So Thankful!

I've been enjoying taking the time to stop and smell the flowers.. A lot. There are so many things going on in this world that try to worry me. But I absolutely refuse to worry. I choose to think about the many good things we have instead.

Here is a glimpse into the world at Muddle Manor. It has somehow turned into Summer around here, but morning and evening are still bearable.

 Did you know that if you plant the bottom of an onion instead of pitching it into the garbage green onion shoots will appear? That's one in the middle on the left. I just stuck  it into a flower pot. Free food!

Aren't the flowers and vegetable garden gorgeous! I do so love it! And I am so thankful.

I have that quilt from last post on the quilting machine. Hopefully I will finish the quilting today. It has undergone lots of design changes along the way, but that's what makes quilting fun, isn't it?

This beautiful blue butterfly wandered into the little greenhouse in the back yard a little over a week ago. It stayed inside there for three days and the fourth day it was gone. I have no idea why it was there or what it was doing. I do not close the greenhouse now since it's so hot, so it could have flown away at any time.

I was thinking. I know, always a dangerous thing! How often have I permitted myself to stay in a situation that was not what it should have been when the door was open all the time?

I hope you are having many good times! Even in the midst of all the craziness in the world right now, God is still good!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

Absolutely Loving It

Spring, after a very light Winter, is delightful! There are angel trumpets dripping all over our yard.

This is a hibiscus that survived the Winter. It has to be over 15 feel tall!

 

And lots of other pretty things to see, too. The vegetable garden is coming along splendidly, and the flowers are oh, so happy  I am trying to enjoy every little bit of it all I can, because I know that the heat of Summer will be here very soon. Matter of fact, it's here already some afternoons. It is important to enjoy the fresh beauty while it is around.

 

Something else I'm really enjoying is our new baby chicks! I have no idea why I love them so much, but I do! Mr. Muddling just shakes his head and loves me anyway, thank God!

 

Buddy is watching over them, and I am watching him! LOL!

 

This is a not-yet-finished Ribbons quilt. It is a Jordan Fabrics free pattern. You can see a video here. It was originally posted in November, 2018.  I am making mine a queen size. The center portion is all sewn together now and I just have to make decisions about the borders and get them attached.

 

I wish I could share some of the loveliness here with you all, but I hope you have lots where you are that is making your smile!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

 

 

 

 

 

Glorious Spring

One of the first things that tells me Spring is truly here is those tiny little figs appearing on our fig tree. I eagerly look forward to the day they will start to ripen. We had to prune quite a bit of damaged wood from the tree in the Fall, so there will probably not be as many figs as usual. That won't stop me from loving those that do appear!

 

Getting our garden up and running again for another season is another thing that brings me joy. Mr. Muddling and I got all the tomatoes tied up and the cucumber vines trained up their strings. Lots of anticipation here, too.

 

A very pleasant fragrance refreshed us as we worked out there - the jasmine in full bloom!

 

Lots of pretties out in our very own back yard. It is not very big, but it is absolutely full of things we love.

 

I picked the borders for the friendship star variation quilt, got them sewed on, and the quilt quilted and bound.

 

And here it is out in the back yard! I just needed a bright colorful quilt and this one filled the bill.

 

I hope you have a full measure of things to delight you, too. This is a beautiful world the Lord has given us to enjoy. Even with the challenges we've all had to face recently - life is still good! And I am thankful.

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

 

 

 

 

 

So Many Things

First of all, we are getting rain, which we need. It is a nice slow rain and everything outside seems to be soaking it up with joy!  There are plenty of pretty things to enjoy inside, too, even if it's just looking out the window. Outside yesterday, upper left, you can see chickens if you look closely. I have to watch them very carefully when I let them into Ruthie's Garden. They are extremely destructive! But they have such a good time, I can't seem to resist letting them in sometimes.

 

I started another quilt. This is a friendship star variation.

 

 

Here is my darling Mr. Muddling modeling a face mask I made yesterday.  As you can see behind him, the quilt grew.

 

This was last night when I quit. I fully intended to do a lot of sewing today, but it just didn't happen.

 

 

 

Instead, I did a little cooking, including these rolls. They are SO good!

 

I also made a Pumpkin Cranberry cake, and as you can see, we have already made a nice little dent in it.

 

What can I say? Stressful times call for baking. And eating said baking!

 

Seriously, there are so many things that can make you totally crazy if you let them. I am a firm believer in doing what I can and then leaving the rest to the Lord. He is much wiser than I, and does a much better job of handling all those things.

 

I hope all is well with you and that you are not letting things make you crazy! Trust in the One who is well able to help.

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

 

A Quilt for the Bunny Bed

So. I've been playing with my toys again.

 

I decided Miss Bunny needed a quilt for her bed.

 

I sewed lots of one inch strips together, and added a backing.

 

And then for more fun I machine appliqued some pieces of a couple of different fabrics to the center.

I think she likes it.

 

Dinah, of course, is not terribly impressed with anything.

 

I am impressed with everything growing out in the back. The tomatoes are doing very well that I started from seed a while back. Matter of fact, some of them are in the garden which Mr. Muddling tilled up for me. I got two more blooms on a different Christmas cactus this week!

 

I am so thankful I feel more able to do things out in the yard this year. I missed it so much! There is something very therapeutic about playing in the dirt. For me, at least!

 

It seems the whole world is going through some trying times right now. I am thankful that I do not have to worry about any of it. Our wonderful God takes very good care of all of us. And maybe it would be a good time to get back in touch with Him if you've wandered away.

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elailne

 

 

Rail Fence Baby Quilt

Another niece had a baby - a girl this time. Her colors are pink, purple and teal. This is the result, a rail fence with some Go! Cutter die cut animals appliqued on with multicolor thread. It IS colorful, isn't it!

 

The back is this sweet vintage look print surrounded by pink, which is also the binding fabric.

 

Here's a close up of the backing print. The required colors are all there, and it is sweet, too! Haven't heard yet, but we hope they like it.

 

Since we had no real freezing weather here this year, our Spring started off with a bang! I am loving every bit of it. That's Dinah there in the top row. She looks a little ominous, doesn't she? And it amazes me that our little Meyer lemon tree is loaded with flowers and still has lemons on it from last year! And the little greenhouse is coming in very useful. I have started lots of seeds.

 

Our daughter Mary graduated today from welders' dive school. So incredibly proud of her. Mr. Muddling was there in Charleston to see it happen!  Our son is keeping a close eye on me while Dad is gone.

 

I think we may get our garden planted soon. I am already looking forward to fresh veggies.

 

Now I am back to working on the third Sew Many Strips, a Quilt Along from American Patchwork and Quilting. Can you tell that I really like this pattern? This one will be going to our daughter Mary - the underwater welder -  whenever I finish it.

 

I do hope there are exciting and challenging things (in a good way) going on in your world!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

 

 

 

 

Two for the USO

I finished this patriotic quilt for the USO Lounge at our local airport. It makes me happy to give our soldiers a little comfort on their journey from here to there.

 

Lots of red, white and blue in this one. But notice that the sixteen patches are a little bit of everything. I love that!

 

Here it is all crinkly and cuddly after its run through the washer and dryer.

This little red and white one will be going, too. It should be nice for a child.

 

Doesn't it make you think of cupcakes?

 

Still lots of pretty things outside! As you can see, we have not had the brutal cold this year.

I bought one of the amaryllis bulbs to force inside. That's it in the top center. That is the second stalk of four blooms! Mr. Muddling and I bought the little anthurium, the red heart shaped flower lower second from left.  It was sort of a Valentine's gift from us to us. 

 

I do love seeing all the pretty things God has put in this world for us to enjoy!

 

I hope there are lots of those in your world.

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine