What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 When a trio of turkey vultures were circling very low over our heads one afternoon last week, I had the thought that perhaps I'd brought too much of wild nature to this land (with all the feeding of the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, etc.). Turkey vultures are unnerving in size with amazing wing spans-up to 6 feet.  A walk through the back woods and we confirmed it wasn't us they were after...we found what was attracting them- a poor young raccoon had met its demise somehow.  We beat a hasty retreat and let nature take its course.

 Just ...

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 "And into the garden I shall go

To lose my mind and find my soul"

My garden is overblown these days...all the beds have so many interlopers I don't know where to start with the weeding. I actually enjoy a chaotic garden so this isn't bothering me that much. I did pull out the Wild Grape Vine that had wound its way through the daisies. But even that has pretty leaves to my eye. 

                  

Above is a Cedar Waxwing with its gorgeous lemon belly I captured down by the pond a few years back. The sun is ...

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 I step out on the veranda quite often during the day. Sometimes to smell the air with the hope that it is clear enough (free of smoke) to take a walk. But I always stop awhile and listen. Summer's song is still strong...birds tweeting and singing. Occasional squirrel chitter or blue jay squawk. I tell myself to remember this in winter. My Dad became a little hard of hearing in older age and Mom always said how sorry she felt for him because he could no longer hear the songbirds singing. 

Speaking of which, the Song Sparrows are ...

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 The rose bushes are all in bloom. This year the first blooms opening up were tinged by pink because of the cooler temperatures we had had when they were buds...low single digits overnight and staying cooler during the day. 

These hardy bushes will bloom all summer and into October as I noted last fall. The bees love them too. I must look where I could purchase more of them. 

Sitting waiting for grandson one day, I watched the chinstrap Canada Geese stand about in parking lot puddles. It was very hot that day and they just stood there looking ...

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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. 

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Mr. and Mrs. American Goldfinch...I hope they are discussing housing options here at the wooden house. I love to watch them.

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It was mostly a quiet week here, with not much going on. I piddled in the sewing room pulling fabric for the swap early in the week, stared at the quilt on the frame with no idea how to quilt it, tidied up a bit, and generally spent days doing next to nothing. I read a really good book, and another that was good but not great. I’ll have reviews on those soon. One morning, My Sweet Babboo called me to the window to see two deer at the edge of the forest where it comes up to the ...

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We planted two rosebushes because I hated leaving the ones we planted three years ago at our rental.  Looking forward to seeing these grow.  There are already lots of annuals planted around the house which suits us fine as I do not love gardening (love looking at it, but not putting in the work and energy to get there).  You can also see that we sprayed Hazel's mosaics and put them out.  I need to have her make some for this year (we did them on Mother's Day previously but with moving we did not get there this ...

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I normally want to cling to my time but have to admit I'm glad this week is almost over. There are some things you just want behind you. But there is always good stuff happening too...life is not static thankfully. I felt off my routine so pushed myself to exercise this morning and jog the trail with Ned. I am better for the fresh air and activity.

Oh the greening up of everything outside is just wonderful to witness. Kitchen window view yesterday. That's the faucet there in the almost middle.

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I'm completely here today!! Yesterday I was blogging while watching the Coronation, and I had to finish my presentation at 10 AM. 

We all chuckled when one of the ladies at the retreat wondered if anyone would think her weird to watch the Coronation. Heck no! That's a historic event, and we're all going to watch. Everyone was up bright and early to watch, and we watched until the end. I think my favorite person was Prince Louis! I love his facial expressions - he has a "dark" look about him. 

We were good to go with our ...

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The first and only flowers in the garden to open so far are these miniature Daffodils. They popped up in an area full of low growing shrub used for hedges - I don't know the name but may be Juniper. But I think the thick shrub kept them protected somehow during the adverse spring weather. 

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These days most of the wetland area is flooded and unwalkable which is too bad as the path winds through neat little treed areas. It was near this spot, I went through the ice and up to my thighs in water back a couple of years ago.  About August, this area will dry out enough to walk without boots. The tree in the middle is a monstrous size, one of the Mother Trees here and I call it a Halloween tree.

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 I spied this mug among the mark downs at Winners the last time I was there. Still a bit expensive but I recognized the design. Sure enough when I turned it over to look at the maker, it said Rifle Paper Co, a fabric designer I enjoy. I used their Holiday Classics line for a quilting project two years ago. I think that is the same design there in the upper left. Beautiful fabric but costly. The mug is also beautifully made with gold trim.

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The rain last weekend really did bring out the green in the countryside, in the grass and ground covers, bushes and trees. The range of green in spring is wonderful, an awakening of the land. Settle in with your favorite cuppa, and enjoy a long and picture heavy post. As the hostas are coming up, I’ve noticed the deer stopping by more often. This day there were three, this one was at the edge of my hosta bed.

The other two were in the meadow. The meadow grass is growing now, and the trees behind are starting to leaf ...

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Yes, it is April and I wish you all a wonderful month whether it be spring or autumn where you are. I love both seasons! 

Here underfoot is changing. Every walk outside and the ground is different ranging from soft snow to bare earth emerging underneath trees. This morning it was -17 C wind chill so the snow banks were quite frozen and firm enough to walk on which made the walking very smooth. It was brisk but with bright sunshine very beautiful. And an added bonus was being accompanied by many bird songs. The cardinals were singing so sweetly ...

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Do you shop at the Bulk Barn or similar such store? 

 I went in there recently and was overwhelmed by the array of products. I had no idea they offered so many surprising items like teas, dog biscuits, vitamins, plus a full gluten free product section. I usually buy sunflower seeds for the birds there because there are no broken/empty shells in what they offer and when I saw some unique dog treats, bought those too. I find dog bones have become very expensive here.

Here is my capture of a White Breasted Nuthatch, one of the many that ...

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It was overcast several days this past week, but those days were the only ones I had to try to get some wildlife photos. I sat on the veranda for a while, quiet and still until the birds felt safe and came back to the feeder. I watched the bluebirds go in and out of the house building a nest. This was so fun to see.

The male sat in the oak tree for a photo, then few off to help gather nesting materials.

The house is in the redbud tree, hanging from a lower limb, but high enough off ...

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I may have mentioned before that I knit scrappy wool into table toppers and use them underneath my plant pots. I've learned that wooden tables need protecting from the damp or scrapes that happen (even when sitting on saucers) when used for the plants. Smaller squares knit from prettier wool are good for a coffee coaster too. 

To Do This Week...I'm looking after Daughter's dogs, very lovable Abbey and Petey, this week. She is recovering from an exercise injury which seems like such an unfair thing to happen. Ned is in his glee. 

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