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November went quickly and now it's gone.
The weather changed this month, and the time changed. Life changed for our family, too, as we lost someone very close to us. To say that November was a blur is stating it lightly. There were bad times, but there were good times, too.
And now December is upon us, and another year is almost over. But life moves ever forward, and we must step into the future once again.
Well, November was another month I didn't finish my One Monthly Goal. So I'm rolling that goal over to December. For the last month of the year, I'd Like to finish the mostly blue mat i've been working on.
I've got to get this one finished bc it needs a wash! Look at all that cat hair!
OMG is now hosted over at Elm Street Quilts and I certainly hope that it will continue into 2017.
I saw this block on Johanna Weider's instagram. I liked this block, which Johanna quadrupled on her post. She has a ton of great work. My block is not quite the same.
This was a fun block to make, and makes a good addition to my MadCatQuiltsBOM. I'm excited that this is the 11th block! I'm running out of space to take the group picture,
November is here and Winter is well on it's way. So far the month has been colder, and rainy, but there's still plenty of plants to observe.
Early in the month, the moonflowers were blooming like mad.
My christmas cactus blew up, too.
We bought a record player, but the house plants still the show.
The trees turned so fast.
One of my goals in 2016 is to read more. This kinda counts. See other books I've read or listened to here.
This reading of Ringworld By Larry Nevin was a free audio book with one of my internet subscriptions. It is read by Grover Gardner.
Ringworld is one of my husbands all time favorite books and was also recommended by my father, as well as almost every sci fi lover I know. I have read this book before, but when I saw the free reading, I was happy to revisit this book.
It's Louie Woo's 200th birthday and he's pretty bored. He could go on another deep space sabbatical, find some interesting aliens, meet some exotic women, but he's already done that many times. Much to his surprise, an exotic alien finds him instead. Nessus, a cautious Pierson's Puppeteer, offers Louie a dangerous, mysterious, adventure he can't refuse; Just what Louie was looking for.
First off, this reading was amazing. It made me like Ringworld even better than I already did. Gardner's clear, precise reading make Nevin's scientific (sometimes slightly dated) writing easy to understand. I can't wait to find more books that he has read. I knew that I liked this book, but on second reading, I found it even more interesting. It has all the great hopes, dilemmas, and predictions that many great sci-fi novels have. This book has many themes of tolerance, and fear, and hopes for meeting alien life. It has a very interesting take of xenophobia/xenophilia. Ringworld also plays with the traditional 1970s sci-fi sex and sexuality themes, without being too crude. This is a classic sci-fi book and if you're a fan of this genre, you must read it! I would also suggest this book for people who like exploration novels, books about voyages, and anyone interested in interpersonal relationships between a variety of peoples.
What are your favorite sci-fi novels?
We've been moving things around at home, hoping to display more of our collections.
I had distinct memories of The Popcorn Park Zoo from my childhood. I remember a range of animals from exotics, to farm animals, to wild creatures; Lions, lizards, deer. But mostly I remember them being rescued. I remember deer who had been saved from traps, aging lions saved from zoos, snakes rescued from small cages. In my mind it was all very dramatic.
I had been telling my husband and neighbors who have children about it ever since we moved back to NJ. Just after Summer, I got to go with my friends.
It was not as dramatic as I remembered, not as tragic as I had pitched it. But the rescued animals were still there, with stories of where they had come from and how their lives had changed since coming to the Popcorn Zoo.
Nestled in the Pine Barrens, this zoo isn't huge but it does have some interesting and exciting animals. It is considered one of the largest shelters of it's kind.
As the name might suggest, one of the main attractions here is the popcorn you can buy to feed the animals with. Some like it more than others, so our popcorn mostly went to deer, pigs, goats and ducks. It was very nice to see bears, lions and other big cats, and a steer that is, no lie, around 7 feet tall, even if they weren't craving popcorn.
I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the Popcorn Park Zoo again and would recommend it for zoo lovers in the NJ area. I really like that this zoo isn't price prohibitive and the proceeds go towards maintaining the zoo and it's animals.
What are your favorite local zoos?
Many of the goals I had for October were finished, but not all of them were recorded in a timely fashion. I got my MadCatBOM done early on in the month but never found the time to photograph and blog it. Well, here it is.
For October's block, I modified a block I saw on Cluck Cluck Sew and now can't find. It seems like an economy block variation. I made it quite a bit large, so I plan on cutting off the corners in the finished quilt.
I made it quite a bit large, so I plan on cutting off the corners in the finished quilt.
Linking up with Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.
As I've said before, October is edging up to become my favorite month. Especially since we've moved Down the Shore. So much happened this month, it feels a bit like a rollercoaster.
We visited a lot of vets this month, as one of our little family members is gravely ill. But we also took time to spend with her and give her our energy when possible. We did the same for our other furred family members.
There were plenty of warm days in October and the water stayed warm right up until the last week, so we spent a lot of time at the beach, combing, and exploring new places, creating new rituals. Towards the end I headed out in sweats, hats, and scarves. I'm hoping I can hold off on the gloves until December.
Plants and critters were out in full force this month, no doubt trying to take advantage of the last warm days, just like me! I saw so many bugs, spiders, and furry creatures this month. Never a bad thing.
Speaking of furry creatures, October may have been the best month for #watchercats and #watcherdogs!
October wasn't the catch up month I thought it will be. Let's see if I can hang on to November.
For my November One Monthly Goal, I'm hoping to finish this little blanket I've been working on for an elderly friend.
I'm linking up with OMG at it's new home, Elm Street Quilts! Thanks so much to Red Letter Quilts for starting OMG and for passing it off when needed.
October is fast becoming my favorite month of the year. It was a great one for observing plants around our new home. It was also a very busy month, so I'm sending out my observations a little on the late side.
American Beauty Berries are busting out the extreme purple.
Roses keep on making late game appearances.
The last of the echinacea.
Milkweeds are weeping their seeds for next years monarchs.
The morning glories are still reaching for the sun.
What are the plants doing in your neck of the woods?
The last week, and the next week coming I expect, I'm breathing new life into this old WIP.
So, while I technically missed the link op for Q3, here's my list anyway:
1. Finish binding and label Ohio Star Quilt.
2. Quilt, bind, and label Maybe Lyz Quilt.
3. Piece front and back, baste, quilt, bind and label Atlanta Falcons Baby Quilt.
4. Quilt, bind, and label Geometric Gift Quilt.
5. Make backing, baste, bind, and label Alabama Quilt Top.
None finished. Again.
I won't be missing the link op for Q4 and, despite my last two rounds, I hope to have my most productive quarter yet!
I'm only listing 4 goals for the last quarter. In preparation for this list I took out a bunch of tops and projects and my Q4 looks a little different.
1. Finish quilting, bind, and label Maybe Lyz Quilt.
I started this one a log time ago, and made some progress in the last few months. I'm thinking this big quilt will be nice to cuddle up under while I'm working on it as the weather gets cooler.
2. Baste, quilt, bind and label Alabama Quilt Top.
I made a little progress on this vintage quilt top we found on our trip to Alabama last year. I need to figure out how to quilt it and get it finished.
3. Make a back, baste, quilt and bind the Vintage Squares quilt.
4. Finally finish Ohio Stars quilt.
I've been working on this one too long. I have the last bits to finish, not more than a days work, but I could not get motivated to finish it for Q3. I'm over this quilt and it needs to get done.
One of my goals in 2016 is to read more. This kinda counts. See other books I've read here.
Another book my father recommended I listen to, Blood Oath was written by Christopher Farnsworth and read by Bronson Pinchot.
I'm torn over whether listening to books counts toward my goal of reading more in 2016. For 2017, I have plans for a new goal to watch less TV... I think listening to audio books will definitely help that.
It wasn't Nathanial Cade's choice to be turned into a vampire, or to be bewitched into serving the American government by protecting the President at all costs. Getting a new, arrogant and inexperienced "handler" with a history of youthful indiscretions might be is too much. When an old threat resurfaces, Cade's loyalties will be tested and he will be forced to trust those he never expected.
I thought Blood Oath was an interesting take on a vampire tale, switching between several character's points of view and mindset, not only focusing on the vampire. Farnsworth plays with the vampire and monster mythos, posing interesting questions about otherworldly beings. This book has violent moments, as any vampire story does, and the descriptions are not for the faint of heart. The reading is very expressive and the voices distinct. Bronson Pinchot does not sounds how I thought he would! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I would definitely get the sequel, but I'm not sure if I would read or listen to it. I recommend this book for those who are vampire enthusiasts, monster lovers, and people who enjoy political thrillers.
What are your favorite vampire books?
For my October OMG, I'm revisiting a goal I tried over the Summer. It was too hot in x to quilt the Maybe Lyz Quilt, but October seems to be just the right month to be snuggled under this big quilt.
This big quilt gets all wrinkled from quilting in my lap. I don't use a hoop or frame.
Linking up with Red Letter Quilts with my October Goal.
September went so quick!! Am I a broken record? September might be my favorite month of the year. So much change, so much growth.
In brief, here're some things I did in September:
Beach walks-
Cat talks-
Dream life-
Local's Summer-
October is already rolling. Better catch up.
Before I post my Q4 Finish Along list, I thought I'd take a look at some of my quilts under construction.
This bright heart quilt is ages old. Earlier this year, I backed and basted it. Now to decide how I want to quilt it and if I want it on my Q4 list.
Baby Tree of Life is a completed top but needs a backing. This is not my normal color scheme, so I'd like a back that will open it up. I don't know how to quilt this one, either.
I made this top from vintage squares, blues, and thrifted browns and stripes this past year during a slump. I think I know what I'd like to back this one with.
This is the Alabama vintage top, I backed it recently and as usual, have to decide how to quilt it. This one is definitely going on the Q4 list.
These aren't all the quilt tops I have finished, but it is a chunk of them. I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.
It's hard to believe that in all the time I've been writing about Zoos at Home, Zoos Abroad, I haven't made an entry for one of our all time favorite zoos. The Prospect Park Zoo was our "home" zoo for many years and we visited it often. These photos were taken during our last visit which was back in August 2015.
In the heart of Brooklyn's biggest park, this zoo is a magical little slice of zoo with wild creatures and a little petting farm. It has also become a sanctuary for the areas birds and bugs within the city.
The Prospect Park Zoo packs a lot of wild and exotic animals into its small foot print. Some of my favorites are field mice, Pallas cats, red pandas, otters, mongooses, peacocks, and more!
The petting farm has chickens, pigs, sheep, etc... It's a nice connection of people and animals.
There are several buildings that contain the wild creatures, connected by meandering trails that make you feel like walking in an animal, bug, and flora filled wonderland. There's a aviary, duck ponds, a sea lion pool to walk through and around.
The Prospect Park Zoo is truly a Brooklyn treasure and I highly suggest anyone in the area to visit it.
Finally! I finished my first OMG in 4 months. My count now is 4 completed out of 9 goals.
Linking up with Red Letter Quilts with a completed goal!
Inspired by Aquarian Soul, I've decided to record the plants I see around me each month.
It has been a fun first year in Asbury Park, seeing what grows and blooms in our yard and all around us. Some things were a total surprise! I documented many plants on Instagram and in the blog in a casual manner. This coming year, I'd like to keep a closer eye.
Here are some plants I'm seeing in September:
Beach Roses are blooming their last blooms. They smell amazing.
Some of the roses have already turned into huge hips. I might be researching how to forage and use these for something good.
I took our oxalis out to the porch to enjoy more sun before the cold weather. It was getting very leggy inside.
My neighbors chicks and hens bloomed weeks earlier than mine. So much so I started to think mine never would. But here they are!
The morning glories that we gladly share with our neighbors went nuts this month. They are out in full bloom in all manner of colors. We will have tons of seeds to harvest, spread and share this year.
My husband doesn't like succulents but I'm planning on buying some up after seeing them at Sunset Farms, our favorite local nursery.
What plants are cropping up where you live this month?