The Linen's Quilt (aka Retreat Quilt)

This is the "Linen's Quilt". This is just the working title but it is also known as (aka) the Retreat Quilt. It is the quilt I drag to every retreat with the intention that maybe I will finally get it done. I usually take it out, look at it, and put it away. Well, I thought if I hung it on my design wall, maybe I would finally get it done. It has been there for a week now.

The blocks are basically done, it just needs to be put together. All the blocks are different sizes so it takes some effort to figure it out. I took this class from Jo Crabb in Liberty, MO at the Liberty Quilt Shop. Unfortunately they are no longer in business. It was a great shop. Julie Kiffen was the owner and what a nice person she is. Jo Crabb is the best too. I miss them.

This block with the embroidered Belle was on a very worn out pillow case. The embroidery thread had rotted and the fabric was very thin. The crochet was in great shape so I carefully removed the old embroidery thread and fused some very fine inner facing to the back of the fabric. You could still see the holes where the embroidery thread was so I re-embroidered it and now it is as good as new!

There are dresser scarves, doilies, pillowcases and a table cloth in it. I have 2 Friends that did finish theirs and put them in 2 different quilt shows and both of them won "Best of Show". It is a great way to show off your old Linens that otherwise would be sitting in some drawer somewhere and then when you are gone from this world, a relative will give them to Good Will or use them as rags!

Wildlife - Inside and Out

October in California means we still have Hummingbirds. Not as many. Some of them have left like the Black Chins and Allen's but we still have plenty. I think we are going to take one of the three feeders down for the winter. We may even go down to one if more quit coming. I am not sure if some stay around all year or not. When we moved here in February, we had Anna's at the apartment we stayed at. Each of these feeders has 10 feeding ports.

We have a lot of Finches too. We so seldom see them taking a bath but this day must have been bath day! It's funny, the Hummingbirds will take a bath on the leaves of our plants after the sprinklers have been on in the morning. They flit from one leaf to another for about 15 minutes.

This Dove decided the water on the patio was better.

This is our Flicker that comes to visit for a drink every day. He is quite loud when he arrives. He always does a little dance on the fence.

Speaking of Wildlife. This is our indoor variety. This is Fergie. She is the Queen of the house and keeps the boy cats in line. She has been known to growl and slap them. She is the smallest but she is not to be messed with. She is a horrible beggar for food and she was probably doing that in this picture.

This is Buster. One of two male black cats we have. He is the lover of the household. He follows me everywhere and wants to be touched all the time. He is quite a pest! We shaved him about a month ago because he is a beast with very long hair and he is like velvet when shaved.