It's HOT

To see what other quilters are up, go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I got to spend some time this past week with my quilt friends at a three-day retreat.  We have use of a lovely community building with a great kitchen and lots of room to spread out. 

We lock our belongings in each night and sew all day.

There were lots of projects being worked on. It's so fun the see all the projects laid out on the floor.

We are to have excessive heat for the next couple of days. I have been trying to clean up my flower beds, but I will be inside during these hot days.

Most of this will be gone. As of yesterday, I got a third of this area dug out. These are daylilies. They grow wild in the ditches around here. I don't mind them, but they are taking over this area. There are some perennials in there that I want to save so these have to go. There are several more patches around my house and those will stay.

There are some beautiful things blooming in spite of the heat.

The extra rain we have gotten has been nice.

The apple tree has tiny apples.

The raised bed gardens are doing great this year; the best they have ever done.

Onions and carrots.

Cucumbers.

Beans and another variety of cucumbers.

Radishes and a cherry tomato.

I am keeping them covered with a mesh-like cover to protect them from the wind. I have left the covers loose around the bottom so pollinators can still get in.

And, the crazy cat is still entertaining us!

Husband discovered a toy hidden in that boot when he went to put it on.

He likes all my quilts.

Usually, when he lies on the back of my chair he has to be touching me somehow.

Stay safe and well.

Happy quilting!

Flowers and cat and a quilt

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I'll show the quilt first in case anyone is not interested in the flowers or the cat.

This quilt is done. 

The pattern is Crimson Poppy by Quiltworx.

This print is used in the front but is on a smaller scale. I found it just as I was finishing up the piecing. I love it!

The quilting design is an edge-2-edge design called Power Daisy by Linda V. Taylor. The quilting was done using Connecting Threads Essential in color Coral Reef. (This is a little bit funny to me because I made a Coral Reef quilt! It isn't quilted yet, though.)

Now on to the flowers. I really enjoy walking around my yard and seeing all the flowers. The weeds, not so much. 

Allium

Clematis

Yellow Iris. There were purple ones, too, but I can't find the pics I took.

I have common lilacs.

And, Miss Kim lilacs that bloom a week or two after the common lilacs.

I have dark pink and white peonies. 

Unfortunately, the wind destroyed these in a matter of days.

I love the bright orange poppies, but again, the wind destroyed them quickly.

This rose turns more yellow with pink edges as it opens.

Yellow roses are new this year.

Spiderwort grows wild in the ditches around here. 

They look great with this peony.

Sweet William buds.

This Weigela bush was beautiful this year.

I am working really hard on cleaning up my beds this year. Now that I am retired I have more time, but my body isn't happy about it. I usually spend a few hours in the morning pulling weeds while the temperature is still somewhat cool.

I'm working on a path from the driveway to the front steps. That has involved lots of weeding, digging, and placing bricks and mulch. I'm tired. And, I'm not done yet. I will be making a path that goes off to the left as you can see in the photo above. I know I won't get everything on my list done this year, but I will keep working on it.

Now, for the cat.

Memorial Day weekend will never be the same for my family. Five years ago my brother was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle home from work. Every year since a blood drive has been held in his memory.

It won't bring him back, but maybe this one small thing will help someone else.

Stay safe and well.

Happy quilting.