What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

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 ...

June is a month of new starts of all sorts!

The robins on the front veranda have started their family. I had the step ladder ready and waited till they were over on the far lawn to grab a quick shot of their nest. Two things that impress me about robins...their nest is always a thing of beauty in construction...so strong I've seen them last many winters and the other thing is the rich, gorgeous colour of the eggs they lay. Crayola makes a crayon that is robin's egg blue and the famous Tiffany's trademarked ...

It's time for a reality check! I did say that there was NOTHING in July; however, that is false. I have a LOT of writing to do in July. I love writing, and I can do it on my time—even in the middle of the night if I want. So yes, I will be busy in July; there just won't be classes. That's why we have editors—they remind us of our commitments and keep us on track! 

Today is going to be a traumatic day for our house. Miss Lexi has to get some dental ...

 It's funny how you have an entire day to sew, yet I didn't get much done! How does that work? I was on the phone for two lengthy conversations. I took both calls outside, and neither had issues hearing me. Was it my lucky day? Or are things looking up with my cell phone? 

I've noticed a heron flying overhead several times while walking the dogs. Is it flying to my house? I want to run home to see, but I'm pretty sure that with their large wingspan, it wouldn't feel comfortable coming into our ...

A piece of my plant broke and I stuck it in this little single sprig bird vase.

Growth is amazing!

Thank you for all your comments on my POST ...

We have a Phoebe nest on the abandoned sound box on the back of the house and a robin's nest on the front veranda. I tried to discourage the robin because, years ago, the last to nest there came to a sad end. But my banging about out there didn't work. How I wish she had chosen the light on the wall just opposite her. Last year's robin family did quite well there. 

This was a good week for me and here are some of the things that made it so. 

 #1This bird below is another first ...

 The birdsong alone is worth a very early morning start to the day. A switch has been turned and it's like cue the sun, the birds, and all the growing things too. Here Ned is amazed by the sprouting leaves that have appeared seemingly overnight. 

Note the fallen trees and branches; ice storms are very hard on old trees.

 The Phoebes are building a nest on the old speaker at the back of the house again this year...two in a row. I can watch them from my chair in the TV room window. The two of them spent ages flying back and forth from a nearby tree to the site thoroughly checking it out before giving it an okay it seems.

Working together which is nice to watch. They are beautiful birds ...