nature

Out in the garden................ from Exuberant Color

The two cucumber plants have blossoms on them so I hope the bees have been doing their job.

I planted cucumber seeds in 2 other pots. It says 3 plants per pot but I put 6 seeds in just in case the squirrels would be digging in the pots.

The other pot has 4 cuke plants for sure and maybe the 5th one is a weed. I should know soon.

There are some tiny starts on the 4th of July plants. These are usually about golf ball size when ripe.

The Rutgers variety are filling in nicely. There are lots ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 16 hours, 49 minutes ago. under nature

Binding started................ from Exuberant Color

I didn't get started on anything early in the day and my machine was unplugged for a few hours in the afternoon while storms rolled through. Another .9" of rain. A second round came through in the evening so the machine was unplugged again. Finally later in the evening there was just light rain so I got busy on this binding. Since the binding is black and the background of the backing is black, I decided it was best to do it all by machine. I should be able to finish it today.

I'm glad I got a ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 2 days, 16 hours ago. under binding , marcia derse fabric , nature

Top sewn, waiting for border................. from Exuberant Color

The vertical seams are all sewn now and it needs its final pressing. I fingernail pressed seams to the left in each of the 4 vertical sections as I was constructing this William Morris fabric Trip Around the World.

I started the day by walking to the end of the driveway to pick up the newspaper. On my way back to the house I saw something was starting to bloom so I got my camera and came back outside. I think we decided this variation of Rudbeckia is Gloriosa Daisy. Several plants have come up from seed this year.

I ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 5 days, 16 hours ago. under food , nature , trip around the world

Half sewn................. from Exuberant Color

Two sections of 7 columns are sewn together now and that is half of the quilt top. I unpicked the rest of the cut loops, and now I need to cut loops from the next strata.

I was in the basement doing a load of laundry and decided I should check the top shelf in the bathroom to see if I had any other older irons I can use. Surprise!! There was a new iron in a box. I think I must have used my expiring Kohl's cash for it when there wasn't anything else I needed. I ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 week ago. under nature , trip around the world

TAW progress and nature walk................ from Exuberant Color

I had 2 choices: move all of the pieces farther to the left on this design wall, or start unpicking bottom half pieces. I will be sewing the top and bottom half of each strip together and then start sewing them into sections of 7 long strips. I can then just hang the sections farther left on the wall to make space to do the rest of the unpicking.

Now lots of the Evening Primrose plants are blooming. They look great mixed in with the Hosta plants.

In another flower bed they are blooming near the first Stella D'oro ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 week, 1 day ago. under nature , trip around the world

Midnight Munchers and Other Happenings from From the Strawberry Patch...

Yesterday morning I sat down on the front steps to tie up my walking shoes and suddenly stopped... where there had been abundant Geranium blooms only the afternoon before, now there were only chewed-off bare stems! Groan. The midnight munchers (deer) have been at it again. I use a product that works well in the perennial garden but hadn't even considered our front steps! I've never known

added by Mrs. Goodneedle 1 week, 2 days ago. under augie , birds , cross stitch , deer , fruit trees , nature , patriotic quilts , projects , quilts , ufos

Midnight Munchers and Other Happenings from From the Strawberry Patch...

Yesterday morning I sat down on the front steps to tie up my walking shoes and suddenly stopped... where there had been abundant Geranium blooms only the afternoon before, now there were only chewed-off bare stems! Groan. The midnight munchers (deer) have been at it again. I use a product that works well in the perennial garden but hadn't even considered our front steps! I've never known

added by Mrs. Goodneedle 1 week, 2 days ago. under augie , birds , cross stitch , deer , fruit trees , nature , patriotic quilts , projects , quilts , ufos

Out in the garden................ from Exuberant Color

This is the view of my front garden, viewed from the porch. You can't even see the pavers that divide the areas. There are Black-eyed Susans growing in the crack between 2 pavers for most of the width of the garden as well as a couple Coral Bells at one end. There are many of the Susans coming up in other areas too. If I don't clean it up, it is going to be a mass of blooms.

The first Evening Primrose blooms are in the back garden. The original plant came from my mother-in-law's house back ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 week, 4 days ago. under nature

While We Were Away... from From the Strawberry Patch...

We traveled to western Illinois last month for the funeral of an extended family member. Beautiful country nearing the Mississippi River; rich soil, sprawling acreage dotted with family farms. There was a quilt in the Fellowship Hall there, this one commemorating the church’s 150th anniversary back in 2009. I'm drawn to them. While the guests that day were enjoying a lovely reception of foods

added by Mrs. Goodneedle 2 weeks, 2 days ago. under birthdays , bluebirds , family , funeral , history , nature , spring

While We Were Away... from From the Strawberry Patch...

We traveled to western Illinois last month for the funeral of an extended family member. Beautiful country nearing the Mississippi River; rich soil, sprawling acreage dotted with family farms. There was a quilt in the Fellowship Hall there, this one commemorating the church’s 150th anniversary back in 2009. I'm drawn to them. While the guests that day were enjoying a lovely reception of foods

added by Mrs. Goodneedle 2 weeks, 2 days ago. under birthdays , bluebirds , family , funeral , history , nature , spring

Floral progress and nature............... from Exuberant Color

I did trim 2 of the 3 blocks mentioned yesterday, changing them from 9,5" to 6.5" squares. I also cut a few more 3.5" and 6.5" squares from different fabrics. I think this is about 1/3 of the squares I will need.

I took a close up photo of one of the pink Peony blooms. When I went to change the lock screen photo on my cellphone, it was one of my options. It is a rectangular section of the center of the flower and it is beautiful on the phone. My Canon camera was ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

Cutting and planting............ from Exuberant Color

The separate column on the left is all of the new squares cut yesterday. I think I need to cut the 2 light background squares down to 6.5" and then the flower will be more prominent. Also the red flower with the purple background might need to be cut down. I'll keep cutting......

I brought my Peony bouquet inside yesterday morning. I will put it in my bathroom now where it will reflect in the mirror and look twice as large.

I finished potting most of the flowers in the remaining pots. Now I have 5 pots on ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 1 day ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

Another busy day..................... from Exuberant Color

I had a nice visit yesterday morning with a cousin. I had offered her some fabric and she is going to teach a 2 week sewing camp for young people. The students are bringing fabric for their main project and she will supply the fabric for some fun extra projects.

After she left I baked a batch of cookies with dough I had made the night before. They are going with family that is travelling out of state. I delivered the cookies to them and then did grocery shopping on the way home.

This Peony is behind a tomato ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 2 days ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

Comparison............................. from Exuberant Color

I showed the original squares a few days ago, on the left, the 10" squares from a layer cake stack. Then I cut a few more squares and showed the photo in the center. Now I have added some more squares in the photo on the right. I haven't looked for any fabrics yet to cut 12.5" squares from. I may decide I'm happy with just the 3", 6", and 9" finished squares.

I started planting the pots for the porch. I might get more planted today or tomorrow.

I'm trying a new type of pot ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 3 days ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

A great day................ from Exuberant Color

My grandson came for a late Mother's Day visit and brought me lunch and this beautiful bouquet.

While he was here he assembled this new porch table for me. It was pretty simple assembly but took muscles to get the long screws into the wood with an allen wrench. Now I need to get the rest of the flowers planted and get the pots on the table. That's my goal for today.

We got an inch of rain yesterday morning with quite gusty wind. The tomato plants made it through the storm OK. This plant was in a ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 4 days ago. under nature

Cutting started.............. from Exuberant Color

Finally I found my 9.5" square to add to the 6.5" and 3.5" squares. Since I'm beginning my cutting from 10" squares, I won't need the 12.5" square yet.

I'm just placing them on the design wall as I cut them and there are duplicates of some of them. I'm realizing I could just come up with my own layout instead of following one in a Kaffe book. I'll start looking through the pieces in the Kaffe large scrap box next. Lastly I'll go to yardage to find more.

There ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 3 weeks, 5 days ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

Sorting fabric................ from Exuberant Color

Some years I buy the 10" squares of Kaffe collective fabrics so I can see the whole line of fabric without having to buy yardage. Last night I decided to go through the stack and pull out the ones that read one color or are a smaller print. When I came to the one on the bottom left stack I realized I should also be pulling out the ones that have a single large flower on them. I guess I get to go through the pile a second time today.

In the morning yesterday, after filling the bird feeders, I ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 4 weeks, 1 day ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

Lots going on................ from Exuberant Color

I started the day by calling the plumber for 2 problems, then went grocery shopping. When I got home they called and said the plumber would be here in a half hour. That's amazing...so soon! He was done in an hour and a half and I have no more leaks.

When I went out to close the garage door, I had to take a photo of the Columbine in the corner of the sidewalk and driveway.

I spent part of the afternoon sewing the long seam in two backings and cutting batting. The first one is this quilt ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month ago. under marcia derse fabric , nature

Nothing.................. from Exuberant Color

We had a funeral last Tuesday and my daughter flew in to attend and stayed a week with me. She left yesterday just before lunch and then I had company in the early afternoon. Next a couple errands were taken care of. I really have nothing to report but have to check in daily anyway. I showed this photo a few days ago and felt it was worth repeating. It might make it into its porch pot today.

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month ago. under nature

First quilt top for May 2026 from Exuberant Color

The stripe bottom border was removed and a replacement fabric sewn in. Then the borders were added and it is finished. I don't think it needs anything else. It will be wall art rather than a cuddle quilt. It is 48" wide and 53" tall. The light fabrics aren't as bright of a contrast as they look in the photo.

I have company staying with me for a few days and we went plant shopping for my pots. I didn't remember to get a photo of all of the plants so we brought this one in for ...

added by Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson 1 month, 1 week ago. under kaffe fabric , nature

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