Design Wall Monday on Tuesday!

 poodlegirls  Canning, cooking, Daily Happenings, Gardening, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Quilting, Scrap Quilts  March 3, 2026 2 Minutes

Didn’t get to write my blog yesterday.  It was a busy day.  Had ham bones thawed to make broth for ham and bean soup.  Kept it simmering on the stove for most of the day.  Finished it and put it in the freezer until ready to soak beans and then can the soup.

This past Saturday we had a new washer and dryer delivered. Really like it and does brighten up the laundry room. No more getting on hands and knees to clean out the bottom filter on our older front loader.  As we got older that was getting harder and harder.  Not the getting down, it was the getting back up!!!

Galen worked in the yard some also over the weekend.  He planted my new lime plant.  This one we hope to keep on the smaller side so we can bring it inside if we get any freezing winter. We still want to repot our other one.  We have it in a grow bag; needs to be in a new bag etc. We lost quite a few leaves on it when we took off the covers we had over it for protection. More so than our 2 really bad winters; 21 and 23.  Another reason we decided it was time to repot! It is getting new leaves.

Spring has arrived here

I love our Texas Laurels

Managed to make more everyday dog bandanas in the small size. Love this print!

I had planned on getting back to the Jolly Bar blocks I had started. Discovered I either mis-cut the first block or the next 19!! Anyway need to go through, see what I have here to see if there is something I can use and won’t scream “different”.  If not will check out Fatquarter shop to see if they still have some left

While sorting I found a few more UFO’S. One from probably 2003 or 04.  Need to take a picture. Another one is from a Kim Bracket book. It’s the one on the cover, Star Petals.

Probably about half of the parts are made.

My birthday was yesterday, the 2nd.  Galen bought me a beautiful lemon colored orchid.

I have been having a little luck with the others from past gifts.  No flowers but am getting new leaves.  Maybe I have found the right location and fertilizer.   Anyway progress.

Until next time.

 

Last Week of February

By poodlegirls on February 23, 2026

We’ve been staying busy.  Had our yearly eye appointment last week.  Not much change for me. Yes, cataracts but not needing anything done yet.  Galen will probably get one out sometime this Fall.  Doesn’t want to schedule anything that would interfere with photography trips. We have been adding some fencing around flower beds.  Rabbits ate just about everything we planted in them last year. I tried a recipe I found on line for Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. It wasn’t quite like the soup I remember from our days there. But it was good. Stayed busy on the bandanas.  Sent a box off to CA today and will drop the rest off tomorrow to the groomer here. Added this one the stack Also started on some generic ones. Will cut more out this week. Worked a little more on the Jolly Bar quilt.  Squares sewn, cut and ready to put back together.  Not on the design wall yet.  But this is what a block looks like. It will be fun putting the pieces together. Plans for the week; more bandanas, play with the quilt blocks, plant the herbs we bought.  Fence off more of the flower beds and hopefully start planting in a week or two. What are your plans?

 Mid-Week Catch-Up

Yesterday. 2/17 was an unusual day.  Not sure I ever remember Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras occurring on the same day! Since we spent 10 years in Asia we had Chinese for dinner.  2 different types of pot stickers and wonton soup. It did the trick.  Have misplaced my Taiwan Beef Noodle soup recipe but think I found a similar one on the internet.  Plan on making it this weekend.  Been hungry for it.

I have been working on the dogs bandanas for St. Patrick’s day. Have 29 finished so far. First picture. Medium, second picture – 10 small and 10 extra small.

I also started my Raspberry Twist quilt. It’s a Jolly Bar kit from Fat Quarter shop.

First step sew 2 bars together.  I did that while sewing the bandanas- leader/enders.

Seams all pressed open. Ready for the next step.

Last Thursday we went to look at plants.  Didn’t really plan on buying any yet.  We did.   A tomato plant, a couple of flowers and 2 herbs for the raised bed. 

Working compost into a bed and also putting up different fencing  around several beds.  Last year the rabbits ate all the young plants, including our new hostas.  The new fencing has narrower openings.  Hopefully this will work.

Until next time

 

Looks like Spring is here!

 poodlegirls  cooking, Daily Happenings, Donation Quilting, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Quilting, Scrap Quilts, Travels  February 9, 2026 1 Minute

This past week it’s been in the 60’s and 70’s.  We have a few days in the low 80’s.  But not until late in the afternoon. And starts to cool down again.  Easy to take!

We met Osie last Wednesday. Gave her my quilt top plus a few boxes for Linus.  I brought my 3 tumbler blocks quilts home.  As usual she did a wonderful job quilting them.  I got them trimmed and bound. Did the binding my machine this time.  Need the practice, especially at the corners.  Will keep trying. Will give to Osie the next time we get together.  Also want to go through my quilts to see what I can give her.  They are donating a lot to various organizations.

Fabric for my next batch of dog bandanas. Saw this cute dog print.  Had to get it. The other picture is for St. Patrick’s Day.

Galen has been down to the pond a few days. Mute Swan, Great Blue Heron  and Lesser Scaup. Just a few pictures from there.

And lots of activity in our backyard feeders. Lesser Finch , Yellow-rump warbler and Orange- crown warbler. Plus many more.

Plans for the week. Bandanas, need to work on a few quilt blocks.  More sorting and more printed patterns needing to be organized!! 

Trying a new recipe for soup tonight.   Hope it’s as good as it looks.

Until later, have a good week.

Diana

 

February

 poodlegirls  Daily Happenings, Donation Quilting, Gardening, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Quilting  February 3, 2026 1 Minute

Punxsutaeney Phil said 6 more weeks of winter.  All our animal prognosticators disagreed.

We had one more night of 20’s over the weekend.  Our plants are now uncovered and moved back to the front of the deck to get sun and make it easier to water.  My Merkot lime made it through another winter. We use the leaves when having Thai food.

Still some sleet on our roof.  Should be melted by the end of the week.

I did get my Mirage top sewn together and borders sewn on. It needs to be pressed. 

I am great at getting patterns downloaded and then not remembering which ones or what they look like.  I have started to print out the first page of directions. Have them in a folder so I can double check.  Now before maybe buying it again I will know for sure- have it or not.

Going through my January records of sewn bandanas- 80 for the month.  Now on to sewing more.  Some everyday, St.Patricks day and a start on ones for Easter. I have plenty to keep me busy.

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