Excitement

There was a helluva thunderstorm last week.  We took the dogs out to the side yard and watched the clouds swirl, and the sky turn to a sickening yellow gray.  It looked like scene from Wicked. 
Amidst our frolicking, and oohing and aaahing, lightning struck very close (I do not recommend you frolic in a thunderstorm unless you have very good life insurance and a change of underpants), followed by the loudest thunderclap I have ever witnessed.  My ears are still ringing.
We practically tripped over each other running for the back door, the dogs way ahead of us.  Big dog sailed like superman into the pool (weird), little dog hit the screen door running (no time to check if it's open when your life's in danger) and bounced back 4 feet. Safely inside, we began talking loudly all at once, excited to still be alive. We watched the storm for another 10 minutes, before it moved quickly to the next county.
That was my excitement for the week.  Get a life right?

The first cold/flu bug of the season has arrived, and each of us came down with it within 2 days of the person before them. With so much coughing and nose blowing and moaning, our house sounds like a hospital ward.  Since I was last to be infected, I was beginning to feel a bit smug.  Look at me, and my stellar immune system, I thought.  I'm not going to get this!  Ha!  I ended up with bronchitis and a sinus infection for which I was given an antibiotic that doesn't like me (adverse reaction) and switched out to another one which doesn't feel like it's doing anything but screwing with my digestion. So, I haven't accomplished much this week, except pushing the vacuum around one day, and laying on the couch hand quilting. Thank goodness I had something portable to work on.

I sewed the block together by hand, then attached the borders and binding by machine, followed by hand quilting.  That's my kind of excitement.

Made from scratch

This is my third attempt at making a sourdough starter from scratch.  By just mixing flour and water in equal parts every day and leaving it out on the counter, you should be able to capture the wild yeasts in the air and have the makings of fresh bread without using commercial store bought yeast.
I don't know what's happening in my kitchen, but it ain't bread.  So I'm going to keep trying until I nail it.  The little bubbles you see in the second picture means the yeast is active.  My last batch had bubbles too, but I probably got overly excited at the bubble sighting and used the starter too early. My bread loaf didn't rise worth a darn and could have been used instead as a weapon or door stop.  A friend of mine fed her starter for several weeks before making bread (whoops! I only waited a week!)  I'm going to have to find some patience and just feed the little yeasty beasties for a while longer.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

The nosegay block pattern above is something I have been meaning to try since last year.   I copied the templates from here, glued them to thin cardboard, traced them onto the back of the fabric and then cut everything out with scissors.  Those scary Y seams aren't going to intimidate me, no sir.  Even though it's a slower pace, sewing them by hand makes me feel like I have more control and I like how it's turning out so far. 
Sourdough bread and quilt blocks from scratch.  It doesn't get much slower than that.

p.s. Thanks for the kind thoughts about my Dad.  He's home from the hospital and back to his usual shenanagins.  Whew!

A few things

I figured I better pop in with an update since I haven't been around lately. I've been going to physical therapy 2 times per week for a low back issue that's working it's way down to my foot.  I haven't been able to go on my walks for a while now and it puts me into a funk. I know it's important to keep up my appointments, (and it's helping a lot!!) but it sure sucks time out of my day.  Also, my dad is in the hospital with an infection of some kind, so there's an element of worry floating about.  As a result I don't feel very creative lately.  I open the door to my sewing room, throw something on the cutting table, close the door behind me.  Ugh.
A few things though, helped improve my mood.


 I received some yarn in the mail for a wrap I have been dreaming about for a while now.  It's an alpaca, rayon blend (Berroco Folio) which feels amazingly soft against the skin.

The first part of the pattern is a mind numbing 22 inches of single crochet.  Just the kind of project where you set yourself on auto-pilot and hook away while watching baseball games and taped episodes of Property Brothers.  Perfect.

Then my new cookbook arrived.

 Lots of fresh simple ingredients and everything made from scratch.  The book is organized by seasons so you can cook with what is available during summer, fall, etc.  There is also an ongoing commentary in the side bars about the authors' life on her farm, so it makes for a very enjoyable read.

morning glories sharing sun with the cantaloupes in my garden

You will find ideas for cooking with all those great fruits and veggies you grow in your backyard (or buy at the farm stand), like carrots, kale, butternut squash, corn, beets, rhubarb and berries.  Recipes for paella, Thai shrimp, pot roast, molasses cookies and a tomato tart are on my list of things to make.
Oh yeah.  Feeling better already.

This small grove of Redwood trees is at the side of our property.  I was walking around checking it out yesterday, because we have had a family of 7 raccoons (!!!) and 2 feral cats hanging around the house and in the garage.  But all I found was this...

I think it's a Robin's nest.  It fell from the tree and didn't even break apart! I love how it blends right in like it's always been there.  I almost stepped on it!
Thanks to the birds for sharing their gift.
And thank you for visiting! 

September

I dug out an old crochet blanket WIP the other day and added more blocks.  I have four (!!) crochet blankets on the go, in various states of completion, and this one seemed as good as any to work on.

Still not feeling the quilting love.  Guess I'm a bit burned out. And September is here with all it's seasonal changes so I'm distracted.  Here's what I notice about September...

I want to crochet something warm and cuddly

Noisy Canadian geese flying overhead

Baseball and football on television at the same time

No one is interested in swimming in the pool lately except the dog

The leaves are raining down from the willow tree in the front yard reminding me to rake

Halloween candy is on display at the supermarket

The grasses and fields are dry.  Farm equipment stirs up dust in the air while harvesting wine grapes and the last of the tomatoes

The nights and early mornings are cooler so little dogs need their hoodies

He has black whiskers on one side and white on the other. Cute eh?

I feel like baking

Irish soda bread, recipe here.  Tim thought it was a giant scone.  Don't do what I did and substitute half the white flour with spelt flour.  It was really good, but too heavy.  Like, I could have used it as a stone on the curling rink, heavy.  All it needs is a handle.  But yummy with jam.  And tea.
 
Summer is leaving.  I can run the oven without breaking a sweat, work on wool blankets and drink hot tea in the afternoons.
Oh yeah, I love September.