I was supposed to meet a friend to do some pickleball drills tonight but the courts were all busy so we had to cancel. So instead I played with the doggos and dug in on my X & + quilt. I didn’t finish it, but I’m getting closer!
I trimmed and sewed together row 5 out of 7 rows. Then I sewed that row to the row I finished a few night ago.
Once that was sewn and pressed I sewed that section to the three other rows that are done. Then I got it all pressed and back up on my design wall.
So just two more rows to go. I should get it done this weekend. And this time I really mean it!
I’m ready to be done with this. In the mean time, here’s some eye candy.
While I was out in the back yard with Bender and Rico this evening I took a look at my roses. They’ve really been gorgeous this year. I think this might be the most spectacular bloom I’ve ever seen on this pink tea rose. It’s just covered with blooms.
Each bloom is only about two inches across. These roses are hardy. I basically ignore them and they flourish! Here’s a closer look.
This next one is another bush with delicate pink blooms. The aroma of this one is so gorgeous. The blooms on this one are about four inches across.
I also noticed that my apples are getting pretty big. These are actually ready for picking in July each year.
There’s only a few branches of this tree that have any apples. And that’s just fine with me. I had so many a few years ago I had my yard guy haul away garbage cans full! If you don’t get them picked up they attract rats! I just don’t need that many apples. These aren’t great for eating, but they dry well and make good apple sauce. I’m not sure what kind of apples they are. The tree is pretty old.
Rico has a sheep herding lesson tomorrow down in Molalla. I’m going to try to find a strawberry stand on the way home. I haven’t had any fresh Oregon strawberries yet this summer and I need some!
X/+ looking good, I love it ! And I could almost smell your beautiful roses. Just a guess on the apples…if they stay green, Granny Smith?
they get a little bit of red on them. But they don’t turn completely green. I’m pretty sure they’re not Granny Smith. Not shaped right.
Anne
Those apples may be Granny smith if they dry well and make good applesauce. Are they tart and very firm?
Also, how do you keep bugs from eating your roses? I’m about ready to pull mine out because regardless of what I do something spoils them every year.
They aren’t shaped like Granny Smiths. they are shaped more like a delicious. I think they may be Gravensteins, but I’m not sure.
I absolutely ignore my roses. Really. I don’t do anything with them other than cut them back a couple times a year and they do well. I’ver never had bugs on them here. Maybe they’re magic roses!
Anne
Your X & + quilt is looking spectacular! I can almost smell the roses from your pictures ☺️. They are also spectacular! I am cheering for Rico from afar 🥰
Rico was a good boy, like always!
I’d like to have this quilt done, but can’t seem to motivate myself to do it!
Anne
What a beautiful garden you have . Enjoy your weekend summer is such fun
My garden is limited. the yard is really made for dogs so I don’t have a lot of plants that they could destroy. My gardening days are behind me!
Anne
Hi Sister–welcome to camp!I don’t usually subscribe to blogs but this one I love and perhaps you will too. She’s a fun writer, about your age I think, and has the most interesting approach to quilting. She inspires me because she’s so diverse in her activities and life in general.Now settle in for a wonderful summer.Love,Dit
Welcome to camp? I’m so confused!
thanks for reading! Have a great summer!
Anne
What beautiful work on this quilt.. be proud so very proud. I love it. Also these Rose I’m loving them too. Hard to find such a hardy Rose. That Apple Granny Smith or a Gravensteil, but it would make a beautiful strudel. Probably tart. Getting this done then on to something else. Time is precious.. enjoy.
I think my apples might be Gravensteins. But I don’t know for sure. They aren’t great for eating. I’ve never used them for a pie or crisp so I don’t know how they do there. They are tart and sort of dry.
Anne
When they are tart you add more sugar. Great again for Stredel or an Apple crisp… nice size Apple. Apple sauce sounds good too…‼️‼️
I’m not much of a baker… not a huge fan of sweets. I prefer savory and salty. I do make an apple crisp often for my Christmas Eve dinner party.
Anne
my sweatheart has a huge old apple tree in his yard. He also has a cider press. We have a cider making party most years. EVERYONE goes home with cider and apples. Then we make apple sauce and apple butter over and over.
I wonder if you could make cider from these. They don’t seem terribly juicy. Maybe that’s why they dry so well. I wish I knew what kind of apples they are.
Anne
we have also dried apples…I just don’t use them as much.
I’ll admit I Didn’t really like the X&+ quilt much at first, but now think it’s stunning! Your use and placement of the Kaffe fabrics makes it so unique.
Those roses are gorgeous!
It’s definitely not a typical color combination. But I love it more and more. In person there are a good number of pops of purple, red, green, all kinds of colors that don’t come through well in photos.
Now to get it done!
Anne
Your quilt and roses are luscious! I think I have pinned every one of your quilts that I’ve seen on Pinterest! I love looking at them because they inspire me to do more! Best wishes to you and your pups!
I’ve pinned hundreds of quilts on Pinterest. I’m sure I’ve pinned some over and over again! it’s a wonderful place for inspiration.
Anne
Your quilt is gorgeous … great job. I love the rose photos too. Years ago (I lived in Southern California for many years, now in New Hampshire) in California, my home was a fabulous English country cottage. I had these Cecile Bruner Roses growing on the lower roof out front and they made for a lovely entrance. I had them for years and people would come each season and take photos of the house with the roses … the enchanted cottage. One morning I went out to go to work and the entire gigantic rose bush was sprawled across the front lawn. It had blown down in the night. I called on friends to come to help me get it back up there. It was hysterical the way we all had to get on ladders and flip the branches back up there but it worked. I loved those roses and the bushes were like my freinds … something I could count on year after year. Enjoy your weekend!! Kind regards.
What a lovely memory to have! I love roses. Especially appreciating each one close up!
Anne
I can almost smell your roses – perfumed or not!
CheersPauline Chiarelli
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I was walking through the neighborhood the other night and smell of roses what almost overwhelming! Amazing how the aromas are so much nicer as the sun is going down.
Anne
Idea for extra apples🤗. I’m originally from New Zealand, was there staying w relatives this time last year. My cousin’s lemon 🍋 tree was covered- so beautiful. There they put bags of surplus oranges and lemons at the end of their driveways for people walking by. But they don’t have bears!! 🐻.
that’s a good idea! but I just needed to get rid of them. there were thousands! and these apples don’t store well.
We do have bears, but I’ve never seen one in my neighborhood. Coyotes, yes!
Anne
I love the quilt. Is there a pattern?
There are lots of tutorials on the web for this block, but this is the one I used.https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Japanese-X-and-Plus-Quilt–A-Tutorial.html?soid=1104539806989&aid=RRQM3UkbT1U&epik=dj0yJnU9TTE4THNXYno1N0pMc1BrVnJaNDVyb2xvY0dqaUVWcTYmcD0wJm49Z2MtSjU1QWt1TnFRRlFuQy1WRTRPdyZ0PUFBQUFBR1NZMFJv
Anne