August Goal Report and HQAL

August has come and gone as one big blur. In fact, that pretty much describes my whole summer. 

Yet I'm not discouraged. My sewing/stitching/quilting projects suffered in August. Some things got done, some progressed, others were left by the way side for their eventual time in the future. Disappointing that I couldn't keep up, but other things did get their turn to shine.

I'm spending more time outside and the yard and gardens are finally showing appreciation. I'm finding the more I do, the more I want to do and the better it looks.

Fence borders are cleaned up and looking much healthier.

Flower beds are healthier and much more inviting.

The herb garden is also thriving. It is so nice to be able to go out and pick fresh herbs to use with dinner.

A honey bee I saved from drowning. He was still covered in pollen when I fished him out of the dogs' water bucket in the back yard. God's timing is perfect !!!!

We've had some rain and even storms, but mostly August has been very pleasant.

The full moon didn't disappoint either. 

And all the pups are enjoying the time in the yard as well.

I've made the difficult decision to let one of my flower beds go. I'm giving in to the grass and going to stop using all my energy to try and keep it clean and maintained. I've drawn up some tentative plans where to move plants. 

Now that it's September, I'm going to start moving the plants I want to keep and have room for to the other gardens. My goal is to spend 30 minutes each morning working on it. By the end of the month, it should all be completely moved and looking good. Here's hoping everything survives the move.

I'm doing a joint post. It's time for new goals for September, a recap of August and HQAL. Follow the link to see what everyone else got up to the last three weeks.

 Here goes . . . 

1.  UFO Challenge #1
Busy Bee
- assess status
- complete top assembly

Absolutely no progress. This is the first month all year that I haven't worked on my UFO goal. I got side-tracked with another project. More on that below :)

2. 12 Things Challenge #1
Sweet Land of Liberty
- Complete Unit 1 
Another project that got left by the way side due to a distraction . . . 

3.  "Believe" Block #7

Applique the pieces

Not only did block 7 get done, but so did 8. Now I'm waiting for 9 to arrive in the mailbox.

 

4. "Girls Getaway"
 block 4
- continue stitching, dead line is this month

DONE

5. Baby Quilt

- choose fabric
-make quilt

DONE

 

Front and back of a quilt for a baby boy. It's almost reversible :) I love using what I have and seeing it turn out cute and pleasing to the eye :)

6. Doll Quilt/Gown
Make one more of each

DONE

 

7. "Gingerbread Village"
Stitch/assemble block #5

No progress here, either. I'm starting to get overwhelmed with projects, so I'm not sure how far behind I've fallen on this project. 

8. My Country Week (Cheri Payne)

- Draw off, cut out blocks 
- Begin assembling "Monday, Tuesday" blocks

DONE - all seven blocks are ready for embroidery

 

9. JoAnn's BOM 
- assemble next block/November
And this is the culprit of my distraction!!
Not only did I get November (block 11) done, but December (block 12) also.

This was a kit from JoAnn's from 1997. Unfortunately, I didn't work on it when I purchased it. Most of the fabrics, if not all, are no longer available. The other problem I was having is that none of the blocks made up to the correct size of 12.5 inches square, so I had to add fabric to bring them all up to size. Having done that, the rows are in the process of being assembled. All this extra work has been time consuming and now I just want it done. I think I might even like it by that time.

10. 15 minute stitch challenge

I'm probably as 95 - 98 % compliant at this by now. There have been days that I just didn't want to do anything, let along think about what I was stitching. I'm still very pleased with how much time I do spend.

11. Finish quilting, binding dinosaur quilt

DONE, and being delivered this week.

The month didn't feel as positive as this report, so I'm glad to have done as well as I did, even though some projects didn't even get looked at. They will get their time. I keep reminding myself that I can't do everything, I can only do what I do well. And that's more important.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Heal me, LORD, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for you are the one I praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 NIVUK

HQAL - August 18, 2019

How does three weeks fly by so quickly ? ! ?

To see what everyone else in the group has accomplished, you can check them out here.

As for me . . . 

 

My Vintage Kitchen

I'm still behind by one block that was published this week. I did get blocks two and three caught up.

If you like it and haven't already started them, it's not too late. They are being offered free of charge by Jenny of Elefantz. You are linked above, head on over :)

 

I started a new wall hanging a week or so ago. This one is through a Facebook group that honors the memory of Cheri Payne. These have all been prepped and are ready to be hand appliqued. The design is called My Country Week.

Another new project, begun recently.

This is another Cheri Payne design. Garden Angel. I embroidered the vine last night. The buttons I sewed on about a week ago. The last step is to finish her wings. I had to order cotton garden gloves because I couldn't find them locally. The need to be "tea" dyed, but I'm using coffee instead because it was readily available. So hopefully, she'll be done this week.

 

And finally, some quilts. In order, Baby Boy, Doll and the dinosaurs for my youngest great nephew . . . just because.

These were all done by machine except for the final binding. All fun, happy projects.

Hope you have all enjoyed your three weeks of projects. I'm going to head over and see how everyone else is doing.

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 NIVUK

Mildly, Pleasant August

The sun on my face . . . 

Locusts chirping . . .

A warm breeze blowing . . .

Dogs running and barking . . . 

Temps in the low 80s . . .

It is the perfect summer.

They are usually running and barking. We have been spending more time outside just enjoying all the beauty and serenity of the lower temperatures and less humidity. It really has been a beautiful couple of weeks. Very uncommon for our typical Augusts. And I'm not complaining.

The only one who is usually moving around is Rocky. He interrupted our routine this past week with an unplanned visit and follow up visit to the vet. Seems he had an ear infection and upper respiratory infection. The follow up got him some allergy medication, since the antibiotics didn't seem to clear everything up. Keeping an eye on him. For the most part he is fine, running, playing, eating . . . all the normal behaviors.

The garden continues to show its appreciation of my attention the last month and produce blooms. The little lavender flower is the second bloom of the season for these plants. When the first blooms are finished and the leaves fall all over, I have discovered that by cutting them back, they will regrow and bloom again. Definitely worth the extra effort.

This "teacup" rose never disappoints me with the variety of color and blooms. It still amazes me that it will produce two different shades of pink blooms on the same bush. One this pretty soft pink and one a really dark pink. I just love it.

And I've finally decided to give up the large front garden. I just can't get ahead of the weeds and have decided it's not worth fighting over.

I'm planning the two smaller gardens to take the overflow and salvage what can be saved. Next spring I'll add new perennials and a tomato plant or two, some peppers. The size and location make these two smaller gardens easier to care for and manage. I can then focus on maintenance instead of feeling like I have to reinvent the wheel every time I go out in the garden. I don't mind the maintenance as long as I feel I have something to enjoy and not just pulling weeds.

We got some much needed rain in the form of thunder storms both Saturday and Sunday. 

It was as vicious as the clouds look. We got through it soaked, otherwise unscathed.

A beautiful moon-rise while I waited for Newton to get out of work.

* * * * * 

The week hasn't just been about the garden, weather and Rocky. I did manage to get some sewing done. It took all week, but they are finished.

 

Baby Boy Quilt

I had enough fabric leftover from the two great nephews' quilts to make this. That's lots of bang for my buck !!! Pajamas and three different size quilts. It feels really good to be this frugal and conscientious about using what I have.

Doll Quilt - another pretty little quilt from the donations.

I haven't been as productive as I have been in past months, but every little bit helps. And since I haven't been able to post there has been a little more productivity.

 

 

My Country Week by Cheri Payne

I was introduced to the Facebook Group by my dear friend, Susan. I have enjoyed being part of this group and there is no shortage of projects on the horizon :)

She's all done but for her wings. I stitched the vine through the button "flowers" Saturday evening. I got the cotton gloves that will be her wings on Saturday. I tried finding them locally, unsuccessfully, so I had to order them.

I'm coffee dying them. I usually only drink tea in the winter and wasn't going to make it for this. I had the coffee, so I used it up. Next step, do some embroidery on them and get them attached and she will be done.

My Vintage Kitchen

 

I caught these cuties up this week. I'm still one behind, but it was just published and I hope to work on that this week.

It's not too late to join if you are interested. Jenny of Elefantz has offered them free of charge. There are nine total.

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

Thanks for stopping by.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34 NIVUK

August Goals

The second week of August is about to begin and I forgot to post my goals for August. Which ends up being okay because the first week was pretty unproductive, except for finishing the binding on the dinosaur quilt.

Here are my goals:

1.  UFO Challenge #1
Busy Bee

- assess status
- complete top assembly

2. 12 Things Challenge #1
Sweet Land of Liberty

- Complete Unit 1

3.  "Believe" Block #7

Applique the pieces

4. "Girls Getaway"

 block 4
- continue stitching, dead line is this month

5. Baby Quilt

- choose fabric
-make quilt

6. Doll Quilt/Gown
Make one more of each

7. "Gingerbread Village"

Stitch/assemble block #5


8. My Country Week (Cheri Payne)

- Draw off, cut out blocks 
- Begin assembling "Monday, Tuesday" blocks


9. JoAnn's BOM 
- assemble next block/November


10. 15 minute stitch challenge

11. Finish quilting, binding dinosaur quilt
DONE

Thanks for stopping by,

Wishing you a day filled with the things that make and keep you happy.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

Matthew 8:10 NIVUK