Tuesday 28 May 2013

Fun with Sunflowers...

Sunflower Quilt in the making... Catherine...x

Friday 24 May 2013

Sunflower...


Good morning folks! Hope you are all well and happy... Keeping Oklahoma and all those in distress around the world, in prayer.

Yesterday was a major sewing day for me, so much so that I just had to have a late one this morning - woke at 6am... back to sleep 'til 8am! Woo-hoo! Needed that... haven't had a lie-in for yonks! Rest day (aka: day off) today! The chooks didn't complain... only made a beeline for the food when I put it out... so funny, how they run, especially for food - too cute!

Well the Sunflower Design is looking good... applique design inspired by Baltimore style quilts... when hubby saw it, he said 'That's nice!' - believe me, that is a BIG compliment - I felt quit chuffed! Once I have all the applique stitched in place, I'll take some pics and post them.

Well, the builders are in the Church as of this past Monday, putting in a loo and kitchen unit... I haven't been to see it, yet... may go take a look, today... I think the change is going to be huge...

That's my news for this morning... more sewing as the weather isn't so nice, today... then a pop in, to see family... by then, the day will be over and I'll be wondering where it has gone! Shucks, it is true... time does go by faster as you get older! Seriously, feeling 360 at the moment, with only 5 days to go... then it's all over! Ok, time to put the PC down... starting to feel hysterically silly! It is May still, right...? My cousin joyfully reminded me that we were only six months away from December - gotta love her!

That's me - I'm done!

Hope your day doesn't zoom past too quickly! Have a good one!
Catherine...x

This is a great site: photonotes.org/reviews/lensbaby/gallery/
Sunflower. Zaragoza, Spain...



Thursday 23 May 2013

Sewing & Singing!

Good morning to you all!
It's 11.52 and I'm happily stitching away in my sewing room working on a sunflower applique quilt... I have not used the applique stitch on my fab machine before, until today... just thrilling! 

Here's the song that is playing in the background, among others...
Hope you are having a lovely day! Catherine...x


Tuesday 21 May 2013

Pretty Finds...

Oh nooo!
I've lost my sewing machine's straight stitch foot! How absolutely annoying! I've ordered one online... will have to wait 'til tomorrow... back to the hand stitched projects or crochet! That's the reason why one has a number of different projects going on at once - to spare ones nerves when things like this happen... Some pretty finds, today... Catherine...x

Monday 20 May 2013

Good Morning everyone - Up and at em!

Good Morning everyone - Up and at em!

It is time to wake up and make-up! Let's get on some glad rags and face this day head on! Why leave the best for later, when we can enjoy it now! Put on your pretties and have your own party! Buy a cake for the office and when they say... Why?... Then simply say... Why not!

I dare you to have a great day! Catherine...x  




Monday 13 May 2013

Tractors! Yee-haw!


Oh my - It's started all over, again! Happy Monday everyone!

I had a great big laugh this weekend when I discovered Kenny Chesney's song 'She thinks my tractor's sexy'! Ok, I get it... I'm a little behind with my music, but what the heck... when you catch up, it's such fun!

Since hearing Kenny Chesney's song ...'Song of Songs' will never quite be the same, Gazelle... 'Deere'... farmers on tractors... the love of tilling the land... the harvest... country living... and God in the midst of it all! Seriously - Wow!

For me the most exciting thing to see is a field that has just been ploughed or in the process of being ploughed... I get that wonderful feeling of expectation... a miracle about to happen... when seeds are planted and then... the green shoots rising from the dark rich soil.

Sadly, our farmers have been having a really bad time of it this year with the weather being so extreme... so, could we all just take a moment and spare a thought and a prayer for them.

For your information:
'A plow (plough) turns the soil over and buries all the residue, and can work fairly deep, but leaves large clods. A tiller uses rotating tines to break up the soil and mix in residue, and usually works to a medium depth, and leaves a fine smooth finish. A disc cuts the soil and buries PART of the residue, or breaks up clods after plowing. It can be done so as to just work the surface, or to a depth of up to about 10 inches. It leaves a semi smooth surface. These operations are all called "tillage"
Google "tillage" and you'll find more in depth explanations.'


'Tilling is done with a rotating blade, Plowing is done with a flat long blade. Both turn the soil, leaving clumps of dirt, and debris in the soil. Harrowing breaks up the clumps with an over sized multi-tined rake. Harvesting is bringing in the crop. Gleaning is picking up dropped or damaged harvest, or harvesting in damaged crop areas.' (yahoo...answers).

Anyway, I hope you have a productive and joyous day ahead of you. And just to help you get going... ;) ... here it is... Catherine...x

  

Friday 10 May 2013

Taking Stock!

Good morning everyone!

There has been a change in weather, not so sunny today, but rain is good, too. Although it is rather windy here and just grey... now I sound very British! Enough of the weather!

Just to update you, things are going well at 'The Egg Shed', again! Thank goodness. But I will keep an eye on the situation, of course.

Where sewing projects are concerned, I have decided that it is not worth making bunting from the lovely fabric I bought at 'The Cotton Wool Store' - I am going to use it more carefully in a better project. It is just too pretty to waste on bunting! Will keep you posted.

Yesterday, I went to my favourite village for a little 'me' time... it is good to just step away to your favourite place and 'be' - helps you put things into perspective and gives you some time to 'breathe' and be yourself - without any pressure / demands / expectations from others 'round you. Being in the role I am, taking time out is vital. A change of scenery is as good as a holiday, so they say - I know it's true.

Today, it is back to the routine, with minor changes which will make major differences... Rethinking our schedule and re-evaluating our priorities is an excellent exercise in making our goals clearer and more achievable. And at times, helps us to get back on track with things we have neglected; health and self-care, important relationships and the building up of our Faith, for example. Give it a go, get a pen and notebook and make a list of the things that mean the most to you and then see how they fit in with your daily schedule. You'll be amazed at what you find out!

Hope you have a prosperous and happy day!
Catherine...x



Thursday 9 May 2013

Ditchling Museum...


A while ago, I visited this museum and would like to spread the word about it... The information below was taken from http://www.ditchling-museum.com/museum.html Please read it and then go to the Ditchling Museum website and have a look. Note that any of the links will take you to the related page on the Museum's website. Have fun browsing!

THE MUSEUM

The Hilary Bourne Gallery
Ditchling Museum tells the story of a remarkable village and its community of 20th century artists and craftsmen.
The founders of the museum were two sisters, Joanna and Hilary Bourne who started life in India and arrived in Ditchling as young girls before the First World War.
They spent their childhood exploring the Downs and growing up in the creative atmosphere of the village with its artists and craftsmen including Eric Gill and Edward Johnston. The museum has a unique collection of work by these and others who came to Ditchling to live and work.
Hilary was a weaver and Joanna a linguist and sub-editor on Time and Tide magazine. Returning to Ditchling in their seventies, they saved the Victorian village school buildings from development and realised their vision to create Ditchling Museum. In 1985 the Museum was opened by Sir Donald Sinden whose boyhood was spent in the village.
Ditchling Museum is an independent charitable Trust with three full time and one part time members of staff, a committed band of volunteers and a supportive Friends’ Association.
Guided walks, pointing out buildings of historic and artistic interest, are offered to groups.

Please visit this museum - it is truly fascinating and fun!
Here is the link: http://www.ditchling-museum.com/

Catherine...x

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Blogger on Facebook & Glen Campbell...

Good fabulous evening to you all!

The cockerels are having a sing-song... each of them has their own pitch and one of them is a little distance away on the smallholding... such fun! I can't help but smile!

Just incase you are wondering about the title of this post... I have just (hopefully) linked this blog to Facebook, in the same way that it is linked to Twitter... it will make things so much easier! So, this is a trial post, to see if it is working... fingers x'd.

Isn't technology just amazing these days and truly great when used for good and joyful things... of course it has it's pitfalls... 'nough said.

Last night I put the television on for the first time in about 18 months (+) to come across a great BBC4 programme about country music - this episode was a documentary about Glen Campbell... here is the link...   http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/tv/bbc_four/20130506 absolutely fascinating! And of course the music was great... I also watched 'Country at the BBC' also on the link above. Go watch it... great! More of this please! I grew up with country music... it is something rather special!

Here is Glen Campbell - Gentle on my mind...



Forever Country!
Catherine...x

'Encourage one another...'


Good Morning!
I saw this Tweet this morning and loved it so much that I made a poster out of it... for sharing...
We all need encouragement in our Faith... May God Bless you all. Catherine...x



Pause for thought...






Monday 6 May 2013

My life's theme song...

My mother always sang this to me when I was a little baby girl... and growing up - gran, mom and I would sing it in the car on road trips... we still sing it when we are together and sometimes even on the phone! Love you, my family... Catherine...x :)


Sunday 5 May 2013

Make Hay...

'Make hay while the sun shines.' 

Meaning

Make the most of one's opportunities while you have the chance.

Origin

Make hay while the sun shines
This proverb is first recorded in John Heywood's A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546:
Whan the sunne shinth make hay. Whiche is to say.
Take time whan time cometh, lest time steale away.
Many proverbs exist in other languages, but this one doesn't and it's a reasonable surmise that the phrase is of English Tudor origin.

Saturday 4 May 2013

Seeds & Signs... Daisies & Eggs... & Bunting...


Projects in the Pipeline

Planting seeds...


Sign Painting...


Making Bunting...
 


Bee the solution...

Morning... went out for dinner with friends... drank pineapple juice x 2... got to bed by 12pm... have headache this morning... not able to do late nights, anymore... I must be getting old!!!

Putting that aside, (having had my egg money stollen, yesterday, again - this happened to me last year, too) I've decided to go and pay a visit to the other roadside stand owners and see what measures they have put in place to try to avoid theft.  It seems everyone knows who these people are and I have just become another target, among many. So, the eggs are out, again... we'll see what happens next...

My friend is a bee keeper and belongs to a small syndicate who meet together and enjoy the benefits of bee-keeping. We spoke about the issues of pesticides and said that although campaigners for the banning of pesticides are well meaning, the problem is that the local government and bodies who deal with such issues, do not have an alternative in place for the substances which have been named for being band. This means that should these substances become banned, people who are desparate to protect their crop, may take other measures to do so and cause even greater problems in this area.

In effect, what we should be doing, in my view, is to be campaigning for the solution to the problem first... finding out what is being done to replace the offending substances and then supporting those projects, only if they are approved, of course... and then, there is the 'organic' movement - I need to learn a lot more about this.

I once heard someone say that; we need to decide to be part of the solution. By that I understand; if the problem is too big or is something we cannot actually deal with personally, what we need to do is, look at what we actually can do, and focus on that. So, one thing I do, do - even though it may seem insignificantly small is, I leave part of our lawn to turn to meadow and I leave flowers on trees, rather than remove them to make elderflower cordial, for instance. For now, the cordial can wait - as the bees are more important, to me. I am by no means saying, don't buy elderflower cordial, I'm simply saying, I chose to keep the flowers on my elderflower tree, rather than remove them to make home-made cordial. I hope you are getting the picture.

In the meantime, sewing commences... I have some cheerful bunting to make!

I do hope you have a productive and pleasant day!
Catherine...x






Friday 3 May 2013

And so my day begins...

Good morning!

It was such an 'eggciting' day for me yesterday! I was so happy about how well 'The Egg Shed' was doing... and this morning, the first batch of eggs have already been placed for sale. So, my day begins.

Today, I have bunting to make and signs to paint and if there is any spare time, I'll be at the veg patch, again - for now it is all about digging!

I'm going to be potting some herbs and maybe some flowers, too - from seed, ready for those summery salads I've been craving during the past, what seems to have been, extremely long winter.

So, here's to sunny days and egg salads!

Hope your day is 'sunny side up'!
Catherine...x

Wednesday 1 May 2013

The Egg Shed...


" The Egg Shed "

This is just the bare shell... more to come, later...