Week 33 of 2025

It is that time of the year when everyday involves some kind of harvesting or preserving the bounty of the garden, so not much time for crafting. I did wash a fleece this week so that it would be ready to comb (to remove all the plant bits), dye and drum card this fall/winter.

The fleece is from a local farmer and was destined for the compost. I have had it for years, so it was time to get it cleaned.

After washing there is 2.8kg of fleece. After combing I will probably be left with about half that weight, enough for a sweater, and some yarn for weaving (there is a section that is quite coarse).

Some of the harvesting this week - 

Three types of garlic (over 200 bulbs). My youngest son grows this.

Grapes from the vines we planted last year (made into jelly).

Every year there always seems to be one vegetable that does really well, this year it is the celery.

I pickled some this week (recipe link).

We probably had the main honey harvest this week (~15L).

Photos from Around - 

The canola field around our home was sprayed two days this week - it was amazing to watch.

Miss Maggie had lots to say when GingerSnap! came close to her.

The hens free ranging on a beautiful day.

The baby chicks free range too. All the chickens live together now, but the chicks still tend to stick together.

All the best!♥︎

Week 24 of 2025

Not much time for crafting this week.

The garden is growing well, and all the plants are planted now. My youngest child works at a commercial greenhouse, and a perk is that he was given some plants that didn't sell. 

I start my own plants in the winter and usually just buy a flat of impatiens, so it has been a huge treat to have different plants this year.

We also added three more chicks to our flock - here they are at 1 day old (three Berg's Brown).

Five days old and they grow so fast - they have little wing feathers now. 

They run around flapping their wings, then need a rest.

The big hens are happy with watermelon trimmings.

Miss Maggie took up her old spot right away.

GingerSnap! wasn't too sure at first but now he finds them interesting.

The cats keep me company in the garden - Miss Maggie found a shady spot under the rhubarb.

GingerSnap! in the perennial bed,

and the bird bath.

All the best!♥︎

Not Much!

This past week I have added quite a few rows to the Granny Stripe blanket (free pattern from Attic 24).

I am making mine with all kinds of leftover hand spun yarn, all about fingering weight. This is such an easy project to just pick up and work on for a bit.

The vegetable garden is all planted now, lots of things are starting to pop up. The bird baths were frozen solid on Sunday morning, so I was glad that I had waited to plant the tomatoes and peppers.

Around here photos -

Seven Snow Geese and a pair of mallards by the pond.

A Western Kingbird (blends in well), 

there are also Eastern Kingbirds around.

 A well framed Grackle.

Some new flowers-

Allium

Flowering Almond Bush

All the best!♥︎

More Circa 2016 Quilt Blocks

Summer isn't the time for me to do much sewing, but I thought it was about time I tried to catch up on some quilt alongs.

These are the Circa 2016 blocks I have made so far - 5 weeks of blocks (I was about 2 months behind!), I still have 4 weeks of blocks to make.

Here are photos of what I have been spending on - gardening! We are having such a lovely summer and it is so nice to enjoy the warm weather - 

 Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥

Apple Core Quilt & Summer Garden Photos

My Mother and I recently finished a charity lap quilt -

It is an Apple Core quilt that I cut out with the GO!, my Mother pieced it, I quilted it and added the binding, and she stitched the binding down on the back.
The quilt is about 50"x60" - with a layout of 11x13 Apple Cores. The fabric is Ticklish by Me & My Sisters Designs for Moda. I bought a fat quarter pack and 1m for bias binding - we have made one lap quilt and 2 baby quilts.

I used a bright flannel for the backing. The batting is Hobbs Premium Wool batting (so it will shrink a bit when washed, and get nice and soft). The free motion quilting was done with Bottom Line thread (in the top and bottom). I chose a simple meander because I love stitching it, and it is all such a busy quilt needs.

I chose an odd numbered layout this time so all the corners would match when folded  (my Apple Core quilt has an even numbered layout and it bothers me that the edges don't line up).

Because it is summer time here are some garden photos!

the front flower bed

one side

the back 

the new part we did this summer

the back flower bed and herb garden

the vegetable garden - more flowers this year

the other side

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!♥

More QAL Blocks

It is always good to catch up on quilt along blocks!

These are 4 weeks worth of Circa 2016 blocks (3" blocks).

The tin is getting quite full (still lots more to make since this QAL goes until October).

The Westering Women block for May.

All five blocks so far (12" blocks, there will be 12 blocks - this QAL runs until December).

I was able to catch up on sewing inside today because it is windy, raining and cold outside.

front flower bed

All the rain is helping the garden grow.

vegetable garden

It is always exciting to see seeds sprouting! These are peas.

This bird house is full of babies and the sound of them chirping away is lovely

Beautiful blooms.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!♥