Savouring Summery Sunny Days

 Wow, summer has been in full force this month!

I'm so happy that I live next to the water, it feels like I live in a resort...location, location, location. lol

These days are to be savoured as once winter moves in, this oasis turns to the arctic tundra, savouring summer right now! And so are the gardens!

The lavender bush in the Anniversary Garden is very plentiful this year!

I've already cut most of the lavender out & tied & hung it in the basement by my wool storage. Moths do not like lavender & now the basement smells heavenly.

The Annabelle hydrangeas have bloomed too! We have so much clover in our grass & we leave the mower deck a little high to keep it there for the many bees that help our garden.

The lilies have bloomed too! There is always something happening in the garden. Heather, my gardening girlfriend has taught me well. I knew nothing about the outdoor gardens till she helped guide me in the right direction. Needless to say, her garden is stunning & ever-changing to their needs & new plants are being added.

The Lamb's Ear is everywhere, that is a thriving plant here in the garden!

 

Next to the stone is Wooly Moss, Heather brought some to us a few years ago & it has taken off & no weeds are growing in that area!

The mosquitoes are horrid right now!! It looks so beautiful outside & as soon as you step out, game over they are swarming you! We have to wipe the dogs down before bringing them in from outside.

The tree on the left will be taken down this summer as it is dying & getting thinner every month. 

It will open a clear drive down to the water once removed.

The purple clematis is thriving this year in the heat & humidity too!

By watching the water you can see if it is windy by seeing how calm it is on the water, and seeing the white caps gently rolling into the shore, nice summer breeze today.

Delphiniums have such a vibrant colour, these beauties are outside of Bill's shop in the wrap-around garden.

 

Summer blooms are so beautiful!

Summer Sewing

I saw this quilt kit fishing & so wanted to do it!

Northcott fabric called Gone Fishing! Northcott is a Canadian fabric company.

Great Lake fishing/fish are throughout the quilt.

Here it is all quilted & bound. I'm so pleased with how it turned out!

This is a free pattern/tutorial of The Summer Mystery Quilt 2022 with Laundry Basket Quilts.

Next Wednesday is the last block mystery to fill the five blue areas.

Each block finishes at 6" and there are 81 to make for this quilt! There's a light at the end of the tunnel with just 5 more to do!!

I'm also doing the Mystery Boo Crew Wallhanging with the Fat Quarter Club & plan to hang it on the front porch. My backdrop wall is a flannel back quilt that I made many years ago & Bill hung it securely with claps on Namama's cabinet.

Timing is everything & the mysteries are done next Wednesday, just in time as Donald & his girlfriend are coming for visit & are arriving Thursday night. Timing is everything, as is location. lol

It's summer & I love working with Redwork, these were Liz's & she wanted me to have them & finish them for her. I'm thinking of a churn dash frame in different reds, they are big & I do want to keep them together...I'll look at them again with fresh eyes later. I did finish the embroidery!

I entered my PJs into the Napan Agricultural Fair, I had help from Rexton on the fabric selection for comfort. It is a batik that I got at Edge Squared Quilting during one of Bev's many sales.

I called them my Cottage PJs. It's a 3pc set of bottoms, top, and jacket & was so much fun designing it with this fabric with a border design on each selvage. 

Rexton move!

Are you hearing me, little girl?!

Yes, Rexie I'm talking to you!

No, I don't want to see your tummy!

I know you can hear me you are alert!

Grooming on my PJs, really?!

You're wearing the cotton collar I crocheted for you, stop scratching at it!

Toe jam cleaning?! She is now eight & I could not imagine not having her hold my days up, she has such a personality.

And this is what holds me up some days!

I'll show you the PJs after the fair has ended in mid-August.

She loves to lounge around at this resort. She has taken to walking by Bridget & Baxter & slapping them in the face to get a rise out of them!

This is the Boston terrier's chair at the bay window to look outside, she has taken their spot too!

I read that the Manx cat is more dog than cat & she has proven that true!

You can find this sleeping beauty charging her batteries on the sun porch most days.

She too is savouring summer, enjoying the lazy hazy days of summer.

I hope you too are enjoying the sunny weather & have a shaded spot to enjoy it in.

Thank you for the visit, I hope you could feel the summer breeze here! Come back again to see what we are up to!

Cynthia xXx

Joyous July - Birds Are Singing!

 It has turned out to be one of the best starts to summer ever! 

The dining room bay window is an ongoing bird lover's haven. There are so many different birds flying about hourly!

The birdbath in the backyard is popular on hot dry days, they go in just to cool down & refresh themselves.

My favourite spot is the front porch!

I'm loving the newest curtain that I made from a gift from Sandy, who knows I love whimsical!

It took me a couple of years to figure out how to best display this throw & the great thing is that there is another one in fall colours!! She could not decide on which colour I would like best so she purchased both & gifted them to me!! xXx

The summer breeze creates movement & the cool turquoise colour really compliments all the black elements on the porch.

I was alone on Canada Day but did enjoy my time on the porch!

I broke my middle toe! It sure was a forced march to slow down a bit. I moved furniture around & in the middle of the night...forgot where I had newly placed it!

It's now been nearly two weeks & oh, it sure does hurt still!

I cut fresh peonies that were in bloom to enjoy in the house, there were so many this year & for the first time bloomer on the sideyard, it bloomed white!

I finished The Bed & Breakfast Basket quilt from a 2009 Connecting Threads kit. I liked it but when Rose longarmed quilted it, I loved it! So this weekend I'll be spending more time on that lovely porch hand sewing the binding.

I made more baskets to enlarge the quilt size & added the homespun gingham sashing before adding the final border.

Every spring I wanted to have it made by May & every spring since 2009, it never happened.

I am so glad to have it finished!

I found this wedding gift that was made for us, the couple has since divorced like so many others have since we were married. I know Bill is my soulmate & loves me unconditionally, what I love is that this man never tried to change me & allowed me to be me. That is love!

It is that time of year again, strawberries from Nova Scotia's Miller's Farm. I purchased them last year from the same farm, they must have a contract with Sobeys.

It was a busy morning hulling, washing, spinning, & bagging these beauties!

I did leave some out to enjoy this season & will enjoy them for the next several seasons.

This was my accomplishment this week! Sew Fresh Quilts - MODERNITIONAL BEAR PAW!!

It has several thousand pieces cut & resewn into this quilt!

I've made several quilts in between this making this one. It was a lot of work, so worth it though!

It was originally square - I unsewed quite a few squares to make it rectangular in shape.

I redid the design to fit this area in the foyer. I'll post photos after it is machine quilted, bound, & hung in this area for you to see my vision!

I have also been working on the Summer Mystery 2022 quilt with Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. I'm two weeks behind so I must get caught up by Wednesday before another week's mystery comes out.

A trip to my Nurse Practioner to go over my bloodwork this week was not a good one. I have rheumatoid arthritis & my hands are taking a toll with disfigurement. I'll be having a video call with a specialist for treatment to slow the disease. I knew I would as both my parents had different forms of arthritis, genes you can't outrun or change what you are made of.

Our genes load the gun - our choices pull the trigger.

Motion is lotion to the body so I try to keep moving, that foot & toe sure does hurt!

So glad it was not my driving foot, I need that for driving the car and my sewing machine! lol

On a happier note, my girlfriend Deb & her husband were on the Miramichi Bay with their beautiful pontoon boat & she took these photos for me!

The summer is so beautiful here & every season leading up to it is too!!

Enjoy the beauty the summer season has to offer, wherever you are!

Cynthia xXx