Ditch Lilies Blooming!

We did it!

A handful of quilters and I headed out for a dirt road hike yesterday morning and we beat the rain!

And to my surprise...look what had burst forth while I was gone to Iceland?  Ditch Lilies!

Oh, how I love their vibrant orange facing the sun in the summer.

Now some may call these worthless and invasive - but I say to them, and to ALL of us.  We may not be native. We may not be born here.

But bloom where you are planted!

Another "noxious weed" But so lovely in shades of light lavender.

Favorite old barn on this hike -

Surrounded, beautified and made much more interesting by the lilies.

It's amazing how the scnery can change in the span of less than 2 weeks.

Plenty of quilting is getting underway, too!

Old Town blocks are coming together!

Can't wait to see this Old Town with the butter yellow background!

Love the fabrics in this sampler!

Can't wait to see where these end up!

And we have an old IFO finally finished!

Some fun stuff happening in this corner as well!

Taco salad bar for lunch on the porch - and the rain let loose just as we were finishing up.

(Good timing, Mother Nature!)

We quickly gathered up everything from the tables and put them away - a preventative measure to keep potted plastic plants from rolling and napkins from flying all over the yard.

I'll put it all back again today.

As for me? I puttered.  A bit of desk work, a bit of block cutting and kitting for our upcoming Leader & Ender Challenge and then about 3pm I just hit the proverbial brick wall.

I needed a nap in the worst way - and we were meeting with friends at 5pm for dinner...

Some retreat folks had gone shopping and wouldn't be back, so I excused myself and went home for an hour's lie down before dinner. I just had to.

I've been waiting up at 4am, 4:30am, 4:45am....it's not getting much better even though I try to push bedtime a bit later each day.

I don't remember having such a hard time readjusting my body clock!

Back to Iceland!

Another of my favorite excursions was a trip to a sheep ranch!

The Bjarteyjarsandur farm is owned and operated by three different families, all specializing in their different fields; i.e. farming, tourism, education, food processing, and machine work. 

The farm is situated in a beautiful location by the fjord with a lovely seashore. The same family has lived in Bjarteyjarsandur since 1887.

The Bjarteyjarsandur Family Farm welcomes guests all year round for seasonal farm visits and activities, local food, and guided tours.

 

The only thing about visiting in June?  The sheep are *mostly* all up grazing free-range in the mountains this time of year.

However - we did have a small welcoming party:

Amongst the Dandelions -

You just know that this basking in the sun feels good!

In the fall, the sheep are herded back down the mountains for sheering and are wintered in big barns like this one.

Some of these ewes are "late bloomers" and are still pregnant.  They will join the other sheep after they finally lamb.

New lambs! So cute!

When they are a bit stronger they will also join the other sheep up the mountain.

We learned that the Icelandic sheep are an heirloom breed, and no new breeds are allowed to come in.  No cross-breeding allowed.  Just keeping things as traditional as things have been since the 800s or so.

These sheep are hearty, built well for this terrain and climate.

We also visited with the Icelandic horses!

(But while you focus on the horses, take a good look at those snowcapped peaks in the background scenery.  Magnificent!)

Communing with the animals!

They are loving the arrival of summer and green grazing.

Three talented border collies keep everyone in line.

But the real show-stealer of the day were these three. They look like little white goats wearing little black jackets, and they were full of spunk and vinegar!

They were bouncy bouncy all over and into everything - including going into the front welcome area of the building, continually being shooed out.

I saw this one go in and start nibbling on an afghan that was on a back of one of the couches. Oh, no you don't!  Out you go!

Rosemary took this photo while I was getting trouble out the door.

We truly had a marvelous time, and I'm excited to see what further mischief our Craftours adventures will present on future trips!

My newest Fireweed PDF pattern is currently 25% off in the Quiltville Store - no coupon needed. It's an automatic discount good through 6/30/25.

Scrappy nine patches are surrounded by triangles in red and purple inspired by the Fireweed flowers of an Alaskan Summer. Use your favorite fabrics  - off the bolt or recycled from shirts. Piecing options, full color photos and graphics and many tips for easy piecing pleasure included.

Quilt Size: 76’’ X 90’’

Did you enter the gift away On That Post?

I'll be drawing for two winners who will each receive a Fireweed PDF pattern from me and a Facets of Red fabric roll from  Cotton to Quilts.

Yes, they have many more cotton rolls available - be sure to check out their adorable neutral rolls!

We will draw for our two winners on Saturday, 6/28/25.

I may need another nap today.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

I don't know why I even bother anymore! 

And while we're at it - just keep pronouncing the L in salmon. What does it matter?

Happy Friday, everyone!