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Showing posts with label quilts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quilts. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Seasons

 It's been a very long while since my last post!
The seasons have already changed from hot summer
to sciffs of snow and freezing temperatures.

I must make a few "quick notes" before the fast approaching Winter season is here.

First and foremost, today is my daughter's 42nd birthday!!
She is the one and only that has made me a mom and also gifted
our family with a wonderful son-in-law and 2 beautiful grandchildren.
Love you to the moon and back Becky!


"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
And God is the one who has made it so.
He has made everything beautiful in its time."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

These verses have been very poignant to me of late ...

Since mid-August my "seasons" have changed a few times
and with much thankfulness I actually look forward to the 
seasons to come. 

Fall pickling, relishing and preserving happened ...


Sleepovers and fun with the grandchildren ...




Swimming, exploring, crafting and homemade ice-cream ... just to mention a few
fun summer things we did!



Those hot summer months flew by and before we knew it,
school was back in session.



Then a marvelous thing happened, just a few months after experiencing 
a wonderfilled tour with former colleagues to Europe, celebrating 500 years of Anabaptism,
I found myself going back across "the pond" to France and Germany
with a dear, new found, old friend.
I couldn't find a reason to refuse this invitation.

This was a perfect chance for us to get to know each other and to 
experience where he had studied in his early youth
as a professional bass-baritone singer!!
We visited some of his old friends and places he had lived 
but also discovered some new, to both of us, quaint and unforgettable
towns and regions.

The cathedral in Koln brought new wonder-meant as we attended a Sunday
morning mass and discovered the surrounding streets!

Most impressive cathedral I've ever seen!


We discovered ancient amphitheaters in Lyon,
ate traditional escargot in Dijon, and
frog legs (delicious) in the Beaujolaise region,
where we visited dear friends in Pommier and even played
crokinole with them one evening!

From France we did extensive travel in Germany ...

So many castles, colourful vineyards, delicious foods, markets, fountains, wines, German beers,
 friends, and speeding along the autobahns and many secondary roads
 to incredible places, sites,
 and discoveries!




It is impossible to capture all the emotions and beauty
we found and also the friendship we felt and are 
cherishing still!
He speaks fluent French and German which also was a huge bonus!
My "season to mourn" has new meaning and much hope.

Quilts were finished in the nick of time to present to
two wonderful young actresses who were cast in
this season's production of Annie at 
Congratulations to Olivia and Hazel (and their amazing moms)
for doing such a tremendous job this season.
It has been my pleasure getting to know you all and hosting you
sometimes in my home when the travelling was just too hectic for you!
I had so much fun making these quilts with swatches of fabric used 
for your costumes.
I will never forget this amazing troupe!





The days have shortened and the joyful season of Christmas is just around
the corner.
The house is "almost" decorated and the baking has "almost" begun!

Let us not forget,
the precious gift of Christ being born is the reason for this Season!



Till next time, slow down and enjoy this Season you find yourself in! 


Thank you Daniel!









Saturday, February 22, 2025

Snow Daze Mood

It's been snowing for weeks!!
Storm after storm has hit.
So many missed events, bus cancellations, road closures,
and challenging days ...
need I say more?

Sure, it's pretty, but ... Spring will come - right?


The snow cake just kept growing and growing! 17" at latest measure.







 One would consider that maybe being "stuck" staying home
would be opportunity for finishing some projects, cleaning the house, etc.
A bad cold and cough kept me on the couch for days and my ambition
went out with the cold wind and storms - eek!
Somehow this is all too reminiscent of those Covid days of 5 years ago.

Thankfully, there were some silver linings and occasionally the sun did peek through
the dense grey clouds making me feel much better and giving me the mojo I needed.



Stormy Day Valentine's bake.
Missing my sisters!





A baby rag quilt for a special little February baby.






School cancelled day gave us a chance to get his hot wheels
quilt knotted. He is a good "knotter"!


She practiced her selfie skills ...
We had a fun "play date"!





The orchid bloomed! So beautiful.






Today's walk ... I have to admit that it actually does look very pretty indeed!
Perhaps the sun's shining helps with the mood.


Spring is officially 4 Mondays plus 4 days away - yippee!
Will March come in like a Lion or a Lamb?


These will be "remember when" stories we tell our grandchildren?



Till next time ... stay cozy!







Sunday, July 28, 2024

Smack-Dab!

 How is your summer going?

It's been hot and wet over here,
unlike hot and dry in some areas.
The unstoppable devastating fires in Alberta are sobering and tragic!

July is at it's end and I have not much to share.
It went by so very fast even though I really tried to slow things down.

I'll let these few snaps tell the rest of the story:


Saskatoon Berry picking with dear friends


There may be some jams and pies in my future?




Swan Lake - in my back yard!


Come with me on my walk ... beautiful Stratford





July kittens, swims, bird watching, and picnics on the deck!

The best of days!




Lavender Farm outing with a friend




And now she's NINE!!!



Family gathering at the "home" farm



Binding some love into this quilt for a beloved 
sister's granddaughter.



Ice-cream on the blue bench. A fun outing!



We are smack-dab in the middle of summer right now.
Looking forward to August with lots of Grammie time to come.
Let's have a "slow" August and make this summer last.



Till next time ... pausing to breath and to enjoy these summer days. What a privilege this is ...

Sunday, June 2, 2024

May Daze

 May brought lots of sunshine and flowers ...

quilts, swim days, concerts, theatre, coffee on the deck, convertible ride,
Relief Sale, and bull frog watching!

I'll let the pictures tell the story here.





First batch of Rhubarb Muffins.









Keeping out the "wiley wabbits"!


The Good Lovelies came to our area and a lovely evening concert was enjoyed!




Rhubarb for Rhulief - we sold over $1,000 of fresh rhubarb at the Relief Sale!



My first ever quilt donation to the Relief Sale - sold for $325



Three girls in a Mustang!







Wendy and Peter Pan with the fam jam.





Till next time ... hope your May Daze were wonderful. Here comes June!


Monday, May 13, 2024

Where the Orioles Sing

 It's apple blossom season at the farm
and true to every year, the orioles return to play in the blossoms.
These beautiful elusive birds can be heard singing but hard to catch on camera.
Their song was once referred to as a Robin that's had singing lessons!
I agree!

"Waterlogue edit"




This time of year at the farm is so pretty and I am privileged to spend some time there.

Besides the Rhubarb that is growing so fast,
The ferns are unfurling and the white bleeding heart 
is as beautiful as ever.






What a week it's been!

A very rare witness to Aurora Borealis sighting here in SW Ontario
and I captured some of the colour right from my front porch in the city!!!





Did you see this too?
So amazing ...

Since my last post of another celestial event (the total eclipse)
my sweet Sully finished another trip around the sun.
He's SIX!!!

Yup - he love's hot wheels!!!


The Leis Fam Jam got together for dinner and an ear-splitting
Eric Clapton tribute concert.
It was a fabulous concert, however, I now appreciate my unplugged
CD version even more.
I am old!





A bit of quilting happened too.
So thankful for sister time creating a quilt for another one
of her granddaughters who will be heading off to university this Fall!
Hope I'll still be able to help when her youngest grandchildren 
are ready to head off to college - they are still toddlers - eek!
Maybe we should start now?




Mother's Day was delightful spent with family at the farm.
Rhubarb Pie was baked (of course) and a bowl of my mom's potato salad recipe
was added to the table.





Patrick served a mouth watering meal of smoked chicken sliders with
all the fixings!!



Till next time ....... stopping to listen for the oriole's song and keeping my eyes looking up!







50 Years of Goodness

  More With Less by Doris Janzen Longacre is celebrating 50 years  !! Menno Media put out the invitation for testing some of the recipes and...