Quiet on the home front

 There is nothing much happening in my life and I am blessed for that.  Blogging while sheltering is pretty difficult. The election is over and I surely hope that we will all feel the need to be kinder, cease the violence and name calling and unite to end this drama and work together to control the epidemic.  With deaths mounting daily and cases increasing at a rate not seen since the beginning I hurt for the individuals infected because of the careless attitude of others.  

My pinecone did explode as I was told! I went to check it one morning last week and fall apart and when I tried to pick it up, it just fell apart.  The tree outside still has all of the cones on it still, but they are brown and I anticipate the explosions to begin anytime now.  Weird!

 I tried to count the number of quilts I have made with my tractor of a sewing machine and it is in excess of 45.  That includes the piecing and the quilting and tons of other sewing and mending.  It has begun to wear out I fear and it is only a straight stitch machine.  That means that I need another for any other stitching I want to do.  I do have a beautiful machine that does most anything including some embroidery.  However, I don't really use that feature and two machines require space that I really don't have since we downsized.  Although I am in a bedroom of a decent size, I really do not need two machines if I can do both with one.  The Mr. has ordered me another machine which will be here this week.  It has a larger throat, 10 1/2", and will sew through 8 layers of denim.  In addition, it has 170 decorative stitches and is the same brand of the machines I now have.  I like these Janome's and this one also has a metal body..not plastic.  It is similar to my straight stitch in that I can free motion with it. So since my other machine is in excellent condition and was serviced just before we moved, I am giving it to my daughter.  I have been ripping out stitches on the quilt I have been working so hopefully I will be able to finish it now.

"What you sew on Sunday, you rip on Monday" ~ (In my case...all week)

Sheltering

Sheltering at home does not give me a chance to get out much so not much is happening to post.  Everyday is pretty much like the next day and they are not eventful and I am not complaining.  We have been watching lots of television as there are so very many choices with all of the apps now available.  We are loving the British and Australian detective shows as well as the many Canadian series.  I told the Mr. that with these kittens, we have become those old "cat people" since we spend so much time with them.  Having them has been a lifesaver however as they are so funny and provide much entertainment.  I do walk when I can and the fall colors just give me so much to see in this wooded area.  I don't think we will have "trick or treating" kids, but people are sure decorating their yards.  There is always something new to see on our walks.  A few weeks ago I posted the cone below in it's green state with the sticky residue and above you can see the progress. The sweetener packet will give you an idea of the size.  The tree outside here is full of these cones and I am told that they virtually explode when they are ready to fall.

We have not had smoke for several weeks, but we are  having spectacular sunsets.  This is taken from my back door looking west toward the pacific out over our fence.  I thought that we had beautiful sunsets in Wyoming and we did, but without the benefit of smoke, this is still pretty. 

Yesterday morning I was out trimming my hydrangeas and my next door neighbor came home after walking his dogs.  I took take care of these dogs at night when they were gone so they know me.  I said "hello" and he asked me if I had time to give them a little love.  One of the dogs is very shy but the large mutt, Shelly, was tugging at the leash trying to get to me.  She loves to have her belly rubbed and I just couldn't give her enough.  She would have me spend much more time with her I am sure, but seemed to calm down after some "belly attention". I still miss my two little canines but these two kittens who are nearly 6 mos now are pretty special.   

Please remember to wear your mask and social distance.  Listen to the scientists as this virus can be so deadly and you may not know who has an underlying health issue.  

 

Rolling pins

 We have finally had some rain and it surely feels like fall now.  My neighbor and I walked this afternoon and the sun is out.  Although we usually don't have much wind here, we did have some today and a few of the branches from the fir trees 60 to 100 ft fell onto the roof.  They are not large limbs and they roll off onto the lawn. But the walk was really pretty.  The colors are so brilliant on all of the bushes and trees. The trees for the most part still have leaves on although some are beginning to fall.  Saturday, my neighbor and I went to the craft shop and then to our daughter's home.  Of course we stay in our little "bubble" of people we come in contact with and practice social distancing.  Covid is real.  I wear a mask to project you; please wear one to protect me and anyone who may be in a compromised position. It was such a great day.  Erica has a huge back yard and she is in the process of building raised gardens.  She will probably be working from home for a long time if she ever goes back to the building.  Back to the great day.  I have a small collection of rolling pins and my niece sent me a really unusual one.  That arrived on Saturday also.

The microwave above has been sitting on a shorter tea cart...my counter tops, except for the island are limited to space and the island isn't suitable for it.  Since the cart is table height and not counter height, it was difficult for us ol' folks to see the numbers and text so the Mr. built a small elevated stand from scrap pieces to raise it about 6" and that works great! The rolling pin got a place of honor just above it.  I love it!  

Garden and walks

 This past weekend my daughter went to another plant sale by invitation only and because she gets a discount, she was able to make a two cart haul.  It was amazing I guess and when she dropped by, her vehicle was packed.  She was kind enough to ask if I would like to have her get me anything and she scored 3 coral bells and a beautiful pink lace hydrangea. Thank you Erica!  I got them planted yesterday and today we planted two lilacs gifted to us by our neighbor.  I cannot begin to count the plants we have received by generous people. 

As my neighbor and I walked last week, we found these spectacular webs.

The spiders are out now...lots of 'em!  They are everywhere but aren't these webs intricate?

And this is that hydrangea! This is not where it got planted, but as it grows it will be beautiful. This fall where we are, we have so many conifers but there are also many, many other varieties of fruit and nut trees, maples and so many with which I am not familiar.  Those trees are beginning to lose their leaves and the colors are brilliant.  I am thrilled at the beauty and the walks always surprise me with something new. My flower gardens have been planted for spring so I have my fingers crossed.

"There is a kind of immortality in every garden." ~ Gladys Taber

Cats and Chickens

 We have had a couple of rainy days, the first in a long time, but the smoke is gone and we have so enjoyed those kittens.  I guess they are still kittens, as they are about 5 months old.  Bogey is so much bigger than Birdie and is growing fast.  They have voracious appetites.  I miss my little Coalette, but Bogey has such a similar personality and except for the little bit of white that she had, he looks so much like her.  Both are short haired though.  Birdie does not like to cuddle and she shows so many hunting qualities in addition to wanting to be outside.  She cannot ever be out though as that is the agreement we made and I don't want anything to happen to her.  We see lots of cats here and know that everyone protects them, but still?

They will sleep together and she is grooming him above, and below, she is helping me to paint these small birdhouses which I about ready to post in my next blog.  

I walked this morning with my neighbor, Vida and she had pictures of the "Chicken Gathering Aprons".  She has made a few, working on one also for her 3 year old grand daughter. 

This is a picture I took a few days ago when she brought one over for me to see.  They are turning out so cute. How I remember trying to gather eggs with my sister, Joan.  Those darn chickens loved to peck you when you tried to move them and get the eggs.  Joan would always keep the chickens away while I gathered the eggs, but how much fun would it have been to have one of these aprons with the individual pockets for each egg.  

"The chicken may cross the road, but nobody crosses the chicken." ~ ?

Guess what?

 Do you know what this is?  I had never heard of it either. I grew up with a lot of different farm animals.  Dad bought me a small inflatable pool for a birthday when I was small and some baby ducks.  Of course, I thought the pool was for wading, and I probably did do that, but I think he really thought it would be used more for the ducks.  It was I suspect, although I don't remember for sure.  We had a nanny goat who had a pair of twins and he built harnesses and put leashes of sorts on them which we paraded up and down the road.  I remember that.  Our dad was always doing something fun.  But this item, not a mask which we are all wearing now, is a chicken jacket or saddle as they are sometimes called.  I walk most mornings with my neighbor, Vida, and she asked me if I would be interested in making some chicken jackets.

I had to ask what they were and when she explained that they are to protect the chickens when they are pecked by other chickens.  I do remember that does happen.  Sometimes they will just pick on one chicken and bully them.  Anyway, her mom who lived in Louisiana has chickens and she is making them for her.  She bought the fabric above and I had some quilted fabric for the lining and the rope elastic.  I pulled a pattern from Pinterest and we have made a few.  The other thing she bought fabric for was "egg gathering aprons".  Now that is a brilliant idea.  The UTUBE video we watched has 12 pockets, one each for an egg. The fabric she bought was so cute--several different prints with chickens and even here, lots of people have chickens.  I am anxious to see her aprons. 

The air quality is back to normal now and we have had a few sprinkling rains at night so things are fresh and green.  

"If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." ~ Grandma Moses

Walk About

 My neighbor and I walk nearly every morning.  She has lived here quite a while although she is from New Orleans.  Most days we take a different route and we are so lucky to be able to do that.  Yesterday we walked near Long Lake and the smoke from all of the forest fires left a pretty picture with the sunrise over the lake.  However, our state as well as the nation is suffering with these fires and so many evacuations are in order.  We have lost entire small towns almost.  

I feel like a kindergartener as I find so many things unfamiliar to me.  In the small island across the drive from me stands a very large conifer.  It is a Norwegian tree of sorts and this is a green cone.  They grow upright and with the sap glistening in the sunlight, remind me of ornaments on a tree.  I am told that when it matures the individual petal-like pieces come off the cone and are about 2" wide.  I will get some dried ones to post later.  I am fascinated by this tree.  We had a breeze yesterday and the yard, driveway, deck and streets are covered with fir cones.  As soon as the smoke diminishes, I will be raking.  The Mr. did get the blower and used it on the back deck and driveway.

This is a front yard snap of one we passed on our walk yesterday.  I want it!!! I have always wanted to do something like this.  I think it is adorable. For my girlfriends who spent years crafting with me for days at a time, I did not have any glass totems or yard art to bring with me, but my master gardener friend here knew I wanted to do a piece or two and brought me 6 cardboard boxes.  Yes...6 boxes.  Girls, remember when we scrounged the Goodwill, the flea markets and the yard sales?  It is overwhelming to say the least and I will have to get busy and use some if it.  I miss you guys.  While some of you are experiencing the cold weather snap, it is currently 90 degrees here.  Still we have had no rain.  I was told by some that I would have moss growing on my back.  I am just slathering sun screen and sitting in front of the fan.  We are expected to have a cool down though I think soon.