163 I Like Thursday Posts

 Welcome to my 163rd I like Thursday post.  Thank you to LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color for encouraging us to find things we like/and or love and to share during the week.  Seem like the weeks are flying by lately.  Work, gardening, the cold weather, just trying to keep up with house keeping, laundry, cooking, the chickens, the cats and life is full. 

All the cats have been spayed or neutered so they are all outside now.  It is kind of funny that they have staked out their specific territories.  

Ashes likes the barn door.  She guards that territory to make sure that the Rogue Chicken doesn't go in and eat the cat food.  

Haze likes the area by the other barn and Roscoe the pigs pen.

You can see haze near the truck. 

Girl cat guards the back porch and stairs.  Bobbin is tentative to head down the steps because she never knows if girl cat is going to grab her from underneath.  

Then there is boy. He is a brute.  He is also the worst feral cat ever!  He loves to sit on your lap, even though he doesn't seen to understand that he should retract his claws.  

I decided I wanted to work on a different project so I went on a hunt for my black thread.  I found it.  Covered in Bobbin hair.  Seriously I wonder how my dog can have any hair left on her body with as much as she leaves behind.

I finally had a finish, of sorts.  I had a garbage bag full of 30's reproduction fabrics which was given to me by one of the ladies I sew with on Tuesdays.  We haven't been together for over a year now, I miss the old ladies.  I decided I wanted to do a Bonnie Hunter Scrappy Trips quilt from the fabric.  I finally got it all cut into 2 1/2 inch strips.

I would say that the garbage bag was a tall kitchen garbage bag and was 1/3-1/2 full. 

It is funny when you look at people's fabric choices.  Most of these are green, pink, or red.  I threw some solids in that match a bit.  I am wondering if I should add some 30's reproduction fabrics which are purple or just use these colors.  

I don't know about you, but do you have a surface in your house that everything lands on?  Mine is my kitchen island.  I try to keep it neat, but quickly it becomes piled with mail, batteries, pens, pencils, snacks, and other debris. I saw this 2 tier rack at Tractor Supply and thought it would work perfectly.

I will say that I can lay my hands on stuff much quicker now.  It would help if I didn't have such picky houseplants.  It gets too light and hot on the sun porch, so I have several plants that seem to like the light that comes through the tall thin window in the kitchen.   Sigh. 

Back to the reason why I needed my black thread.  I wanted to work on my pineapple quilt.  The last time I shared it I had finished the yellow row and had laid it out dark to light, in December.

In December I made a couple green blocks then set it aside.  Here are my green blocks so far.

Then I came to a screaming halt.  I didn't like the next fabric that was with the kit.

 

When inventorying the fabrics with the kit I new I didn't have enough of a couple so I went shopping (online) and I discovered this green I thought I would try instead.

I think it would be better.  I have one green block to make, and I have the blue, blocks all cut out and ready to sew, and the purple fabric prepped so that I can cut. 

I will need to take a picture with my cell phone so I can do it in gray shades to arrange the blocks light to dark.  

Saturday the 22nd of May my family had an 80th birthday party for my dad.  Unfortunately I could not attend since it was in Oregon, and my family home.  During the party my dad said he didn't feel well and actually went and climbed into bed.  My mom said in the middle of the night he started shivering like he was extremely cold.  She tried to get him to put his wool socks on but he refused.  He then started to get sick to his stomach.  He finally fell asleep in his recliner.  

I spoke to my mom, the next day, and she said he had only been up a couple of times, refused to eat or drink.  The next morning my sister questioned my mom about him still being in bed.  When she checked on him, he was unresponsive.  The ambulance came and took him to the hospital.  He was initially placed in an isolation ward until he was cleared of COVID. He was then put into ICU.  He has a kidney infection, infection in the tissue surrounding his kidneys, a blood infection, something going on with his heart, and a bunch of kidney stones.  He was in ICU until Saturday, they are trying to get his infections under control.  Once the infection is completely gone, he will have his kidney stones removed and then have to go to rehabilitation since him being ill so long, and his age he becomes a fall risk, and will need to build his strength and muscle while supervised.  It has been a stressful 12 days.  My parents were supposed to meet me in California at the end of the month, but that won't be happening.  I have been very fortunate that my parents are still alive, and know that sooner or later I will lose them.  I know that each time I see them the likelihood of me seeing them again becomes smaller and smaller.  I will be going to visit them at the end of the month. 

My books for the week....

A Study in Death by Anna Lee Huber which is the 4th book in the Lady Darby Mysteries.  

Kiera is commissioned to paint a picture of Lady Drummond who dies suddenly.  The doctor's diagnosis of apoplexy is not acceptable to Kiera, especially after recently witnessing Lady Drummond's abuse at the hands of her husband.  

As Death Draws Near is the 5th book in the Lady Darby Series.  Kiera and Sebastian are now married, their honeymoon cut short when sent to Ireland to investigate the death of a distant relative of the Duke of Wellington at an abbey.  Kiera and Sebastian are thrown into the middle of the dangerous religious and political intrigue of Ireland at the time.

House Party Murder Rap by Sonia Parin.  The book takes place in 1920's England.  Evie Parker the young widow of the Count of Woodbridge has been invited to the Duke of Hetherington's house party, but on her way, Evie's car is shot at.  Evie's new Chauffeur is more than he appears.  Who is trying to kill Evie and why?

Murder on Black Friday by PB Ryan is the 4th book in the Nell Sweeney series.  Black Friday in  1869 during the gold market crash, which was caused by speculation.  When one of Boston's and one of the up and coming, nouveau rich are both discovered dead by their own hands after the crash, Will Hewitt is curious after the post mortem.  Nell and Will begin to investigate and many secrets will be exposed.  

The Irish Inheritance by M J Lee is a Jayne Sinclair Genealogical Mystery.  Former DCI Jayne Sinclair is hired to look for the father of an 80 year old business man who is dying of cancer.  With only a picture of the man when he was adopted and brought to the US, and a book Jayne unravels the past during the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence. 

Now head over to LeeAnna's and check out the other I Like Thursday posts. 

Thursday Likes #162

 Welcome to my 162nd I Like Thursday post.  Thursdays a group of bloggers join LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to share things we have discovered that we like/love.

I had purchased some tomatoes about a month ago.  Then we had rain, and then a couple of freezes. So the tomatoes sat in the yard, and I watched them hoping for some sign of life.  Then it happened!

You can see that there are leaves starting.  Since my time is limited I decided to do cheat gardening.  Don't till the whole garden, mow the weeds, just plant the plants, and use cardboard to help block the weeds.  

Dig a hole, break up the dirt, and remove any weeds.

Fill the hole with water (it had been rather dry, and it was a hot day).  

Place a large cardboard square over the hole, and cut an X.

Fold the sides in.

Take the plant out of the pot and put it into the hole.  Back fill the hold with the cleaned dirt.  Then water.  Place a cage over the plant, with the stakes going through the cardboard. I have read the cardboard prevents weeds from crowding out the plant.  So far it is looking pretty good.

While digging in the garden, as usual I have made some interesting finds.

This bar is pretty long, and it looks like it may have been part of a hand crank for something. 

Another metal bar, and a pink depression glass looking plate. 

My azalea bloomed this year.  I have been babying this plant for 5 years, and it has only bloomed once before.  

 A Rhododendron also bloomed, it was rescued from one of my daughter's lawn customer's yard after they redid the landscaping.  

The Rhubarb is getting bigger.  Perhaps someday it will get big enough I can harvest more than a stalk or two per year.

My parents, sister and nephew went to Hawaii in April and they brought me back this awesome fabric.

It has turtles on it!

My cousin shared this on Facebook and I thought it was pretty interesting. It is called RiverRunner.  You can put in an address, or create a raindrop and you will see where the water will go.  I forget that I live so close to Lake Erie that rain has a relatively short trip.

I read a few books this week while cleaning house, and doing food prep.

Undercurrents the 11th book in the Faye Longchamp Mystery Series.  Faye is in Memphis to run a dig, when she spies a "feral" child wandering through the creek.  When Faye discovers a woman buried alive and learns that she is the child's mother, Faye is convinced that it is an out of the normal murder. Faye with the help of some others discovers a serial killer.  

Catacombs is the 12th book in the Faye Longchamps mysteries.  Faye is in Oklahoma City to attend a Native Arts conference when she and Burt Mantooth are involved in a bombing at an old hotel.  The bombing opens up a subterranean world where the Chinese lived and worked during the early 20th century.  While exploring the bodies of 3 young boys are found, and secrets start to be uncovered.
 

Three Silver Doves is the 3rd book in the Paige MacKenzie Series.  Paige is Tres Palomas, New Mexico to write a story about the local spa with their miracle waters.  Paige meets a local artist that makes jewelry and when a tourist shows up with a similar piece, there are questions Paige wants answered.

Hutchins Creek Cache, is the 4th book in the Paige MacKenzie mysteries.  Paige is in Hutchins Creek to do a story on the railroads.  While visiting the railroad museum Paige discovers a gold coin she starts digging into the past.  

The Hollow of Fear is the 3rd book in the Lady Sherlock Series.  Charlotte Holmes' friend Lord Ingram's estranged wife is discovered dead in the ice house and Lord Ingram is accused of her murder. 

Lord Ingram and Charlotte's relationship progresses, and there are many twists and turns involved as well as Moriarity. 

Now head over to LeeAnna's to check out the other I Like Thursday posts. 

I Like Thursday #161

 Welcome to my 161st I Like Thursday post.  It has been a busy couple of days and by the time I finished up my chores yesterday the outside lights had came on and I was covered in dirt, and weeds from weed eating. I now understand why Jeff used to insist that I wear a face mask, I could not believe how much dirty I had on my face, and hair afterwards.  

I have been enjoying my outside lately.  It can be so soothing, even though the next freeway exit 2 miles North of us is closed and they are rerouting them down my road.  (Insert rolling eyes). Early in the morning walks I discovered these sweet violets.

The Lily of the Valley is really thriving this year.  

I am thrilled that my cold is finally kind of getting better and I could smell the sweet scent.  

Yesterday was my day off----there was a lot of outside work to do.  I had mowed the other day, and I needed to weed eat the 2 berms, and along the flower beds.  I also needed to plant the tomatoes that I had purchased a couple of weeks ago.  I had been putting it off because a few days after I purchased them there was a freeze and they looked pretty sad.  I kept watering them, and I see little leaves starting to form.  So hopefully I will get them into the ground today. I did get some of my planters done though.

The barrel planter with petunias and heliotrope.

I love Heliotrope!  The smell is a mixture of vanilla and licorice.  

Planter 2, you can see the berm in the background, where my weed eater finally ran out of battery.  I really do not want to finish it up today, but it may be necessary.  In the 2nd planter you can see the geraniums, and I also have some lantana, more petunias, and of course with our swampy property a couple of citronella.  

While weed eating the flower beds I saw Columbine!  It has spread nicely!  I love Columbine!

The Weigela is starting to bloom.  I need to prune it back a bit. 

The Rhubarb patch got cleaned up.  While I was working outside I had company, a lot of company.

Bobbin, Girl Cat, Boy Cat, and some new additions including some of the kittens born last year. 

Meet Haze, the kids say each kitten got lighter and lighter, almost like a printer running out of ink.  Wookie is dark with long hair, Tangy is a lighter version of her mama, Haze is even lighter, and Ashes is a very faded gray version.  

Recently I decided to try Misfits Market for organic produce.  Weekly you select your fruits and veggies, and they are sent on your day selected the following week. Things I love, it forces me to eat more fruits and veggies, the cold pack which it is packed with is a gel that is water soluble and safe to go into the environment once diluted.  Downside is for a single person it is a lot of food and I can't seem to eat it quick enough. Some things need to be processed right away such as broccoli, beets, greens, and with my crazy schedule that can be tough.  

This is just a small selection of this weeks produce, apples, manadarins, pears, beets, broccoli, tomatoes, dandelion greens, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers.   Great that I am eating more good stuff, but the chickens get stuff that goes bad before I eat it.  I have decided to go to an every other week schedule and see if that is better. 

I love the bright summer colors of these towels I saw at work.

French bulldogs Hawaiian print shirts in pool floats!

The fun patriotic one.  I considered buying this one to make another drying mat.

Old trucks, dogs, bikes and surfboards.

The only book I managed to read last week was Burials by Mary Anna Evans.

 Faye, and Joe are in Oklahoma where Joe grew up. They are there to bury Joe's mom's ashes with Joe's father Sly.  To help supplement, Faye has been contracted to start up a 30 year old archaeological site which was shut down quickly at the time.  Imagine the surprise when the first pit that is opened has a necklace, pearls, and the remains of a body.  The body is the Dr. Sophia Townsend the volatile archaeologist that was running the dig 30 years ago.  The Muscogee Tribe  who had contracted the dig is surprised so are the people who worked on the dig 30 years ago, who just happen to be involved on the current dig.  How did Dr. Townsend disappear with no one's notice years ago, especially considering how many people she manipulated around her at the time, including Joe's father.  

Now head over to LeeAnna's at Not Afraid of Color to check out the other I Like Thursday posts. 

I Like Thursday #160

 Welcome to my 160th I Like Thursday post.  Thank you LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color, for encouraging us to find things to like/love in and around our world to share. 

One and a half years....I have went 1 1/2 years during this stupid pandemic without getting ill. I had both doses of my COVID vaccine.  Sunday night while at work my throat started to hurt.  I finished my shift, and headed home.  I curled up in the recliner and slept for a couple hours, and soon my head was congested and my chest felt like I had an elephant sitting on it. No I didn't have COVID.  I had a head and chest cold.  I have spent the past 4 days home, and am finally starting to feel a wee bit better.  I did manage to get rid of the chest congestion finally, right now it is just a congested head and a left over cough.  

In Bobbin's opinion it is all about her and she is enjoying her best life, laying on mom's lap, curled up in the recliner wrapped up in quilts. 

While being sick I have watched the world burst into bloom.  My favorite prairie fire crab apple bloomed its rich maroon blossoms.

The Lilacs have bloomed and faded.  I so wanted to try a recipe I found for lilac sugar, but it isn't to be for this year.

Today I felt well enough to do a wee bit of outside work.  I spent 2 hours just trying to knock down a 25 square foot area of thistle, and save my chives, and veronica.  

One day the chickens escaped and they instantly headed toward my flowerbeds with mulch.  

I sent a text and the kids rounded them back up for the night.  

I have been doing a little more day by day.  I managed to finish 2 charity quilts for church, and started a 3rd.  I have still been cutting strips of the 20's and 30's reproduction fabrics, and I even managed to sew block 12 of my 365 little blocks. 

I have made up for my lack of book reading this past week.  

A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas the 2nd book in the Lady Sherlock series.  

Lady Ingram, the wife of Charlotte's longtime friend has enlisted the help of Sherlock Holmes in locating a man she was enamored with long before she married Lord Ingram.  Charlotte is attempting to locate her illegitimate half brother Myron Finch, and a mysterious man if courting Charlotte's sister Livia.  So many twists and turns, I will admit I can't wait to read the next book.  

A Sharp Solitude by Christine Carbo is the 4th book in the series set near Glacier National Park.  In this book we are not with Monty the National Park police, but FBI Agent Allie Paige.  Reeve Landon is the father of Allie's daughter and has been accused of murdering journalist Ann Marie Johnson after spending the day with him and his dog doing research work on scat. 

Reeve's past, Allie's past all come together.  

Isolation is the 9th book by Mary Anna Evans in the Faye Longchamps Wolf Mantooth archaeology series.  Faye has shut Joe out after the miscarriage of their daughter, wandering around their island digging holes.  Joe's father Sly has come to visit, a man that Joe doesn't have a whole lot of use for.  A man who spent years in prison. 

When the lady who owns the local cafe' and marina is murdered it is enough to get Fay out of her funk.  

Finally I read Tulipomania by Mike Dash.  It is the history of the Tulip from the steppes of central Asia

to the lush imperial gardens of Constantinople.  Mike Dash made the history interesting how this flower rose to be one of the most coveted commodity in Europe.  

Now head over to LeeAnna's at Not Afraid of Color to check out the other I Like Thursday posts.