Friday Finishes!

It seems like I have less time to do some things but more time to relax at night and work on projects. This week was a new stitchery by Kathy Schmitz. I got an idea to try something different and made an egg shape to put it on.

It was fun to make and I love how it came out. The egg is 9" tall so a nice size to display with my other Easter items. I used Gold Faber colored pencils to color it and thicker rug yarn for the edge.

I also had time to make up some Easter masks for the boys. I was hoping to find something more for boys, but Nick loves pretty colors and Alex doesn't care, so they will be fun to wear for the season.

Most of our time is spent at home for the doctors. Bill has surgery next week, so I am trying to organize my time so I have time for me and hopefully I will be able to get out by myself when the weather warms up. I do need my outdoor time and it won't be long before the birds come home from the south, so I can't wait to go back to areas where they nest.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and is doing well.

Friday Finish , family and Feathered Friends!

 

This week I finished a couple of things. I have projects I am still working on so hopefully a few more for next week. Winter is always a good time to create and a nice way to spend the cold winter days.

A new month and a new stitchery from Kathy Schmitz. This one seems a bit like the others she has done, so I decided to make some little sachets with it. I wasn't as neat with these, but something small to finish in a few days and I can always use more sachets in my stash areas.

I also made up more masks. A friend liked the ones I had sent as a gift and ordered some for work. She works in a yarn shop so I did a few with yarn and a few regular ones, so she can match them to the day. She will be sending me some roving from the wool she has, to spin yarn with. I also had some dog fabric that I wanted to use and did 3 ply, way too thick so a bit sloppily made. The planets are for Nick of course, he loves glitter. The hearts I made to sell and they went, the minute I showed them on Facebook. One I made for me, with a satin lining.

We also spent a few hours with the boys. With the cold, it is hard to take them out for the day. We like to ride and explore and they get bored. So, we went to their house to visit and then took them out for milkshakes and a ride to the eagle lake. Unfortunately the eagles were not out, so they didn't get to see them, but Alex had to get out and play on the bouncy ride, they had at the beach.

Nick has a pet, if you could call it that, lol. He took it out to show me, how it comes out of its shell when he holds it. 

And I made a new friend. He was sitting in a tree and I expected him to take off when I came out, but he stayed, even when I walked up to him. I think he was just taking a break and when I came out again, with Bean, he sat and watched Bean as he ran around the yard.

He also gave me a show while he preened and puffed up his feathers. Puffing up like this, keeps them warmer in the winter. I feel blessed that I was able to enjoy seeing him and getting such wonderful photos of him. I hope you all had a wonderful week, and have a wonderful weekend. May you all be blessed with a little joy each day and good health in your household.

Friday Finish and Feathered Friends!

 

This week I finished my newest stitchery. The design was a freebie offered by Deborah Cade on Facebook. I love coloring in the design but I do wish I had more control over blending, was hoping to make it look more like a water colored piece. I also notice that red is a color that bleeds, no matter the medium, so I have to be careful when using reds since I have to damp it down to get rid of the blue lines.

I added a border and happy how it came out, something cheerful to chase away the winter blues. The design can be found on the Facebook group, Prim Folk Art Quilts and Projects.

And on the birding front, I finally got a chance to see the eagles in action. Unfortunately they were in the middle of the lake on a sandbar, so I was out of zoom range, but was able to catch them mating.

And when the male took off, I was able to get a closer shot as he flew by.

I enjoy birding and watching them in my backyard, but it is getting too cold to stay out for long. Today I watched from the window and spotted this young, female, Downy Woodpecker as she rested from the winds and then went a meal at the suet.

And sitting on the opposite side of the porch was this White Bellied Nuthatch. The wind was gusting and a few times they almost lost their grip, its a good thing they have those sharp talons.

And finally I finished a few more masks. A friend liked the ones I had sent her and wanted more, so I made a few before I found out that she wears bright and busy patterns, so I need to find something that is more toned down to match her outfits. 

I hope you all had a wonderful week and fun plans for the weekend. I am always on the go lately, so it is nice to be stuck inside, working on projects.

Friday Finish!

 

Another week zipped by and I didn't get enough done, that seems to be the norm for me, these days. But, I just go with the flow and work on things for fun and eventually I will get to organizing and redoing my room so I can get back to my quilting.

This week I started a few projects and finished one. The design is a freebie offered, by the Old Tattered Flag. I thought it would be fun to try and wish I had added something to the bottom, but it does look nicer in person than in the photo. I will be starting gifts for next year and I also have so many things, that I think I may do some online selling this year.

And I practiced some ideas I had with the masks. I was trying to shorten the sewing time and amount by putting two steps together, but it shortened the masks, so they don't fit me right. They would fit nicely with woman, that have small noses, but mine is definitely too big. 

I took Nick to the fabric store a few weeks ago. I wanted to let him pick some fabric out and he wasn't interested in any of the fun prints, he kept going for the geometrics and strange prints, so I made him some with the squares that I had in my stash.

We got out a bit, last weekend. On Saturday I wanted to take a ride around a reservoir in Connecticut. We drive by all the time, but never around the backside. My instincts were right, no place to park or stop for a shot. But, we did find a nice park on the backside that had open water views, so maybe next time we can go again and catch the eagles.

We did get a nice walk in, nice paths through woods and along the water.

And fun things on the path, as well as an old graveyard nearby.

One thing we saw on the way down was lots of farms and lots of cows. Sometimes just a ride somewhere new and seeing new sights is all I need to lift my spirits.

On Sunday we spent some time at the beach. It was cold and the tide was just going out, but we enjoyed the fresh air and found a few treasures.

And on the home front, the birds are visiting every day. I finally caught a decent shot of the Blue Jay. 

And one of the female Cardinal. The Cardinals are shy, they feed from the side feeder, so hopefully they will come to the porch someday.

The week before Christmas

 I thought I would do an extra post this week, since we will be busy for the next few days and I may just put up some photos on Friday. I had some nice time out this week and started making masks for my niece who works at a vet's office.

I wish I had known they were all woman there, I wanted to get fabrics that anyone could wear and not too bright. The store had some beautiful fabrics for ladies, but she seems pleased with the ones I made up, so I will be working on more, so everyone has one.

We also got out for some rides and nature viewing. There are more Great Blue Herons this year and they stay during the winter. I spotted this guy in the marsh and just as I got out to get a shot, he flew further away, so I wasn't able to get a good close up.

At another area, I spotted two more, in a marsh. They look small since they are resting, but they are the same size as the ones above.

We sat at the Breeze way and watched the boats go by, and was treated to this seal, who popped up for a few minutes to lounge on his back. I always seem to spot them when they are moving away. 

And the most fun was watching these Common Eiders. They were fishing and the seagull was following them around. He tried with all his might to steal a crab, one had caught, but he was no match for the Eider.

And we got home in time to watch the boys go sledding, at the nearby school.  They loved sledding and it was a joy to see them having so much fun.

And at home, I am enjoying my feathered friends. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, and are able to spend it with family. May you be filled with the peace and love of the holiday spirt.

Friday Finish and Fun!

 

This week has been busy trying to get last minute things done. Christmas is getting closer and I wanted to finish some things and get packages out, so most of it got done. Just a few more things this weekend and then I will quit, I need some stress free time to enjoy the holidays this year.

I was able to make a pillow with an old block I had made. It was a fun design by Tiffany, I do miss her designs and wish she hadn't stopped designing.

I also made up masks with the Christmas fabric. A few more for the boys and the rest is being sent to family and some donations.

We were able to get out for the weekend after the rain stopped. We took a drive down to the ocean and enjoy the views. Of course I spotted a hawk, and he flew off but the seagulls are always easy to catch a shot of.

And just as we started to pull out, a seal popped up but didn't stay long enough for a good shot, but the seagulls were more cooperative.

We also enjoyed watching the ferry and fishing boats, as they came in and out of the channel. It is a great place to park and just relax.

And I always enjoy sitting on my porch and watching the birds that come to my feeder. A Dark Eyed Junco, a White Throated Sparrow and a White breasted Nuthatch. I heard a bang on the back slider and the Nuthatch was sitting there stunned. I watched it for a few minutes and it finally flew off with no problem, so glad it was ok.  I hope you all had a nice week and this posting, finds you healthy.

Friday Finish and Fun!

 

Another week has gone by and I feel like I just started. I was able to get a few things done this week, one was the stitchery by Kathy Schmitz. She offered it along with the design for the monthly club and I thought it was perfect for the sewing room.

I also made some more masks. Some extra for Bill since he is working and does the shopping, he can use at least two a day. The others are for my son, he is using Gaters and they do not really offer protection. He has a larger round face so the mens didn't fit him. I went up a size and used blue jean fabric on two and black broad cloth on the others, so we will see if they are big and stiff enough for him.

Last weekend we took all the boys out, my son wanted to go for a walk and we ended up tiring them all out with a hike at Barn Island, for 4 miles. 

On Sunday, Bill and I went to the Patchaug forest in Connecticut. We took a new trail that took us down some old fire roads, then a path through the woods to the overlook. The cabin is a shelter for hikers, nothing fancy but nice when you want to get off the ground.

We also took some short walks up paths on the other side, to see what they were like. I will definitely want to come back to the boardwalk when the flowers are in bloom. The long trail with the pines goes for miles, so we may try more of that path, the next time.

At home I have been enjoying the birds. I got a new feeder for them, so hopefully I can get clearer photos of them. It is one of the joys I can enjoy at home. A Tufted Titmouse, a red Breasted Nuthatch and a Downy Woodpecker.

And the leaves have fallen, which is Bean's favorite time. It is useless to rake with Bean around. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and stay safe and enjoy some adventures of your own.

Friday finishes and Fun!

 I have been working on a couple of projects that I am still working on, so the only finish I did, was some more masks for the family. I made the glow in the dark ghosts for the boys, something fun they can play in  as well as practical. Then I made matching kitties for me and the boys and they flags for Bill. I like the box style, even though it is tough to do a nice job on the ends, but they fit much better and not only can I breath in them, I can talk in them. That is nice for the boys, as well, since they can talk in the classroom without removing them.

I added a photo, wearing it, to show. you how it stays away from the face. It looks more pronounced from the side, but looks fine from the front.

On Saturday I sent Bill to the store to get me a new camera body. I told him the two choices and a list of questions to ask. Well, the store had no one that knew cameras so he went with the expensive one. I really wish I had more time to think on it, It is a nice camera, but more for a professional than for what I need. I do like how it syncs up with photoshop, so my edits are getting better, but it does seem like the photos run on the darker side. I guess I will just have to learn how to use this one, lol. The good news is, today I was looking at their website before Bill went up to take in the old one and mine was on sale, so Bill was able to get the discount taken off of our price, so I saved money. 

We decided to go to Fort Getty to walk and take some photos. It was dismal out, but with a little editing, I was able to brighten them up.

A picture of the lighthouse on Dutch Island.

A close up of the lighthouse. The photos have a higher resolution, so I am able to crop in closer and still retain most of the details.

And on the beach, I thought this scene was quintessential New England.

The next day we had plans but the boys wanted to play again, so we took them back to the island. They loved playing on the beach and Nick found more treasures than I did.

And all the boys had fun, just being boys. The campground is closed, so we had the place to ourselves, just a few visitors who come to walk around.

It was a wonderful weekend and I always find my greatest joy when we take the boys with us. I had taken a photo of Alex while he was walking further away and cropped his face for a close up. I was not trying for a portrait, but love how it came out, so I will practice more with portraits. I think that is one of the benefits of this camera, it can do nice portraits, so something new to learn.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find time to find your joys and happiness in these trying times.

Friday Finish and Fun!

 

This week I had more energy so I worked on some new masks. I had gotten some fun kids halloween fabrics so wanted to use them up, so I did a few for now and next week I will use up the fabrics. I saw a notice for someone looking for larger men's sizes so I let the local group page know that I had some and got a request from a lady who works at the school near me. She will stop by Monday to get hers and I will give her the extra kid masks so she can give them out to kids who need them. 

I like the 3D style, it is not hard to make, but the sides are thicker and I am trying to figure out how much I can trip to make them neater and easier to sew. The owl fabric was from Joannes, not as thick as the quilters cotton, I get from the shop. A fat quarter makes two adult and two kid's masks.

We got to get out and enjoy some time with the boys this weekend. We took them to a new place, Fort Shantuck in Connecticut, part of the Mohegan reservation. The park is free and has a pond with walks around the grounds. 

The boys loved exploring and we had a picnic by the pond.

The pond is filled with ducks and wildlife, a nice place to walk and relax at.

On Sunday we had a rest day, and lucked out with a spot with views of the bay. Bean gets to go with us and loved playing in the water and I even found some nice glass, hiding under the rocks.

At home I have been enjoying the birds and was surprised when I spotted this guy watching for mice near the kayak rack. It is a juvenile Cooper's hawk.

I love having the suet on the porch, the Downy Woodpeckers love it and are getting used to me, sitting there. This is the male, I have two males and two females that visit.

And here is a female, you can see her feet and why they can climb up and down trees so well. I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of my week and I hope that you are all safe and healthy and enjoy visiting places in your own area.