My Beautiful Tree!

I am MAD! MAD! MAD! remember the beautiful Silver Birch Tree all covered in hoar frost I posted a picture of back in the winter? Well it has been decimated by a 'Tree cutter' (and I'm being polite here!) who arrived next door (it's their tree!) to 'tidy it up a bit' and this is the result :-(((

Decimated Tree

 He obviously didn't know what he was doing as its just coming into leaf (trees are not supposed to be cut this time of year!!)  The birds love it and I have been told that over 30 different insects live in Sliver Birch Trees, which is why the birdies love it, plus he ripped out the nest of a pair of wood pigeons!  Well I had better get off my high horse as nothing can be done.

Its been a busy old week and the month is set to continue in the same vein. We have DD's dog staying with us for a little holiday so I have been out walking with him around 8am every day, its beautiful in the fields where we walk, we go around the perimeter as its a crop field, but there are woods and a Golf Course near by so the birdsong is fantastic:-)) Ted loves his walks, he comes home covered in mud and plant stuff or twigs/brambles, there is an abundance of a 'sticky plant' that spreads by itself by grabbing hold of anything passing and with his long coat Ted is a 'sticky plant magnet' here he is strolling round the garden. He's a Springer Spaniel with a bit of Corgi in there somewhere (don't ask!!) he is a bouncy, happy dog with all the Spaniel traits, nose to the ground followin' the scent, etc, unfortunately he can also be a bit grumpy which is why I go out early but it's a good start to the day.

Ted Strollin!

Last Saturday I took Harriet to a Young Quilters workshop at Chipping Sodbury, she had a great time making a 'Funky Chicken' then on Sunday morning she spent an hour in the workroom and made another larger one with a pebble inside to make a door stop/paper weight. My friend Helen came along as well and took her daughter Lia who made a pin cushion.This is Lia at the machine, she did very well as she had not used a machine before. H insisted she took a picture for me to put on this post so here it is.

H's Funky chickens

Lia at the machine.

On Wednesday I and a couple of others assembled a display of work by members of Severn Valley Quilters,  it's part of Thornbury Arts Trail held at the Town Hall. This is the 3rd year we have been invited to exhibit along side other artists. When I was a little girl oh! so many years ago, the building was the Police station, complete with a courtroom and living accommodation for the policeman upstairs! The courtroom is now the Council Chamber and is a beautiful room with a wooden ceiling. Our display looks very good, we have a list of members who will do some stewarding, this morning it was my turn and I was pleased to hear some nice comments about the work as I sat and sewed. I took some pictures to share with you.

This quilt has 72 blocks!

A view of the table

Ive been making a 'Bell' Block after an appeal on a blog I read. Pippa of Welsh Quilts is making a central panel of the fallen Cathedral Tower in Christchurch, New Zealand. See her post on 27th March, the idea is that the bell blocks made and sent to her by quilters will surround the panel to make a quilt. Hopefully the quilt will be on show during the Festival of Quilts at the N.E.C in August, I will be looking out for my 'bell' when I visit.

Well better go, Ted needs his dinner and I plan to watch some TV tonight with my feet up.

See ya all next time