Time for a Sunday Chat, so get a cuppa and settle in for a long and picture heavy post. I have so many things to share today as these past couple of weeks have been busy! The bird feeder has been very active lately with really cold nights. My Sweet Babboo has kept the birds happy with the premium sunflower hearts again, after they rejected the other seed he bought. The suet cake is being consumed at a rapid rate and we have to put out new ones regularly, so much so that I ran out of ingredients to make my own. Here, a Carolina Wren takes advantage of a purchased one with berries.

A red bellied woodpecker landed, and had something to say to the wren.

The wren flew off, allowing the woodpecker to have a meal. He flew off soon after so more little birds could get a share.

Quilts arrived this past week for our continuing effort to serve those affected by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane was five months ago, but it seems like it hasn’t been that long. There is still much devastation to clean up and repair. Interstate Highway 40 opened yesterday with only one lane in each direction and a speed limit of 35 mph, with very narrow lanes. It is estimated it will take two years to rebuild the section lost to flooding. The road between Gerton and Bat Cave is still closed to all but local traffic, and it will be a long time before it is repaired. The section washed away between Bat Cave and Chimney Rock will take years to rebuild. Right now, the bridge to enter Chimney Rock state park has not even begun construction, but there is a plan to make a temporary road so the park can reopen. Without the park, the small town of Chimney Rock cannot survive. We are still collecting quilts for those who have not yet received one. In the past few days, these lovelies arrived from Melissa M in Florida.

The one on the left in the photo below is also from Melissa. The one on the right came in from Joanna in Nebraska. Thank you both so much! They are already spoken for, it is just a matter of getting them to Michael. All four are going to Gerton.

Last weekend was the Quilts of Valor ceremony that we’ve been preparing for over the past four months. This time I was the officiant, and two of my QOV friends did the wrapping.

After the ceremony, the six honored veterans posed with other veterans in the car club. Some of the other guys in this photo have already received a Quilt of Valor, and some are going to have their ceremony in a couple of months. Every one of the recipients is a friend, and I worked on four of these quilts. You saw them in progress on the blog over the past couple of months HERE, HERE and HERE.

Of course, this club has to do things up nicely! The reception following the ceremony was wonderful. You may recognize my patriotic table runner. You all know me, I can’t just throw something on a table, it has to have some decoration and pizzazz.

Trays of prosciutto caprese skewers were offered alongside fresh veggies, and another tray of fruit and cheese.

The dessert trays were really yummy, with this one of tartlets with strawberries and blueberries in a red, white, and blue theme.

The chocolate treats were a big hit as well.

Looking out the office window last week, a small herd of 5 deer were grazing on the mountainside. I couldn’t get a good photo because of the screen on the window, but later I saw one of them on the edge of the driveway.

I have not seen George or Gracie in weeks. On Friday, cuteness was on display with a new arrival. He seemed to know that I would feed him if asked, so I made up a sandwich for him and went back out to give it to him. He sat like this and watched me. But as I tossed the sandwich to him, he turned and ran off. I noticed that he has brown streaks on his sides.

A short time later, he was back. I went to the sidewalk, retrieved the sandwich, and went back to the veranda so I wouldn’t scare him. As he watched, I tossed the sandwich towards him. He watched it hit the driveway, then he ran up a tree. Half an hour later the sandwich was still on the driveway. I left it, hoping someone would come by to eat it. But an hour later it was still there, so I went out, picked it up and placed it next to the bird feeder pole so My Sweet Babboo wouldn’t run over it with the car.

Then, yesterday he showed up again. This time when I tossed him a sandwich he grabbed it and ran to the retaining wall to eat it.

Inside, the orchid is progressing, with a flower bud at the top of the stalk, and perhaps a second one about halfway up.

The violet continues to bloom profusely! I’ve never had one this happy.

Here’s the other side, full of flowers all around.

In the sewing room, I am working on several small projects along with the Kaleidoscope block for the Electric Quilt launch of their add on design pack. I’ll show you more detail on that next week. I think embroidered items will do well in our show shop, so I have been making some other projects. I found this funny saying, and choose threads to go with a cute chicken print.

I stitched it out, then put some fussy cut bits with it for a small wall hanging.

I decided it would look better with sashing. So, I auditioned a gold color that matched a color in the print. Nope, not enough contrast.

Navy blue looked better.

Sashing done, it just needs some quilting and finishing. My plan is to make several things that can all go on the same backing fabric and quilt them all at once. More chicken projects to come!

This week I should have a bit of time in the sewing room here and there, and I need to get something finished for Stashbusters on Friday. My fabric ‘in’ total is going to be substantial this month. Then there is a Mardi Gras party on Tuesday, a board meeting for one of the car clubs on Wednesday, guild meeting on Thursday, and a party Saturday, plus a breakfast on Sunday that I am cooking at a friend’s house. Thankfully, everything is on the fun list and not a chore.

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New March deals at Fat Quarter Shop – 20% off the Basic of the Month Bee Vintage by Lori Holt (perfect for the Bee projects I have coming up!), 30% Off the Notions of the Month from Sewline, 30% off Patterns of the Month from A Quilting Life Patterns, and see the Book of the Month Simply Half Yards. Check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week, plus The Cross Stitch Sale of the Month will be from Hands on Design.

Shop the Milk Street Store for some new ideas in seasonings, and sales on cookbooks and knives.

See the fun coffee and tea mugs on the Sulky website including Christmas themes and fun sewing themes, including the monster 20-ounce size mugs shown on my Galentines post. Have a look, there are pages of them! Get Free shipping when you get over $60 in products!!

At ElectricQuilt.com, see the new Kaleidoscope Two collection!