Fall is in the air. Can you feel it too? We've been getting a few cooler days and nights (but still mostly hot), the shadows are getting longer, and I don't hear as many songbirds singing these days. The tomatoes are ripening and I have been putting them in the food dehydrator. Our green beans are in need of picking every 2 days and they are filling up the freezer. Garlic is dried and braided for storage. And now the apples are nearing the time for picking. We are so excited because this is the first crop we have had in 2 years. And the chickens are excited to eat the apple scraps!
These are our new girls, Gerdy and Dot. They are Starlight Green Eggers, although Gerdy has feathered legs and feet. We are wondering if she didn't get mixed in with the Starlight chicks at the hatchery.
Its no matter. We love little Gerdy anyway. She follows us around the chicken yard and talks to us. At night, after everyone has found their place on the roost in the coop, there stands Gerdy outside waiting for one of us to pick her up and place her on the roost. ♥
They should begin laying any week now as Gerdy and Dot are 20 weeks old.
This year's sunflowers are so very tall! I always thought sunflowers grew on a single stalk but mine seem to branch out like trees. The chickens love eating the seeds so in order for them to have a supply, we have to pick them once they mature before the birds eat them all.
Our daughter gifted me with some hydrangeas from her garden recently. My Thimbleberries table-topper came out as a perfect companion to these hydrangea colors on the dining table. Fresh flowers are such a cheerful addition to a room.
They are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also soothe our mental well-being and add to our creativity. All are things I like a supply of, along with the memory of our family dinner when these were presented.
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So, in between all the work outside, and in the kitchen, I have managed to complete another quilt. This one was started many years ago as a Block of the Month club at a local quilt shop. The patterns were Moda University blocks and once you completed all 12, you got the finish directions.
I changed up my setting (added some diagonal pinwheels and an extra block), and added some borders to make it a bit larger. Larger indeed! This quilt finished at 98" x 98"!
It is done in greens, golds, and browns. Pretty colors for the time it was being made. I used all Fig Tree fabrics and love the golden pear patterned fabric.
There are lots of fabrics left over - even after those large borders, and lots and lots of leftover HSTs too. So much so that I have enough for another quilt. I reserved a few for the patchwork label.
The rest of those pieces will likely go in the procrastination box. Hmm, remember the Procrastination Box? I need to take another look in there. There is always some fun, quick project waiting to be created with the leftover pieces from previous quilt projects. And it is growing in size!
This Green and Gold Moda University Sampler Quilt has been sitting so long to be finished. It feels good to call it done.
The back shows the all-over quilting design.
A close-up of the quilting. It is called Lorilee.
After making some calculations...I have found it totals 18 yards - including the backing and binding. I definitely busted some stash with this one and my total for the year is now 73 yards.
I have another large quilt needing its binding sewn on so hopefully I will get that one announced soon. I need to come up with a name for it also. I will share more information and history on my next post.
I am still working on my embroidery blocks for Jaye's Bouquet BOM and trying to keep up. This month's featured flower was a Zinnia. Floss colors used were lovely oranges and a pretty silver green for the stems. A simple chain stitch and fly stitch (my favorite!) is needed on the borders and this block is finished. Is there anyone else working on this BOM too? I am having a lot of fun brushing up on my embroidery skills.
Anxious to finish this block so I can wrap it on the "embroidery noodle" and move on to the next.
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Bosco had his first birthday this month. Happy Birthday, Bosco!
We all went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream. Here he is waiting for Dad to come back with his treat. He never came up for air until he finished his little dish! Haaaa! Next month we hope to book a date with Duke's K9 Dash n' Splash for some dock diving training. Doesn't that sound like fun? Can't wait to see this brave little dog go for the big plunge!
I'll leave you with a quote I found. Perhaps you can tell me who the author is.
"My soul is fed with needle and thread."
Happy stitching!
