Flying geese block and the garden

I’ve been neglecting my blog because I’ve been feeling apathetic and completely uninspired. Besides all that’s happening in the world, I have some health challenges that I’ve been talking to doctors about and running for test. Nothing alarming but really aggravating. My limbs and arms have been covered with hives every day for months, some worse than others, and I’ve got a shortness of breath that doesn’t seem to respond to puffers or be related to asthma. 

We’ve had a heatwave here the last couple of weeks so it’s been to uncomfortable me to garden or sit out on the deck.

The picture above is of a planter I made in a vintage church pendulum light from which my husband removed all the electrical parts.

The gardens are starting to fill out and come into flower.

The birds really enjoy the various birdbaths, especially in this very dry time. We really need a good rain.






Ideas for some fiber art have been floating around in my mind but I’ve been taking so many antihistamines that I struggle to capture and hold a thought. One lunch time this week, I attempted a simple sketch of flowers from my garden and gave up when I couldn’t seem to focus on a line.

However, I’ve been knitting, no brainer stuff, and I finished 2 quilt tops that I’ll soon send for quilting. 

For a while, since watching you tube videos from Kate at the Last Homely House, I’ve been thinking about the flying geese quilt that she did. So a couple days ago needing something simple to distract me, I started cutting fabrics from my stash.

Next time, I’ll try for a better photo. I’m enjoying the block. I’ll just keep going until I’m tired of it. 

And I’ll get pics of the 2 quilt tops I finished, the Woodland Animals in turquoise and the Majestic Mountains.

How have you all been coping?

Wishing you a nice weekend!

Sketches, knitting, sewing and jamming

How are you feeling? Are you getting out more with things starting to open up or are you still quarantined? We’ve had an opening up in our region although it will take time to move into more freedom, if we ever do. I’m very thankful that we are heading into summer here. My garden, though not big, has been keeping me somewhat busy. Everything is finally green, some trees have blossomed as well as early flowers. It’s a tiny lot with small gardens; just enough for someone with arthritis.

The apple blossoms were nice last week and have all gone now.

My energy and ability to move waxes and wanes. This week, I had blood tests done and I’m waiting for xrays and phone consultations from drs. I’ve just learned to take it easy when I need to. I was taking my tea to the deck quite a bit until we had rain and now warmer weather.

I’m so tired at night, I really had to cast on another no brainer afghan.

And, maybe a little optimistically, I started another toddler sweater which I have to focus on for every row. Not sure if it’ll get finished.

I followed a small watercolour course by Mish Wooderson and I’ve since been thinking more about values. I tried a couple value sketches in a tiny sketchbook to experiment and see if one might be suitable for a piece of fiber art which I really don’t have energy for at the moment but it helps to think and plan.

This morning, after chopping and soaking all ingredients overnight, I simmered a rhubarb marmalade. I’m not really a fan of marmalade but love rhubarb. Hubby will like it I think, I hope, since there’s a lot of it! I think I’d prefer rhubarb chutney. Maybe I’ll try that when I pick more.

I may have managed an hour of sewing a few days this week, getting most of the animal quilt top pieces. There remains only to finish the bottom row and then 3 horizontal seams. There are small borders to add as well. I guess there’s no hurry.

I finally received  the Tildas World fabric from 2 different shops, one in Canada and one in Australia. They’re from different collections but coordinate pretty well, I think. I haven’t quite decided how I’ll use them yet but I’m very influenced by Kate of The Last Homely House on you tube.