Dance Bag

The tote bag that holds my dancing stuff was starting to fray.  I could have repaired it, but bag was both too big (for regular dances) and too small (for dance festivals) and didn't have enough pockets.  This was my chance to design a new one:  a single bag that would work for both situations so I wouldn't need to move the odds and ends from one bag to another.  

 

I Like Thursday: Getting Stuff Done

I have some real odds-and-ends to share with LeeAnna and friends for I Like Thursday.  I never know what will catch my eye or tickle my fancy.

I drove by this pumpkin patch a couple of weeks ago and was struck by the color, but didn't get a chance to photograph it.  I was so excited last week when I saw the pumpkins were still there, plus a rainbow in the blue sky!  

I Like Thursday: Treasures

Not much blogging lately.  I've been busy trying to catch up on all the gardening I put off in March and April.  Then this stupid shoulder has wiped me out.  But there's progress!  And some fun stuff - so I've pulled together an entry for LeeAnna's I Like Thursday.

First up - last week I saw a deer very cautiously step out of the woods into the side yard.  I suspected she was being extra cautious because she had a fawn.  I was right!  Can you see it in that photo?  Rob and I were amazed at how TINY it was.  And it was so wobbly and unsure of itself, we figured it had to be newborn.  

We saw both of them a few days ago (I see Mama haunting the edges of the yard almost every day).  Baby has grown a lot already!

I Like Thursday: Trimmings, Trails and Trials

Thursday.  The weeks have been flying by lately.  Sharing some of the good stuff with LeeAnna and friends at I Like Thursday.  

 

Fall Flowers

Years ago I "fixed" a stained tank top by adding flowers all over it.  It was a fun project and I get a lot of compliments on it at the dances.  The flowers were fun to make and I had always hoped for a reason to make more.

Lo and behold - an occasion presented itself.  Several of my dancing hair clips are falling apart and I could use more that match other outfits.  I thought these little flowers would be cute!

I've spent the last several days making these.  I rummaged through my scrap fabric for colors.  Then I had to recall how I made the first set of flowers.  Now have a dozen flowers.  Even though that's plenty, I'm ready to make some more!

I Like Thursday: May Musings

May!  Already so chock-a-block full I'm writing my Like post before the end of the month!  Time to share with LeeAnna and friends at I Like Thursday. 

Ahhh... first kayak outing of the year.  A beautiful evening, and early enough in the season the pond wasn't choked with weeds.  I love being able to explore the nooks and crannies along the edge of the pond (and check out the beaver lodges). 

I Like Thursday: April Foolin’ Around

April! It's been another full-throttle month.  Whew!  Let's see what I liked best...

It kicked off with April Fools Day.  My local librarian celebrated the holiday with a sign that said "Please excuse the mess while I reorganize the collection by color!"  Indeed, the first shelf is red, orange, green, white, blue and black.  If you flipped the paper over it said "April Fools!"  

The eclipse was pretty cool - no fooling!  We chose not to drive up to Vermont to see the total eclipse, but instead hung out on our front steps to witness the 95% coverage.  We played with the colander, marveled at the strange shadows and the drop in temperature (about 10℉). 

We wished there had been more leaves on the tree to better see the funny crescent shadows the sun produced.  The pine trees gave us a bit of little taste of it.  And I had eclipse glasses, so we could look at the sun.  It reminded me of the Cheshire Cat as the slice of the sun got bigger (a grin without a cat).

I Like Thursday: Into 2024

I missed writing an I Like Thursday post in January.  Lots to like - just no time to write about it.

We got snow in January - but on New Year's there was not a snowflake to be seen.  I went walking with my mother and we came across this creative wooden snowman.  He was big!  Must have been heavy, too. 

I came across a Scottish word this last week:  hurkle-durkle.  It means to lie in bed, or to lounge after it is time to get up or go to work.  Lots of overcast days this month - I'd much rather snuggle warmly under the covers curled up with a good book than face the day.  So I've been doing a lot of hurkle-durkling. 

I Like Thursday: A New Year

My first like of the week is that I caught up with everything (even if it's only briefly).  I spent New Year's weekend with time on my hands. How nice! 

Bleu is showing off his (and Provolone's) favorite way of sitting in the hammock.  Is it comfortable? or ist it because he can commandeer both the hammock and the cuddle cup.  Piggy pigs are piggy!

Blogiversary #12

A dozen years of blogging.  I had no idea when I started a blog I'd still be at it this long.  I'm still enjoying writing and sharing some of the fun things in life. 

I did a bunch of quilting early in the year (which will show up in its own post on Saturday).  Only a handful of foster guinea pigs - far less than last year!  We took the summer off from fostering while the kitchen was remodeled.  But one of our fosters, Mark, was a TV star!  

The kitchen and the pandemic interfered with my cooking portion of this blog as well.  I'm still figuring out where everything belongs in the kitchen, but it has been nice to bake again.  I'm looking forward to trying out some of the oh-so-many recipes I have bookmarked.

Dancing started up this summer and it's been wonderful to see old familiar faces and share the joy of kicking up our heels.  I've slowly been getting together again with friends. 

Fingers crossed for 2023:  I'd love to blog about lots of quilting projects, my garden, Chick Events, fun fosters and cooking in the new kitchen.  Thank you all who read and comment on my blog.  

I Like Thursday: Daffodils and Dancing

Missed last week's I Like Thursday - too much going on, but nothing really to write about.  I'll have to catch up this week.

I like daffodils.  We passed this house in Leverett that had the entire yard (seriously, the WHOLE yard) covered in daffodils.  It was amazing enough to stop the car to get photos.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  Simply beautiful.

Blogiversary #9

Wow.  2019.  A rough year of moving, losing two pigs, running multiple trips to doctors and hospitals.

Oof.

But plenty of good stuff, too:  I've continued with my new years resolution of new recipes at Game Day (I'm sticking with that one).  Danced (and danced some more!).  Bought a kayak.  Own a house!  Finished my sister's quilt (which is the ONLY quilt I have to show this year).  Spent time with friends, family, and meeting the local wildlife.  And blogging.

I Like Thursday: Thankfulness

Happy Thanksgiving.  May you enjoy time with loved ones (even if it's just yourself).

Rob's been snapping photos before I get up in the morning.  I enjoy discovering them as I download what's on my camera.

We got our first snow on Sunday.  Hard to see, but it was quite misty that morning, too.

I Like Thursday: Soup, Ringlets, Dresses

Thursday already?  Where has the time been going??

This doesn't look like much (actually, kind of looks like saag), but this Mushroom Spinach Soup is delicious.  It was prettier in the pan, but we were too busy eating it to take a photo until I packed up the leftovers.  The recipe suggests serving with a dollop of yogurt.  Really good!

Had to use up the last of my tote apples along with some cheese and leftover sausage - which adds up to Apple Sausage Pie.  It's a fall favorite.  Rob has converted me in pouring a bit of maple syrup over it.

Yeah, I am looking forward to cooking my favorite fall and winter meals.

I Like Thursday: Fall Ball, Fog and Faucet

I ended a rough crazy week of work with a day of dancing.  Oh, the Fall Ball!  Great music.  Fun dances.  Lots of happy twirling people...

and twirling skirts.

Health issues kept me from dancing as much and as long as I wished.  I was grateful to last as long as I did.  And while I rested I got to spend time with friends.  Listen to the music.  Watch the people dancing.

I Like Thursday: Golds and Yellows

I like that I am quilting.  Only practice stuff right now - I'm getting used to new thread (first time I've used Sulky that's not snapping!) and attempting some ruler work (I'd rather have a hopping foot, but this one seems to be working alright).  I think I can do what I want to do, which is great news.

My sister and I got together on Monday for dinner (what a treat!).  We traded stories how our latest projects are going, and how difficult it can be to figure out what the quilt/painting wants.  My quilt wants lines.  Her painting wants different colors.  Keeps us on our toes!

I Like Thursday: Shopping Trips and Errands

It's been a busy weeks, picking up a lot of things.

Saturday included a trip to the Greenfield farmer's market.  I got to use my guinea pig and bunny picnic bag.  Isn't it cute?  Mabel thinks it's even cuter filled with carrots.  (Although Kiki and Mason ate the majority of the carrot tops.)

I was very excited to bring home a 25lb box of tomatoes to make sauce.  The house smelled delicious on Tuesday as we cooked them down.

I Like Thursday: Sewing, Cooking, Videos

Knowing that I'm now using an older machine for all my projects, a friend of mine sent me this story of a sewing machine that nearly burned down the house.  Yikes!  I've started to unplug my Singer when I'm done with it instead of just turning off the light.  Thanks for the good advice!  It's good to have friends that look out for me.

I have no idea how I found this recipe for chicken stroganoff.  Mom used to make beef stroganoff when I was a kid, but I almost never buy beef.  So when I saw this recipe I was intrigued.  And the spices!  this is not like any stroganoff I'd tried before.  It is delicious and easy to make (we had it for dinner Tuesday night).  

I Like Thursday: NEFFA, Cake

I'm going to start this post with my last like of the weekend:  a last bit of peanut butter cup cheesecake.  This was my reward for making it through NEFFA.  We had left the festival too late on Saturday night to stop at White's Bakery, so we made a detour to Gregg's to pick up a slice of toffee cake.  Turns out they had the cheesecake, too (it's a special, not on their usual menu).  I was so excited to bring home a slice.  I saved it for my Sunday night treat.  Yum!

I Like Thursday: Birds, Toys, Dancing and Sewing

I glanced at the feeder on Tuesday and thought the goldfinch was looking a little green and grey.  I know their summer colors are still coming in, but this one didn't look right.  Then he sang.  Ha - not a goldfinch, but a pine warbler!  I discovered they're the only warbler that visits feeders.  I've never seen one here before.  He's been back several times every day.

A titmouse visiting last spring had one back feather that stuck straight up off his back.  Very odd.  Tuesday I caught glimpse of titmouse that had a feather shaft sticking out in the same spot.  Same bird, I'm guessing?  I had thought it was the bird equivalent of bed-head, but I guess it's really stuck like that?  (I wanted a photo, but he was too shy.)