April 1 2025

And a month later I’m doing a blog post! March was a strange month.  The Weather was crazy- cold days, warm days. Days where you didn’t want to be out much. Smoke from the wildfires west of us,  not to mention the dust being driven to us by strong winds. And very little rain.  Our total so far for the first 3 months.  3.77 inches.  We got .6 while towns along the coast got 14 to 20 this past week.

Galen wasn’t able to get out much but he did get a few pictures. He went down to our small lake one afternoon looking for Dragonflies.   While there an Eagle flew in fairly close.  He thought he had seen one a few weeks earlier but it was flying away so he wasn’t able to get any pictures.  This time he did.

Eagle at Forest Creek

Several times we had Cedar Waxwings in the yard feeding on our Yupon Holly bushes.   They really go after the berries. Galen managed to get one picture with them at the birdbath. 

Just before he took this picture there were many more lining the rim.

I guess my main accomplishment this past month was sewing dog bandanas for my friend Lisa.  These were all Easter themed ones

These are just a few.

I am still going through bins, boxes and the like. I knew these blocks were somewhere.  Found them. Forget why they were put away but now they have seen the light of day.  12 are made, not sure of the pattern anymore.  But all the fabric was with the blocks.  Easy to figure out.  Will get more made and decide on a layout

Picked up one of my sewing machine.  It was needing a good cleaning job. I don’t care how often I get the lint out of the bobbin area, it still gets to where I can’t reach it.  At the price of today’s machines a cleaning is worth every penny! My other one goes in late May. That one is also capable of doing embroidery.  I need to start doing that again.  Need to get labels done for the quilts plus I have collected numerous designs.  Need to get busy!

That about covers it for us.  Everyone stay well.

 poodlegirls  Daily Happenings, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Quilting, Uncategorized

 

April 8th 2025

I think we are finally over having cold snaps at least according to Accuweather! This year though I wouldn’t count on it. A couple nights in the 30’s is a little unusual for us right outside Austin.

I was able to do more sorting. That proved to be a good thing! Remember this block from last week?

I found the pattern!

The blocks are sewn into rows now. This is what I have done so far. Thinking of putting a corner stone in the horizontal sashing. Will get it finished this week.

I found some fabric that I thought would be good for placemats. Have cut them but need to cut the fabric for the backs.

Galen will be away Thursday to Saturday-East Texas trip to see what’s flying. I hope to sew a lot while he is away. Of course plans are always greater than my accomplishments. Too say the very least I have enough here to keep me busy!

That about sums it us for us. Go to the link below for more quilt inspiration.

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2025/04/design-wall-monday-april-7-2025.html

 

Must be Spring!

Our temperatures are saying it’s Spring.  And there are no cold temperatures in the forecast.  Hopefully that is the case.

I finished up 39 bandanas- St. Patrick’s and Easter themed ones so Lisa could take them back to CA with her.  Delivered some St. Patrick’s day for the groomer here.  Need to make a few more for him and take them down on Tuesday.

I decided on the quilt pattern for the Wizard of Oz baby quilt.  Lisa’s daughter is expecting and the baby girl is due in June.  The theme is the Wizard of Oz and I was able to find fabric on line.  While it’s great to support my local shop, sometimes it’s necessary to shop on line. The main fabric is cut – 5 of 4 different fabrics. Have the accent fabrics cut. Just need to sub cut the background pieces. This is my next project after I make a few more bandanas. Am going to make BQ5  from Maple Island Quilts.  Sorry about the reflection from the lights

Thawed out a turkey last week to cook on the grill.  It was in brine for 14 hours ( 1 hour/ lb). Had it on the grill for just a little over 2 hours.  We have a gas grill

It was nice and crispy and moist

It’s grilling season. Tonight we had venison steaks on the grill for my birthday.  A friend had given us 2 bacon wrapped jalepeno and cheese chopped  venison steaks.  They were very good.

Friday night I made Thai Chicken Coconut Curry. Fun to try different recipes.

We’ve been working outside, Galen mostly.  Our cold temperatures did in a few bushes.   Galen got them cut back.  They will start shooting up new stems soon.  Our Spirea is starting to get some green on it.  It doesn’t take long for things to come back to life after a cold snap. Our Live Oaks  are starting to drop their leaves.   They do that in the Spring as new leaves come out.  Yes. We have 2 seasons of leaf raking!!!!

Galen did go down to our local lake this week.  The Dragonflies are starting to show up.  This means more trips will be happening now.  Weather is getting better for Dragonflies.

Familiar Bluet

Yesterday we drove out to Granger Dam area.  Migration time again.  At the dam overlook we got to see a good size gathering of White Pelicans as well as a very large grouping of cormorants.

And we lucked out with the Burrowing Owl.  He wasn’t hiding among the rocks this time

Galen got a few other birds as well so it was a good morning.

Maybe next week will be some pictures of Bluebonnets!

Hope everyone has a good week

 poodlegirls  cooking, Daily Happenings, Gardening, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Quilting, Travels, Uncategorized Leave a comment  March 2, 2025 2 MinutesEdit"Must be Spring!"

 

Catching Up!

 poodlegirls  cooking, Daily Happenings, Gardening, General Sewing, Life at home, Nature, Travels, Uncategorized  February 25, 2025 1 Minute

What are difference from last week’s freezing temperatures.  We had the coldest nights of the year.  Not supposed to happen in mid-February! Several nights in the teens!  We got plants covered and they survived pretty well.  One didn’t and that was fine.  Was hoping it might not. Galen dug out the old frames with frost protector covers that we had used on our raised beds.

Amaryllis under this one.  Paperwhites under the second one.

Moved the Merkot Lime next the house and covered with several old sheets.

This week. Mostly 70’s during the day with 50’s at night.  Now to get some rain. We did sit on the deck for awhile last evening. 

Our bird feeders were busy all week as well as the birdbath with the fountain.  We had the small heater in so it didn’t freeze.

Red-bellied woodpecker

Orange crown Warbler

Cedar wax wing

We did get out on the 17th to the Granger area.  While we had seen very few Northern Harrier Hawks other times, we saw quite a few that day.

Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier juvenile jumping up and down! He was having lunch.

A long distance shot Galen got of a juvenile Eagle.  That was a bonus for the day.

I spent a good part of the days making dog bandanas for my friends dog grooming shop in CA.  39 for St. Patrick’s day.

Working on ones for Easter now.  She is going to be in town this coming weekend.  She can take these back with her.  Will get others made for the groomer here and deliver those early next week.

With the cold damp weather last week I tried a new recipe for Spicy Butternut Squash Soup.  That recipe will go in the make it again file.

It’s the time of the year to get out at least one hummingbird feeder.  Also to decide what do we want to plant.  It will be whatever will do well in containers.  Getting too much shade in the back yard.  Yes shade is good except for gardening.

Hope everyone has a great week.

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