Gone To The Beach

Friday, February 12, 2021

The Winter Garden, an Update

Hello, hello, on this snowy February evening. Time to check up on my indoor winter bulbs.

My selection of flower bulbs was planted the weekend of January 23/ 24. The bulbs looked good but there they sat.

They did nothing much for almost two weeks, til Feb 5th, when all of a sudden green leaves unfurled and shot up.

And then in this past week the growing rate has been amazing, I see them get bigger almost as I watch!

The narcissus ~Two weeks:

Three weeks.

There is a lot of leaf production for just four bulbs. And buds are forming.

The amaryllis ~Babied along after a summer hidden in the zinnia pot, this is year two into three. Brought indoors and hiberated it looked very dead, but finally a single bit of green appeared.

By late January, leaves and stalks. Then a bud!

And now:

Someone said maybe I'd have paperwhites for Valentines day. That may not happen but I can't imagine any more perfect and stunning flower to have bloom for me for Valentine's Day

Last the orchid is lagging behind, but it has two new big leaves. I'd be so thrilled if it did rebloom. Estimated bloom date, if it does, around late May.

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Here is Baby Mo, Maker of Nests.

This dark morning he had accumulated three! fleece throws, a sherpa shawl, and old cashmere sweater, along with beloved dolly Gator and a heated kennel disk. I do worry a little that he isn't warm enough, now that he sleeps on the floor [in his donut bed] near the drafty window, He seems cozy in his nests though.

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I am still having fun with Instagram. Remember it was my Covid Accomplishment for 2020. Please come by, it's fast and fun, and I am so pleased to add followers, if you will. Link on sidebar.

My next challenge is to learn to do group video get-togethers, like Zoom. [I use FaceTime on my phone, but never Zoom.] Why? Because I'm invited to a virtual baby shower. So exciting, so bizarre, right? [and no cake...]

The medium used isn't Zoom, which I'm familiar with, but another app. I fear my monitor doesn't have a camera? I use a large screen graphics monitor on my desktop, I love it but it's old. May have to party via my phone. Not great with lots of people tiny screen. Always new skills to learn, aren't there?

Have a warm and wonderful weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Deja vu All Over Again

Hi everyone! Good evening! Oh what a difference a day makes. Yesterday was beautifully sunny, 37*--- the roads and walkways finally shoveled, plowed and dry.

Mo and I had two long wonderful walks enjoying the fresh winter air. We even went to Mo's beach bench, though sadly it was behind a big snowdrift. Mo was happy to do his tricks on the dry pavement instead.

Then today:

It is actually a beautiful snow, but who wants it?! Not us. Arctic cold to follow, brrr.

Mo was content to play briefly on the deck. I finally had been able to open the door enough to squeeze out and do some shoveling for him.

In bad weather we play a modified Pug Fetch. I sit at my computer, and throw a treat as FAAAR into the living room as I can. Mo finds it, eats the treat, and runs back to me. For some reason he refuses to fetch a toy.

And Jeep Roadside Assistance came yesterday morning, quite promptly, and started my car. My friend has driven it for me twice now, but honestly, I do not trust it anymore.

Working indoors today, I decided to mostly ignore house chores and we spent the day in my sewing room. Here is the view looking out past my cutting table.

Now at 5 PM there's a slight clearing and the storm is ending. The snow-frosted trees are glowing an ethereal pink, so beautiful.

I worked on hearts for my etsy shop. I make them year round, though I do regret not having more to offer for Valentine's day.

I made the pattern try-out for Blue Pineapples. And glad I did because refinements and changes were quite needed.

Here is the machine appliqued/ straight stitch leafy top. I like to do a straight stitch sometimes because, when washed, the cut edge frays softly and creates textures and dimension.

First of all the thread I ordered is horrible and much too dark. I hope I can made do with my small spools I use for hand applique, the only green thread I have.

Other issues---easily fixed, the corners were hard to square up. Better to cut a blue rectangle and put notches, then sew/ press/ trim.

And the green topper and the blue body didn't fit exactly.

I also considered using the pieced topper from Baby Ps. It looks good, but this is supposed to be a deck throw/ beach blanket, not a work of quilting art.

Focus on function! I told myself.

Remember the showcase the gorgeous blue batiks.

Keep it modern and casual.

OK!

And I couldn't resist starting to piece the eBay antique Wagon Wheel blocks. I love them! Spacers to make the three across wider/ and five down. 33" x 45", plus possible borders.

I will not fix the crooked cheddar rims or not-round center circles. The piecing [as opposed to the applique] of the spokes is beautiful. Most perfect tiny even hand stitches. I'll show you next time.

Cold weather is coming! I also did the alterations on Mo's newest parka. It had enough Velcro to close a snowsuit for a plus sized human skier. I redid the fastenings for fast on/ fast off and trimmed away the tummy coverings so Mo could potty easily.

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Still eating leftover pot-roast! It is far better after a few days and slices nicely when cold, before reheating. Added gravy from a jar. The veggies were mostly discarded though.

Have a great week.