Need a reminder of what the completed quilt will look like?
Just in case you're new to my free Posies BOM for 2021, I also shared a pretty pincushion to tie in with this project (and it's free too!)...
DOWNLOAD the "Posies" pincushion pattern
UPDATE...
POSIES was free until
January 1st 2022.
The
complete 2021 POSIES quilt is now available from my ETSY Shop.
I think that cute fussy-cut bunny fabric for the applique vase really steals the show with block 5, don't you?
Have you been fussy cutting your applique vases each month too?
It's just a short blog post today because no matter what's happening in life I do like to stay on track with dated commitments. You see I've got a very nasty coverage of contact dermatitis which has really limited what I can do this week. Apart from managing the pain, stinging and itching, it really rattled my mind as to what on earth had brought it on, as this is an allergic reaction.
Well.
The doctor and I had a long chat this morning and as I was driving home from the surgery with more medications to try, I had a spark of an idea, so as soon as I opened the front door I sat down at the computer and googled. Hurrah because the mystery was solved; but also lament because something else I really enjoy has now been erased from my pantry. Worse still, erased from my tea-time.
Early Grey Tea. The tea I simply love, the tea I have been almost inhaling the past few weeks as so much has been brewed and sipped and thoroughly enjoyed every day!
I used to enjoy the occasional Twinings Earl Grey, but then I began buying French Earl Grey in loose leaf from the Tea Centre in town. Sooooooo delicious with real loose tea. But I enjoyed it so much I kept drinking, morning, noon and night.
I have had a problem with oranges all my life - first with bilious attacks as a child, then it became my worst of all migraine triggers, though I could still have a quarter orange once every few weeks without an issue. Then late last year it became apparent I could not even have a hint of orange juice or rind anymore, the reaction was so bad. By January it was mandarins as well which needed to be removed from my diet.
I have never really thought about Bergamot (in Earl Grey tea) before, until today. Then I looked it up and discovered it was an orange. Wow. No wonder my body is a mess. For me, anything remotely orange or mandarin is toxic...so bye bye lovely tea. Sob.
Now to get well again, and carefully study every ingredient in the things I eat or drink in future. I am alive with this dermatitis at the moment so it may take a while to settle and leave, but at least I'm not making things worse now that I know the cause.
Oh, and we also discovered (thanks to Blossom) that a new natural washing powder I began using two weeks ago has citrus oil in it, and that's also been contributing to the itchy red saga. I ditched it a few days back and had to wash everything in the wardrobe I'd worn during that time, plus towels and sheets again. But still the rash came...and now I know it's from Bergamot.
My list of food allergies grows longer every year, and always things I like more than others. Someone told me the other day that this tends to happen as we age. Have you found this to be so?
So, my dears, I'm going to be a week or so late with the next Homemakers Heart Magazine, and I'll delay Tea Week until later in May...but I know you're all very kind and understanding about my freebies. This past week was a whirlwind of grandchildren and dermatitis; I didn't even get to mop my floors. Hopefully the gentle rhythms of home life will return swiftly.
I do hope you have the loveliest of weekends, wherever you are. I imagine some of you shall be planting gardens, others preparing thick soups, and perhaps more of you settling in with a good book, a spot of crochet or some stitching. All of that sounds good to me! I intend resting, and while doing so I shall plan a new crochet blanket from the many free patterns Lucy shares at Attic 24.
God bless your precious hearts!
