What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

We had sun in spurts yesterday but today we are back to a white world out there both sky and landscape. It has continued to snow a lot- small flakes but they add up. The saying at home was "small snow, big snow" and when the snowflakes were large...."big snow, small snow". This has been a winter of small snow building up. The dogs love it all of course. I'm so happy that having obedient Petey, who comes when called, join us has meant Ned stays close too and no longer needs to be on a leash. This ...

It is finally March, and I am ready for spring. The birds have been here a lot, getting their fill of seeds. It has been so cold, and they really need the extra calories. There are so many, they’ve been going through a feeder-full every two days. I need to get a couple more suet cakes done and hung up so they have the extra fat and protein. Here, a bluebird and a nuthatch grab a bite.

A goldfinch looks down from the bracket waiting his turn.

On the feeder, the rosy bird on the left is a male ...

Our first drive with the MINI club was this weekend. Everyone was excited to get together again and drive our mountain roads. Even with it still being winter, with no leaves or flowers yet, the countryside is still beautiful. It had been raining up to half an hour before our meeting time, and the skies were still overcast. We started out at a local grocery store parking lot to meet and have our driver’s meeting.

Then we were off. No rain fell on us during the drive. It was overcast most of the way to the interim stop. Since ...

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 ...

Another weekend of cold and dreary weather, with snow! At least not as much ice this time. Still, it is enough to empty out the stores of bread and milk, LOL!! Luckily, I had shopped earlier in the week. The birds have been here in big numbers all week. Ones I haven’t seen in a while, like a pair of towhees, are showing up now to get their share of the suet. Here, a cardinal on the left shares the seed with a chickadee. On the suet, a Carolina wren sits on top, while a downy woodpecker works on ...

A few days of warmth have been followed by a really cold snap. The deer have been here several days looking for food. I think it is fine for them to eat the vines and weeds out of the hosta garden.

This gal did her part.

Three of them moved through, and I wish they’d stay a bit longer and finish off the weed removal. But, it is hard to find good help these days.

In the birdhouse, I thought I saw a bird sitting in the opening with its head looking around. I realized after taking several photos ...

Several mornings this past week had such colors at dawn that I had to step out to the freezing cold to take pictures. This day had purple clouds low on the horizon, almost looking like a second mountain ridge with the sun coming up in front of them.

The birds seem to like the new feeder. A pair of chickadees take advantage of the bounty on a very cold and overcast day.

Here, a Carolina wren gets his share while a downy woodpecker has a meal on the opposite perch.

Another dawn in golden yellow and peach hues.

Morning fog ...

I've made the list and in my case, I've had to check it not twice but three times. I've been wrapping and making note of what's for who, etc. I'm trying not to do what Mom always did and that was to find presents tucked away in a drawer somewhere the next July. Does that happen to you?

I worked really hard to get this Peppermint Trees quilt top to this stage with all the trees appliqued and outlined in blanket stitch. The trunks are not stitched down yet. I had to take it outside ...

I'm happy to report that I slept well last night. I even "slept in" so that is great, but I still have time to get this blog posted in the right time frame. 

I know I say it all the time when I'm at retreat, but this is truly the place to strengthen friendships. While I'm a Zoom person and happy with Zoom, there is nothing like an in-person event to make me very happy. You can't go for a walk with someone on Zoom! But you can in person. While I'm also a get-in-and-out ...

 Walking the dogs just out the basement door and starting on the nearest trail, I spied something amongst the big old oak trees.  So here is another of my Can you see it? photos.

Maybe now?

 Spring has arrived and it was time to change the small wall hanging just inside  the front door.  Down came Welcome to Winter and up went Hello Spring.  I hand stitched the pretty floral design and finished it up with machine quilting in 2022.

Spring has arrived

Our Spring weather is often temperamental and we have had heavy wind and rain.  The wind blew, blew, blew, creating  a carpet of yellow kowhai blossoms scattered across the lawn in the back yard.  Our native tuis love the kowhai nectar and have been feeding off the tree, in between busily chasing any ...

 Hello again and thanks so much for stopping by. I heard the Barred Owls hooting early morning around 4 am and stayed awake till they finished about half an hour later. Then I slept in till 9, so late for me that Tony woke up enough to ask if I was alright.  

Last fall I watched a wonderful moment...an adult male Cardinal was feeding two young ones in the big fir in the back yard. It took a long time to get this photo and I never did capture a good photo of the three. But here are the ...

All quiet just now here at the Wooden House. Morning chores all done including the best and most important one- a big walk about with Ned and Petey. Heavy rain showers are forecast for most of the rest of the day which are much welcomed. It felt marvelous outside in the much cooler temperatures. Even the dogs were friskier. Ned especially doesn't like heat which may have something to do with his very dark brown coat. 

Here is a side view of the overgrown Hydrangeas outside my sewing room windows with Petey taking his morning sniffs. These bushes are ...

August has brought welcome cooler temperatures here this week to the Ottawa Valley, Canada. The season of growing things with all the greens and the buzzing things is at its height...this meadow below was literally abuzz, so much so I would not walk through it. In particular, there was a large fly there we used to call stouts as kids. Have no idea what exactly is a stout but we were afraid of them as they could bite. 

 As I write this, I can hear the far off sound of a lawn mower and I'm thinking what a wonderful summer sound that is. Our closest neighbour, the one who shares our acreage, is fanatical about his lawn care. And it's not just what can be seen from the street that is always immaculate, but the back areas as well. He sometimes mows our front edging too and we feel badly about that like we are letting him down. However, we share the end of a cul-de- sac so very, very few people see these areas. Mainly ...

 This is beautiful ground cover if you need such in your garden. I find the name an unfortunate one for something so pretty...Lungwort. All the colours at once...purples, pinks and violets but tiny so easily missed. I also note they do okay in the shade here.

 Well summer is upon us...it happens around this time every year :) no matter what the weather or temperatures. And what a marvel it all is. From the very early morning light to later sunsets, I am trying my best to take it all in and appreciate it. For it all moves by quickly...take the Phoebes with their nest on the sound box on the back of the house, for instance. The family...three little ones, are already raised and gone. They must have snuck out in the dead of night for me to have missed them the way ...