last day of May

 May has been a lovely month. Nice spring weather and not too hot.

I was happy to see blooms on this viburnum...

In February, I decided to try to dig it up and move it from the front yard.  I had been thinking of doing this for awhile...and during that time the shrub was really developing a big root system.

I started out digging, but the roots were too thick and deep.  I brought the Jeep around to try tugging it out...but my strap broke.

I asked The Sasquatch if he had some chains, then of course he came over to help me.

A successful extraction!

I thought it might not survive the move so I'm glad to see it doing okay.

Here's Puss. She is quite sure the new rug there is especially for her. The bare spot from her shave at the vet is filling in with hair again.

I cut out pieces for a quilt. Planning this one for a young lady getting married at the end of September so I thought fall colors would be just right.

I had Blankenship Tree Company out to take down a big pine tree close to where I'm having a new shed put up.

I also had them take down the dead Sycamore.  It was hollow inside and I was worried it could fall and squash someone.

It was a big old tree. Really majestic when we moved here but later became diseased.

I've spent some lovely peaceful evenings sitting on the back porch hand sewing.

Everything around is green and growing.

The little fat kitty spends the time catching up on some Zzzzs.

I went to a class at the extension office on growing plants for butterflies. It was interesting...a lot of good information.

They had some plants to give out to those of us attending.

I chose a Rattlesnake Master and a Hoary Vervian.  Both are plants butterflies lay eggs on and provide food for the larvae.

Oh, and one more photo from early May.  A deer up in the yard to eat some fresh green grass.

That wraps up May. I hope the nice weather stays with us during June,

quilts...didn't make them but worked on them

 I've been doing some work on a couple of quilts that I didn't make.

I was happy to be able to help with getting them finished.

The first one was a quilt with my Crazy Quilters group. We wanted a quilt as a gift for one of the Homemakers ladies who is dealing with some very serious health issues.

My friend, Jan, brought in this pretty quilt top she made and also a backing for it too.

At one of our meetings, we all pitched in to pin the layers together.

Here's a close up view of those cheery fabrics!

From there, I brought the basted quilt home and quilted it.

Here's a picture of the matching quilt back folded over.

I know my fat little Puss shouldn't be on there but she plopped down perfectly in nearly the exact middle of the quilt with a nice tuck-footed pose. 

I snapped a photo then shooed her away. (She's a good color match for the quilt!)

After the quilting was finished the quilt was passed to other group members for making the binding and sewing it on, making a name tag, and then hand sewing the back edge of the binding. Another group member delivered it.

We hoped our gift could provide a small measure of comfort and support and we were happy to receive a message of warm thanks from the recipient.

Many well wishes for her.

The groups that meet at the extension office are asked to do a bit of charitable giving.

We had an opportunity to do so when an organization called "Camp Courageous Kids" in Scottsville Kentucky expressed a need for quilts.

They provide summer camp sessions for kids with disabilities, health issues, autism and more. They like to use quilts in their lodging to provide a warm, homey atmosphere.

When I found out the quilts are washed often as the campers come and go during the summer, I got the idea to use this quilt and add more quilting to help it hold together with all that washing.

This was a quilt that belonged to my mother. Very pretty but I'm thinking maybe made in China...and she may have picked it up at a thrift store. Not sure...but not a family heirloom, anyway.

Since this quilt was larger than the twin bed size that the camp needed, I removed a couple of rows from the sides. 

I removed the minimal amount of hand quilting that was there, then machine quilted around each square. I made a binding from the border fabric I'd removed.

It was nice to be able to pass along this quilt of my mother's for a good cause.

I hope it holds up well!

library crafts group

 Our new Bullitt County Central Library is remarkable. When we moved here in 1986 I would have never imagined having such a nice library.

Besides all the books, movies, audio books, games and more available for check out, there are also group meetings and activities for everyone.

I've been going to a 55+ coffee chat each week and one of the ladies there invited me to join in a crochet/knit group that has started meeting there a couple of times a month.

My Book Club meets there monthly and I sometimes go to craft group activities.

The craft days are fun. Usually a simple project for any age or skill level. Lots of socializing too.

Here's the latest project...weaving with a cardboard loom.

It could have been coaster sized if I hadn't woven so tightly in the middle.

This was a surprise...painting clear plastic umbrellas.

I decided on a white and yellow daisy pattern.

But at home, next time I opened it...a lot of the white daisy petals flaked off  to the floor!

Another time we made bookmarks.

Back before Christmas we made snow globes in jars.

It's a good way to get out of the house and meet with others.

We all have to laugh at ourselves when our simple seeming projects turn out so goofy looking!

ready for the pool

 Yes, I'm ready for the pool...to see it, anyway.  I won't be getting in yet.  I guess I'm just too old now to brave that cold water for an early season dip.

The guys from Dale's Pools came out and removed the cover and put it away, added chemicals and vacuumed a bit.

It was looking pretty nice when they finished.

Sort of tempting to stick a toe in, at least!

Later I noticed a leak at the pump...at the pressure gauge...which they remove when closing then reinstall in spring.

It's been a problem before.  

At least I was able to find a replacement gauge at my nearby Lowes and also a roll of the white vinyl tape to use since it's metal screwing in to plastic.

The old gauge had rusted and cracked where it joined.

I was feeling pretty smug about fixing it myself, but then I didn't have the magic touch and I wasn't able to install it with no leaking.

The Sasquatch saved the day. He took care of it - no leaks!

things change

 Last weekend I noticed that some clearing had been done near the road in the field next door to my house.  The equipment was still parked in the cleared area.

I thought that maybe they were clearing a wide path under the phone/electric lines.

But no, they were clearing the field completely! 

Dread and anxiety for me...wondering what will develop over there.

This field used to be mowed every year by the owner. For many years they had it in a type of conservation program...maybe for a tax break or something like that.

They were required to keep it mowed and undeveloped.

The owner passed away a few years ago and the field has been left to grow.

I always enjoyed the view when it was mowed, and seeing the colors of the sunrise over it each morning.

I liked the privacy though, as trees and plant growth blocked the view and much of the noise from the highway.

The clearing machine they used was pretty amazing. It easily cut through brush and small trees. It chopped and mulched everything up as it mowed.

Everything went back to the earth.

They used a backhoe to push over some of the larger trees.

Then they spread the trees out and the mower/ mulcher drove over them and shredded them completely.

They may not have been certain where the property line was because they left a wide strip of blackberry brambles and honeysuckle vines.

On the second day I saw one of the workers standing near the road waiting to load the equipment, so I walked over to see if he knew what the plan was for the property.

He wasn't sure but thought it might be for a row of houses.

Well, that's better than a prison or a sewage treatment plant!

So, change of some sort is coming. Nothing to do but wait and watch.

garden plants and art sale

 The Bullitt County Master Gardeners hold a sale at the extension office each spring.

Some of the members have booths set up selling plants and seedlings, and there are many vendor booths as well.

There are nurseries selling garden plants and also houseplants and outdoor perennials and annuals.  Others sell decorative garden items, local honey, birdbaths.

The Day Lily Society and the Iris Society each have a booth there, and one gentleman selling different kinds of mulberry bushes. A lot to look at!

I got there about an hour after they opened and there was quite a crowd there even though it was a drizzly morning.

A lot of the shoppers came prepared with wagons to haul their purchases around.

Lots to choose from.

I was tempted by a couple of house plants but didn't buy any.   I'm sort of wishing I had bought a couple of mulberry plants.

I spent a long time looking at these...bird baths and bird feeders made from older fancy dishware. They were really pretty and well constructed but prices were $75 and $85.

Maybe a bit too ornate for my backyard too...so I decided "no".

I came home with only a $3 red Begonia.  I've never had a red one. The bloom is so bright it's hard to get a good photo.

It's a nice event.  I hadn't been since the year before covid restrictions

I'll go back next year and maybe I'll buy one or two of those mulberry bushes!