Randomly October

 

Hi! This has been a poorly week past, lots of real life paperwork, life planning, medical planning/ eye surgery this winter. (moans Debbie Downer, sorry!) Flu shot, Covid shot? Which, when?  And I am struggling with drawing and painting as my double vision makes me draw lopsided; I miss the calm of even my scribble journal, plus watercolor journal. Eye surgery may help this, or at least clear my vision somewhat. New doctor to be seen-- scary!.

The fun part is that my friend L and I finally went to the newly opened giant craft store near the once hectic shopping mall.  L chose that over pumpkin patch and mums, a once beloved tradition. Note the marshes slowly turning gold. Early.

We called it early Christmas shopping, hahaha. Acres of Christmas---four football fields? Makes the big Costco look like a 5 & Dime---one aisle of Halloween, a single shelf of Thanksgiving. [perhaps the US has little to be thankful for?...And people only cook on TikTok, it seems, much of which is AI.] Anyway we got very lost! On the road and in the store. Things at the mega shopping mall area  have changed a lot post Covid and Amazon. 

I got a few stocking stuffers for Little Friend and some  sewing needles. L got  sewing project supplies--she wants to sew her own L L Bean tote bag. [my eyes are rolling; that heavy canvas. But fun.]

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Sunny days and a diehard sit outside and sew girl, yes I am. 

 As I sit there I notice the last of my garden. These miniature petunias, Super Belles? in the blue and white stripes have been outstanding. Must maybe incorporate their stripy charm into Posies project, even if just as the binding, like in Lizzy's Tulips? 

And a little deck posy always, eeking out summer as usual. 

And current favorite nibbles for me and the little sparrow tribe.

A few fabrics for my Halloween fabrics collection.  I love how they look spooky but in such a subtle way.

My fave, though, below.  I saw it as Stars. I always snap up Stars and crescent Moons too.

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I don't decorate for Fall till Columbus Day.  Spent an hour on Monday digging out quilts and faux jack o'lanterns. Washing the not-blue pitchers.

Acorn jam pot!

Dusting even tho the cleaner was just here. Lots of fine sand and sea grass pouffes, pollen.

Linens changed partly to flannel  for Fall. Cheddar quilts aired, selected. This is maybe my favorite of my antique quilts.

I know, I show it every year. Love the bright scrappy Nine Patch / Puss in the Corner blocks. Great fabrics to study. And the very wide cheddar cheddar sashing. Who says sashing has to 2" ? , 3" ?, and red polka dot corners. The textural Baptist Fan hand quilting. 

My mom found it in the window of a shop in Dennis, Cape Cod; we snapped it up, no regrets. It will be one of the last I sell or discard.

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Remember my October Bucket list last post? I found a corn maze. Even though they sound creepy and exhausting. But look:

Special hand soap, aromatherapy to convince me it is truly Fall. Nice and gentle on my hands too.

Now, when I sit out to sew or knit, I am always scanning the skies for birds. It's quiet now, much fewer helicopters, less people. These are part of a big flock that swirled in  last evening. Are they starlings? The shape seems wrong. They refused to come eat Goldfish crackers, prob just as well.

Then these. I thought I captured pics of the twosome/ threesome that flies over once in the morning, again at dusk. Those seem to be mallards, a male and two wives.  They have come to the swales each spring and fall for years. However on close look, the pictures sure look like gulls, don't they.

A little squirrel comes each evening too. I gave it a bit of carrot, but cannot let it depend on me for food, as feeding wildlife is prohibited here--plus I don't want her in my house, omigosh. I think they were attracted to my neighbor's abundant crop on their fig tree.

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Very off topic, from Instagram: this is where I used to live in Brooklyn. An historic area called Cobble Hill.  It was an old school gutted for lofts. They saved the beautiful old rock maple floors and door hardware, like PS 175 in bronze; 16' ceilings, huge windows. Big open loft style living space, plus: Two bedrooms, one office, one guestroom, working fireplace/ both gas and woodburning. Some walls old original brick. I used to hang my quilts there, gorgeous. Elevator, private parking. Central AC. Laundry room off kitchen.Views of NY harbor and Statue of Liberty. I adored living there. [here, beach house, was a weekend/ summer place].

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Last random thing to show you: Is this not the MOST adorable project? Someone's scribble journal [not mine!] used as a wool applique piece. Or it could be redwork, of course. I hope to be able to afford it, will post more when their reveal happens in November

You can see the shop's info on the screenshot, though this project is not available yet. I 'll put a link when it is.

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Yesterday I made Pot Roast  (thank you, Julierose, for making me hanker for comfort foods! :-) )---I was expecting cold days this week. LOL. 75* tomorrow. I also have but will freeze  a roast pork tenderloin to go with crispy roast potatoes and pan roasted root veg. Colorful carrots. Look really woody though, I'll let you know.  Dinner is pitas filled w cucumber  and goat cheese,  instead though

Next post I'll prob show you what decorating I did. I know many of you ''don't bother'', but I love seeing my fall quilts each year. So what the heck. Do you Fall decorate? Hopefully not before Fourth of July?  Lots of Christmas online, esp IG. Ugh. Bah humbug. Am I right!

more soon~~~~~

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Monday, Monday (Tuesday, Tuesday)~ Beach Walks

 

Monday...Hi friends. It's a lovely day and week ahead. Soft and puffy air, a light breeze. Very springtime vibe. My deck was all winterized for the storm last week, but I got out a chair and cushions and hope to sew a little later. I expected the dryer duct cleaning crew and my once a month house cleaner today, but so far, not a text, not a show up anyway. Nada. [cleaner came Tuesday! Yay.]

I've been enjoying my silly Bucket List Instagram site, Ideas for October. Things I do anyway, like press leaves. But the the list encourages me to  take note: "This is everyday, but special too"? Mindful? A way to make the days, weeks, seasons slow down and be savored.  Ordinary & Happy website HERE

 A beach walk, geese honking over head, a little fistful of goldenrod blown down by the storm. Come enjoy the walk with me? [familiar sights to many of you, it changes daily--but not really]

fence peeping

Flooded dunes after the nor'easter,  from waves and flood tide so high.

Dune views and boardwalk. Note how far it usually is to the water's edge!

This was a tiny brown bird who refused to be photo'd.

The broken stems of goldenrod I carried home. 

I always have called this soapwort but it seems that is wrong. Called Rabbit Tobacco via Google plant ID. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wonderful new set of halfway home benches!

Maybe this winter I can bring my lunch and knit, Mo was never allowed.

Roses, a few bravely blooming. Almost no berries [hips], not sure why.

And laden bayberry scrubs, tho not in this pic.

Tiny animal highway through the upper dunes. Maybe the vicious thorns of the roses are protection, especially from flying menaces like hawks, owls nnd ospreys?

The geese overhead, loud wings, loud honking. Off to the golf course for dinner? These seem to be three smallish flocks or families, attracted to the autumn swales [seasonal standing water, like ponds or big puddles] and grain. I see them every day as sunset approaches. 

Far away, center of pic. Their honking can fulfill the OH prompts 2 & 19, listen to the birds,lol.

More prompts:  longer walks/ gather fall wildflowers. 13, 22, 18

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This weekend I sadly hacked away and cleared my deck garden [OH prompt 10/ tidy yard, rake leaves] . The salt-laden high winds had destroyed my flowers, esp the zinnias and cosmos.

The impatiens are hanging on, the geraniums gave up weeks ago.

I rescued any blooms that were still pretty, made two jam jars for the table outside. 

It looks pretty sad. I m hoping to get a few mums later this week, weather permitting

One of the O&H prompts was to enjoy a sunset outdoors, 6. I usually watch from my windows, but this gentle evening was while I cut the back my garden.

My hand sewing [ everyday habit prompt 10] is the Halley's Comet for the Ohio sampler. It's finicky and difficult.

I must quick prep something easier, the little flowers for the crows in the garden October quilt, maybe.

Either way my hand work outdoors can be checked off the Bucket list. Photo is from pattern, by Julie Porter.

Note: I know the Bucket list was maybe  kinda annoying, but it amused me. So many done and it is only October 5, 6.  Here's an unmarked up copy if you're not bored to tears. Remember it's not about doing ALL, more about being aware, making memories of each precious little day.

Now where in the world will I find a corn maze, yeesh. Have you ever seen one? Got lost?

PS Dear friend Julierose always asks me about Posies, which we both made/ are making. I sew a bit most evenings, but days are for being outside.

Have a great week. (TQC October Postcard mini, 2022-ish)

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Sky photo. I was trying to get a ''sundog'' pic for blog friend Robin. Sometimes the camera sees the prism where our eyes cannot. But no. What's a sundog?

more fence peeping.

Nature note: The oystercatchers gathered into a good sized flock, maybe 25? and promptly departed as scheduled October 2. Return will be March 17.  I am seeing big flocks of tiny brown birds, maybe warblers? especially on breezy mornings.  I also am seeing skeins of cormorants and the occasional pair of shore ducks as they visit the swales at sunset. Mallards maybe. They tend to appear as couples or threesomes. Big and ungainly flyers, some homking heard. Most butterflies and dragonflies have gone. The sparrows warily appear as usual at 4 pm---lately there is a local campaign to remove them as invasive. So sad. My little friends all these years. My mom had a small flock too, she called them the Seven Sisters. Birds are more welcomed in Cape Cod, or were.