We're almost through August, with just days to go, where did August go?!
I'm feeling fall wanting to take over the hot humid days that we did have for quite a while. The days have shortened & the nights are coming quicker with the darkness that surrounds me at night.
The winds are blowing today & it's now 58km winds on the shoreline, the weather said it would be 'gusty'. lol
There are white caps in the water from the winds pushing the water.
But it was the sky that was changing rapidly as the winds howled.
And now there's a bit of rain coming in but not enough to water the garden.
The outdoor bunting flags show the wind movement & the house windows & doors are just howling from the wind that is now clocking at 64km on the wind clock in the kitchen.
Bridget & Baxter, the Boston terriers seem nervous with the sound of the whistling wind & have not left my side. Poor puppies.
The winds from the northwest made the flowerbed look like it was ducking down & the trees were turning their leaves around.
Our middle son Mitchell William will be marrying the love of his life, Nicole Victoria & we'll be going to their wedding in Alberta in 40 days & I've so much to do before the wedding.
So with only 40 days & 40 nights to go & sew much to do!
I wanted to make them a quilt to hang behind the dessert table.
Here it is all cut out in Paula Barrnes fabric from her collection that I just love!
Boy, I'm sure eclectic in my quilts when I look at all the ones in this photo. lol
See the frame by the bargello? I have a great idea for it & will share it in the future.
For now, it is tic-tock with time getting this quilt done, the center block, the second round of blocks & two out of three of the borders done!
All 20 of the 12 1/2" blocks are now done for the third round of blocks. Today was a sewing day!
And now there is just the 3 1/2" border that needs to be added to complete the quilt top pattern.
I love how rustic it looks with our RH chandelier!
Friday it will go to the longarm quilter and a burgundy binding & hanging sleeve will finally finish the quilt. I saved the scrap fabric to use in the signature quilt that will be their wallhanging memory for their future years together.
I'm making burlap bunting flags with Mr & Mrs. Richardson painted onto the burlap or appliqued, not sure yet, I'll take photos of the process.
And a few other special ideas that I'll show you before they're packed.
Oh yes, and my dress! The muslin pattern is done!
There was a lot of altering done for my unique body but it is now a dress made for me!
It will be made in this sheer fabric & lined with a navy lining.
This is the dress & I had to shorten it 6" throughout the dress to have my black snakeskin cowboy boots to show! The pattern did not come in petite size for my 5'2" stature. lol
The dress is going to be made next week & I'll post when I have it complete!
I crocheted this rug to go with the bay window bistro set, it will help keep the floor warm & will give the area a warm feel with the red, white, & black colour. Thank you, Cecile, for the fabric yarn from your weaving days & a big thank you to Bill for his hours of untangling the huge fabric string ball & winding it into balls for me to crochet with. I needed to keep my hands moving at night to help arthritis with the movement & you can't eat & crochet. lol
I made a simple quilt for a girlfriend's granddaughter for her apartment.
She just got a golden lab puppy this summer & the fabric was perfect!
I was one block short on the bike/dog fabric so I used the scraps to make a churn dash block with a pinwheel in it & put it right in the center.
We went to Nadine's Boutique for flannel backing (I purchased a tan one for the quilt I showed you) & then it will have the blue binding sewn on after it is quilted.
Let us do a walkabout to see the beautiful gardens in full bloom!
These pics were taken before today's gusty winds.
Bill's shop has all the fragrant lilies & they are beautiful!
The bulbs came from the Dollarstore a few years back.
The sprinkler gargoyle is on watch with the lilies, I love gargoyles around the garden & Bill does a great job getting them out & in place.
I'm not moving them as they love this area & I enjoy viewing them from the clothesline when I'm hanging clothes on the line.
The yellow flowers will be moved around the corner to the other side of this garden, later this fall.
Look at these blooming limelights! These will turn pink & I'll be drying them out to place in a wreath.
See the wood on the bench? Bill pressure sprayed it clean again, what a difference, it looks like new!
So many blooms this year!!
The morning glories are mixed with the purple from the London ON plants & pink from the neighbour's plant.
The geraniums look heat stressed from the heat waves we've been having. The geraniums so remind me of my godmother Aunt Louise, she always had them in her front garden & wintered them in her basement. Such a happy memory with these flowers.
More morning glories & the potting shed bunting flags are doing great outside & not fading in the sun.
I used UV protected lawn fabric to make them. :-)
Bill brought the old rocking horse out of storage. It was my first crackle project & I added fabric for its mane.
I love geraniums, they surround our house so I can see them at every angle. These are the ones that were wintered in the stained glass room & will probably go back there again.
Tomatoes are one of the plants that did well in our garden. I don't know how they survived the gusty winds as they're heavy with their fruit right now.
The yellow beans did well too. I've frozen several feeds so far with more to come...
If the frost doesn't get them before these flowers turn into beans!
It was exciting to see the red tomatoes shine through the green leaves & the smell of the vines was such a smelling sense that flooded back memories of family backyard gardens.
A better photo of the summer bunting flags with the mushrooms & gnomes.
Bill has been cutting & slicing wood for days & then he stacked it. I told him...' It's stacked too high for the winds around here.'
'No it's not' he replied... 'we'll see' I replied. And now you see what happens when you pile the wood too high! lol
Another view of the growing Anniversary Garden, with a view of the front of the house.
Look at how high the lilac bushes have grown, the birds love going inside the bushes.
The garden is the prettiest at this time of the year but the winds will soon change into fall.
The blue muffin bush had its berries for such a short time because the birds helped themselves to them before they even turned blue!
The cottage rose bush has really filled out & is still budding & blooming, making the bees happy.
Here is one cement gnome peeking out...
Here is the other gnome peaking out.
Rexton the Manx sits on the bistro table & watches the hummingbirds at heir feeder & the finch, wrens, pigeons, & doves as they feast at the feeder & seed dropping to the ground.
Bridget the Boston joins in watching the outside action.
Bridget loves to 'kiss the kitty' & she doesn't like it!
She takes it from Bridget & then Rexton lashes out on her with a bite or a smack with an open claw.
I always let them sort themselves out & it usually doesn't need my interference, Baxter always is watching them too.
The aloe vera plant in the exercise room has really grown since the pups were removed.
And now more pups are growing under the spike leaves!
Here are the pups that were removed last winter, they need new homes. Every time someone visits I try to get them to leave with a plant. They are in the potting shed right now but will not survive the cold fall evening weather. Free plants to a good home will be going out, this is a handy plant to have on hand for medical needs.
These puyps are now having pups! Time to go!!
Thanks for stopping in for a visit, stay safe, social distance, & wear a mask when you can't.
Have a great week wherever you are!
Stay safe.
Cynthia
Social distance Bridget, didn't you get the memo? Nope, you're in my bubble!
