Just Looking

I have been missing for a few days. I am only just found and my words have not yet all come back to me. I will post in pictures I think, they are worth a thousand words, isn't that what they say?

The light has changed.
And the rain is returned.

I was found yesterday, here in the garden.
fernapple blossomvegetable bedsack of potatoesspireablueberry blossomslittle purple flowerfern again

watcha wearing wednesday

There are quite a few very lovely Australian blogs I like to read and I kept coming across posts titled 'whatcha wearing wednesday'. I got curious and found that the very talented and impressively shoed Fi of dearfii started this whole business. So, I thought I would play along about once a month or so. Here is my first www post.

Vintage red flowers from my Nanan's craft collection.
Chunky turquoise necklace - gift from a friend.
Black peasant blouse and skirt.


Have a terrific Wednesday!

UFO Sighting

One of the by-products of cleaning up my work space is the finding of unfinished objects tucked away in every nook and cranny. Sometimes it's like finding buried treasure, other times it's either a little sad or downright hilarious (in that 'what was I thinking?' kind of way).

I was reminded that back in the day, I did a fair amount of quilting. I never mastered the art of the actual hand quilting of my finished pieces but, I did love the process of piecing all those little patchwork lovelies together. I haven't had the amount of room comfortable for quilting in quite some time. I could though, find enough space for some baby or lap quilts. Hmmm, sweet little quilts, oh yes!

I found this twin size quilt top that I made for my niece when she was a baby, she's 9 now! O.K. add that to the 'To Do' list.

In any case, my work space is workable again. I haven't finished the tedious organization projects, nor have I prettified the place but, I am liking the new flow and I snuck in a few extra square feet by shoving some tools and paint cans out of the way.

Now, where is that list?

Fairies in the garden

Yesterday we had a beautiful break in the rain, sunshine and warm enough to go sleeveless. So, after our daily ritual of sqwirmy hunting...

we decided to build a fairy house. My girl and I repurposed a birdhouse that she and Mr. Nova built last year. It has never housed any birds and we thought that maybe the fairies would like it.


We both agreed that the best spot in the garden was under a canopy of Bleeding Hearts.
This morning the rain returned - yet, when we checked the little fairy house, there was a tiny thank you note written on a leaf!

Beer Rocks!

I mean Bierocks.

From Wikipedia:
Bierocks are meat-filled pocket pastries originating in Eastern Europe, possibly in Germany or Russia, as the dish is very common among the Volga German community in the United States and Argentina. They were brought to the United States in the 1880s by German Russian Mennonite immigrants.

In the U.S., bierocks are found in Kansas, North Dakota, Colorado, Northwest Oklahoma, and the western states of California, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming. The bierock is closely related to the Runza, primarily found in Nebraska.

So now you know

My husband is from a smallish Kansas town with a strong Mennonite presence. I was introduced to these little treats on a trip to Kansas to visit with family. I finally got around to trying them out at home. I used the recipe from here, you have to scroll down a bit. I added 2 tsp. Worcestershire to the filling and be careful to not overcook. Pretty good for my first shot. We like to eat them with ketchup and they do go great with beer!

In Other News

Operation Chicken Coop has been stalled due to rain. So, I turned my obsessions to something else. I am knee deep in a massive overhaul to my work space. I wouldn't call it an 'Extreme Makeover', as my budget is about $25. Still, upheaval and mayhem. The actual making has come full stop until it all gets sorted out. The craftiest thing I have gotten up to lately is a stenciled shirt for Mr. Nova's kick ball season. Their team name is The Angry Dragons.



Oooh, that dragon is so angry!

Pause

Busy bees we are. With Spring sprung and ants in the kitchen, there seems always a race. A steady buzz - wax paper folded over comb, we press our lips against and hum. Something is coming. Along with slug season, coy pinks, dangerous yellows and the farmers market, there slips in a notion of promise. Soon the wind will sweep the avenues bringing a snow storm of blushed plum blossoms that will cling to our shoes, holding on. While the hues are almost delicate, shaded - a richness envelopes and becomes anticipation. Waiting in this verdant landscape, is a tempest in a teapot. What is simply green to some, is to me, an almost surreal abundance of color all in the name of green. I am a child of this place and I am feeling my absence from the woods. I have not walked through ferns and fans of Columbine in far too long. While I may not be able to reach my favorite trails today or make the long drive to the coastal forest, I may just take a walk in some damp wooded park. Somewhere where there is a quiet riot of new growth and moss in colors that simply make you take pause.

Breathe deep.

Dress Up

Photo by Tricia Butler

When Good Chickens Go Bad

First, let me tell you, it was not the chickens fault. It was completely seamstress error. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself after the success of the fabric egg pattern and little bear. So, since I have chickens on the brain, I thought why not whip up a little chicken softie, how hard could it be? I drew up a pattern and somewhat carelessly started piecing her together. I should have known, I had that feeling in my gut that something wasn't quite right but, I blundered along anyway.


I mean what was I thinking with that tail? I know, I know...chickens don't technically have tails...wait, do they? The back plumage then? You should have seen the beak before I cut it down! The seams are all wonky and I did not allow myself enough wiggle room to even sew her shut. Poor dear.



Still, I see great promise in her. I will have another go, and another if necessary. She deserves that much. This little gal has pluck!

Give Away Winner & Operation Chicken Coop

Thank you all for joining in the fun. The winner of little bear is Carrie from Whole Cloth Designs. I will be sending you an email today. For those of you who so sweetly worried about my girl missing out on the bear, do not fret, my girl's soft toy collection runneth over, a lot!
I am planning to have another give away soon so, stay tuned!

Now, in other news...
This weekend was glorious. The sun shined triumphantly and I soaked up as much vitamin D as I could to carry me through whatever weather lies ahead. We were abuzz with activity. Lettuce and Chard and potatoes oh my, all planted snug in their beds. The big buzz though,was the setting into motion of Operation Chicken Coop! Yes, it's official, we are on our way to becoming the neighborhood chicken folk. We can have up to three hens within the city limits. No roosters allowed (I am perfectly fine with that as I have had my share of rooster show downs ala spaghetti western style, but that is another story entirely).

Most of our time and labor was spent hacking away at the behemoth laurel hedge to make room for our feathered friends. On Saturday we had a couple of helpers and still only managed to take out a third of said behemoth.

Bessie was called into service to haul nearly 500 lbs of shrubbery to the city compost. That was less than half of the pile! The rest will be fed into a rented wood chipper dontcha know, next weekend.

Cutting away the hedge has revealed a few things. A much bedraggled Camellia bush/tree struggling for light, a much bigger back yard and an ugly cement wall belonging to the building behind our house. Eventually the rest of the hedge will be removed and my aesthetic sensibilities will need to be appeased in another project, but for now it just looks awful.


During this makeover it was discovered that my girl is indeed part monkey.

Here is the super handy Mr. Nova at work on the coop. See the little monkey in a tutu in the tree?

She took a little break from the climbing to do a bit of booty shakin' to Led Zepplin.

Looks as though it's becoming a right proper little house for our tiny flock. All that's left is walls, windows, nesting boxes, a caged run, a fenced run and...whew! And boy are my arms tired.

P.S. Thanks to all our helpers, Mr. Nova for being so handy and dandy, Mr. Sun for shining on us and to all of you for inspiring me.

Frantic Friday

I have been wanting to share with you some pictures of the eggs Lizzie, from One Girl's Opinion, made using my pattern.


Aren't they sweet, I love the fabrics, very Easter festive!

Go check out her Etsy shop, she makes the most darling hair clips and other lovely things.

I'm taking a break from the making of things this week. It's been a little frantic around here. I am investing some time in a good Spring Clean and wrapping up some other busy work. The weather is supposed to be decent this weekend so, I think I will get my hands dirty in the garden, I can't wait!

There is still time to enter the give away here so, if you haven't left a comment, now is the time!

Well, the spiders have been very dedicated lately, leaving no corner un-webbed, I'll be off now to eradicate their handiwork. Apologies to the eight legged wonders but, it must be done.