My Main Squeeze

Today I had a chance to spend time with my main squeeze, Pompera.  Pictures taken from this angle always look funny--like the horse's body is toooooo small for its head!

I also groomed a Percheron and hand grazed an older mare.  The sun was shining through the clouds and it was a glorious day!

I feel refreshed and invigorated--like I had a spa day (not that I've ever had one, but I think the end result is still about the same--that feeling of euphoria; am I right?).

It's off to the land of Nod.  Sweet dreams, everyone!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

Didn't It Rain

Two inches yesterday and more today.  It's getting harder and harder to do yard work.  Which means--staying inside and sewing!  Today I finished hand stitching the binding on a small piece I will show soon and started grading the seams on two hand pieced blocks that I am getting ready to set together.

It was also a great day for reading/napping ;-)

Hard to believe it is almost July.  Where did the last six months go?  If someone finds them, I want mine back!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

Here's Looking at You

A few pictures I didn't include last night.  Enjoy!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

Twelve Days

This is almost like time-lapse photography.  A couple weeks ago, two phoebes made a nest outside my side door--the one I use every day.  They knew about the use of the door and chose to build there anyways--and harassed me about it every day.  

On June 15, you can just see the furry little bodies sticking up over the top of the nest.

Same day, a little better angle.

The view on June 17.  Looks like only two.

June 21.

Still 6/21.  Still looks like two.

June 22.  I see three!

June 24.  Four!

June 25.  Aren't they so cute?

June 25, all four looking out!

June 26.  This morning when I went to get in the car, all four were puffed up.  I've been telling them for the last few days to stay in the nest as long as possible, because once they leave the nest they would  have to feed and look after themselves.  Each day the parents made clicking noises whenever I was in the vicinity and these babies turned into statues!  No movement, no noise.

I reminded them yet again about staying in the nest and moved to the car.  All of a sudden, all four flew!  Right near me, with one of the parents flapping almost in my face!  I had figured they would fly in the next day or two, but didn't think I would be around to see it.  When I got home tonight, the nest was empty.  Hopefully I'll see this family around for the rest of the summer.

Blissful Friday hugs,
Sharon

Visitors

On Monday, this doe was grazing and strolling across the yard.

From out of seemingly nowhere, here comes...

A not very old fawn!

Who raced in circles, sometimes disappearing from sight!

Looks like the little one is having an absolute blast!

I love living in the country!

Blissful Thursday night hugs,
Sharon

Pompera

Pompera and I had a great lesson last week.  These two pics are taken from a short video my instructor took, so they are a bit grainy if enlarged too much.

I am so glad to have the opportunity to ride.  As Winston Churchill said:  "There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a (wo)man."

Blissful hugs,

Sharon  

Trouble Posting

I've tried five times to add pictures to a blog post for tonight.  No luck.  So I will try again tomorrow (Wednesday) and see if I have better luck.  You can't say I'm not trying!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

P.S.  I am listening to Hunter Moon by Dana Stabenow.

More Fun!

More happy faces!  And do you know why?  Because those points are so sharp I could cut myself!  

First up, the Big 3:  Home Circle at Patchwork Plus in Marcellus, NY.  These five ladies honed their rotary cutting, machine piecing and pressing skills.  Great job!

Anita, Victoria and Debbie are smiling proudly because they completed Jack in the Box blocks at O'Susannah's in Watkins Glen!  Their flying geese units are made the old fashioned way--with quarter and half square triangles!  Just delightful!

Victoria also brought in some show and tell that day.  First, she took to hand piecing hexagons like a duck to water!  What started as a small class project to learn the technique (NOT EPP) became a good sized runner.  All hand pieced and hand quilted.

A closer look and the back.

Victoria also took several machine quilting classes with Mandy Applebee at O'Susannah's.
(https://www.facebook.com/yellowhousequilts)  Victoria said she practiced and practiced before tackling this quilt.  All the feathers are freehand--no pattern drawn on the fabric!  I am very impressed!  Also, she was having trouble machine piecing the blocks and making them come out the right size, so...she hand pieced them and they are perfect!  That's why it pays to know lots of techniques!

So that's it for today.  Hope you enjoyed these beauties!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

Flimsies...Flimsy Not

Trust me, I've been properly chastised for my lack of posting!  So I am going to try to string a few days of posting together, starting now!

Wait til you see!  

First, Debbie B. from Watkins Glen with her stunning Mariner's Compass.  She is going to hand quilt this beauty and already has designs in mind--that will be absolutely fabulous!  Great job, Debbie!  (She took this class at O'Susannah's in Watkins Glen.)

The lady behind the quilt is Gale, who drives over 1.5 hours each way to get to the classes at Patchwork Plus in Marcellus.  Gale has a lot of artistic vision and there is a lot to see on this quilt.  She traded out some background pieces in the compasses to make some look like they are "holes" in the sky.  Just amazing!

Next, Marie, who took this class in Elmira Heights.  Using a solid background really lets the stars shine.  Can we say WOW?  Yes, we can!  (You can tell she's smiling behind the quilt--just look at those sparkling eyes!)  I'm smiling too!

Many years ago I taught a class called Primitive Baltimore, which Judy D. took at Patchwork Plus in Marcellus.  She was lucky enough to travel to Hawaii and bought some fabulous fabric there.  She used the cutwork designs from the original quilt to make this stunner!  This is the Flimsy-Not!  Just beautiful!

And the almost-always smiling Penny!  This is her Green Thumb flimsy which she brought to show off!  Do you think she likes purple?  (Just a little?)

Ladies, this is what makes a teacher's heart sing!  You all did a spectacular job!  Thank you so much for sharing!

Tomorrow, a peak at some class photos!

Blissful hugs,
Sharon

P.S.  I just finished listening to Memory Man by David Baldacci, and am listening to Robert B. Parker's Kickback by Ace Atkins.