Wasps in my Garden

Wasps are common in Australian gardens and can be quite beneficial in pollinating flowers and controlling insect pests.

They can also deliver quite a sting if disturbed, which I discovered recently when I decided to do a spot of pruning around my jasmine vine which is growing on the side of the cats’ catio.

I didn’t see that there was a wasp’s nest hidden in the leaves. I see it now! Before I realised what was happening, two very angry wasps flew out of the nest, one promptly stung me on my hand, and the other chased me inside the house! It was right behind me and I had to shoo it back outside!

Luckily I was wearing gardening gloves, but even so, the sting was painful for about 20 minutes and by next morning my hand was quite swollen. It was also very itchy, but after applying some cream the itch went away and the swelling disappeared within two days.

Some people are very allergic to wasp and bee stings but now I know that I am not. The nest will probably be active for the rest of the summer, but I am okay with that. Everything has its place in the garden and it just means that I won’t be pruning the jasmine for a few more months.

This is as close as I wanted to get. Normally the nests that I see around the house are small, rounded nests made of clay or mud. This nest consists of layers of papery hexagonal cells and many active wasps.

New Year, Fresh Start

So here we are into 2024 with all our resolutions, to do lists, expectations etc. It doesn’t seem like a year ago that we did the same thing, so how did we go?

Hmmm…..I had a pretty good 2023, except I seriously got behind with my sewing in the latter part of the year. Consequently I had very little completed in the way of Christmas items to sell which was annoying and disappointing.

I like to take the time between Christmas and New Year to clean my sewing room and get up to date on any repairs, projects not finished etc. so that’s all done now and I’m looking forward to a positive and productive 2024.

Here is a table runner featuring red poppies that wasn’t finished until December, so I had to put it on the table unfinished to commemorate Remembrance Day on 11 November. Also my Christmas star table centre not finished until 20 December!

Last year I made lots of reading pillows which sold very well. This year, because I was running so far behind, I decided on embroidered tea towels because I thought they would be quick and easy! Ha, not sew! (You see what I did there? Lol) Still trying to perfect them to be good enough to sell. I think I’m nearly there!

Starting Over

Way back before Covid, in the good old days (lol) we were fancy-free and travelling without a care to many countries. Unfortunately, world events have followed which have made us think twice about leaving the safety and security of Australia.

Not to mention the fact that I don’t like flying anyway and the thought of 15 hours plus to any destination just doesn’t bear thinking about.

But life goes on and we have planned two vacations so far for 2024. One is fairly soon, but more on that later.

In the meantime, closer to home, even though my blog is called Quilts, Cats and Me, there is no more quilting! Whaaaat???

Not going to change the name as I do enjoy checking out other people’s quilts and I love cats, especially my own precious ones, Samurai and Mischa, sleeping each side of me as I write this.

Mischa figures if she looks cute enough she can stay here all day!
Samurai was asleep until I moved!

However I have to admit that I am definitely over quilt making and have instead discovered machine embroidery which I’ve been doing for the last few years and absolutely love.

So with lots of energy and enthusiasm, here I am making another start. What direction will this go? Who knows! Does anybody care? Once again, who knows? So for my own amusement and for anyone who accidentally lands here, I’m looking forward to breathing some life back into this blog one more time!

I Found a Quilted Heart Project

I found this site by accident last month and I’m so glad I did, as it’s given me time to make some hearts pre Valentine’s Day.

The idea is to make some hearts to leave in various places for random strangers to find. If the finder wants to, they can go to the site and take a photo or just share where they found the heart.

There are just a few rules. No selling, gifting or handing out the hearts or leaving them on private property or in shops etc. They are to be left in public places, such as a parks, hiking trails, noticeboard etc for a stranger to find.

I am very excited about this project and will be leaving mine around the area this week. I hope whoever finds the hearts enjoy them as much as I loved making them.

Spreading the love one heart at a time.