Pyromania... Nature Accelerated

We're trying something new this year. For years now we've been trying to partially tame the hill behind our house.  We like the wild parts of it (and have planted lots of coneflowers, Queen Anne's Lace & lilies for "naturalizing"--as they say in garden parlance), but we also want to have mown areas so that we can walk around easily and enjoy the fire circle.  Also, having very controlled and very wild areas enhances each, like positive/negative.  One doesn't look as good without the other. It's an artistic/philosophic thing with me.

I dream of having little stairways and paths, winding their way through flowery areas, etc. etc. Truth is, the soil up there is awful--a thin layer of topsoil followed closely with a thick layer of heavy clay.  Not conducive to good gardening.  So... some stairways exist (often end up covered in brome grass), but there should be more.  It's just that the soil is so darned hard to dig into to place the steps. And when you habitually only get around to doing something about it in late August when the ground is dry and hard as a brick, it just doesn't happen! Year after year...

I digress... our something new is burning off all the old, dead plant stuff from last year.  By the end of the season, that stupid brome (sp?) grass pretty much takes over everything. Ugh! But maybe, just maybe, this year will be different and we'll get a grip on it.  

With the help of our local volunteer fire department (and a sizeable donation because they are such good guys and do so many good things), our hill was all burned off, lickety split!  I think it took less than an hour.  And they have this cool little gizmo that pretty much dribbles out a combination of gasoline & diesel fuel which ends up looking like it's dripping out little bits of fire onto the ground.  I will close here with another photo.  (Am I  just a little too intrigued by all this? ha!)

I mentioned in my profile that I have a very cool dog.  (Well, I did say something about neurosis, too, but never mind that!)  Just in case you haven't stopped by the house lately, here he is:   

         

Now I ask you: how many dogs do you know who are so angelic that they have a ray of light coming out of their head?! 

His name is PUNCH.  As you can see, one of his eyes has brown fur around it, as if he got punched... I just love him to pieces and the feeling is very mutual.*  Hmm... it's nearly 5 o'clock. He would probably appreciate it if I gave him his supper. (Curiously, when I give him his evening meal, it's his supper. When my husband feeds him, it's his dinner. You'll have that with big city slicker types!)

*perhaps you find yourself needing an insulin shot from all this sweetness. I apologise and will try to keep it at a minimum!

The "At Home" Part

I could say things have been incredibly hectic lately and I've just been busy, busy, busy!  But not really...I've been rather enjoying myself of late.  Weather has remained kind of chilly (hey, this is a midwestern blog....how many sentences can we go before we start talking about the weather?!) so I've been doing indoor stuff.  For instance, I actually laid around this afternoon and watched the original Airport movie (I'm not proud about that). I've always loved Airplane, so it was pretty funny to see its inspiration. It deserved a send up! Thank heaven for the DVR though; sooo many commercials! 

More industrially, I've been working on a quilt: "Boxed Blessings" pattern by Ingrid Barlow.  I have to add a disclaimer here--I am not a quilter!  (please don't think, 'oh sure, they all say that!') I once started a quilt in 1987; made about 3 strips. Never got any further and for the life of me, I don't rightly know where it is!  (I think it's probably stashed somewhere in my Mom's apartment!) I have another more recent quilt top started which, if all goes well, will be lots of log cabin blocks surrounding a big star.  If it works out, it will be beautiful.  I have a tendency to get a little over enthusiastic and set some very high standards for myself...then it's a battle to not get discouraged! (Perhaps I need to give myself a break and lower the bar occasionally?) And another one I made the top for which was a bunch of circles pretty much laid on top of each other with rough edges that are supposed to get all fuzzy in the wash. That has not happened yet. So...I am not a quilter! A piecer-wannabe, but not a quilter....yet.  But all that is going to change with Boxed Blessings.  

Here is this week's designated work area:

Yes, pieces keep being cut (never quite the right amount, so it seems I'm forever having to cut just a few more), sewn together in proper order, and dutifully ironed.  *Note bowl of Lucky Charms (magically delicious!) at side of sewing machine--a girl needs fortification to keep at it!

Here's another view of some of the blocks.  For now, I will not divulge the theme or my reasons for choosing said theme. But when it's done, I'll tell all! Another disclaimer: that is not my beer bottle sitting there! Somebody set it there when I went to get the camera. Don't drink & quilt!