Sewing and birds today.............

Well we can't get out of the drive at the moment. Gerry did go out and cleaned up a bit and started to shovel at the end of the drive but its a lot of ice. Hard to break up. He gave up. I did want to go to the quilt store but ah well. I finished off a pair of pillow cases for Teal. I had kitty fabric that I didn't know what to do with. Then it occured to me, pillow cases. She likes cats so that's done.

I did French seams to avoid fraying.

Then with two different fabrics I made a small bag, shoe bag? Toy bag? I don't know but it's quite sturdy because I did French seams on that as well.


I am thinking they would be good for wrapping Christmas or birthday presents. I may make a few of those out of fat quarters. They may come in handy.
In between sewing I shoveled a path on the deck to get to the bird feeders. I made some fat balls for the woodpeckers. This beauty comes every day. So as the fat was done and he was resorting to eating from the feeder I got to work.


I got all the feeders full and put out bread. Funny thing is they love the bread. I was very surprised that the woodpecker liked the bread and went for that even when the fat was available




The Starlings come in as soon as they see food. They have to have scouts. I know the Blue Jays do. I also know their cry of "shes got the food out guys" So this Blue Jay got his prize but a Starling wanted it too.

"I WANT THAT" says the Starling

The snow had began to melt back but it's back. The Bay has frozen over officially and more to come. I hope everyone thinks about the wild life. Feed those you can. Never mind the rules and regs........feed them.
So I wonder who scribbled on my recipe that was sitting on the counter? I was thinking of making bread. Hmmmmmm?

I really need to get back on my diet, but it's impossible. Money is very tight and in any case I cant get to the store. Oh we have plenty on hand, it's just I need fresh veggies and fruit. Ah well........worry about that later God Willing.

Still snowing so what to do......................

The last couple of days I have spent wishing I was in the mood to sew. I have not made that step yet but.......what I have done is to go through my fabric stash. That can sometimes inspire me. What I have done is to put together some fabrics with the intent of starting a few projects. The one in progress needs borders and I think I may have found something.


That one will be a lap quilt I think. If I had a place for it I would make it bed size but I also have to try to remember how to tie a quilt. It's been awhile. I may need to get Edna over here to help me. Moral support at least.
I have a few lap quilts yet to do. I now know Haley is into baking and so I have found some fabric that I already had and have found a few things that will (I think) go with it.



I also found another piece with a cooking theme. So I am thinking I may make that into a beach bag. Not sure really. I have another one cut out and partly stitched that I started when Haley was in school haha........long ago now. I didn't take a picture of that. This is the one that I am not sure yet what to do with.

I am hoping that the bags will go quickly. Just tote bags at this point. Just to use up the fabric. I have promised myself I won't buy any more fabric until I use some of my stash up. I also need to really get into sewing before I can justify buying anymore.
This combo will make a couple of nice bags, reversible I hope

Then there are these combos that would be either or.....lap quilts or bags?


I have so much to get done.

These seem to have much the same colours in them. I want to make several small projects. Pot holders and those cute little baskets to hold hot bowls. Oh I collect patterns and books so have all I need but the enthusiasm. However the fabric helps. I just got to get it done. Got to............
Meanwhile I have been drawing. Doing way to much of that. I have stopped painting them. Filled two books without painting. Just can't stop.........I am not even doing details.




As you see, I spend a lot of time on Pinterest. I like to find things to draw on there. These give me ideas to make cards. I do paint those. There again, I end up not doing them because I have no outlet for the cards.






Well that's what I have been doing. Nothing special. I hope I can get my mind in the mode I need to get the sewing started and finished. There is another snow storm coming so I may as well get started. I have made two pillow cases for Teal in this cat fabrics, only had a small piece of each so it was the ideal thing to make.


Think I will make a couple of bags to send with them.

Winter beach days.........................

So on Friday we awoke to a beautiful sunny day, cold but bright. I wanted to go for a drive. Gerry said wait till tomorrow when we have Tristen, it's supposed to be nice. I said I had heard it was going to rain. No he says it will be sunny in the afternoon. So I resigned myself. So Saturday dawns dull, cold and gloomy. The sun will come out he says. He went to pick up Tristen about 9.30am and we decided to go for an afternoon drive anyway,even though it was not looking any better.
We headed for Suttons Bay and on to Leland.

We pulled over a couple of times to see what the ice looked like along the Bay, I liked that picture of the lonely picnic tables. After getting through Leland we headed to Lake Leelanau and stopped again at the coffee shop. Gerry sure took to that place. The boys came in with me to help carry out hot choc for them with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle and for Gerry and me the white chocolate mocha.........Also got us cookies. Peanut butter for us and choc chip for the boys. They were so big I had to break them in half. Half was the size of two regular cookies. See the peanut butter one

I got scones as well for the evening but had to wait till today to eat those. The roads were pretty clear out that way but got more snow covered as we made our way out. In Leland we stopped at Fishtown.
It was pretty full of snow, and everything closed. I guess at night they have it lit up, that would be pretty to see.



The boys wanted to get out on the ice. We stopped at the beach.

They didn't want to leave but I said we have other beaches to visit so off we went

Next stop Glen Haven it was so hazy that we could not see the Dunes. Several people went in on snow shoes or ski's but we just had our boots







Again they didn't want to leave. We had another beach to visit yet so again we started off towards Empire.
We didn't see the large herd of deer that we had seen last time but these two were snacking in the little stream

To the beach we go. This one was quite different. It was frozen way out with a very large bank of ice accumulated. It was still misty and it looked like we were at the Antarctic.


Look at the patterns on this rock



You could hardly see the Bluffs

Go play in the playground I said haha

on the way home the visibility was worse and it was icy too. Look at the Hop farm


We headed to the Hayloft. It has usually been empty when we get there around 4 to 4.30 but it is now snowmobile time and they were filling up the place. Mostly gathered around the bar put had their gear on tables to reserve the spaces. We ordered our Burritos and Tristen ordered a cheeseburger and fries and Popcorn chicken and fries for Cooper. They both had root beer. I let them take the computer in with them because I didn't have any cash for the game room. They liked that but had to put it away when the food arrived.


We could only eat half of our food although Cooper cleared his plate. We finished ours for supper tonight. Yum.
It was getting worse outside, it was supposed to rain.

We made it home safe and sound. Enjoyable day. Laura H was to pick up Tristen at 7.30 so he had plenty of time to play with Cooper. They had a good day and got along really well. Tristen is a bit bossy with Cooper but Cooper adores him. They usually get along well but Cooper won't take too much guff from Tristen. He is almost as tall and it more sturdy, so if he clobbers Tristen it hurts so the have found their level I guess.

I took some videos so I will try to get those loaded on here. So far I have not had any luck.