The Cat Sat on The Mat and Christmas Greetings

 Strange heading for a post on a quilting blog I know
 but as I have nothing quilty to show on this last post of 2020
I'm improvising!

So, here's the cat sitting on the mat bought to use for her food and water bowls,
she's a messy eater, but she had other ideas

this is now her personal mat for taking a rest, and she is definitely
not a grumpy cat but this was the last mat in the store!

Baking for Christmas was to try and use up some of the
glut of courgette/zucchini from the garden with my favourite
loaves

Courgette, Walnut and Sultana

these are delicious, sliced and spread with a little butter.
They become a little firmer and are easier to slice after
a day or so in the cake tin.

I'm going to start a page for Recipes next year and this will be up there.

Next, just because I love them, are
Cranberry and Pear muffins

another recipe to be added next year.

And that's my little contribution to my blog for Christmas Eve 2020.
I have lots worked out for next year, regular blog posts is top of my list.

I'll end here by saying that I realise this Christmas will be a difficult
time for many of you but I do hope you're able to find
peace and joy amongst the mayhem and hope for much better in 2021.

Looking forward to catching up with you all in the New Year and
thank you for all your kind comments over the past year.

Happy Christmas

Maureen

Post for Thursday the 10th

 My calendar is reminding me that I had marked down Monday as post day
but that didn't happen!!

It's been a slow couple of weeks on the quilting side of things, all I have to show
from my time at the sewing machine are six more Lego blocks below

I'm enjoying stitching these and using up strips collected over the years.

I've spent time tidying up a few fabric baskets and drawers which were bugging me,
 I had far more solids in my stash than I realised

                                                                                    

                                and compared to the other colours I seem to have very few yellows                                   in this basket

and lots of reds in this one.

My older collection of Hoffman fabrics from years ago, plus a few other ranges,
are now in two drawers - see below.

I wasn't getting very far with trying to decide how to use these,
the Hoffman fabrics are delightful small florals.
Looking through patterns, both in books and purchased as pdfs
from online stores, I found three patterns which I thought
would work. One of them is London Fields by
Frankie and Ray.

Still a little undecided it happened that a post came up from 

quiltdivajulie

showing her London Fields quilt all finished and it's
a beauty - decision made! Do click on the link and visit. 

A list of projects planned for next year is underway, some culling
will definitely be necessary here! I think I'll take on an RSC after 
a few years of missing. There will also be a new AHIQ for the first
six months of 2021.

After a number of years tucked away in our shed I brought inside the house
a beautiful  Indian cradle/cot (teak I think) bought years ago from a local
antique shop. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it.

This treasure was brought back from India I was told by a
?army officer, who had been stationed there and left India 
along with other Britains in the mid 1940's. Correct me if I have the
date wrong here.The iron rings for hanging the cradle are still in place.
I intend using it to store quilts in the bedroom. You can see it has been well used
if you go to a close up view.

A post from me always, or usually, closes with something from the garden,
today is no exception, so first up one of my canna lillies just opening.

 Look no further for a quilt colour scheme, the greens,
shades of yellow, a little almost apricot splash and
a fine streak of lilac - beautiful!

My gladioli also has my ideas whirling around

and again we have yellows,  a lovely bright green stem
and all that beautiful pink.

And that's it from me folks until next time.

Keep safe and well.

Maureen

Note - thanks to Wanda for the tip below in her comment, never realised that the setting was on, just checked and wow, the image size is fantastic!