a verb for making warmth

Exciting times around here - the darling daughter returned, driving through the night, stealthy, fooling all.  And she is here, she is home.  A chip off the old block - packing her car beyond its limits, motoring from south Florida - a 24 hour journey accomplished in one shot.  Truthfully, she is braver than anyone I know.  Happy beyond expression.

So there has been baking and consuming  - fresh spinach with artichoke hearts ... a big hit!

And sewing, of course -

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

There are holiday gnomes in the sewing room!  I want to place them in everything that I am creating!  A visit to the FatQuarter site is in order as I have no green or aqua gnomes.  I hope that they still have some in stock because, as usual, I was late to this party and unaware of Monica's wonderful designs until just recently.  Mine is an imperfect world - if I spent the time navigating quilting blogs that I'd like to, there would be precious little time left for quilting!  It's the dread Day Job.  It spoils everything!

A special gift for a special couple - almost ready to send.

I wanted to finish this today as we have brilliant sunshine and breeze enough to dry this, but my finger aches from too many hours of stitching binding.  I have to take a break.  Also - I need to find a thimble that I can wear and any suggestions would be gratefully accepted.  The solid sterling one that I adore makes me fumble and feel clumsy, and so out of control.  The suede always surprises me with a dreadful jab when the black clover quilting needle finds its way though!  And the plastic is just not my cup of tea!  But this is -

I loved making this tiny quilt!

happy zombies

Wash day.  What could be prettier than Monica's 'Winterkist' drying in the November sun?

Delectable!  

This quilt was completed in 2003 - it seems as if I've always loved these juicy colors when paired.  I left these things on the line most of the afternoon.  It was such a treat to look outdoors to find them dancing in the breezes, juxtaposed against a greying landscape.  Eye candy.

snow

Snow - we missed you!

birthday in connecticut

The sun blessed us - after a two week disappearance.  Our ride to Connecticut to celebrate mom's birthday was glorious until we reached Pound Ridge, where Hurricane Sandy's devastating handiwork was revealed.  I won't post images of the magnificent old trees down along with miles of fencing and power lines.  I saw too many houses draped in tarp and firewood newly stacked next to the gigantic stumps that had been trees.  It took us a while to reach New Canaan as the detours were many.  We were on a mission!

Mom's 84th birthday celebration!  My sister treated us to a delicious lunch and this carrot cake was a splendid finish to a wonderful afternoon.

There is always a wonderful little cavalier waiting nearby to join in the celebration!

In the lower left hand corner of this image you can see a flash!  That's Pippa, proudly running about with my niece's car keys in her mouth.  When Hadley arrives Pippa grabs her keys and trots around with her prize!

Irresistible!

after the storm

We were so very fortunate this time, unlike our neighbors along the shore and beyond.  We lost two old apple trees, and that was the worst of it.  As I watched the devastation along the Jersey shore I felt guilty that I was warm and dry.  Today I will gather together some warm items that our local church will distribute to those who lost everything.  It's not much, but if everyone would do one small thing to help ... imagine.

I made my coffee and walked upstairs to my sewing room.  The early morning light was exquisite.  Saturday mornings are a gift - doesn't everything look better in Saturday morning light?

Sometimes I will work late into the night on Fridays just because I CAN!  I'll stumble into bed and when I rise I am 
often surprised at the progress I made the night before! Not to mention the mess!

A very wonderful and deserving couple recently adopted a beautiful baby and I am making this little piece for them. It will have 3-D pinwheels cheerfully dotting the borders when finished.  I used one of my favorites - so sparingly as it is almost gone and irreplaceable -

The measure, I think, of an excellent design - one that is as fresh and relevant today as it was 10 years ago when selected for the first time! I'd love to start a petition to bring this one back. 

 I think about fabric, I daydream about it, and recently have started drawing - making thumbnail illustrations - designs that I would like to see produced.  This is on my Bucket List - to have my own line of fabric.  Dreams need space in which to germinate, to develop into strong sturdy reality and I give mine tenderness, encouragement and as much square footage as I can spare!

Christmas is just around the corner.  I'd like to be ready this season, but if I do manage to finish my gifts, it will be a first.  Still, a large portion of the joy, for me, is the time spent working with my holiday fabrics and ideas.  Many will never see the light of day, others will be prettily wrapped under the tree.  The process is the beauty part.

frankenstorm

What to do in preparation for a monster storm?  Empty the freezer!

Chicken and dumplings may soothe those without power ...

Crab cakes readied for frying (I am lucky to have propane which means that I can cook, even if I have to do it by candlelight!)

Egg salad - hard boiled and/or devilled eggs ....

Apple sauce, apple crisp - and when I weary of the kitchen -

It's back to the sewing room where baskets are coming together nicely.  

After we finished cleaning up the yard and putting all of the outdoor furniture away, I was happy to come indoors to sew for a few hours.  The wind is picking up and I'll be shutting this computer down soon.

For everyone touched by this storm - be cautious!  Take care and stay away from trees and power lines.  For my special guys Andrew and Carson - you'll be in my thoughts - be safe, Godspeed.

handspun

It was hard to part with the three skeins of handspun that Patty had given to me.

It went home with Mom and will be donated to her knitting group's favorite benefit.  She loves it and I am wondering if it will actually make it to the sales table!
Things are really quiet around here.

Harley's play date went home and he has been sulky.  Cats are no fun to devil - they have that unfair advantage of perching - usually high up and out of reach.  I sometimes wonder what these creatures do all day long while I am at work and the house is silent.

Hmmmmm...

i had a birthday

Lucky to be an October Child - I am always grateful for the autumn that graces my special day.  Mine falls on peak weekend in upstate New York, which is akin to icing on the cake of any birthday - fiery potent spectacular October!  One has to remind oneself to exhale!

The blueberry bushes are aflame!  And they have serious competition from the sugar maples -

Last week's rains brought down much of the color, but here are a few images for you, Hilary - I know that you do miss this time of the year in New York when the Florida beaches give up oceanic hues, but no oranges, golds, crimsons ...

The colors seem more subtle this season.  Oh, wait - I misspoke!

Back at the house I celebrated the end-of-a-decade kind of birthday.  It was lovely.  Mom came for the weekend, gifts in her arms (thank you sister for the wondrous scarf and much anticipated book!).  We indulged in a morning at the Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa and I don't even have words for the ways in which those good people pamper their guests!  If you can, book a getaway to the Spa, pronto!
Later, my son came by with this glorious bouquet for his mom.

Roses, hydrangea, agapanthus, sweet william, anemones .... (swoon)

Did I mention ORCHIDS!!!!  It is divine - so much so that I divided it into two bouquets.  Thank you Andrew, I absolutely love this arrangement!  I love you too.

I just wish that you wouldn't object so strongly to having your photo taken!
A perfect weekend, well, almost.
We missed you Bean.  We always do
xox   

The beginning of a new baby quilt -  so joyful!

And another - because I have many babies to quilt and knit for this year.

There will be kites, of course.  And pinwheels and polka dots.

Yes, I finally cut into my flea market fancies.  I am looking for a source for this original collection - if anyone has some to sell, or knows where I can find it - PLEASE let me know!!!!

I am learning a hard lesson after all of these years ... if you LOVE it, buy as much as you can afford.  Just do it.  You will not regret this decision - what you WILL regret is a shortage down the road!

Today I was thinking about Christmas.  That's right, Christmas in October.  I was feeling kind of sad because my girl is not here in NYS and probably won't make it in for the holiday.  I did what any quilter worth her salt would do - I pulled out a holiday UFO that needs to be sent south for my daughter by early December.

This tree skirt was started last year, but added to the UFO pile.  It's going to be fun to complete - I started quilting it today with MAGENTA thread!!!!  I'm thinking palm trees and ocean views!  Maybe I should deliver this myself .. it's something to think about!