I've been getting some quilting done, but nothing really done enough to show. I basted three small quilts, one I have started hand quilting Baptist fans. I've been getting a bit of machine applique done and started a new hand applique project. I'll be sure to show them when they get to the "complete" stage.

The end of summer is nearing. Boo-Hoo I always think of this song by Dashboard Confessional:
so long sweet summer
I stumbled upon you and gratefully basked in your rays.....

I thought I'd post a few photos I shot in the garden today.

I probably should have flicked that grasshopper away, but I couldn't bear to. I thought he made the shot a little unusual.
My favorite flower of all time!

This little Mexican hat is out in my wildflower patch. It is about the only thing left out there.

See this beautiful vintage looking fabric postcard? Libby at Paper Napkin Poetry made it for me! (I borrowed the photo from her site) I couldn't be more thrilled with it and especially her thoughtfulness. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Still Alice was a heart wrenching, amazing book. I'm not sure I've ever read a fiction book that made me cry at times- this one did.

I'm loving The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (despite the name). I saw it on Valentina's blog and she told me she was really enjoying it.

Next in line is Pearl of China by Anchee Min.

Hopefully I'll have something quilty to show you the next time I post.

I'd Much Rather Be.....

I'd rather be cooking dinner for my girlfriends then trying to find auto parts for hours on end!!! It has been a long time since I've worked so many hours in a row standing...... Only 2 more days, then I'm looking forward to a little road trip on Saturday. (By the way, this is Randy's amazing kitchen in Sunriver)

After a quick shower and dinner I spent a little time enjoying my flower garden. Here are a few that the deer usually leave alone.

I have tons of lavender that self seeds every year. The bees love it.

Even our dog is tired of being cooped up while I'm away. He always looks forward to a bit of action when we get home.

Have a wonderful Thursday!!

Gardening

One of my other pastimes besides quilting is flower gardening. I don't' have a green thumb and there are a lot of challenges with growing anything on the high desert of Central Oregon.


Flowering sage needs no help and is pretty effective in the garden.

One of my favorites is the purple coneflower.

This sunflower self seeded from the bird feeder. You can see one of the challenges in my area is keeping the deer from eating everything. Since I took this photo they even ate the flower!!!

Last fall I decided I would try and grow a few vegetables. Because we can only dig about 1" down before hitting hardpan I built the soil up using the lasagna gardening method. Basically it's a layered raised bed. My other plan was to use the square foot gardening method.

Here is my jumble of tomato plants. It looks a bit more like a wild patch of blackberry bushes. I really had no idea tomato plants get this large.

I have a few peppers planted in there too. They aren't getting too much light these days. And I am hoping to find my carrots sometime this fall!!!

I've had fun doing it and I certainly have learned a few things. I call this my "Humble Garden".