Sounds of Spring

Spring sure is having a hard time getting settled in, isn't it?  A lot of our snow has left but there are still large patches throughout the bush and in our yard.  The maritime provinces have had yet another snow storm.  Still, it is getting warmer.  I wore my shoes to church on Sunday and also to quilt group.  However, boots are still are necessity here in the backwoods until the mud has dried.  It isn't as bad as other years but still there.
On Saturday, I got to hear one of my favourite sounds of spring.  I hung  a few items of laundry; towels, nightwear on the clothes line.  I didn't expect them to dry but I was looking forward to them smelling of the outdoors once again.  As I moved the line along to add another item, it squeaked.  This is a sound which, to me, means spring. 
I like hearing the geese and song birds but a creaking clothes line means that it is warm enough to quit using the dryer.   When I took the clothes in just before supper, much to my surprise, they were dry.  And smelling wonderfully.
Blessings,

The Saps a-Pourin'

This is the quilt I have been working on.  I have to add the half blocks and the border.  As you can see, it is quite colourful.  You might not be able to tell with the sections unsewn, but the blocks make a windmill pattern as well as a bowtie and a butterfly.
The pattern should be all done and ready for sale by the end of next week. It is a foundation pieced.
My husband has been out doing the maple syrup today.  The sap was flowing quickly this morning although it is tapering off now.  We might be coming to the end of the season but we are very pleased with our yield.  We should double what we did last year.  I have helped where I can-emptying the smaller containers, stirring sap, but mostly I do the lunch and thermos of tea.  Once the syrup comes into the house for bottling my real job starts.
Come on over for a cup of tea later next month and I will sweeten it with our own maple syrup.  Or perhaps you would like some on a bowl of ice cream.
Blessings,

Preserverance

I recently finished this vest.  It is pieced and reversable.  I used Jodi Barrows, Square in a Square ruler for the blocks.
This is another of those projects that has been laying in my WIP (work in progress)  drawer for over four years.
I have also been working on a paper pieced quilt and was having trouble with one of sections.   I did it four times.  The first time I  put the pieces in in the wrong order, the second time, I did the same thing.  Then I put piece in upside down.  By now the paper is in pretty bad shape so I had to tape it. Fourth time through I got it done correctly.  I could have understood if this was the first time I made the section but it wasn't.  This was the last block.
Sometimes you just have to keep at it.  I probably would have started from the beginning with a fresh pattern but I didn't want to print another one.
Anyway, after all that, I just have the corner pieces to do and the top is finished.  And people expect to buy quilts for the same price you can get one at Walmart!
Blessings,

Beaver Tails

We are at a balmy 5 degrees today.  I was in Huntsville to do some shopping and had my coat off most of the time.  Of course, in a couple of months, 5 above will be a deep freeze but right now it is lovely and warm.
Went for a walk with my husband and dog yesterday to the pond at the back of our property.  Roger had seen the beaver there a couple of days ago so I wanted to take a look.  As we got closer, we could hear a crunching sound and was wondering what it was.  As soon as we could see the pond, we had our answer.  The beaver, who I am naming Justin (Justin Beaver, get it) was chewing at the ice trying to increase the size of the open water area.  He didn't pay any attention to us and Heidi, fortunately, didn't bark although she was trembling with excitement.  We stood and watched for quite a while.  There were a couple of deer on the other side of the pond who were also interested in the sight.
If I can get up the energy to go out again, I will see if I can get a picture of our industrious neighbour.
Blessings,

Phone Calls

I think I have spent the whole morning on the phone.  As I was away both all day and into the evening yesterday, today is spent catching up.  There are people who need to be reminded of meetings, others to contact about various  events etc.  I have always disliked talking on the phone but hate not having one.  If the service goes out, I feel as though I have lost an arm.  At the same time, if the thing keeps ringing, it drives me crazy.
I think my calls are done for the day so now can get on with other stuff.  I have been working on a quilt pattern design so need to do more on that.  I also want to take a walk back to the pond.  My husband tells me that our beavers are busy working on the dam and the sign of their activity is evident from the tracks on both the ice on the pond and the snow covered shore. 
Each year, spring seems to reveal itself in different ways.  Last year, we were hoping that beaver would move to the pond and this year we can celebrate the arrival of the cubs or kittens or whatever the babies are called.
Our loon, crane and other birds should soon be making an appearance.  I love hearing the loons call in the morning and evening as it travels from the pond to the nearby lake.  There is nothing more Canadian than that long mournful note echoing through the stillness.
For those of you who quilt, have you checked out Jinny Beyer's free patterns?  What an amazing designer she is.
blessings,

Surprises

My birthday will arrive in a couple of weeks and I will be celebrating my 65 years on this earth.  I think I mentioned that my husband has been planning a surprise for me which will, in part, consist of an open house.  I have been trying not to think about it as I don't want to be trying to guess what he is going to do.  He did have to tell me about the open house as we will need to tidy up.  Also, I suspect, have to rearrange furniture. 
While I wait for this momentous event, I have been busy in, where else, my quilt room.  I have been finishing up another project that has hung around for a while as well as designing a pattern for the web page.  This is a foundation pieced pattern and I really like the way it is coming together.  Lots of my favourite bright colours with a few others to give your eyes a break.  The overall effect will be 3 dimensional; another of my favourites.  I've always liked patterns that have hidden designs and this will have that.
Last night I gave our wee Heidi a bath and today she got her nails done.    She had begun to smell doggy and, because her hair is quite fine, it gathers up all manner of flotsam.  Now, if I can only keep her looking pretty for a few days.
It looks as though the cool weather is going to continue.  Some of our snow has melted but it still looks like winter here in the backwoods.
Blessings,

Nature's Bounty



Nature's Bounty-Maple Syrup

 This is our first lot of maple syrup for this year.  Doesn't it make a wonderful picture with the different shades of brown and gold in the old mason jars.  Actually the jars are new but the style hasn't changed for as long as I can remember which, I must admit, isn't very long on some days.
We are hoping the weather will cooperate so we can get some more but, with the new set up, we already have more this year than we did the previous.
We have a better method of cooking now so we were able to get this much in one day.  Last year, it took the better part of a week.
If we get a really good run, I am going to look up some recipes.  I would like to be able to substitute the syrup for sugar where I can.  Of course, if we boil it long enough we cuold get sugar but I don't think we are ready to do that yet.
Don't you wish you could have some of this on your morning pancakes?
Blessings ,