I Like Thursday # 140 ~ Suddenly Summer ~ Suddenly Not

 Good Evening! 

I am late joining my friends @ 

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

to share the simply joyful things in life.

It has been a very cool and rainy day so I am enjoying the blooms opening on the big rhododendrons outside my window from the comfort of my sofa today.

Last weekend it was hot for a weekend in mid-May in my corner of the planet.

It seemed summer unexpectedly had arrived mid-Spring. 

Then the strong on-shore winds that have been blowing all spring returned.

Today's day of rain was much more like an early spring day..

This weekend we are forecast to break heat records so summer will be back.

I think we shall have to put our window air conditioners in tomorrow.

Hopefully next week it will not start snowing.

With all these weather changes, there is no telling what may happen.

Time will tell.

My current response to the weather is to carry my yarn bag to wherever it is most comfy. 

On the good days, I took my yarn bag outside to my yard swing

and enjoyed the day until the evening light faded. 

You can see my Sea Shawl Finish ~ Here on my backyard swing.

While I sat I had plenty of backyard birds visit me,

like this pair of goldfinches.

This male cardinal is a frequent visitor. He must be feeding his mate and nestlings because he comes and goes from still dark early morning until the last light fades.

I enjoy all the birds, even our small flock of pigeons.

The purple iridescent feathers on this one are beautiful in the setting sun.

 

This is my new Tunisian Crochet start.

Nutmeg and I are making a shawl in another pattern and this lovely

Lion Brand Watercolor Yarn

This color is called Teaberry and it is beautiful shades of variegated pink.

This pattern has three different Tunisian Crochet stitches.

More later.

It is time to call it a night.

Good Night, my friends.

 I hope your Thursday has been lovely, too. 

I Like Thursday ~ Post # 15 ~ I Like Coffee

I  like to greet every morning early with a good cup of coffee.

Harley likes to enjoy it with me.

Harley is our friendly local ground hog.

This photo was taken earlier in the week when it was actually sunny.
Not today.
Today it has been raining off and on all night and right now it is deluging.

This is not keeping Harley, the Squirrels and the Birds away
from the feeder under the trees.
The hog is hogging here.
The squirrels will not come down when he is there.
They must be in awe of the bigger rodent.
The sparrows just flit in and out as sparrows will do.

My coffee of choice is a nice hot steamed milk and frothed latte.

It takes about five minutes to make this and you can use any kind of milk.

Pour about a 1/4 cup ...  about an inch in the bottom of my small pitcher.

Cover it with a paper towel and nuke it in the microwave for 45 seconds.
You could also heat it in an pan on the stove
but I am in a hurry to get my morning cuppa,
so this works for me.

Froth it by using one of these battery powered milk frothers.

Mine is old and came with a hot chocolate maker my daughter gave me years ago as a gift.

You can find   Frothers on Amazon

My favorite milk is this old fashioned, returnable glass bottle whole milk
from a dairy in our neighboring town.

Shaw Farms in Dracut, MA
It tastes just like the milk I grew up with.
They also make the best ice cream in the area.
It is nice to still have real working farms in our area.

This makes the frothiest cup of latte ... mmmmmm!

Since I like coffee and I like quilts,
I am enjoying this new



Coffee and Quilts Mystery Quilt @ QATW

I am making the wall-hanging size.
Clue 1 was easily done.
Clue 2 cutting comes out tomorrow.
Good time to find some fabric and start sewing along ... :-)



I liked this book.
It had been sitting ignored on my nightstand for a month or more,
but I have had more reading time
so I finished it last night with a cup of decaf.
 I like the fact that wearing this brace has reduced my wrist pain.

I Like To Sew!

I cannot show more of this project yet as it is for a blog hop.

I like my hubby's new attempt at farming in the city
with these planters he is putting in a sunny spot in our driveway.
He calls them "Patio Pickers" and says this is the brand name.
He also bought some kind of net to put over them
to keep Harley and the critters away.
We have bunnies at night, too.
Hope it works.

We actually got a yummy snack of fresh homegrown strawberries yesterday.
Mmmmmmm!
We will have more when the sun shines again.

Oh,  My!

As I typed this the light suddenly streamed in my window!

The sun just broke through the clouds in my backyard.

Oh,  Happy Day!

On that note I shall finish up my post and go share it with the

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

and see what happy posts they are sharing today.

Have a Happy Day!

Spring Has Sprung!

The crocus are in bloom!

It was in the 80's today and I took my slow stitching on my

30's POTC BOM project outside

This bright red robin came sown to visit with me while I stitched.

It was nice to get some sun and fresh air.

I see we have a lot of yard clean up to do from the winter storms.

Right now, though, I want to sit and sew.

This is the block I am working on now.

A Ducky Flower!

Linking up today with

Monday Making

Happy stitching ... :)  Pat

Rainy Day Stitching and Backyard Birds

I am stitching the first of my connecting blocks for my

30"s POTC BOM Monthly Goals

I am using up small scraps here.

I have a 1" template with a 3/8" seam allowance but am

also trying to use the small squares left after cutting the honeycombs 

from a 5" charm square.

This allows for, at beats, a scant 1/4" seam.

I am wondering if any experienced EPPers

would please weigh in on this.

I am concerned that the scant 1/4" seams might compromise my finished quilt.

I want this quilt to last a lot longer that it takes me to make it

and I use my quilts and it will get a lot of wash and wear.

Advice very much appreciated.

So far I am only stitching in the ones with a 3/8" seam allowance.

It is a very rainy day here.

A good day to stay in and sew 

and watch the backyard birds 

through the windows.

Here is one I have never seen in my tiny postage stamp size urban lot ...

a Wild Turkey!!

We do see them a lot along the highways and in rural areas 

but not on our city street.

Katniss has decided to keep a close eye on our visitor today

and is not helping me sew.

The look on her face when she saw this huge bird was priceless.

May you have a happy stitchy day ... :) 

Signs of Spring!

The Goldfinches are yellow again!

I think these little guys stay around all year 

but they blend in  with the sparrows in the winter time.

They have donned their bright spring plumage.

These photos were taken from inside my kitchen window,

which needs spring cleaning,

and the feeder is across the yard

so the quality is gray and blurry.

These beauties are so much brighter up close!

I love the goldfinches

so I just had to share 

on this gray April Showers Day.

Happy Spring!