Things To Do, Places to Go, People to See

I think this weekend will be a non-starter as I've agreed to help my Mom with the last (last - that's important as we've already done this twice) of the Garage/Estate/Tool Sales to "re-purpose" 50 years of my maternal grandparents' possessions.  

So to sooth my soul before the invading herd (bargain hunters) arrive, I'll share my newest Cottage Color purchases...

And speaking of Invading Herds...

The Band-tailed Pigeons have returned!

These are large birds - 15" in size - as spring/summer progresses...

more and more come until it resembles something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

I'd have named them Ring Necked Pigeons or Orange-footed Boobies!

They wolf down all the food at the feeders in a flash - I don't particularly like them, but much the same as Starlings, there appears to be no getting rid of them. 

With the cool weather my pansies are most happy.

And their cheerful faces make me happy too!

Color in Threads and Food

Aren't my new fibers pretty? 

From left to right:  A couple of Cottage Colors, then several Thread-gatherer Silk 'n Colors, and finally a couple of Gloriana Silks.  

I so get off on color - I think I could find my Nirvana by just staring at that photograph for hours upon end...

As for the outdoor world...Jami at An Oregon Cottage suggested posting a seasonal recipe.  I don't have a recipe per say, but the last photograph surely will provide inspiration! 

Our local Farmers' Market started up in a small way this past Saturday.

There were about a dozen stands with leeks, and kale, arugula, and mizuna...

...and lettuce, tatsoi, spinach, and radishes.

A couple of bakeries, and Field to Table my favorite seasonal organic restaurant. 

I had the most scrumptious Pork Belly & Egg Sandwich with mozzarella, and sweet & spicy relish. All the products are local - the pork, egg, cheese, the bun and the relish - so I think this is a most seasonal recipe! It was also the messiest thing going, but oh, so good!

It's good to have the market back again for another season.

Wow 100 Followers!

Wow - 100 Followers! 

When I began this blog in June 2009, I never imagined there would come a day when people - lots of people - chose to read my blog on a regular basis.  For months and months and months my readership consisted of me, my sister, and my Mom...and that was good as it allowed me to find my blogging voice, polish up my photography, and get a rhythm to this exercise.

So now - again - WOW! 

I appreciate your commitment to reading my blog - regularly, and I hope that at least once in a while there is a post or photo that brightens your day, as your comments brighten mine.   

I was minding my own business the other day, messing about on Etsy, when this lot (30 skeins) of Six Sweet Strands called my name in a siren chorus... it sounded a lot like the Hallelujah Chorus actually! 

Crazy as I don't even know of a designer who uses Six Sweet Strands, but the colors and quantity seduced me, and I can't say I'm sorry.

I've mentioned, several times probably, that I a mad for "Garden Art" - so to celebrate The Tuesday Garden Party at an Oregon Cottage, here are my latest purchases.

This is a series of three pieces by Paula Gill of Red Step Studio.

Paula exhibited at the NW Flower and Garden Show in Seattle one year when I went up to feast on the amazing plants and gardenscapes.

I didn't make it up to Seattle this year, but Paula mailed me a "Show Coupon" and the set of three "Garden Critters" will now reside on the front porch of  Clos du Bois!

Tuesday Update

I had to take advantage of a special at Shakespeare's Peddler.  25 limited edition autumn GAST threads released for the Charlotte Market for $25.00 - so, so pretty! 

These Olde Willow Stitchery threads also caught my eye.  I love the muted colors.

Autumn colors were prominent for my sister's birthday dinner too.

She set a lovely table-scape.

 The flowers, tablecloth, linens, placemats, napkin holders, plates - all had rich tones and autumn motifs.

...and it was a lovely family meal~



Fun Stuff

So today I'll share some of my latest purchases...

I just love this project satchel. 

It is by Lady Dot

and is made using a Moda Blackbird Designs fabric. 

It is a nice size and very well made.

These Carrie's Creation threads are for a rather garishly bright Halloween stitch.

Yes, yet more chicken...and rooster charts...can a girl have too many?

Another Perfectly Lovely Day...

Nothing new to report on the stitching front, so I thought I'd share one of my floss drawers.  This drawer contains all my GAST, WDW, and NPS.  The NPS are loose and a bit of a mess.  I have the GAST and WDW sorted alphabetically on rings, so it is pretty easy to find the colors I need.  I also have a master list of all the colors / numbers so when I'm looking at a chart I know ahead of time if I need to buy fibers.

Today, Labor Day, is a perfectly lovely day in the Southern Willamette Valley.

I think Drusilla Deer would agree.

Some of us are laboring, a bit, on Labor Day. 

 

I watered all my plants on the back patio and front porch this morning.

My father and sister are off in the cool of the morning to mow around her large dahlia garden.  I hope to post pictures of some of her 199 plants later this week.  Autumn is dahlia-time and they are glorious right now.

 

I have some photos I should organize...

However, I am receiving encouragement to just

"Enjoy the gift of the day"!

Hope you do the same.

Green

As we inexorably move into Autumn, I find that, more than ever, I am enamored of the many shades of green:

Fir, jade, olive, sea, peacock, lime, moss, sage, willow, chartreuse and verdigris.

In threads and plants...

Cool...

 

verdant...

lush...

restorative...

fresh...

bright...

sylvan...

green.

The Friday Update

A truly lovely morning this morning - for people, plants, and cats. 

I spent most of yesterday afternoon "organizing" - my stash, my recent purchases, my fabric, floss, and buttons.  It was one of those times when after working for a couple of hours, no one, but me, could even tell that I'd done anything. But now I can find things, so I'm happy.  

The above photo shows the breadth of my fabric purchases from Friendship Crossing.  Ann had lots of pre cut pieces in 25, 28, 30, 32, and 34 count.  So with her super sale prices, I decided to stock up. I figure a gal cannot own too much linen.  Is there anything more frustrating that pulling out a chart to stitch and not having the appropriate fabric? 

  

I also replenished my floss with GAST, WDW, Crescent Colors Belle Soie, and Carrie's Creations.

This morning the temperature was perfect.  I watered everything on the back patio, and then moved to the north-facing front porch.

The morning light was very kind to my gardening efforts.   

These coleus glow in front of the salvia.

The ferns and hostas are getting lush too.

More coleus and salvia.  I like the contrast of the coleus with the dark reds and burgundies and the brighter green of the salvias.  

This fuchsia was putting on a show.

More contented ferns.  Our cool wet May and June has made for a "good fern" summer.

One last photo of the cool, quiet morning.

Rainbows

Last evening the skies were very dramatic.

We had rainbows...

contrasting with dark black clouds.

The cats did not seem to be bothered by the threatening weather.

The evening ended with a complete arching bow of color.

It reminded me of the new Needlepoint Silks I purchased!