Today is Bender’s tenth birthday! I really can’t believe he’s ten already, although his face is starting to show his years.
Look at those adorable white eyebrows.
We didn’t do anything too special to celebrate, other than our usual daily walks. But I did make him a birthday cake after our evening walk.
Here’s the basic recipe, but I doctored it up a bit and added bananas and oats, and omitted the carrots since I didn’t have any on hand. It’s pretty tasty and the dogs love it!
After our morning walk in the rain I headed out for three hours of pickleball! And I had a blast! I think I played the best ever had. I even had one game where I played with three guys who are much better than I am and my team won!!! It was a long and well fought game! And so much fun! I also tried out some brand new pickleball shoes and I love them! My feet and toes felt so comfy the entire time.
I did get a few things done in my sewing room over the weekend. Yesterday I had a pretty lazy day but managed to get four Wensleydale blocks made. Then I got another four made today.
That makes a total of 37 blocks done. I’m pretty sure I’m going to make the full 60 blocks for this quilt. So that means 23 more blocks to go. That’s not very many.
I’ve ordered a couple of batiks that are similar to the lightest ones in these blocks because I think is needs more of that really light for contrast. It will take a few days for it to get here so after the few kits I have left to sew, I’ll probably take a bit of a break on this.
And here’s all eight blocks from this weekend, just because I like to look at the details of each one.
I just love that every block is unique. It keeps it interesting when making so many of the same block.
Rico had a good snooze in my sewing room tonight. It’s very unusual for him to even come into the room, let alone take a nap there.
He has been a little clingy the last few days. Unusual.
It’s been a rainy weekend but more and more things are blooming every day. The cherry trees here in Portland are gorgeous and just starting to bloom.
They are not quite at their full glory.
I also saw this on the trail today. I think it’s a red blooming current.
I also saw the first rhododendron in bloom today.
Mine still has a good white before it blooms.
Back to work tomorrow. My budgets are due at the end of this week so I’ll have a really busy week.
agilejack 
The blocks look great, and the whole thing….marvelous! And thank you for the beautiful flowering pictures. Happy Birthday Bender, .what a guy!
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Thanks! I’m happy to share my blocks and what little spring we’re finally seeing!
Anne
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That’s a native current—aren’t they lovely? Mine started blooming in February and is still going strong.
Lucky Bender!
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I never noticed that current until a couple years ago. There are several along the trail where we walk every day and one or two in yards on our walk. Really a lovely color!
Anne
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I’m in the Portland OR area too and it’s a great plant for these gardens.
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Happy birthday Bender! A very distinguished gent with those eyebrows. SO cute! And a birthday cake to boot! Poor Rico. I always worry when Stella acts in non-typical ways. Something is up with him or you. I am always amazed how animals pick up on things going on with us that we may not even be aware of, at least, initially.
Your spring is way ahead of ours! I will say that with all the driving we did on our trip it was interesting to see Spring evolving as we headed south for our family emergency, and then in reverse returning north. I love seeing the redbud coming to life! That fuchsia-pink against the yellow greens is so pretty.
Nice steady progress on the quilt! I just started cutting out my first quilt in a number of months. Strummin’ by Pink Parakeet Designs. This will be a 40th birthday gift for my son-in-law, Matt.
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Rico seems to be back to himself tonight. I didn’t mention that “someone” had some pretty stinky farts last night. And it wasn’t me!
Our spring is ahead of yours and way behind where we usually are. I am really wanting some spring weather!
Good for you for starting a quilt!
Anne
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I ordered a pack of Wensleydale papers because of your beautiful quilt. You are an inspiration! We are supposed to have a week of sun in southern CT. We’ll see.
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They may be wondering why they’re selling so many of those papers! You’re not alone!
I’m envious of your weather. It rained here all day and I’m really sick of it.
Anne
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Happy Birthday Bender! I hope you loved your cake. Thanks for the recipe Anne. I think I will give it a try for the various pups in the family. A joint bday celebration.
My favourite thing about these quilt blocks, is how I am drawn from the outside inwards by the colour and patterns, and then the splash of “look at me” in the centre. I am really enjoying following along
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made that cake. probably at least 15 or 20 times. My boys love it! You can see them licking their chops as I cut a piece for them.
I’m really loving these blocks. I love that each one is unique. It keeps it all interesting when making the same block one after another.
Anne
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Happy birthday Bender! Thanks (mom) for the birthday cake recipe. I have itty bitty dogs and some itty bitty pans, think I’ll make some and freeze them to frost as I need them.
I really like the quilt you are working on. I’m working on a stringy KF scrap quilt with no real plan in mind. Just going round and round with borders.
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I never actually frost these cakes. I prefer desserts that aren’t too sweet and I make that assumption for my dogs too!
I’m thinking it might be time to make another string quilt! I love string quilts.
Anne
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Thought the recipe said to frost with cottage cheese, I think my dogs would like that. Not added sugar…plain greek yogurt maybe. Just the small piece they get and not the whole cake.
This is my first string quilt – it’s been a lot of fun!
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It does say to frost it, but I never do.
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Aww, happy, happy birthday 🎂 sweet Bender!!! More handsome every year , hugs to both the boys 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
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He is definitely the most photogenic dog in my household!
Anne
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Happy Birthday Bender! Your cake sounds yummy!!
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It’s pretty tasty. Don’t ask me how I know that!
Anne
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The cake looked so delicious I actually thought it was for you. I am loving your blocks with all the lovely batiks. So pretty!
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Don’t tell Bender and Rico, but I have stolen a bite or two of their cake. it’s pretty good! Could use a little salt.
Anne
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Happy birthday! Please tell me about your design wall. It appears to have several levels. How is it set up? Does each level have a foam board behind? I can see that a top is probably where the levels can be moved.
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I have two design walls. One is a roll-up version. It has two rollers on it so I can have two design walls going at one time. It’s big enough for a throw size quilt but not big enough for a queen. Here’s a video showing how it rolls up.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5h5S52oOts
It hangs over my closet door and rolls up into that wooden box at the top. It’s great when you have limited space.
Because that roll up wall isn’t large enough to accommodate a queen quilt, I made a small and portable design wall out of a piece of styrofoam insulation. here’s a blog post about how I made that.https://agilejack1.com/2020/10/14/building-to-accommodate-my-next-make/
Anne
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Happiest of fur babies birthdays to Bender. I copied the recipe for his birthday cake and will be adding it to my fur babies birthday celebration.
Is Rico sensing something going on? I am raising another golden rigor PAWS With a Cause ( head quarters in Grand Rapids Michigan) assistance dogs. Dogs are amazing with what they can do. I am hoping this one goes to an autistic child or someone suffering from PTSD. Fingers crossed she make out through the program.
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I think Rico may be like me and ready for some nice spring weather.
Dogs are amazing! So nice that you’re working with assistance dogs! Dogs are so amazing!
Anne
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Your work inspires me! ❤️ Could you tell me a little about where you have your quilts in progress hanging? Thanks!
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I have two design walls. One is a roll-up version. It has two rollers on it so I can have two design walls going at one time. It’s big enough for a throw size quilt but not big enough for a queen. Here’s a video showing how it rolls up.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5h5S52oOts
It hangs over my closet door and rolls up into that wooden box at the top. It’s great when you have limited space.
Because that roll up wall isn’t large enough to accommodate a queen quilt, I made a small and portable design wall out of a piece of styrofoam insulation. here’s a blog post about how I made that.https://agilejack1.com/2020/10/14/building-to-accommodate-my-next-make/
Anne
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Thanks for all the info! ❤️
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Happy Birthday, Bender! Both you and Rico enjoy your yummy birthday cake!
The spring flowers are looking as beautiful as your quilt. Looks like another row on the right and one row on the bottom and you will be done! It is exactly a year ago I stumbled upon your blog while I was waiting at the hospital while my husband was undergoing surgery. Since then I have learnt so much, finished 3 Frankenbags, and know where to go to get some eye candy and get inspired!
Thank you Anne 🙂
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the finished quilt will be six rows wide and ten rows high. So two more columns and a couple more rows. It will be a generous size throw quilt.
Thank you for reading Sara! It’s been so fun to get to know so many people from all over the world through my blog! What a bunch of amazing people!
Anne
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Happy birthday to Bender. Hope Rico just has spring fever. Love the variety in your Wensleydale blocks.Blue is my favorite color!
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I think Rico is fine. I think he’s like me… tired of rain and wanting some action!
I also love the variety in these Wensleydale blocks! Keeps them interesting.
Anne
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Wensleydale blocks are coming along in leaps and bounds, can’t wait until your’e posting all the finished blocks. Poor Rico, hope he’s back to normal now and happy birthday to Bender, those eyebrows are adorable.
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I’m getting close to having them all done. Next set will include more dark indigos and more white-ish batiks. It will be fun to have them all done and start arranging them in earnest.
Rico seems back to normal. he was upset today when we had a little hail storm. He’s definitely a sensitive one.
Anne
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Good morning Anne, I’m loving your photos of the wensleydale blocks, looking at getting the templates now and using up some scraps. Enjoy your blog, looks lovely where you live
Regards
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You should give them a try. I’m really enjoying them and they are a great use for scraps!
Anne
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