POETRY: excerpt: Hiawatha's Childhood by H.W. Longfellow

"...And the West-Wind
               came at evening, 

Walking lightly o'er the prairie,
               Whispering to the leaves
                               and blossoms ,
 

Bending low the flowers and grasses,

Found the beautiful Wenonah,
       Lying there among the lilies,
 


Wooed her with his words of sweetness,
       Wooed her with his soft caresses, ...

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
By the shining Big-Sea-Water,
Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,
Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest,
   Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees, 
      Rose the firs with cones upon them;
        Bright before it beat the water,
Beat the clear and sunny water,
        Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water........"

The Golden Hour Calculator / Sunrise and Sunset information for photographers

The Golden Hour Calculator / Sunrise and Sunset information for photographers

Posted using ShareThis

EVERY QUILT HAS A STORY TO TELL!

Every quilt has a story to tell!   Sewing...another passion....what is the story behind this quilt?
 (coming soon)





This is a current project yet to be quilted and edged.

THE STORY

                                A WEDDING QUILT

Entry date: October 18th   My sister, Hannah, made a wedding quilt for us years ago. I have always known that I wanted to do the same for my children blessing them with a wedding quilt. July 22, 2006 our son Michael married Heather; and, the quilt is still not completed but will be in 3 weeks! Some of the reasons of why are outlined below.

What is a wedding quilt? It is a quilt made up of individual squares made by any/all of the women on the grooms and brides side of the family. Each women receives in the mail detailed directions and a pattern for piecing their personal square. Before mailing it back they are encouraged to embroider their name on the square. The embroidery is open to creativity if you choose; I love this part a lot and encourage individualism. (My Aunt Sally embroidered her name with a stick figure holding a hockey stick; Sally was my coach in high school. In the quilt above a cousin embroidered  three fish as ''he'' loves to fish. A boy sewed? Yes! He wanted to participate so why not? I loved it, the mother thrilled and so did the bride/groom.  
The colors used in the quilt can all be determined by you, some determined as I did and will explain later or, relatives select all the colors for their personal square. 
The quilt squares are pieced together by you, the designer and completed; or, hire someone! I make a square that says the couples name with the following below, each row as follows: ''their wedding quilt;" ''given in the year of;" ''July 22, 2006."** We hang the quilt at the wedding behind the bride/grooms table.

HOW TO: Long before the wedding, the designer of the quilt, selects a pattern for the quilt and mails detailed instructions to each woman on the bride and grooms side of the family with or without fabric with a specific date that the square is to be ''in your hands'' for construction.
 (Be aware that there are inexperienced sewers to non-sewers! In the case of this quilt some non-sewers asked friends to construct the square or hired someone to piece it together which worked out wonderfully. Do not be surprised if some family rejects the idea and do not participate. This, although disappointing, is not a big deal; we all have busy lives and priorites! Judging, conversing etc. would only compound/dampen the spirit of the quilt for the couple and for you as well.)
In the case of this quilt I chose the base colors of the quilt as Michael loves green and Heather loves lavender purples. Wow, what a challenge that was for choosing fabrics. 


After devising the pattern pieces and instructions I ask a friend who knows nothing about sewing if she would be able to construct the square. I also ask her to teach me how to piece the square. Adjustments are made to the directions and pattern. Mail.


Once you have received all the squares, it is imperative that you evaluate and square off each square (ha ha) so that they are all equivalent; they are all the same exact size! This was the major reason for the delay in this quilt. I pieced this quilt almost twice totally trying to make it work. I will never again choose a pattern with long diagonals. The fabric on the bias of course stretches and unless all your sewers are experienced there will be so many different size squares and it will be very difficult to piece. I had to take apart many squares and/or add fabric to them. 
After or during the time I am squaring up the squares (ha ha ha) I lay them out and select the fabric(s) that will hold it all together color wise. These include the binding, borders and backing. 

**Baste "waste  canvas" (counted-cross stitch fabric that will fall away when wet) to your fabric.

Waste canvas is made up of woven threads held together with a specific starch. When wet it will dissolve.  This helps with placement of the stitches. Although the lines look uneven in this photo they will not be when completed; the unevenness appears due to the way I have pulled the fabric taut. 

I have chosen the lavender fabric which will not be placed within the quilt pattern but on the border at the bottom, centered.

If you are interested in more information, detailed instructions, pitfalls to avoid jot a note here and I will get back to you. I will post the quilt in 3 weeks when it is completed.  HAPPY QUILTING!

HOW TO's: Fall Pumpkin Center Piece THAT LASTS! Great "MAKE AHEAD"....

GLENMOORE GARDEN CLUB VISITS NURSING HOME     Prepared with cleaned out pumpkins, flowers and greens from our own yards and smiling faces, the Glenmoore Garden Club next Tues., October 13th will help residents decorate their own fall centerpieces. Photos of residents are not included for privacy reasons.This is one our most favorite activities and the residents really enjoy it as well.
NEED: one small or medium pumpkin, carved out, lid and contents discarded.

          water/clorox solution 10/1 (enough to rinse out shell of pumpkin)*
          one small or medium sized piece of ''oasis'' (purchased at craft supply store)
          flowers, greens (be sure to think about width and height)**
  * Water/clorox solution will prevent rotting up to two weeks at least or more, often 3. Great to make  for dinner parties. I have made them from teeny pumpkins as individual gifts for women's events/personal tea parties/children's craft for birthday parties, etc.
** Recommendations for any container arrangements:
The container is 1/3 of the total height with the arrangement of flowers/greens the remaining 2/3's. Width of flowers/greens should not extend more than 1/3 to 1/2 the width of the container. I find that 1/2 is too much but this is personal taste.

HOW TO: Soak the oasis in a small bowl of water till thoroughly saturated. Meanwhile clean and prepare pumpkin as outlined in the "NEED" section above. Pour enough water/clorox solution to fill the cavity of the pumpkin. While pouring the liquid out roll pumpkin one revolution to be sure the top inside edges or ''lip" of the pumpkin are treated as well. Place the oasis in the pumpkin and decorate!!

I included the close-up photo as I am not happy with any of the photos of the arrangement. Secondly, the choice of flowers/greens in the yard this fall are not plentiful for some reason. And lastly, I chose for fun the one with the best kitty cat picture in it keeping the arrangement far out of site..ha ha ha!!! (Grace is on the left and Maggie is hidden in the back of the picture; where is Rufus??)

PROPAGATING AFRICAN VIOLETS (now is the time if you want to give them as gifts for Christmas

           My mother taught me how to propagate African Violets when I was about 8 years old. THE PLANT IS POISONOUS. NEVER PUT THE STEM IN YOUR MOUTH! Now, this may sound silly but my Aunt Hannah did; she had no where to lay the leaf so she held it in her mouth before planting it.  Her lips did swell rather rapidly with no other side effects.

NEED: *small pyrex bowl or a glass container 

                   with a narrow neck/opening

             *rubber band    *scissors   *wax paper 

                                                                                              

HOW TO: Fill the container with water. Prepare a piece of wax paper large enough to fit over the top and somewhat over the side of the pyrex bowl. Use the rubberband to hold the wax paper in place. Using a pencil, pierce several holes in the wax paper. DO NOT MAKE THE HOLES LARGER THAN THE PENCIL HOLE. If the leaf gets wet it will rot before rooting sufficiently for planting!I have made tons of holes; the leaves can stand up straight and do not need to lie down. (see picture #2)

Cut the larger leaves at the base of the parent plant being sure the stem is long enough that it will protude down into the water at least 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Stand all leaves in the holes of the wax paper. Place the container in a window that receives indirect lighting. My violets do well on the northwest side of the house.
 WATERING: keep the stems wet at all times. When the water gets low I make another little hole somewhere in the wax paper and pour water through it; or, it's no big deal to take a leaf or two out, pour water in the holes and blot up remaining water with a paper towel.

 NOTICE THE LEAF I AM HOLDING. (see picture #3) There are already two tiny violet leaves formed at the base of the stem and some roots. NOW IS THE TIME TO PLANT; yipee! I have never counted the days but I would guess it will take about 2-3 weeks for the tiny leaves to form. Also notice the picture at the top of the page (see picture #1). The two stems left in the wax paper fit perfectly in the pencil hole so no water will come up and get the leaf wet.

The last picture shows a fun little holder I found in a rather serendipity manner. Ocassionally I collect little containers so I can give away flowers from the garden when someone needs some cheer or when a congratulations is in order. This one, however, I am keeping currently for propagation until another neat little nugget comes along.


FEEDING VIOLETS: (optional) I use Miracle Grow's little sticks to encourage continous bloom; and, it works!!!
Year round blooms.

CHECK OUT www.ebird.org JOIN AND REGISTER WHAT BIRDS YOU OBSERVE

Walked along Struble Trail located in Downingtown, PA today with my good friend Carol (see picture below). She is the one who knows all about birds, not me! I like taking photos. Following is the list of what she says we saw:
(1) Osprey; (2) Belted Kingfisher; (1) Great Blue Heron; (1) Turkey Vulture-"big wup"!! 
(2) Red-bellied Woodpecker; (2) Downy Woodpecker; (1) Red-eyed Vireo; (1) Blue Jay;
(1) American Crow; (6) Carolina x Black-capped Chickadee (hybrid); (4) Tufted Titmouse;
(2) White-breasted Nuthatch; (12) American Robin; (5) Gray Catbird; (2) Blackpoll Warbler;
(1) Song Sparrow and (2) Northern Cardinal.

     NOW YOU DECIDE WHICH OF THE FOUR BELOW IS THE ''RAREST'' BIRD:

            

                   Be sure to check out http://ebird.org/content/ebird/.org

FALL IN PENNSYLVANIA

GLENMOORE PROPERTY A BIRD SANCTUARY

What a spectacle of birds viewed on our 5.5 acre property. Here are a few: will post more as I catch up with past photos. The EASTERN SCREECH OWL, in a poplar more than 100 yards away/70 feet up from my deck, taken Nov. 30th, 2008. Beautiful.The peacock appeared one fine day in 2006. Our son, Michael, was attempting to nap in a hammock and ''thought he saw a peacock fly over his head onto the roof!" Well, he was right. After finding the lowest spot on the roof the peacock flew to the ground and Frisk (or aptly named cat,"Tubbs") pounced; the peacock took flight to a nearby poplar approx. 60 feet up remaining through sunset. His colors became most radiant with the setting sun!!! This is our second peacock come to visit.The nest below was found by our daughter Johanna; it is on the ground among Solomon Seal. All the babies survived and we had one cat at the time. Had all four cats still been with us I don't think they would have made it.

The nest to the right I found in a Japanese Pine in the Pinetum below eye level early spring 08'.
The pot below is home to 3 baby Vireo's. The hilarious part of this story: We placed a pot hoping that birds would not build a nest on the ledge to avoid bird doo on the deck. So, my husband placed the pot but did not put it upside down, voila, baby birds; and, we watched them take wing. This has been for two summers now, three sets of fledglings. I know I have a better pic somewhere: will exchange this one when its found.

BEFORE THE FROST-an EYE CUP as a Vase!!!

This time of year I particularly enjoy cutting individual flowers, fern, hosta leaves and arranging them in a variety of vases, etc. as most will soon be gone!

The Garden Club has a contest/challenge each year;
submit a flower arrangement no larger than 4"x6" including the container. Two winners are selected. They actually chose my arrangement as a winner! The photo is a little blurry. Arranging it was a challenge. I was kneeling on the ground and Rufus, a kitty cat, kept crawling up on my shoulders to sit a spell. He likes being up high. Sometimes he sits on the back rim of my hat when I am weeding or plays with the my hands and the weeds. Isn't that fun; there is lots of laughter that takes place during these escapades!

The last 3 photos are other arrangements I made for fun...they are ok to me; the plant material was heavy because of all the rain we have been having so they do not stand upright as I would like. The hosta leaves in the yard are already drooping, browning out and filled with holes so it was difficult to find great leaves; and, I have tons and tons of hosta! Oh well, got to get to them earlier next year. The other two arrangements are very small water gardens; I love water. I love being anywhere near, in or on water!!!

THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER......

I was fortunate to get three photos of this spider web! The headlights of my car happened to illuminate the web as I was entering my home.  Although it is not evident in this photo, the web is a complete upside bowl shape with the spider top center waiting for its prey. It was fun trying to capture the shot; shutterspeed, aperature and all that goes along with my Canon digital SLR is a challenge at this point in time. But, the night was warm, breezy and beautiful. No full moon though, rats!