Rail Fence Progress

 I'm working on a large quilt (28x30) block layout using 3.5" (3"finished) rail fence blocks.  I'm working on the third section.  Here's the layout:

I'm linking up at Quilting is more fun than housework for Oh Scrap!

Slow Sunday Stitching

 I only moved the hoop a little to work on this next part of the same block.  This project definitely qualifies for S L O W stitching.  I'm trying a longer needle.  I'm not sure if I like how thick it is.  I like the length.

Another slow project is planting seedlings.  I'm experimenting with planting them using egg shells as the container.  I got these on Amazon.  These are Scabiosa Pincushion Mix.

I'm happy to report I'm not sore today from falling when the pool ladder broke on Friday night.  Woohoo.  We also had a nice rain yesterday -- finally.  The smoke from the Canadian wildfires seems to have cleared up quite a bit in our part of Ohio.

I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching here.

 

Rail Fence 3.5" Blocks RSC26

I made it this far with my RSC rail fence blocks.  They are 3.5" unfinished.

I'm going for a 28 x 30 block layout.  That would fit our bed nicely.  I love the look of it so far.

Hoping for rain today.  If so, I'll lay out the next 15 x 15 section.  Otherwise I'll be working outside trying to make progress on pulling weeds from my BIG flowerbed.  Here's the before pic.  Look at all those overgrown weeds!

Progress... it's looking better:

Look at this before pic at this angle.  Yuck.

Looking better.  I only have about 1/8 of the bed left to weed.  Eventually I will remove four of the bushes too.  That may have to wait until fall.  This hot weather isn't the best time to move them.  When I look at the above pic and this next pic, it's hard to tell it's the same flower bed.

And the lamp shade you ask?  Someone was throwing that away.  I got two of them out of their trash.  They make great supports for peonies!  My peonies never bloom here.  The leaves turn brown later in the season.  I'm moving them.  Hopefully they will be closer to some ants to eat the wax so that they open. 

I pulled this branch of berries out of there.  The chickens are happy.  They have to stay in the fenced area for a few days.  We had a close call with a coyote on Thursday.  It was within 20 yards of my girls!  I purposely leave some weeds in this fenced-in area for the chickens.  They like to root and scratch around them.  

My other job this week will be to find a new pool ladder.  My son wanted to swim after 7pm yesterday.  We were having fun.  The water temp at that time was 85 degrees.

My husband and son got out of the pool and went into the garage.  When I got out of the pool, this:

When I fell I hit both knees.  I have had knee issues in the past.  I'm really sore this morning.  I'm so thankful that I didn't break anything or get hurt more.  But ladder shopping it is.  I yelled for help.  No answer... After a couple minutes of sitting there watching water gush out I accessed my body damage and got up and texted my husband this photo.  He was able to make the repair.  When.  It's still holding.

I'm linking up at Angela's blog, SoScrappy, for the RSC26

Bitcoin -- More Progress

BitCoin is a Bonnie Hunter digital pattern available on her site here.  It got up to 97 degrees yesterday.  I stayed in the house vs. pulling weeds in the sun.  These posts will probably be boring as it continues to grow.  I like to sometimes use my blog to make myself feel accountable and motivate me to move projects forward. 

I am going for the original size of 74" x 90".  It could go just a smidge wider, but with all these little seams, the quilt could become heavy.

Bitcoin Progress -- Sewing the Long Rows

I finally have enough rows assembled on the BitCoin quilt to start putting the rows together.  BitCoin is a Bonnie Hunter digital pattern available on her site here.  It took me an hour to sew four rows together.  I am going for the original size of 74" x 90".  It could go just a smidge wider, but with all these little seams, the quilt could become heavy.

I didn't lay out the rows.  I am going to put them together at random in strips of four and then arrange them.  I'll have a couple left over to put where needed.  Many of these fabrics definitely look better cut into tiny pieces because the majority of them came out of the multi-colored bin.  I made sure I threw in some others to break it up a bit.  I'm glad I did.  You can see where the fabrics with the single colors break that up.

It's been hot--in the 90's--and humid.  My t-shirt gets soaked working in the flowerbed in the first 15 minutes.  Better get busy pulling weeds this morning.  But look how Candy gets creative to be comfy:

Candy is an outside cat but usually insists on my attention and likes to be where I am on the property.

This afternoon looks like a pool day.

The ducks are enjoying the hot days as well.

Plants by the Fence Finally Moved

It's been a process to move the plants growing on the other side of the chicken yard fence.  This weekend I selected the last few.  I know this is not the best time of year to transplant them.  They are very hardy and will survive.  They will be ready for work next spring.

Yucca, sedum, peonies, cora bells.  They are ready to move to their new home.  Hoping for rain the next few days.  We shall see.  

My next area to get a lot of attention is this bed by the pole barn.  It is overcome by weeds.  There are four large shrub-like flowering plants.  I am going to remove three of them and leave the rhododendron.  Every year I cut the other three back.  They grow back and take up too much room.  They are crowding the plants.  I am going to move them to a sunny spot along the woods.  Again, I know this is not the best time of the year to do this.  But once school starts I will be busy busy again. 

Bitcoin Progress

 More progress has been made on the BitCoin quilt.  BitCoin is a Bonnie Hunter digital pattern available on her site here.  The last of the columns have been counted and sewn.  Next I will put them together.