Heard on the news that Caitlyn is out for two weeks with a strained muscle – the games won’t be near so much fun but I’ll still watch.
It was a quiet Memorial Day – went for an ice cream cone this afternoon – that’s it.
I finished Keeper’s fall chair cover – quilting it next.
My once yearly blooms are starting to come on.
Reader photos
Remember our thimble discussion? I haven’t bound anything since but Betty sent me her recommendation for her favorite thimble so I ordered it.
Here’s a closeup of the thimble.
See those openings on the side? I guess I push the needle thru with the side of my finger instead of the end and there’s an opening in the thimble right where I want to use it so this thimble, even tho it’s very comfortable, is not my thimble. Sigh.
Tomorrow it’s back to lawn mowing and picking up sticks. My summer – ha!
I missed the discussion on thimbles, but I have never felt comfortable using one. When I mentioned it to a friend, she wrapped my finger with a few rounds of that stretchy medical bandage tape used after you get your blood drawn. It worked like a charm! It’s not sticky so I could slip it off and keep it with my binding stuff. Another friend uses those rubber finger tips you can get in the office supply section. Maybe one of these options would work for you.
It was March 4. https://chickenscratchcountrythreads.com/uncategorized/validation-3-3-25/
Barbara – such good ideas!!
Your plant is very intriguing, its blooming is like it is celebrating the coming of summer. Does the flower produce a smell? I love zinnias, they have wonderful, colorful flowers, I think they should smell sweet like they look.
I’ve not seen that thimble before, I can’t seem to master thimbles, I’ve never tried any that is comfortable and it’s hard to fit my fat fingers. Plus they make my finger feel like it’s sweating. I use those little sticky leather dots, if not I’m constantly sticking the wrong end of the needle in my finger and I am allergic to most metals so all of the handwork I do makes the skin on my fingers peel. That’s won’t stop me from applique that I love!
It may finally be spring here, the last three days have been close to 70 with no morning frost. It would be nice if our summer stayed like this, I dislike hot, hot weather.
Give all the critters hugs from me! Sammie and Nelson went out to chase the deer and geese.
Linda – I used to have those dots! I wonder where they are!!! Oh, Sami and Nelson! They’re having fun!! It might make 60 here today but I won’t be spending time in the porch!
Gosh, I can’t believe it’s the end of May. I always think that in about 22 days we hit our summer solstice and our longest day of light. I love the light and don’t want to think of cold and wet. However the extended summer of hot, humid and dry may be coming next week. Ugh. Fortunately, in the last few weeks we have had rain. We were in a severe drought, and I don’t know that we are fully out of it. Digging in the garden, even after all that rain, it is still on the dry side. But we’re expecting rain Through the rest of the week.
Some Mary I haven’t commented in a while, but a lot has happened with you. I haven’t been able to catch any of the Indiana fever games. I just can’t figure out when they are and what network they’re on. However, I did see that Caitlin had an injury and would not be playing for a couple of weeks. She supposed to play Maryland and they already put a message out on our local news that for all who are looking forward to seeing her will be disappointed. There was an article about Caitlin and went on about how much money she is bringing in to.all. It was a long article and it mentioned that they couldn’t actually pay her the amount she deserves for all the interest and income. She generates to the states an organizations that host their games. However, I think she’s doing just fine with her contract with Nike.
I’m so sorry about JB. I can’t imagine where he was headed the day he died. But again you give your animals such a wonderful home
The antics of Hazel and keeper and also Hank when he’s there still keep me in amazement. The attack on the groundhog was quite amazing. We have groundhogs here that have done some major damage with their tunneling under structures. And now there are three new babies bouncing around. A friend has a have a heart trap, as I can’t accept killing them. They just keep multiplying. The farmers don’t like them, and when they start destroying the brick sidewalks that my husband and son so pains takingly laid it is disturbing. My friend has said that they have relocated some 30 groundhogs to other places. With one trap this will probably take a while.
After you mentioned your small gardens and then I saw a picture of them, I laughed. All I can say is they are not small. All of my perennial gardens are very overcrowded. Everything needs to be thinned. So I’m not sure when that’s gonna happen.
Yesterday my son filled a tree. A very tall one that was dead. However, it got snagged in another tree, so I’m not sure what the process will be to actually get it on the ground. In the meantime, my compost pile is over there. Guess we’ll have to find a new location.
The one alone, baby owl, that our pair of great horned, parents hatched, already left the nest weeks ago. I know that they’re still in the area because I can hear the baby owl with its call in the trees near the house. As many times as I’ve tried to spot it, I can’t find it. But we often know there is an L around because the Blackbirds are insistent on harassing them and caring incessantly. Occasionally, I startle one and it flies away.
Are the quilts are beautiful., And colorful and I always admire your wonderful quilts for your animals. They just brighten up every space.
I’ve rambled enough and hoping everybody has a good day.
Pat in Md
Pat – I hope your baby owl survives – are the parents still close by? May is my favorite month – summer is all ahead – and the temps are just perfect – until this year. The weather has been just miserable and my favorite month is gone. I hate fall because it’s the start of misery coming. I have hardly been outside the weather has been so miserable. Sorry, I’m whining.
We have had rain. I don ‘t know how much but the farmers are happy. I got a walk yesterday before it started. Predicted to end soon.
I have quilters coming today as it is sew day here at my house. Lunch out.
Do you burn the sticks you pick up? I just have a bucket full and don’t know when I can dump. I guess when I finally get to trim my hedges.
Fran – I do burn sticks but we also have several huge brush piles that we leave for the wildlife. I dump the sticks in front of the piles and Rick pushes them back with the tractor and loader.
Very nice quilt show. Your readers share very pretty quilts and interesting ones like the Christmas one. I believe Pat’s is one of the wonderful 3 yard quilts where you use one yard of each color. I like them.
I emailed a friend to say good luck who is moving to be near her daughter and she said she put her fabric in storage (as well as other items ) as she decided she can’t part with it yet. I thought that was a wise move if she can afford the storage fee as we all have quilts we long to make and held onto the fabric for it. It kinda hit me I need to prioritize the ones I should do now to see my favorite fabrics used in but I tend to drift right back to my scraps and charity quilts.
It’s the time of year we seem to be out in our yards and moving around alot with stick pick up and planting. I know it by how sore I feel by dinner time!
Ok Share the name of the thimble and where can we get it. I usually use the stick on ones but keep trying to find one that is comfortable. I do a lot of hand piecing and thimbles are a must.
The quilts are beautiful and I am envious of some but ALL ARE FANTASTIC.
I moved to a retirement community so no sticks to pick up but a great way to get in exercise. Stay well everyone
Angie – I don’t remember the name but I’ll search
Angie – I just searched for thimbles and found several available – called ergonomic thimbles. The holes in the sides are for keeping your finger from sweating.
Love the once a year bloom – so very pretty! And the quilts are delightful. I was thinking of the words on the Christmas quilt – lots of time and effort!
Picking up sticks seems to be part of my resume 🤣 we’ve had so much wind lately it’s a daily chore!
Enjoy your day everyone!
I’m not real crazy about picking up sticks but I like to mow. I’ve been trying to take better care of my flower beds and I think they look nicer than last year. We will see how this plays out when the weather gets hot.
Not much sewing going on around here. I have to get busy though….my great niece is getting married in October. As slow as I am, I have to get my butt in gear!!!
Stay well everbody!!
I have one of those plants. We call it an orchid cactus. I don’t know what the real name is. Mine hasn’t bloomed in years. The last time it had buds, there were about 30 of them. The buds were so heavy that they broke the stalks. I managed to save the plant, but there have been no blossoms since.
Shirley – I believe it’s called night blooming cereus – the botanical name is epithelium …….. – I wonder why yours quit blooming.
Hi Mary
This is my third attempt to send this email. The hour is late? Or maybe because I am typing in the dark, lest the light disturb anyone? 😎 At any rate, I mentioned that I have always used a thimble. Mother insisted. As an adult, I wear my thimble on my 2nd finger and push the needle with my third finger! I know. Crazy. When I think of it, I try to remember to push with the thimble, but usually it is the bare finger that pushes. Even when I hand quilt.
It was a hot day here in northern CA, heading toward 108 by the weekend. Summer is here! But my yard never looks as neat and nice as yours. Maybe Keeper and friends need to come and help me?
Lindah – what is it with thimbles??? My yard is sad this year but the grass is beautiful down by the barn because the geese love to eat dandelions – isn’t that interesting?
Hi Mary, lots of lovely quilts today! I have been busy doing hexagons as the centre of a quilt, got first border on, now stitching ric rac braid on as a vine,then leaves, thinking of doing churn dash blocks as a final border. I like quilts to make the decision of the next step, makes life interesting! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
Sandy – you must really like handwork! It will be beautiful