Cock-a-doodle-do and the smell of spring

I’ve spent more time cross stitching than quilting. And when I stitch I hop from piece to piece. I guess they will all get done eventually but I wish my attention span was longer. This is Cock-a-doodle-do by Barbara Ana Designs. It has lots of fudging because I got off with the vine in a couple of places.

   

The wildflowers are starting. They are beautiful but the best part is the smell. It smells like a floral shop outside. 

I’ve loved these pink pretties since I was a kid. I’m learning more about how they grow and the other plants in their family. I always called these buttercups. Apparently, evening primrose refers to several kinds of flowers. I think the Order differentiates them. This is Myrtales. I’m still learning....

Henbit is so pretty to me. I listen to garden shows who tell you how to get rid of it. I think it is delightful.

Maggie thinks they smell nice. Or she’s just nosey.

Our days end sitting with the chickens. It’s a glamorous life.

Belle the prairie bluebell egger. She’s head hen. Belle sits in my lap and reflects on her day. And pecks for mealworms.

Molly the cuckoo maran. She lays beautiful dark brown eggs. Such a sweet chicken.

It’s going to be a beautiful spring week.

Joanna

Sunday Stitching

This morning I’m stitching Heartstring Samplery’s Amazing Grace. It’s part of a series with excerpts from old hymns. I just love this series. This one I’m stitching on 32 ct Creek Bed Brown 1 over 2. For the series I will use remnants of fabrics and choose from my floss stash. The green is classic color works english ivy. What an easy, peaceful stitch. ❤️ 

 

We survived the 2021 snowstorm. Power was intermittent and we had some very cold days in the house. We were texting with neighbors so we felt we had comrades. No pipes burst so luck was on our side.

The beasts lay down in peace if they are cold enough.

Poor Cane is not built for winter. He stayed under cover with his nose sticking out.

And now we are enjoying temperatures up into the 70’s. Back to our glamorous life of sitting outside watching chickens.

I hope you had a restful Sunday.

Joanna

Slow Weekend

Julia in all her glory! Sitting outside watching chickens has become our evening entertainment. It’s very peaceful to sit with chickens in the yard and cows in the pasture. Julia is a character and panhandles for mealworms. It’s been sunny and warm, if you stay out of the wind. But it is funny to watch the chickens battle the wind gusts.

Bowie Kitty is our new addition. She was a barn kitten at my cousin’s place. The mama cat was killed by their dog so they raised the kittens. Barn cats live a hard life and are often eaten by coyotes. I talked hubby into taking one. She has been a joy. We got her at Thanksgiving, about a month after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been a much needed distraction.

I’ve been finishing up Feeding the Bees by Notforgotten Farm. This is on the old Weeks linen which I don’t enjoy but I’ve made peace with it. I love Notforgotten Farm patterns because of their whimsical designs, easy charts, and they call for DMC so they are economical.

This is my view as I drive up to MD Anderson for treatment. Complete with COVID testing tents. I’m blessed to have a very good prognosis. More on that journey later. I have 7 more days of treatment and the fatigue hit this weekend. I enjoy my mornings at home then get in the car by 11:30 and back home around 4:00. It’s a bit of a drive but an easy one. Mornings are the enjoyable part of the day.

Off to sew and start my day.

Joanna

Snow in Texas 2021

We had snow in central Texas last week. It was a treat because it’s a rare thing. It’s peaceful then it melts before it can be messy. 

Since I last posted we have moved to the country. I’ve had trouble getting into this old blogger account but today I finally got back in. So, I’m excited to post my sewing, stitching and gardening here. It’s all changed so much. 

Friendship

II visited my best and longest friend. We were college roommates. Our friendship has lasted 35 years. Man have we been through a lot!

Below are 2 of her quilts she inherited. She isn't a quilter. I think they are fabulous! And I admit to being jealous. I'm going to research this pattern. Sunbonnet Sam?

Look at this one! I love the orange. Very modern.

It's been a lovely spring in Texas. My pink Siam curcuma gingers have made a lovely bouquet.

That's my quick update via iPad. 

Joanna

Welcome 2017!

It's time for 2016 to leave and 2017 to unfold. There is the obvious election stuff. The unkind words....uggghhhh! Oh, if we could only have different opinions and be kind. Then there was the me asking to join a quilting bee without knowing that you are elected in and don't invite yourself. Yikes! I'm so naive and very adept at creating a very awkward situation. A very nice woman got reprimanded because I invited myself and she said yes.  Uggghhh and Sigh!

Most importantly, our extended family unexpectedly lost someone. A beautiful soul left us at age 59. It put things in perspective. At the end of our life, elections don't matter and there are more kind, inclusive people than not.

So, I'm so excited about 2017. I'm going to spend far less time on Facebook and more time blogging.

First off, I'm going to finish- yep I said it- FINISH- the Bonnie Hunter mystery, En Provence.http://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/en-provence-mystery.html  This is my third year to participate. I gave up on Celtic Solstice. I will eventually finish Alleitare. But this year, I'm on it! I'll finish on time.

Second, I'm going to keep up with BOMs. This is shocking news. I'm doing 3. That is not shocking news. I couldn't pass up the new Quiltmania mystery when I saw Michele Yeo's fabrics. Oh my!!!



Then Fat Quarter Shop offered Kim Diehl's Journey's End. I love Kim Diehl's fabrics and FQS does the best BOMs.


And last, but not least, who could pass up a Fig Tree BOM? I missed out last year so I was on it this year. It's a Christmas quilt with FigTree reds. She writes such easy patterns so the sewing is so much fun.

More quilty goals in my next post. Doesn't 2017 look like fun so far?!?!

Ephesians 2:4     For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

I am thankful for God's mercy and grace. My life is blessed far beyond what I deserve.

Reflections about the Past Year

I've been retired for over a year and it has been a learning experience. I over-committed my time so that I now crave time at home to just sew. I also learned how I need to choose where I volunteer. I am a systems thinker, too a fault. I mean....I'm annoying like that.  I've been in a few situations where I feel we are chasing our tails and repeatedly redo the same work. I'm certainly not at my best in these situations (that is polite for I'm not very nice) so I have learned I need to be more careful when choosing where and how I will be volunteering.

I am in a very active quilting bee with a subgroup that does charity sewing. The women are so nice and fun to be around. Lots of quilts go to needy groups. This quilt is going to Camp Hope which serves veterans with PTSD. It is going to be auctioned at their fundraiser in a couple of months.

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My favorite new way to volunteer is to transport rescue dogs from the city shelter to Red Collar Rescue's vet. It's the dog's "Freedom Ride." They were on the kill list at the shelter and made it out. I get to be the one who takes them from the bad situation to the start of their new, safe life. I love it. My husband likes it because I'm not bringing them home.

I'm thinking ahead to Christmas. I found a new blog- Made by ChrissieD. Below is a link to her fabric card tutorial. It very detailed and looks like fun. The selvedge cards really look like fun.
http://madebychrissied.blogspot.com/2016/07/How-To-Make-Selvedge-Fabric-Christmas-Cards.html

On the blog 12 Squared, Emily shows how to make a houndstooth quilt from charm squares. I have some Christmas charm squares that need to be used. This looks quick. (Famous last words!)

That's a quick update to get me back in the habit of blogging. I've noticed that folks are putting their Instagram posts for the week on their blogs. That's a good plan.