Catching Up

I know it has been a long time but it has been difficult to get to the computer.....

We had guest and when that happens I spend time with them...........

After they left I grabbed a jigsaw puzzle to assemble........  You do need time to remember the fun you had together........ 

This sunflower volunteered under the bird feeder.........  We have had wind and rain from inclement weather but this flower has stood tall with its face into the wind.  The leaves might have billowed back but the flower remained steady............ 

Jean Mello  was one of my visitors.......  She made the plaid pumpkins........  The painted one was in the box from Lu.......  They are lovely on the desk......

Gave a box of fall flowers to Donna and this is what her magic did......  Simply stunning..........  The perfect addition to my foyer.

When Donna stopped by for a visit she brought this arrangement.  She is always sharing her talent....

This on a small side table......  Picked it up last year at Michael's for 90% off.

A perfect fit for the bathroom.......

A pumpkin or two under the tree.........  That has changed already..............

And then the mail............

I ordered the BOM from Keepsake Quilts......  This is January.....  Wouldn't it be lovely to have this finished by then?

Jean Mellow had one of these bags.......  Of course I wanted one too......  Ordered it from Kay Buckley.......

Lots of room for thread and other needed items........

Yarn arrived for the baby sweater I need to make.........

Best of all was the surprise package from my dear friend Lu......  I forgot to get the painted pumpkin to put in the picture......  The angel sits by the sink in the kitchen.......  The tea smells as good as it taste....  The candle has the delicate aroma of peach tea........  Napkins to use today when the girls come and some treats for the pallet.

Lem fell and broke his clavicle........  That was on Friday......  We did go to Emergency and they gave him pain medication and sent him home till he could see a doctor on Monday......  We spent all day yesterday doing that.......  Primary care physician in the morning for a referral.  Pick up ex-rays at hospital and have lunch before heading to the orthopedic doctor that afternoon.....

Today I hope to just rest...........  He is doing much better and maybe he can rest also.......

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........