Saturday, January 23, 2021

Ever Onward

 That's a little how I feel with the Pandemic still with us all.   But there is hope and we will overcome it.

I always feel lucky when I spot a pretty sunrise while letting Coco out in the morning.

Nature is a balm that soothes the soul and replenishes hope for me.

I've been working on my Whig Rose, which may have an official name soon.
The borders are slow going and putzy.  I am doing them out of the hoop.  You can't really see it, but I've sew basted through all layers.  I had also stay stitched the edge so it wouldn't stretch.
There are ALOT of edge triangles, so I am doing them as I finish a side.  If I wait until the end......who knows what might happen.
Nutmeg is all too happy to guard it when it is parked on the couch.
I have been making pom poms for a mantel design.  My friends are a little concerned about my slight obsession with them lol.
I added some driftwood from the beach.
I got the LED snowflake lights on Amazon.   It is very charming at night and is almost making up for the fact that we have had such little snow!
I was working on a hat for my son on zoom sessions and miscounted and made it WAY too big.  I ripped the whole thing out

Ripping out is fun.  Anyway it came out great in the end.
Speaking of Andrew; he is a Covid nurse at St. Raphael's Yale Hospital and got his first vaccine.  Yay!
I pin basted my guild mystery quilt yesterday so I 'm ready to go with that "intention" this week.
I made two loaves of honey wheat bread.  Is there anything more comforting than warm homemade bread?
I passed this noble tree the other day and stopped to admire it.
It made me think about the nature of time and how it has withstood every drought and storm. 
Take care of yourselves and those you love.
xo

29 comments:

The Cozy Quilter said...

Those pompom snowballs are perfect for your mantle. Your friends must be jealous of your pompom making talents. LOL! Whig Rose is beautiful. Quilting those triangles looks a bit difficult! Beautiful sunrise. Glad the hat came out well the second time around

Linda Swanekamp said...

I have to admit, I get teary every time I feel closed in by covid. I can't even talk about it anymore. When people start discussing it ad nauseum, I leave the room or discussion. So many people have suffered the mental harm of lockdowns and I have lost all my social connections. Zoom only goes so far on the surface. I love the tree photos you posted. We have not had much snow here in Buffalo either.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love all the projects you have going on! love your walking area too. Isn't it great that some are getting their vaccines now - I know I will get mine in spring but I was hoping it would be sooner - but we all have to just stick in there and wait - all the medical people in my extended family have at least gotten the first shot and now waiting for the second and some in the education field too

julieQ said...

I love your hand quilting...and fresh bread! And a lovely sunrise...and fun pom-poms...and best, vaccine for your baby. I am delighted!!

Angie said...

Thanks for the hand quilting inspiration - I need to stop procrastinating and prep my next hand quilting project. LOVE the pompoms, they are too much fun! Congrats and good vibes to Andrew! PS - the fleur de lis rug is wonderful!

Quiltdivajulie said...

Our son is a hospital worker and he has now (HOORAY) had both of his shots (and he survived the side effects). Best to your son! Lovely mantel decor - we have tiny white lights on ours as well to help soothe the evening darkness. Gorgeous nature photos!

Julierose said...

Your Whig rose is looking so lovely with all that hand quilting...your mantel is so pretty with those snowflakes...hugs, Julierose

Janet said...

Your Whig rose is so very fabulous! I adore the feathers in the border and the straight lines aren’t as much fun to stitch with all the starting and stopping but they make those feathers look amazing!! The colors of the sunrise are so lovely. The bread sure looks yummy 😋

Frog Quilter said...

What can I add that mothers have not already stated. Beautiful post with inspiring pictures. Don’t worry about your Pom Pom attraction, there are a lot worse things. I may have to make a few myself and different colors for different holidays lol!

Chantal said...

Love the first picture. Sunrise rejuvenate me too. Wise decision of finishing the tiny triangles as you finish a side. It could quickly become a dreadful chore. Love your pompoms. Love your LED snowflake lights. It makes a very zen mantle piece.
We are a resilient specie. We are a specie that adapt itself to its surrounding. We will adapt to this and we will survive. It's just taking longer than anticipated. Hang in there. ;^)

The Joyful Quilter said...

Whig Rose is going to be spectacular, Barb! Just keep quilting...

Pinkadot Quilts said...

Congratulations to Andrew! Your snowflakes are just perfect for a January mantel, the lights too. I have always wondered what is the perfect solution to HST edges to keep them from stretching, it is way too easy for it to happen. The nature photos and the bread make for a cozy feeling to your post!

gladiquilts said...

Thank you for this lovely post. The whig rose quilt is really spectacular, esp. with the hand quilting! Trees are amazing and worthy of looking at and thinking about and I couldn't agree more about how important nature is. 10 months in, I'm feeling pretty low about the pandemic right now, but I've got an appointment for the vaccine in a month and am hoping for better days ahead for all! Your mantel is beautiful!

Lori said...

Wow! You are making great progress on your hand quilting! It is so beautiful.
Love the hat! I wish I was talented that way. You must be so proud of your son! What a hard job, being a nurse, without considering covid!

Juliann said...

There is hope - especially if we could get this vaccine thing figured out. Your pom poms on the mantle are wonderful. Thank for the lovely pictures and now I think I need to bake some bread.

Barb said...

Wow.....your quilt is AMAZING.....loved the photos of nature...there is hope.

Kyle said...

Whig Rose is fabulous. The quilting is totally amazing. I'm glad Nutmeg is standing guard. ANyone who would see it would love to take it home. Focusing on the things that bring each of pleasure is about all we can do for the moment and sharing those things on your blog bring many people pleasure as well

Janet O. said...

Your sunrise photos are so pretty!
The quilting on your Whig Rose is incredible! Looking really good!
I really like your winter themed mantle display. I have a hard time going cold turkey with no pretty lights after Christmas. I have to leave some white lights somewhere in the house to brighten the dark winter days.
Good thing you find it fun to rip out your stitches on the hat. I would think it would be disheartening.
I'm glad to hear your son has been able to get his first vaccine.
I used to love to grind my own wheat and make honey wheat bread. When all four kids were home I made 4 loaves every week. When it was just hubby and I at home I only had to make it every 2 or 3 weeks. But with celiac, that is a thing of the past. I miss good homemade bread!

ButterZ said...

Do you draw your quilting design on before you baste the quilt together.

Anonymous said...

I think your pom poms are delightful! You can make them for your mantel to suit any season or holiday. I bet your bread smells delightful too. Love warm bread and honey.
Kathleen - kakingsbury at verizon dot net

cityquilter grace said...

a soothing and comforting blog post! love the quilt and those adorable snowflake lights...i caved today and made bread as well...olive/rosemary rolls and sun dried tomato/parmesan loaf...to go with a big pot of soup made...deeelish!

Chookyblue...... said...

your quilting looks lovely.........
I too amaze at trees........so old and so much has happened in their time.........

CecileD said...

Hooray and congratulations to your son !!
Your handquilting is absolutely fabulous !! Ohhhh !!
Your are living in a beautiful place and that's very important right now with the Covid...
Be careful !! (I guess we are going to have our third lockdown in France.... pfff)

Nann said...

Lovely photos, Barb. And, yes: progress is sure, even if it is slower at times than we'd like.

Wendy Caton Reed said...

What a lovely thought to end the post with! Trees are an inspiration to all life. I must say, you are brave to end that gorgeous quilt with those triangles. I know yours will come out perfectly after quilting but mine surely would not. I am rarely that brave. You know how I adore that quilt. Can't wait to see what you finally decide for a name, however, I really liked "Whigged Out". Hurrah for Andrew's vaccination. I do have high hopes for the coming year.

Mayleen said...

Nature is also a balm to my soul and I'm eagerly waiting for spring to arrive. Lovely projects, including the bread, lol!

Barbara said...

That sunrise must have been the perfect way to start your day! Love your Whig Rose quilting. It is so elegant. Good idea to quilt the edges as you go along. Congrats to Andrew and so glad he rec'd his Covid shot. We'll get ours in March. Your mantel looks so pretty with all those pom poms. I used to make homemade bread when my kids were little, now I don't even eat it. I take pics of trees, too! Good seeing you on Zoom this morning!

QuiltGranma said...

Love your Whig Rose quilt, and Nutmeg keeping close watch over it for you!

Cynthia@wabi-sabi-quilts said...

Hurray for Andrew! He is one of the heroes. I hope he has good ways of relieving stress when he's not on duty. I like the somewhat 70's vibe of the brown stripes of the hat you are making him. Nutmeg is beautiful and charming. And oh your Whig Rose. You are so patient and dedicated to excellence and it pays off! I like your thoughts about nature. Your sunrises are beautiful. Stay warm, friend!