Our goldfinches have been here about twice a day lately for easy meals. The whole flock stops by at once and it is fun to watch them vie for position and argue with each other. Here, nine of them are on the feeder at once.
Then, there were four more on the ground in this photo, plus a few more to the right of the photo range.
A male Eastern Towhee came by to pick at what the other birds let fall from the feeder. They prefer to eat off the ground.
In the garden, the larger of the squashes continues to get a bit bigger. Lots of rain over the past couple of weeks has helped that.
The other one is getting a bit bigger, but seems to be moving toward ripening.
The butternut isn’t getting any bigger, and also seems to be moving to ripening.
The hydrangea has some gorgeous blooms, in the more lavendar color I like best.
But some of them are still more blue.
Then some are a muddy pink, all on the same plant!
The geranium on the veranda is blooming prolifically in bright pink.
My Sweet Babboo pointed out a walking stick on the side of the garage. Curious little creatures, aren’t they? We don’t see them often, as they usually stay in the forest.
It has been so hot and humid with the rain, that light meals are more appealing. I made my favorite fish dish one evening. The fish is pan-seared with some panko bread crumbs, served on a bed of fresh spinach with a slice of goat cheese underneath. The goat cheese melts with the heat of the fish. I added big chunks of the first tomato harvested from the garden, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Yum!!
Last weekend, I was at a quilting retreat at Febuary Hill, a retreat house in Tennessee that I’ve been to before with the longarm association. This time some quilt guild members went together. The first thing I did was finish the potholders from the last sleep-at-home retreat. I fixed the dress first, adding another layer of linen underneath. This was in a Fat Quarter Shop mystery box.
Then I quilted the top pocket section with stitch in the ditch and around the appliques.
Then, I put a binding on the top of the pocket section using the same fabric as the base.
I quilted the bases with just wide cross-hatching. Then I cut binding in a lighter color with the fat quarter I had left.
The the binding was applied by machine, but going around the curved corners was harder than I thought it would be. They have pleats and puckers, but they are done.
These aren’t the greatest, so I’ll keep them to use myself during the holidays.
I got a lot of work done, and more projects started. I made the taco meat for our taco dinner night using my Taco Seasoning Blend, and it was a hit with most of the retreaters. Only one said it was a bit too spicy for her taste. And one added more seasoning to her tacos because they weren’t hot enough, LOL! There was enough that a few of us had taco salads for lunch the next day. I didn’t take a single photo of the wonderful spreads we had on two nights. We did tacos one night with a full buffet of things to add from fresh avocado and veggies, to sour cream and cheese. Another night we had a fabulous spaghetti meal with sauce that simmered in a slow cooker all day, complete with fresh salad and garlic bread. I’ll have more for you on the retreat soon.
We’ll have the last of the Christmas in July quilt along on Tuesday, with a bit more on retreat. Plus, Stashbusters reporting is this coming Friday. What’s on your agenda this week?
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From My Carolina Home 
Your garden is looking lovely as ever. Birds know where to find the filling station! Pot holders look fine even with the odd pleat in the binding and it won’t make any difference to how they keep your hands safe.
Been very wet here, just waiting for a warmish dry day to start getting ready for planting. I’m usually too eager to plant and the cold Southerly’s burn up my plants. So I must exercise patience.
Oh, your ‘stick walker’ is known here as a ‘stick insect’. Ours are usually green while yours looked a darker shade 🙂
Mary :))
Carole, it has been wet around here. I love seeing the goldfinches and that beautiful lavender hydrangea! Your fish looks delicious!
Those potholders are too cute for words. You see the flaws; I don’t. (It’s like my painting — people yell at me for being my own worst critic but if it’s not right it’s not right.
A question on the fish — did you stick the panko with egg wash? Olive oil? What kind of fish did you use and how long per side? I have an fish-cooking hang-up — I can never seem to get the timing right! But this looks beyond fabulous!
Thank you, the corners are just a mess, but they will work just fine. I cannot sell them or give them as a gift though.
On the fish, it is tilapia. There’s a bit of olive oil in the pan to keep it from sticking. Yes I used a bit of egg wash but the panko still didn’t stick well. I just let it brown in the pan and scooped it over the fish when it was done. Cook about 8 minutes a side on a medium heat, just until firm. Next time I will probably bake them so the panko stays put – about 15 minutes at 350º.
Thank you! I’m going to try this. I love fish and don’t cook it well at all (except salmon, which is a no-fail!)
Look at all those goldfinches – what a pretty sight! And your hydrangeas are gorgeous, too. I just love them! Your potholders are really cute! I’m sorry you don’t feel they turned out good enough to give as a gift, but maybe you’ll figure out how to fix that for next time. Enjoy your Sunday, Carole!
Your birds and blooms are a treat on this misty morning..The retreat reads like a fun time.
I hope you had a good time at your retreat! Glad you were able to finish an old project. I’ve got some really “utility” pot holders I made that the binding looks awful on, but they are sturdy and work to protect my hands! Your dinners sounded delightful at your retreat. Love all those birds coming at once to the bird feeder buffet!
The tucks on the potholders just give them character! We’ve been too dry & too hot so our garden is a mess. The only thing growing are the weeds! Glad you were able to get a lot done at the retreat.
I had one of my favorite Summer suppers last night. Open face egg salad sandwich with slice of a tomato (from my garden) and a dish of English cucumbers (from my vines also) marinated in vinegar & sugar with thin sliced onions.
we have stick insects a lot in New Zealand, l found one on my toilet roll during summer!
Those gingerbread pot holders are really cute, Carole, and your flowers are beautiful, especially the hydrangeas. This week I will be at String Camp, where I am an accompanist. It’s fun to be with the kids, though sometimes a little nerve wracking, as the staff has way too much faith that we “can play anything!” Our garden is about to explode…I thinned the carrots this am, and blanched 2 meals worth!
We actually have a pumpkin growing in the yard. A squirrel must have planted it, we only grow wildflowers (weeds) in the meadow. How neat to have multiple colors on one hydrangea. Your potholders are so cute – a little Christmas in July gift just for you.
The goldfinches are gorgeous.
And the blue is the hydrangea is stunning.
The ginger bread men and women are very cute.