is blooming still, much loved by the bees. There are three bunches that are well established here and spreading.

SIL dropped this off one morning as a little surprise...bright stunning colour and so many blooms!

I need to look at our stock of Vitamin D, B12, C, etc. and remind Hubby to get out his light box (he is slightly affected by SAD).  Flu season is just ahead and I'm always mindful for him. Not much talk of flu shots just yet though.

I must check out Crabapple Hill Studio's latest autumn designs...just released. I follow Meg on Facebook and she has been tantalizing us with little snippets of what she's been working on.  This link will take you to her newest releases page.

                                             
Still casting about for a fall quilting project. Saw this and thought pretty cute.
Scrappy and it uses fusible applique which makes this an easy project. All the details and tutorial are available here from the amazing Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew.

Also found this tutorial on how to hand piece pumpkins from wonderful Patty at the happening Elm Street Quilts site.  A row of these in the smallest size would be very cute hand stitching.
                               
I do want to make a start on some autumn stitching this week. It's a busy week but I should be able to find a little time to at least make a start on something.

Here is my scarf-to-be  or "scarf of many colours" as Hubby calls it....miniature granny squares, so far...The darks are purples, brown and black and the colours are far more muted than this photo is showing.

Plan to get this finished this month, that is October before November and the white stuff flies. How about that for a goal??
I hope to get at least 10 more of the flag blocks finished this month.  Yeah, this is doable for sure. Here are a few more in pinks I made.

And I mustn't forget the start on something for autumn/ Halloween.  So October is shaping up in more ways than one.
Happily linking this post with Home Sewn By Us and Elm Street Quilts.

Crabapple Hill's Autumn's Call, Painted Lady Wool Embroidery, Pesky Dresden Circles

Digging out the autumn projects and came across the one above.  A Crabapple Hill Design, Autumn's Call, that I stitched way back in 2013. The pattern is still available here .

It's been quite the week especially with the amazing marches for climate change occurring all over the globe. We live in hope that this will evoke change where it is most badly needed, at the top.
Meanwhile, I enjoyed reading this article 45 Ways People Did Something Clever About Saving the World Instead of Just Talking.  I think I'm pretty thrifty but I never thought of saving and reusing mascara wands. I could immediately think of so many ways they can come in handy.
                                 
I received some questions about the Painted Lady project in the last post.  Here is a fuller picture. It is a Laura Heine pattern, embroidery on wool, and her website called FiberWorks is here.

You may have seen Laura's collaged elephant around. Amazing!
                              
I've stitched the circles onto 5 or 6 of the Dresdens. Still wishy washy about their size seeing them on the wall.  I think I'll go with the smallest size on the left.  I will get this worked out to my satisfaction eventually! If only one of you wonderful quilters could pop by for a visit and help me with this! 
But today is the day I make a final decision with what's turned into a pesky debate.

We have no plans for this Sunday so will be puttering about. Out of the sewing room, I'm hoping to finish another little Quaker motif on my cross stitch piece. It's sitting on a woven throw Hubby brought back from one of his many travels.  I always think it would make a wonderful quilt design.

Last look at a beautiful display of purple asters in an overgrown spot of the backyard. To the left there you can glimpse the path through the woods we take for our daily walks.

Happy Sunday All!
Linking this post with other hand stitchers at Kathy's Quilts. Also linking with Creations- Quilts, Art, Whatever, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Life in Pieces.