Sew-in fun

Last Saturday was our monthly sew-in at Anacortes.  More fun, more food, more sewing, more friends.

I was so excited about going that I got there almost half an hour early.  Dena always has wonderful themes for our potluck - and this time it was Steel Magnolias.  Oh the food - we started out with biscuits and gravy, and then for lunch we had ham or beef sandwiches with all the trimmings, barbecued smokies and meatballs, beans, potato salad and chocolate cake - oh, and iced tea by the gallon.

Everyone was very busy with their stitching - and show-and-tell, as always, was super.

Vicki was making baby quilts . . .

Same quilt - different colors . . .

Diane got this quilt back on sew-in day from JoAnn's husband, who did the quilting on his long arm machine . . .

Fabulous colors, fabulous quilting . . .

Love the quilting in the border . . .

Joy made this wallhanging of cats in the quilt shop . . . 

Kitty in a bag . . .

 Oh those kitties . . .

 

Joy is working on a Baltimore Album quilt - again . . .  she made this quilt once before and now her group of quilting friends is making it again . . .

 Another project that Joy has made more than once.  She made the original wall hanging for a children's summer reading program at her library - and now she is making it again for herself . . .

Ladybugs - I think these are buttons . . .

Vicki's wallhanging - it was a favorite with everyone - we all offered to take care of it for her -  but it went back home with her . . .

Vicki made this wallhanging for the tulip festival on Whidbey Island . . .

We are still working on our Christmas Carol challenge quilts.  We each picked a Christmas Carol to depict on our quilts.  We are at the final step - the last border. This is Daisy's quilt - "Let It Snow"  She is going to add some snowmen in the outer border.

My Christmas Carol is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" . . .

Close-up of Santa and some of his reindeer.  I still have some embellishing to do - but we've got until Christmas to get these done.

More reports next month - when we get together again and have fun!!!  Do you have a group you get together with for stitching?

Earth day - snow goose festival

 In celebration of Earth Day 2010 I thought I'd re-run a post I did a while back - it is the Snow Goose Festival in Stanwood, WA - it was a terrific day!

 
Last weekend was the Snow Goose Festival in Stanwood - just south of here. Don and I have been to Skagit Valley to see the snow geese and the Trumpeter swans many times - and this year we found out they have a festival celebrating the birds. We packed up some water, snacks, coats, hats, gloves, walking sticks and walking shoes and headed out early.

We wanted to be on the first tour bus that takes people around to see the magnificent flocks of snow geese. This was a special treat for Don, as he got to be a passenger instead of being the driver - and was able to see much more of the scenery and the birds.

Thousands of Wragnell Island (Russia) Snow Geese winter here - often covering the fields. . .


Our bus was driven by a lovely volunteer, Sharon, from Josephine Care Home. She volunteers for many events, besides doing her regular job as activity coordinator for Josephine Home. She was sweet and accomodating - and very interesting. She told us of trips she has arranged for seniors to Disneyland - to Las Vegas - to see a loved one - many of these she does on her own time. What a thrill to be driven around by such a wonderful woman. I didn't think to get a photo of her - but her memory will last with us for a long time. She is the spirit of giving.

Mt. Baker (second highest peak in WA) in the background. . .

We were able to find a road where we could stop and get out. The main roads have signs posted - and police in plain view - saying NO STOPPING AT ANY TIME - NO PARKING - and they mean it. The main road is a busy highway that goes to the San Juan Island ferries and it would be dangerous and foolish to park and get out of your car on these roads - but you see people doing it all the time.


Hundreds of Snow Geese - walking about - jabbering - eating - fussing with another who gets on their "space".

The geese can fly up and land again without ever sitting on anyone's head - amazing.

A bald eagle is flying over - and the birds are getting restless . . . they don't want to be lunch. . .Up they go - like curtains . . .

The whole flock takes flight - the sound is amazing as they call to each other - we had gotten out of the bus and were standing right next to the flock - we could hear the sound of their wings as they flew up.

Overhead shot - they circled right over us - calling the whole time - it was like a blanket of noise.

Settling back down - the eagle was past and they could get back to eating. They eat grass and seed - and often they will take over a winter wheat field and pluck up the new plants and the seeds. They are also partial to the pea plants that are grown here - eating seed and new sprout. The farmers receive subsidies for their damaged fields.

Then a walk on a self guided tour. It was right along the bay and the tide was way out - leaving us almost no birds to see - and no birds to photograph. There was an amazing amount of drift wood in the area and I loved the shapes of the tree roots. This must be an interesting place in the winter when the storms beat against the shore and the drift wood is piled high.

I thought this one looked like a seal . . .

It was so cold and windy - the wind cut right through our heavy jackets and gloves - so back into the car - and where else - a thrift store of course.!!!!

We poked around for quite a while and didn't find a lot to bring home - but I got two more shopping totes ( 25 cents each) to add to the bunch we carry in the car at all times.

One of the bags was Mary Engelbreit - and the other was for Save the Spirit Bear - a really worthwhile organization - set up by the youth of Canada.


I got some embroidery floss storage boxes - just like this - but not filled with floss. I got four of the boxes for 6.00 and will use a couple for sorting my vintage buttons into - and the others for organizing my floss - which REALLY need organizing.

Then lunch at the Stanwood Cafe - no photos - I never remember to bring in my camera while eating. It was a darling cafe - with great food. Don had a burger and fries - enough fries to serve almost everyone in the place. I had a turkey sandwich and a salad - both delicious. They hire local high school girls to be the waitresses - and all were very helpful.

There are all sorts of antiques in the cafe, as well as a counter with stools that go round and round. While we were there a family of three boys, mom and dad - came in and sat at the counters. The boys really loved those stools. There was such local color there - retired farmers in their overalls and boots - the young family (apparently just finished with basketball practice), older folks chatting with long time friends. And the prices - we had our big filling lunches for just 13.24 for the two of us - you don't see that very often around here. We will certainly go back for lunch when we visit Stanwood again - and next time I'll try and remember to take photos. It was such a great "hometown" cafe.

A great day - birds, shopping, lunch and when we got home - Jahn came over for a visit - just a perfect day. And a tired Grammy.


P.S. - as we celebrate Earth Day - let's all think of one more thing that we can do to benefit our earth - or one thing we could do better at.  No one can do everything - but everyone can do something.  Happy Earth Day!!!!

Sunday Favorites - Making Suet Cakes

 Sunday ... and that means it is re-run time, with Sunday Favorites 

I ran this post last spring - and it is timely for this spring, as I just made a new batch of suet cakes - or as Ben calls them - Bird Toast.

Our favorite farm/feed store closed about a month ago and we've not found one we liked as well as that one - and haven't been able to find the suet blocks for our birds (and the squirrels).

Amy - over at Twelve Acres - has given me some helpful hints about keeping the deer out of the bird seed - and while talking about that and doing some research, I came across a recipe for making homemade suet blocks.

I've gotten helpful suggestions from several of you - and appreciate all of them. What I've finally decided on was to use crushed red pepper flakes in the bird seed. After some research I've found that birds can tolerate the heat of the flakes without really even feeling it - so it doesn't keep them away - but the deer will notice the heat and not come back to the seeds. We'll see how that works - so far no deer have been up near the feeders since I put in the pepper flakes - so haven't been able to test it out. They usually come around at night - so if the seeds are still there tomorrow I'll figure (and hope) that it worked.

So - back to making homemade suet blocks. The recipe came from Calloway Gardens - remember the gardens from Victory Garden?

•Melt 1 cup shortening (or lard) in a saucepan on very low heat.
•Add 1 cup peanut butter and stir until melted. (I used chunky peanut butter so they would have some nuts in there too)

Boy does this smell BAD - but keep on - it gets better. . .gag. . . cough . . . choke . . .



•To this add 1 cup plain flour and 3 cups plain cornmeal. Mix thoroughly.


•Add whole rolled oats, seeds, raisins or bread crumbs if you have any. The final consistency will be putty-like.

I also added some sunflower seeds . . .

•Pour into an old 8 inch by 8 inch pan and allow to cool.


I used an old pan - but lined it with plastic wrap too - though I don't see how this could stick to anything . . .

•Slice into quarters; each one should fit nicely into a suet cage, available at most garden centers.

•Store remaining squares in the refrigerator.

In less than an hour the suet mixture was firm and ready to cut into blocks . . . no no - those are NOT chocolate chip cookie bars . . .

And the suet cages are filled - the blocks could be a little flatter and a little wider - but this will do for now. Don has hung them up - let's wait here for the birds to come and feast . . .

Now to see how the birdies like this mixture. You can add berries too - to attract a bigger variety of birds. This was fun!!!! (after the initial shock of the peanut butter and lard melting together - ughhhh!!)

My newest batch has raisins, dried cranberries and a package of minemeat - this should keep the birds happy.

Saturday Favorites

What fun - stop over and see Laurie and more Favorite Things.

I have a variety of favortie things today . ..

Our silly Miss Kitty drinking from the watering cans . . .

Bleeding heart flowers . . .

Iris - bright and cheerful . ..

An egg basket full of pine cones . . .

A pretty blue dish . . .

My newest piece of milk glass - don't you just love milk glass?

And a child's tea set with pine cones . . .

Thanks for stopping by - see you next week!

My new camera

I've had a Kodak East Share camera for a couple years.  Before that I had another Kodak - and thought the Easy Share would be a good replacement.  The first camera last over 10 years - the Easy Share - not so long.  It would shut down at odd times - just close up and say that the AA batteries needed recharged.  They didn't - and after turning it on and off a zillion times it would finally recognize the batteries and let me take photos - in the mean time, I lost a lot of chances at good shots.  I got so frustrated that I finally started looking around for another camera.  Diane and Fergie - two quilting buddies - both have the Canon Power Shot SD1200 IS - and recommended it.  I read reviews and then ordered the camera.

And I LOVE it.  It takes amazing photos - has a LI-ion battery, instead of AA batteries - and I've had it for two weeks and haven't needed to recharge the battery - and I take a LOT of pictures.  Plus Ben has taken dozens of pictures with it - and looked at the pictures over and over on the camera - and still the battery doesn't need re-charged - did I mention I LOVE this camera, 

and it is hot pink too - which is even better!!!!

I like the auto focus for up close, really up close, close photos!!  It adjusts itself, then focuses again  and takes the best shots.  I had fun the first day finding things to take super close ups of.  So here they are.

Froget-me-nots in the porch garden . . .

Flowering tree by the lake . . .

Close up of the flowers . . .

White Bleeding heart - this pot hangs on the front porch railing - safe from deer . . .

 

Look at that raindrop - didn't I tell you the close up was amazing ?

Close up of raindrops on Bleeding Heart leaf . . .

And rain drops on a Columbine plant . . .

The center of a tulip . . .

More tulips at the fairgrounds . . . it's tulip season . . .

Close up of one of the trees in our little grove in the back yard . . .

Raindrops on rose leaves - I love the outline of red on these leaves - hopefully soon we'll have flowers . . .

A close up of our door knocker - the grandsons love it . . .

 

And just a few more raindrops on leaves . . .

Thanks for stopping by - and you'll be seeing more photos from my new camera soon - I'm sure of that.  Thanks Diane and Fergie for the great recommendation.