Wednesday 8 June 2016

Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOOKSHED!

I was at the party.... honest. 

It was a lovely weekend here.     Perfect for joining Chookyblue in celebrating her Chooksheds 4th birthday.   Doesn't time fly.  Seems like only last year that she took up residence in her own special sewing space.

In honour of the Chookshed I blew the dust of my box YLI Silks.  Polished my applique needle and cleaned my specs ready for action    And here is what I worked on.....

The first block of the  Rowdy Flat Library Quilt.......


Like I really needed to start another project   Duh!  I hope there are quilting stores in Heaven (I'm hoping to go there) coz I'm going to need all of eternity and then some to scale my WIP mountain.

I must admit I haven't stitched much in all the weeks I've been missing.   Actually the fact I haven't sewn much is the reason I've been missing.    There are only so many cat and chicken photos I can bore you all with and even I'm sick of the sound of my own whinging.

Still..... things might just be looking up.   The party put a needle back in my hand and guess what.... I liked it.   I had fun.   I quaffed my share of vino collapso and munched my way through a mountain of root vegetable crisps.    So what if I eventually felt sick.....   I was happy as a pig in poo (being polite).

Here's another photo....



I finished all but 10 of the little petals around the centre.   Good going eh.   I'm ringing the changes with more modern and brighter fabric selections too.  Seriously..... what is happening to me.  I'm in danger of becoming 'trendy'..... who'd have thought.

Thanks for the party Chooky.  I know you had a great time and now you know I did too.  

Now for a bit of a general catch up.

I'm showing you this photo of Chris and Sally to prove to you that the sun does shine in Scotland.....

 

not often I can get the two of them to sit for a photo.  Just look at that blue sky!    I suspect that Sally allowed me to take her pic because she wanted me to show you her finished circle quilt and as you know there is a price to pay for everything.  

Here's her quilt....


I love it.... I covet it.  Is that a sin?    It looks just perfect for my conservatory.  I can't believe she refused to leave it with me.  Some friend eh!  (just kidding Sal)

Chris caught the circle bug too...... this is her proudly displaying her first batch.....


She's got over 100 done now.   Yep... she's addicted.

Kitty visited for a weekend....  she arrives every time she needs a hair cut.  Sadly she doesn't trust me to style her locks.   Perhaps I shouldn't have shown her the pudding basin......


She finished this lovely embroidered pincushion.  It's the first time she's tried ribbon embroidery.. didn't she do well.    She stitched that little squirrel cross stitch too.   It was a freebie kit with a cross stitch magazine.    Honestly..... I didn't think anyone ever made up those little kits.    Do  you?

Bit by tiny bit I did manage to make a few more Stonefields blocks.....


Hand piecing is so relaxing.


Not a lot of progress but better than nothing.

A few weeks ago I took on the role of Chicken Nurse.   Here I am throttling medicating Ruby.   Talk about stress.   It worked fine the first time I dosed her but after that.... well she had me sussed.  No way was she coming near me.    I'd  honed my rugby tackle to perfection by the time treatment was done.


She did improve but sadly she didn't thrive.   For a Rhode Island Red she was very small and delicate. This morning I found her on the floor of the chicken coop.   She quite literally fell off her perch and ascended to chicken heaven some time during the night.   I like to think she was happy.  Her last supper was fresh raspberries and corn.... boy did she enjoy it.    


Lovely Miss Ruby Runabout

The chickens I waited 62 years to own have broken my heart twice already.    Miss Rosie disappeared a month ago.    Just disappeared without a trace.   No ruckus in the garden.  No sight or sound of a predator. Not a feather to be found.  Spooky.   It was 2 o,clock on a Sunday afternoon for goodness sake.   I was home.  I heard nothing.

I've discounted Mac's theory that she was abducted by Aliens and I'm hanging onto the hope that she's gone broody and is hiding somewhere in the garden.   Goodness knows a battalion of chickens could  be hiding in here and you'd never know.   

It's been 4 weeks without even a note.   The Poultry Man told me she could sit on her eggs for 4 to 6 weeks.... until she notices that they are getting smelly and not very nice.... and abandons the nest for the comforts of the coop.    To be truthful... hope is fading but you never know.   Stranger things happen.... around here anyway.

Chicken news is not all bad though.   Chris and Sally took me to a Poultry Auction at our local Mart.  I had a great time looking at loads of lovely birds the like of which I'd never seen before.   I intended to bid for two Speckled Sussex hens.  I'd lost hope of finding any of those locally.  

Well..... I nearly had a dicky fit when I heard the auctioneer in action.   I couldn't understand a word he was saying and boy was he fast.   I can talk some gibberish but he had me beat.   I begged Sally to stay and bid on my behalf..... I really am quite shy you know.  Honest.  Eventually I had to take pity on Sal and Chris and let them go home.   My 'lot' was some 2 hours down the list and they were starving.... or so they told me.

By the time the Speckled Sussex were up I was an auction expert.   I'd tuned in to the Auctioneer and figured out the strange methods folks have for bidding.   I decided that flicking the show catalogue would be my method of choice.  It worked.   I am now the proud owner of .........

Miss Sally Speckles

Miss Susie Speckles

What's not to love about them.  Roll on the next auction.....

Well... I'd better get going.  You've guessed.... it's TV time again.  Besides I'm rambling and I've really overloaded this post with chicken stuff.   

I've got a day off tomorrow.   After I've picked up worming meds for the hens and blitz cleaned the coop that is.    However much of my day I have left  I'll be spending with you.   Visiting and checking out what you've been up too this week.   

So.... have a lovely rest of the week doing what makes you happy and I'll see you soon.

Thanks for putting up with me....:o)

Hugs
Josie xxxxx

28 comments:

kiwikid said...

So lovely to see you back blogging, I do so enjoy your posts!! Your new project looks amazing...we all have many WIPS, seems to be the way of quilters!!! Sorry to hear about Ruby, but so nice to see the two new additions Sally and Susie. Well done at the auction you brave woman!!! Lol!! I hope Miss Rosie turns up for you..she must be well hidden. Sally has made wonderful progress on her circles, can't understand why she wouldn't leave it with you, some friends huh!!! I have seen sun in Scotland too, was back in 1979 and we had two beautiful days!! :-) The ribbon embroidery is beautiful as are your stonefields blocks. Enjoy your stitching.

Fiona said...

so wonderful to hear from you - I wondered if you had fallen off your perch with dear little Ruby and am much releived to read you.... beautiful beautiful stitching... all of it. I just love the amazing one you are working on - such a lot of work. - well so is Stonefeilds - you do choose loveliness to play with
Hugz

Rebecca in AK said...

Josie I always look forward to your posts! I am so sorry to hear about Miss Ruby, so sad. Now, if the aliens should drop Miss Rosie off here I will let you know! So much quilty goodness! I have been getting the Rowdy Flat Library patterns each month but have not started it yet. I will probably wait until I have a Sweet William done. I agree, hand stitching is the best!

Jeanette said...

Hi Josie, so wonderful to see a blog post from you. Great reading as always. Love your new chickens. I've been getting Rowdy Flat too but haven't made a start. Too busy trying to get ufo's under control. Hugs, xx

margaret said...

such a good read your blog today you certainly are a good writer maybe a book is a good idea, life with the chickens springs to mind. Good to see you are stitching again and hope you continue to be inspired. Wow the circle quilts I so admire those who do applique and circles even more so.New chicks look as though they have settled in well, love to hear them clucking, used to have some next door but no longer though there are some 3 doors down that I sometimes hear. Trust the missing chuck will turn up, sad you lost Ruby, one of the drawnbacks of having pets is the attachment we have with them and the sadness when we lose one sorry have prattled!

Chookyblue...... said...

now look at those lovely big comments the girls have left........
Thank goodness you haven't fallen off the perch like Miss Ruby...sometimes chooks amaze me......not holding any hope for the other runaway miss.
Love the new girls......I still have one of those.......

SO pleased to see you sewing.......and the girls have been around.........glad you were able to join the party on the weekend......sometimes I have to pinch myself to know it is real and that I really have had the Chookshed for 4 years.......OMG ......

Chookyblue...... said...

Oh and I will never see too many chook pics........cats on the other hand.......

Alcea Rosea 31 said...

I must look up the pattern of your latest project, gorgeous colours, I missed the weekend of sewing ( looking after two small boys ). I was sorry to hear of missing chook, it's hard to give up hope. Your new girls are beautiful, I'm trying to think of a story which has a speckled hen but my aged, sleep deprived brain won't cooperate.

Käthe said...

Welcome back Josie ! I am glad to read from you again . And sunshine in Scotland , that's wunderbar.Ich always marvel at your beautiful handicrafts , but if there is Fabric Shops in heaven ? Would be nice...
Käthe

paulette said...

First off I am so sorry about your chickens! But the new speckled girls are magnificent! They are gorgeous! And I love your new project! Can't believe how far along you are on it!

Maria said...

Sew nice to. See you back and you and your stitching friends have been busy...you have done a great job nursing Ruby too...

Helen said...

Wonderful to see you posting again, love seeing your chooks and garden. Beautiful new project, love it and always great to stitch with friends :)

Ondrea said...

It is always so delightful reading your posts. Good to see you back. Yes, I know that sun does shine sometimes in Scotland. I think I spent 3 days there this time last year and one day was sunny. I think it was the day we went to Edinburgh Castle. Rest of the time it was drizzly rain and a bit gloomy but the air was crisp and refreshing. LOve your new project, I haven't seen it before. Sorry to hear about your poor hen and the other that vanished, How strange! If it was a fox there would have been feathers everywhere. Better than finding the head of a pet rabbit in the garden---yep that happened to my daughter's bunny. Do you have wire under the coup? LOve your speckled hens, very cute. Have fun . Hope to "see" you soon.

Shirley said...

I have missed you and your wit and wisdom. Lovely to see you are doing The Rowdy Flat quilt. It is going to be gorgeous and I am also reminded that I am sadly neglecting Stonefields. Nice to see your progress.

Lin said...

Hi Josie - good to hear from you. It was a great party. Good work on the aplique, going to be gorgeous. I love your friends quilt and deeply, deeply covet the pincushion!! Welcome to your new Miss Speckles. Have a great weekend. xx

Yvonne W said...

As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I love your hen stories-- so posts of hens and hen photos would be happily accepted, thank you. Fancy bidding at an auction and winning it-- hopefully at the right price. Love your new patchwork block. The circles quilt looks great.

Anonymous said...

Hi Josie,you always give me a chuckle when reading your posts,though i am sorry that you lost 2 of your girls,its easy to get so attached to our animal friends.
Boy you and your friends are very clever my friend and i enjoy seeing your beautiful work,and i love your 2 new girls,hope your day is a good one my friend ...

Houseelf said...

I hope Miss Rosie has turned up. Maybe she just went into hiding after Ruby? We had a duck go missing then she turned up with a brood of 11! Lovely new girls. Good luck!

Chookyblue...... said...

knock knock any one home?????
Miss you

cocoya said...

Oh and I will never see too many chook pics........cats on the other hand.......
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Chookyblue...... said...

so miss my days blogging with you.....your blog was always such a fun read......