It's Official

Summer is officially over with the children returning to school.  How did that happen?  Where did it go?  I think summer needs a speeding ticket.  It has been one odd summer for us with foggy mornings continuing through August.  That is typically our May and June weather.

The garden has struggled with the weather.  I wish we could help take away some of the flooding waters in the South.  As well, we've been battling with pesky raccoons over the ripe tomatoes.   They seem to be winning.  The one thing they are not interested in is an experimental crop I tried this year - just for fun.  I had a cotton ball with sixteen seeds and tried planting them.  They all came up and have the most beautiful flowers.  The foliage is also so graceful and pretty.  I have no idea what I will do with my cotton balls, but it was fun to grow them.

We had five little ones here while their parents were on vacation.  The week was really busy, but we had a great time.  There was lots of help in everything we did!!!

There was also lots of excitement as a second batch of cockatiel eggs hatched.  Each morning the children would rush out to see if a new egg had hatched.  They are just little balls of fluff - two yellow, two white.  I'm going to link these up with the Pets on Quilts.

This is our grown baby- an only child- from the last eggs that they laid.  He is such a love - so tame and already talking.

Needless to say, there has not been a lot of sewing going on here, but I did get ahead on my September Bee blocks.....fun sewing.

The county fair was last week and the girl's pigs went to market.  They had a great time hanging out for the week in the livestock area with all of the other kids.  I'm guessing they will do the project again next year.

I've been enjoying the Olympics and am sad to see that the end is near for them.  The summer Olympics are always my favorite with the gymnastics, swimming, equestrian and volleyball.  Four more years...............

Spring in the Garden

It seems that this is the time of the year that the garden beckons me outside more and more.  Other than the countless weeds that multiply faster than rabbits, things are really blooming out.  I have quite a few Cymbidium orchids that are always so pretty at this time of the year.  Many of them are plants from my father who has been gone almost thirteen years.

I love this little green one.

The cactus is also blooming.  I just love this plant with the giant flowers.

Other than the blog hops, I have been sewing some.  Months ago I participated in a Low Volume Swap and I have been playing around with them.  I am just sewing the blocks together as I make them to encourage random placement.   I think I will do eight rows so I am halfway there.

The blue dotted block is coming out because it really does not play well in the mix. 

I had a couple of the granddaughters over to make themselves some costumes for their spring show at school.

My mug rug for our swap is made and sent out to Linda (who no longer blogs).  Linda loves Doxies and has several at her house so when I saw this mug I knew who had to own it.

This is the gorgeous mug rug that Linda sent to me.  The tiny flowers are so perfect and so pretty.

I've had a lot of fun mail arrive lately too, including this wonderful package from Shanna.  I had won the charm packs, but Shanna send this entire box full of selvages since she knows that I collect them.   Between Shanna and a high school friend of mine, I am slowly getting close to starting my selvage quilt. 

Have you seen the lovely blue canning jars that Ball has come out with to celebrate their 100th anniversary?  Even if you don't can, they are wonderful for vases or tall glasses of lemonade.  Since I can, I am looking forward to using them.

I've joined my first ever Bee - Japanese Xs and +s.  I have enjoyed seeing this block and look forward to swapping some each month.

My goal for this month's Lovely Year of Finishes and Monthly To Do List was to finish all of my blocks for Easy Street.  I am happy to say that they are all done. Now I have to sew them all together.  I must have the last Easy Street completion.  I hope to finish before the next one comes out in December ;-)

 

 

 

 

We have grandchildren staying with us for a week starting tomorrow so I will have very little computer time.  I'll check in when I get a chance.