August Miscellany

Hi everyone! It is hot--and oh so sunny. We could really use a nice big thunderstorm.

It was too windy to sit out on the deck today. Temp was 84*. I need the shade of my umbrella, and despite bungees and caution, I decided it was a no. Mo had his ice cream, I sewed one Ark animal, a horse--- and we came in. And--Hurricane Erin. Oh the updates from now til December are so nerve-wracking. 

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August miscellany: Blue Baskets is finished.

Named Old Blue Baskets [by me], in my heart I call it Remembering Homer, the kind and generous quilt dealer friend who gave me the blocks years ago.

Every summer weekend at the Wellfleet Flea/ Cape Cod, he'd sit in the shade of his gypsy van, this Harvard PhD who morphed into an itinerant quilt seller, carefully taking apart old tattered tied quilts, saving the blocks that were still beautiful.

I'm so glad I washed this little cutie. The rumpled effect of the cottons and batting shrinking create a unifying texture that brings a quilt to life.

Lori C's quilting is softened slightly but still outstanding, I think.

Giant polka dots for the binding because---why not?

Quilt related, this screen shot of an antique quilt. A new to me pattern, I love the Spools.

The spools are HSTs and a Bowtie pair. Fun.

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Nature Journal.

Reminding myself just how small these books and my drawings are. [excuses, excuses...].

Somewhat neglected since book 2 began in July. Lots of distractions in real life. I did the pencil sketches then the other day did the complete drawings. Not my best work, my focus is so elsewhere right now.

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Cooking:

I'm a huge fan of Martha Stewart, since her very first issue of Living--but her recipes are so complicated for everyday life. I loved the idea of what she calls a vegetable ''tian''. This is Martha's, via IG: 

So I used up farmers market summer squash and onions in a my way version.

Pretty!

I had the crushed tomatoes jar open, so drizzled on top. Not needed. And it should have baked another 20+ minutes to caramelize. Yummy anyway, love fresh summer veg. Lots of fresh grated parm sprinkled on at the end bec I dislike browned parm.

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Mo is doing well so far. If you missed my mini post, he did get the small tablets to replace the giant caps. Swallows them no prob.

This is maybe not a real cure but it is giving him respite from pain for a few days. I have my IV treatment Monday with its long sleep aftermath, I'm still worried about his care, would I really sleep through his seizures? It is a huge worry. He had a fill-in dogwalker this week. He loved her! And had some pleasant evening strolls with his new friend. [this is my new photo app that removes all background junk. He was standing in front of someone's construction discards, lol.] Doesn't he look great!?

More soon.

love

 lizzy

love the stripey little shell...

and much treasured Tiny Tumblers quilt from blog friend Penny. It got a gentle bath and just is glowing.

PS I'll prob comeback tomorrow after clinic hours and add the photo prompts for the rest of the drawings. In case you want to see them.

Okay News ~ Mo Update

 

Good-ish news! For many the friends who have sent healing wishes and asked after Mo: his vet appointment today went well, in the sense that the special order antibiotic was able to be inserted into his inner ears. This is a major success.

There's a slight glitch as the massive dose of antibiotics to follow up [same as for my spider bite infection],  which was sent as enormous capsules, an absolutely NFW [NO!] for Mo. Hopefully the vet will send a substitute in tablet form.

Now we wait, for follow up in one month. So still a high stress waiting time. Hopefully this will help and we can avoid surgery, find a long term way to treat Mo's ears, and eye which has a parallel infection.

He came home and was super stressed and upset. I have him in the cool dark bedroom after a brunch of scrambled egg and a half of a hemp calming chew.

Thanks, everyone, so much for your kind support and love.

This week's regular post is the previous post below.

love

lizzy

Recreational Shopping Quilting, Fabrics, Appliqué

 

Good Monday morning, friends! I love these old fashioned planes that pull signs above the beach! Like a Charles Wysocki painting. Do they know or care we can't read the ads?

I have always loved to shop---I don't even have to buy, just the hunt, the looking calms me, gives me focus and purpose. Entertains. I added more yardage to my "Garden'' quilt project, see the Two Thimbles inspiration bundle HERE 

As I finish up various projects I am seeing my way of buying fat quarters and reg half yards doesn't always work. Poor Silent Night has such cobbled together binding. In time i may replace it, I will see. [This is the quilt that just won't get gone, yeesh!]. Isn't the tiny Baskets shirting adorable!

Also pulled some pretty pinks and another yellow for this stack. 

Even a green?

The yellows are surprisingly similar. The older one has touches of blue which may not work.

Inspiration:

Sadly I do not know the future of my deck garden as it struggles to flower despite the brick work depredations. My deck itself needs much more work, a looming frightening project that I have decided to try not to mention further here on my blog. Our happy place.

Two Thimbles  always tucks in a sweet fat eighth. It's always fun when someone else chooses a fabric for me. On left.

And the ditsy calico, on right, was a mistake--I thought it was what I call a belly button dot, a polka dot w another dot in the center. Alas, late night tired eyes. I'd never buy a rusty red-brown little floral. eeew. Then I felt sorry for the little thing, rejected! So silly, I always give feelings to inanimate objects who prob do noy give a darn. I will work it in somewhere.

This is not a real project, just fabric stacking fun at the moment.

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BB binding is chosen. The nautical classic stripe. It works and I have enough yardage.

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Over the weekend I finished appliqueing Whatnots main panel and the little side patch.

I like trying new things but  probably won't do the black thread prim whip stitch on [cotton]again. Hard to see to stitch, boring. Ugly. Borders are chosen, I hope, again, I have the yardage needed.

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I was very glad to pick up Noah's Ark, though I had no clue what animals to make. Lucky for me a Horse was all set to go, left abruptly last October. [Yes, I make notes, but then I don't remember what the notes mean, lol.] I was very glad to return to gentle beautiful needle turn applique.

Mo is on strong steroids for his ears and joint pain. We go to the vet Wednesday and are praying he can be given the specially ordered--finally!--ear treatment meds. Surgery is threatening though and he is rather elderly for that. My dear little man, I just want him safe and pain free. He is the sweetest, gentlest creature you can imagine, always by my side.

"Carpe diem, mom, c'mon!'

Each summer day is a gift. Let's not hasten into Fall and frigid winter.  That wind....

love, lizzy

Oh! Did you see that moon on Friday? Glorious.

Art of Charles Wysocki  HERE     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpwMY6WnEw4