The Gifts of July.

Sadie waits patiently about half-way down our lane way as I yet again, make another stop to turn my phone to camera mode and attempt to capture what I see before me.

I remember when camera phones first came out, and I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want one.  A camera is fine all by itself.  A phone is fine doing what a phone is supposed to do all by itself.  Why do we need to combine the two?  No one is ever going to REALLY need both together, are they?  It’s just not going to fly….

And here I am with this blog going into its 13th year (We celebrated 12 years last month, did you know? It passed me by too!) and my phone and I are inseparable.

Not because of the phone part.

I could leave that behind.  That is what voice mail is for.

But for the camera part.  And the cameras keep getting better and better.

And I can't stand to be without mine.

Capturing the grazers of green!

Sadie and I on our road-hike yesterday, a distance we have finally worked out for ourselves that works.  Even if it is uphill most of the way back with the worst hill climb at the very end.

And every time I am up here, I am amazed at how surroundings change in this beautiful corner of Virginia week by week.

Abundantly green.  Wonderfully green.

Following the fence line.

This road is very quiet, and was newly paved last fall. Past farms and barns and fields and fences we walk.  The hilly areas are dotted with Christmas Tree farms, with the trees all trimmed to give their best shape.  It gives the hillsides a “crew cut” look – the trees as little soldiers all standing sentinel in straight rows keeping watch.

And all along the roadside, just on the other side of fences – runs Grassy Creek, heard by ear more than seen by eye – burbling and murmuring and keeping us company as we walk on.

A post shared by Bonnie K Hunter (@quiltville_bonnie) on Jul 2, 2017 at 8:24am PDT

July has entered the scene, and is blessing us with her best nature's beauty.

Saying hello to my equine friends!

Glorious in the cool morning air.

Periwinkle wild flowers against the green.

Quilt colors, maybe?

Still working in neutrals.

It was a hard afternoon yesterday.  I’m glad I got my walk in while I did, or I would have completely lost my gumption and desire had I waited.  

I wrote on last night’s post about Chloe’s passing.  Poor Jeff.  I am so grateful for him. 

This is twice that he has had to fill the role of kitty undertaker. We don’t know what got her.  Maybe she ate something she wasn’t supposed to eat.  Maybe she got bit by a snake, the same way we lost our Buddy dog several years back.  Being a designated outdoor kitty has its own set of checks and balances.

Whatever it was, Jeff has manned up while we are away and dealt with it.  RIP Chloe. 

We also got word that Dave’s cousin Craig who is just a couple years his senior lost his battle with cancer.  They were childhood best friends. It was just a tough day.  So many feelings floating around, and wishing we were able to do more in both situations.

And so I stitched string blocks, and more string blocks.  I couldn’t even get into any kind of story line shows on Netflix, so let the documentaries run and lost myself in something about Irish Castles.

If the machine above looks different than the one I posted yesterday – that ALSO added to the day’s upheaval, though on a fixable note – just not right now.  

The belt on the aqua White machine went, and I didn’t have a spare belt up here with me to fix it.  (More spare parts for the cabin have been added to the to do list.) So machines were swapped out and I continued to string piece on the Singer 500a  Rocketeer, a testament once again that not only do we need spare parts on hand, but spare machines as well – for just THIS reason!

Barn love.

And wildflowers.

And grey rain clouds gathering.

I awoke this morning to the sound of songbirds at dawn.  The sun is gently filtering though the trees, when passing clouds allow, and another new day begins.  A bit slower, a bit more thoughtful, a reminder to appreciate every moment, and love those you love hard, with every thing you've got.

To focus on kindess, understanding, forgiveness  - and by all means - with a sense of humor.

And I’m grateful for my quilting passion – especially when it is a place to focus my thoughts and keep my hands busy when life gets bumpy.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage Irish chain quilt shared by Catie in Ohio last week.

Interests become passions, passions become skills and accomplishments.

They also become our life line when needed.

Embrace the learning curve!

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