They Are Back with Friends

Last week we had four........  Then they went across the street to the other lake..........

Feeding these ducks daily and they take the cute ones away.......... 

How grand this morning to find that they were back......  With three friends..............

Aren't they the cutest................

It is not easy to get them to stand still for a photo.....  One got away.........

Really need to cut the grass so they won't get lost...........

Goodbye...

For the last few days we have been blessed to have Jean and Bill visit......  Wade Hamilton especially loves to see them come..........

We had a grand time talking and knitting and getting up to date with family doings......

It was with a heavy heart that I watched them drive away but I know they will be back soon.......

A Finish.....

This week I can report a finish........  I have the binding on and this quilt is ready to go to its new home.....  It will be living in Midlothian in the near future.........  Now to find another quilt that needs binding........

Check out Patchwork times to see what others are making.....  HERE 

This is a Judy Laquidara design from years ago.......  I sure do miss her quilt a longs.......  Sorry I do not remember the name and cannot look for it on her web site........

For the Birds

This post is all ducks.....  The small item in the top center of the picture is the ducklings we had this morning......

There are four of them....  One of they is yellow.......

Following Mama.......

Aren't the sweet?

I had noticed a nest under the bird bath with eggs........  The next time I filled the bird feeder it appeared to have been covered over.........

I checked it this morning while they were eating and it was uncovered and there were still three eggs in it.........  After eating she went back to the nest with the ducklings......

Does that mean more to follow........

Still on the Needles.

Sorry Bill, but your socks will not be ready for you to take home with you........  I do have one almost done except for the toe.........  You will have them before it gets cold......

The picture is taken on the quilt I am getting ready to bind for Jean...........  Yes, I do know I also need to make an antimacassar for her.......  Pattern is selected but the baby boom needs to be handled first........

Check out Patchwork Times HERE   and see what other special women are making.

Design Wall Monday

This just is not working for me......  Not liking it at all............

Nope.......  Not this one either

Also rejected............  Back to the drawing board.............  Surely I can come up with something.......  Any suggestions would be welcome.......  I have four fabrics and plenty of yardage...  The goal is a baby quilt............  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out Patchwork Times HERE to see what else is being sewn around the world............. 

Saturday

I missed "On the Needles Friday" so I am posting today instead.......  It was on my list but other things occurred that kept me busy.......

Went to Greenville  Friday morning with Rebekah to make arrangements for a rental car since her car will not be fixed for another week....

Next to Grifton with Lem for a few groceries........

By then it was lunch time.....after which we got to rest for 40 minutes before we headed to Kinston for his appointment....  He is still having problems so he will have to go back in three weeks........

We got home in time to do a wee bit of a house blessing and then I was off to Greenville again with Rebekah to pick up the rental car.........

These days on the road are quite tiring............ 

I am ready now to turn the heel on Bill's first sock.......  I am still enjoying the square needles...  Hope to get the heel turned tonight so I can begin the gusset tomorrow............

It Has Been Awhile

But Wade Hamilton tore his ACL and needed surgery.......  At the same time Lem had some problems that required many trips to the Dr.

Tomorrow is what I hope will be our last day out for awhile............

Marilyn and Georgina even stepped in when their appointments were in conflict......  I have the best neighbors and friends in this world.......

I haven't been in the studio in so long I think I might have forgotten how to sew..........

I did get one quilt in the mail........  This was a Knit A Long from Crazy Mom Quilts HERE...  I made three of them....  Two green and this one.....  It was an enjoyable quilt to make and I appreciate that she shared her design.........  This one went to a dear sister-in-law.........

And here is the new addition to our home.....  We had to have a ramp put in for Lem....  This makes it so much safer for him to get in and out of the house.......

This is a picture of my morning greeters......  They have even come on the porch to wake us if we don't feed them early each morning......  We feed 22 mallards and 2 white ducks each morning.....  They are so enjoyable to watch........

I got out the Nativity once more.......  I really want to hang this in our home and that will only happen if I get it finished.......  I am trying to give it one hour each morning......  Doesn't always work but maybe one day I will have it finished...........

Jean's socks........  The second pair.......  I am pleased to have both pairs completed.....  Now I have begun knitting Bill's socks.......

I tried a pair of Kollage square needles. ..   True to their advertisement they are easier on the hands than round ones.......  I get a much more even stitch with them and can knit longer at a sitting.....
They are made in the USA which is an added bonus for me...... If you try them remember to check gauge because you might to go up a needle size......

Off the Needles.. Hurray....

This is my Pretty Basic Shawl.....  (Pattern Here)

Mine is much smaller..........  I will make it again using much larger needles.......  I did a test swatch but must have measured wrong.......  Silly me........

I purchased yarn for three shawls and when I finish the sock yarn in my bag I will be making the shawls for gifts............

Patchwork Times has more knitted lovelies to feast your eyes on........  HERE

TaDa....... A Finish

Jean's first pair of socks are complete.......  I thoroughly enjoyed making these socks.......  Now on to pair two..........  Then a pair for Lu and a pair for Bill.......  I have a special pattern for Bill's socks.....

Check Patchwork Times to see what others are knitting.....  HERE

Together at Last

All the blocks are bordered and sewn together........  Border will be next.......... 

So looking forward to the day when this is complete.......

Fabric Change

Marilyn's sister passed on Sunday so we got together and sent Fleming to Plant and See for an arrangement........

Just as an added touch I knitted a purple bird to sit on it................

Last night while looking for something upstairs I found another fabric for my Mystery Quilt.  I was concerned that the tone on tone yellow might be too overwhelming......... 

This seems to be a better background and also has a touch of yellow in it...........

The Marigolds are really blooming....  I have enjoyed this flower bed this summer......  I can see it from the studio window and each time I smile..............

Now to finish the last blocks on Georgina's quilt so that I can start something else.......

Mystery Quilt Fabric

Meadow Mist Designs is starting a Midnight Mystery Quilt..........

You can find the link HERE

It sure took long enough but I finally selected the fabric....  It is always interesting to see just how a Mystery will end........

A Lovely Day

Lem and I had a lovely day.........  We enjoyed just being together and the view outside.......

The ten ducks that we fed last year when they were ducklings.........

The two white ducks that someone got for Easter and left here.........

Chris out sailing........... 

Design Wall Monday

Lots of lovely things on design walls all around.....  To see more of these check out Patchwork Times.

After looking at these on the design wall for months I have begun at last......

First two rows complete......

Last two rows ready to be completed........  Because of the size difference in the blocks I have added enough to each one to make them all 15 inches........... 

We decided on a black border with the smaller pieces on the bottom and top of the quilt....  If nothing unforeseen happens (and it usually does) I hope to get my part of this project completed this week........

A Thing or Two

At long last I have pressed and wrapped the gift for our neighbor's new baby (born in April)...

And one of Jean's socks is finished.........

And I made this little scarf that is supposed to block at almost twice the size it is now......  Time will tell....  Before I block it I need to clear the design wall because that is where I pin them to dry.......

So after much procrastination I am starting the T shirt quilt for Georgina..........  I hope to get at least one row assembled today.......

And start Jean's second sock this afternoon.

Me Again.....

Hopefully next week I can get back on schedule........  It appears now that I have no appointments for next week and Lem and I are looking forward to a quiet week at home together...... 

Time will tell how well that works for us.......

Finished the last of the red yarn.............Hurray..............

Finished the smocked dress........  Now I need to press it, wrap it and deliver it.......  Perhaps today....

I like this design and will use it again.......

Began Jean's socks.......  One half done..........  I found a pattern to try......  I think it is time for me to move forward and try a few different things with socks...........  It is good for the mind to keep learning..

Finished the last of one skein of the green yarn from Katie.....  Two adult hats and two for children......

I did cast on another one in another color to be ready in case someone drops in and I can knit it while we chat............

Now off to add a few more rows to Jean's sock.......

Picture of an Oxymoron

ox·y·mo·ron

ˌäksəˈmôrˌän/

noun

noun: oxymoron; plural noun: oxymorons

a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

I get teased a bit because when we get together I do not use paper plates......  

I have about a dozen desert plates that belonged to my mother and we use them daily.....  I am not trying to save the ecology but it is easy for me to use them and put them in the dishwasher.  I use real plates for meals for the same reason....  I just prefer them to disposable.....

Susan pointed out that the china plate with a real fork did not exactly go with the bottle of water with a pink John Deere cover.........  Oh Well.........  such is life.........

Small group this Tuesday......  Susan, Georgina and Marilyn..........  Fleming came in later but I had already taken the picture.....

Thought about what evening project I wanted to do next..........  I have wanted to make Jean's socks..  She bought the yarn last year and I want her to have warm feet this winter.....  Finally got out the swift and ball winder to prep the hank of yarn......

Now to pick the pattern I want to use...........  Something special for Jean.........

A Finish or Two.....

At long last the GFG is finished.........  The last stitch complete.....  And now I have it on my bed.......

I plan to move it to the guest room later but for a bit I will enjoy it myself....

It took ten years from start to finish but much happened in between stitches..............

I also completed my contribution for Fleming's shower......  The letters will be hung over the table with the gifts with a ribbon..........

Now on to finishing the smocked dress for Summer.........