Holiday weekend

 The first long weekend that signals the beginning of summer. While I was suppose to travel to visit my daughter, plans changed and I am home getting lots of things done. I have been working on my gardens and have only a few more things to  plant. My body however has other plans and is warning me to sit and rest. So once again in my favourite chair on the front porch enjoying the gentle breeze and the shade(for now till the sun comes around the house). Been here too long the bugs have found me!

mini quilts for stuffys

This past week I was part of a mini retreat. We rented a banquet area of the local golf course and had 3 days of sewing. I unfortunately could only go Monday and Wednesday. My furry critter doesn't like me being gone that many days in a row. I didn't do any sewing by machine at this retreat, I set up my Qsnap frame and did hand quilting for the two days. Oh how I have forgotten how much I enjoy hand quilting. This might be the kickstart I need to getting one onto the big frame soon! While at retreat I was given a couple baggies of scrap triangles. I have turned most of them into little stuffy quilts. Last night I sandwiched, quilted and bound them. Quick work fun and done!

lilacs almost ready

Today after working outside a bit and then cleaning inside, how does it get so messy if I am outside!?! I am planning on catching up on my 365 blocks. I am about a week behind.

After I see what Kathy is slow stitching today, I will be heading indoors where it is much cooler. I like the sunshine but not the hot temperatures anymore.
Have a great week!

forget me nots in bloom

Let me introduce myself....

 It would seem that maybe I should re-introduce myself as I have been away from blogland for way too long. I have heard from some of my readers that they thought I disappeared. Let me catch you up!

March was a warmer than usual month, well our whole winter was warm with not much snow so when the temperatures started to rise it didn't take long for the snow to leave. So in March when the snow starts to melt I start thinking of maple syrup production and this year it happen early. I started around March 2 and was all done in two weeks. The week I finished was the same week last year that I began so that tells you how early sapping season was this year. Before I knew it March was over and we were into April.

April was a crappy weather month. You just didn't know from one day to the next or even from morning to afternoon what was going to happen. I spent April catching up in my sewing room. I took on the 365 day challenge, doing a block a day for one year. Friends Mallory and Pearl are also working on the same challenge with me. Took most of April but I did get caught up and now I wait each day for the next block to come out. If you haven't heard of this Kathryn Kerr has been doing it for a few years. Check it out! This is my top so far, no surprises I am working in blue.

stuffies with quilts

charity quilt

 I have also finished a couple quilts for gifts for friends, some charity quilts and even completed a few of my own UFOs. My friend Natalie and I are doing a sort of mystery quilt for our guild ladies. We have started the installments and they will continue to receive them all summer. Our hope is they will play along and in September we will give them the final instructions on how to put all the blocks together. Pics of that quilt will come at the end of summer. I have already made one top and the blocks are made for a second one. Luckily it is not a large quilt.

playing with scraps

Call it Spring fever or cabin fever, but this Spring I have found myself "squirreling" a lot! My mind is wandering and I can't seem to settle. So it is no surprise when rereading all that I have done in April that I now find myself in May!! Now my sewing/quilting will have to share time with gardening and lawn mowing!

tulips about to open

spent some sitting time

Fighting a head cold, I couldn't resist going outside for a bit yesterday. I installed  the wooden screen door and brought out my favorite chair. I even planted some gladiola bulbs that had started to grow in my garage. Thought the fresh air would make me feel better and it did, also aired out the house and hoping to chase those nasty cold germs away.

Although I have been MIA, I am still very much a blog reader. Keeping up with the goings on here and there and especially with my friend Kathy and her slow stitching day. Sunday afternoons are my stitching time while I watch the Nascar races!! Will check in with Kathy and all her followers once I get this long post up!!

Spring runoff just about done