No It's Not Another Bat

Nope, not another bat friend.  It's really hard to take a picture of a hummingbird who flew into our sunroom (I keep the door open a bit so the dogs and cat can come in and out while I am enjoying my coffee in there) while shooing a cat away and preventing said bird from moving into the rest of the house!  He/she didn't and I was able to direct it to the open door and it flew away.                             

SO I had Hubby pick up a feeder and I am hoping he/she will come back!

When my friend Pam was here for a visit, she got me hooked on hexies!  She had sent me a picture of a project using hexies which made a mug rug....well, my hexies made my pumpkin too big for a mug rug!  Here I am stitching on my deck one beautiful day.

And here is the completed pumpkin.......now to figure out what it will become.  I may border it and make a little pillow....

These three "homies" came to visit on Saturday.  Son2 was here so we all had a visit.  The weather wasn't great so we were stuck inside.😞

These two snuggled having a snooze.

My brother and his sons (my nephews😃) got a Matthews family crest/coat of arms tattoo on their forearms.....my brother gave my dad the gift of one as well and he just had it done last week.  Not sure if my other brother is going to get in on the action.  (and I'm not sure why my brother looks so tired in this picture!!!!!!  Late night maybe??  HAHAHA)

I enjoyed the hot day yesterday after our son went home....did some laundry and then started some more hexies (see!!!  I'm hooked!) and continued reading a book I started a day or two before....I finished it yesterday.  Sue Grafton is the author and I had started to read her books when the kids were younger and I read while they were swimming in our dugout.....I took them out of the library.  Quick fun reads...this series is about a female private investigator.....you can NEVER guess what happens at the end...whodunit!  Never!  I have collected some of the series (it goes by alphabet.  I just read M is for Malice.  The series started with A is for Alibi  I hope I can read a couple more but I have sooooooo much to do first.  I could try and read while I am doing these "jobs" but you (I) can't put these books down!  

I've cleaned the house this morning....it's to be another hot one but it is smoky right now.  Maybe I could get around to painting the bathroom ceiling......or I could stitch more hexies or start N is for Noose!

August...Already!

It's August....already.  We start back to work at the end of this month although the students don't come until after the long weekend. I have stuff I need to get done.  I went to a sewing day this week and everyone always asks "have you gone anywhere this summer?" and I got to thinking about that....does a person HAVE to go somewhere over the summer?  Being home, not waking up to an alarm and having leisurely mornings is vacation to me!  Not having to work on course assignments, not being stressed over bad days the kids I work with are having.......so I am quite alright with not going anywhere over the summer.  😀  BUT, I would like to get a few things done here...like going through cupboards, etc and getting some painting done so that a) I feel as though I have accomplished something and b) I will feel less stressed going into the new school year.

Last week was also my nail appointment and I think these cute, summery nails are some of my favourite ever and how simple is that??  They make me smile when I look at them.

I have to get a picture of my crazy cat in on every post.....how can she be comfortable????

My hexies are all sewn together.....it finished quite big 26" x 19" Now to figure out how to finish it.

But not before starting another hex project!!  These hexies are smaller...1" as opposed to 2" and they will be a pumpkin.  I did these late last night, after struggling to find 13 orange fabrics!!....they are hard to put down and some time soon I will stitch them together.  I need to appliqué some leaves and embroider some vines once it is attached to a background.....

Small things amuse me as I went to get the mail yesterday and our ugly old green, beat up mail boxes were gone and this was set in their place!!!!!!!  Having the bigger boxes for parcels will be nice too and will save having to wait to go to the post office the next day to pick one up!  (not that I am expecting anything! 😝

We have had thunder/lightening and rain the last 4 or 5 nights.....today is gloomy and I thought it was to be the first without rain! Daughters 1 and 2 are coming out today with our granddaughter.  Son2 is here for the weekend as well......we were going to have a weiner roast for supper.....might need a plan B.  😞 Grrrrr.  Next week is supposed to be beautiful.....time will tell.

Summer Fun!

The last few days of July are upon us....this month went by quickly.  It's been great so far with a friend visit and lots of grand baby cuddles....and some stitching.  I have almost got two more rows on this project since this picture was taken.  I hope after house cleaning this morning I can stitch some more .  We are to have another hot day today.  It's been a glorious weekend!

I had a Dr appointment in Calgary last Tuesday and I stopped in Costco on my way home and treated myself to some alstroemeria.  I bought a bunch that hadn't open yet and when people look at them they likely think "those are boring and ugly" but it's one of my favourites because they are beautiful when they open and last for a LONG time!  They are all open now and are gorgeous......I've taken pics of individual blooms but I have enough pictures on this post I didn't want to go too overboard!😉

Okay....here they are!  Too beautiful to ignore!  

And this is one of the day lilies I bought when my Dad and I went to a lily farm outside of Sylvan Lake last year.  It is the only one who's tag I've lost so I don't know the name!  😒 It wasn't completely open here and had something weird going on with the bottom petals so it wasn't perfect but there are more blooms to open so I hope they are better.....they don't last very long though.  I have one more plant, with blooms, out of the 6 or 8 I bought.  I wonder if I will get more later on in the summer?

Here is an asiatic lily in my flower bed....lots more blooms have opened since and of course my cell phone pic doesn't do the colours justice!:

So for the last two weekends we have had these munchkins here.  I love them with my whole heart but they sure wear me out!!  And they FIGHT!!!!  Jude loves to pick on Lyla (and hit and steal her food and toys!  LOL) and Lyla will whine instead of "fight" back or be firm!  😏😣  But then they would get goofy together and were hilarious!  

They look so sweet and innocent here....don't let those adorable smiles fool you!  HAHAHA

First bath together!  😃

I picked up Lyla on Friday and had her overnight alone that night.  Later on in the morning on Saturday,  she wanted to go in the hammock and I had to "push" her.  Well she ended up falling asleep!!!  It was so hot back there but there was a bit of a breeze so I had to make sure she didn't bake!  She slept for almost an hour like that and I sat (in the shade) and stitched!  

After Lyla left on Sunday morning, Jude, Jenna and I went to the saskatoon U-pick place a couple of minutes from here and picked a few saskatoons and bought a pie, etc.  Then we went to the Little Red River at Red Lodge campsite.  Lots of people floating on inner tubes and such.  It was nice to sit with my feet in the water watching these guys.

It sure was quiet when everyone was gone but I think Poppa was happy!  LOL  He can't take the craziness and does not have patience for the behaviour.  They will grow up and get better I'm sure.  

It's warming up out here....I'm on the deck and the sun is coming up and over the trees.  Perfect temperature out here now but it's to get to 29C which will be 45C on this deck!!  Best get this house cleaned...and find all the toys under the furniture!  We have sewing days this week and I get my nails done tomorrow!

Storms, Stitching, Shopping and Friends

Seems to be storm season around here.  Last Friday we were coming home from Olds and this arrived...it was much darker in person.  There were severe thunderstorm warnings and even a tornado watch!  Thankfully, we only got wind and rain at our place...whew!

I have been lucky enough to visit a few friends this last week...which meant some shopping....and I had done some online shopping beforehand too!  This arrived in the mail on Friday and thankfully our post office is open Saturday mornings so I went in to pick it up....

Hubby has been worried about a couple of trees close to our garage and house that had a bit of a lean to them....and with this being storm season he wanted to get them down before they came down on their own.  A few years ago this man cut his knee open while chain sawing.....without the proper safety attire and here he is...shorts and running shoes! 😳  Everything worked out okay this time.

A picture of one of my happy places....I don't seem to go out there when the solar lights are on though.  😂 Maybe this weekend. 😃🔥

On Sunday my friend Pam arrived from our old home town for a visit!  It was WONDERFUL!!!!  We talked and shopped and talked while shopping and stitched and talked while stitching and she has me hooked on English paper piecing hexagons!!!!!  

I used a charm pack and some 2" hexie papers I bought. Now I am stitching them into rows and might appliqué them onto a bit piece of wool or????

I'd LOVE to do something like this one day.....this picture and project is in an issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine.....I'll have to find it in my collection!

A(nother) mug I bought from Peaceful Patch Quilt Shoppe in Blackfalds when Pam and I went there on Monday......a great shop!

And here's Ms Molly!  It's a good thing Pam is a cat lover as Molly was all over her...and in her bags and climbing up her legs!  She's relaxing on my swing chair....before the thunderclouds rolled in.  So far only rumblings and a grey sky...no rain yet!  Oh spoke too soon!  I think we are getting a sprinkle.

So tomorrow I have a hair appointment and I will get some groceries.  I think all the kids and grandkids will be here for the weekend and will start arriving on Friday....yahooooooo!  

Sewing Day, Calgary and Some Stitching

A couple of gals I work with, along with their daughters and the wife of a teacher at our school, are all stitchers.  The wife arranges sewing days at their church hall and I went on Wednesday....after a day shopping at a sale at a shop I hadn't been to yet.  Beaver Creek Mercantile.  I went with Diane (a co-worker) and at first I really wasn't finding much....I was trying to be good but......then I walked around again and again!  Anyway........here are some of the gals sewing, chatting, crocheting....it was a great day!

The sunset on the way home....I took this while stopped at a stop sign.  👍

I did finish this at sewing and gave it to my friend Sue yesterday while in Calgary.  It was her birthday in June.....the colors are a bit nicer than this picture.  (I think anyway):

I also made her one of these pincushions: 

The pattern is free from Farmhouse Wool and Cotton Club on Facebook.

I am sitting outside stitching on another wool project enjoying the sun/heat.  We have severe thunderstorm watches for our area and there was even talk of a tornado!  I am sure hoping they are wrong.....and about the hail too.  😩  We certainly do not need either!  It was likely this time last year we got the tennis ball sized hail.......maybe we won't be staying here long if this is typical weather for this area..................

Almost too hot on the deck....time to find some shade!

Enjoying Those Lazy Days of Summer

Oh summer time!!!  I love the lazy days......not sure what I would do if I had a job outside the school....it would kill me to have to go to work when the weather is warm and sunny.  I love having time to enjoy natures beauty....these flowers were just out in our bushes.  I picked them yesterday and they are still nice this morning!

On Saturday Hubby and I took our granddaughter to our grandsons birthday party.  He turned 2 yesterday.  It was a bit crazy and chaotic....lots of kids there...most were older.....but it was fun!!  Here are our two precious grand babies.....growing up way too fast but getting to be so much fun!

Jude went running down the sidewalk waving goodbye at us as we drove down his street.  I wanted to get out and stay!!!!  It was soooooooo cute!!!  I think they are coming down in a couple of weeks for a nice visit.  I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

And so this little monkey stayed overnight another night at Gammy and Papa's!  She was so good at the party! Here she is trying on some shoes a little too big for her yet!  LOL   

We drove her home to Calgary yesterday, stopped in Cochrane for lunch and then came home and took garbage to the dump.  It was such a nice day....I couldn't waste it by being inside so sat out and read and stitched.....ahhhhhh.  Again, those lazy days of summer. (and not getting anything done!)

I am sitting here this morning looking at my long "wishful thinking" list and wondering what I will actually accomplish this summer.  My friend Pam is coming for a visit and arrives Sunday night and I know she won't care if my windows are washed or my furniture is shampooed.  I can't wait for her visit!  I'm sure we will put on some miles visiting a few quilt shops and thrift stores around the area!!!  Yippee! A partner in crime!!!!!!  

A Year Has Passed

Last year today we left our beautiful home in a wonderful neighbourhood in High River to move here.....back to the bush!  We have done a lot of work out here but there is still a lot to do.....some of which is on my long Wishful Thinking List for the summer!  There are many good things about this move and there are some things I miss about where we were before.

Good Things:

-  Hubby can come home every night.  He leaves early in the morning and doesn't get home really early in the evening as he has a 45 minute commute each way but I think he loves the fact he is home with us (me and his 4 legged family!) sleeping in his own bed every night of the week.  

-  We LOVE being back in the country.  We can sit outside and not have the dogs bark at everyone who walks by and we don't have to see or have a conversation with everyone either.  😜 (not that we are anti-social people....but sometimes a person needs quiet time...but outside....alone.)  I am sitting on our deck right now and there is no one around me.  Maybe a deer....then the dogs will bark.

-  Smaller house means less housework!  👍

-  Financially a smaller mortgage payment and less property taxes.

- we do have nice 'neighbours' who are close but not too close and we don't look into their backyards.

- The dogs are happier!

-  I am okay with getting my kitten here and she loves it outside....she would never be able to go outside in High River.

- a job at a school I love with staff I love.

Things I Miss:

-  friends (although I am making new ones....they just aren't as close by to pop in for coffee or go for a walk with)  and our stitching nights.

-  Our old neighbourhood filled with amazing people!

- Amenities in High River and Okotoks

- Our spacious home.

Oh but it's ALL good!  Our kids like it here better....more to do when they visit and to be able to have a fire and sit around outside and visit....more comfortably.  The grandkids will make good memories here too.  

Speaking of grandkids, this one was all ready to go dancing at her other grandparents' lake community on Canada Day weekend!  (candy in her mouth from the parade earlier in the day!!)  I guess she wasn't as shy this year and had a great time!!

We go to our grandsons 2nd birthday party on Saturday!  We are bringing the granddaughter too.  Should be fun!!

Sunday I was sitting out here on the deck and heard rumbling to the north.  Black clouds there, blue skies to the south.  Within minutes we had clouds too and then this happened:

DAMN hail!!!!!  The garden looks a bit worse for wear and a few of my flowers are a bit beat up but I was able to get the planters undercover to safety.  Then later on, after we shovelled (yep there was that much!!!!) and it was all basically gone, the rain came and went and I captured this: 

I LOVE rainbows and miss seeing them off the front veranda at our place in High Prairie.  We had the perfect view there.

Look at this sign I bought for the bathroom!!  Prosthetic limbs!!!!  HAHAHAHA 😆

Yesterday morning when I was having my coffee, I looked out and saw this little guy enjoying the bird seed.  We have both squirrels and chipmunks here.  🐿

Hubby has been making me walk....and I am grateful.....but this "incline" is at the halfway point and the first time we did it I almost died....really I'm sure I did!  I thought my heart was going to vacate my chest cavity!!!!  It doesn't look like much until you are doing it.

You could almost roll down the decline!  That would be fun except for the gravel......

I am TRYING to watch what I eat but of course when I was starving yesterday I bought mini Wunderbars and mini Caramilks......damn it!  Along with the walking and all the fruit and vegetables we bought when we got groceries I have no excuse.  I want to feel and look better so here's to will power!!🍻