My Skulk of Foxes

When I referred to groups of foxes having different names on a recent post, cousin, Cheryl, said she liked the name - a skulk of foxes, so skulk it is.

Having said that, yesterday I was able to complete on my 16 foxes for the Fancy Forest quilt, so my skulk is complete.

Now on to the rabbits.  I have already completed 2 and have 6 to go to make up my 'colony' or 'nest' of rabbits.

The foxes are gathering

We have visitors at the moment so there has not been much in the way of stitching happening for me.

Today, there was a window of opportunity so I set myself the task of completing the 16 fox blocks required for my Fancy Forest quilt.

I had made a start on block 14 before I had to finish for the day.

A bit of trivia from Mr Google - A group of foxes is referred to as a skulk, leash, or earth. Not sure what title I should give mine.

The foxes seem to endear themselves to me as each block is completed.

I especially like these red and grey fox blocks.

I wanted to keep within the autumn tone theme I had set myself so that meant 16 different fabrics needed to be found.

To achieve this I had to add extra seams to some pieces.

I could have chosen to repeat some colours instead but preferred the challenge of finding 16 different fabrics.

Worth it to succeed in using my stash rather than buying more fabric, which I am trying to avoid.

Bloom Quilt

Last year our Sweet Pea group embarked on a cheerful scrappy quilt called the Bloom Quilt by Lori Holt.






Lori has made a special set of templates for the floral blocks.






We have enjoyed seeing the results as the quilts are being completed.

 Fiona is talking to Rochelle about her quilt as you go finish.

I didn't manage to capture all of Andreena's quilt but the vibrancy of the colours she chose are very evident.

Debbie has been busy quilting Trish's quilt for her.

As with all of our group projects, I am always fascinated by the different results according to individual colour preferences.

Sweet Pea Sewing Group

Our fortnightly Sweet Peas sewing group has started again this year.

Usually, when we meet, there is quite a bit of show and tell, but this time nothing.

However, Fiona brought us a bunch of lovely roses, fresh from her garden.

Maybe no show and tell but we are really enjoying having these flowers at our place.

UFO?

Recently we had bush fires in the Taupo area and in the morning we had an unusual sunrise.

I took this shot from my bathroom and when I looked at it I thought maybe I had sighted a UFO (top right hand corner) but it turned out that I had caught the reflection of bathroom lights.

Learning, always learning

For a while now I have been wanting to learn a little about stitching down raw edge applique with a very small zig zag stitch.

I have been making some table runners for around the house and Samelia's Mum had done a table runner that was the inspiration for my attempt at this form of stitching.

I used Invisafil 100 wt thread for the zig zag stitching and set the stitch to 1 wide by 1.5 long on my Janome.

As a beginner in this form of stitching I was quite pleased with the outcome.

I did match stick quilting for the background and ended up with a runner that was just the right size for a chest of drawers in Linda's bedroom.

Some Laura Ashley sheeting fabric made a nice, colour co-ordinated backing for this household item.

More on Fancy Forest friends.

 There are 6 different blocks in the Fancy Forest quilt and I have now completed at least one of each.

Our forest friends need a little foliage as well and so we have a Thistle Plant block.

Last but not least is the Firefly.

What fun I could have with this block, with all the different colour combinations that could be used for the wings.

I have since made two more fox blocks and I need to make at least 12 more for the full size quilt so we should be firm friends by the time I have completed on this challenge.

Something special

 When we heard that the mother of a good friend of ours had passed away, Linda asked if she would like us to make a memory quilt using fabric from some of her mother's clothes.

Lesley Anne had to be very patient once she gave us the clothing as I pondered which garments might be suitable and what pattern to use to show them off.

The pink fabric featured in the inner border and corners was cotton but all the others were stretch fabric so stabilisation was required.

Another good friend of ours, Trish, had lent us a pattern of hers which featured ladies dresses and so, in the end, this is the result.

One example of what the dresses look like.

I tried to use features within the fabric where ever I could.  In this one I used the bolder white stripes as a highlight within the skirt.

This was one of the stripey stretch fabrics I used in a number of ways in the different dresses.

We had some fun sewing theme fabric that would have been from her mother's era that we used as backing for the quilt.

A bit of cream binding and some of Linda's lovely quilting to finish it and we were finally able to present Lesley Anne with her long awaited quilt.

Hazel joins the clan

Today Hazel Hedgehog joined the clan of forest friends.

These blocks seem to take on a life of their own once the eyes fall into place.

Elizabeth Hartman has done a wonderful job or creating each and every block and her instructions are excellent.

Once again I am on a stash busting exercise.

I did not want to buy any fabric for this project and so have gone for autumn colours with a cream background.  So far so good as I have plenty.

A Little Bit of Fun

During the past few days I have been having a little bit of fun stitching some animal/bird blocks.

Yesterday I realised how far I have come since hip surgery and how comfortable I feel when standing cutting fabric and also sitting at my sewing machine.

The surgeon is pleased with the outcome and so it will be nice if I don't have to spend and more time in hospital for many years to come.

Back to the blocks - for sometime now I have been contemplating whether or not to take the plunge and buy the Fancy Forest quilt pattern by Elizabeth Hartman.

Linda and I shared the idea with our Sweet Peas sewing group and some of us will be doing this as our project for the year.

To get us started I thought I would make samples of the six different blocks and so far I have the foxes above as well as these two rabbits

and one of the owls.

I love the almost stern look on the owl's face.

It reminds me of our Burmese cat when he gets cross with us.  He can have a bit of a look like that too.

A little bit of fun for today and there is still more to come - Hazel Hedgehog is next.

The things that cats do

Oh the innocence of a cat's face.

I needed to put the binding on a quilt and had it all set up by the sewing machine to start stitching.

At that moment Simba arrived and made himself comfortable amongst the folds of the quilt.

There was no moving him.  He settled down for a big sleep.

A couple of hours later I returned to do my job without a cat on the scene/quilt.

Second Time Around

A month later I returned to hospital and this time surgery happened and I was home again within three days.  All is well and I am required to be patient so that everything can heal up as best is possible.  Another 5 weeks and everything should be back to 'normal', we hope.

The cats are usually here to greet me when I have been away but not this time.  They were conspicuous by their absence, as if to say, 'You have left us one too many times.'

I settled in for the evening in the lounge with Linda and eventually Hershey came and collapsed into my lap as only he could.  I think I was forgiven for ever leaving home in the first place.

Simba's Turn

Hershey, Linda's chocolate cat, provides us with lots of photo opportunities but this time it was Simba's turn to cat scan my latest quilt.

At the moment it is hanging at our local quilt show:-

I am so pleased with the outcome.

The quilt design is from a pattern by Jenny Petigo called Urban Nine Patch.  With the colours I have used, this one is known as Tutti Fruiti.

Linda took great care to choose appropriate threads for the different coloured fabrics in the quilt and with her modern quilting style this quilt really has pizzazz.

Keeping the Vigil

Ever since he heard about my pending visit to hospital Foxie has been keeping a vigil for me.

Yesterday I found Hershey decided he needed company.

Still waiting for a definite date from the hospital - at this stage it may be mid October.

A Trip to Hospital

Yesterday we had a visit from our friend, Andreena, from our Sweet Pea group.

She came with a collection of presents in hand from our Sweet Pea group.  They knew I was scheduled for hip surgery the next day and these were gifts of comfort for me. So lovely and practical too.

Included with the goodies a basket of chocolates to encourage the nurses to look after me.

This morning, I left Foxie and flowers on my bed to welcome me on my return.

Little did I know my return would be sooner than I knew. I had been given instructions to prepare for surgery in the afternoon meaning I could have an early breakfast. However, when I was being checked in at the hospital it soon became apparent that I was scheduled for morning surgery.  I had been given the wrong information, oh dear.

Home again, home again with Foxie waitIng for my return.

A totally frustrating incident, but followed up with an apology from the hospital and I am now being rescheduled for the end of the month so not too long to wait to do it all over again.

From Summer to Winter Overnight

I left Seattle on Thursday afternoon.  It was a beautiful sunny clear blue sky Seattle day at a comfortable 25 degrees.

I arrived home to a decidedly cool (about 3 degrees) Saturday morning in Taupo.  Extremely cold and a mix of snow falling with the rain most of the day, but not enough to create snow on our lawn.

Mount Tauhara, pictured above, is quite close to our home and we have never seen snow on it like this before.

Our cats had not forgotten me (fortunately) and Hershey has been fussing as if he is worried I might disappear again. Before I went to bed Simba was there waiting for me.  Then he and Hershey had a tussle about who was sleeping where (at least I think that is what is was all about) and so Simba slept by my feet all night and Hershey hopped under the bed clothes so I think my long absence has been forgiven.

A Day For Big

I guess all things are relative but Sunday seemed to be a day of 'big' for me.  First there was Washington Park which was over 166 hectares.

Then we went to a games store where we met up with a friend of David's.  I couldn't capture the size of the store as the lighting was not good, but the shelves of this store were lined with every board game imaginable.

The floor space was filled with tables and chairs ready for anyone who wanted to play any of the available games.  Judging by the number of seated participants this looked like a pretty popular Sunday afternoon activity.  To my mind this games store was 'big'.

Our last 'big' of the day was a visit to Powells new and second hand bookstore hosting over a million books and boasting to be the biggest bookstore in the world. In the days of decline in bookstores it was pleasing to see the many people who were enjoying browsing here.  Three storeys high and with its own car park, it is worth asking for a map at the information desk to find your way around.

I found my way to the dedicated quilting section and had a good browse before we said goodbye to my last 'big' of the day.

Washington Park, Portland

In the hills above Portland, Oregon, is Washington Park.  It covers over 166 hectares of hilly, forested terrain and provided us with an enjoyable morning's outing.

When we left the downtown area that morning there was very little sign of life but I think a a lot of the population had preceded us to the park.  Finding a parking place was not easy but we got there.  Just when we were not sure what to do next we spotted a shuttle bus and so opted for this to take us around the parkland area.  This is not just a wooded park but within a lot of points of interest have been developed.  A place for archery, a large adventure playground, several different garden areas, a zoo, some museums, adventure trails and lots more.  You could probably spend a whole weekend here and still not cover all the available activities.

The rose garden itself was a treat to visit.  Although many of the roses were past their best for the year there were still plenty of blooms to enjoy.  The garden hosts over 7500 different roses - hard to believe.

We ended the morning by spending some time at the adventure playground.  Jackson found the swings and had a great time there on his own. The last time I saw him on swings his Dad was having to push him, so I witnessed another stage of him growing up.

Time for contemplation

Overlooking the Columbia River at the end of a full day, David and Jackson take time out together.

They could be contemplating the importance of this river to the north west region of the United States or they could be discussing the next strategy to capture as many Pokemon as possible before we return to Seatlle on Monday.

We had set out from Seattle around 8am.  We stopped for breakfast along the way and arrived in Portland about 1pm.  We ventured to a couple of craft markets, had a light lunch in the Pearl District and had a Thai meal in the evening.

Our hotel is just across the road from the river and there is a popular park along the river bank so we stopped there to soak up the atmosphere before a return to our rooms and an early night after our big day out.

Walking the dog

An almost daily event in life in Bothell is taking the dogs for a walk.  David comes,home from work sometime after 6pm and so, before dinner, the dogs are taken for a walk.

It looks like one dog from the photo but I have Tessa in tow while I take a photo.

The housing development is well laid out with various nice walks in wooded areas and small parks.  The route we walk each day also incorporates a fenced sporting area where soccer, baseball, football and, I understand, cricket is played.

Of course,

a walk in the park these days would not be complete without a PokemonGo adventure.  Jackson is playing in the foreground, three teenage boys are playing in the background and, although the boy on the bike does not have a phone he is willing to tell anyone who will listen everything he knows about the game.