Miscellany

Before I get reminded I thought I'd better post something!  :-)

Let me see.....   I've been working on the dahlia blocks.  The petals are appliqued on the first block and it's waiting for the center circle.  It's a bit weird to work on because the lavender is a light poly-cotton and some of the star points are knits backed with interfacing.

Charlie was becoming a bit too territorial about his cage so it was a good time to rearrange the inside and make him some new toys.

We also switched the positions of the cages and the china cabinet.  Even though his wings are clipped I was uncomfortable with him being so close to the back door.  If he got out there he could climb a tree in a flash!

The wild birds are eating us out of house and home.....as well as the raccoon.  (Sigh.)  I finally managed to get a photo of the downy woodpecker.

And three crows on the streetlamp.   I am easily amused.  :-) 

Today however, I got very excited when a big woodpecker-looking bird suddenly appeared at the suet.  Oh MY!   Of course the camera was nowhere in sight.  I grabbed my binoculars and my book and determined it was a male yellow-shafted northern flicker.  So gorgeous!  There was no doubt about it being the yellow-shafted version.  When it flew it's underside was bright yellow.  Pictures here.   It made my day!

We've had snow Sunday night!  Not much was left out front in the early morning.  The Carolina sun took care of it very fast.  (Shooting into the sun gave me that strange purple reflection.)

The snow lasted a bit longer out back.

Dog TV is on!

I wonder what she thinks about when she sits and stares into space.

Another t-shirt quilt done.

Kathie and I are going to a retreat with Karen Eckmeier in a couple of weeks and we had a great time shopping for our fabrics at Wish Upon A Quilt. We had so many bolts pulled out for consideration that the whole store got involved, customers included.  We are in a group of people testing the pattern for Karen's new Wearable Waves book.  Very exciting!  Choices, choices.  Well looky here....my original pink palette has morphed into something more purple.  :-)

My Christmas cacti that bloom at Thanksgiving and Easter bloomed for Valentine's Day.  I wonder how many more holidays I can get out of them!  (Anything but Christmas apparently.)

In preparation for Mom and Dad's imminent move, we're still listing furniture on Craigslist, both theirs and ours.  Tonight we sold our Ikea bedroom furniture (Yay!) which will be replaced with items from Mom and Dad's.

Of course stripping one room always means trashing another.  Sigh.

Also this week we went to The Clayton Center to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  The 600 seat auditorium is a nice intimate setting and clearly everyone really wanted to be there.  The group puts on a lively show and we all participated.  If they come your way, go and see them!

Today I finally put the borders on this Jelly Roll 1600 top.  This evening I was marking arcs on it with the metal measuring tape pinned to the design wall.  That is until all my blue marking pens wore out.  Tomorrow I'll get some more.  :-)

And last....I couldn't resist this pretty scene at the front window.  The camera did a good job, even through the screen.  :-)

I had a lovely little video of mist on the pond but it's been rejected, darn it.  Next time....if I can figure out why.

It might as well be spring!

Today was a lovely day, warm enough for a very light jacket and smelling of spring.  It looks a bit grey in the photos but the sun was out much of the time.

Ngaire and I went for a walk this morning and I was amazed at all the flowers.  Camelia are in bloom here and there.

This large hawk or vulture was overhead during most of our walk.

Ngaire was sporting her new pink harness.  This one actually does seem to help stop her pulling so hard.

There were daffodils everywhere.

Forsythia!

Cherry trees are in bloom too.

Ummmmm.....

Don't know what these are either.  Both red and white.  And something blue in the background.

Something that looks like bells.  If I know the name, it escapes me at the moment.  :-)

I was SO thrilled to receive a surprise package from New Zealand yesterday!  Our friend Sue has been following my adventure with houses and sent me a bundle of NZ fabrics.  Woot!

So of course, before I even got dressed this morning I just had to sit down with my templates and cut into them.  My bin of house pieces is nice and full, but I'm sure it's only a fraction of what I'm going to need.  :-)  The fun goes on.......

I finished a large t-shirt quilt this afternoon.  I had five extra shirt pockets and patches to applique too.  It was a bit of a wrestling match getting it under the Bernina so I could buttonhole stitch around them, but aside from knocking a whole bunch of my tools on the floor in the process, it came out just fine.  On the floor next to the filing cabinets you can see the blue bags of t-shirt quilts lined up waiting for my attention.  And one is stacked on top of the printer, all prepped and ready to be sewn.

Another project I'm doing for Julianne is hand appliqueing the flowers on three dahlia blocks.  It took a bit of pondering and experimentation to figure out how to prep and sew the three dimensional petals but I think I've got it licked.  Stay tuned.  :-)

Bedtime for weary sewers!

While all around me are sleeping....

Actually I should be sleeping.  I was up a large part of last night with a sick dog.  (Poor Ngaire.)  I slept most of the morning instead and was so out of sorts this afternoon I figured I shouldn't work on anything I could damage!  :-)  So I did some catch up sewing on My Town.  The Tramp found a Julian calendar for me so I will know what day of the year it is.  Yikes!  Today is day 44 and the last house I made was #29! 

So while I sewed and The Tramp did whatever he does at his computer, we had a movie on, and when I looked around the dogs were pretty much comatose.  :-)  I'm assuming Ngaire finds that odd position comfortable.

 Yep.  Eyes tight shut. 

 Nothing bothers Maisy.  She sleeps with full concentration. 

During a hot flash I had testily tossed my cardigan on the floor behind me and Ivy found it.

 Also eyes tight shut.  Usually the camera disturbs them!

So we have house #30.  Is that Benjamin Bunny?  Mom?  Anyone?  I guess I'll find out tomorrow at bee.  :-)

#31  Grand #2 with his Spiderman face paint.  He's just the cutest!

#32  Grand #3 (NZ)  His mom has been sending us short videos.  Yesterday it was one of him having the best time jumping on a trampoline with other children.  Love it!

#33  The lovebirds, LZF and ED.  I heart.  :-)

#34   ESD (Evil Stepdaughter) on one of her visits to the US.  Now and then she sends me some New Zealand fabrics.  I have a quilt in mind I'm saving them up for.  None of them are really appropriate for my houses.....but maybe I should look at them again!  Hmmmmm.

#35  When Dad retired he got interested in woodworking.  Among other things he built several wonderful grandfather clocks, one of which is mine, lucky me.  :-)  That sun/moon in the doorway reminds me of the images on some clock dials.

#36  Isn't he supposed to change in a phone booth???

#37  My sweet Ivy.  She poses so prettily.

#38  Poyla!  I love this photo of him.  The full photo is over in the sidebar.  I assume it was taken in NYC.  I'll have to ask!  (No significance to the "moo" fabric, I just don't have very many black and whites!)

#39  And we have bugs.  Not sure why.  We just do.  :-)

That's all folks!  Goodnight.