What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 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.

He finally took the plunge and immediately took ...

 In twos...

The two of us went down to the pond early evening during the time some call the Blue Hour.  As we turned a corner of the skating shack, I saw clearly two fawns lying together in the tall grass at the far end of the pond. Luckily Ned was entranced with something on the ground and hadn't seen them. I watched for a minute, then pulled him back to quietly exit the scene. No photo, just the beautiful image still in my mind. 

My indoor Geraniums have put on quite a show outside this summer. The heavy ...

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. 

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

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. 

Everything is about the garden these days here in our tiny patch of the world. I tried to think of a word to describe ours and came up with lush. I was exclaiming how the heat has encouraged so much growth; the front area is full and almost overgrown looking so early in the season. Tony pointed out that I've been adding to it each summer for the eight years I've been here. Of course, everything has grown taller and wider over those years. At this point, I won't be adding any more plants/trees to the ...

We are doing well with the healthier eating. The weekly box of fresh vegetables and fruit has certainly helped. There was a large cauliflower, potatoes and green beans lately that I used in one of those mushroom soup casseroles...actually I switched to cream of chicken and it was good too. I also made a lentil, pea and bean soup with added carrots and sweet potatoes from the box. Not foods Tony would like but he enjoyed the soup. And for me, I can make a meal of a salad. I always add carrots and oranges. I'm still using ...

 Ned's big brother is staying with us for a little while. Here he's having a chat with Tony. Petey is demonstrating his signature move...how he can balance and beg at the same time. Definitely treat worthy, he insists. 

I found another YouTube stitcher to watch who enjoys both cross stitch and quilting. Laura at LalaDee Stitches. She has a great upbeat vibe and shares much enthusiasm for each of her many projects. She does beautiful work in both cross stitching and quilting ...

 The storm is past and power has been restored for everyone. Then it was really cold like we had dialed back a season back to winter.  However today, spring hopes are revived as it is going up to 15C.  I did pick up my seed packets while out and about yesterday. I found out last year that these are classified seasonal and only available on the shelves for a brief time, so have to get them early. I bought more of the Zinnia packets because I had good luck growing those last year and they stayed in bloom so long ...

 Easter seems to have crept up on me. I'm just now noticing all the bunny and egg patterns and realizing how fast time is spinning by for us here at the wooden house. We are both convinced a week is now feeling like five days not seven. I remember wondering how would I cope with all the free time in retirement...how in the world to fill all those hours not spent at work. Like so many idle wonderings, this one also turned out to be a waste of time and thought...time speeds up it seems.

So Easter ...

I showed Ned and his fellow chocolate Lab litter mates in this post to celebrate his birthday.   The litter included Petey who stayed with them and Beth made them a cake.

I finished my wonderful Peter Pauper Press Snowman and Friends jigsaw just in time to see the snow leave. Each of these puzzles includes a full poster of the picture which is a great help.

 I finally made a decision about what next for the Bramble Blooms ...

I park at the edge of parking lots and one day I went behind the little mini mall to park. Look what was there waiting for me. Usually here on the property, to see 3 deer together is a big deal. I counted 9 spread out amongst the trees. It was early morning so they may have overnighted there. 

I roasted a large chicken (I now buy the largest one I can find these days) that I stuffed with a bread stuffing.  It made meals most of last week, well, for three days anyway.

We had a rabbit living in the front yard, hiding under the veranda but it has moved on. I think Ned may have caused that because he happened to catch him on the veranda one day and chased him underneath. 

Deana pulled #2 for us to work on this month for the Chookshed Stitchers Challenge .