My perfect kind of day was today!  We had a beautiful rain, it was wonderfully cool, I had the day off AND it happened to be my birthday, so ultimately I also got to go out to dinner.  I usually start the day just making sure I count 6 heads, duck heads that is.  Today they were having a blast, all wet and muddy and on worm patrol.

OH, and let’s not forget the tomatoes!  They are likin’ the rain too and are starting to turn.  These are beefsteak, big and beautiful!

I LOVE to sew on a rainy day!  For all of you who sew out there, let me show you what I worked on today and maybe it will be something you might whip up too.  I first saw this curtain about 5 years ago in our local quilt shop hanging in their back window.  Of course, I studied it and ran home to create it from memory.  And then my squares sat in a box for a few years until I remembered to get them out again (very important to remember where all those lost projects are!).

This is how cool it will look when it’s finished, but would you believe this is a page from a book I picked up at the bookstore where I work.  Believe it or not, the original design is from one of my favorite artists, Kaffe Fassett.  What a treat to find a design I already had begun!

These are my own rough directions.  I am lucky to have box after box of various scraps of fabric.  Use lightweight cottons for the large blocks and a gauzy pale fabric for the smaller squares.  I made the large blocks 4 1/2″ square and the smaller blocks, 2 1/2″ square.  The whole piece ends up having a very “unkempt” look, so I freehand cut most of the blocks rather than using a rotary cutter.

Eyeball the gauze on the larger block.  No need to measure and be too accurate.  Remember, you’re going for that rough charm.

Topstitch the small block onto the large block WITHOUT turning under edges.  Stitch about 1/4″ from the edge.

When you’re finished the square will look like this…..

And the back is cut away so that the light can glow through. 

To get the back cut out I pull the two pieces apart….

Snip the back…..

And then cut around the back, close to the stitching.

Now make lotsa squares.  Really, as many as you like until you get your desired size.

This is what I have so far.

Made especially for my big girl, Kendall, who is going to put the whole thing together.  All I have to do is send her the squares, what a deal!  I think it will be a fitting curtain for her new rustic surroundings.

I’ll end this post with my forever helper.

Have I mentioned how much I dislike squirrels? They eat my garden, they eat my flowers, but mostly these days they eat the duck food.  I am NOT here to feed the neighborhood, dang it!

It all begins when one brave soul runs out to see if the coast is clear of humans, ducks and dog.

Seems the loud one is sleeping so he gives the all clear signal.

It’s time to move on in!

Then you holler in squirrel talk to all your friends to hurry before the feathered ones arrive.

And I swear they are laughing the whole time!  Look at the smirk on his face!

Now there, that’s the way the feeder is supposed to look.

Every day it seems the neighbors are doing something that interests the ducks. Last weekend it was the garage sale they were having.

It almost looked as if they were trying to go undercover and camoflauge themselves!

Of course, this was the last corner of the yard I had not fenced them out of and they quickly nibbled down my morning glories for breakfast!  Dang ducks!

OOPS, I meant to say that I like to garden and the ducks like to EAT the garden. I took care of that issue as quick as I could erect my redneck lattice fence.  It may not be fancy, but it was free and it keeps the little devils out!

This is the drill.  I am supposed to dig, weed, pull out all the good stuff and then feed them the leftovers.   Like clockwork they sit by the fence and make lots of noise until I send the greens to the other side. 

They gobble down carrot tops like there’s no tomorrow!

Then there were the potato plants that they could demolish by sticking their heads through the lattice.  By the time I dug potatoes the other day there wasn’t much left of the plant, but I sure got some nice potatoes!

And they got the rest of the plant.

I have SO much basil right now and haven’t had time to pick it, so the ducks are getting bunches.  I’m hoping I could  get basil flavored eggs this way

But the best thing right now are all the tomatoes that are getting ready to ripen that the ducks will NEVER be able to touch!  I’ve been waiting for this humongous green tomato to turn red.  Seems like all the tiny ones around it want to turn, but it won’t!!

I’m pretty sure the safest plant in the garden may be the jalapenos!

I have learned to gauge my work time by the ducks eating time.  About the time they are worn out from all that gorging on greens, I’m also done picking and weeding.  This is the scene when they are full and happy, especially Cher……

Our little friend, Nico, was over last night to play and in the middle of Looney Tunes and toys he said, “Kelly, ducks?” So we ventured out to the backyard to see what they were up to……

Nico is just 2 1/2 and what a good boy he is!  I plopped him down and suggested he stand in one place so he wouldn’t get duck poop all over his shoes, and he did.  I mean he didn’t move a muscle!  He waved at them and said, “HI DUCKS”. 

Even without food in hand I am fascinated that the ducks seem to come closer to tiny people than grown ups.  Must be something about size.  Cher (the big white pekin) was quacking up a storm and Nico thought that was pretty funny.

And then there is that contemplative look that only a smart little 2 year old would wonder, “Now, why don’t I have ducks in my backyard??”

Our friends Joe and Jenny came over tonight with their pomeranian puppy, Theo, to play with Kacey and the ducks.

That little puppy must only be about 2 pounds, but he can sure run!! 

He gave the ducks some good exercise and I’m sure they will ALL sleep well tonight.

Round and round they go……

Kacey had to get in on some of the action.

Now, isn’t that just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen??  Next to my dog, of course