Quilt is Almost Done. Batik Disappearing Nine Patch. 5.17.2022

No garden today.  I had to be around for contractors and fuss over sick Rufus.  He seems to be improving.

I used the indoor time to finish the quilting for the batik disappearing nine patch quilt,

This is a description of how a disappearing nine patch works.

Here is the actual traditional nine patch quilt that I finished earlier this year.

Back to the current project, I opted for the modern quilting concept of sewing parallel lines.  

I think parallel lines are a good choice for this modern, geometric quilt with colorful fabrics.  It can be tedious, sewing lines repeatedly.  I used painters' tape to help me keep the lines mostly straight.

I finished all of the quilting.  

Now I need to trim off the excess batting and backing, nice and even with the quilt top, then sew on the binding which makes a nice border and edge for the quilt.  I chose plain black cotton fabric, which I think will make kind of an elegant binding.

I did not prewash the fabric.  When it is washed, I hope the washing and drying will give it a kind of crinkly quilted look.  Sometimes it works.

Chocolate Chip Cookies. 5.25.22

I made Betty's (Betty Crocker) Chocolate Chip cookies today.  We had pecans so I used those instead of walnuts.  The chips were something like 65% cacao.

Actually, I did like the last batch where I used chopped peanuts instead of walnuts.  They are all good.

My oven needs two or three minute more than the recipes state.

The bag of flour had  recipe for lemon cookies.  Maybe those are next.

Extremely Pruned Hardy Chicago Fig Tree Alive. 5.15.22

 This is the Hardy Chicago fig tree that I gave a major workover in mid March.  The final result looked like this:

I wondered if I killed it.  Now most, or all, of the branches have big swelling buds.

Harder to see, below.  But they are there too.

Give it a few weeks.  Fig trees are very resilient.  Assuming these branches continue growing, they should be tipped at about a foot, and then at another foot.  This variety bears on new growth, so maybe...

Planting More Squash Seedlings. 5.15.22

 I planted more squash seedlings in their final locations.

This is a Galeux d'Eysines.  The roots quickly start winding around.  Squash seedlings roots are delicate, so you want to get them planted ASAP.

Fortunately they are very early in their winding around, so it just took slight untangling to point the roots outward.

Now planted outside:  All three Galeux, both Costata Romanesca, and one Fordhook zucchini.  Here is a Costata:

I will need to set up deer protection for the ones outside the fenced garden.

I also gave away a zucchini plant "Sure Thing", a summer squash plant "Saffron", and two Red Kuri squash seedlings.  Now remaining for me to plant are three seedlings of Burgess Buttercup, three of Uncle Dave's Dakota Dessert Squash, one Saffron summer squash, and two or three Honeynut.  Not sure where I'll plant them, but if Honeynut has small squashes, it might be a candidate for a trellis.

Planting Squash Seedlings. 5.14.22

 So far, the squash seeds that are growing are, Costata Romanesca, Fordhook Zucchini, Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin, Uncle Dave's Dakota Dessert (Buttercup type), Red Kuri, Burgess Buttercup.   I think there are signs of life with the Honeynut, Saffron, and Sure Thing Zucchini.  Two will be given away, and I need to plan where to plant the others so I don't confuse myself.

I decided the two buttercup types will replace the massive Pink Banana and Illinois Squashes this year.

I may plant the smaller bearing Honeynut Squash against a trellis, for space conservation.

Squashes grow fast.  I need to get them into the ground within a week.  Here is the first of the Galeux d'Eysines, which was all I could plant before rains resumed.