I like Thursday: May 28, 2020

Good Morning!  How are you?

I am good and grateful that we are going to have a few days of rain.  I've been doing a lot of work in the gardens for the last week or two and I need a break!  Of course the bonus will be that I don't have to water the garden either!

Scout won't like the rain though.  She actually watches for when the weather clears and let's me know in no uncertain terms that it is time for a walk!

When I'm not gardening, Scout and I are doing long walks at the park.  There's a few pieces of sculpture at this park that I like and the first photo is surely one of them!

This week our little solar bird bath fountain was delivered and we tried it out.  We mostly just want it to bubble because it  attracts birds.  There is a robin that now visits every day.  Not only does it bathe, but it is "taking the waters" so to speak and just sitting in the fountain to relax and cool off:

Other birds would like participate but usually the robin holds her position and eventually the others abandon their mission!

I haven't been sewing much because I'm tired and also we had some hot days which means the attic sewing room is really hot.

My sewing mojo is off a bit because I'm tired and achey.  

Last week, I had a dream that most of my fabric--particularly neutrals were depleted and now what would I do during the pandemic?  It was real enough that I went upstairs to check my fabric stash--whew!  I'm fine but I found a little poodle fabric I forgot I had and decided to do something with it.  I was certain that a churn dash block would be ideal so I did a block to try it out:

Nope didn't like it.

  Didn't like this one either!  At this point, I sent photos to my friend Beth, talked to her, and then did some other blocks and finally found a layout I liked.  I'll post that one once it's more done.  Hopefully it will be cool enough in the sewing room that I can get more accomplished!

I hope you are all doing well and I'll be checking blogs a bit more now that we have rain.  Take care and stay safe!

Memorial Day: 2020

In memory of our brave men and women. 

Have a safe and peaceful holiday!

A List of Likes: Thursday, May 21, 2020

Last night's sunset was glorious and indeed something to like!

I like that the days are light until well after 8 p.m.!

I got the front gardened mulched yesterday.  It wasn't an easy job (about 750 lbs. of mulch) but it is done.

The warm winter here made my tree peonies bloom profusely this year!  Each bloom is about 2x bigger than my fist!

My husband and I are never bored.  But often when I walk Scout, people complain that they are bored during the pandemic.  To each his own but I think we could all learn a lot from Katie next door.  She is a college sophomore; Brad and I have fondly watched her and her three older brothers grow up.  On Saturday I noticed that Katie was dressed particularly festive and I asked if she was going somewhere.  "No," she said matter-of-factly, "it's Hawaiian night."

Indeed it was.  She had decorated the back porch for a feast, even made paper leis for the family, played Hawaiian music, served virgin pina coladas, and prepared (with her Mom perhaps but Katie is also a good cook) a "Hawaiian Chicken" feast for the family.  She said her brothers and even her Dad wasn't thrilled about Hawaiian Night but she didn't care, "We're doing it."

Brad and I giggled at her determination and sure enough,  it was a success!  A few nights later she coordinated "Greek Night" which included a Greek feast, some togas over their clothing and a family viewing of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  

I imagine the kids (or young adults actually) are missing their friends and family too but it's a tribute to not only Katie but her family that they are finding ways to put some fun in the pandemic.  

On that note, I've got to walk Miss Scout and am taking a day to rest my muscles.  I hope you find joy through your week!

Join LeeAnna For more positive energy posts!

Have a great day! 

To-Do-List: May 19, 2020

Not much has been accomplished in the sewing room.  The truth is I've been working most days outside in the garden and when I come in the house, it is either too hot in the attic to sew or I'm just tuckered out.  

But at least I did get 14 of my waterlilies pieced before I rotary cut my finger yesterday.  

I'm hoping to be half-done with the flowers by next Tuesday.  There are a lot of pieces to this quilt (at least the way I want to make it) so I may take a while yet.  It's a good June month project!  Maybe the waterlilies at the park will be actually blooming by the time I'm done with the first part of the quilt?

Linking up to Roseanne and To-do Tuesday!

I like Thursdays: May 14, 2020

Good morning all!  Today we celebrate things that we like and fill the internet with positive energies.  Be sure to check out other positive posts by visiting LeeAnna.

It's spring and despite freezing temperatures and snow last Saturday, most of my plants made it through.  Today is the beginning of more seasonable temperatures!

Happily, I had moved hostas before the cold.  Nothing kills hostas (except maybe deer) and they survived the cold well!

The cold drove me to the sewing room and I finished my Christmas top!

I love these prints, in particular this one:

I swear my Nana Betty had wrapping paper like this blue background Santa print.  As a matter of fact, it seemed like she used the wrapping paper for nearly a decade.  This wouldn't be surprising.  She and my grandfather had survived the Depression and if wrapping paper was on a sale after Christmas, I am sure she bought a ton of it.  

Thinking of this made me laugh.  Some of us remember the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 1973--yes it was a thing then too.  But why I remember it was because my grandparents had huge cases of toilet paper in the attic.  While the family was lamented the latest shortage (oil, beef, were other products that were either unavailable or too expensive), my grandfather ate his Swiss cheese and crackers in his rocking chair.

"We're prepared," Pop said with great satisfaction, "aren't we Betty?"  

The idea of hoarding back then wasn't a social concept although we teased them about all the stuff they had and saved. Nana and Pop were just frugal and always prepared.  Having three kids at home plus  my brother and I meant the leu was bound to be busy.  😁

Scout and I did a lot of walking in the local parks this past week.  It was good therapy!

Well I must get out to the garden as the weather is finally warm enough to plant my tomatoes and annuals.  

Have a wonderful week!

To-Do-Tuesday: May 12, 2020

It wasn't on my to-do list but my husband and I took a drive to my machine quilter to pick up this and another quilt that she has had throughout the pandemic.  She had just finished both quilts when we were given the "stay at home" order.  We picked it up and I did marathon binding over the weekend.  The  quilt is a twin and a graduation present for Keeler, our friend's daughter.  Keeler has been such a sweetheart and been running errands for the elderly in our neighborhood.  She just wants to help people.  She absolutely deserved to have her quilt ready, even if she isn't going off to school this summer as planned.

Normally I would be spending my time in the garden but the weather has been too miserable.  No problem, I worked on my Christmas quilt top. It was somewhat appropriate since IT SNOWED LAST SATURDAY!  The top is about half done and I should get it together in the next day or two.  I decided to put random cornerstones on the quilt because I had 2.5 inch scraps left.

My biggest WIP is in these baskets.  I'll call it Waterlilies for now.  It's paper pieced and been sitting on the UFO table for far too long.  I just want to get the table CLEARED of all projects so this big project is next!  It will take some weeks to finish it but I will be happy once the top is complete.

Linking in to Roseanne's To-Do-Tuesdays!

Stay safe and healthy! Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day!

 Wishing you a day of peace and joy!

Parka in May

Ice in the bird bath in May, what's wrong with this picture?

Some things are just wrong.

I had planted a tray and half of marigolds in my garden last weekend when the temps were in the high 70s.  Normally we don't plant until Mother's Day here in Eastern Pennsylvania but it has been such a warm winter and a nice early spring.

I spoke to my friend Beth a few days later and she said, "but what about the snow?"

WHAT?

Yes snow was predicted for this weekend.

Fortunately for us, we didn't get any snow here in town (Beth may have--she's in the mountains) but we did get an arctic blast.  Today I'm grateful that marigolds look like they survived the cold.  There's ice in the bird bath but it looks like it will survive (haven't checked the plastic bird baths in the backyard yet).

It is still cold for Mother's Day weekend--a whopping 32 degrees this morning.  I'm a bit miffed that I have to wear long underwear and a parka today to walk Scout.  Honestly, there oughta be a law :)

I Like Thursdays: May 7, 2020

Good Morning!  Today is "I Like Thursday" and time to fill the internet with positive energy.  Please be sure to join our hostess LeeAnna for more positive posts!

This week I spent most of my days outside in the garden.  It had finally gotten sunny and it was wonderful to be working outside.  There is just no better therapy than gardening.  The results are instantaneous and always pleasing!

Today we celebrate friendships--of the canine kind.  Mom's dog and Scout's good friend Greta passed peacefully at home on April 26.  Greta outlived all our other poodles and was the only dog that passed away at home.  She outlived our Teddy boy (her brother) by 6 years.  

My husband and I had been worried about Greta through the pandemic.  I've always made it a point to be there for all our dogs when they crossed the  rainbow bridge.  This would not have been possible during Covid-19.  People aren't allowed to enter the vet's office.   Greta laid down on Sunday evening and simply fell asleep.  No crisis, no great illness, just passed peacefully.   She wasn't alone and was sleeping with her head on my Mom's shoes.  It was simply the best way I could have wished for her.

 Scout has been a bit lethargic the past two weeks.  But somehow, dogs just know.  Scout's dog friends in the neighborhood have been around a lot and that has helped her.

Like Mack, the border collie that Scout loves to follow on walks.  He is really tolerant of her puppy energy which is saying a lot since he is an old man at this point.  He is protective of her too and she knows it.  It's often difficult to get her to leave his front yard.

"I like it here!"

We were at the park when Milo arrived and they ran around a few minutes.  Milo is also an older gent and always enjoys a good run.  

Like all of us, I'm getting creative with my cooking.  Last week I made "pandemic casserole" which is simply whatever is about to expire soon thrown into one casserole.  This week it was turkey meatballs, tomato sauce, gluten free rotini, and assorted vegies.  I was wishing I had some cheese to top the casserole when I realized that Scout's string cheese is actually mozzarella and was a perfect topping.  My husband loved this!

After gardening all day, I'm usually tired to sew but I did manage to make another 3 dozen masks for the community.  

Tomorrow is "Flower Friday" on the Pennsylvania Piecemaker blog.  Why don't you join us as we celebrate our suffrage foremothers by sharing photos of flowers of yellow, white, and purple!

Have a safe and happy week!

To-Do-Tuesday: May 5, 2020

Good morning all!  I'm linking up to Roseanne's To Do Tuesday list!  I actually didn't finish any goal on my meager list last week which consisted of only two things:

Make masks:  I made 25 but 5 of them went to elderly neighbors and I would like to finish another four for the minister down the street who works in hospice and helps all kinds of community efforts.

Christmas quilt:  All I got done was cut some sashing for the blocks.  

I wasn't going to post at all but Wendy over at Pieceful Thoughts inspired me to post what I have done.  I told her it's most important to be kind to herself and then I decided to be kind to me too 😀

It's not like I haven't been busy.  I seem to be working until about 7:30 every night.  

But the weather was finally warm and sunny and I started work on the garden.  I filled 3 garbage cans with weeds and planted some marigolds.  I have a ton more to do in the front border and back borders and this is the time of the year that I tend to garden when possible.

I also shampooed and trimmed my puppy Scout (see above) which was a full morning project.  She was not happy about grooming but she is acceptably clean for now.

So this week's to-do list:  Same as last week's to-do list.  We are expecting more rain after today, so maybe I'll get more done!

Have a great week and stay safe!