Marvelous May

It is finally spring here in Connecticut.  Happy Memorial Day!  I've been BUSY!  Last weekend I took a ferry to block island to meet up with New England members of the American Quilt Study Group the Historical Museum.

We saw beautiful island quilts and learned about shipwrecks and salvage operations on the island.   Some of the shipwrecks were carrying calico fabric and it was spread on the hill behind the church to dry.  It is still known as calico hill.

A friend at my Ninigret Quilt Guild gifted me this shipwreck reproduction fabric a while ago.  It was so interested to learn more about it!

 

I loved this court house step log cabin very much.  I've never made one.

I wonder if it would make a good sew along?  What do you think?

 I think it would be fun.

I also loved this nine patch.  I have a soft spot for them.

We also had a little back stage tour and saw these incredible dresses.  The first one was a wedding dress.

Check out those sleeves!

Earlier this month,  I made some Kentucky Derby fascinators for me and my girlfriends.

It sure was a sloppy run for the roses!

I taught a Liberated House workshop for  the CT Piecemakers.

This is always such a fun class.  No two houses are ever the same.

Mr fun and I have been working to prepare our new raised planters.  I'm excited to get plants.  I hope it doesn't turn into a deer buffet.

Here are my columbines.  I planted seeds last year and I'm so happy with the variety of colors.

I just returned home on Saturday night from Bridgton, Maine where I taught the Pineapple Workshop.   Here is my instagram collage.   Isn't that a beautiful sky?

Finally, I listened to this book and really enjoyed it.  It is a family story set a the base of little bighorn mountains.  It was gentle and good for the soul.  

Happy Spring Everyone!  Thanks for coming by.

xoxo

Sizzling Summer Stuff

Whew!  It has been HOT here in CT!  Here's what I've been up to this week.

I have had so much fun making these fast string flip and sew tray liners.  It makes eating on the couch to play Jeopardy so much easier!

 Here is mine:

Mr. Fun's tray:

 Hanna's:

They are also great to take to the beach for lap picnics.

Gardening Project:
We have been adding to the front garden since moving here 3 years ago.  It is one of the only spots we can get a shovel into the ground.

See that low black planter in the back of the border?

Surprise!  It is an up-cycled doggie pool.  Here is Rich drilling drainage holes after spray painting it.  (do it the other way around by the way to avoid scuffing the paint).  Also, if you  make one to sit on the ground, drill the holes around the bottom sides.

Find a nice spot and fill first with rocks and stones then garden soil and a top dressing of potting soil.  Here it is from INSIDE the house where I can see it best.

It is in this back shady area of the the front border outside of our laundry area in the back hall.  Brilliant?  I think so.

 Here is a view from the walkway.  You can see another planter that has been spray painted.  I love how the black matches the shutters.

Another view with my purple cone flower and purple butterfly bush.  This was all very sparse.  Now it has the messy, easy look I like.

My experiment to have morning glories is a success.  I planted these inside and have them on our raised deck.  Next year I'm going to rig up more climbing material.

We've had some real rascals around the deck garden.  I often wake up to a spilled hummingbird feeder.

 some little devil decided he didn't care which herbs were which.  Luckily I know.  I'm always surprised that chipmunks and squirrels don't eat these herbs.

Finally here is the Alice Payne block I'm quilting.  After this block I will have only 1 more then on to the borders.

I hope your summer days are long and easy in the US and that my friends in AUS are having a cozy peaceful winter.

xo

Weirdest Post Ever

This is a random post filled with weird things and not a lot of quilting I can tell you that.  I've been out of sorts lately. 

I worked hard in the heat to get some pots planted and here is a sampling.

 I was never a huge container gardener until I bought  property that was all rock.

 Our outdoor decks are also very high off the yard so this way I see the flowers or plants.

This year I resurrected window boxes from NJ and made herb gardens.

I little table top succulent garden.

 The Balcony.

A very shady corner of the deck.  I love Caladiums.

Can't resist a photo of this beautiful Goldfinch at my feeder.

I spied this snake while preparing my pumpkin patch.  He was very nice.

A few weeks ago coco went CRAZY BARKING AT THE WOODS and here is why.

 What a pretty fox.  We played high and seek for several minutes.  Look at that cute smiling face.

 Back to woods he goes.....love that bushy tail.

Speaking of wild animals - Mr. Starbuck keeps running outside and then acts offended if I forget he's out there....

Woah, dude, calm down...  all this from a mostly inside cat that rarely meows.

Where is the quilting????  I would also like to know.
I figured out the math for my Westering Women 9" block and will make it when I return.

Whoopie - don't hurt yourself, barb....I also started this charity quilt for a camp outside Boston for grieving children.  I plan to make one for a boy and one for a girl.  Below is the boy one.

In closing I'd like to offer my favorite new technique for cooking bacon.  Everyone likes bacon, right?

I line pans with foil then lay out bacon in a single layer.  (I like to take it out of the fridg about 30 mins before I start so it comes to room temp).

Here's the magic part:  I drizzle real maple syrup on each slice and then grind fresh pepper on each.  

I put the trays in a 375 degree oven for about 15-20 mins.  Really depends on the bacon thickness.  I do watch them and take out strips as they become brown and crispy.   They are perfect with blueberry pancakes or eggs or just in your mouth.

I'm hoping that my trip to Alaska with Hanna will snap me out of my sewing malaise.   (the trip is a combined Double Birthday, Christmas and Graduation gift to us both from Mr. Fun.)

Gosh, I sure would love to see an Eagle, Moose and Whale.  Totem Poles are high on the list too.

Have a great week!
xo