Purple Lining and Rusty Wheels

I think I may have an obsession for purple flowers?

Seems like everything that is blooming right now is

either purple or white.

It certainly is such a pretty time of year here

on this old farm!

I am enjoying the Spring blooms.

We were scheduled to be on tour in England right now

and would have missed it - so there's the "purple" lining of it all I guess!?

Also, the farmer has been doing a lot of cleaning up around here

and this old hay rake has been rusting in the back forty for

as long as we've lived here - over 40 years!

He dug it out of the grass and with much effort was able 

to get those gorgeous wheels off.

I've been wanting those for a long time and here they are:

Today was the date for the annual Mennonite Relief Sale in New Hamburg.

Because it was cancelled, due to Covid-19, they went ahead and auctioned off 100 quilts online.

What a joy to see the beautiful hand work with all profits going to

Mennonite Central Committee

for world relief. The feature quilt sold for $2,300 I believe.

Here is a link to the quilt catalogue if you care to have a peek.

https://nhmrs.com/quilt-catalogue

We've been enjoying such lovely warm weather for the past few weeks,

but tonight it has turned quite cold with a risk of frost.

My garden is planted and the tomato plants are covered for tonight - just in case.

Hope everyone is still staying healthy and patient ...

Till next time .... stopping to smell the purple flowers.

Covid Spring

Covid Spring 2020

Here we are, isolation Day 66, rainy Victoria Day 

My cup of tea and piece of rhubarb cake is getting me through today ...

I hesitated to post this but,

Documenting how I am feeling for my own reference some day.

This has been the strangest and most surreal Spring in my life/in the world!

Increasingly, my emotions seem to be getting the better of me.

Missing my friends and favourite little humans

I feel so unmotivated and cannot wait to hug my grandchildren.

Everything will be O.K. - right?

All the upcoming "normal" events have literally been crossed off our calendar:

Birthday parties - gone virtual

Weddings postponed

Church services - gone virtual and Zoomed

Church play cancelled

Local Theatre Play cancelled

Mission's Fund Raising Dinner cancelled

Curling Banquet and Annual Meeting cancelled

Way overdue hair appointments - don't get me started on the state of my hair - eek!

Doctor's appointments cancelled

The Stratford Festival Theatre Season cancelled - surreal

Ailsa Craig Quilt Show cancelled

Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale cancelled

Our trip to England cancelled

Vacation Bible School cancelled

Funerals postponed

Wellesley's Apple Butter and Cheese Festival cancelled

and so much more!

Everything will be O.K. - right?

However, many wonderful things have happened too since the World was put on Pause:

My sister's granddaughter Violet was born

Isolated Baby Violet's - First Peeks through the patio doors!

Birthdays were celebrated in very unique ways

Some sewing projects were completed

Mini Quilt Along Project almost complete

Quilting and rewatching the sour dough tutorial

Sourdough baking accomplished

New projects are on the go - i.e. crochet

Flower beds weeded and mulched

Misty Spring Evening

Spring Flowers are blooming

Mother's Day

Beautiful Flowers from my loves. Our Mom's - missing them so much!

Face masks have been sewn

Orioles, Hummingbirds, and Grosbeaks have arrived

Crops are planted and the stones have been picked

Apple blossoms are ready to burst

Fresh Rhubarb, Chives and Winter Onions from the garden

The almost daily FaceTimes with my loved ones - get's me through

Everything will be O.K. - right!?

Thank you for bearing with me on this post ...

Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

The Good News: God is standing by your side, even in the toughest moments of your life. Do not be afraid, stand strong, and have faith.

Clinging to those words

Everything WILL be O.K.!

Till next time - how is everyone coping? Praying that you are all staying healthy and safe.

These two keep me giggling with their hilarious text antics!
I find myself watching them over and over ...

The Two's Are Tumbling In ...

Our little Sully turned two today!

Sully, you have brought us so much Joy.

We love you

From the curl on the top of your sweet head,

to the bottom of your pudgy little toes.

You have learned so many things this past year;

to walk and to run really fast,

to sit on top of your sister while she giggles and gasps for air,

to point and communicate with hilarious expressions,

to forming your first words - fish, beep, cookie, Elmo and many more

We love how you throw your head back with laughter and smiles,

how you wrinkle up your nose when you smile,

and how you show your surprised look.

Your blue eyes light up when you see Papa.

He can't wait to take you on your first tractor ride and so much more!

We love your visits and your warm wrap around the neck cuddles.

Stay sweet and know that you are dearly loved!

Happy, happy Birthday Sullivan ...

May God bless you and keep you safe till we can hold you and hug you again!

"The two's are tumbling in ...

                          you'll never be one again".       by Alabama

XOXOXOXO

Chocolate mud!

Photo credits - mommy and dadda and some by Nammie

Woodland Ramp and Potato Soup

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Nothing tastes better than a good batch of wild leeks (ramps)

and potato soup on this cold and sunny Earth Day.

The farmer dug a small batch from a neighbouring woodland

for this earthy soup ...

3 slices uncooked bacon - diced

2 slices cooked ham - chopped

1 Tbsp. butter

1 small onion - chopped

10-12 ramps, peeled cleaned and chopped (heads only)

6 potatoes - peeled and diced

4 Cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock

salt and pepper to taste

1 Cup milk

1/4 Cup sour cream

a few ramp leaves chopped - for garnish

In Dutch Oven, fry the chopped bacon until crisp, remove, set aside and pour off the fat.

Add butter, onions and ramps - saute for a few minutes

Add the broth and bring to a simmer.

Stir in the chopped potatoes and simmer till fork tender

Mash or puree the potatoes and broth.

Return the bacon and add ham to the soup, reserving some for garnish. Heat through.

Add the milk and sour cream and serve.

Garnish with chopped ramp leaves and crumbles of bacon

The soup was tasty - however, now the house has that
lingering "old people's" pungent garlicky smell.
Oh well, no one is coming over for a visit any time soon
and besides - we are the old people - smile!

The sourdough bread turned out really good today.
It may have upstaged the soup!

In spite of not having any of the "required" equipment,

such as the proofing bannetons (baskets) etc.,

I think I'm finally getting onto it?

So glad I didn't give up on this fermented goodness.

It tasted delicious with the soup.

Hosta Leaf design?

I think sourdough baking could become my distraction during this pandemic?
As long as I can find flour ... the store shelves are still scarce on baking supplies.


Do you have a covid-19 distraction these days?
Are you and your loved ones managing OK?

Till next time  - trying to stay positive! 

Day 32 and Counting

Well, that was Easter 2020!

Today on this dreary Easter Monday - reality is really starting to sink in.

My heart literally aches when I think of

how much I miss my little loves and the rest of our family.

However, so much to be thankful for.

Ash Tree Clean-up almost complete

Easter Bunnies made ... '80's pattern

(the farmer's old jeans being used)

Working from home ...

(the farmer with our son-in-law,

 business partner)

Junior Business Partner at work!

And me sewing teeny tiny 1 1/2 inch pieces of fabric together for a 

mini quilt - quilt along. 

I think I need to find a new hobby!!!!

Finally, after a helpful free webinar by Sourdough Schoolhouse,

better success with my latest 2 loaves.

(thanks for the link from Marg B. and Lovella S.)

Not perfect but getting better

No butter lamb made this year,

but Paska served with Ontario Maple Syrup

was a must.

Oh yes, and some yummy "HopCorn" was devoured.

The best part of this Spring 2020 are the sweet pictures and FaceTimes shared

Apparently the word quarantine from Italian means "a period of forty days".

There are so many biblical references to the number 40.

Plus, the year 2020 (20 + 20 = 40) might be significant?

This makes me hopeful that soon this global pause will resume.

I have to confess to having some very "blue" days and finding it hard to

even get meals made and on the table - so many meals to be made it seems.

A fair number of hotdogs and hamburgers have been consumed lately!

Hang in there everyone.

We are all in this together!

Keep your stick on the ice.

Hug the ones you're with.

Stay home!

Till next time ... hoping that your Easter was meaningful and healthy.

                         Trusting in the Lord for better days ahead.

The Quilting Chair

This is an old chair with much meaning. It holds the 

history of many generations who sat on it and quilted!

Recently our church was cleaning up the storage area and these chairs were needing to be removed.

The sewing circle of many generations used them to sit around the many

quilts and comforters that were made for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)

and for the annual MCC Relief Sale.

The quilts are the highlight of these sales, raising thousands of dollars for relief

programs around the world.

These chairs were preferred by the ladies (many of them my aunts) because of their

slim and petite build.

They fit perfectly around the quilts.

When I had a chance to take one home as a memory - I was happy to oblige.

Thankfully a few do remain at the church, as requested by some of our senior sewers

who still like to use them.

Who knew that one day I would become interested in quilts and quilting?

I'm certainly old enough - that's for sure.

These past 2 weeks of self isolation have given me the chance to

finish up some of my quilt projects.

The chair gave me a perfect prop to photograph some these efforts.

I am by no means an expert quilter but do love to do the piecing on my sewing machine.

The tulip banner was made from fabric scraps left over from 

Noa's big girl bed and I took the challenge to quilt it free motion on my little machine.

Hope she'll love this wee touch of Spring!

The "Tree of Life" patches are sewn to the quilt backs as my signature label.

This one is currently at the quilters and will be finished soon
Bear Claw #2

Have added quite a few empty spools to this collection!

I am pleased to own this old chair and hope it keeps the quilt inspiration going.

  

This is certainly a stay where I am kind of Spring to remember!

So much has transpired these last few weeks.
We are currently on day 14 of social distancing and self isolation.
Only two very careful times out for groceries and fabrics at small local shops!
Alas, the fabric shops are now closed indefinitely as well.

Let's bind together and be reminded that God is in control and keeping us

covered in warmth and love during these days of uncertainty.

Can't wait to snuggle with these two loves again!

Till next time ... Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Stay At Home!

Lions, Lambs, and Snowy Owls

The end of February suddenly became very Wintery

with a huge stormy and snowy blast,

and I was sure that March would come in like a Lion!

However, it actually came in like a lamb with a warm sunny day.

Does this mean that March will also go out like a Lion?

I SO long for Spring ... just saying.

This beautiful snowy owl

doesn't seem to mind the Winter.

These beautiful birds have been sighted

quite frequently recently in our area.

So glad I was able to get this shot!

Speaking of snowy owls,

I've let my hair go "snowy" and am actually starting to get used to it.

I know that it makes me look older but I am, after all, older!

It still gives me a start on occasion when I look in the mirror and see all that silver!

I've been sewing with a bit of urgency as my Winter projects

are starting to come to an end.

This huge quilt is for our bed - I hope.

I have four more blocks to sew together and then need to assemble the quilt.

It might be another year by the time it actually get's totally finished.

It's been a fun project but now I'm not even sure I still like the fabric - eek!

The pattern is "Antique Lace" by Jenny Doan at Missouri Star Quilt Company.

16 of 20 blocks have been assembled so far.

4 more to go!

Meanwhile:

Our little lambs are growing up so fast.

They bring us so much joy!

A sure sign of Spring - Ontario's Maple Syruping has begun!

Till next time ... With the World's grim news these days, stay calm and healthy!

                          Perhaps our earth and climate crisis is in need of this "shut down" rest?