The Gnomes Are Home

Our gnomes have come out of hibernation and taken up their place in our garden.  Most are in the front perennial garden although some seemed to have left to join the wood ones by the rail fence. I notice that some odd creatures have appeared in the small west side garden.  They do look vaguely like snails and turtles but they are pushing wheelbarrows and are wearing tiny straw hats to keep from getting a sun burn.
It is always an exciting time when our back woods home is, once again, blessed with the gnomes and their friends.  We aren't sure when they will make their yearly appearance but it is usually mid spring.  The senior gnomes Norbert and his wife, Nelda, claim their usual spot by an old stump.  They stand close to an opening in its base and I notice that Nelda likes to stand a little further back into the opening.  I don't think it is because she is shy.  Or at least she doesn't appear to be. Perhaps she is just embarrassed because her husband, unlike the other gnomes who are busy working, just leans against the stump gripping his coffee mug (he says it's coffee), long white beard resting against his comfortable belly.
I think Norbert has earned his rest.  It was he who accompanied my husband on his trip across the country to check out the property and then again when we moved.  He supervised the removing of trees, preparing of the foundation, installation of sewer, well digging and placed numerous calls to the hydro and phone companies so we could get service.  I don't know how my husband would have managed without him.

 

Blessings,

Support Your Library

Whew, I need a break.  I have been busy since I got up this morning: walk the dog, make bread, put up 2 sets of mini blinds, organize loose papers in quilt room.  I am in the process of doing the latter and have, so far, eliminated what I don't want.  The hardest part is deciding what should go where.  I have the folders that I labelled a while ago (and had forgotten) so they will hold the bits and pieces.
Once I get this done, I have a pile of fabric on my sewing table that needs sorting and then I will be finished. I gave away some books and scrap fabrics to the quilt group and our local library yesterday.
If you have quilt books that you don't need, consider giving them to your library.  If they don't have room on their shelves, most libraries have book sales and your donation could be used to raise funds that enable them to buy more books and put on programs.  Most libraries are underfunded.  They are such a tremendous resource and I always do what I can to support them.
It feels close today.  It isn't humid but feels as though it should be.  Although the sun is shining, it, nevertheless, seems like it is going to rain.  Sounds dreary doesn't it?

I got some of the garden planted this morning.  A couple of lettuce varieties and a row of beets are in one of the raised gardens.  Tomorrow, I will do some more beets as well as cucumbers, spinach and potatoes.  I want to put broccoli plants in the other raised garden as well as a ton of tomatoes but am going to wait until closer to the end of this month to make sure we don't get a surprise frost. We have to do outdoor work in short burst now as the dreaded black flies have arrived.

I don't seem to be doing much actually quilting this week other than putting the finishing touches on my chicken appliques.  I  have one more of them to do and I can put together the blocks.  I have a couple of tops that need to be quilted soon as well. Should be able to start them next week.
Blessings,

Monday Surprise

Yes, I know today is Monday and I don't usually post on the beginning of the week but, our quilt day was changed to Tuesday, so, here I am. I got out early this morning and took the dog for a walk before breakfast and before the heat settled in.  I probably should have had a bit of something before setting out but I have to wait half an hour after taking my thyroid pill before I can eat so off I went.  I usually take it just before getting up so it does post a bit of a problem.  I think I will get some juice and have a glass of it before setting out next time.
Poor Heidi is feeling a bit confused over the change in routine.  She has been laying around on a chair in the sun room since we got back.  She hasn't even ate her food yet.
I have got quite a bit of things done already.  I started some yogurt and it is sitting in a warm window thickening.  I also did some maple fudge but it hasn't set.  I think it is going to be maple frosting which means I will have to make a cake.  Or maybe I can buy an unfrosted carrot cake.
I've gathered together the totes that contained our outdoor ornaments-gnomes and bird feeders.  I have given the hummingbird feeders another good cleaning and have filled and hung up two.  My neighbour told me that he has seen the little creatures around their feeder so thought I should get busy and set up ours.
It is almost lunch time.  After I eat, I am going to spend the rest of the day finishing up my studio organizing.  I have a quilt top I want to get on the frame and quilted.  I am writing up the pattern for this one so it can be sold in our local quilt store as well as others between here and Orillia.
I have ordered the special bags and they should be here soon
I am hoping to get our vegetable garden planted or at least some of it as it appears the black flies are arriving.  I am just waiting for my husband to get the soil tilled.  I am trying not to nag.  Really I am.
blessings,

The Chicken Dance

Gnomes and Chickens

It is another lovely day here in the back woods.  I went for a walk to the pond, chased a crazy woodpecker from a wooden bird house and gave some greens to the chickens. This silly bird has beaten the roof of the house to Swiss cheese and seems bent on doing the same to the rest of the structure.  It must be related to the robin that is attacking my car windows and leaving white streaks all over the doors.  I am going to have to drape something over the windows until it loses interest.
We will be getting ready for church soon.  Right now we are sitting in the sun room drinking our coffee.  Husband is ready the paper, I, obviously, am at the computer and Heidi the dog is hoping she can jump up on Roger's lap.
roger has moved the chickens since I took this pictures and they are now on the top railing rather than doing the chicken dance in mid air.
Have a blessed Sunday.

(I just went out and took another photo so you could see the chickens.  Can you see the other little gnome peeking from behind the stump on the right side?)

A Vigilante Robin

I took my car in for servicing yesterday.  When they are finished, they wash it.  They are going to have to work a little harder this time as I have bird poop on both sides.  We couldn't figure out where it was coming from as I don't park under a tree and there was streaks all down the front doors.
My husband figured out what was going on when he saw a robin attack the windows of his truck. One (I hope) excited robin equals a lot of poop.
Yesterday evening while working in the quilt room, I heard a tapping on one of the windows.  I investigated and saw a robin.  I don't know if it is the same one but, if so, it better not leave souvenirs of its presence on my walls.
I couldn't get a photo of it at the window but did get this one as it was pretending to be someone else.

Attack robin.

Doesn't it do a great job of blending into the background? Even that bright orange tummy seems part of the leaves.

I am making great strides in getting my studio back into shape.  There are still totes that haven't been emptied since I moved into the room and they will have to wait for a bit.  I need to build some shelves for my thread and notions for the long arm frame.
I hung my laundry out this morning.  How nice to be able to do so in shorts and sandals!
Blessings,

New Fence

Rustic Rail Fence

We built this fence last night.  It is on a ridge that is on the south side of the house and I can see it from my quilt room.  I plan on using it for photographing my quilts.
I am going to plant some flowers in front of it (between fence and rocks) and a lot of spring bulbs.  I think a blanket of daffodils would really look nice.
Speaking of daffodils;  this is our first one to come into full bloom.  The others won't be far behind. The trees in the bush are in bud and the little spring peepers (frogs) are in full song in the evening.  Our Heidi seems to be nervous of them and I have to go our with her in the evening for her last outing of the day.
 My husband has gone for a motorcycle ride and I have to take the car in for servicing later in the day but, until then, I am going to do some work in the quilt studio.  It has become a place to drop stuff and I have to get every thing that isn't supposed to be here, out.  The room really needs to have a wall to separate it from the other parts of the house but then I would be sacrificing light so I will just have to make a rule:  if it isn't quilt or sewing related, put it somewhere else.
Blessings,




First Daffodil




 

 

Planting Time

I am getting ready for a craft sale on Saturday.  I am making some snap bags, chicken pin cushions and a few other things.  I usually feel these events are time wasters as you sit there for a whole day after getting up and out of the house much earlier than you would like.  You may cover the cost of your table rental and a few dollars extra if you happen to take things that people want.
Most of the time, however, you visit with the other vendors.  Customer's especially in a small community (and often in big ones) are few and far between.  Most attendees are browsers.
I am taking part in this one because it has been organized by a friend and I wanted to help offset her costs.  She has done a lot of advertising so I hope it will be a successful event.  the weather is predicted to be nice so that is a plus. 
I am itching to get into my garden and start planting.  My husband is going to get everything ready for me for next week and I can start planting some of the root veggies.
Timing is critical in this area.  You can't start too early in case of a late frost; too late and you are into black fly season.  Everyone thinks they little critters will arrive early this year.  Hope they also leave as quickly.
Here is another photo from the North Bay quilt show.

 

Blessings,