Blessing Others

Hello all.  I hope my Canadian readers all had a blessed thanksgiving.  Some of my in-laws came here for a pot luck style meal and the weather was nice enough we could eat outside.  The younger members of the family were trying out some of their motorized vehicles and, while the neighbours might not have appreciate the lack of mufflers, the kids had fun.  They were thoughtful and stopped after a couple of trips down the driveway.

The food was, of course, wonderful and little cleanup to be done afterwards.

Hubby and I are still not feeling 100% but we have to be better tomorrow as we are taking our grandson to his aunt and uncles where another family member will ferry him to the airport.  It has been wonderful having him here and he will be greatly missed.

I have mentioned that another lady and I are making clothes that will be donated to children who have been freed from the sex trade. In the photos attached, you will see a little dress.  I made it and my friend made the trouser set.  She is a very good seamstress.  Other people have donated underpants and ready made clothing.  I can only imagine the difference these items will make to these poor little ones.

Blessings,

Beets Galore

 As fall is settling in for its time of year, thoughts' turn to gardening and processing the fruits of our spring and summer labour.  We have a good crop of beets this year ranging in size from an teeny to 'oh my goodness'.  Most will be pickled but I discovered that hubby likes Harvard beets, so I will use some of the smallest for that.  Nice that after 30 plus years of marriage, I am still discovering new things about him.

I will cook all the beets today and then to the pickles etc. tomorrow.  I try to divide the big jobs so I don't wear myself out.

We had quite the rainfall last night but the sun is shining today.  If this weather continues, I will get at transplanting bulbs and adding more to my feature garden.  Again, I am cutting back but a little work has great results.  I am hoping that after I get the scope done, the doctor will be able to do something that will restore some of my energy and remove the symptoms of whatever I have.

Hard to believe we are in October already but we all say that every year.  I am thankful that we don't live in an area that gets hurricanes, tornadoes, floods etc.  Our main weather event is snow and, while it can create some nasty problems, it is rarely life threatening.

Hope you are all doing well.  I am getting some of my small quilt projects finished and looking forward to starting more.

Blessings,

Passing Time

 I see it has been nearly a month since I last posted.  I am still not feeling healthy and now hubby has been ill with some sort of tummy bug.  To top it all off, I had work done on my computer and I lost some of the info I need so am working to get that back

I had a wonderful time with my sister and her grandson while they were here visiting.  Of course, the time never seems long enough but we did get some things done.  A neighbour was able to do some landscaping on her property so there is a place to put the camper.  She met some of my dearest friends  and agreed with me that I was very fortunate to be able to call them friends.  She and I did a bit of shopping, some walking and a lot of talking.    It was hard to adjust to the lack of her presence but our grandson is now here so that has helped.

I can't remember if I mentioned this but we had a problem with a mama bear and her two cubs.  She wrecked the hen house trying to get at the feed and then something got the chickens.  We did manage to save 3 and they are being fostered by a neighbour.  We (as in hubby) will be installing an electric fence which, hopefully, will discourage any more bears.

I hope everyone enjoyed the summer and are easing into the fall.  We haven't been getting a lot of colour yet but perhaps it is still early.  Here is a photo from the past which I still enjoy.

                                    

                                                           An oak tree shrub in our back yard.

Blessings,

Lions Tigers and Bears. Oh, My

When you live in a rural area, you get used to sharing the land with other critters.  Through the 16 + years that we have lived here, we have dealt with a number of wild life including martins, mink, raccoon, fox and all manner of deer.  A friend was accosted by a stag recently and we know there are moose at the pond as well.  

In the past month or so, there have been lots of bear sightings in and around the village.  A momma with a couple of cubs seems to have been the  most frequent visitor.  We hadn't seen her which was good as we have a coop full of chickens that would make a tasty meal.

On Monday morning when hubby went to feed and tend the chickens, he found the coop with big holes in two places, the fencing down and a bunch of hens missing. The feed bag had been torn open and some remaining food scattered outside.  As hubby was repairing the damage, the chickens started wandering back.  Apparently and wisely, they had scattered.  Mrs. Bear was more interested in the feed than the birds.  Thank the Lord.

Yesterday evening, hubby took his small caliber rifle out to sit for a bit and see if anything turned up.  It didn't take long for some shots to ring out.  I went out to make sure he was okay and he said that he had treed the bear and cubs.  Chickies were in their house and all was safe and sound.

That was enough excitement for the week. We need to purchase some sturdier fencing and make sure the food is kept in a place away from the hens.

My sister is arriving from England in a couple of days so there will be a different and more welcome excitement

Blessings

Husband Not For Sale

 I have had a busy week culminating with the completion of a quilt top and preserving a bushel of peaches.  Some of the peaches will be made into marmalade and the rest will be for our winter desserts.  It is just over a week now before my youngest sister and her grandson arrives in Canada.  She is the one who owns the property next to us although it is not yet developed.  She recently bought a camper which is on our property and she and Michael will be able to stay in it.

It is such a joy when a family member comes for a visit even if they stay somewhere else.  The camper will give us all more room as well as a place to have down time.

This is a very simple quilt and it would be suitable for male or female of any age especially if they like dogs.  My husbands legs are not for sale.

My neighbour made this sign  for my birthday.  I finally have hung it on the outside of the door to my studio.  I especially like the hedgehog as they are on our family crest and I am very fond of the little creatures.  I now have a customer baby quilt to do and would like to made a scrappy quilt with all the pieces I am cutting up.

blessings,

Recycling

 It has been an odd week.  All sorts of exciting happenings on the English side of the world offset by the death of a childhood friend.  I had known Shirley since we were in grade school and we have kept in touch throughout the years.  She had a cottage near one of my sisters which increased the contact.  Her grandmother lived next to us when we were kids and was one of the kindest women I knew.  Even as children, we appreciated her.  Shirley grew to emulate her.  She will be missed by many.

I think a person starts to value their friends more and more as they get older and, as I am now pushing 80, I REALLY value them.  The ladies in our local quilt group, the Burk's Falls Village Quilter's, accept me as the crazy, often opinionated, sometimes bossy but always loyal person that I am.  I am equally fortunate to consider both my in-law family and blood siblings to also be my friends.  I am really a very blessed woman.

Do you belong to a quilt group either on line or in person or perhaps both?  If so, you will know what I mean about friends.  You would be hard pushed to find a quilter  you didn't like.

Today is the first day I have had completely free this week

.  I am doing what all people tease quilter's about; cutting large pieces of fabric into small.  Leftovers from that go to a friend who uses them to stuff dog pillow/blankets.  Quilter's are great recyclers!

Blessings,      

Fuzzies Are Gone

 Wow, I really have got behind.  I am finally feeling almost normal.  At least the fuzzy brain and lack of energy have gone.  I went back to my doctor and was taken off the medication I had been prescribed and advised to increase the dosage of a pill (that apparently does the same thing as the new one) I have been taking for ages.  I still have to go for a scope but at least I am now able to function.

I have made four little dresses to send to the orphanage and want to bring the number to 10 as well matching shorts.  They won't be sent until November so lots of time (she said hopefully).  My dear quilting friend is making clothing for boys, bless her giving heart.

There is a store in town that is selling my little fabric bags and I have made a couple of those but need to do more.  Of course, while all this is going on, in the back of my mind is the knowledge that the local fall fair happens the end of this month.  I am going to try to be sensible and just do what I can.

The older of my two sisters that live in England is in Canada visiting her son and family so we were able to get together.  It is always difficult when she (or my other sister) returns to England but I try to remind myself with the truth that I am fortunate in being able to see them.

It has been an odd year for weather.  We have been pretty fortunate here.  Lots of rain but also lots of warmth and sunshine.  The flower and vegetable gardens are doing well.  I have even pulled a few weeks!  Something ate the leaves on the yellow beans but didn't touch the veggie.  I had already picked a lot of them.  Not enough that I can make my mustard pickles but we will have a nice addition to our meals.

I hope everyone has been safe and well and getting lots of time in the sunshine. I can't remember if I posted this photo before.  If so, I hope you don't mind seeing it again.

Blessings