Nice Surprise!

 A package came in the mail that my husband asked what I ordered now? 

"I didn't", I replied then went to see.  

Oh!!!!     It's Happy mail.  My heart raced a tad and a smile came along with a feeling of amazing wonder.  Just like Birthdays and Christmas mornings.

It's from Schmetz.com so I quickly Opened the package.  Just  imagine my surprise.   A package of Chrome (professional)Needles, the ABC pocket guide and a coated tag displaying the color bands identities.  Love it!

During an Island Batik box opening from a blogger I follow, I noticed her January box had the "grabbit too" tag and loved that concept.  I had printed out the same illustration on oak tag paper for my  identification purposes and it was a bit worn looking.  When I saw hers I went to Schmetz to let them know I truly loved their quality products and was a huge fan of their needles especially and where could  I find that plastic coated tag.  The above was their response. 

So you all know I truly love their products here is the back up needle storage in the top drawer of my sewing table.  Many of you already know that the closest store for me is a 2 hour drive and that's to a  Joann's and any quilt shops are even further. So anytime the husband and I travel, I'd scope out the route with stores and shops available to store up my quilting supplies while going through those areas even the many trek for his health check ups in Massachusetts and neighboring states.  

During sales, I'll shore up the "stock on hand" at fantastic prices as you can see by the alphabeticalized filing of those specialty needles.  You can see the 3 "gross" needle boxes I have for the normal piecing needles (and I've already gone through one of those) as I do change my needle often.  

Thank you Rhonda and Schmetz, Inc. - You're the best!

January 2021 OMG

 Almost there...  

Did get it sewn and then.  

Ooops, my fray block was dried up and not having any backups on hand, I ordered a tube from Amazon.  

Received the notice: order received, Delivery expected date February 10-17th, 2021.  WHAT?  

So a couple of days later thought, how about Walmart.  Checked and it was much better with the delivery for the next week.  Considering that 2 week pause during this, I'm feeling good this project got along as far as it did.   Only the pumpkin and some detail stitching left before getting it layered, quilted and finished.   It will be my first project finished for the year and I won't be derailed.   lol

Note to self- insert this into my February OMG to complete.  

Can't believe how fast this month flew by.  TTFN

Bernie's here too!

 

Sharing just a bit of humor and fun which I think the world needs more of. 

I grabbed this picture from Janice Elaine Sews and don't know the pic editor and couldn't resist showing Bernie, a neighboring state resident who definitely marches to his own tune that blew up social meme since Inauguration Day!

January 2021 Focus OMG

 Happy New Year!  

I am becoming more focused on my projects and plan to finish this Buttermilk Basin pilgrim Hat wall hanging completely for my One Monthly Goal for January.   Am linking up to Elm Street Quilts today for the OMG challenge just under the deadline.  

Haven't been posting again recently since my health had a minor speed bump that needed further studies.  But with seeing an Electrophysiologist in Cardiology today in VT,  I got the all clear to resume my health improvements with further tests down the road.     Thankfully.  

Also have been working on the Spools as my hump jumper project.  

TTFN

Jane

2020 Books Read

My love of reading and the quest to empty more of my bookshelves has found 2020 to be another successful year.    Here are the books read:

1. The Manhattan Club  *
2. Of Blood and Bone
3. The Rise of the Magicks
4. When Breath becomes Air - BC  (book club)
5. Atomic Habits
6. Crossing Over
7. The Assassin 
8. Fahrenheit 451
9. Black Wind 
10. The Final Day 
11. A Game For Heroes
12. Don't Kiss Them Goodbye
13. The Whole Truth 
14. A quiver full of Arrows 
15. Fear Nothing
16. Around the World in 80 Tales
17. The Perfect Happiness
18. Nights of Rain and Stars
19. Where I'd like to live - Couldn't find a link anywhere, sorry
20. Queen of the Sun
21. Educated
22. Look Behind You
23. Night Watch
24. Woman in Cabin 10
25. Island of Sea Women
26. Buddha is as Buddha Does
27. Princess Anna
28. Night bird
29. A Lawman's Christmas
30. Blackbird House
31. Women in Sunlight 
32. The Lying Game
33. Death of Mrs. Westaway 
34. The Women
35. Logan
36. The Alchemist
37. Hot Stuff
38. Dylan
39. Double Whammy
40. Little House Living 
41. The Authenticity Project
42. Under Magnolia
43. Your Next Breath
44. The Liar
45. The Cat who Blew the Whistle
46. Every Note Played
47. Between the World and Me
48. Blue
49. The Stranger
50. Tyler
51. The Last Man
52. Cottage by the Sea
53. Transcendent Kingdom
54. The Blood Sugar Solution 10 day detox 
55. The Narrows
56. The Overlook
57. Big Sky River
58. The Creed Legacy
59. A Creed Country Christmas
60. Icebound
61. Two Little Girls in Blue 

Out of the first five listed only one came off my shelves *.   Years ago I figured books were like fabric and expanded my collections as there was room but seeing this logistically now, I need to read more home stuff before the acquired ones from family, friends and the local library if I want to make any headway on making space on those shelves.  

Also there were books I read the first 100-160 pages of and if it didn't click with me,  I'd stop reading - my own self-imposed rule.    That includes titles for my Book Club gatherings, so I didn't list those as they weren't finished because I had another which hopefully would be more worthy of my time.   GASP!  They could be literary tomes, but I personally would find them stalled and not that enjoyable, just not my cup of tea so set them aside.  (Three cups of tea- now that one I enjoyed thoroughly many years ago!)  

This reading list aligns with my "Dreams of 100" that I tract each year and I surpass it thankfully.  That list tracks completed projects, travels, courses/classes, museums or exhibits seen, hiking, biking, and areas I spent my life on.  It's a nice visualization and remembrance as I reflect how my time was spent.  For the past 6 years I've excelled the self proclaimed 100 (even with 2020 being such a trying year thanks to the Co-vid 19 and it's variance) that number was surpassed too.   

Merry Christmas 2020

 

This pic was shared via Patchwork Plus newsletter that I think shines light on this season nicely.

Wishing you warmth, love and a promising 2021.

Circle Play Complete

 Another PIP (Project in Plastic) is finished.  Started as a kit from Sue Spargo which I took liberties with.  LOL

A person (Son IL) with severe nut allergies in our family, I won't use crushed walnut shells for the filler but use sand instead.  Of course did I have any in?          NOPE.  ; ~/

So a quick run to the local sand pit to obtain some during a little snow drizzle with my flip flops on - check.  

Dried it on parchment lined baking sheet after  baking blueberry muffins, and other goodies, meals, etc... - check.

Sifted to remove larger bits - check.

Finished pincushion.  This only took me 12 days from starting to completion.   Was able to stitch it closed and then procured enough heated sifted sand to last me quite a while.  

 Doing my happy dance and looking for my next focus. 

Pillow Project completed

 Using scraps from a quilt that was made several years ago I finally made time to artistically morph a panel from a pillow into a complementary accoutrement for my boudoir.  lol   

Though it's small, I did hand applique, machine applique, Ink-tense penciled it (which I quickly eliminated) and then painted with pearlescent acrylic paints in a couple of places that I didn't care for to enhance my vision of it.  Lastly it was quilted in a pleasing enough playful designs for a FINISH.  

Since I didn't want to make another pillow form, I inserted a folded bath towel that was recycled from the totaled camper.  It works.

TTFN

Jane

testing photos - Have patience with me please

All of my photos keep closing and disappearing.  So I'm trying to figure out why and see which download will work and stay working.  

Garden and other bits

My Favorite Mister, (DH) made these older garden trugs into an elevated garden so I was able to transplant the seeds started by moi, cough, cough, sputter, sputter.... into them and we don't have to worry about the furry friends that live in our gardens harvesting these before we do. It's producing wonderfully.

 Gazing toward the above ground pool we have a small selection of flowers and plants that we "over wintered" here in the 45 parallel and/or acquired some fresh ones at the local nurseries while keeping Co-Vid 19 protocol.

The view towards the right shows where the hot tub, umbrellas and more gardens continue.   Both DH and I can't be in the sun so shading is our best only option.  Thus early mornings in the gardens are timely.

Don't mind all those bags of mulch please, they are waiting for us between the heat/sun, humidity and rain, we'll get to them.   We're a 1/4 of the way done, only 75 bags more to go.  We hit a terrific price and took advantage.   This patio area we constructed ourselves around 20 years ago.  Actually it was on Labor Day weekend or should I say   L* A* B* O* R*     D* A* Y*   week-  bust!  Exhausting work but worth it and it's lasted beautifully.   Now the cedar deck, don't look too closely as that'll be another chore that needs repair when we can afford it and decide the best plan of attack.


The following are some of the lilies that are shining throughout the "island garden" .

Be still my heart!

       

     

     

"Honeysuckle Grotto" is the photo just above on the left with the cobalt garden seat, where I'll sip my tea and rest a spell after I've pulled at least 100 weeds then resume.  After I get an area weeded out, then the mulch is applied.  

So far the lilacs, peonies, daffodils, hyacinths, poppies, some tulips, Missouri Primroses, coral bells, Lady's Mantle, etc...    have shown their glory.  Currently it's lilies with hints of the daisy styled flowers like- ruddebeckia, daisies, along with bee balm and cone flowers and such  coming out shortly.  

    

The fruit trees look good so far.  Crispin' Apple, plum and 2 pear trees all have a small bit of fruit coming.   The kiwi vine on the arbor left a bit to be desired this year and had a late start with our weather/winter  though it still provides some shade for after noon reading in the hammock chair- A birthday gift from 5 years or so, I'll actually snooze a bit and not loose my page!  lol

And the lower raised bed garden with vine plants (squashes and cucumbers) , potatoes, tomatoes, tomatillos, raspberries....  Would you believe we couldn't find any squash seeds when the garden was planted but finally found some a couple of weeks afterwards so I used the seed starting module in the Aero garden to get them farther along.  Not sure what I think of it yet as some things did wicked good and others not so.  Could be the the germination factor of the seed packages as their dates were good but some pods from the company came up with nothing too.  But I'll share more about that on another post regarding those experiments.


Then our higher raised bed garden which is easier to maintain (harvest and weed).

Suffice to say there is a list of never ending chores to complete and much to repair for these 2 acres of land, but I am extremely thankful.   Besides the weeding and mulching, I need to string up some deterrent for the deer where our blueberry bushes are.  Crossing fingers that some holographic -reflective tape will be enough to scare/keep them away.   I witnessed them last year scraping all berries with leaves off the bushes and still had too much going on to fix it then. 
Especially with the grocery distributions going a bit hay wire this corona virus year, the "price gouging" that seems evident to us and just knowing that we'll be producing more of our own food and with putting them up (as Grandma used to say) to last through out the year.

TTFN,
Jane



Editing this info paraphrased from an article about day lilies - scientific name,  Hemerocallis: in the Lake Champlain Weekly Vol 21, Issue 1 written by  Dr. Dr. Leonard Perry, Horticulture Professor Emeritus at UVM

• More than 38,000 registered varieties with 15,00 +/- in production
• Inside center is called the "Throat"
• Zone between the throat and flower color is different then it's called eyed or banded
• If the edges of the flower are a different color then it's called "picotee"
• The midrib may be a different color or spotted  or "dusted" over by another color
• The difference of appearance and description is typically inferred by their petals formations, ie: rounded, triangular, star shaped, ruffled or doubled if there are more than the 3 petals and 3 colored sepals (false petals that look like the petals)
• Lilies arise from bulbs and flowers from a main stalk while day lilies (origins in Asia) have thick storage roots with the later having their own scientific family Hemerocallidaceae
• Some of the best single color cultivars for Northern Gardens are:  Frances Fay, Mary Todd, Stella de Oro (all yellow varieties); Barbara Mitchell, Fairy Tale (pink colored); Bess Ross, Apple Tart, Red Rum (red);Gentle Shepherd, Guardian Angel (near white); Prairie Blue Eyes (lavender); Bertie Ferris, Ruffled Apricot (orange); 
• Multicolored varieties are: Custard Candy (peach w/yellow throat and red eye zone and ruffled edge); Fooled Me (golden w/ red eye and ruffled edge); both being popular newer bi-color cultivars in our region
• There are three seasons: early, mid-season and late