Shoveling in a Winter Wonderland

 We had been amply warned that a nor’easter was coming, but at 4:00am the ground was bare. Then it arrived at a rate of 1 to 2 inches an hour. By 8:30, there were about eight inches on my deck. As I shoveled, the intrepid Miss Emma set out to explore the winter wonderland. It’s a good thing that she is part jackrabbit as the snow was deep for her. 

It’s 2:30 now, and I’ve just come in again from shoveling another three to four inches. I’m blessed to have wonderful neighbors with snowblowers who do my driveway after doing their own. I shovel the deck and backstairs, the front steps, and the area in front of the garage door. It was a delightfully fluffy snow so it was easy shoveling.

Coincidentally, I began stitching a new cross stitch piece called “Winter Wonderland” yesterday as I had packed  away “Christmas in the Kitchen” which had been hanging in my kitchen. ;-). Cross stitchers on floss tube have been urging “New Year - New Starts. “ I definitely don’t need that type of encouragement. Believe it or not, some folks have said that this month they are starting twenty-two stitch pieces for 2022!!!  I’m currently working on finishing two Christmas ornaments, the Winter Wonderland piece, and two, possibly three, which I have yet to start. That’s plenty.

“When Life Gives You Lemons, ” my covid quilt, was fully finished over the weekend; I stitched the binding and added a  label and sleeve.

The pattern was “Sequoia Sampler” by Alex Anderson. It’s a fun pattern which you can adapt to suit any theme you might choose. Though lacking any real artistic talent, I was able to design a lemon tree for the centerpiece and a pitcher of  lemonade. It was quilted by fellow Crosstown Guild member Maureen Anderson of Anderson Quilting. 

It looks pretty dull here now that Christmas has been packed away, so I’m heading down cellar to bring up the winter decorations. Bring on the snowmen!!!

Life in New England … the meteorologists now say we will have a polar freeze over the course of the next few days. It just keeps getting better and better. ;-() 

Stay warm and stay safe.

Sunshine for $12.99

 

Yesterday I stopped at Christopher's Garden Shop and Farm Stand on Washington Street in Weymouth to pick up a few bananas, but I was stopped in my tracks by tables full of sunshine. This plant is full of blossoms and buds. . .  instant sunshine. Who could have resisted, and it was only 12.99!!!

I saw a member of our Crosstown guild there. Well, I saw a masked face and eyes that looked familiar. After a moment or two I was able to process the info; it was Diane W. We talked for a few moments about how we were doing during these challenging times and speculated whether we would be meeting in September.

 

Scenes from my gardens this week. . .

 

 I'm looking forward to an online class on Friday morning offered by Hunts Photo and Video. The two hour class is "The Painterly Photograph with Kathleen Clemons." As you all know, I enjoy photographing flowers and look forward to be able to create "dreamy" type of flower photographs.

While watering my flowers this morning, a postal truck stopped to deliver a package. Excitement!!! It was from Missouri Star. Excitement!!! What had I ordered this time??? Fun stuff . . .  a 1,000 piece quilt block jigsaw puzzle, a pattern, a mini tumbler template, some sweet sewing machine bookmarks, and three cute charms for the zipper pulls on future project bags. . . fun stuff!!!

 

Mask making continues . . . if you are looking for a place to donate masks, contact local shelters. They are extremely grateful for donations of fabric masks.

On my design wall . . .  My "When Life Gives You Lemons" quilt is almost ready to be sewn together.  Alex Anderson has been offering free quilting lessons/information on The Quilt Show website and Youtube. This is her sequoia pattern. I decided to have a lemon focus. Instead of the vase of flowers in her pattern, I created a lemon tree, and of course, I had to make one block be a pitcher of lemonade. My plan is to start sewing it together tomorrow.

 

Have a sweet week.

Stay safe. Stay strong. Have hope.

Stronger Together

Hello Fellow Quarantinees! How are you all doing??? I've been meaning to post all week, but time has gotten away from me. Gardening and stitching and walks with Emma have been keeping me busy. Yesterday as I drove down Green Street in North Weymouth I spotted this colorful display. Isn't it great!

This morning I was greeted by the first of the season poppies. These old fashion poppies originally came from my aunt's garden many, many years ago. Hopefully, tomorrow's possible showers will not ruin them as the blooms are as delicate as tissue paper.

Speaking of tissue paper, I received an order of large size "bleeding" tissue paper, so I hope to do some more sun printing with it next week. The package that I had used in my first attempt had smaller length pieces, and I wasn't thrilled by the seams it caused.

 

I have been keeping up with the Sue Spargo "Down-Toned Circle Sampler," and here are a few of my favorites. 

I have not done every one of Sue's suggested circles as a few did not suit my taste. In the end, I will create some of my own designs to fill the other circles. I did stitch one circle that simply says, "Have Hope."

 I'm also working on the Alex Anderson "Sequoia Sampler" quilt. She is giving instructions on Youtube for this project. When she first talked about it, I knew just what I wanted to use. After scouring the internet, I found this Timeless Treasures bundle of lemon themed fat quarters, and yes, you guessed it, I'm going to call my quilt, "When Life Gives You Lemons." It seems perfectly appropriate to mark this time.

A few types of businesses are beginning to open on a limited basis here in Massachusetts. As you can see, it is not a moment too soon for Miss Emma. She has a grooming appointment for June 2. Now, if you think she looks cute but more than a bit shaggy, you ought to see me. Bushy does not begin to describe my new coiffure!!! I am reluctant to go to the hair salon, so I may have to order some industrial strength clips to hold back my curly, wild, incredibly bushy locks. I used to dreams of having long, curly red hair, but common sense and a look in the mirror always motivated me to keep it short and controlled. Now I can see why.

Stay safe. Stay strong. Have hope. We will get through these troubled times.

_________          ___________     ____________       _______________     ________________

Covid -19 Statistics: May 22, 2020

                                  Cases                       Deaths
World                     5,168,665                  335, 941
 United States         1, 509, 349                   95, 495
Massachusetts              90,899                       6,228         

Jack's Chain and Spring Is Here!

Yesterday was a beautiful day and knowing that today would be cold and rainy, I took Emma for a long walk. Along the way, I photographed these crocuses.

Today, I offer you something beautiful to gaze upon, my friend Maribeth's latest quilt. The pattern is "Jack's Chain." It is pretty awesome in the photo, but trust me, it is even more spectacular in person!!! Look at all of those pieces!!!

Now for some quilt related possibilities. People in the quilting community are stepping up to give comfort and support; none more so than Alex Anderson. She is posting free mini lessons on The Quilt Show. Monday's talk was on neutrals and yesterday she talked about choosing fabric for a project. You do not need to join to see these lessons. She will be giving another lesson tomorrow at 1:00 EST. Simply go to The Quilt Show and click on the "Daily Blog." She is also posting skype interviews with some big name quilters. Yesterday it was Victoria Findlay Wolfe; upcoming are Katie P.M., Bonnie Hunter, and Laura Wasilowski who is offering a free hand stitch along, "Tools of the Trade." The big news is that The Quilt Show is planning something special for International Quilting Weekend; go to the site for more details.

New topic . . . has all this hand washing and cold weather caused painful cracks in your skin? I found something that really, really works, Gold Bond Cracked Skin Relief. It has a thin applicator and you just squeeze a tiny bit into the crack . . .  instant relief. (That is until you again wash your hands and need to reapply it.)

Coronavirus update: Department stores, theaters, and playgrounds are closed. Some supermarkets are offering very early hours exclusively for those 60+, the high risk group. The number of deaths in Italy has now surpassed that of China.

Stay safe and be kind to yourself. We are all in this together.

St. Patrick's Day and Tom Brady Breaks Our Hearts

A message from Emma . . .

A short post this morning to wish you a Happy Saint Patrick's Day and to tell you about something Alex Anderson of The Quilt Show is doing. Quilters are fortunate that nearly all of us have large enough stashes and projects to keep us busy for the next few weeks. (Truthfully, we probably have enough to keep us busy for five years . . . make that ten years!  :-)

Alex Anderson is offering free mini quilt lessons online; you do not have to join The Quilt Show to view them. Yesterday's lesson on "Using Neutrals" was very interesting, and it will be posted in their newsletter and it is on their Facebook page. (I do not do Facebook, but I was able to watch the lesson.) Note: if you wish to view it on their Facebook page, scroll down to the video that say "neutrals," not the one where she is holding a phone. I believe there will be another LIVE lesson tomorrow, Wednesday @1:00 Eastern Standard Time.

And now, if things were not dismal enough, Tom Brady has announced that he is leaving the New England Patriots. It is hard to believe and even harder to accept, but I am sure that all of Patriots Nation will wish him the best wherever he goes. He has been a great quarterback and a truly class act. We have been blessed to have him for twenty years.

Stay strong. God bless the members of our medical profession, first responders, our leaders, and all  who are trying to deal with this devastating crisis.

Alex Anderson Came to Canton Today

     Alex Anderson came to Canton, MA, today. The program was sponsored by a local quilt shop,  Ann's Fabrics. Alex talked about how she became a quilter and how her career in the quilting world has developed. She brought with her some of her quilts and demonstrated a few neat quilting tricks. She was lovely and funny.  I truly enjoy the online program, The Quilt Show, that she does with Ricky Tims. It's a great resource for quilters.

     Since yesterday was the first day of summer, a friend and I celebrated by going to Tony's Clam Shop across from Wollaston Beach for the first lobster roll of the season. It was every bit as yummy as it looks. :-)

A Tiny Treasure

     On the 4th of July, my friend Janice gave me this lovely pair of earrings which she had made for my birthday.

 She also presented me with this tiny treasure, a little metal sewing machine that she had had as a child. The needle is missing, but it actually once sewed.

It measures just six inches high and was made in Britain. I love it!!! It's new home is atop a quilt rack in my dining room.

     

     On the rack this month is my very first quilt. I was a fan of the Alex Anderson HGTV program "Simply Quilts" and though I knew very little about the quilting process, I loved watching that program. HGTV offered free patterns for this machine appliqué block of the month quilt. As you can see from this segment, the twelve blocks each reflected one month of the year. The directions seemed clear, so I decided to purchase a sewing machine and give it a try. I was totally hooked! My Aunt Joan, who was then in her seventies, had never quilted in her life either. She loved my quilt so much that after I showed her the process, she too created her very first quilt. 

     

     If you look in the lower left hand corner of the July block, you will see that my beloved miniature schnauzer Katie, whom I lost this past January, even made an appearance in a few of the blocks. In case you're wondering, this quilt was completed in 2004.

     I love quilting and all the many wonderful friends I have made through this hobby of buying yards and yards of perfectly fine fabric, cutting it into little pieces, and sewing it back together again . :-) I am still a fan of Alex Anderson and love her internet program with Ricky Tims, The Quilt Show.