Saturday Dirt

Last week I got a book out of the library. "Grow what you Eat, Eat What you Grow" by Randy Shore. He writes about gardening on the Sunshine Coast. With his book and suggestions I combed the West Coast online seed catalogue. Who hoo, I have ordered seeds! Thank goodness they did not come in time for the weekend as it is zero today. Not sure if that would have killed my little pea seeds or not.

We also cleared a small spot of land for raspberries. The idea is to terrace the slope. I am ready to plant those too. Probably waaaay to early but I am impatient like that. An added benefit, fire wood.

I am putting in a rose bed. Not sure how it will turn out but boy is it a heap of work to dig. I am doing this correctly, see that line in the front. I like straight lines.

Before and after. Still not finished. Feels good to give those soft underused winter muscles a workout! And be outside.

Made Black Bean Soup in the pressure cooker. It was a 4 out of 5, not bad. Used 2 cups of soked but uncooked beans, kale from the garden (last years plants), swiss chard, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic (a whole head), celery, three roma tomatoes, red pepper flakes and poultry seasoning. Put it in the pressure cooker on high for 6 minutes, let the pressure come down slowly and voila! Perfect Black Bean Soup.

WIP Wednesday - Squishy Mail

I love squishy mail! I entered a comment and won! Actually I think someone else won and did not claim their prize. This is what they missed out on!!!! It came in this cute little bag, looks like spring doesn't it.

 Three spring like fat quarters. Beautiful! A package of quilting sharps, thread snips and some Clover Clips. Love Clover Clips, Not sure how Jacqueline knew I needed some! 

Thank you for the happiness in my Monday mail. Thank you Quilt Sew Happy!

Saturday Dirt

I have started gardening. Last weekend we dug out the greenhouse, sifted out the rocks, and dug in the old plant matter. It now looks so pretty. I want to plant! Now!

View of my street in Vancouver. It feels like spring!

Love cherry blossoms.

I have an electric pressure cooker. Love it! I can soak beans for the day and toss them into the pressure cooker and have dinner ready in just over an hour. Perfect beans every time. I made Curried Chickpeas and Chicken. Wow, it was a 5. Definitely a make again.

WIP sewing with Charlie

I have started yet another project. I told my long time friend, quite some time ago, I would make her a quilt. She wanted to plan it out. Well the planning and drawing and measuring that went on, for months, maybe closer to a year. Needless to say we are now using the pattern I suggested to her in the beginning.

BFF - aren't they fabulous! I always wanted to use those initials! Check, off the bucket list!

WIP my secret quilt

I have admired this quilt since I saw it in a magazine. My family thought it was boring. Black Dress II. Swoon! They also reminded me I was not to be buying fabric, since I was on the fabric fast and all.

 So, I bought the material in secret. Have cut it out in secret. And I am still in love! I feel as if I am having an illicit love affair. It is so exciting when I get time to work on it! Don't tell.

WIP trimming

I try not to trim blocks. Drives me crazy. Not sure why. However all the quilters I admire do trim. So here it is, my trim pile.

Am I a quilter now? 

WIP From boring to wow

I am making this quilt my February goal for my lovely year of finishes.

My apologies in advance for this post. I am in the process of figuring out how to download photos from my iPad to my blog. With a scroll down function that quits working for any edits. The limitation of the operator, sigh.

The St. Louis 16 block has been on my bucket list forever. It has everything, ie squares! Love squares! I used a jelly roll of Rue Indienne by French General. Cut the lengths to 10.5 inches and sewed them up.

This block - boring. I am thinking what have I done?

To wow! Love this block!