Showing posts with label Rita's Garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rita's Garden. Show all posts

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Basket Quilt Finished.

I finally got the binding on the wonky basket quilt last night and today I went down to my friend Rita's place to take some "Arty" photos.  Usually I just pin it up or have someone hold my quilt.
 Tried a couple of different places.
 Unfortunately it didn't like to be propped up against the rhododendrons, too much sun shade contrast.
 I did get the traditional, please hold my quilt up picture courtesy of Rita.
 Had fun with finding this backing.  I ended up using a variegated thread and straight line about an inch apart.
 Now for a few nature shots, some California poppies in front of my condo.
 Last week on the 21st I took this picture of an Allium just starting to open.
 A few days later,
 And yesterday, today it is at almost the same point.
 I found these fun fabrics last week, I wandered thru looking for a specific fabric in Fabricana which I didn't find.  I was taken by the yellow and pink woven Kaffe Fasset fabric, then I saw the yellow tone on tone, and finally the muli coloured stripe.  When I went back and pulled them all I was surprised how well they all play together.  No project in mind yet but something will bloom I'm sure.
 The same day I got this seagull batik and the fish bones at The Needle and I, I have something in mind for these two.
 My Friday quilting group was treated to high tea by Rita, we had an iced sandwich which was a loaf of white bread with crusts trimmed.  The cut horizontally with chicken salad, then egg salad and then tuna salad between the layers of bread.  It was stacked and then iced with a combination of cream cheese and a bit of cream to thin it.  Cut into vertical slices and served.

For dessert she made a pavlova which was cooked in a rectangular pan, sliced strawberries and whipped cream. 
 She was generous with our portions, we had three different teas to enjoy along with open face cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches.
 The peonies are in full bloom, her neighbour has tied them up so they don't fall over.
 I've taken 15 photos of peonies in the past week and at least 8 of them have an ant in the picture!
 Love this pink/white one.
 Single white with an amazing centre.
 A dark pink/red one with some extra petals in the centre.
 This ones are sort of fringed petals.
 White with a touch of pink.
 White poppies behind a purple flower.
 Refocusing to get the poppies in focus.  They are called Danish White Cross Poppies.
 Orange Oriental poppies.
 These have a heavier, sturdy stem.
 Allium starting to loose petals and enter the drying seed head stage.
 Bearded Iris along the quay.
 Today the Orange Poppies are a bit more open.
 They have very large seed heads.
 More buds waiting to open.
Still waiting on the city to turn over our public gardens, thankfully it appears the threat of flooding on the lower Fraser is unlikely.

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

High Water, Victoria Day Weekend.

On May 15th during my walk along the Quay I saw several signs set up warning people about the high river flow happening along the Fraser.  Higher up several communities have had some major flooding.  At least twice while I've been living here we have had massive sandbags appear but so far they have not arrived on the scene.

But I did spot a couple of sea lions feeding on some fish.  You may be able to see their ears if you click on the pictures.  Seals do not have ears Sea Lions do.
 When I first moved here I could often hear them having late night conversations with each other often in May.
 In preparation for the Victoria Day weekend there were hanging baskets placed below the support poles along the quay.
 Two for each support pole.
 The tulips usually are being pulled up and replanting happening.  I'm guessing they will wait until the threat of flooding has passed.
 I went to the local fabric store and found these mats and one of the cutters.  I already had a turquoise one but needed the pink one.
 I made the large and small Bionic Gear Bags in 2015.  Love my Gingher snips on the turquoise polka dot ribbon.
 I also found the latest Spring/Summer Quilt Sampler.  I think I have every issue.
 In almost every issue I've been to one or two of the shops.  Quiltworks in Bend is a lovely shop.
 Marilyn is a lovely helpful store owner.  I love the quilt shows she has in her upper gallery each month.
 Victoria Day Monday May 21 I went to walk along the boardwalk and as you can see it was blocked at each access from the brick walkway.
 Notice the darer mark on the support pilings?  The high tide was on the wan!  Despite the warnings I saw several people walking with friends or their dogs along the boardwalk.  Love the crow photo bombing the picture!
I also saw this huge log boom negotiating the bend of the river.  There was another tug to the right out of range of the camera towing, with these two helping ease around the bend.
 And a fourth one bringing up the rear!
 I missed the first bloom of peonies and the next are just starting to open, but caught this beauty.
 On the table I found this lovely Gerbera Daisy, I don't think I've every noticed one with the extra petals coming out of the centre.
 It was busy at Angelina's and I waited almost half an hour for a table with lots of others waiting behind.  The great news is that Eric is expanding the restaurant and hopefully the grill also.
 Spotted this pretty Iris in Rita's garden.
 These Snapdragons have a gorgeous colour to them.
 This poppy is starting to drop it's petals.
 I love the seed heads when the petals have dropped.
 This one is a fairly new bloom.
 One of her Allium breaking bud.
 Even a few buttercups.
 Queen Anne's Lace.
 I don't think I've ever seen so little of the diversion above water.  This was about an hour after high tide.  See some of the large logs floating past it.
 The hanging baskets are up and by summer's end will be huge.  New Westminster is known for it's hanging baskets around the main streets and along the quay.
 A slightly different angle where you can see a couple of huge tree trunks and their root balls have hung up on the diversion.  The river splits into the North and South arms at this point.
 One of the palms along the quay.
 Before I can stitch down that large yellow flower on the right I need to add my corner triangles.  I've added the centre flash with a heart in the centre of it.  I'm loving the Simple Folk Pennsylvania Dutch influences that Sarah has done.
 My two headed birds are pinned here but have been stitched down except for the hearts, eyes and centre dot. I still need to do the Grasshopper BOM.