5/10/23

Nearly Normal

Good morning, my friends! We must be recovering from our whirlwind weekend because we were talking about grocery shopping this morning. It won't happen today, but it is looming. I should also say that at our age, the "whirlwind" stage of any activity comes on fairly quickly. Like...almost as soon as you step through the door to the world outside.

The kitties and I got out for a field trip yesterday. While we were out, I noticed some buds forming on a few things. These are two of the peonies. They're beginning to show their colors.



This next one is a bud on the Rosy Prospects peony. If you've been following for a while, then I can remind you this is the peony that, thus far, has produced many flower buds, but never a mature flower.


Last year, I threatened to take it out if it didn't produce a flower. It must have heard me because it tried really hard last season, and it finally produced at least some white petals, even if the flower was still not mature. You can see it on the left side of the image below.


In years prior to that, it went straight to seed without ever producing any petals.


It's supposed to look like this when it blooms:


Okay, so it had its most promising year last year. I'll give it one more year. This is its final season. If it doesn't produce a flower this year, then it will earn itself a place on our burn pile.

Moving along, the poppy near the greenhouse has at least one bud that I could find. Fuzzy little things, aren't they? So far, I haven't seen any buds on the upper patio poppy.


These yellow tulips share the whiskey barrel with the mint. You can see the one on the right has been chewed off by the squirrels. There is another one farther to the right that was chewed down to a green nub.


And we're starting to see some blooming action on the rhododendrons. Usually, these have come and gone by this time, but everything is really slow this year.


Back inside, I quilted another four blocks on the Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs quilt. This first block is my favorite of the whole quilt.


There's nothing fancy about the quilting. I'm just outlining the applique, and then using a loopy meander to travel from place to place.




And I finished up Tiny House #17. I was trying to make that look like a quilt hanging from the front porch. I can't tell if I pulled it off.


There was no kitty help yesterday. The kitties heard about the Hollywood writer's strike, and now they're striking in solidarity with the writers. I'm telling you...you can't get good help these days.

Today will go pretty much like yesterday. I'll quilt the final four blocks for Dancing Chickens and Flying Pigs. When those are finished, I'll get a start on my challenge piece. The prompt is "Collage." This is the peek I gave you a few days ago.


Our weather is warming up. Probably, I should water the flower pots today since we haven't had any rain in a few days. We'll save our grocery shopping for tomorrow's adventure. It's important to pace yourself, doncha know.

7 comments:

Barbara said...

And the wind upon its way whispered the boughs of May,
And touched the nodding peony flowers to bid them waken. ~ Siegfried Sassoon

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Love all the flower photos--and kitty photos when you show those!!
I too find it takes awhile to recover from even happy events--I'm still recovering from Spring cleaning and daughters visit for 9 days in April and then my birthday week first week of May!!! about the only thing that is getting done is hand stitching and some knitting--I really need to get back to some actual sewing/quilting!!!! Oh and I grocery shopped yesterday--so today is recovery time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hugs, di

Julierose said...

I think "Dancing Chickens.." is so darn cute--you've done such a super job on this one...;)))
And i don't know how you've lasted with that paper piecing project--I really don't enjoy paper piecing...and those blocks look difficult--so many seams!! Nice job!!
We are having a spate of lovely sunny days this week--despite the haziness coming from the Canadian wild fires...I need to make some big decisions about my fabric stash this week...
Have a great rest of the week hugs, Julierose

Charlotte M. said...

Reading up on peonies I found that it takes 3 years from the time you plant them to get blooms. Once they start, a peony plant will live for 50-70 years. Your Rosy Prospects peony is fairly new on the scene, having been first cultivated as a new hybrid in 2008. Hang in there, it's getting there.

CathieJ said...

I have to say that you made me smile with your "doncha know". That expression is said much in my neck of the woods, but it was a favorite of my Wisconsin aunt. It brought back fond memories. Your garden is looking good. I hope that peony blooms this year. I like how you are quilting that whimsical quilt. Keep pacing yourself and enjoying your adventures.

piecefulwendy said...

I sure hope that peony gets its act together next year - it sure would be a pretty one! I have all kinds of ideas for the challenge piece, but haven't settled on any of them yet.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I really hope that living-on-borrowed-time peony performs this year. It would be a showpiece if it did.
Dancing Chickens had me intrigued with the possibilities of Sweet Tea Soup.