WELCOMING THE SEASON

I loaded, quilted and added the binding so that I could hang up the new Autumn front porch wall hanging.  The other quilt was just too small for the area.  This is 40' x 48" which fits much better.

And it still looks good with the other decorations.

I'm feeling better about the whole scene now!

The hibiscus is blooming happily

 and it blends well with the color theme!

I even had a visit by a little butterfly 

while I was taking the above photo! 

FRONT PORCH SPIFFING UP

Slowly but surely, I am getting some decorations

 for Fall out on the front porch.

Yesterday, I had fun stuffing the bench cushions

 into their new coverings!

But it was worth it in the end!

Both benches are finished and I even had enough for some pillows!  I have to make the second one for the first bench 

but I ran out of steam!

Here is something that has done a lot of growing in the last month--a golden orb spinner!  His legs cover about 2+" --he has a beautiful web.  She does NOT reside on the front porch but is outside my bedroom window so I have a good view of her!

 I couldn't get the angle and the light right to see her web

 but I will try again soon!

 

READY FOR FALL

Just because I hate to be beaten by something, I finished the wall hanging again! lol  I quilted it better by quilting it and then trimming and doing a binding.  Now it lays flat!  And the different oranges are lined up the way I planned!  So there!

I also put together a second metal bench on my front porch.  Next, I will be working on the cushions for this one and the first bench I already have.  

And my friend, Mary, brought me a Fall panel which now measures 36" x 40". I added a beautiful red/gold leaf print for the borders and I will quilt this on the frame when I finish the QOV quilt-which I did NOT finish in time for the Sew Day tomorrow.  It happens!  But I am packed and will attempt to go.  I have found that if I don't eat 'real' food, my stomach stays calm.  Toast and bananas get boring by day four....

 

IN THE STUDIO

A friend came over yesterday with an alteration project 

and once I set her on the right course, I tried to do a bit of cutting out using the Accuquilt and some Autumn fabrics.

I was able to cut out some small tumbling blocks which will eventually form a table runner!

 

BOTTLED UP

I did a craft yesterday morning!  I cleaned the bottle then stuffed it with 'leaves' and a cork topped fairy lights.

I had cut the white vinyl lettering, peeled back the waste

 and pulled out all of the leftover bits.

I then placed the transfer tape on top 

so I could position it on the bottle!

And the best part is putting it on the window ledge!

 

WELCOME TO OCTOBER!

I wanted to have this sign done before I had become sick but things don't always go according to our plans.  I had the letters cut out on the Cricut and the sign all cut out and painted.  Over the last few days, I have worked to measure and place the letters and to decorate the top of the sign.

I had hoped to finish it for yesterday, October 1st, but I didn't realize how much time I would have to be upright to accomplish that task!!!  Being upright means my heart races and my breath comes fast like I'm in labor. 

 I see the surgeon today and am looking forward to hearing what he has to say about my recovery. I think the easy part has been healing after the appendectomy, the septic shock recovery is what is messing with me.  If you are interested, here is a good overview of what septic shock is medically.

 

A BIT OF FRAME WORK

One quilt finished and the second one is well on its way.  I am doing this one with a medium blue since the first one had read thread.  

This tree is straight out back from the house and it gives a beautiful color every year!  Very unusual for us to enjoy trees with color until well into December.

This is the kind of color we see in the trees this time of year! lol  Soon we will be enjoying eating them.  (January)

 

Beautiful Weather

 

 Signs of Autumn...maple trees know it is time to allow a color change!

 The fields are full of great hay bales and the grass still grows for the December cutting, too.

 And for a Friday Feline--Lena greets me by sitting and casting a shadow from the eastern window!

Another dishcloth has been knitted....in a basket weave this time.

I still can't find any of the Peaches n Cream pinks so I bought this instead--have any of you tried it?

Lion Brand has really done a push into several new lines of yarn.

Organizing 100 years ago

 This beautiful piece of ladies' furniture was my grandmother's.

 I lovingly polished it today to bring out the luster in the wood-

if you were this old, you would be thirsty, too!

 Look at the details on this top!  

 She kept her latest quilting projects inside;  she loved to sew them by hand.

I use plastic bins but this one sure does outclass them by a mile!

See the littlest bit of yellows and orange--this is in the poplar tree by my sister's home, 

right next door. 

 I think these are a relative of the aspens out west!

Autumn Leaf

I searched hard to find a colored leaf....

this one matches my Fall socks, though.

My Dad says it is too early because they haven't had a frost yet.

He's probably right about these things.

But it is the last day of September!

Fall's Progress

 I missed the peak color of this tree for a picture!  

It was golden last week-you will have to settle for this russet! 

 It is our only tree that colors and looses its leaves with the northern states!

Which is a perfect match to the Flor that is coming along nicely!

I have joined the sleeves to the body and started the yoke.

It takes a goodly amount of time to make a round but with each decrease round, 

I love 8 stitches!  

 If you look to the left way in the back, it is our line of citrus trees.  

 They are waiting for our crispy nights to come along so they will ripen!

These are Ruby Red Grapefruits-my personal favorites!

They will be ready in December and January-yippee!

 Another Fall harvest are the Loofah plants which Bill accidentally found out love to climb trees!

The blooms are pretty and they will just keep growing until the first frost stops them.

 Look carefully to see them throughout these trees-20' high on this tree!

 And this one.  The loofa will be ready to pick and dry and bleach in November;

Thanksgiving time works best.

 While we take the trip to our neighbors to care for her pets, Ethan likes to drive his own golf cart!

He 'leads' the way by speeding ahead and waiting for us to catch up!

And in case the other picture wasn't enough for you-

here is Mrs. Argiope (or orb weaver to her friends!) in a close-up!

Humility Block!

 Ahhh, the last row on the quilt on the frame and I noted this!

Since I had already worked all around the block, I will consider it my 'humility block'

 and embrace the mistake!  (do you see it?!)  

It has been an enjoyable top to quilt;  I hope to finish it today!

 I managed to piece all of the blocks on the wall so far!

I'm hoping to manage several more since all the pieces are finally cut out!

 Look how Fall-ish the yard it beginning to look!

The humidity has let go and the weather is so perfect!  

It was such a treat to putter outside this morning and not melt while doing so!

The swallowtails agree!

Antsy for Fall

 I woke up *early and celebrated turning the calendar to  September

 by casting on the Autumn colored yarn I dyed back in June!

I am knitting a pair of socks in this pattern from KnitPicks which is appropriate

well, except they had written it for last October and I am knitting it for September but let's not get hung up on the minor details! 

I have still found my favorite row counter to be these-the ones on the right!   

 Dark chocolate, no less!

(IOU a better pic soon of the sock because this post massacres the color horribly!)

*early as in midnight--a bad dream awakened me after several hours sleep which then made it difficult to get back to sleep because my body thought it was only a nap.
Hence the poor lighting for a picture, etc.)

Bill's surgery went fine and he is doing well, thank you for all the well wishes and good thoughts!