Changing Leaves

This is news that some of you would rather not hear:  our trees have been changing colour for a couple of weeks now.  This is early.  Usually we see the change in August so I am not sure if we are going to have an early winter or whether some of the trees are stressed from all the rain.

It doesn't matter to me if winter comes early although I don't feel I have really got into summer yet.  The rain has stopped a lot of the outdoor activities and even just sitting on the deck isn't an option.  Of course, it has been hard on our farmer friends who are trying to get the hay done so the animals will have feed for the winter.

Our vegetables are doing really well so we should have lots of tomatoes, pumpkin, beans, potatoes, beets and whatever else has been planted.

I took one of the completed quilts to its new owner on the weekend and she was really pleased with how it turned out.  I have the binding to do on another and it will be off to its home as well.

Blessings

Quilt Finished

 Henrietta is behaving today and adjusted to her new home.  We have a few bantam hens and you are never sure just what they are going to do.  We had one that wouldn't come in without a lot of frustration.  One night it few into a tree.  Nothing we did could get it down and into the coop so we left it there.  The next night, it was the first one inside.

I finished my customer quilt today and just have to do some trimming and add the border.  I am pleased with the way it turned out and hope it gives the customer many years of use.

I was cool last night while watching television so pulled a quilt over myself.  I wonder what people use that don't quilt?  A purchased blanket I guess although that doesn't seem to be anywhere near as cosy.

I have a busy week coming.  I am getting together with some friends on Monday afternoon.  Tuesday I Zoom with my sister, Wednesday hubby is going for his second shot, Thursday I am at the Art Centre.  I also have a meeting Wed. evening as well as another on either Wed. or Thurs.  I will be glad to see the weekend when it comes.

Blessings,

Henrietta Houdini

 Hubby picked up our new hen this afternoon and got her settled in her brooding area.  A couple of hours later he looked outside and there she was wandering around the yard.  How she managed to get out we don't know but, out she was.  When you are surrounded by bush and long grass/weeds, there are lots of places for one small hen to hide.  We tried drawing her out by throwing some feed around but that didn't work.  The blackbirds were grateful for the buffet.  I tried calling her as our other hens will come when I do that.  No luck there either.  

We finished supper and watched the news until it was time to put the other chickens in for the night.  When hubby came back, he had good news.  Henrietta Houdini or HH for short (her new name) was back in the coop and her special area.  At least we know that she knows where she lives.  Mr. T. the rooster gave her a  talking to as well so hopefully there won't be any more henventures.

Blessings,

Baby Chicks?

 We had a short but nasty thunderstorm here today.  With memories of last week's tornado still much in the area news, I kept a close eye on the sky.  Highly unlikely anything would happen here but weather does what it wants.

I had been working on a quilt so I turned off the sewing machine as well as the computer when the hydro started flickering.
  Although I have them plugged into surge protector's , I didn't see any need to take a chance. I played card games on my tablet until everything blew other and then went back to work.

It is a bit cooler today so I made a couple containers of apple crisp for hubby.  My recipe makes too much of the topping so I used extra fruit, put that in a small baking dish and used the surplus on it.  This is my husband's favourite dessert so I make it fairly often.  Heated and topped with vanilla ice cream makes for a decadent end for the meal.

We are picking up a new hen from a friend tomorrow.  It is showing signs of wanting to hatch eggs and they don't need any more chickens so we will take her.  Hopefully, she will continue brooding when we bring her home.  We have been trying to hatch our own chicks for some time now but none of our hens are cooperating.

Blessings,

Now You Tell Me

 A scary day for the people south of us.  A tornado touched down a couple hours south.  There has been a good bit of damage, 8 people injured 4 seriously.  That area is prone to tornados and in 1985 had one of the worst in Canada.  I was living closer to the area then and knew one of the people injured.

Other than doing some shopping and getting a long needed haircut, I have spent most of the day quilting.  I had a frustrating time at the grocery store.  I try to be patient when it is a situation that isn't anyone's fault but I do get irritated when it could have been handled more efficiently.  When I got to the store, there was a bit of a line up but it moved quickly.  A young employee was waving each person through when it was time (this is important for later.) I zipped around and got my items and, when it was my turn, got everything on the conveyer I belt.  I packed my own bags and then went to pay.  The clerk wasn't really focused on me at all and it took a while for her to get the pin pad ready.  I did my thing and waited for longer than normal and then got a message that said it hadn't gone through.  I had to get the tellers attention and we did it again, same result.  I asked her why I was having problems and she told me that the system was down.  Now you tell me.  After a bit more fiddling around, I left my groceries to go to a bank machine and hair appointment.  Back to the store to pay for my items.  There were a few more delays and I was done.  My complaint is that the entrance employee should have advised customers there was a problem and they would need cash.

I informed those waiting in line of the situation and one couple left as they didn't have cash.

Hope everyone is safe and enjoying their day,

blessings,

Birds at REst.

 All morning, I have been expecting it to rain so I didn't plan any outdoor activities.  As 3 p.m. rolled around and nothing happened, I decided to take Heidi for her walk.  I no sooner had I got ready and stepped out doors than the drops started falling.  I thought we would be okay going through the bush as the trees make a good canopy.  However, that didn't work out either.  It started to pour by the time we reached the trail and then it began to thunder.  Back we went.  Heidi was pretty damp by the time we got inside so I rubbed her with a towel and added a second treat to the once she gets when we have been out.

I have now gone back to getting a quilt loaded on to my frame, thread chosen, bobbin filled and practice run completed so I am ready to go. 

This is the top I am doing.  I haven't decided on a quilting stitch yet so will be thinking about that as I am making supper.

Blessings,

Blessings,

Cursive Quilting

It has been really cool the past couple of days.  Tuesday I made some scone and a cake both gluten free.  This morning it was cold enough that hubby lit the wood stove.  It is supposed to start warming up again tomorrow but, other than it isn't good for the veggies, I rather like the cool weather.

I finished my quilt today and hope to get another on the frame tomorrow.  Have you ever written on a quilt.  I have often done that.  I have used a person's name and special dates if it is a memory quilt and phrased that reflect someone's life if it is a gift.  I did a lot of writing on the quilt I just finished and interspersed it with hearts as the customer really likes them.

The quilt was made of squares of flannel and sewn together.  The border was a strip of coordinating fabric as you can see from this photo.

This is what quilted writing looks like.  This is the back of the quilt so the words are mirror image.  the border was done in hearts.  The customer doesn't want a border that will be noticeable so I am going to try something new.  I often do self borders (wrap backing to the front, fold under a 1/4 inch and sew.  I am going to do the same with this one except I will fold the top to the back.  As the fabric is all flannel, I will do a test sew and make sure it doesn't stretch before continuing.

Blessings, 

 

Busy Barbers

 I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to post today as my internet went down.  I am not sure why but possibly there was a storm somewhere.

It has been cooler but humid today and the temperature is really doing to drop tomorrow.  I am looking forward to doing a bit of baking.  

We went into the village today to get a few things done and, while there, my husband noticed his hairdresser was sitting outside.  He asked if she had an opening and she did as someone didn't show up. He was really fortunate.  I haven't even tried to get an appointment yet.  I bet barbers and hairdressers are run off their feet right now.

I am pleased to hear our new Governor General is a indigenous woman.  I thought she would be and the woman chosen seems to be well qualified.

A slow news day today but, as we have just celebrated Canada Day, I thought I would share this link with you.   https://canadiansatarms.ca/we-are-canadian/

Blessings,