Starting August in Scratches

That was the week

Don't ask me what Monday was all about!

Haven't a clue

Perhaps browns and greys because

dyeing has been on my mind

Wednesday

Handy Hubby and I were like 

ships that pass in the night

The only time we saw each other was

waving to each other from our cars.

Thursday was to honour

the abundance of echinacea

colouring the flowers beds in glorious yellows.

Friday 

I found inspiration in my kantha books.

Saturday

Stitches about all these Olympians coming together to compete.

Sunday

at the crack of dawn 

the Rusty Pups and I walked above the clouds

to the quarry

where we disturbed two large birds

Hawks I think. 

Reflecting on Red

Red was the colour

of the morning sun

as we walked along the dike

Red was the colour

(okay reddish)

of pealing paint on a dike post

Leaves turned red overnight

Berries shone red

in that morning sun

all ready for any hungry critters

or perhaps Rusty pups to pick

Then later on back at the ranch

I returned to grey

Goosey, goosey gander

Reflecting red in his eye!

Changing Colours

Went through my fabric stash

Found some peaches and bright yellows

that have been sitting there for years.

So out came the dyes

and some over-dyeing was done.

To my surprise a lot of red occurred

Still not really colours I was looking for!

But I love accidents

and will give them a chance

to tell me if they have a story to develop

This would be my favourite

think it started off as my mop-up cloth.

Meanwhile the giant bundles are still stewing

in a brew of

Queen Anne's lace

ferns

golden rod

and garden waste.

The bundles are always at their most beautiful

just before you unwrap them.

Oh such fun!

Hot Summer Greys

Underfoot the lichen are crispy crunchy

Even tree bark looks drier than usual

Must be cooler up there

Down here on land stitches are gathering

on my goosey piece.

Scritch Scratch

I'm a scratching Olympian

Well at least a marathoner

Remember chasing the raccoon up the tree?

On Thursday some of us gathered at Betsy's cottage

and watched four loons gliding around the lake

On Friday Diane and I made the biggest bundles you have ever seen

and even managed to stuff two of them in the dye pot

as we dyed the Olympics got under way.

Our bundles must have been about 36" long

On Sunday I planned to harvest the garlic

but it rained all day.

It's been so dry we really need this rain.

Have a nice week

Half Way Through

I'm really not here

Away for a couple of days

Away from computers

Playing with thready friends

Down on the dike

the dairy farmer has cut the long willowy grasses

preparing for winter feeding

When the bales appear

I always feel summer is half way over

and that makes me sad

but also reminds me to live every moment

geese know it too

and are gently preparing their young for the long trek South

Rusty Encounters

When Rusty Pups try to climb the crab apple tree

or sit on guard

you'll hear a squirrel chattering back at them

or quietly sitting there digesting all the seeds

he's just stolen from the bird feeders.