Saturday, June 8, 2019

WINTER!!

Winter! The very word chills my bones. Way down here at the bottom of the world, where it is just a hop, skip and a jump over melting sheets of ice to Antarctica, Old Man Winter, that blustery, ill-mannered chap has brazenly blown in. Yep.....he has arrived. He has swirled and swirled wherever he will, tempestuously dispensing his frigid tricks from that over-large bag of his, onto us mere mortals........and Maisie, too♥


I wish I loved Winter. I know there are some of you lovelies who invite Old Man Winter into your homes with outstretched arms and embrace him, chastising him for being away so long.....but I do not. There are some of you who don your snowshoes, your skis; and trudge through snow up to your chin for mile after mile and have the best time, embracing whatever Old Man Winter heaps upon you. Why, I would believe there are some of you who would lay supine, on that white stuff  as it slowly thaws and turns into slush; looking at the crystal blue sky above with a smile on your face.

What can I say?? I am a gal who as a newborn bairn was delivered by the stork right smack in the middle of a Sydney Summer, where perspiration dripped from those who, as they gathered to ooh and aah over my sweet tiny self, they then collapsed onto the floor fainting with heat stroke. As for me, I would not have been perturbed one iota. I would've just gurgled and cooed at everybody, happy to feel the strength-sapping heat of Summer hugging me. Wish oh wish I could be as enamoured with wintertime as you......but I quite simply cannot. As Old Man Winter steals his way into my humble abode, squeezing under the door, I love to crank up the fire and see every little corpuscle of his cantankerous self melt away into oblivion.

Oh, I know Old Man Winter paints the landscape in the most beautiful of suffused colours at wintertime; and though the sky blesses me with sunrises which are more beautiful than summery ones, and the kaleidoscope of bejewelled colours which magically appear as the sun shines on the ice-sheathed earth is a spectacle one would never witness in summertime......it's just that.......it's so darn cold. "But you can rug up", I hear you say. Yeah I can, but it wouldn't matter if I walked out of my bright pink, front door clad in apparel that an Eskimo would wear, I still feel Old Man Winter's icy touch.

I have never liked the cold. It's a family thing. I seem to have DNA which has deemed  that I would always shiver.....just a little. My mum was the same, as was my nanna......so I guess what will be, will be. I will just have to suck it up for another three to four months; don my thick aran knits, throw another log or two onto the fire and follow Old Man Sun's sunbeams around my humble abode, as they shine through the windows.

Freezing temperatures aside the tracery of  naked branches plonked in a glass jar or an old tin bucket, with the background of a ramshackle potting shed, or the sky behind them is always a beautiful wintry sight. I do believe tortured willows are one of my very favourite trees, especially in the wintertime.





What has little ol' shivering me been up to since you lovely lovelies last visited?? Why, during the day, I have been following the sunbeams from room to room as I bask in the warm beams of happiness. Yes indeedy, with my quilting needle and thread....and my Buds in The Basket quilt in hand, I have plonked my gluteous maximus...my derriere on many a sunny chair, enjoying a little hand quilting. Sunshine is one of life's pleasures is it not?? Sitting in a comfy chair, slowly stitching away is truly one of the delights of my days. In the evenings too, I have been snuggling under this pretty, keeping warm, happily quilting whilst watching TV. Aah.....the good life!


I am loving hand quilting this quilt. As I meander upwards in a diagonal line.....down......and then up again, sometimes with wonky dashes wandering off that 'straight and narrow' path, the hand quilting relaxes me; calms me. I seem to get in a groove. I find beauty in the slow, imperfect stitches. Mmm...I wonder if I will ever get the hang of stitching perfectly spaced, perfect stitches of even length?? I find hand quilting tactile. I love the squishy squashy-ness, wrinkled feel and look of hand quilting.  Hand quilted quilts I find, are soft to the touch.

As well as line after line after line of diagonal quilting, I am stitching a basket weave pattern in the baskets and quilting around the buds....all rather meditative.


This last little while 'My Pete' and I celebrated another year of wedded bliss. He and me have been skipping hand in hand along the flower-lined, bendy path for 41 years! AND...some said our happy union wouldn't last....hey, what do they know. Our daughter sent this sweet tea towel and oh, how it makes me smile. I wonder......if ever he will?? As yet.....he has not. =)

Anyway......thank you lovely lovelies for visiting my little wintry world♥ As always the thought that you have visited me and read my musings has delighted my heart once again. May you who live way, way up there enjoy your summery warm, sunshine-filled days and I way, way down here will remember that there is much beauty to be seen and to savor in my wintry days. I will do my darndest to keep warm. So very thankful for toasty, cosy fires, knitted aran woollies, pretty cups steaming with hot ambrosial tea and warm quilts that cover me as I slowly hand quilt. As it is Sunday tomorrow, I feel a little snuggling down with some hand quilting will be enjoyed in the afternoon and into the evening.

Until the next time............



Linking up this week to Kathy's, Slow Sunday Stitching.

69 comments:

  1. Happy Winter, Kim! I am about to head home to South Africa and I am ever so glad... It is summertime in China (where I've been for four months), and it is dreadfully hot! Apparently Winter has truly set in back home and there is even a touch of snow on the mountains...a rare treat for us South Africans! You and I as opposites - I cope so much better in Winter than in summer! I can't stand feeling sticky... I wish I enjoyed warm days more, though!

    I love the quilt design you're working on... It is so beautiful and intricate! Sure its keeping you very busy!
    And happy anniversary to you and your husband...41 years! How wonderful!

    Lovely stopping in for a visit with you today. You write in such a delightful way!
    Blessings!

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  2. Oh I am with you in spirit--a-way up here--I find that even in our summery heat and (too often for my liking !) humidity, my hands and feet are cold, cold, cold...all the women in my family feel the chill of night and have hubbies who say, like mine: "Are you really cold?" (continually, despite the fact that we have been married for 53 years...)ah well, such is life...but I digress--again....
    I love your little flower baskets--and that backing is lovely...enjoy your snuggling time quilting..hugs, Julierose ((only 60 degrees this morning--brrr)
    lol

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  3. You are able to brighten up any season!Love the colorful flowers and your gorgeous and unique quilt.I don't like cold too.But here our Winter brings sunny and pleasant days many times.Congrats on your wedding anniversary!Blessings to both of you!

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  4. You have a way of making "Winter" almost as pretty as your warm summery days. Love the Willow branches placed in a vase and the heart made of sticks. Your hand quilting is a good way to help keep you warm on those cold days and nights; and I love how you have chosen the quilt design pattern. Happy Anniversary!

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  5. Brr! I have to say, I like how you write about you not liking winter. lol. Your quilting looks lovely. So many little stitches!

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  6. Hi Kim ! I'm a woman who likes mild temperature. Not to cold, not to hot.
    Love your baskets and flowers !!!!
    Have a cozy weekend !
    Hug
    Anna

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  7. happy winter to you kim!!! i am a lover of all seasons and i enjoy all of the beautiful changes that winter brings!! without winter, you would have no use for those fabulous quilts you make. fall is my favorite, i don't think i could live in an area that did not have 4 seasons!!

    your current work of art is so pretty...they are works of art you know!!

    the vine wreath is a treasure!!!

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  8. I am with you about winter. When I was younger I loved it, but as I get older I have too many aches and pains with the cold weather. Your basket quilt is so pretty and I would not have the patience to hand quilt it. I did hand quilt a wall quilt, but that was years ago.

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  9. :) :) Aren't you the sweetie. Well, I am feeling just a bit of compassion for you with Winter being upon you. Note...your ole' man winter would probably seem like a lovely spring day for me. LOL Endure...soon the heat will return. Loving your newest quilt and all the wonderfully stitched quilting. I deemed that I should teach myself how to hand-quilt but my practice quilt is languishing, I'm afraid. YOU have inspired me to pick it up again and give it some much love and time.

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  10. I feel the same way you do about winter.

    Your quilting is lovely!

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  11. Hello dear Kim. I do love your willow in the glass jar! It looks wonderful. I am not a winter lover - I do try to find something good in each season. Summer is not my favourite season either .. I think I prefer the "in between seasons" - definately spring is my fave & then autumn second. Your quilt is looking just so beautiful - happy hand quilting my friend Xxx

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  12. Happy Anniversary. We’ve been married almost 43 years and we’re told it wouldn’t last 6 months. Good luck keeping warm. We’ve been 80’s to 90s the past week. Love seeing how your quilting is coming along!

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  13. I don't like winter either, I brighten up when it is warm and sunny. But winter is nice to do your crafts with the warm stove.
    You do the hand quilting beautifully! So many stitches requires a lot of patience.
    Even in winter you are surrounded by flowers, my dear flower fairy.

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    1. I just knew that I am not the only one who has a total dislike of Winter. It is good that it is your turn to enjoy the warmth and sunniness of Summer, Loes. I cannot be greedy. =) Yes....me and flowers....flowers to me are as vital as the air that I breathe. Thank you for your lovely visit, my lovely friend. Enjoy a beautiful week♥ Kim Xx

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  14. Hi Kim
    I also don’t like the cold. Still chilly here in the UK we still have the heating on. Love your quilting Kim such wonderful tiny stitches.
    Best wishes Kay c xx

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    1. It's still chilly up there....really?? I hope, Kay, that all the warmth of Summer comes aknocking on your door soon. I wonder where 'he' is...he left here ages ago. =) Fingers crossed you can exchange your winter woollies for summery dresses soon. Thank you for your beautiful visit, beautiful lady. Kim Xx

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  15. I feel your wintry pain since I too hate, really detest the cold. I quite like a nice woolly jumper, but not when I have to wear it for 5 months! Your quilting is really looking good and is adding a whole extra layer of loveliness to your already lovely baskets.

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  16. Oh, I'm not a big fan of Winter, but, hey, what would I know of cold, living not far from Sydney. Beautiful pictures of the branches in front of your potting shed. Happy anniversary!!

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  17. Beautiful dog!! It helps me to enjoy the seasons that I don't like by quoting to myself, "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven." There's a saying, "Teachers don't grow old, they just lose their class." You wrote, "There are some of you lovelies whom invite Old Man Winter...." So, I guess I've lost my class, because I feel compelled to say that it should be who, not whom in your sentence. Who is in the subjective case because it is a pronoun. Whom is in the objective case and would be a proper choice if it were the object of a preposition. English grammar is a fascinating subject. Wonderful study on chilly, winter evenings.

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    1. You know I always get my 'who' and 'whom' mixed up. =) English grammar is fascinating and at times perplexing. My Maisie is a beautiful girl. She is my constant companion who (is that even correct??) is always willing to follow me wherever she will. As for "To everything there is a season.........", I love this passage from Ecclesiastes; actually I love the Book of Ecclesiastes.....so many wonderful truths to be read and to'chew over'. It is lovely of you to visit my wintry world, Bev. Thank you for being my editor. I'm guessing not even close to an A+ for this piece of writing. =) Kim Xx

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  18. Hi Kim, I am not a fan of winter, either, and look forward to the warm days of summer every year. I am a fan of your gorgeous quilting on your basket quilt, though! It is going to be a treasure when you are finished. Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!

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  19. Well, winter is a good time for quilting and I have a few things waiting for colder days. I can't say I am a big fan of our sauna-summers, but that is partly because In the heat of summer, I have to carry along a sweater so I can survive in all the AC. I have to race through the supermarket before my brain freezes over. In Winter I am more prepared and I love the blue skies and limited amount of snow. Right now the "rainy season" had begun in earnest and I may rust before it is over.

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  20. I forgot to say, I love your quilting. Especially the woven texture of those pretty baskets.

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  21. Hi Kim, you are doing such a pretty job on your quilt. As you know it is finally feeling like summer here in New York. I feel like you do about winter. I always enjoy reading your posts. Stay warm, Margie/NY

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    1. Oh how lovely that Summer has arrived in New York. You know, Margie, I bought a book titled 'New York in Bloom' the other day and every single page is a glorious celebration of all things flowers in New York. When I was in New York last year it was early Spring and the trees had yet to blossom. Though the sculptural beauty of all the trees were amazing, I would have loved to experience all the trees dressed in blossoms in NYC. Central Park would be unbelievable in Spring. It seems you and I and a whole lot of other ladies are not a fan of cold, cold Winter. I will do my darndest, Maggie to keep warm. Enjoy your summery warm New York days. So delighted you visited my wintry place♥ Kim Xx

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  22. While I am wholeheartedly with your opinions of winter, I suppose it can be tolerated with the right clothing and well-maintained home. I'm glad, though to live in a climate where we experience all four seasons and its weather patterns. That allows me the ability to compare and really know which seasons I like best (spring, fall). I admire your sense of appreciation in the little things such as the sunrises, the willow branches.....
    Your quilting stitchery is exquisite! I really wish more people understood the artistry of quilting, especially the hand-quilting. Your pattern of both the appliqued flower baskets and the handwork between, around them all is just fabulous.
    Happy Anniversary to you!

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    1. Yes, experiencing the four seasons every year makes for an interesting life with the excited expectation of those seasons we love the best. Thank you for your kind comments re my quilt, Rita, you have sprinkled warm sunshine into my chilly wintry day. Kim Xx

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  23. What a joy it is to read your delightful postings and to see how lovingly you stage your photos. I'm no lover of winter, not only for the snow and cold, but for it's length here in western NY. But the summer's heat and humidity can also be debilitating, so I guess I mostly like the in-between seasons. Wish that my gardens looked as lush and charming as yours always do. I love the shoes in your first photo. Happy Anniversary and enjoy snuggling under that wonderful flower basket quilt.
    Pat

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  24. What a lovely quilt to be snuggling under in the winter! Enjoy your stitching... the texture is marvellous!

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  25. Bare winter branches do make the best designs in the sunlight! Love your photos! Your baskets are bright and pretty - perfect for working on at the time of year where you are. Enjoy!

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  26. I would be happy to switch houses with you for about 4-5 months! I am in Florida - USA where the feels like are around 100F for the next 4-5 months. Your basket quilt is just beautiful and I hope it is keeping you warm while working on it.

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  27. I do love winter in Texas, Kim! It’s always a reprieve from our unbearable summers. You may like the heat that we get, but me, not so much!! You do make good use of your wintertime by quilting your mist gorgeous and happy basket quilt, and I’m sure, you’re dreaming of your garden for summertime. Happy Anniversary to you and your sweet Pete!! 💕The tea towel is darling from your daughter. Keep warm, my friend, while I try to keep cool. xx

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  28. Oh how I agree with you! I love the warm weather and fortunately we are getting some lovely days here in the uk. Your baskets of flowers must make you feel warm and summery. Beautiful quilting by the way and congrats on 41 years. I don't think he will fly away he sounds like he's in it for the long haul!

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  29. Your beautiful dog seems to share your feeling about winter. So sorry it is cold there but your post is so lovely that it just warms my heart. Your hand quilting is gorgeous, and I am glad it is keeping you warm while you stitch away. The tree in front of the shed is beautiful too.

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  30. Love your blog post, especially when my car thermometer is reading 100F. Yikes!!! Also love your current quilt project!!

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    1. I cannot wait until the thermometer on my car reads 100F, Rhonda. =) Perhaps I could encourage Old Man Winter to leave me and swiftly fly to you.....but I don't suppose he will humour me. Thank you for your sweet visit. I hope you are able to stay cool....somehow. Kim Xx

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  31. Dear Kim, you always seem to find a way to brighten not just your own day, but mine, too! Snuggled under your lovely flower basket quilt hand stitching the cold days (and evenings) away is the perfect foil to the icy grip of Old Man Winter! You can even make a simple arrangement of twigs and branches so pretty! Yes, those of us in the North are enjoying warm temperatures and colorful gardens at this time, but your time will come again, soon enough! Wishing you a warm, wonderful week quilting and spending time with your sweet Pete! Zenda

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  32. I just love the way you are quilting over your pretty basket quilt! Again I am amazed that you are doing it all by hand.....it looks so perfect. While I could never do that kind of stitching with my arthritic hands, I do understand the calming affect it must have, and the great sense of accomplishment! It is getting to be Summer way up here in the north finally. We have had so much rain that everything green is out of control but pretty. I am so happy you have a cozy fire and your stitching to get you through the cold days. Keep smiling on those sunny winter days!

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  33. So sorry to hear you do not enjoy the winter months. love the Buds in Basket quilt your stitching is wonderful. Stay warm

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  34. Congrats to you and Pete! Now I know his name I shall have to stop calling him Mr Kim! Your stitching on that quilt is beyond beautiful. I'm glad it's keeping you warm. I'm not a bit envious of your Winter at the moment but by the time we've had a good bit of Summer and get into Autumn and the leaves start falling I'll start looking forward to having him back :)

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  35. I feel the same for Winter! Even if I'm from high in the mountains (Alpes),I lived during 18 years in French Polynesia and my body seems to have forgotten everything about cold. Now back to France is not easy, but I'm so lucky it's spring now ;) Enjoy your beautiful hand quilting, and stay warm!

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  36. Beautiful and neat hand quilting Kim, what patience you have, I have only ever made one quilt totally hand stitched - an experience I shall not repeat. Winter is very welcome after a hot summer and I think each season has its beauty.

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  37. Love your quilt.Well,it is supposed to beau met here in North Wales but it is old and pouring with rain and it is going to rain for the next 48 hours with flood warnings out!

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    1. Oh dear, the weather forecast doesn't sound the best for you. I hope the sun shines soon for you. Thank you for your sweet visit. Kim Xx

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  38. So happy you are staying warm under that beautiful quilt you are working on. I've marked some quilts with mechanical lead pencils, or used painters masking tape... do no know what you call it there... to sew next to when hand quilting. I too love the feel and texture of the little dimples made by hand quilting something. And love the crooked willow too! Hubby cut an extra one down and made interesting walking sticks from the bigger branches.

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    1. I use a disappearing pen to mark my quilts then wash it off when the quilting is finished. Densely hand quilted quilts have a lovely texture don't they. When it comes time for me to have a walking stick, I will have a lot of tortured willow to choose from. =) Thank you for visiting my little place. Kim Xx

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  39. I feel the same way as Kelly-Anne. I hate the hot weather. I can cope with the cold temperatures. I am never comfortable in the Summer. I live for the Autumn to come and chase Summer away. Your quilt is lovely. Congratulations to you and Peter on your 41st anniversary.
    Marilyn

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    1. I live for Spring to come to chase Winter away. =) I guess you are either a Winter gal or a Summer one. To me Spring/Summer is so much more colourful and fragrant, not to mention deliciously warm. But we must take the good as well as the bad, I suppose. I'll make a deal with you, Marilyn.....you send Summer down here to me and I'll send Winter up to you. I hope your Summer day isn't too uncomfortable for you. Have a lovely day. Kim Xx

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  40. I love winter. And scarves. And jackets. And gloves. And soup. And crusty bread. Your hand quilting is looking so good on the basket quilt.

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  41. Здравствуйте, у вас очень уютный блог и милые работы.

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    1. How delighted I am that you have visited my little place. You have cheered my day, thank you. Kim Xx

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  42. O,my your boots are beautiful, Kim.
    Ah, winter...time to snuggle in and create, down a lot of hot nutritious soup and dream of gardens fair. :)
    Congratulations on your 41st anniversary!
    Your quilt looks so lovely Kim.I do love and admire your hand quilting.

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    1. Aren't my boots fabulous, Dixie. I love stepping out on a grey wintry day with my feet shod in these flowery pretties. They certainly put a smile in my day. Another positive thing about Winter. =) I cannot really wear these on a hot Summer's day, though here in Tassie I can get away with it as it is never really hot. I agree with all your points re the positives of Winter......especially "downing a bowl of hot nutritious soup whilst dreaming of gardens fair". There are always the dreams of a Spring/Summer garden to keep me warm. Thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes, Dixie. I trust you are enjoying a beautiful week, soaking up all that summery sunshine. Kim Xx

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  43. There is nothing nicer than a hand quilted quilt and youe quilting is looking fantastic! I love the design you have chosen. And the plus it that it is keeping you nice and cosy in your horrible cold winter! Not so nice here at the moment I have to say - heavy rain and wind with temperatures in the mid teens are not what we expect in June!. xx

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  44. Hi, Kim, how are you?
    This quilt looks beautiful!
    The winter here in Brazil begins on June 21; on the website
    lots of frost and super humid in winter. In this region of the
    site or staff uses the stove very much in this season.
    Your images look beautiful.
    Thank you for your presence in May.
    janicce.

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  45. Adorei as botas! são lindas.
    Boa continuação de semana.
    janicce.

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  46. We've just stepped into summer right from a winter-spring mix and I will lie if I say I am enjoying it - because it is scorching hot! I feel like a boiled egg. I have no idea how I am going to survive summers here....
    Your work is amazing and impeccable, but you already know that Kim!
    I was wondering how is the progress of your fernery coming along?

    Last, but not the least - Happy anniversary and may you celebrate many years together in happy bliss!

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  47. I do not like winter, Kim. I absolutely agree with you. Come to Greece, my dear friend. We have summer here and you will love the sunny whether!!!
    And I lllllllove your quilt!!!!!!!!
    Hugs, my dear friend.

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  48. So sorry I am late to your post, I am not getting my email updates from Bloglovin apparently :(
    Oh you could have been writing this for me, I don't care for winter anymore, I use to be ok with it as kid but not anymore. I do think it is pretty to get a nice snowfall and then I am ready for spring to come, LOL! But then again I don't care for it to be too hot either.
    Love the pics of your tree, you can see the great curves in the branches when they aren't full of leaves. Your quilting is coming along beautifully, I do think there is a special feel to a quilt that has been hand quilted too, as you know I like it when the stitches aren't perfect :) Enjoy those fires on the cold days and snuggling with the quilt :)

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  49. Kim - as always, this is a wonderfully entertaining post. So well written. I was giggling throughout at your descriptions of Old Man Winter and how some of us (myself included) do embrace his arrival. Your photos of the willow branches against the shed are lovely, especially the one with the fence joining in to cast its shadow. Congrats on your anniversary - a special milestone in the world today!

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  50. It seems like winter has come to you so quickly. Why it was only a short time ago that your gardens were a tapestry of summer's loveliest colors. OH, but I do love the winter too when you take up the needle to work your magic on cloth.

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    1. Yes, Winter did seem to come as if overnight. One minute it was warm and the garden was blooming abundantly and then the next, the winter winds blew and the flowers all disappeared with frost bite. But....as you say, in winter you can take up the the needle and magically stitch away, while winter does what it always does outside. Kim Xx

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  51. Staying whilst quilting that quilt is my idea of a great way to spend winter days. I'm with you in hating winter. We still haven't had a true spring here and pretty soon it will be the first day of summer. Makes me wonder if we'll have any summer either. Here, winter often last six months (or more). We're drowning in water here - and a couple of provinces over are dealing with extreme drought. No happy medium! Many happy returns on those years of wedding bliss - and here's to many more!!!

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  52. I almost feel a bit bad saying I love Winter, when you are getting that blast of cold air, and we are drifting into Summer. I have to admit that one of my favourite things to do in winter is lay back in a big pillow of deep white snow in the woods and look up through the bare branches to that blinkety blue sky ... and will do this if no one is looking!! I love Summer, Spring and Fall as well though. Each season bringing it's own specialness to our lives.
    Your hand quilting of these delightful flower baskets is beautiful! You have such patience and never-ending enjoyment of creating these quilts. And I'm so glad to hear you and your husband are still together. Hugs to you both, Wendy xox

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  53. I was born in the midst of winter. There are so many things I love about the Old Man Winter, it is a very long list for sure. Wish I could like summer. Heat and allergies make me very sick and I have to make myself stay inside with closed windows during these months. Your quilting looks so lovely, adding dimensions to your basket. A Very Happy Anniversary to both of you!!

    -Soma

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  54. Oh yes...there are days when I long for winter just so can make a big pot of soup and sit by a roaring fire (here in NC it's nearly winter before it feels like fall!) Give me one (or two) pretty snowfalls though and I'm good...BRING ON THE SPRING! I am blown away by your "look-like-they-were-sewn-by-a-machine" stitches...wowsers! And last but certainly not least, Happy Anniversary to you and your Peter! You have almost as many years in as me and my hubs do...43 this year. :) HUGS!

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  55. Beautiful.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  56. I’m not keen on winter either! But it’s still quite warm here at the moment, thank goodness.
    Congratulations on your wedding anniversary, and may there be many more!
    I love your quilting..... and I, too, love hand quilting ..... as you say it makes for a nice soft, squidgy quilt! Although I want to machine quilt I still find hand quilting is really nice!
    Hugs,
    Barbara xx

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  57. I'm with you - winter is just to be endured - I'm always chilly and want more and more layers. Our summers here in NW Washington State are glorious - high temperatures run around 25C - or 75F, perfect for me, I'm not the fan of super hot temperatures either - but winter does have its beauty. We often have one ore two heavy snowfalls (the rest of the winter is rain, which I love too) and the snow is gloriously beautiful, as long as I can stay indoors and be snugly and warm. Happy tea drinking and heavy knits as you survive winter my friend.

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