August, sweet August...

As summer winds down and we move towards September and the changing of seasons, I can’t help but think back on the last 3 months...here at Taylorsoutback in northcentral Wisconsin, summer days flow quickly by...much too fast. In our part of the world, Summer, Fall and Spring are here and gone in a flash but the our winter months seem to hang on and on...So we tend to store up as much good times outdoors as we can to get us through the colder and shorter days to come. For our family, August is the month of birthdays and our wedding anniversary...53 years!

Many years ago, when we first moved to Wisconsin, we had a little 14 foot Shasta trailer and we would visit various campgrounds in the area. Coincidentally, one of the places was located only a few miles from where we live now. While the campground is no longer there, the property has been bought by a very energetic family and one of the huge projects they have taken on is repurposing the original barn that use to serve as the campground check in office. I love old barns and it is always a treat to see one lovingly taken care of.

This weekend, the family opened up the barn to local vendors and staged a “Change of Seasons” craft show. Of course, we had to pay a visit!

The barn looks good and it sure brought back some fond memories...

We walked around the property and along the river that flows behind it...we used to pull our little camper up next to the water and Mr. Outback would head out with his trout fishing gear...

Things have grown up in the last 30+years but it still has that sense of peacefulness you can find by the water...

Another very fun event took place recently - if you live in Wisconsin, there is a very good chance you are a strong Green Bay Packer football fan. It is kind of a requirement actually and yes, we have been known to wear cheeseheads. 

On August 11th, The Pack celebrated 100 seasons in the NFL and they put on a party that included cupcakes, special grass seed packets to grow your own Lambeau Field and lots of other “freebies” - 

We got to watch Training Camp as our team practiced...#12 - Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood...

And a wonderful tour of Lambeau topped off the day...I had no idea how beautiful a football stadium could be!

Of course, we were not allowed to be on the field...but my toes could stand at the edge...

My daughter-in-law and I by the goal post...

Between all the visiting, activities and some heavy duty gardening at the house, I have managed to do a little stitching...very little...

August Cheddarback blocks from Sentimental Stitches are done...

And lots of 1 1/2” diamonds have been prepped for the 6 pointed stars that are needed for Victoria’s Garden...

Meanwhile...the days march on; starlings and flocks of geese are all ready gathering...the nights are delightfully cool for sleeping and Labor Day is on the horizon...

Wishing each of you sweet days, good memories and time to stitch...

Pat 

Busy as a bee...

And we are into August...oh my...counting down the summer days...

Here at Taylorsoutback, this month means many hours in the garden filling containers with green beans, blueberries, Napa cabbage, peas, a variety of lettuces, carrots, my favorite little Persian cucumbers and waiting for that first ripe tomato...and just have to share my first attempt at growing garlic...waiting for the upper leaves to start falling over before harvesting the bulbs but just had to see what was going on below the soil...this is the first garlic bulb that I checked...doing a happy dance here!

My little herb garden is lush this year compared to 2018 when everything seemed to struggle...drying sage, oregano and lots of thyme in my little microwave set up in the potting shed.  The basils are prolific...not complaining at all! Day lilies are blooming and cutting a few oriental lily blossoms to bring inside sends fragrance drifting across the room. 

The surrounding fields are full of yellow tansy and goldenrod and bumble bees are everywhere...

We were able to take another mini vacation to the UP in Michigan recently and relax a little bit which allowed for some much enjoyed stitching time.

The 2nd block for my Rowdy Flat Library quilt is now completed with its own busy little bees...

The Queen Bee has lots of little worker bees flying in different directions around her and I just had to include some little Princess bees in pink too. The yellow grouping in the corner are 3/8” hexies - the template was included in the pattern. 

What a fun block to work on - can’t wait for Susan Smith to send the next block. 

Finally, just to keep buzzing along with all the other bees, finished the center medallion for a new quilt by Karen Styles. The pattern is in the March-April, 2019 issue of Quiltmania. Piecing it was a challenge for me & the completed unit was pinned to the background prior to appliquéing around the edge. When I was done - oh no! It had shifted about 1/2” so the points did not line up to the 4 folded lines of the square which made it look off center. Got out the reverse sewing tool, cleaned up the threads, repositioned everything, pinned again and this time also thread basted to make sure everything was more secure. That extra step made it work and the circle stayed in position. In addition to all the EPP’ing blocks that go around it, I plan on using this stripe from Di Ford. 

(Oh - and that little gold circle in the very middle?? - Some of those darker green points needed a little cosmetic treatment)  

I think that is about it for now...hoping your days are busy and bountiful too...

Pat