Today is the 127th running of the Boston Marathon and 10 years since the bombing. In New England, this is a big deal. We’ve had a family member who has run several times, and we’ve spent some time enjoying the atmosphere and waiting for the runners to cross the finish line. Around 30,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will run Boston and Heartbreak Hill today. Good luck to all of them.
I’ll be home putting binding on a quilt top that I just got back from a longarm quilter extraordinaire who also happens to be a friend.
This quilt is a gift and is minimalistic in design which means the exceptional quilting stands out to be enjoyed.
If you like beautiful quilts of all types and designs, check out Seashell Quilting on Instagram because she posts weekly updates on her completed projects. Her posts are like going to a weekly quilt show.
It’s raining today, and that makes me happy.
I moved shrubs yesterday and Daffodil and Hyacinth bulbs are coming up so the rain is a good thing.
Last week I also used Wet and Forget to spray our fence and some spots that needed cleaning. Nothing like having the cleaning done while I sit at the sewing machine. 🙂
The seedlings are doing well, so well in fact that I’ll probably need to move them to bigger cells this week and for sure I need to move the lights up again.
It is always fun to watch plants grow from a tiny seed.
Lots of yard work still being done, but the leaves are gone, all 43 bags, and my shoulders are grateful. The large tree trunk is off the yard also. With the larger saw, we cut it into pieces that could be rolled off the lawn and into the brushy area, and the larger trunk was pulled off the yard with the truck. Good old Yankee ingenuity on how to move something way too big. 🙂
I just finished a Robert Tanenbaum book, and I’m now reading Robert Dugoni. A good book is a necessity regardless of weather.
Have a great week, and if you’re doing, reading, or watching something interesting by all means share. Happy mid April. The time sure does fly when you’re having spring fun.
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
devastating memory but a great tribute.
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Thank you. Like many other cities, it was a terrible thing with loss of lives and limbs and families that will always be impacted by their loss.
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Ten years since the bombing! My gosh, time really does fly. I remember that horrible event all too well. On happier note…your quilt is oh so lovely. Lucky recipient! Your yard work seems to be going very well. Yankee ingenuity is right! We have started on our yard work, too. Not quite as advanced as you are, but what we lack in speed, we make up for with persistence. My creaky knees really slow me down, but onward ho!
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It really is amazing that it’s been ten years. It’s definitely an event none of us here in New England will ever forget. I kept looking at that tree trunk that came down from the neighbors and decided there just had to be a way to move it out of the way without shelling out cold hard cash to a tree company. Mission accomplished. :-)My shoulders have been screaming at me about picking up all those leaves, and my left knee doesn’t like digging anymore, but, hey, we do what we can when we can, right? 🙂
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Yes, we what we can when we can. Onward, ho, however slow!
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Judy, that is a beautiful quilt. In fact, it would be perfect in my bedroom! Confession, I had to Google ‘long arm quilting’, as I am old fashioned, and assumed that all quilts are still done by hand. I also checked out your friend’s Instagram page – very inspirational.
Your voice is ‘light’ in this post, a condition brought on by Springtime, no doubt. 🙂
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I do love being outside that is for sure. It’s my happy place. 🙂 There are still some people with amazing hand skills who do hand quilting like my friend, Joyce, who comments here. Most others either use their home sewing machine or work with a longarm quilter. I knew I wanted the flower but there were several patterns, and she helped me pick out the right one for this particular quilt. Here’s an interesting thought for you -a queen sized bed is 90 x 108. Some fabric is 108″ wide so you could buy two pieces, 3 yards each, and have it quilted with the design of your choice, pay them to trim and put the binding on, and you’d have a unique quilt. 🙂
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In a comment by Dorothy from VT, she mentions that what I was talking about in my reply is called a ‘whole cloth quilt.’ Now, you can google it. 🙂
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Wow, that’s a lot of garden work you’ve done! I have friends running in the Boston Marathon today too — sending them many good vibes, and hopes for good weather. My daffodils are almost all done and my English Roses are in full, glorious bloom. I planted a new one in the back garden where my naughty dog dug up the one I had moved, while we were out of town, so when we got back, it was dead. Luckily, it was a variety one can still order, “Gentle Hermione”, as the company does discontinue varieties periodically. So far, so good! I have protected it under a tomato support.
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I hope your friends had a great race. It was rather cool, cloudy, and some sprinkles. I’m guessing that is better than the 90 degree heat we had last week. I looked up your Gentle Hermione rose, and it is beautiful. Your tomato cage sounds like a good solution. My daughter’s dog loves roses, but she just likes to put her nose in the center and sniff. 🙂
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Sweet Man’s daughter was running in the Marathon on the day of the bombing. She had already finished, but we were all worried until we heard from her. She is running in the 2024 Boston Marathon.
It looks like Spring has Sprung your way.
I’m off to check that quilter on IG.
Enjoy your week!
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I’m very glad his daughter was safe, and hope 2024 is a good year for her at the Marathon. Spring has sprung, and it won’t be long before you head to the lake.
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I love a whole cloth quilt Judy! This is lovely!
Are you going to the Vermont Quilt Show this year? After a three-year absence, it’s not a moment too soon!
https://www.vqf.org
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On the front I had 7 rows of 5″ squares that is intended to look like a quilt folded up at the bottom. The rest of the top was plain white and looks beautiful quilted. One of the fabrics on the front was lupines so on the back I did a big swath of that fabric. Gardening theme for sure. 🙂 Oh, that website looks amazing. I wish it was on the east side of the state. That would be a six hour round trip drive from here. I do love a good quilt show, and that one looks like it fits the bill for sure.
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There’s one coming up in Rutland too. What town are you in?
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I’m right next to Portsmouth.
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Such a lovely spot. We have friends in Exeter and when we visit them, we often head to Portsmouth for lunch!
Hope we can connect some time!
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Sounds like you’ve had a productive time in the yard! The quilt is beautiful!
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I am grateful that I was able to cross several to-do items off the list. Glad you like the quilt.
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Stunning quilt! What an heirloom this will become. Love those Daffodils. Such a pretty flower. Your seedlings are going gangbusters! It is definitely a fascinating process to watch.
That’s a lot of heavy yard work you’ve accomplished. I really miss being able to work like that anymore. Give me a yard or house or basement/attic or shed to straighten out and I was in my glory! ‘Course, that would explain why I can’t do it anymore, wouldn’t it? 🤗
Good luck to all the marathon runners in Boston today. I’m sure there will be an abundance of cheers and tears today. I applaud them all.
Ginger
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It took a while for those daffodils, but they’re finally bursting out all over. I love organizing and clearing out too. I’m having to learn to use my right leg on the shovel, and it is awkward as heck. I’ll probably fall over trying to save the left knee and hurt something else. 🙂
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Good weather today for the marathon, better than last week’s heat. It is amazing to see what the warmth and bit of rain has done to the landscape. I always forget how richly green our area is!
Thanks for the tip on Wet and Forget. I’m going to check it out. Our vinyl siding on the north side gets sooty mold.
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Yes, I was thinking the runners would probably prefer a little cool versus pretty hot today. I just looked out at a bed, and I swear the iris just shot out of the ground. I use Wet and Forget every year. Sometimes, I have to spray twice, but it is still the easiest thing to get rid of mold on siding or fencing. We have a lot of shade over a couple sides of the house and most of the fencing. I hope it works for you.
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My husband was intrigued by an easier prospect. Does it harm foliage?(Of course, I have plants EVERYWHERE!)
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Where I spray, house and fence, is always in a garden bed of some sort. I’ve been using it for five or more years, and I’ve never seen any damage to the plants. I even spray an arbor in early spring that has grapes on it. It mixes one part solution to five parts water so you can put it in a pump sprayer which I do most of the time or you can even put it in a small hand sprayer if you just want to spot clean something. I originally saw it used on the DIY show, Today’s Homeowner.
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Thank you!
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Your seedlings are amazing! After years of dithering, I finally purchased a leaf grinder this past autumn and now most of the leaves are going back into the garden as mulch. It is much quicker and easier than I anticipated, and I love the way it looks.
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A friend had one, and she liked it as well. I wish I could find a leaf vacuum that can be used in beds that really works. If you have one of those, please tell. 🙂
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No, I have the “WORX WG430 13 Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher” from Amazon.
A friend recommended it and it works well. It is essentially an elevated string trimmer. You dump dry leaves in the top, they are chopped by the spinning string and then fall out the bottom.
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Thank you for taking the time to share this info. It is always good to hear about a tool that is used by a fellow gardener. Hope your time in office for the garden clubs is going well.
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It sounds like you’ve got a lot done in your garden, and your quilting!
The quilt looks nice, and the daffodils look pretty.
I’m reading a murder mystery: Death In A Red Canvas Chair by N.A. Granger, and waiting for the ground to thaw a bit more before moving my Shepard’s Hook bird feeder to a new spot and install a bird bath. The birdbath needs to be staked down really well to stand up to the strong wind we get here.
I hope you have a great week!
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You could use a short piece of rebar to hold the base in place but not sure what might hold the bowl part unless you have a pretty accessory rock which would also work as a landing place for small birds and butterflies. 🙂 Thank you for the book suggestion. I’m off to the library website.
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I’m going to tie down the bowl with a line and stake. My neighbors have tied down their little iron two seater table and we’ve had to weigh down or 5 burner grill because the wind has knocked it over 3 times and pushed it across the patio!😲 Now, it’s got my iron umbrella stand, bricks, and extra propane tank holding in place and knock on wood that’s working!
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When my sister lived in downtown Boston, I was always advised to avoid Patriot’s Day for a visit, due to major congestion in an already challenging commute from the airport to her condo. Great tradition and fun, though, for those who participate and cheer on the runners! Boston handled that ugly anniversary event with typical courage and support. But why do bad people feel compelled to ruin good things for so many and taint the experience for years to come?
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Good question, and society would be better off if there was a logical answer but we know there isn’t. It will never be the same and will always have that day hanging over the event. I’ve never been a runner, let’s be truthful, I’m glad I still walk well. I applaud all those generous folks who train and raise money for charities across the area.
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P.S. We recently finished the excellent series The Night Agent, available on Netflix. It’s got spies, snappy pacing, good dialogue, engaging actors, and a heroine who doesn’t just stand there and scream. Who could ask for anything more?
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Thank you so much! I will check it out.
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I had to come back to tell you how beautiful your quilt is. (I had to run to Zumba, so I’m back. 😁) And the quilter on Instagram is fantastic!
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Thank you, and she is one talented lady who has some extremely qualified quilters who work with her.
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I will be impossible to forget what happened 10 years ago. So sad, but you can’t keep Boston down. I’m always impressed by the way you can adapt your busy schedule to whatever weather rolls in. The quilt looks great, as do your plants. 43 bags? Yikes. My shoulders hurt just thinking about that.
I hope you have a great week.
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I am so sick of leaves. 🙂 I know you have your Craftsman mower for leaves, but I sure wish there was a vacuum that actually worked to get them out of garden beds.
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It has an 8’ hose that works pretty well – if they’re dry.
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Judy, you have so many projects going on all the time I don’t see how you have time to read! That’s a lot of gardening! Your quilt is beautiful. I’m reading Robert Dugoni’s first Tracy Crosswhite novel.
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I guess I’m one of those people who like to keep busy doing something. 🙂 Thank you for the book reference. I’ll go check it out on library website.
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It’s “My Sister’s Grave”. There is actually one that comes before this one “The Academy”. I read it a while back.
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I’m with Wandering Dawgs, wondering how you can keep track of so many projects. My brother-in-law’s brother-in-law, technically nothing to me other than somehow an extended family member, lives in Cambridge and used to run the Marathon for many years until age finally forced him to stop. It’s hard to believe that awful event was only ten years ago. Watching the seeds grow must be so heartening on so many levels. Forty three bags of leaves?????!!!!!! I’m tired just writing it. 😉 – Marty
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You’re the $$ man. Isn’t there some way I could capitalize on or deduct those 43 bags of darn leaves. 🙂
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Absolutely! The IRS will accept any deduction on one’s return. It’s only during the audit process that they may have questions. Play the odds! 😆
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I’m impressed with the way you managed the tree trunk, without having to pay for help! We spend a small fortune on our trees as they grow bigger…but we love them. Mind you forty three bags of leaves would be too much!
We well remember the Boston bombing, ten years ago, an absolute tragedy. I hope the marathon this year has been a success.
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Besides the mess that tree made and the days and hours of work, it seemed insult to injury to actually pay to have the remaining trunk moved when it wasn’t ours. 🙂 Those leaves were a ‘real’ pain for sure, and I’d gladly pay for a tool that would vacuum them out of the beds, but so far I haven’t found one that doesn’t continually clog up. The Marathon seems to have been a success with no safety issues involved, and for that we are all grateful.
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Oooh, that quilt! It looks as though it’s made out of whipped cream! (Did I say that?) The daffodils and seedlings look so excited to be alive, don’t they? I can but shake my head to imagine all that heavy work you do. Yankee ingenuity indeed! Also Yankee gardening — a force to be reckoned with!
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Yankee gardening – I like it! 🙂 Speaking of whipped cream, my daughter made Twinkie cake and shared. A delicious yellow cake made from scratch with infused cream. Let me tell you, you’d like it. 🙂
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I like even picturing it! Now I’m hungry.
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I saw the marathon on the TV news yesterday. Hard to believe it was already ten years ago. Your quilt is gorgeous and I looked up and followed your friend on Instagram. I’m a hand quilter but I do admire beautiful machine quilting. On the weekend I planted a bag full of jonquil bulbs which I was gifted by a gardening friend. I’m hoping they all start shooting in the next few weeks.
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Oh, please, post something about your hand quilting. I do so admire that skill. It dates so far back to the origin of quilting, and so few people can do it. Applause to your skills. Yes, Michelle, is an absolute whiz at the sewing machine and the longarm machine. She is without a doubt the most talented person I personally know with a needle. Her posts show quilts from all over the country, and they are always beautiful and diverse. It is interesting that in your part of the world you can plant bulbs and they will grow in the same season. We have to plant them in the fall for spring bloom. I am so glad you and Canberra’s Green Spaces are blogging friends because I always learn something new.
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You’re forgetting we’re in the southern hemisphere, so I’m planting my bulbs in autumn for a spring display too. 🙂 Here it is very temperature with fairly mild winters so bulbs often start flowering before spring even begins.
You can see some of my quilts and hand quilting in this post. 🙂 https://theeternaltraveller.wordpress.com/2013/10/19/weekly-photo-challenge-the-hue-of-you/
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Thank you for the refresher. You definitely have skills, my friend. Those shown in that post are absolutely gorgeous with regarding to creating of the top and the quilting. 👏🏻👏🏻
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Thank you. I’m glad you liked them. I don’t make as many quilts as I used to but I do still have two on the go at the moment. One is about two thirds hand quilted and the other is still just a top waiting for the quilting.
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Your posts bring up a lot of interesting comments and information. Your seedlings look terrific! Glad you were able to devise a home remedy for the tree trunk.
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It seemed insulting that besides all the labor that we would have to pay someone to haul it off. Our property has woodsy areas on two sides so why not take advantage of it. 🙂 There are frequent conversation about why people blog, the struggle for a topic, and to keep going or not. I would so miss the conversations with other bloggers like yourself. I always find a smile and I learn something new.
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I agree that the conversations are the best part of blogging. I would really miss it. And I learn many things and see fascinating places I want to visit someday. We have a heavily wooded property, too, and I know how much we’ve spent on fire mitigation (always a threat here). My husband does a lot of tree cutting and trimming, too.
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You’re a hard worker, Judy. I’d probably do the same thing. The quilt is beautiful as are the daffodils. I miss daffodils and other spring flowers although the desert has been blooming this spring.
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Your blooms are beautiful, just different and with a sign ‘don’t touch.’ 🙂
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Very true.
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Judy, we ended the day, Monday, with a sense of relief and some ease. Now we can move into spring! Oh, and even the Red Sox have gotten into the act.
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I’m very glad it went on without any reported issues, and, yes, go Sox!
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Judy, the quilt is amazing! I have no idea how someone can sew art like this, but your friend is extremely talented. Happy Spring! We haven’t had the best of weather, so I have to rely on my east coast friends to give me a taste of spring flowers and the start of the garden.
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Thank you. You and your new bicycle will be on the road on a regular basis before long for sure. Spring has sprung here, and we are so grateful.
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I marked this post for answering when it came out, then 400 more emails popped up on top of it and it vanished. Finally, I found it again. Of course by now it’s old news and some critter ate two of my three tulips. And the marathon went fine. Another year, and it’s spring. Again.
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I get it, I really do. 🙂 I cannot grow tulips up here because ‘they’ either eat them as bulbs or as flowers. I do much better with daffodils. I’m glad spring arrived, and we are both here to enjoy it. 🙂
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Reading The Heir Apparent about King Edward VII. I’m enjoying the details of those Royals. lol
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Very timely reading material my friend. 🙂
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