Deck Garden in August and Posies Update

 

Hi everyone! Oh look it's already August.

Earlier this week we had almost 2" of rain finally. I'm dubious because no puddles no wet chair cushions, but the deck flowers were very happy. They just love a good soaking rain.

The first July heat wave and then the wildfire smoke event were quite hard on the flowers, esp my zinnies. Their centers turned all black and shrivelly. An intense deadheading happened and I'm so pleased they have come back beautifully.

Cute and colorful if not abundant.

These are Thumbelina, tiny.  Cute but  at the size of a dime [1/2''] they lack presence. I think the regular Lilliput variety, above, are better.

I thouht this pot had the bergamot, but looks like zinnias and some  Baby Bear dwarf sunflowers.

This is a solo sunflower, moderately dwarf. They are so fussy and slow to bloom but charming.

Cosmos is temperamental here, too delicate for the high winds. Doesn't bloom til mid August.  Saved from 2024/ 25 seeds mostly

Coreopsis is such a joy. Early bloom, re blooms all summer into fall.

I was disappointed that the chocolate coreopsis had not germinated. Note the pretty white ruffled edges w deep chocolate brown centers. I call them summer pansies, for their similar coloration.

So I as thrilled this morning to find it blooming in the red impatiens pot! How the seeds got there --wind?--is a mystery.  Not where I sowed them! But so cute.

More colorful pots and tubs. I am enjoying the displays and my various tin folk art stakes. I esp love flowers and ladybugs. The Mr Sun is a cherished gift from my son.

The miniature petunias, adorable blue and white stripes did surprisingly well. First time they've succeeded for me. Same for impatiens. They must like the rather sheltered corner here.

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Posies is coming along nicely.  If slowly, I guess.

I had a qualm about it as I edited these pics. Too bright, too cheery, too---unsophisticated? Too prim and cottage?

But it's supposed to capture my deck garden, probably my last as there are changes ahead. I think the colors are captured, the vibe is right. I'm pleased. Making memories, sewing a story of so many summers of quiet joy with my BabyMo .

The  pattern's star border will be sparrows instead. I have coaxed the main pair of real life sparrows back again, especially the little female. She  arrives promptly every day at 4 pm. I don't know why they were not coming, they miss Mo and his crumbs of daily jerky treat? His calm snoring presence made them feel safe?

 The two that have arrived so far are so fussy. They only like the cheddar crackers which were my treat shared w Mo. I got them hulled sunflower seeds, to avoid mess [and bird feeding is prohibited here, so no evidence] but they scorn the seeds and peer at me til I produce the bright orange crumbs. They don't drink from the bowl I give them either. I can't leave it out because it draws ants. [they shared Mo's water bowl often].

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It's another Friday, I am headed out soon to a birthday party! Always fun despite the hot evening.

Have a good weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

tomorrow a rinse and a scrunch, sunshine dry. Then to add the tiny button teeth and pupils. [gosh the white canvas is grungy, sorry.]

This is BabyMo, in case someone new visits and doesn't know who he is/ was. 🌈He is 11 in these pics

Happy Mail ~ Part Two Retail Therapy

 

But first--earlier this week I overcame my extreme white coat phobia [terrified of hospitals and doctors/ nurses; it causes panic and claustrophobia] and took my painful wrist/ arm/ hand to the local ER. It's what we have since the hospital on the same site washed away during H Sandy [2012]. It's a funny little concrete box, but clean and quiet, no wait. Staffed by generally kind young medical persons.

X-rays say wrist--tho swollen and deformed looking-- is not dislocated or broken. The tissue is inflamed, blah blah blah. The doctor didn't say not to use the hand, so I'm allocating 30-45 minutes of hand sewing each afternoon. IV autoimmune specialist is still AWOL, like most doctors in the late summer.

Now back to more fun subjects: fabric! and sewing plans. This is my ''bundle" from Two Thimbles

This past winter I got very shortsighted, finishing projects large and small, see previous post. I neglected to plan ahead and experienced a terrible funk. Omigosh, I have nothing to dooooooo. So planning, planning. Posies and Boardwalk are the biggies, both going well; notes taken all sorted. So I treated myself to this long yearned for fabric bundle.

Great merchandising. They post a fabric group on Fridays, mixing and matching--showcasing--their fabrics beautifully. I follow on IG. This is the recent arrival. The shop is really good about changing details if there's a fabric that doesn't fit your plan.

This is the bundle that inspired Posies and will also be this crib quilt someday. I make up little fabric ''kits' so I remember my plans now.

Got a bit stumped w the pattern piecing here, my sewing machine will chew those little pieces like last week's Sunday roast. [reading too many British cozy crime series. Rhys Dylan, Sharon Bolton, Faith Martin etc; the characters are  always are having midday roasts?]

The big chintz [Dutch Chintzes] on butternut and duck egg are so appealing yet challenging. NOT Lizzy colors at all.

They will be Tiny Baskets on dark grounds, I suppose color values will be an aspect to watch.

.I did pull out this adorable Basket ditsy/ conversational. Not sure where it will go, if at all.

And I added some pale aqua, ''duck egg blues" from ,my stash. Hard to photograph but lovely, much treasured prints.

and added this Tall Ships shirting just to collect.

The rich Butternut and Duck Egg w dark Taupe colors for the inspiration group  would actually make a beautiful late fall full sized quilt but I'm pretty sure it will be a little quilt. As Penny noted, how I love using the little ''placemat'' quilts, tucked under bowls or behind crocks etc.

TT also tucked in this wonderful blue print swatch. Blue Schoolhouses by Paula Barnes. I'm thinking large scale Schoolhouse blocks? So wonderful.

Though truth is I have never successfully pieced a SH block, lol. 

And I wouldn't want the Houses spaced so far. I put the Pineapple throw on my bed this week, easier to make the bed w poorly hand as it's just a throw, but much as I love it I think there's way too much white space, it's a tad yawn.

Have a good weekend! It will be August, the light is changing. I saw dragonflies and a monarch buterfly this week. Beautiful creatures but harbingers of summer's moving on.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach......

***TWO THIMBLES QUILT SHOP