To-Do-Tuesday: September 22, 2020

 Happy First Day of Autumn!

Today is To-Do-Tuesday.  We post our intended goals for the next week.  Hosted by Roseanne at Home Sewn By Us, check out her website here for this week's inspiration!

Last week's goals were:

1-Mail Christina's quilt and wall hanging to her:  Done!

2-Complete 3 doll quilts for gifts:  Half done.  Should be done in a day or so.

3-Prepare quilt for my machine quilter:  Not done.

Mostly I've been caring for my husband who has been dealing with a bad case of sciatica.  He's been getting acupuncture for it and it is helping so I'm back to getting some work done.

Next week's goals:

1-Finish Doll Quilts

2-Prepare quilt for machine quilter

3-Cut fabric for a new project that features my asian inspired fabrics.

4-Mail doll house quilt and doll quilt to my cousin Bobbie for her granddaughter

Have a safe and happy day!

I Like Thursday: September 17, 2020

 

I'm tired these days.  Brad's back is still giving him problems and he's agreed to try acupuncture for it.  Sciatica can be debilitating and he has a bad case.  Nights are rough for him which means they are rough for all of us.

Today is Thursday and it's "I like Thursdays" hosted by LeeAnna.  We try to fill up the internet with positive energy and for happy thoughts visit LeeAnna's website to see all the posts!

Last week my friend Susie gifted me two blackwing pencils.  I love these pencils, a lot of famous artists used them and one of my favorite writers, John Steinbeck.

They are pencils to celebrate the suffrage centennial and each pencil features 19 stars for the 19th Amendment!

Speaking of suffrage, I heard this week from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.  They sponsor a garden competition each year.  My Suffrage Garden was honored as "A Garden of Distinction."  This made my day!  

One of the most satisfying parts of this garden this year has been the visitors.  Just when I thought there couldn't be anyone left to gawk at the garden, we had more visitors last night.  They read all the signs and when I open the door to wave at them, they gave me a thumbs up and yelled, "Love the idea and the sentiment!"

The garden is tired at this point too.  Today I need to start fall trimming and clean-up.  It's cooler these days which means Scout and I are taking longer walks and returning to the park.  

Stay safe and have a great week!

To-Do-Tuesday: September 15, 2020

 

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday!  It's To-Do-Tuesday hosted by Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us! 

My husband finally got a decent dose of steroids and I could abandon him (a little bit) and get some sewing accomplished!

Last week my goal was to figure out what to do with the embroidered blocks I made years ago.  I ended up going super plain with just a black border.  I was really afraid that if I added color I would get sick of it later on so plain it is.  Using only one border meant that I could hang it in the alloted place in my attic sewing room.  I have slanted ceilings so prime real estate for wall hangings is valuable.

I also made 2 doll quilt tops and have another in the works.  It seems whenever I win something either at guild or a blog, there is always a pack of mini charms in the gift (mini charms are 2.5 inch pre cut squares).  I've got three little girls I'm gifting quilts to this fall and I thought it would be fun to include a quilt for their favorite doll.

Next week's goals:  

1. Decide and prepare the next top for our machine quilter.

2. Finish the doll quilts.

3.  Mail Christina's quilt and wallhanging to her.  

That's all I think I can handle for now!  Stay safe and have a great day!

 

I Like Thursday: September 10, 2020

Sending prayers to our friends in California!

 It's I Like Thursday!  Hosted by LeeAnna, it's time to fill the internet with positive energy!

My mother sent over a gift for my neighbor's grandson and we had so much fun watching this 2 year old's interest and fun!  He loves visiting the fish ponds in the neighborhood and Mom ordered a fishing pole and made him a little pond.  It was adorable and his reaction was spectacular!

If you can't get the fish with the rod, you can always pick up the fish and attach him to the rod yourself!

I like the large spiderwebs we saw at a neighbor's garden.  There were a few of them and they were so lovely to study!

I like that my husband is finally on an appropriate dose of steroids.  For almost 2 weeks he's been suffering with severe Sciatica.  Four injections, a course of low dose steroids, and rest did him no good.  Finally he started on a stronger dose of prednisone yesterday.  Last night was the first night in a long while we got actual sleep.  He's not out of the woods but at least he is more comfortable!

Because I've been caring for him, I really haven't gotten much accomplished.  Have a wonderful week and stay safe!

To-Do-Tuesday: September 8, 2020

It's To-Do-Tuesday!  Time to post goals for the upcoming week!  Our blogging week is made so much better by our hostesses Roseanne and Sue at Home Sewn By Us!  Join them for more inspiration!

We had an unusually (or even miraculous) humid free and gorgeous Labor Day weekend.  I got a lot done in the garden and even did some sewing Monday!  How was your holiday?

Last week's goals:

Bake zuccini bread:  Done!  I got 12 loaves made last week and our freezer is full and so are family and friends' tummies!

Piece scrap top:  Done!

I'm debating about putting a border on this one.  It can wait until I decide.  I'm still caring for my husband and think he will have to go back to the doctor today.  I'm surprised I got anything done over the weekend but he could sit outside in the garden while I worked because it was so pleasant.

Did you ever finish one project and then think...what do I want to do next?  Last night I found myself bouncing through books and my pinterest boards trying to figure out what to do.  Actually, the question always is, what part of my stash do I want to hit next?  

This morning at 4 a.m. I decided I want to do piece a top with a bunch of embroidered blocks I made years ago while caregiving family.  Of course then I have to decide what to do with the blocks...decisions! decisions! decisions!

Since the wallhanging is sewing themed, I pulled out these oldies but goodies.  They are from the 1980s when Linda and I used to sew together.  Do your remember them?  The fabrics didn't work with the blocks.

More options:

What are your thoughts?  I'm leaning towards the black but would love to know your thoughts.  Anyway, finishing this top is my goal this week.  

Goal 1:  Finish embroidered wall hanging top.

Goal 2:  Figure out next project!

I hope you have a safe and happy day!

I Like Thursday: September 3, 2020

It's "I Like Thursday" hosted by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color! Today we fill the internet with positive energy and gratitude.  

Scout and I like doggie playdates.  Scout went to visit her boyfriend Mack this week.  She loves Mack, isn't he cute?

But as it turns out Scout-The-Hussy loves Roger (Mack's Dad) even more.  In fact, she adores all men.  We were all scattered around the front porch and watched in fascination--and glee--as Scout learned a new trick.

Scout learned fairly quickly that if Mack approaches Roger for a nice pet, all Scout had to do to divert Mack was bark once (they weren't even real barks).  Mack would then abandon Roger to guard the porch and then...Scout would have Roger all to herself😉

She did this over and over again, relishing in her new power and testing various barks (the most hilarious was a quiet 'woof' which still got the reaction she wanted).  It was a great night!

***

I like that it has been raining.  I can't really work in the garden right now as my husband is having some sciatica issues and needs me.  Hopefully he will be better by the weekend when the humidity dissipates.

***

Most of time these past weeks has been in the garden.  Critters continue to visit, including a return of the fox and now an opossum.

Opossums are actually helpful in the garden.  They eat ticks and mice and don't carry rabies.

My quest to make the garden more elder-friendly continues.  With some assistance from Linda, I now planted heather as a base foundation plant.

Unfortunately my last tea rose now shows signs of Rose Rosette disease and will be removed from this bed this fall.  I'll move my pretty butterfly bush this fall when it's cooler to the hydrangea bed and just put annuals in the bed next year.  It's a fun process to redo flower beds and I'm enjoying it!  

That's all I have this week.  Have to check on hubby again and awaiting for a call back from the doctor this morning.  

Have a safe and happy week!

To-Do-Tuesday: September 1, 2020

How did it get to be September already?

Today is To-Do-Tuesday when bloggers post their goals for the coming week.  It's hosted by dear Roseanne and you can check out more posts of inspiration here.

I haven't been doing much sewing but spending as much time in the garden as possible.  So my goals remain pretty much the same as two weeks ago.  

My scrap quilt blocks are finished and I'm hoping to get these assembled into a top this week.  It's my only sewing goal this week because work on the garden continues.

Today is baking day and it's a big week for making chocolate zucchini bread.  It's really more of a cake than a bread but the family goes nuts for it.  Last week I made my husband's gluten free loaves:  

I'll probably be baking loaves of this for most of the week.  My favorite recipe is from allrecipes.com and is "Chocolate Zucchini Bread II".  This bread freezes wonderfully and I like keeping a couple of loaves for later in the winter.

Have a safe and happy week! 

I Like Thursdays: August 27, 2020

Good morning!  Today is I Like Thursday!  Hosted by LeeAnna, we try to fill the internet with positive energy!

My prayers go out to all those impacted by Hurricanes this week.  

Today I like that I know what day it is.  I totally missed "To-Do-Tuesday" (sorry Roseanne).  When Brad is self-isolating, we tend to lose track of time.  I haven't sewn at all this past week.  I've been gardening (mostly watering) and assessing what needs to be changed.  I rearranged this border yesterday because the temperature was cool enough.

I'm reevaluating the garden for the moves that need to be made in the fall.  The small hydrangea bush under the window has been struggling because of too much sun.  So that will need to be moved.  Shade is scarce in the back garden so I cleared a space that I hope will be more beneficial.

I like clean bird baths!  My husband scrubbed this one out yesterday and it looks almost brand new! Thanks hubby!

I like second blooms.  Sometimes they are unexpected and sweet gifts of the garden!

That's all I have to report today.  Soon enough it will be cool to be outside for very long and I'm savoring the fresh air while I can!  

Have a safe and happy day!

I Like Thursdays: August 19, 2020

My blogging friends and I post positive things on the internet on Thursdays, thanks to our sweet hostess LeeAnna.  Be sure to check out the other bloggers as well for some happy thoughts and inspiration!  Here are things I like and love!

Tuesday was the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. I have loved studying and writing about the suffragists and all the wonderful women and men I met on my Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog!  Check out the blog to see the quilts that five women made in honor of the centennial (here)! 

Next week I'll be moving onto a new theme on that blog:  "Blooming Where We're Planted."  It will feature a wide variety of features on various topics, mostly sewing themed, inspiring women, coping, and the creative process.  It seems like these days we all need some diversions and positive energy.  Join us if this sounds like a dose of happiness that you need.

I have found that the Democratic Convention is the best thing on tv this week.  The message is of hope and unity and the America that I grew up believing in.

In the garden:  I love that the cayenne pepper is keeping the groundhogs and squirrels at bay!  Now we get nightly visits from our local cat population!

Last weekend the weather was good and I made a garden border more senior friendly by reducing it's space.  Pulled out a lot of plants, built a wall around the old bed (which is taller than it looks on the photo, I set down a lot of mulch).  We pulled out some 1960s furniture we bought at a flea market before the pandemic.  Hubby is going to strip and repaint them.  It will be a nice seating area

I like starting flowers from seeds.  This year I planted a new marigold called Mission Giant Yellow and they finally began blooming this week!  I love the texture of these marigolds!  We call them "Fuzzy Wuzzies"!

The weather had been better and this girl and I have been going for more walks!  

Have a safe and happy day friends!