Another day… another buffet…

Despite the regular peanut offering at Squirrelington’s those little tree rats still love raiding the bird feeders. So, I added some black oil sunflower seeds to our offerings.

It’s been a hit.

Little Mama loves the seeds the most. She even sticks around to eat them, instead of just running off like she does with the peanuts.

Mr. Double Stuff still prefers the big nuts.

What a guy!

The ripening of the tomatoes has finally begun!

These are San Marzano tomatoes. They are about the size of a plum tomato, and are apparently good for making sauces. Dave had the first one sliced up on his falafel wrap the other day. He said they were great. I’ll take his word for it – tomatoes aren’t my thing, as much as I love to grow them.

My real love likes with my flowers!

I think my yard needs more Susans – they are the best bloomer for this time of year!

White Lightning is blooming again. This definitely is my most favourite rose. Classic, beautiful and amazing smelling.

I finally managed to produce some Teddy Bear Sunflowers from seed (this is my third try)

So fuzzy! Definitely going to grow them again!

I had to stop in at Home Depot the other day, and they had some plants on clearance.

I picked up this pretty pink sage to go with my purple one when I revamp the gardens.

And I got this gorgeous hibiscus

It will have to come in come winter, so I’m going to put it in a pretty pot.

What’s ripe in your world?

Day dream believer…

As is tradition, Mom has the munchkins for a week…

Although they aren’t  really munchkins any more (12 and 16 now! How did THAT happen???)

As usual, there’s lots of crafts flying about – beading, jewellery making, diamond painting…

And sewing.

Paisley is making herself a quilt. She hopes to have it done before they leave on Saturday, so hopefully I’ll have pictures of an FO for you next week.

Miss Winnie is doing her best to help.

Rowan has been making scrunchies….

… with matching face masks! (Who ever thought that’s a sentence we’d hear?! ) This one  just needs it’s elastic added.

And, as is tradition, Mom also took the girls to the salon for a trim. I was in bad need of a trim myself, so I joined them.

Just  had the bottom 7 or 8 inches trimmed off! It’s nice to have something fresh!

Last week, I completed block 30 in the Moda Blockhead quilt-along. It’s hard to believe that 30 weeks have passed since it started.

And as fun as the quilt-along is, I admit to a little bit of participation fatigue. I don’t like it when my projects linger on to long.

Happily, since I did 12 inch blocks, 30 will give me enough for a decent size quilt.

Once I get the sashing and borders on, this one will be very close to a queen size quilt.

And as it happens, we have a family wedding coming up in early September. This quilt, with it’s hearts, flowers, and houses, will make a ideal wedding quilt I think.

I just have to get it all together, and get some backing fabric.

And I’m not giving up on the blockheads – there’s still more than 20 blocks left this year. I’ll just be starting fresh with a new fabric collection – Stay tuned!

First- a HUGE thank you to everyone who bought tickets for the quilt raffle. Natalie did the draw on Sunday night, and we raised over $2800 for her rescue kitties. We are both blown away! Thank you all so much!

Now to other business

For the last several day, the weather has been perfect! It’s just what summer should be, warm, sunny, a light breeze… but NO humidity. Just happy and cheery and comfortable.

As such, every minute I can spend outside, has been spent outside. It’s been great, but it means I haven’t spent much time with needles in hand.

Since finishing the first sock last week, this is all I’ve accomplished on the second sock!

I really gotta get moving!

I told you there was a new project in the works. Though it’s only just August… the big C creeps up quicker than you think, and I need to get a move on presents.

First up is a quilt for my brother. An avid outdoorsman, I’d bought a collection of flannel fat quarters in the “Outdoor Adventures” line.

My plan was to make him a rag quilt (hence the flannel), but as time wore on, I decided I wanted something more traditional.  So the other week, I picked up some plain  navy flannel for the background, and the other day, I got cutting.

Cutting is quite hard on my lower back, so usually I cut one day, and sew another… but I couldn’t resist whipping up just one block…

One perfect flannel paw! Lots more to come!

So the other day, you saw a picture of my makeshift bird bath….here’s the full story.

I’ve been wanting a bird bath for AGES! My father has a big, beautiful concrete one that belonged to my grandfather, and I’ve always admired it. He’s not willing to give it up though – the sparrows daily bathing ritual greatly entertain his dogs.

I’ve kept half an eye open for a used one, cheap, to no avail. But this summer’s searing temps really pushed me to do something for our poor feathered friends. I looked at all the hardware/home improvement stores, and all the bird baths in my price range had terrible reviews (tip over, leak, etc.) The ones with good reviews were all well out of my budget. (I love the birds, but I don’t $150 love them…)

So I started looking online for DIY options. That’s where I came up with the idea to use Great Grandma’s china.

That was really only a temporary solution, because I saw some really cool ones made with terracotta pots. I didn’t have any big enough, but I didn’t think it would be too hard to get them.

A trip to Michael’s and Canadian Tire and I had what I needed: Two large pots, a large saucer, spray paint, craft paint, clear coat and some construction adhesive. Of course, by the time I was done shopping… I wasn’t far off from that $150 bird bath…

Anyway, with supplies in hand, it was time to get down to business.

First: prep work:

As you know, my yard is full sun, but there’s a small spot in the swale behind the yard that in shade under a pile of cedars. I set up shop there and started on the fancy work…

It was spread across several days (as weather allowed)

And three sunflowers were painted across the bottom pot (with a little help from my assistant, of course).

Then a few more days…

And the top pot was covered in a variety of butterflies. (With more feline assistance…)

One last sunflower was added to the saucer, which will serve as the removable water basin.

The two pots were glued together with construction adhesive, and the whole thing was given a couple good coats of clear-coat.

I let it dry overnight.

The next morning, I set it in the garden (which I really need to weed!)

And filled it up. That top saucer is not fixed and lifts out easy, so it’s easy to refill and keep clean.

Now…. lets hope I can get some pics of our little neighbourhood birdies enjoying it!

We are really starting to reap the rewards in the garden

I’ve never had much luck with peppers, but these sweet banana peppers have done really well. There’s still more coming too. And I get a handful of yellow beans almost every day. Not bad considering it was only a half pack of seeds.

The raspberries are taking a rest (I’ll get another crop in about a month or so), and now the blackberries are starting to ripen. I have to be quick though – the robins have REALLY developed a taste for them this year, and frequently get to them before I do.

The tomatoes still have to ripen, but I will have a really good crop when they do.

And did you know that oregano blooms?

Well, it totally does! (And the bees quite like it!)

Elsewhere

My first sunflower has bloomed, with the promise of many more to come!

Blue Girl rose hasn’t been looking that great this year, but she’s finally pushing out blooms.

She really doesn’t like the searing heat, so this year has been hard on her.

Back in late May, I started some marigolds from seed, and they are finally blooming. I’ll collect more seeds from the this year, but I think I’ll start them inside so I get flowers sooner.

I mentioned that the gardens are getting a revamp come fall, and this is one of the plants that will be moved. The Speedwell is so pretty when she blooms, but she needs a spot with more sun to really shine.

The Crocosmia is blooming too – it always has such a tropical vibe.

And last, an intrepid little thistle found a crack in the pavement and has thrived enough to bloom. A metaphor for this year, if ever there was one!

I’m starting to think this boy might need some censor bars…

Or at least somewhere more private….

…. that’s better!