Flower Friday: June 27, 2025

 

Happy Flower Friday!  How have you been doing?

This week has had challenges for all of us.  We've been coping but I'm ready for some (hopefully) cooler weather this weekend.

It's that time of the season that I do some weeding and little else.  It's too hot to be transplanting flowers.  I do have specific things I still want to get done but that will have to wait.  

We also have the challenge of the catbirds who have a nest in the upper garden.  They are not tolerating any of us being there.  Lucky things this is funny, I don't.  Let the catbirds raise their younguns in peace.  They are here every year and I enjoy them.

Sue sent some lovely flower photos!  I love this picture of a "road lily" 😀

Her rudbeckia is blooming!

Sue's Butterfly Weed:

In my garden, we've had some challenges.  Many of the ferns burned.  I've had these ferns for nearly 30 years and this never ever happened before.

The astilbe is blooming and as you can see, the hydrangea is wilting in defense against the sun.  It's nothing to be too alarmed about.  The bushes are fine by morning and then do the same thing when the temperatures rise.

I hope you have a cooler and fun weekend!

Stay safe and well!

Having a Heat Wave!

 

Well, it seems like most of my readers (if not all) are experiencing the heatwave.   Today should be the last day of our wave.

We've been doing okay.  Dawn walks.  Morning visits to check on my mom and then staying indoors until about 7:30 p.m.  
As I said I would, I am doing a lot of hand sewing.  I have some vintage linens that I've always wanted to do something with and had made some small table top hangings over the weekend and finished on Monday. 

 This had been a cover for a mixer but it was too small for my KitchenAid.  So I finally made it into a wall hanging.  I think he is cute!

Then I made this one:

 

Way back---women used to make or place linens on the toilet tank.  The above piece was meant was likely created for that since most of those doilies were water themed.  This piece makes me laugh because the dog is cute but it also reminds me of my childhood.  

I had a great aunt that had embroidered, crocheted, or lace pieces everywhere in her house (kind of like a feminine craft explosion).  I always felt like we had to tip-toe through her house because it was so overwhelming.

Anyway...this piece is the closest we are getting to swimming this week.  It's too hot for me or Lucky to be out even if there is a pool.  Plus the air quality is terrible.

Speaking of Lucky, he is absolutely woeful this week because we have been stuck in the house.  

Hopefully today will be the last day of the heatwave and life can return to normal.  Hope you are all faring well!

If by any chance you have a photo for Flower Friday, send me an email!

Have a safe and happy day!

Tuesday's This and That

 

Welcome to Tuesday's This and That!

Why not get some ice cream and browse through the following articles!  

FEATHERS!

No not the quilting kind but a very interesting article on science, engineering and bird feather is here.

***

My husband and I used to play a lot of board and card games in the winter and during heat waves.  We still enjoy pinochle.

Here's an interesting article about board games.  I have to admit, the title "Mansion of Happiness" made me giggle and read this article.

***

As I mentioned again and again, we've had a lot of rain.

Last week, it was reported local strawberry crops was negatively impacted by the rain (read here).  I'm really sorry for the farmers and the rotted fruit.  😟

Here's a free pattern for a strawberry coaster you might want to make!

***

Stay cool and have a safe and happy day!

Heatwave Haul

 

I hope you have air conditioning!

Here we all are today:

 And it's going to heat our friends in Canada too!

How are you staying cool?  I end up waking around 5 a.m. in the summer so that makes it easier to get everything done including Lucky's main walk.  In the afternoons we hibernate and I won't walk the boy again until twilight.  

***

Brad went on a fishing vacation last week and didn't take me.

So I bought fabric.

Apparently many sewists now refer to their purchases as their "haul" and do posts or videos about what they purchased.

I purchased some Riley Blake fabric from Marshall Dry Goods.  I'm not overly fond of the fabric Marshall's produces but they also sell designer fabric.  I was eyeing this fabric for some time but broke down and bought a little of each:

As we all know, I never met a floral fabric that I couldn't love:

This fabric reminds me of old embroidery patterns I had in the 1960s.  I'm not sure why but I really love it.  There was only one yard left but that is all I need.

The last one that I really wanted was this fabric with children at the park.  A lot of times I try to incorporate fabric that features animals or toys over children.  I make these as charity quilts and I just don't know who is going to receive the quilt.  This fabric has all kinds of children represented and that makes it valuable for kid's quilts.

Unfortunately I won't be using this fabric right now.  Beth suggested to keep doing hand work until cooler weather arrives and that seems wise.

What are you occupying yourself during this heatwave?

Have a safe and happy day!

Summer Solstice Flower Friday

 

Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy Flower Friday!

Sue sent photos and this one is of her deck.  Included in the photo are her lemon tree, tomato, marigolds, petunias, and portulaca.  Isn't this a lovely display!

Phlox from Sue:

Sue did comment that all the rain ruined a lot of flowers but her Hydrangea is doing well!

We've had the same problem here.  This lace edged hydrangea is very shaded and protected and the best looking bush I have right now:

The Annabelle hydrangeas are doing okay but many branches are laying on the ground:

First coneflowers of the season!

Forget me nots and lady's mantle:

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend!

 

Happy Juneteenth!

Have a safe and happy Juneteenth!

Sewasaurus

 

How are you doing today?

There will be very little gardening this week.  It rained a lot again and there is still standing water outside.  Around here, we don't garden in mud so I'm getting some sewing done.

I'm in the middle of a lot of sewing projects.  I'm focusing on finishing mug rugs and table toppers and that fits fine with next week's weather.   My main goal is to have enough handwork prepared for next week when the first heatwave begins.  Most of you know that my sewing room is in the attic so it's important to have  handwork that I can do on the first floor of my house. 

I'm also thinking about a quilt to honor Paula.  She was killed in late 2023 when a young man smashed into her car.  

Paula's youngest and only daughter has asked numerous times that I make a quilt from her mother's clothes for her 1 year old daughter.

I know it must have been hard for Jenny to go through her mom's clothes.  But she finally sent some of Paula's shirts over.  The thing is that the fabric is REALLY varied.  So I'm reviewing options and designs.  

What are you working on right now?

Two days until Flower Friday--and the first day of summer--so if you have photos to share please email me!

Have a safe and happy day!

Scrap Happy

There's a saying, "You know you're a quilter when the only scraps under your table are fabric..."

Unless you have a dog.

Family and friends refer to Lucky as "the hoover" because the first thing he does when he visits is check out the floor for crumbs on the floor.

Today is another day of rain and I'll be working most of the day in the sewing room.  Here are some scrap quilts you may enjoy:

Have a safe and happy day!

 

The World In One Family

 

Many people my age were not alive during World War II.  Still the war was very much a part of our childhood; many of our family members had served.  The war was featured in our books, movies, television shows, and even in the games (or scenarios) we made up as children.  We knew of the war time events, heroism, and horrors so well that it somehow became embedded in our memory of childhood. 

During these sorrowful times, I concentrate on what I believe to be good and compassionate.  Recently, I stumbled upon a story that occurred during World War II that was new to me.

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it had a collaborator:  the Soviet Union.  The Soviets took many of the Polish Jews to Siberia; most of the children ended up orphanages where often they were only fed one slice of bread per day.

These children had an unlikely hero who saved them:  Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the  Maharaja of Jamnagar in Gujarat, India. 

 

The Maharaja "adopted" hundreds of the Polish children and provided them with safe housing, food, and even provided for their education.  He told them they were his children now and treated them with dignity and kindness.

Soon other countries like Mexico and New Zealand offered sanctuary to Polish refugees.

Here are some online stories you can read: here and here and here.  There are also many touching videos on the internet.

"Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" is an Hindu phrase.  I've read this considered one of the most important philosophical and moral values.  It translates as "the world is one family."

Certainly the Maharaja illustrated this value with his kindness.  He was never listed as hero of World War II when I was growing up--but he certainly needs to be included with the other heroes of that war.

Have a safe and happy day.

Flower Friday: June 13, 2025

 

Happy Flower Friday!

Hoping you have a lovely holiday!  We will be having rain again but that's okay, I'll sew.

Joanne's lovely hibiscus with a pink center.  I've never seen this kind before!

Pete's lovely clematis!

Beth's stunning Mountain Laurel!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Lucky

 

Woof!

He's a beautiful boy!

Lucky is doing well despite having some seasonal allergies.  We've been inside a lot during this rainy season but we still walk throughout the day.

I was cleaning out the sewing room one day and was surprised that Lucky is still afraid of this doll.  The doll has been sitting there for months; he just noticed it that day.

Anyway, he is fine and doing well!

Tomorrow is Flower Friday and if you like, you can share of your photos!  Email me at allentownquilter@gmail.com.