The daily Blog

What do you think girls. Could I blog daily.  We'll see...
I have taken my mum to the hairdresser.

She always feels better after the hair is washed.

Just having a cuppa in my favourite Ballydougan Pottery cup as I wait for my hubby to come home.  We are going to buy paint.He plans to paint D3's stables.  I am going to be a paint widow. Once he starts something he keeps going til its finished.

I cleared the decks and made a few more log cabins for my Pondhouse.  I'm sure you are all fed up hearing about it, but I am determined to get to the end asap.

my sis just dropped by with these from her greenhouse.  The little ones are a sweet as plums.

I am amazed that I had so much to blog about in an ordinary day.

Safe Harbor/Northern Lights

I walked through the park this morning to the local wool shop where I could buy some Anchor embroidery cotton to finish  the redwork on a pattern I am working on........  we'll talk about that another time.  As I passed the fountain the water was catching the sunlight, and it  was beautiful.  Unfortunately I only had my phone with me, so it was a case of point and shoot, and hope for the best.  I cant see the image on my phone in bright daylight.  It's not too bad, but doesn't do the real thing justice.

WHEN I GOT HOME THIS WAS WAITING FOR ME

A copy of the pattern Safe Harbor by Kaaren Johnston of The Painted Quilt.

I am so pleased, I am like a child on Christmas morning. Thank you soooo much Kaaren.

I had a good look through it, and cant wait to get started.  Need a little shopping trip though :-)

ALSO IN THE MAIL

Lots of exciting things to look forward to during the winter.

SIGH!

Cooler, A win, and something new

Hi everyone. It is a lot cooler here now, but not cold by any means. The energy levels are better.  I really want to get started to something new ( well, I have done) My suggestion of Safe Harbour as a name for Kaaren's lovely quilt has won me a copy of her pattern.
 Follow the link to The Painted Quilt.  I cant wait to have it in my hands and start choosing fabric for it.  In the meantime,

 I have started to the redwork for her FFF Happy Scrappy Easter.  I never did redwork before, and am enjoying it so much.  In fact I could become addicted, and therefore more skilled as I work. I really want to do Kaaren's patterns justice, as they are so beautiful, and she is so skilled herself. 

Hottest July,Autumn Hoedown and stuff

Apparently this has been the hottest July on record.  I must say some of the days were a wee bit much for me.  I found the shady corner, and did a little hand stitching and reading and lots of cool drinks in that spot over the month of July.  We went to Castlewellan Forest Park on 21st.  It was Baltic (meaning verrrrry cold in this neck of the woods) we couldn't believe we had chosen the one wet and windy day to go walking in the woods.  However, round the coast a bit we had a lovely sheltered afternoon at Strangford, enjoying an icecream...yes it was warm enough there.

The hot weather continued, and D1 and GD and I hit the north coast for a day.  It was great to enjoy the soft breeze on the beach and the two brave ones had a go on some of the fairground rides at Barry's.

I managed in the cool of the day to finish this top which I called Autumn Hoedown.

I have started something Kaaren if you see this.

 

  Dont hold your breath waiting for the finish, but I am enjoying it so much, I may get along more quickly than I think. Aiming for spring.  Thank you again for this FFF. To find the pattern follow my link to

The Painted Quilt

 

This little book bag was made from scraps, following a pattern in a magazine.  It is destined to raise some funds for A Little Horse Trust, a local Trust offering a service to the community.
Well, that's all for this post. I am not blogging as much as some of you great bloggers out there, but I do read yours.........Is that a bit selfish?????  Nooooo. I learn so much and enjoy all your news.  I will try to keep up. Blessings, Bx

 

 

 

 

More June stuff

I have just had a look at my camera, and found a few things to blog about.  June wasn't all rain, thankfully we had some crazy hot days....when I hide and put sunblock on....never satisfied.  Kaaren of The Painted Quilt took us on a lovely walk in her garden the other day.  I don't have such a big garden, but like her, the cool spring meant we had bloom on our plants a little longer.  The Azalea finally bloomed and did not disappoint....ooohh I don't believe it. I had two lovely pics of the blooms and I deleted them from the camera.  What a fool.  Oh, well. I still have some pics to show

Here is Amber, helping me to take some photos. She loves to be involved in everything we do.

We planted out some containers as usual.  The old wheelbarrow was made by a friend who was our neighbour's father, and we plant it out each year in memory of him. You can still see the remains of the Azalea bloom in the background.

I love Irises. They don't last long though.

We took a walk along the tow path on Wednesday and saw the swan family in the old canal.  Everything is overgrown and a real haven for bringing up babies. This other fella gave us a look of distain for disturbing his grazing.  I think he is a Llama.  There were three of them with a couple of sheep and one or two calves.  A mini farm.

Remember I said about the shoppers I made. Well, I found the photos.

This afternoon I pottered about in my New sewing room.  New, because I finally took the bed out and gave it to D2.  She can keep any guests who come to visit :-)

I got myself an office chair with wheels.  It is very comfortable and gives my back some support when sewing.  Do you see that I am thinking of Autumn.  The scarecrow/pumpkin fabric was a gift a few years ago, so I have finally decided to make something with them.....................watch this space.

The scrappy bits you see on the chair may become something.  I'm not pleased with them so they are going to 'rest' in a basket somewhere til I decide their fate. July is just around the corner. School will be out, and I will be enjoying the company of my granddaughter a few days each week.  Bye for now. Bx

 

 

How far....

Well, Jess and Jess. This is for you. I made some of the blocks and didn't know what to do with them.  I took them out and looked at them every now and then. Yesterday I decided the time had come to use them in a quilt.  It's far from perfect, but it is a quilt top, about cot size. Not sure about the outside border...it is coloured buttons on a white background,maybe when it has a binding it will look better.

We are having some sunshine, and more than a few very heavy rain. It's good to stay indoors and sew:-)

Sunshine,horses, a little fabric and some stitching.

Well, sunshine AND warmth. Summer is here. Mr C and I took a short trip to where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.  A beautiful day.

A few day later we visited Castleward.  I loved this gateway to the Strangford Lough shore. In the house I noticed this quilt on the bed.  It didn't seem to have a middle layer, and was bound with velvet. Nice.

Here is the horse bit....ha ha...no joke intended. The little mini, Daisy, below was bred by my daughter. Her present owner loves her and she helps him keep busy in retirement.

From little to large. Mollie, below is also progeny of D3's stallion. She is only 3yrs old and an amazing girl. Her owner Hannah looks quite small beside her.

Here is Connor, resting in the trailer under the chestnut tree.

My final horsey news. D1 riding Mac by the lake in our local park.  All these pics were taken during the Agricultural show. We had a great day.

 

 
 

This week D2 and I had a few days in Scotland.  The glorious sunny weather just made the trip so good.  Above is the view from Edinburgh Castle.

 

Spotted the peacock at the gates of Pittencrief Glen in Dunfermline my mum's home town.  It is the last of a group (what do you call a group of peacocks) that roamed the Glen, and even ventured into the High Street to beg treats from the local baker.

 

Of course no trip would be complete without a little bit of retail therapy.  I spotted these packs of Batiks in John Lewis and the threads just seemed to belong with them :-)

I have done a little stitching. D2 needed a protective bag for her embroidery frame.

I had the piece of fabric left from a jelly roll top I tried some time ago.  We also have had a plastic bag tax imposed recently, so I made a few fold up shoppers for those who aim to avoid the tax and the plastic scourge. I cant see the pics just now, but will search them out for next blog.

And, these little fellas are a big attraction on the lake.  Mum and dad are very attentive.