Finally warming up...

I haven't complained about the cooler spring.  Putting off the heat of summer is fine with me.  

The best flowers are those planted by nature, and this year the primroses are loving the cooler weather and rain.  

My good friend, Rosie, reminded me of the name of this delicate little flower (weed)...scarlet guara.  It's also having a good year.

Olive and her four kitties (which we mistankenly thought had perished) are coming around regularly now.  Have yet to get close to one, but am working on it.  

 

There is nothing more entertaining than watching kitties play.  Now back to laundry and quilting!

Fiber Arts Fiesta!

Pat and I attended Fiber Arts Fiesta on Friday.  I had entered my summer quilt despite its developing a serious issue with bearding of the silk batting.  I spent a few hours defuzzing it before taking it in for display.  Thankfully it is most visible on the dark backing. 

On a lark, I also entered my scrappy sweatshirt in the sewing (wearable art) category.  I was really surprised to see it displayed with a first prize ribbon!  Woo-hoo, and there was even a money prize to go along with the ribbon.  (I think it helped that it was the only entry in the category!)

There were so many beautiful quilts.  Judith Roderick was the featured artist, and I have admired her work since the first Fiber Arts I had attended when we moved here.  I love her use of button embellishment and am inspired to use some of my collection.

 It was a great show.  Another inspiring piece was Studio Spirit by Pat Moorman.  I think Pat needs one for her new studio.   

 

Of birds and apricots

Our migrants have arrived.  Not a great picture, but we had this beautiful male western tanager come by for a drink of water.  This picture doesn't do it justice from the kitchen window.  

After remarking that we had yet to see black-headed grosbeaks, we had a pair come to the feeder, and they are hanging around for now.

Pat picked up a bountiful basket because they also had boxes of apricots, and we split a box.  I was able to replenish my larder with two batches of jam and froze enough for another batch.

Made my first ever upside-down cake...apricot of course.  It was very tasty.    

 

Quilts delivered!

Pat, daughter Lindsay, and I delivered a dozen quilts to Dr. Kaufman, who was thrilled to get them.  Thanks again to all my friends who have sent me tops!

I finished these two Wednesday just in time for Thursday's delivery.  Tove pieced these and we needed some smaller quilts since the majority of the quilts we had were larger.  I was able to load them consecutively on one bright backing with giraffes that Pat found.

Tove also pieced this one.  She is quite the prolific quilter and I hope she'll be able to get back to sewing soon.

Meanwhile I have tamed a little tabby kitty, dubbed Pimento, Pim for short.  We had been feeding wild Olive, so dubbed because of her sour puss personality after we watched Olive Kittredge on HBO.  (She would hiss and attempt to scratch me while I insisted on petting her as she ate--she's much more receptive now.)

 Pim

 Olive

 My hibiscus which we inherited from Dale's mom has been blooming continuously for over a month now.  It's having a particularly good year.   

The yard is ablaze with color--orioles are here!