Thursday, May 4, 2017

Eagle Scare And Spring Has Arrived!

This morning was a most eventful one. On our morning walk along the top of the shore bank, the pups still had a lot of energy, so we went into the woods to the pond. It was totally unfrozen & the song of mating frogs were now silent from our foot noise. I called to the pups to come & we'll go have breakfast, when Baxter came bolting out with a large vole/mouse in his mouth. When Bridget saw that, it was game on! The two ran into the Anniversary Garden, we me telling them to 'drop it'. Well, Baxter ran up on the porch & yes, he did drop it. I put the pups inside & grabbed another poop bag to tie the dead soul in. They had their breakfast & it was time to go out again, as they left the porch area, I saw a large eagle flying over our driveway. My heart sank, I could only tend to one puppy at a time, with the fright in my voice & command to get on the porch, they listened & followed my instruction. Scary feeling, it all happened so fast.
I was in town today, picking up another 28 pounds of puppy food & was talking to the store clerk about the scary incident . She told me the problem they're having in the city right now is coyotes grabbing the pets, cats & dogs, right out of the backyards. She said there was a vest that the small dog owners swore by, she showed me the wee vest, it was $20 plus tax, X 2 + too much for me. I had an idea...
 I went to Giant Tiger & purchased a work vest. It was made from the same fluorescent fabric that the dog vest was made with. So for $10 plus 15% tax, I can made four! And the matching orange Velcro is included!
This is after two vests have been made. I made Baxter's first & it was too small, it fit Bridget like a glove!
 And they're off in their new fluorescent vests, they also have the yellow markings & the nighttime reflective tape!

 I made both of these in just a 1/2 hour & then we were back outside, to burn some of that energy!

                                 Bridget is a small 9lb' er but she can pin Baxter pretty good!

                                                She has 'the look' that scares Baxter. lol

 It was a beautiful day here on the north east coast, the water is blue again. I was oh so tired of the white, ice & snow. The green is even starting to green up ... June must be coming! lol By the end of June your cutting the grass every 6 days.

 The fabric took a beating with these two playing tug of war, with their teeth.

 That is Bay du Vin Island, the home of several eagle pairs. I'm hoping that the construction coloured, vests help Baxter & Bridget,  not look like a meal.

                                                       Big hug, I'll protect you, little sis!

 Baxter is getting worn down by Bridget, his tonque is beginning to hang out. lol

 She's styling her vest. I can't wait to get them sunglasses to wear by the water. Bulged eye dogs are prone to eye trouble, I don't want blind dogs as they age.

 So much dirt around the yard, next month is topsoil time! Then the grass seed, will be spread.

                    I use to think Eagles were majestic, now I fear them with the puppies around.

                        These two make me laugh, the way they push & shove each other.

                                        They're smelling something that has their interest!

 The potting shed will be moved next month when the top soil goes down. It needs to go further into the woods.
 Walking down the laneway, the red robin is singing its song. That is my favorite bird!!

 Our woods were hit hard from the ice storm in February but today everything is beautiful... just like the song! lol
 There's so much dead brush & tree branches in the woods. Bill said it will take us 10 years to clean.

 This is an open area that is full of dogwood bushes, the green grass on the laneway's edge is coming to life too!

 So many dead trees to be removed, over time. Time is the one thing that will fly by.

 aonce the growth of the weeds takes over, everything will be covered again.

 This is the only time of year, that you can see the tangled mess in the woods.

                           Some trees are shorter than last year, due to the ice storm & the wind.


 The lane going home is just the best for me. Baxter & Bridget love the walk down the lane too.

                                         Take me home, to the place, where I belong...

                                       Today has been very eventful for Bridget & Baxter.

 They are growing up so much & their love for the outdoors will only grow stronger. I hope these little vests help with deterring the birds of prey.

                                                           Buds, there are buds on the trees!

                                                                        Blue skies...

 And buds on the bushes, everything is coming back to life...

 Even the ants!!! With so much sand around us, we always have ants! I'll be using the fossil flour around the outside of the house.

                                I was surprised at how well the fabric stood up to the wrestling.

                                                     Almost Heaven, for these two!

Some UFO's~~~~~~~

 I've been working on some ufo's. This one needs some more machine quilting done on it, I did a work shop 2008, at CQA in Newfoundland. This was Tessellating Tiles but I'v forgotten the instructors name, she was from England.

 My girlfriend Jocelye gave me a piece of fabric that made her think of me because of the Boston Terriers on it. Thank you Jocelye, it made a perfect backing for this project!  Two different looks with this one table topper.
 Presently working on the last border of the Canada Eh Quilt. It's the Centennial Maple Leaf Tartan.
The top fits perfectly before the side borders, so I'm thinking of adding cornerstones to it.

 I love this perpetual calendar, it has a block for everyday & a variety of sizes too! This makes me think of the energy windmills, I think maple leaves would be over kill. I'm going to make one & addition it. Maybe I need to stick to the maple leaf theme?
I'm thinking about it.

 This Kaffe Fassett fabric, called Lotus Leaf & muslin fabric,  is going to be used on gathering aprons for the June 3rd EBH Garden Club sale. It's an apron that is pulled up to gather fruits, veggies, or can be worn to hold your clothes pins.
Handy to wear when you need to have your hands free & a very large pocket is needed.
These ladies will be styling!

 The Garden Inspiration collection by Kansas Troubles, is going to be made into the Scrappy Staircase Quilt. I'm going to use a Kona snow for the staircase, so it looks like a trellis.
I won't let myself start this project until the tartan is sewn on!

 My sewing room has dozens of UFO's swirling around & many more ideas & projects to do!

 Old Tom is my watch cat on duty & has settled nicely into the room. His basket has taken over my cutting area & he seldom leaves that area. Rexton likes the room too & has a basket on the floor near the window. Mr. Boots has my bedroom & holds the bed down till I get there. I really appreciated his 22lb body warming the spot,  where I would sleep, on the cold winter nights.  Very thoughtful cat.

 My girlfriend Elizabeth gave me this fun bag this Christmas. I went rug hooking today in Miramichi, it was so good to see everyone again. The puppies have taken so much of my time that my life has been put on hold for them. But like everything in life, this too will pass. It was nice meeting new members at the club too.

 This is the rug I'm working on right now. I've not been hooking much but with the weather warming up, I may take it outside & sit on the porch with those precious puppies of mine.

I picked these daffodils from the garden at the Carroll Cottage. There will be more in bloom by now too & the hyacinths should be ready too! I love the coming of life of spring, it has been a long winter for me here. I don't mind though, the wait has been worth it, specially after a day like today!

I hope your spring is awaking your senses too. So much to be thankful for.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery,  today is present, a wonderful gift indeed!

Cynthia

Saturday, April 29, 2017

It's Melting...



Looking at Bridget, she just melts your heart.
Then, with the camera on her I get this photo!!!

 She has been why the Bose stereo is always unplugged! I thought that it was their rough housing around the cord & that was how it was unplugged!
Oh my... the antics of puppies, you just can't leave them alone!
When Mitchell was two years old, that little left handed toddler, was able to use a screw driver & remove those electrical plates. No rest for the wicked! lol

                                            After scolding her, doesn't she look sorry?

 Baxter & Bridget wrestle together all the time, indoors & now outdoors, on the back lawn.

 These two little buts keep me busy with my poop bags. The other day I didn't clean up from Bridget but the next time out I went over to scoop poop & noticed how unusual it looked. Their poop varies from what ever they have been teething on, pieces of wood or wicker or even ribbon on occasion.
So I pulled my glasses off my head, they're used for a hairband at times when I'm walking, & still the poop looked strange...

 Nestled next to her poop was a frog! It was there staying warm or waiting for flying insects to come.
I'm sure glad I pulled those reading glasses over my eyes or that poor frog would have been scooped up with the poop & the bag tied! Everyday there's always something going on & this one event still makes me laugh out loud. I heard the frogs in our pond, day & night, it's mating season & soon it will be mosquito season & my love of frogs deepen. Isn't he handsome?!!

Some Sewing~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I was auditioning this wee quilt, when Baxter jumped up & waited for me to sit with him.

 I did sit with him when I sewed the binding on his wee quilt. The pups are use to me hand sewing with them on & around me.

 The binding is now on it & the pups enjoy the extra warmth from the quilt.

 One spare block was left, so I sewed it on point & put a border around it & made me a mug rug to sit next to the chair.
I just loved this fat 1/4, it made me think of the Calgary stampede... Calgary = Mitchell & Nicole. xo



Well remember that snow drift that covered 3/4's of the dining room window?


 This is all that is left & with the afternoon sun of today, it should melt. This is the west side of the window, the center has no snow left!

 This is the east side of the window, see the large mucky puddles , in the backyard?

Sweetness, staring you right in the face... Who chewed the hole in the quilt?!

                                                                       What quilt?
 The quilt that I put on the deacons bench! The one that made it through the Route 66,1990's,  first time drag race, the quilt that I made to show everyone that we were Canadian in the USA!

                                                   Someone has chewed holes through it!
Yes you two do look sorry to have upset me, the baby teet are through & now they too will get loose in the next four months & the gnawing cycle begins again! Oh the memories these two are creating for me. I'm going to applique something on the holes. Oh yes, the Boston Terrier silhouette  patch, I remember my sweet memories of Boris but his was from his nails pulling to snug up his blanket.

Finally!!!~~~~~~~

 The main body of the quilt is done! The gold on the right will go around it & then the Centennial
 Maple Tartan, will finish it & off to the quilter!

 The New Brunswick covered bridge was fun to do, I added another flag above the large opening.

I do so many walks with the puppies, it has allowed me to see things, from the outside!

 This one lonely ice clump, is all that is left in the Miramichi Bay. I saw boats on the water today, lobster trapping will begin real soon.

 Trying to see the boats with my zoom lens, gave me this evergreen view of the water. I don't know where the boats are. lol I love the look & smell of everything around me right now.

 So many ducks are on the water right now. Everything is returning & sounds of nature is all around!

                   The wee dots on the water are the ducks, the grass is starting to green up too!

 I looked at this Thimbleberries table topper I made back in 2004, where does the time go? And that was the year I joined the London Friendship Quilting Guild, to begin my quilting journey. I did a bit of machine quilting but have so many more ideas & knowledge since then.
I put rows of stitches in the blue center & the red borders have a stencil pattern around them.

 I just love how the Frixon pens work with the stencils & that you can get the same stencil in different sizes. This was the month 2 project to the large BOM quilt called Basket Case & I nearly was by the end of the twelve months of this very large quilt, that was edged with 152 flying geese!



Well this week has been a full one with the wee ones. I noticed the other day how much they are growing & gaining their own independence. Where does the time go?!
It has left with winter! The weather here is 4-6 weeks behind SW ON, which makes for a very long winter. It was a beautiful winter here just the same. The pups will not feel the same way as they will have to take that trek outdoors for their relief. Till then we are all just loving the warmer weather with no snow.

I love the frog serenade, it is the spring song of the frogs! The ice & snow is nearly gone off the pond & the area around the outside has come to life, singing their mating songs of praise.

Have a great weekend!
Cynthia