The ThreadCatcher

Happy Dance At Ships Landing

2012-01-28T10:35:00.001-05:00

I won the most WONDERFUL give-away from Julie at JulieKQuilts. You are waaaay too generous, girlfriend. :) I don't have a clue what I will use these in yet, but I'm drooling all over them as I pull books and patterns, searching for just the perfect pattern. Thank you sooo very much, Julie, for your generous gift. It warms the cockles of my heart. :D

All Day

2012-01-27T20:13:00.000-05:00


to 'build' one house---will construct the second one tomorrow :) http://terrytreasures.blogspot.com/

extraORDINARY Joys

2012-01-15T12:31:00.000-05:00

Shadows and

Sunshine on Carolina Wren

Ahhhh Big Brother makes an excellent pillow and body-warmer

Laptop is back

2012-01-08T10:30:00.000-05:00

It has a few little quirks but we can live with those. Richie did an amazing job just getting it to power up and work. According to what we read online, we were really fortunate to know someone who could work on it AND that it was actually salvageable. The power supply isn't working properly; purchased a new power cord, but evidently this is something that shorted out on the motherboard. Do we invest $300-$400 for a new board? Maybe, but if being plugged into the wall outlet keeps it working, well, that's all I've done with it in the past anyway. So, I'm just really happy to have it functioning. :)

The temperatures are so mild now that I have Spring fever. The last few days it's been close to 60. Shrubs and flowers are starting to bud and pop up from the ground. I'm afraid that it will decide to play 'Winter' when we should be going into Spring, and nip everything. But that's the future, right? I will just meander back into 'today' and enjoy.

2012-01-03T08:01:00.000-05:00

Morning mist made for phenomenal photos

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T20:46:00.000-05:00

Mega Mug

2011-12-28T22:48:00.000-05:00

of coffee got dumped on laptop...

Merry Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

May all your wishes come true...

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

2011-12-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Winter Solstice...

2011-12-21T16:57:00.001-05:00

...when magic reinvents itself

2011-12-12T11:48:00.000-05:00

Insulbrite question...

2011-12-10T10:19:00.000-05:00

I've been working on cast iron skillet handle potholders that slip on the handle. I've made 3 now trying to get the dimensions to suit me and now I'm thinking I need two layers of insulbrite instead of one which was used in the pattern I went by. I tried one out last night on a pan of cornbread from a 450 deg. oven and I think it needs a tad more insulation. Would there be any reason NOT to have two layers of Insulbrite and one layer of cotton batting? Anyone know the answer to this? :D Happy Holiday Sewing

And this is just how fast the whole year has gone...in a flash into DECEMBER

2011-12-01T18:50:00.000-05:00

and time for Mistletoe and all that jolly jazz... Happy December!! (just ignore the date on the photo---that is REAL Mistletoe growing in my tree :8)

As November Becomes a Memory

2011-12-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:38:00.001-05:00

A Holiday State of Mind

2011-11-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

It has been a day of rain and just enough chill to warrant a fire in the woodstove to hold the damp at bay and make our livingroom cozy. I have not accomplished much at all. I was so tired that I did not even roll out of the bed until 8:15 a.m., and I gave serious thought to staying snuggled in even longer, but I had some paperwork to attend to so Randy could go out at Noon to earn our bread, butter and doggie biscuits. :)

These photos are from last year---the date on my camera is set correctly :D

We are expecting no guests for Thanksgiving, so I'm going to thoroughly enjoy my whole week of 'holidaying' by doing whatever strikes my fancy. No worries, no stress, I do have a turkey breast thawing in the fridge; I have no idea when I will be in the mood to stick him in the oven. Maybe tomorrow :D. We have been invited to share a meal with some neighbors on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, so I can be as lazy this week as I choose to be. ;D

I have machine-stitched the binding on a doll quilt that I hope to get in the mail tomorrow. I will share a picture of it after I have finished the hand-stitching. Then I want to just curl up with a book that so totally engrosses me that I am swallowed up by it and spit out in another land and time. It's been a long time since I've read a book that has captured and transported me. I've traveled to so many distant lands and times in my lifetime and never left the comforts of my couch or bed. :) My most favorite mode of travel...

11-11-11

2011-11-11T16:06:00.000-05:00

So sweet

Add caption

Sweet--love blurred backgrounds

This Crepe Myrtle is breathtakingly beautiful

Marlee and Bayley were soaking up the warm sun

After starting out a biting 29 degrees with some wind this morning, the day has turned out to be a beautiful Fall day.

2011-11-03T08:30:00.002-05:00

The time changes this weekend. Fall Back. This year has literally flown by. I feel like I've been spinning like a toy top. Wondering how to slow time down a bit. I focus on whatever it is that I'm doing 'right at this moment' but still it all seems a blur.

This is the third morning in a row that we've had some frost. I think Fall is here...frost on the pumpkins. :) I finished up the gas in the string trimmer yesterday so I could put it to bed for the Winter.

15" Shoofly Block courtesy of www.teaginnydesigns.blogspot.com

I am looking forward having more time inside now to bake and do some sewing. I am a bit :) obsessed right now with the urge to create...to cut up some of this mountain of fabric and sew little pieces back together. :)

There are more birds gathering at the feeders now. I'm delighted that I have a pair of Carolina Wrens that have returned. Lots of Bluebirds sprucing up their Winter bungaloes.

I am NOT ready for the rush toward Christmas. Now that Halloween is a memory, let me just ease into Thanksgiving first. I want time to just flow at a gentle pace for a while now.

Bits of Sewing

2011-11-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

Tissue holders (courtesy of debp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h5uMjansOU)

My very first hexagon, made into hexagon flower, into a coaster

Back of hexagon flower coaster

Hmmmm, should have turned this upright before posting it.

Funky little owl

And of course my furbabies

Happy Halloween! Happy Birthday, BBIL Freddie!

2011-10-31T08:46:00.000-05:00

Days Gone By in Pictures

2011-10-28T14:43:00.000-05:00

Back of Pumpkin Mug Rug

Pumpkin Mug Rug

My friend, Flannie's, birthday Owl that I made

Beautiful Bluebird

Foster Son, Mr. Smudges---Bayley just isn't sure about sharing

Mr. Smudges, the sweetest little Poodle EVER

My friend, Flannie, clogging at Festival

Friday and Today---Brilliant

2011-10-15T13:13:00.000-05:00

2011-10-15T13:08:00.000-05:00

These pictures are what we had on Thursday. It was awesome! We had rain on and off all day. A perfect day.

Rain--Glorious Rain

2011-10-13T09:20:00.000-05:00

It's raining here at Ships Landing this morning. We even had a thunderstorm and a short gully-washer of a downpour. I reveled in the sounds, while Marlee shivered and quaked at my feet. Poor little girl is so dreadfully afraid of storms---wind and rain send her running for cover, while Bayley and I want to head out into it, well, at least onto the porch. We haven't had hardly a thimble-ful of rain in so long, months, so I'm doing a happy dance that my plants and trees are finally getting a decent drink.

I've lit some candles, have a fresh cup of coffee in hand, and my mind is darting around amongst so many ideas of what to do with this day, stretched before me like a blank canvas, that I find myself caught up in fighting the mental battle of doing some of what 'needs' to be done--sorting through piles of paper on the island, moving stacks from one spot to another, carrying out boxes that have been left setting by the door, clearing clutter from the kitchen counters, etc, YUK! :(, OR JUST CLIMBING OVER THE PILES AND going on into my sewing room to play with snips and pieces of fabrics in Autumn's magnificent colors, wiling away the hours trying to make pumpkin-shaped coasters, and Halloween coasters using hexagon shapes, and Bayley and Marlee really need a little quilt each for the cold weather that's already hinting that it will soon be visiting for an extended stay.

October...

2011-10-01T12:51:00.000-05:00

"October is the year at rich maturity, a happy woman arrayed in festival dress and ready for a dance with a giant come down from the hills attired in a red, red shirt, buckskin pants and moccasins beaded with frost. October is a brisk wind in the treetops, a whisper among crisp leaves, a breath of apple cider, a gleam from a jack-o'-lantern, and the echo of laughter under a full moon. October is bright as a bittersweet berry." Hal Borland

2011-09-29T07:11:00.000-05:00

I just couldn't help myself---I had to share it. LOL I swiped it from my niece. :D

Days of September

2011-09-19T10:07:00.001-05:00

September has gone sailing by like a kite in a strong wind. I can hardly believe that today is the 19th of September. I started the month by going to Hillsville, VA, to my sister, Nita's, house for Flea Market Weekend. I left home with plans to be gone close to a week. That week grew into 10 days! I caught (unwillingly, I might add) the mother of all Upper Respiratory Infections. I simply didn't feel like driving back home, and although Randy offered every day to come and get me, I decided to take advantage of the time with my sister and stay until I felt like I had enough energy to drive myself back home. I've been home over a week now, have just taken the last antibiotic this morning, and still haven't kicked this mess yet. I still have July wallhangings on the walls, for Pete's sake! I did make a commitment to clear off our island, which is where all of our lives' detritus ends up. I've mostly accomplished that chore, at least, and have a Fall tablerunner there with the sweetest pumpkin teapot that my friend, Flannie, brought to me last Friday. It is adorable and I LOVE it!! :D

The pups came home from my sister's with their own issues. Bayley had been throwing up blood again last week, so my vet talked to vets at University of TN and developed a plan of tests to try and determine what is going on with him. They are both finishing up a round of dewormers, then comes blood tests for a whole host of things, including Addison's disease as well as allergies. They are as precious as ever, albeit a bit of a challenge. :/

Randy is doing well. He's been just busy enough to keep him from falling into the doldrums. He did fully realize the old adage "absence makes the heart grow fonder" LOL. He was more than ready for me to bring my eccentricities and come home. :D

Marlee found her a spot to 'rest her eyes' while at Nita's

The skies were glorious in Hillsville, VA

Nita's Beauty Berry bush

The remnants of the Full Harvest Moon

Cottoneaster bush

Cottoneaster berries

I'm itching to pull out lots of Fall clutter, and spend some time in the sewing 'stewdio'. Fall is upon us; I am more than ready for the cooler temps and slower pace of Autumn and Winter. My OCD kicks in with Autumn and I want to make everything I see in Fall colors---pumpkins, leaves, Mums, you name it and I want to make it in fabric. :D Hopefully, I'll soon be over the crud and can get on with my playing---like kids in piles of leaves, kicking through them, tossing them up into the air to flutter down like confetti...

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

I'm holding everyone on the Eastern Coast close to my heart. Please be as safe as you can be.

Crocheted wool yarn chair pad

I now have four of these wool yarn pads for my bar stools

I had just about given up on the Monarch butterfly coming to visit me this Summer

Beautiful beautiful Monarch

Daddy Bluebird feeding on mealworms

2011-08-23T13:25:00.000-05:00

Marlee is doing her early morning stretching

I was the 'photographer' at the finish of this ride for my seester, Carolina (21 mile ride) and my BIL Freddie (62 mile ride) :D

Sug finishing up 21 mile ride

Freddie finishing up 62 mile ride

Meant to post this sooner---look how the leaves are already starting to turn

2011-08-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

This little Crepe Myrtle has outdone itself with blooms this Summer

Isn't he the sweetest?? Kingbird? or Phoebe?

It's a mystery from the compost pile---is it a watermelon? or a HUGE Squash???

Butterfly Bush and Crepe Myrtle

So much fun Crocheteing wool chair pads

Beauty

2011-08-16T07:13:00.000-05:00

Have You Ever Seen...

2011-08-05T08:04:00.001-05:00

A Goose eating a pear????

Some July Memories

2011-08-01T07:04:00.002-05:00

Rose of Sharon

Mammoth Dill

Last of my Sunflowers

My favorite color of yellow Squash Blossom

Coneflowers

Momma and Baby with huge crow joining in the party

Marlee was guarding her bone

Grey Heron 'fishing'

Miniature Glads

Zinnia in the shade

Marlee put the pawprint of approval on my tee-shirt rug

Bayley just wants a new bone and a nap

What's Going On

2011-07-23T10:30:00.001-05:00

I made this little pillow out of a couple of blocks that have been hanging around here forever. It makes me smile every time I glance at it and see the red button in the center. :)
The hummingbirds have been giving me a run for my money when it comes to keeping the feeders full for them. We've had multitudes of them this year. I love watching their antics.
I captured this Egret at just the right moment for his reflection to be almost perfect in the water. These are the kinds of photos that I'm always trying to 'capture'; somehow the photo is never quite as beautiful as the actual moment was.
The Black-eyed Susans and sunflowers have been such bright spots in my days. Such common, humble flowers but I love them! We've had a new visitor in the yard this Summer...a red fox squirrel. He is cute as a button. He zips into the sunflowers, quick as a blink he's up the stalk, nabs a sunflower head, and rushes away with his treasure. :D I know to a lot of people they are pests, but I think he is simply charming! :D
And last but by far not the least, I have been crocheting a tee shirt rag rug. Randy only wears white tee shirts---he has a mustache---need I say more? :) He's lucky if he gets a month's wear out of a new one before he drips coffee or chocolate on it. I can't get the stains out, and as I was gathering up a pile of them to stick in the 'rag bag' for the garage, I decided to just make a rug out of them. I love doing these rugs, and haven't made one in a long time. I love it! I have no idea how big it will be. I'm just stripping tee shirts and crocheting. Really relaxing and almost zen-like. I have a LOT of dingy, white tee shirts. :D

Summertime Fun at Ships Landing

2011-07-15T11:12:00.001-05:00

Last Friday (7-8-11) our friends brought their Trail Mini up and camped for the weekend. They had their two furbabies, Butch and Ellie Mae, with them. Everyone had a great time! Swimming, canoeing, eating, chillin'---We loved having you guys. Hope you get to come again before the snow flies.

2011-07-02T09:29:00.000-05:00

Fabric Basket

2011-06-29T13:07:00.001-05:00

I finally managed to get one of these little fabric baskets (somewhat) together. :D They are the cutest things ever!! Thank you, Lisa, for the awesome tutorial. Dawn (June 19, 2011 post) and Janet (June 16, 2011 post) have made some really cute ones. Go have a look.

http://www.aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/2011/03/tutorial-gathered-round-basket.html

My New Chariot

2011-06-27T20:28:00.000-05:00

2011 Camellia Red Subaru Forester

So Go Figure...

2011-06-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

Why Can't I Post Photos?

2011-06-23T13:39:00.001-05:00

I've tried for two days now to post photos--alas, Blogger just will not cooperate. :? I'm caught up on the blocks for Simple Things Quilt Along. Yeaaa! Maybe even a tad ahead :) as I got carried away making the 4-patch/cream blocks and made extra. I had a he8888ck of a time getting the last four star blocks together. Who knows why! So now I have eight of the 4-patch/cream AND eight of the stars! :D

I think I figured out why I don't sew much---cuz I just am lousy at spelling 'accurate'! let alone sewing anywhere near 'accurate' !! :/

My Forte'

2011-06-18T11:28:00.001-05:00

A SINGLE block... :D

UPDATE: I actually made 7 more!! blocks :D

Friday Night (Sew-IN?)

2011-06-17T15:16:00.000-05:00

These little hummers have absolutely nothing to do with sewing :8 I just felt like sharing their photos.

I do believe this little fella below was having a 'bad hair day'. :D I am thinking that I'm going to spend this evening doing some sewing.

I picked out parts of the first border for the Kim Diehl piece, but have not had time to work on it since I posted the photo of it. :/ I did pull out another UFO (imagine that--ANOTHER one) that was a large block of unfinished applique and have been playing with it a bit after dinner. I'm still in the 'wanna sew' mood---and there are at least two sew-alongs that have already started, and that I would like to do. :/ But I'm slower than molasses, and that's AFTER I finally decide on what fabrics to use....Hope everyone is gearing up for a great weekend.

Ancient UFO Ghost From the Past

2011-06-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

Finished the applique day before yesterday, and set the four blocks together this morning. Now I'm ready to choose the fabrics for the first border. This is a Kim Diehl pattern that I started ages ago. I'm back in the 'wanna sew NOW' mode, so I'll run with it as long as the urge lasts. :)

To Honor ALL of our Servicemen and Women

2011-05-31T07:31:00.001-05:00

My Irises were outstanding this Spring

I've enjoyed a few strawberries each day from my plants

The tiniest Praying Mantis I've EVER SEEN on the Butterfly Weed

My 'weed' flower bouquets have delighted me for days on end

I should say that I have enjoyed the strawberries that the Mockingbird left for me :)

Is this a juvenile Mourning Dove? I've never seen one colored like this before.

The first Sunflower of the season

My Lavender is intoxicating--I've harvested blossoms from this little bush twice already

Can anyone tell me what this is? I love how light and airy and delicate it is

Going from Winter to Summer...

2011-05-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

Spring Wildflower Bouquet brightens my day

Peonies were so beautiufl this year; the blooms are already fading

A little night-time visitor attached to our window was a fun surprise

Daddy Bluebird feeding fledgling...

I LOVE this photo!!!

Baby fledgling wants ALL of them but Daddy says 'no, you have a sibling over in the tree that's waiting for his share' LOL

So Baby tries to follow Dad with those worms but settles for a close perch for now

Okay, MAYBE I can make it to that tree Dad went into

Mockingbird nest with eggs in the Norway Spruce (they are hatched now !! )


First Sunflower of the season		(Click to enlarge any of the photos)

2011-05-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

Isn't the Bald Eagle so majestic and regal!!

Baby House Finches on our porch

Dutch Iris with some Chocolate Mint, Variegated Vinca, and Spearmint

Is he not the most beautiful little thing EVER? Look at those bright eyes---he was having a blast

Marlee and Bayley helping Dad burn brush

Marlee was afraid to come up on the dock ramp. She's the most hilarious little dog---brave, courageous and bold---and the biggest scaredy-cat ever!! :D

I adore the Kingbirds and Phoebes

The Delights of Home

2011-04-30T08:06:00.000-05:00

Dutch Irises

Bearded Irises

I have to take their picture every Spring

Momma and juvenile Bald Eagles right outside my door

Just Returned

2011-04-28T11:31:00.000-05:00

from a week-long trip to San Francisco, CA. It was my first trip cross-country. It was a great trip, and it was great to get back home. :)

Spring Blooms

2011-04-18T10:37:00.000-05:00

First Dresden 'Wheel' (I love it!)

First Wild Geranium blossom

Spring Phlox

Strawberries are blooming

Bayley and Marlee are fascinated by the TINIEST turtle we have ever seen

Bayley just can't figure this little guy out

Hope

2011-04-15T08:17:00.002-05:00

"Hope"

"Hope" is the thing with feathers --

That perches in the soul --

And sings the tune without the words --

And never stops -- at all --

And sweetest -- in the Gale -- is heard --

And sore must be the storm --

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm --

I've heard it in the chillest land --

And on the strangest Sea --

Yet, never, in Extremity,

It asked a crumb -- of Me.

by Emily Dickinson

Spring Fever

2011-04-03T07:31:00.000-05:00

Tree Swallow

Look at this beautiful turkey!

Lilac

Bleeding Heart

Redbud

Bluebird

Double 4-Patch Contribution

2011-03-27T14:58:00.001-05:00

I've spent the day playing with some Double 4-Patch 8-1/2" blocks to contribute to a 'community' quilt for Japan. Bayley put his paw-stamp of approval on them. :)

2011-03-25T18:46:00.000-05:00

Signs of Spring

2011-03-18T09:26:00.001-05:00

Caught a rare photo of a pair of Cardinals at the feeder. They thrill me!

My Lilac bush is budding~~one of my most favorite flowers and fragrance!

My miniature Daffodils are blooming. I want, I MUST get me some more Daffy bulbs, along with some Crocus, Tulips and Hyacinths (none of which I have right now). Every Spring I think, "now this coming Fall, I HAVE to get some bulbs in the ground", but alas, I always forget. So I will buy me a few pots now and stick them in the ground.

My Forsythia (called 'yellow-bell bushes' where I grew up) are blooming. They are sooooo sunshiney bright, I wish they bloomed all Summer. :)


Yesterday was such a beautiful day. We had a high temperature of 72! :D We spent most of the daylight hours outside. I used the push mower to do some trimming, and Randy did some of the first mowing of the season on the riding mower. Bayley and Marlee wore themselves out, and crashed for a little rest in the shade.

The Swallows are building their nests now, and the Bluebirds are trying to hold on to their 'leases'. :) Unfortunately, two of the banes of my existence have returned---the blasted Brown-headed Cowbirds and the freakin' Starlings. I really really could do without them, but I try to increase my patience and tolerance with every Spring when they arrive. :) One is in the tray feeder even as I type. Dang their hides---they eat it all before the smaller birds can get any AND they are constantly trying to get into the Bluebird/Swallows houses to lay their eggs. They are little devils, I tell you! :/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

Susan in Texas ...

2011-03-15T12:50:00.000-05:00

http://susanintexas.blogspot.com/2011/03/blogoversary-giveaway.html

Susan is having an awesome blogaversary give-away. :) Go check it out.

Japan Tragedy

2011-03-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

There are no words sufficient to express the horror, the sorrow, the prayers...

A Wonderful Birthday Surprise

2011-02-28T10:09:00.000-05:00


Kaleb, nephew Kasey, seester Carolina and BBILFreddie at my birthday party on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Sug's house

Sug made my most favorite, in the whole wide world, Whacky Chocolate Cake for my birthday, and I decided to go to her house for the day. Imagine our surprise, and delight, when our nephew, Kasey, called that he and a buddy (Kaleb) were in a neighboring city for a concert (the night before) and would like to come by for a visit. We had the most wonderful time hanging out with Kasey and Kaleb, eating tuna salad sandwiches, teaching them how to eat grapefruit like an orange LOL, wolfing down my deeeelicious birthday cake, kicking truck tires (and I love to punch buttons and pull knobs in other people's vehicles :D), and capping it all off with pizza before the boys and I hit the road on separate journeys home. A huge thank you, Sug and Freddie, AND Kasey and Kaleb, for making my birthday such a wonderful, special 55th birthday!! I have no idea why this post ended up spaced so wonky----but, oh well...... :)

Kaleb, Kasey, Freddie and moi

Real Estate Shopping

2011-02-23T10:02:00.001-05:00

The Bluebirds are defending their condo rentals from the Swallows who came home yesterday to check out the availability and renovations on the Spring rentals. :) I always do a happy dance when the Swallows return.

Just an update---I have 5 bluebird boxes that the Bluebirds and Swallows skirmish over each Spring. :D I need to invest in some more 'rental houses', huh? :D

2011-02-01T17:34:00.002-05:00

NAME THIS BIRD :D

Perfect day for Homemade Bread

And it makes the house smell soooooo good :)

UPDATE: HERE'S A LINK TO THE BREAD RECIPE

http://www.ehow.com/how_4560918_easy-breezy-fast-white-bread.html

Snow Chaos --- Just Northeast of Us

2011-01-27T08:35:00.000-05:00

I watched in facination as the snow fell in thick sheets of white on Washington, DC last night, dreading the chaos that would ensue from such a beautiful sight. How can something so beautiful be so deadly. By the time I went to bed, power was out in lots of places, cars were being abandoned, airports were closed, and trees were being brought down by the weight of the snow. Even Jim Cantore said he had never seen anything like the quality of this snow in that area---the sheer weight of it left one in total amazement. I always worry about the people and animals when the power goes out in the dead of Winter. Troy, I hope you are layered up and have your new Timberlands on. :)

Cabin Fever, A Neighbor's Horse...

2011-01-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

The Robins were here in scores yesterday. January IS half over. Does this mean that Spring is just around the corner, and those icicles are trying to deceive me? I must admit that I'm ready to put out the fires, round up all the dust, throw open the windows, and actually hear the birds as well as see them through the windows. :) Someone please tell me it won't be long now.

This has been a cold couple of months, and I have enjoyed snuggling by the fire, cleaning off buckets of snow from Bayley's little short legs, taking tons of bird photos through the windows; but yesterday was so NICE and WARM, and I took the pups on a romp up through the field to the woods, now I'm longing for DAYS of warmth and sunshine, feeling the breeze on my face. It IS time to think about sticking seeds into cups of dirt. Maybe I should clear off this table and set up a mini-greenhouse again. I don't get much light in my house, but that never deters me from TRYING to get vegie seeds started at this time of year. And there so much crap in this house that what's a bit more, right? :) I'm longing for some dirt therapy....maybe that's what I will do today---bring out the vegie and flowers seeds, round up some potting soil and cups...AFTER I call the Subaru dealership and see if they have a Camilla Rose Red Forester on their lot...and any deals they would like to offer me. :D

Thank You, Everyone

2011-01-14T18:37:00.000-05:00

The second Civil War block of Barbara Brackman's

Beautiful sunset last night

The morning was GORGEOUS---the trees across the lake had Hoar Frost on them

Any one out there know what kind of tree this is?

The tree in the forefront is the trunk of the photo before this one

THANK YOU TO ALL O F YOU FOR YOUR CARING COMMENTS ON THE CAR ACCIDENT. THEY ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED.

Monday 1-10-11 News at Ships Landing

2011-01-13T16:26:00.001-05:00

Randy is okay, just badly bruised and shaken up. I wasn't with him. He had gone to the pharmacy to pick up medicine for me. If you know our road, you know that it goes much further up the hill and is much steeper the higher you go. On Monday, it was totally covered by the time he was headed back home, not only with snow, but with ice as well. He had a loooooong slide down the road and ended up where you see the car in the first photos. :/ We've been catching our breath, and counting our blessings. Now we have to try to figure out how to get it out of there without causing more damage to the car.

2011-01-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

Check out those 'snow balls' on Bayley's legs

My very first EVER White-Throated Sparrow :D

They returned today---in duplicates

See why I accomplish NOTHING??? :D

Oooh Cardinals Make ME Happy

2011-01-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

She was back on the 8th

Look who followed her today!

Birds and Quilt Block

2011-01-08T14:40:00.000-05:00

Frigid temps and howling winds send the little birds into a feeding frenzy

Jumping on the Civil War blocks bandwagon by Barbara Brackman at http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

A Bit of Christmas and Snow

2011-01-07T08:29:00.001-05:00

Candle Mats and Mug Rugs

Troy is not sure what to make of his 'single' sock (felted wool 'coaster' with kitty on it)

Christmas pillow gift to BFF and red hoodie to me from BFF

Nita, can Snuggles beat Bayley in the 'snowball' class??? All four paws/legs/stomach coated EVERY time he went outside. This is what I did many times yesterday---try to remove snow/ice balls from Bayley's thick, lustrous fur :D

Happy New Year 2011

2011-01-01T13:48:00.002-05:00

The Cardinals finally came to visit me on the tail end of 2010 and I was delighted.

The sweet Junco flits almost as quickly as the Carolina Wren and Chickadee.

The Carolina Wren has been hanging out at Ships Landing, and even had a mate one day, doubling my delight.

The sweet, little Chickadee has been to visit this past week, but he's so very quick I've spent the week trying to capture his picture, and FINALLY caught him today. Adorable little bird.

They all make me smile.

May this New Year of 2011 be full of wonder and delight.

Happy New Year!!

2010-12-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

To Bless The Space Between Us at the Beginning of a New Year

2010-12-30T09:08:00.001-05:00

The particular mind of the ocean

Filling the coastline's longing

With such brief harvest

Of elegant, vanishing waves

Is like the mind of time

Opening up shapes of days.

As this year draws to its end,

We give thanks for the gifts it brought

And how they became inlaid within

Where neither time nor tide can touch them.

The days when the veil lifted

And the soul could see delight;

When a quiver caressed the heart

In the sheer exuberance of being here.

Surprises that came awake

In forgotten corners of old fields

Where expectation seemed to have quenched.

The slow, brooding times

When all was awkward

And the wave in the mind

Pierced every sore with salt.

The darkened days that stopped

The confidence of the dawn.

Days when beloved faces shone brighter

With light from beyond themselves;

And from the granite of some secret sorrow

A stream of buried tears loosened.

We bless this year for all we learned,

For all we loved and lost

And for the quiet way it brought us

Nearer to our invisible destination.
John O'Donohue,

from To Bless the Space Between Us

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-23T17:29:00.001-05:00

May your Christmas be merry and bright, and the New Year full of peace, love and contentment.

A Lovely Surprise

2010-12-19T09:04:00.000-05:00

I won the most adorable give-away from Pam Buda at www.heartspunquilts.blogspot.com . I hung it over my kitchen sink as soon as I unwrapped it. :) Thank you so much, Pam, I love it!! (And you are right, now I can't say, anymore, that I NEVER win those contests LOL)

We did not have any of our mail delivered this whole week, until yesterday, due to first the snow on Sunday a week ago, and then due to the ice that we got on Thursday. How fun to have a surprise package in the mail when they were finally able to get back in here to us again. :D Once again, Pam, thank you bunches!! I will treasure it for years to come.

Hoar Frost--So Beautiful! We Have it so seldom these years....

2010-12-15T08:25:00.000-05:00

We Have Some SNOW!

2010-12-13T09:49:00.000-05:00

Pre-snow feeding frenzy

It's dusk, and Marlee is so excited by the snow she has to ROLL Bayley in it

The snow makes 'snowballs' in Bayley's long hair

Oh My, The Birds

2010-12-05T11:01:00.000-05:00

I have so many birds on this cold, snowy, windy December day, that I've been out twice already to refill the feeders and thaw the birdbath. I've had 10 Bluebirds at one time out here...and the finches (several varieties) are in the bazillions :D, not to mention the Doves and sweet Tree Sparrows, along with the Wrens (I finally saw my sweet Carolina Wren nabbing some Zick Dough and swooping away with it). I have totally exhausted my camera battery and IT'S ONLY 10:30 A.M. Had to toss that puppy on recharge (hurry, please!) cause the little birds are still feeding in droves---I'm missing those 'Kodak' moments while I wait for the battery to charge! *g* I have my first Junco (Snow Bird :D) this morning too! I didn't see but an occasional Junco last year, and not nearly this early in the season.

It thrills me, it warms my heart and soul, to have all of these little creatures filling my skinny 'sticks' and bushes. :D I would love to have a BIG (or a BUNCH of BIG) tree in my yard, but my seedlings and sticks and 'shared' shrubs are growing. One must learn to be patient, right, for all of the good things. :)

The pups have had a ball running in and out. I got some pictures (of COURSE she did *g*) of them with snowflakes on their backs. I'll post those pictures later. For now, I have to get a fresh cup of coffee, put another log on the fire, and check to see if my camera battery is recharged enough for a few more pictures. :D

Frosty

2010-11-28T08:21:00.000-05:00

It's a frosty 24 degrees this morning. Had to hustle to get the fire stoked back up and the birds fed. I forgot to empty the birdbath last night and it was frozen solid. I hope it doesn't crack. My birdbath heater keeps kicking the outside breaker. Don't know what's up with that. It did it last season too. I have to have water for my birds. I took hot water out for the bath for now. I'll have to check it again in a bit, it will freeze over again.

What kind of bird is this?

These two are IN TROUBLE, can you tell? They slipped off and are hot-footing it back home. :)

Gorgeous Thanksgiving bouquet from my dear friend, Flannie

Paperwhites tossed from last Winter are blooming

We've finished up the leftovers. Now it's time to gather up the pumpkins and turkeys and move on to snowmen, Santas and Christmas trees. I feel like I'm in a time warp, and I just can't seem to get my mind wrapped around the fact that it truly is, once again, THIS time of year. It's scary, really, at how fast time is racing by. Way too fleet of foot for my plodding mind. Seems I'm always BEHIND, struggling to catch up somehow. Never enough time to just immerse myself in things that I love---like being lost in wonder and awe in these breathtakingly, stop-you-in-your- tracks BEAUTIFUL sunsets that we've had lately, watching the birds and their antics, playing with fabric in front of a roaring fire, pups snuggled up beside me or having a wrestling match at my feet. How do all of you bloggers out there get so much sewing and quilting done...capture exquisite photos of the birds and creatures, and still have gorgeous houses and gardens that look like they should be in House and Garden magazine? .......... I think a MAID will be at the top of my Christmas list to Santa this year. :)

Happy Thanksgiving Wishes

2010-11-24T13:54:00.000-05:00

The Turkey's Done, Can We Eat Now?

2010-11-20T13:48:00.000-05:00

Guess What Everyone is Getting This Christmas!!

2010-11-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

Front

Back

Quilted Mug Rug Band Wagon

2010-11-18T17:20:00.001-05:00

Carolina Wren

Phoebe

Cotoneaster Berries

Quilted Mug Rug
I had to try the little mug rugs too. I think I may have finally found something that I can actually start----and finish. :D

Holidays Rushing Toward Me and I'd rather be ...

2010-11-15T08:28:00.001-05:00

watching the birds, playing with the pups, watching the mist rise over the lake in the mornings, watching the sunsets at the end of day, puttering in the yard, quilting...Maybe I should bypass Turkey decorations and go for the Christmas decorations. I get further behind each year. I've always insisted on paying unshared attention to Thanksgiving---but at this point in my life I'm beginning to think that I may have to let my principle slide here and combine the two. :) Something to ponder as I avoid my daily chores---once again. :->

Morning Mist

Marlee

Who is this little bird?

Bayley is ready for a nap

Quilting progress

Who is this?


Breathtaking sunset

Best Kind of Day

2010-11-06T15:25:00.001-05:00

This has been one of those best kinds of days when I've been able to pack in some of most of the things I love to do most. Now, if I can do a bit of sewing sometime before my head hits the pillow for the night, it will have been pretty close to perfect. :)

Our laptop is parked on the table by the kitchen window so I can look out and watch the birds feed or bathe or dream about prowling through the woods here behind the house. But not much time for that early this a.m. I had just turned it on, gotten the pups outside and back in, grabbed my first cup of coffee and plunked myself down in from of the laptop---when my sister called to see if it was snowing here cuz it was where she lives (only 45 min from my house). She WAS NOT happy to see that beautiful white stuff yet---she tends to get a bit testy over even just a few flurries :D, and she was REALLY out of sorts when I told her the sun was shining here and that I had not seen even a speck of white. LOL Well, the sun WAS shining at that time. :) By 9 a.m. the skies were overcast, and no sun to be seen for the rest of this day.

We chatted quite a while about unidentified plants, and birds, and cameras, and weather, and we decided to share pictures with each other (she asking if I could identify a particular plant---and nope, I couldn't name this one), me just because we were trying different settings on our cameras. We both have the same Kodak.

Once we were off the phone, I headed outside for a piece of wood for the fire, got totally side-tracked and ended up spending the majority of the day with transplanting shrubs and such from containers into the ground. I only made a couple of pit stops inside for coffee refills until about 3:30 p.m. I really did get a lot of planting done, and I even hauled more wood around to the porch. The weather forecast for tonight is a hard freeze warning, so I wanted to have plenty of wood close by for tonight and in the morning. This woodstove really has me so spoiled. I love being able to come inside out of the cold and wind and snuggle up to the stove. :D

The wind is getting up now. I would have thought it was too cold for the Sparrows to bathe, but evidently not, because I've been sitting here watching them bathe and preen. :) Guess one needs his weekly bath on a Saturday night now matter what, huh? LOL They provide me with endless entertainment. :) There are bunches of Mourning Doves, Finches, and Sparrows at the baths and feeders right now, along with another one of my most favorite little birds, the Carolina Wren. I have been thrilled the last couple of weeks to have that little wren here. :) They are so sweet.

See captions for these photos in previous post ....

2010-11-04T17:10:00.001-05:00

Birds and Pumpkins

2010-11-04T14:01:00.001-05:00

Sweet Phoebe

First Fire of the Season

What luck!! Caught him in flight

SURPRISE! I actually started a Halloween quilt for me :D courtesy of www.maryquilts.com 's Forest Bricks(?) pattern---Mine is called 'Pumpkin Bricks'

Happy November!

2010-11-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T12:20:00.000-05:00

Here Ya Go, Hannes!

2010-10-28T08:23:00.000-05:00

A Little Bit of Piecing and Hand-Quilting

2010-10-26T18:23:00.000-05:00

2010-10-25T08:15:00.000-05:00

2010-10-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

Morning mist

Sunrise

Randy and Nathan

Toilet Tissue Pumpkin

We are beginning to get some beautiful Autumn color, seemingly overnight

Belated Happy Birthday, Dear Seester!!

2010-10-13T10:34:00.000-05:00

I have just found out that you have been out of town celebrating your birthday, my dear seester, and I am thrilled for you!!! I do hope that you guys had a blast...a bunch of wild women out on the town...DEEEELIGHTFUL!!!! :) I know that you will be tuckered out from all of the partying, so I thought I would post this picture so you will know what to do when you get home---have a nap and dream fun dreams of your wild and wonderful BIRTHDAY PARTY!!! :D Happiest of birthday wishes and hugs, Seester!

2010-09-30T15:15:00.000-05:00

Days of September Transitioning to Memories

2010-09-29T08:10:00.000-05:00

A few gifts from September

GO Cutter Giveaway

2010-09-28T16:20:00.002-05:00

over at http://www.milliesquilting.blogspot.com/. I would love to have a new toy to play with. Go check it out! :)

It's Raining--AGAIN

2010-09-27T07:54:00.002-05:00

It' raining it's pouring the old man is snoring ---and this the only time that the snoring isn't annoying!! LOL We woke up to rain dancing on our rooftop again this morning. It is such a welcome sound that it is truly deserving of a blog post two days in a row from one who only seems to manage an erratic post once or twice a month. :) My volunteer zinnias are doing a happy rain dance, and my surviving seedlings are joining in. The birds were so excited yesterday that I had birds all over the yard that I haven't seen in a couple of months, even my regular dwellers here at Ships Landing, like the Finches and Bluebirds. I think everybody had been on vacation in a place that was a bit cooler and wetter than it has been here this Summer. :P

Rain!! Splish Splash They Were Taking A Bath

2010-09-26T18:13:00.001-05:00

It has rained ALL DAY here at Ships Landing!!! We have not had this kind of steady, all-day rain in so many months that I can't even remember the last time. It has been the most wonderful kind of piddling, sorting, blog-hopping, kind of day--and I've loved EVERY WET MINUTE OF IT!,

September

2010-09-02T10:02:00.002-05:00

..."So September comes with a few more harbingers than usual, some of the outriders early with their message. But autumn never comes overnight. It creeps in on a misty dawn and vanishes in the hot afternoon. It tiptoes through the treetops, roughing a few leaves, then rides a tuft of thistledown across the valley and away. It sits on a hilltop and hoots like an October owl in the dusk. It plays tag with the wind. Autumn is a changeling, busy as a squirrel in a hickory tree, idle as the languid brook. It is August ended, October inevitable, summer's ripeness and richness fulfilled in sweet September." Hal Borland's Twelve Moons of the Year

2010-08-22T07:41:00.002-05:00

My Black-eyed Susies have been gorgeous this year. They haven't seemed to mind the heat and drought. We've had some very interesting moths show up this Summer. Each year that we've lived here at the lake, each season has brought different critters to our attention. They are each unique, and I've gathered quite a collection of photos of 'UFOs'. :) The heat and humidity have been so very bad this Summer (and Spring too, for that matter) that the most that the pups have been able to do is lie on the porch and dream about chasing the geese and rabbits around the yard. Thank goodness for our porch. :)

Treasures from the Heart

2010-08-06T13:36:00.003-05:00

The picture of the butterfly doesn't do it justice. It was huge. And so so beautiful! We've had some gorgeous sunsets in the midst of all of the heat and humidity. These little birds just cracked me up (I named them Lilie, Nita, Flan and Sug) ROFL. Beth over at soccertaxi blog clued me to a blog that was making a plaid wienie dog quilt---I emailed the person, and pronto, ordered that pattern. It came today!!! Really super fast service from www.lavender-rabbit.com. The bottom photo is of the most timely treasure box from Donna at Mourning Dove Cottage. That woman is such a sweetheart---so talented and generous! Thank you more than you can know, Donna, for the ALL of the treasures.