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Monday, May 20, 2013

Ouch!

Ouch ! Oh, that hurt. I really tried, honest. I hate to clip the wings of such a beautiful Japanese Maple, but really, it just kept growing. Shade is nice, that's what it was bought for, but not to creep over into my sitting area so much that I really couldn't sit anywhere anymore! Below are the 2 branches I lopped off! Oh, it really hurt to do it, I had night sweats worrying about should I, shouldn't I? Ah well, it's done now!
 
Please forgive me tree !
It's the May 24 weekend, and the weather is FANTASTIC! I will finish my spring cleaning and gardening work sometime this week, I have been divesting myself of old electronics (yeah). I also plan to attend a local quilt show this week - should be a good one!
TTFN


Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's day!


So, two more water bottle carriers and two more mug rugs :) Every body but me will get a gift today :(
Oh wait! What am I talking about? I just purchased this Spicy Spiral table runner pattern. I got the ruler last year - maybe I'll actually get the runner done for Xmas? Oh, yeah, I also purchased these fabrics (shhhh, the local fabric store had a 50% off sale) Three white w blues - for that B&W (that's blue and white) quilt I've been going to make for, oh 30+ years ...... , and 2 nice pieces of line, FINALLY! Now, to re-find all those fabulous linen projects I've been seeing on Pinterest :)
I managed to get some grass appliqued onto the white cat - yeah. She's beginning to look a lot better. I have decided I will also applique a couple of bees/bugs buzzing up above his head. and I think I will outline the white cat with either some grey or black embroidery thread, something to make him stand out more. So on the right is the quilt top so far, I'm really beginning to like it and enjoying the process of applique as you go :). What to do next, hmmmmm

TTFN

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Patio time :)

Yahoo!Patio time :) After our long dull grey April May has come through with some much needed sunshine and warm weather. Yahoo! My Hostas and Peonies have sprouted, the Hyacinths are in bloom and trees are leafing. I even found a "new" lavendar plant and have potted it up - YEAH :)
Last week I got so carried away drooling over Ragnar Lothbrok (oh yeah ....) I forgot to show you this small collection of Hexie blocks. Some of you may already be totally hooked on the Hexie craze. I have resisted so far, but resistance is futile! At our last Stitch-n-B our hostess pulled out a box of hand-me-downs from a former guild member. Well, of course we all plowed in to discover the hidden treasures ... and this is what I came away with! I'm not on the bandwagon just yet .... still in my cat mode, but I expect this will be a good carry-along for the next few summer months.  So, speaking of cats,  on the left is my accomplishment for the last week of so ...
Progress so far ....Next is the white cat in the middle right. I'm thinking some more greenery, then maybe that's enough greenery ? and time for some birdies or butterflies or mice or ??? ANy suggestions ladies?
TTFN

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Happy Birthday!

Happy 85th Birthday to the Pater :). We had a lovely family dinner at my sister's place. I think he enjoyed being made a fuss over (don't we all). The water bottle carriers were a hit, in fact I now have orders for more from the rest of the family ...

What else have I been up to you ask? Well, I finally broke down and
joined the Mug Rug crowd .... I swore I wasn't going to, they're just small place mats, who wants one of those? Then, last week whilst visiting the mater I noticed she was using a folded over place mat on her coffee table for her cuppa. Well .... the light bulb went off - what a perfect Mother's Day gift (shhhhh - don't tell her!). I have enough of these two fabrics left over to make 2 more. I actually think I might just take one to the workplace and use it myself. I may just start a trend there as well ;)


Now who wants the last mug rug?
My Daffodils survived last week's hail!
Today (Sunday) it's a VIKINGS marathon on the History channel. Oh yeah ..... Ragnar - ohhhh yeah .... You know what I'll be doing this afternoon and evening .... watching Ragnar   :)
TTYL

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Yeah ! a sunny Sunday :)

I'm so thrilled - it's sunny yeah!! It's been so long since we've seen the sun I was beginning to think we'd never see it! None-the-less, my faith in the sun has been restored :). Last weekend was a long weekend and a couple of friends and I travelled a short way out of town to the first of the season quilt shows. Of course we stopped at the local quilt shop where I bought this beautiful leave fabric. At first I did not have anything in particular in mind, but then the light bulb went off!  The Pater's 85th birthday is this weekend. We had been discussing the idea of having water bottles in the car/with him when he goes travelling/walking.So, I whipped up two quilted water bottle carriers, bought a couple of re-usable water bottles and voila! the perfect birthday gift for someone who has everything!

I somehow managed to finish off the Sunflowers for Meesta , Carol Armstrong's cat name, not mine, I haven't named the cats on this quilt yet. I'm very proud of the Sunflowers and would like to think they had some part in bringing today's sunshine ..... but then again, what would explain yesterday's snow flurries? Now I have to decided which block/cat to do next, and what flowers . Any suggestions?
TTFN

Sunday, April 07, 2013

How was your Easter?

So, how was your Easter weekend? Now, I'm not terribly religious, in fact I'm borderline agnostic/atheist, none-the-less I was looking forward to a long Easter weekend. You know, the weekend full of ridiculous 1950's Charlton Heston movies like Ben Hur. My favourite website, Arts & Letters Daily informed me of the background to this book/movie. It was written by an American Civil War general,  Lew Wallace and has lots and lots of history to it before it became the 1959 blockbuster! Who knew!!?! Now maybe you'll watch this hokey movie with a very different perspective.

I was tres expectant to have a glorious 4 days off work ... granted, I knew I  would spend one, maybe two full days or more doing family stuff, but was actually looking forward to cooking a meal for the family. Being the single sister I haven't had much chance over the years to do just that. My sister, who has hosted every family meal in her home for the last 3+ decades, was in Italy travelling on vacation with her hubby. So here was my chance!  Along with a ham, homemade scalloped potatoes, homemade cole slaw and vegies,  I made a new recipe, a pineapple casserole. I know ! Sounds weird right? But it was really good. Click the pic for the recipe from Mennonite Girls can Cook! You can eat it as a side dish, like stuffing, or as a dessert :)
I managed to do a movie with the Pater & step mother on Sat and took them out for a nice restaurant dinner on Monday. My "family" dinner on Sunday went off without too many hitches, given that it was hosted @ the Mater's (she has more space than I do), so I had to truck most of the dinner over there.
In case you think the last 2 weeks were a write-off re stitching, almost but not quite. I have the stems and most of the leaves done, and last night got one of the Sunflowers done. I SOOOOO like the Sunflower and am looking forward to making more :)
TTFN

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Still waiting ....


Spring has not arrived :(  Yup, I'm still waiting. I don't care what the calendar says, the lack  of sunshine or warmth, the never ending grey skies tell me it's not here .... WAH!!!!  And the feline above agrees with me, so there! Don't you just love, Love LOVE this stitched Siamese cat! I fell in love with it during my Pinning wanderings, and must extend my apologies to the creator, I failed to note where I found this image, sorry. She looks just like Simone who is also bemoaning the lack of spring, just like her mommy.
I have begun my spring cleaning, even though I don't believe it's spring yet, so my stitching has taken another back seat. I did remove the lower left vine and leaves and am glad. This block was busy enough as it was. So Red Red Rose is finished, and I have moved onto mother and kit and Tulips!
As you can see I have a couple more Tulips and some flower buds to apply here. Once that's accomplished I think I'll move up to the top and work on some Sun Flowers. Maybe that will cheer me up! Who knows, I may even be able to sit on the patio while stitching ???
I'm thinking now that this quilt top will need some birds and butterflies before I'm done. Oh No! More applique!
TTFN