Reading 1820 Blogs Daily!


  • birds
  • Page 1 of 12 ( posts )
December 11, 2024
When you hear PLOP! from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

Oh boy—this paperwork is going to be the death of me! I spent the entire morning at the computer, and I swear the desktop doesn't look cleaner! Emails and phone calls got done, but I don't think any physical paper disappeared. I'll try again this morning, but I also have a lot of sewing/embroidery to do, and I need to be downstairs! 

But any progress is progress, and we just keep moving forward. I tackled a few more CDs, and the pile is almost gone. What did I find? I found three photos that I ...

read more
November 30, 2024
Dark and Damp December Dawns from Canadian Needle Nana

 When walking Ned one day, we spotted a Barred Owl. I say "we" because it was on the fence and Ned stopped and watched it too. I took Ned back home, grabbed my large camera and headed out to where I'd last seen it. It had moved across the driveway and then as I watched, it flew much further into thick bush and I could get only so far. I couldn't find it but there was a very large shape in a tree I assumed to be my owl. I knew it was unlikely any photos would be ...

read more
October 23, 2024
Autumn's Golden Light, Stitching Updates, Help on the Journey from Canadian Needle Nana

 The last flowers to come into bloom in my garden are the Asters. The wild ones are also in bloom and like these, starting to fade. The sunlight lately has been wonderful and has that noticeable October slant. But shines strongly with a golden tinge that makes it beautiful. I've tried to capture it in this weeks' photos.

Lots of things are being illuminated by this wonderful light like a baby Chickadee- so tiny!- trying out the birdbath for the first time, judging by how long it stayed there poking about. 
He finally took the plunge and immediately took ...

read more
September 16, 2024
Thrifting, Gardening Hazard, Autumn Slow Stitching from Canadian Needle Nana

The Japanese Anemones are making the late garden shine again this year. A reader told me mine are called "Splendens" and splendid they are! Their leaves are also a pretty shape and shade of green. And the bees love them too. 

This patch is the result of transplanting a couple of summers ago. They have spread!

The lovely American Goldfinches have also been plentiful lately. Lots of thistle around the property to meet their nesting needs. 
 I did get to go thrifting this summer and had great luck. I've always loved Charley Harpers' birds so this book just had ...

read more
September 12, 2024
Once a month? from Elsie Quilts

 Posting once a month is better than never? Not really. I've been cleaning up green and blue scraps and it seems to take forever. Last week I pulled a Jean Wells book on color from my art books. How it got there is a mystery, but it was a huge encouragement as I was sewing very similar blocks that she illustrated in her book. 

Besides that, TQS featured a guest who makes simple blocks for her "pantry" and uses them when a need comes. Alex Anderson said she'd never seen that before, but I was into my third ...

read more
July 16, 2024
Project Updates, Jodi's Seedlings Book, No Bake Mini Muffins, Summer Drinks from Canadian Needle Nana

There are certain weeds I won't cut down right away. The wild Thistles are one of them and it is for this reason. Goldfinches depend on thistles for food and use thistledown for their nests. This one was checking out the Purple Globe Thistle plant that won't bloom till late July. 

The spiritual meaning of Goldfinches is to encourage resilience and embrace changes gracefully. So many of us have been tried and tested in both those regards, right?

Mid week progress on two of my quilty projects...the extra scrappy EPP 3 inch 9 patches and more Tilda ...

read more
July 14, 2024
Butterfly Freebies, Blooms and Bramble Blooms II, Slow Stitching from Canadian Needle Nana

Young robin, pond bathing...

The garden has become overgrown and I'm a bit overwhelmed trying to keep up. Who knew rain and heat interspersed with sun were the perfect combination for plant growth, :). Look how everything is spilling onto the front steps. Usually this is a late August look.
I'd planted many Day Lilies to line the beds on either side. I chose the brightest red/rust colours to contrast with the white Hydrangeas that usually steal the show. The Day Lilies are being smothered by all the other growth this year. Here is an inadvertent movie I ...

read more
June 26, 2024
Fledging Day from From the Strawberry Patch...

Monday was the day; it was time to fly! Not only the Bluebirds but also the baby birds who'd been raised in the nest perched atop the flood light under the eaves! Mr. Goodneedle kept asking me if the babies had left their nests yet and I told him I wasn't quite sure. Monday left little doubt that the time was at hand. I stepped outside to be greeted with loud bird calls and constant "fly overs" (

read more
Fledging Day from From the Strawberry Patch...

Monday was the day; it was time to fly! Not only the Bluebirds but also the baby birds who'd been raised in the nest perched atop the flood light under the eaves! Mr. Goodneedle kept asking me if the babies had left their nests yet and I told him I wasn't quite sure. Monday left little doubt that the time was at hand. I stepped outside to be greeted with loud bird calls and constant "fly overs" (

read more
Vintage Christmas Quilt... from May Your Bobbin Always Be Full

 

This is my latest project

when I meet with my local

quilting tribe...


Vintage Christmas



It took several days to cut out all of the pieces:


How much do I love these pick up trucks !





This pattern was nicely written

and so easy to follow...

















All 5 pick up trucks have been completed...



Now it is time to piece the big trees:



Big and smaller trees...




All of the units have been pieced together...

It is time to cut the sashing strips,

but that is for next time.


Yes, I am desperately in need of a new design wall.

The ...

read more
June 23, 2024
Veranda Photos...Garden and Stitchy Stuff from Canadian Needle Nana

Writing outside this morning. 8 am and already 25 C. We have a heat wave warning but it is very pleasant just now. A little breeze is blowing too. I must be a pessimistic gardener. In front of me is a Blue Beech tree I planted here years ago with little expectation that it would grow. 

Well grow it has and is now at a point of crowding out the other things I've planted like the Weigelia. It was a wild shoot that had sprouted on the opposite side of the house and I read that it was slow ...

read more
June 17, 2024
Chookshed Stitchers Challenge- Cardinal Rule, Free Patterns from Canadian Needle Nana

The resident mallard on our pond is sleeping there overnight. If up and down there early enough, I see him always resting in the same spot.  I took this shot from a great distance but even then he alerted. Every year the ducks try to nest there and we find the egg shells strewn about. I've tried to work out how the legs are folded here. ? Mallards are part of the Dabbling Ducks family which I'd never thought was a real scientific name till I looked into how they spend their nights. 

What shade of yellow would you ...

read more
June 15, 2024
New Project Beginnings, Cross Stitch, Fitness Talk, Adieu Fledglings from Canadian Needle Nana

This turned out to be the best photo I got of the mama bird. Today I hadn't noticed her very frequent trips across the lawn and checked the nest. The two little ones have fledged in what seems like no time at all. Here's hoping they will survive the all important first year.

read more
June 13, 2024
The Confetti Chain and Other Warm Weather Happenings from From the Strawberry Patch...

This is what I'm calling "Confetti Chain",  as it stands right now, 24 blocks. I hope to add the same number more; making it a generous 60" X 80" quilt. Eventually.Here's the basic block unit laid out. Each block has forty three pieces! I can't remember where I ever saw this and I can't find a source. My version uses lights and darks out of the 1.5" scrap bin for the 4-patches. The

read more
The Confetti Chain and Other Warm Weather Happenings from From the Strawberry Patch...

This is what I'm calling "Confetti Chain",  as it stands right now, 24 blocks. I hope to add the same number more; making it a generous 60" X 80" quilt. Eventually.Here's the basic block unit laid out. Each block has forty three pieces! I can't remember where I ever saw this and I can't find a source. My version uses lights and darks out of the 1.5" scrap bin for the 4-patches. The

read more
June 7, 2024
Thrifted Summer Tops, Bramble Blooms 1 &2, Twenty Six Jell-o Desserts from Canadian Needle Nana

Just like that, our world outside is a million shades of green.

Tony and Ned on the side lawn

I put a mirror up and saw the robin's eggs have hatched. It is a good spot well protected by the house roof which is also under the veranda roof. I got a quick shot of her. We can now sneak in and out the door without disturbing her. 
As promised here are three of  my latest thrifted summer tops. Below is the one I'm most concerned about...such a bright colour with such large blooms. I'm not ...

read more
June 2, 2024
Chookshed Stitchers Challenge, Bramble Blooms, Free Redwork Patterns from Canadian Needle Nana

I'm amused watching this small turkey flock trot through the front yard. The male is displaying constantly and looking so special. 


But as far as we can tell, the females don't even give him a glance. In fact, one day they all left and trotted off leaving him standing there alone. We felt a little sorry for him. 
What a great gift! My sister always hits the mark with the books she gives me. 
I've enjoyed reading it very much and just love the collection of over 50 easy and healthy recipes Helen has included with her ...

read more
May 26, 2024
Life Lessons, Crossroads Quilt, Mother Robin from Canadian Needle Nana

"The times they are a-changin..." Bob Dylan

The library underwent upgrading last summer and huge new windows were installed. This was the view a couple of weeks ago out one of them. It struck me it could have been taken in so many small towns all over America with a church squarely in view. This is the Zion-Memorial United Church which would have been my church in the old days. This one is holding on but one of the other especially beautiful stone churches has been turned into apartments.  

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt last week was ...

read more
May 25, 2024
Birds on my brain... from Elsie Quilts

Some bird quilts on Pinterest caught my eye and after finding 4-5 different foundation paper pieced versions, I've been birding... totally addictive. Here are two of them (without eyes at this point) and I've managed to make all the patterns reversible.  They are all different colors, all (except one) with crazy legs from a wild stripy fabric, and all with blue backgrounds, similar in value but not the same fabrics. 

Have no idea how it will wind up or even how it will sew together... with or without sashing? with or without plain blocks, etc. The birds have ...

read more
May 19, 2024
Food Hacks, Barred Owls, BB Border Design, Pink Hour Glass Blocks from Canadian Needle Nana

I just have to share the end of another successful Barred Owls of Indiana season. I so enjoyed watching these three grow and then branch successfully off into the big wide world. I really like how the owl parents are so attentive and make sure all three, even the youngest and smallest, hatched days after the first, gets plenty of food. Their eyesight is thought to be better than ours so imagine emerging from the nest box and seeing all the world in front of them for the first time- no wonder they look transfixed. 

BTW, the Cottage Garden Samplings ...

read more
  • birds
  • Page 1 of 12 ( 231 posts )