MAY

 

Hi! It's May! May, yes it's  May. Don't get me wrong---here at the Beach,  May is still spring---cold grey, windy, depressing. Rain, rain. But a tulip blooms and hope springs eternal. May is better than February. Maybe.

Yesterday on my walk I noticed that the few ornamental trees , planted years ago in the common area near my home, have overnight burst into leaf and bloom. The red leafed black cherry has , well, green leaves, where a day ago it was barren.

The ancient peach tree and crabapple have bloomed, the winds  scattering Mo's much loved pink snow [petals].

The giant dwarf  Japanese maple has abundant burgundy red leaves; even the ugly locust has knobs of green budding leaves and the chittering squirrel is back.

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I'm not fooled though! My flannel sheets went back on the bed. I did finally change out Winter Marsh quilt for this lovely pink make-do, a fave of mine. 

I call this quilt block Chimney Sweep or Album Block.

Juliann has an interesting post with another version called Granny Squares, inspired by crocheted afghans. Blog post link: HERE

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With trepidation and sadness I'm starting to plan my deck's container garden.

I'm being brave and carrying on but this may be my last effort to garden [and sew]. Sewing Hour just won't be the same without Mo,

We had twelve summers together--it started because I had a severe pain flare up summer of  2016, could barely walk/ no beach or swim etc.  I created a routine indulging his Pug mindset that so loved a strict routine--out at 3--he'd see me make his bowl of ice water and prepping the sewing box. Then we'd set up, gentle play time, brush his  copious fur, reward of small jerky chew then nap while mom sewed with occasional alerts of gulls or helicopters overhead. We'd be so quiet, what a joy--visits by bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, ladybirds. The sparrows. all noted later in my scribble journal

Then, ice cream, just a spoonful, was delivered at 4.30 in his special snowman bowl. He'd see that bowl and just be so excited, he'd wiggle all over. When clearing away his things, I just could not discard that little bowl. By five-ish we'd head indoors, a rest [yes again], then dinner and walkies as the hot summer day cooled down. Pugs adore routine and can tell time--variations were greeted with sulks and refusals. Heaven forbid dinner was late! But also--he'd scorn his food bowl until 5.30 on the dot.

I had a dream about Mo the other night, he was glaring at me, in his special  communicative way and his mental telepathy voice in my head, whined:

 "Mommy I do not want a damn bracelet, I wants treats and my own bed!" It made me realise what a useless gesture the memorial bracelet is,  it's just for me. Self-indulgent.

Oh no, heaven is not measuring up??

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I made quite a bit of progress on the Boardwalk strips. This most recent batch is, I think, successful, finally. It's pretty!

I'm pleased! I think I have captured the feel of the original. [the blue plaid at the bottom front is another quilt]

 Inspiration quilt, no pattern.

I laid it all out on my bed

and took notes, made a list of the next steps, since I will be out of service next week to ten days due to my bimonthly medical infusion treatment. I hope I remember what the notes mean, lol. 

And still waiting for a different background fabric/ yardage for Posies.

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I did some food prep  yesterday and today. Made a big casserole in my Le Creuset pot. A silly but easy to eat comfort food, my grandma always made it for me when we'd visit. Something that said Love after the long tedious drive. [my dad would drop us off and go hunting or sailing w my uncle...] She called it goulash, much to my mom's annoyance. My mom made a gourmet Hungarian goulash w sweet paprika, and so dubbed Grandma's Hamburger Helper-ish food "Grandma's Dish": Ground beef, onion, pasta, can of whole tomatoes, water, herbs on stove top. A variation could have mushrooms and sour cream. Perfect kid food, or after medical day nourishment. (gets gloppy if overcooked w too much water, takes a focused cook to get it right)

I made salads too, in single serving containers: slaw and also Belgian endive w radishes and avocado, lemon vinaigrette. I do love the peppery crisp early spring vegs, this week's radishes are at their peak.

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Back soon though. I want to get back to posting on Fridays. Do you have a certain day you prefer to read new posts. Like w Saturday AM coffee? Or...? Pls tell me?

A May Basket block from a British quilting mag, so pretty.

Have great weekend and enjoy May/ springtime [or fall, of course]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...