September's Final Breaths

 

Hello hello! Oh my goodness today has seemed exhausting. I have to see the eye surgeon tomorrow and am in a frantic mode. Anyway, so far I have paid bills and done medical paperwork,  taken photos, partially repaired an antique toy, see below, did two loads of laundry, prepped and cooked a stirfry for the next few days; Mo had decktime while I cooked, it was too buggy for me out there. The frantic busy-ness, is bec after the appointment my vision is poor due to ''drops'' and flashing light tests.

 [ediit: eye update: report was good but extremely dilated still, hours afterward. So vision is temporarily poor. Probably no surgery for at least 6 months. Dr feels double vision cannot be fixed; I may look into that more, as it is exhausting....]

Venting, just had to vent. btw Did you realise a flannel fitted sheet now costs 98.oo plus shipping? Inflation!

Hydrangeas from my friends' yard. 

I love the turquoise smudges in the rose and brown.

It's too soon for pumpkins for me--maybe next week?, but I am loving squash and apples season. This is delicata squash, brushed with butter [for a change from olive oil, more nutty and savory] and sprinkled with Chinese Five Spice seasoning. [cinnamon, curry, paprika, coriander, and? Not sure but tasty!]

Seed saving, the pretty coreopsis, for friends and to do our Johnny Appleseed thing, sneak into dune edges maybe? It is not invasive.

Nature page from the last few weeks:

 We had a windy night a few days ago  and in the morning I found the stack of Shaker boxes toppled. This box is from my dad's collection. And when it burst open, out came this sweet tiny old toy!

Sadly broken. I started to mend it today but I see one hoof and the little driver are missing. Someone will have to crawl around the baseboard to look for them!

I don't know where the toy came from, was it my dad's? I was surprised to see it said "Japan" which I suppose dates it to the 1950s? Usually when toys turn up from his collections they are German Erziberger wooden toys, maybe pre 1920.

Mo's sweater is done except to block it. He is underwhelmed.

Anyone have good advice, do you wet the garment but no soap? Or just spray? Steam instead?

This is my teadye rust dye experiment, coached by Julierose.

The tea evaporated much quicker than I expected, out on my hot sunny deck. Been out there maybe a week.  I will have to bring the tub in tomorrow before the possible rains of H Ian come, if indeed they do. I think Julie said not to rinse them...but I may be compelled to do so, as they look a smidge poopy right now. Dying to open one bundle, maybe if tomorrow goes better than expected?

In quilty news yesterday I bought an antique or vintage top! Buyer beware, the only photo was not good, but it is so enticing and colorful. Can't wait to see it, despite obvious stains and possible intrinsic Lone  Star ruffling.  Price was right, seller was pleasant, yay!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

on a cleeeeaaar day you can see---New Jersey! My deck faces south....

[Sandy Hook and its lighthouse]

Rain Day, Quilt Day

 

Hi everyone! We are having a rainy morning finally, though the skies are blue again now. And I had a cleaner come! She is a very good vacuumer, 'nuff said? Mo is exhausted from supervising her for the hour and a half she was here.

Catching up, as Fall does begin tonight at, I think, 9.30 PM. I am not a fan of the early darkness. Mo's fall sweater is almost done! Only took 8 years so far.

I finished hand-quilting Best Friend/ Scotties. 

I cleared space on my sewing desk finally. I do like having some open elbow room, even a little free space is less claustrophobic! [The room is small.]

Finishing touches on Giraffe and ready to hand quilt.

Began handquilting Monday I think.

...............

I came across these stars on Instagram. I wish I'd made my Winter Marsh stars rotated a partial turn like these, much more interesting and dynamic. Too late now.

I finished and pressed Cartwheels, sent it off to Lori C to make her magic at Quilters Imagination. This antique quilt is similar in feeling. [internet pic, not mine.]

And : 

Just musing,  THIS is a masterpiece. Oh I would love to create a frenetic fun fabulous quilt like this.

Many readers liked this funny vintage Schoolhouse. I only use it for a week each year if at all, as it is so red and white in effect. On close inspection as I folded it this time I believe it is made with 1950s house dress prints, not 30s to 40s aprons and frocks as it was sold to me. Purchased years ago when quilts were expensive I think I paid 600.oo for it! Let me know what you think of the date?

I regret I have not begun Lori's sewalong. Just felt too bad, so much pain.  I feel like, "I love you, but get in line!" We'll see. 

I also washed and prepped a bunch of off white solids for tea and rust dyeing, a la Julierose, also previous post. Then could not find the tea! Must have accidentally tossed it when cleaning out the fridge before winter storm stock up. [ugh I had pasta and oatmeal from Covid Lockdown One.]

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My friends went to the huge Flea Market Extravaganza in Springfield Ohio this week. I am so jealous. Look, all my stuff I love and collect.

*****

I ended up cutting back my Zinnia garden to the roots. These were the last I rescued.

If you are bored w my flowers these are prob done for this year, lol.

I hope I can save seeds from this gorgeous albeit small bright lime green cutie.

The volunteer coreopsis continue on their third bloom, providing lovely ''cheddar and rust" fall blooming color. A few cannas still too.

 Instagram artist to admire. Doesn't her painting evoke my deck garden, so pretty.

My journal page this week:

Happy Fall!

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach...

This is my view on clear days. Note the huge container ships, so lightly cargoed that they are almost entirely above the waterline. 

I'm still reading Adrift [previous post] and looking at this ship I think, No wonder so many containers fall overboard in rough seas.

And from Penny and Nicky in South Africa, their springtime beach and birds.

A black oystercatcher!

A willet.