I was hoping to have at least one finished sock to show you, but I haven’t knit a stitch this week. In fact, it’s not much farther along than when you saw it last week.

So instead, you get to see what little bit I managed to accomplish in the garden over the weekend. Saturday morning, Dave and I were up early to drop off some waste oil at a Hazardous Waste Drop in Sarnia. When we got home, it was just starting to get hot, so before it did, I wanted to re-mulch the pathways around the veg beds. Mulch breaks down over time, and the paths were in a sorry state

While I would love to do them over in stone like the catio paths. That’s not in the budget right now (nor do I want to sling rocks again any time soon) as the paths are about double the square footage of the catio. So mulch it is, for now.

15 bags were spread out, nice and thick (and inspected by Furby afterward). I need a few more bags for the back in Willow Grove, and on the side where I have all the pots.

I have landscape fabric underneath all the paths, but it’s not strong enough to stop the Milkweed from popping up through it.

Naturally I mulched around them, because I love how they bring the monarch to the yard. There are several others coming up behind the peas.

By the time I finished, the sun was high and the temps were hot. I went inside, washed up, and laid down for a “short” nap. And… I woke up at dinner time. My day gone! Dave and I went out to grab dinner and run a few errands.

Sunday, they were calling for rain, but when I woke up it hadn’t moved in yet. So I decided to get out into the garden right away and get as much done as I could before the weather hit. The front yard was in desperate need of weeding, so that’s where I started. I got about half of it done before the skies opened up. I also gave ‘Cousin It’ a hair cut

It’s a weeping pussywillow, and those branches will grow right across the pathways if I let them. Cousin It will probably need another haircut before summer is out.

Next on the to-do list is weeding the Catio.

Lemmy is ready to assist!

By mid-spring, it seemed like we were finally starting to make some progress between Furby and the rest of the boys. There were still scuffles… but they were much fewer, and shorter for the most part.

He was content to come in around 10 or 11 each night, and stay in until morning.

But then the weather warmed up.

Now he’ll come in a night… but he doesn’t want to stay in. He howls, he cries, and he starts fights with the boys. So… I’ve had to give in and let him stay out all night. I’ve checked the cameras in the morning, and he mostly does circles around the house all night. Patrolling his territory, I suppose.

And, unless it’s raining, he really only comes in to eat or occasionally check on us and get some attention.

He’s just determined to be an outside cat.

Even when it’s sweltering hot…

I’m pretty sure the neighbours are going to think I’m neglecting him.

He’s just happiest outside. But he loves it when we are outside too.

If I’m in the garden, he’s never far away.

Indoor cat he’ll never be, but I do love having him as a friend in the yard!

Stitching did happen this weekend – though not a lot. I ripped back the light purple I wasn’t happy with and did it in a slightly darker shade. I was much happier with it, so I continued on and did as much of the ribbon as I could without moving the hoop.

I’ve got some work to do at the front of her dress and then the hoop will be moved. Maybe after this weekend.

This weekend flew by – and none of it was spent in the studio, as I’d hoped. But… the weekend before last, while I put together the dino quilt top… I also finished up something else…

All of my postage stamps were finally sewn into 16 patches! It was time to lay them all out and see just how many I had.

Much to my surprise, I had enough to cover the entire top of my Queen-sized bed. Of course, once you sew them all together, you lose much of that size to seams. And since this one is for me (and will ideally be going on a guest bed one day) I want it at least as big as my Jubilee quilt (which it’s sitting on top of)

So… I did a little counting, and I did a little math (which I’ve now realized was wrong)

I currently have 119 16-patches. To make the quilt 91″ square, I need 225. That’s 106 more 16-patches. Of course, I don’t have to make it quite that big, and 85″ square would be acceptable too. That would requite only 77 more 16-patches. Either way, it’s a good thing Mom brought me more 2″ scraps. This Leader/Ender project has been going for two years now… and I can easily see it going another full year!

I’m retiring Seedy Sunday for the year…. because most of the seedlings are now full on plants and thriving! So let’s check in on the wonderful edibles in the garden.

Here’s another look at my Laundry Basket Potato tower. Potato sprouts busting out all over the place!

And I showed you the potato comin up in the garlic onion bed…

Well – I also have this one which popped up in the middle of a pot of Sweet Peas. But… I unlike the onion bed – I never had potatoes in this one. My only theory is that an industrious squirrel dug up a missed potato and replanted it here at some point. But… you can never have too many potatoes so….we’ll let it grow!

My purple cabbages are starting to look more cabbage like.

I tossed some dill seed around them and they are starting to sprout. The dill should attract parasitic wasps which should help keep Cabbage worms in check. That’s theory anyway.

I planted two beds of snap peas this year, because I love them so much… and they are looking great.

I sent a friend home with a couple tray of lettuce, spinach and radishes on Thursday. And I still barely put dent in any of the beds. Dave is going to get sick of salad and cooked spinach very soon…. but I’m loving it! That said – any of these crops could start bolting any at any time – it’s been hotter than hades this week!

That heat is good news for the melons though! My Mini Mike (left are looking great) and my neighbour gave me a couple of his melon seedlings. I can’t remember the name, but apparently they are a mini yellow-fleshed version.

And it looks like it will be a banner year for blackberries…. maybe even enough for jam if I can get them before the birds do!

What’s delicious in your garden?

The roses have started blooming!!!!!!

I’m not entirely sure which one bloomed first this year, as I wasn’t able to get out an poke around for a couple of days.

I’m pretty sure it was Prairie Princess. She’s usually the first to bloom and she’s extra spectacular this year. She spent most of winter under a thick blanket of snow and it’s resulted in a beautiful, bushy plant full of blooms – as you can see.

Reflecting Glory was probably the second to bloom. I bought this one on clearance last year. I love the soft apricot blooms! It has a lovely, mild scent too.

Other blooms (Clockwise from Top) Koko Loko, Quicksilver, At Last and Chrysler Imperial.

Still to come – Bolero, Eden, Miss All American Beauty, Mellow Yellow, White Lighnin’, New Dawn, Good as Gold and Chicago Peace.

The Oriental Poppies out back are done, but this one – called Central Park – is out front. As you can see, the blooms are varying shades. I get anything from deep magenta to a dusty burgundy.

And I finally have success growing California poppies from seed! The blooms don’t last long (just about a day each) and the plants are much smaller than expected, but still… I’m thrilled! I’ve struggled to grow these for so long. The corn poppies are bigger, and will be blooming any day now too!

And my other June favourite.

Foxgloves! These are all ones that came from a few plants I started the second year we were here. Foxgloves don’t come true from seed most times so I get a mix from pure white to bold pink and every shade in between. And I never know where they are going to pop up! Sadly, none of the foxgloves I started from purchased seed this year have taken (though I’m still holding out hope for the Cafe du Cream and Yellow Foxgloves still as I have some very small seedlings).

But I can’t complain much… there’s so many beautiful plants just bursting out everwhere!

It’s official! Catio season is here!

With the arrow quilt top was done, I needed to find a new quilting project. Since I’d like to head up to Mom’s at the end of the month, I was looking for something that would be fairly quick – a baby quilt would do.

My quilting goal this year is to make some of the projects that I’ve had planned for ages. So I went looking for some zebra fabric, I knew I had kicking around. But…. I couldn’t find it. ANYWHERE.

What I did find, was this set of dinosaur fabrics. It’s been a hot minute since I made a dino quilt. And a charm pack is always perfect for a quick quilt.

So with the boys’ “help” I set about laying out an “Oh My Stars” top. It’s my go to for a charm pack because it sews up fast and looks awesome

We got started at about noon, and by 4 pm…

It was done!

There’s so many cute prints in this collection.

I got a big chunk of those dinos for the back

So that’s two quilts I’ve got ready to be quilted in July.

Oh… and those zebras…. yeah…. I found them almost as soon as I finished the dinos…

But it turns, Mom has a pack of those same fabrics, so I’m going to trade her for some other fabric of mine, and this one will wait just a little bit longer.

So instead…

It’s time to turn these juicy prints into a picnic quilt! Stay tuned!

While I didn’t do any cross stitching… I have managed a little knitting.

The other night, after work, I spread a quilt on the lawn, grabbed my camera and my knitting and settled in for a little bird watching in the yard. And I knit while I watched.

As you can see, Furby joined in. He’s not the best bird watching partner to be honest – he has a habit of chasing after the birds if he thinks one isn’t paying attention.

But, I managed to get through the heel and gusset on my sock. I may even be able to finish up the first sock this week.

I am afraid I have no Tiny Needle Tuesday for you this week. I did not cross a stitch this weekend. So instead…. I give you…

Toads! This one, as you can see, Furby came across. Now I didn’t see any damage, but I don’t think Mr. Toad enjoyed Sir Furbsalot’s attentions.

He kept his eyes firmly closed until the scary orange thing went away. If you can’t see it, it can’t see you, right???

Then, while I was slinging rocks on Saturday, I disturbed several toads who’d taken up residence in the catio’s lush greenery.

This one had absolutely beautiful colours. Such a golden beauty.

Now this one isn’t as pretty…

But it made little trilling noises in my hand while I took pictures, which was just delightful. I’ve never had one do that before.

*No toads were hurt in the making of this post. All toads were relocated to safer, shady part of the yard.