prairiequilts

2012-01-17T09:54:00.001-05:00

Primitive Giveaway Winner!!

Sherry won the wallhanging!! Congratulations! My email is on my profile so just send me your snail mail addy and I'll get that out to you in the morning. Thanks, everybody, for putting your names in.

Quilts Without Corners...

I'm teaching a class on these round quilts by Cheryl Phillips. These are the simplest designs in the books and are the shop samples. As you can no doubt guess, the top one in batiks is mine and the calico is Sandy's. Nice to see how the same pattern turns out in different fabrics. These still need the centers "installed" and quilted up. The technique is super easy and very fast. Just a few hours and you have a quilt. I am planning on making a baby quilt from another of her patterns and I'm also playing around with a tree skirt. The round quilt would look sharp as a medallion on a bigger quilt, also. Lots of possibilities.

Sleepy, today, and movin' slow. It doesn't help that it's dark and pouring rain. "How do you know it's raining cats and dogs? When you step in a poodle!" Juvenile humor is always better in the morning. I see chicken and dumplings in my future so I need to get it in the pot! Have a great day!

2012-01-13T10:27:00.000-05:00

counter-clockwise: Laurie, Joe, Paul, Bekah, Abe, Eva, John, Jacob, Dan

Shoulda posted this on the last one...

Every one of my children with their feet under my table(s). Very good feeling. (I think a couple of them were laughing at me climbing up on a chair.)

Last day to get your name in for the drawing on the primitive wallhanging. Your odds are pretty good with under 10 names in- I can't wait to see who won, tomorrow morning!

2012-01-10T14:05:00.001-05:00

Just some random pictures...

I was browsing through my pics and come across these with no real home, but the memories make me smile. The picture below are two dear girls wearing the scarves I made them. I have three kids that love green and when I was searching through my green fabs for my applique project, it was slim pickins. Laurie has a notebook on her lap that I made a cover for. Not exactly green, but I did the embroidery in green so maybe that'll do.

Mary and Laurie

Dan always claims that this part of the state has to be 10* colder than any other! He says Maine in February isn't as cold as it is here. Might be the wind. So, Dan and Jessica (an exchange student) are warming their hands over the candle. Pitiful. You'll notice she's still wearing her coat. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen her without a coat... There isn't much Jessica can do about being cold as she is definitely from a warmer climate(Brazil) but if Daniel would just eat more... every time he comes home I say he looks thinner. I refrained this time (even though I thought he did!) I just got a box out to him with some fattening snacks so maybe next time he won't look quite so emaciated- but he's ripped. I had to say that or else I'd never hear the end of it. Ah, the life of a bachelor.

Candle- doubling as a hand warmer

Evabeth and Laurie

My sweet girls love to read- these are the oldest two. Yeah, they're wearing hoodies. But it was a little nippy. Not so now. The kids have been playing outside in their shirt sleeves- no coats. Sunny skies and temps in the upper 40's. Bizarre weather for the middle of January.

2012-01-06T10:26:00.001-05:00

Friday Giveaway!

Guys, I'm so sorry I didn't get this posted in December. It was my original plan to do so, but guess what? I was kinda busy. So if you're still interested... Primitive wallhanging, complete with rod casing. It measures 24"x28". The applique is all machine, though I did do that little bit of stitching on the flag by hand. Quick! Somebody grab the smelling salts- Sarah N. just swooned! I had fun making it. The lightest gray is some fabric I dyed. But it sure won't fit in with my house of "cottage industrial" so maybe you know someone it will suit. I think we'll keep the drawing open until next Friday. Get your name in the hat and it could be yours!

2012-01-05T11:02:00.000-05:00

My New Years Project...

Sandy always starts a new project at the end of the year and she said I needed to do that, too. So here ya go. I found it in an Australian Quilter magazine. I think they have pretty applique. You'll notice the pieced background... things are pretty bad when you don't have 4 blocks 17" of neutral. And I call myself a quilter. Need to do something about that. I clawed through my neutral bin and couldn't find any pieces big enough so the scrap bin came to the rescue. I can just say I planned it that way. So I'm appliqueing for awhile.

2012-01-03T18:38:00.001-05:00

Some of my projects...

These are the Zippy Strippy bags by Atkinson Designs. Great pattern- very easy to follow directions and a fun project to boot. The construction of the bag itself takes maybe 20 minutes. It also takes about that long to make the front and back panels according to her direction, but of course I didn't do that so mine took a little longer. The designs on the front of my bags are different from hers, but I have a longarm and her patterns are for a quilt-as-you-go design. Which would work great... but this worked fine for me, also. I made several of them from blocks that were sitting in a drawer already sewn up. I don't normally do zippers- avoid them like the plague. I just can't get them as neat as I'd like. Passable, but they bug me. The method Terry uses is so easy and perfect, PERFECT- every time. I think that might be why I kept making them- I, yes I, put in the perfect zipper. Repeatedly. The crowd roars! Quite a monumental feat. I have plans to make a whole lot more- you know how compulsive I can be once I find a project I like. (Did I ever tell you about the 13 quilted jackets I made one winter? I have some of my Aunt Isobel in me.) This is the medium-sized bag- there are three sizes. And they hardly cost anything to make- the zippers are about a buck fifty and off ya go! I'm thinking you should look them up. I'm pretty sure a whole lot of your friends would be real happy to get one and you can point out to them the perfectness of the zipper!

2012-01-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

Heart attack on a plate...

Jacob came into the quilting room a couple weeks ago- proud of his culinary accomplishment. It's a double cheese burger with bacon and eggs. I had to get the camera. When I commented that it would be too big to fit into his mouth... well, obviously, I was wrong.

2011-12-30T20:12:00.000-05:00

Nines' Feast...

This is my wife, my bride... the woman I adore.

She is truly one of a kind! I know you already know quite a bit about my sweet wife from reading her blogs, but let me just tell you a few things about her.

She is a tireless worker. Nina sets her hands to serving her family and others. As some may know, this has been a fiscally challenging year for us. Besides the quilts that she makes for her loved ones, she set about filling the tree with gifts for everyone made from her hands and heart. She made wonderful, soft flannel pajama pants for me, dresses and Maggie bags for Eva and Bekah, a quilted travel bag, scarf and an embroidered notebook cover for Laurie, embroidered notebook covers for John and Jacob, a travel bag and scarf for Mary, a quilt for Lupe, a picture frame with several pictures of the family for Dan and Joe, pillowcases for Paul and John... and countless other things for many others. I know I am leaving out many other things she has made for other loved ones, but I hope you see my point. Besides these gifts she spends a uniquely special day with each of the kids preparing their feast. She plans the meal with the kids ahead of time. The day of the meal begins with a lunch with Mama, at a restaurant of their choice, shopping for the meal items and gifts, and coming home and preparing the meal. I participate in only one meal... my own, after which I am exhausted and need a day or two to recover, Nina does this with each member of our family and stays as excited and interested in every precious event.

Nina has the most unique, special way of looking at things. She enjoys and savors the simple blessings God gives us. Her ideal day is being at home, enjoying her family, soaking in the beauty of God's creation around her house, and being able to create something beautiful from the fabrics she collects. But the unique way she has always approached pleasing God is what astounds me most about my wife. Nina has the ability to look at each segment or element of her life and seeks to do that in the way that is most pleasing to God. She does this, I believe, without bias. It doesn't matter if everyone else has always done it a certain way, she will- to the best of her ability- go about trying to do it the way she believes that is most pleasing to God. It shows her special faith and trust in God, and her strength to do what she believes is right- that amazes me.

My sweet bride is able to see with much more clarity than most of us what things are really important and what things are less important. And I love her for that. She inspires me to be the man she deserves. I am her biggest fan, and the most blessed man I know!

Now I'll let my sweet wife describe her feast. I love you, Nines. I love all of you, and I love you to pieces!

Blush blush blush,,,

He forbade me to edit that so it'll stand, though honestly, I do believe he's biased. Which is a good thing, I suppose, in one's spouse.

I fixed a country "feast." I'm not a good cook, but I know how to fill a bunch of hungry folks. I fixed a couple pork roasts in advance and had them in the freezer so all I had to do was pop them in the crock pots on my feast day. (I don't mind being sequestered with one of my sweet children, but I'd rather be with my family than all alone in the kitchen.) I pulled the pork and we had some plain and some BBQ. There were green beans, baked beans and baked potatoes. There were two trays of summer sausage and cheese with crackers for the appetizer and iced tea to drink. Since I had a country theme going, I found these silly rubber hillbilly teeth- you know with missing teeth and rotten teeth. Just some goofy fun for their gifts. I made homemade "cookies and cream" icecream ahead of time, also. The reaction to the icecream was surprising. I just didn't expect such...enthusiasm. But they loved it and that's the end of our seasonal Feast Days! Thanks for joining us!

2011-12-28T13:32:00.001-05:00

Bill's Feast...

How do you describe the love of your life? He's sweet, caring and thoughtful. He appreciates me- I hear him say so quite often. While it's not the point, it's nice for some one to notice your hard work. He's extremely generous- I can't count the times he's emptied his wallet for someone else. He's persistent- he'll work on a broken car door lock for two days- emerging triumphant. He's real- the guys at the prison, where he helps teach a Bible class, like that about him. Bill's very hardworking, coming home stiff and sore, but his family comes before work. He's tough. (Something I don't usually mention, but about 9 years ago a virus attacked the nerve that passes through his skull on the left side of his face. While some of the nerves have grown back, they're not the same and most of his face is paralyzed. If you cover half of his face with your thumb, the face on your left is what he would look like if this hadn't happened. What a great smile! Can you imagine how annoying it is to be unable to do a lot of the little things we take for granted- wink, squint, lick your lips, drink from a glass without a straw, chew without chomping on your cheek, pronounce words clearly that involve your lips, laugh without feeling self-conscious, even frown. I know it bothers him but he never complains. Never. Life has a way of throwing you curveballs and he is so good at making the best of things. He and the older boys have fun joking about it and, on the bright side, he has no wrinkles on the left of his face.) He spoils me, making sure I'm happy. He puts others before himself- he has a servant's heart. He freaks when I clean the fridge- he thinks something is wrong if it isn't packed to the brim and will grab his coat and head to the store. I try to limit that activity- just to soothe him. He's a take charge kind of guy and knows how to getterdone. Bill is wonderful and we love him pieces.

Bill's Feast had a godfather/good fellas theme. He stuffed his cheeks and used his best Marlon Brando voice to invite his guests into the feast- kinda funny as I don't think the younger generation understood the connotation. He decorated the room like one of those clubs where the mafia hangs out with their don. Red table clothes with tapers jammed into bottles. Some decks of cards scattered around. We picked up a Dean Martin greatest hits CD for $5 at Walmart. I'm lovin' that and it really set the mood for his feast. He found these enormous root beer mugs at the dollar store for his gifts and had an assortment of soft drinks and juice- along with tea. He provided Little Cesar's pizza and bread sticks for his meal and then I made a tiramasu for dessert. Never made one before. John was suspicious when I had him make a cup and a half of espresso. All the recipes called for raw eggs. A whole lot of raw eggs. Too any people to take that kind of risk, so I improvised with some vanilla pudding and instead of mascarpone cheese I used just plain cream cheese. And I couldn't find lady finger cookies so I had to use vanilla wafers... see where I'm going with this? I have no idea if there was any resemblance to the real thing, but it was very good all the same. Bill always gives the kids a giant chocolate bar at his feast (he LOVES his chocolate.) It's tradition. And every year he tries to make them think that there won't be any chocolate this year. They never fall for it. He hides them and they have to figure out where they are. This year, they were perched on the blades of the ceiling fans. We had such a good time. Peanutbutter would have tasted great with all my children under the same roof...

2011-12-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

Paul's feast...

Paul is 17 and he makes me smile. Unfortunately, this is one of the few smiling pictures I have ever taken of him so some of you may not recognize him. He has his own unique way of looking at things, but he's very consistent so there's not any mystery. Paul's a deep thinker. He waits a while before he says anything, but he's thought it all out, thoroughly, and his arguments- while unique- are usually based in pure logic. But life is rarely logical, so he has his work cut out for him trying to convince us! Paul just got his driver's permit- (we have the kids wait til they're 17 for their learner's and 18 for their driver's.) At any rate, I have to say kids learning to drive can be stressful on the parents- no surprise there- but Paul learning... a walk in the park. Because he's thought it all out for years in advance, he gets behind the wheel and ... well, let me tell ya... It's been the most fun I've ever had in this process! I mention that the speed limit is 55 in this section of road but that it increases to 60 after the bridge. He simply says that he won't be going above 55 because it isn't fuel efficient. Works for me. (Remind me to leave a little early when we need to get somewhere on time.) When a car passes us he yells, "I'm saving the world here!" When we come to our road, he starts to stategize for the incline coming up a half mile down... building speed in the dip- coasting up the hill- just barely making it over the crest without applying the gas. His fist in the air, "Fuel crisis averted!" So no shenanigans for him and no speeding. How cool is that for Mom's nerves? And, as you can tell, Paul has a great sense of humor. He's in love with a gal named Veronica- a dilapidated Volkswagen bus sitting in a barren field by the road that he's been mooning over. Apparently they're fuel efficient. He loves the kids and is very generous with them. And he has a thing for beverages. Weird, really, but there it is. He doesn't do dessert, but get him a bottle of juice and he is one happy camper. He collects unusual combinations and will visit various stores because of their variety in juices. He's a wonderful guy and we love him to pieces.

His feast theme was "simplicity." And it was. He had pizza rolls for his appetizer, chicken tenders and fettuccine alfredo for his meal. Apple crisp and ice cream for dessert. His table was minimalistic with two farmer's lanterns and that's all. He even used paper plates to make clean-up simple. His gifts were bowls in different colors- so that Eva, the dish washer, would know who hadn't washed their own cereal bowl in the mornings. Very thoughtful. It was relaxing and we only had to return to the store once to buy more food because he was afraid we wouldn't have enough- worried he hadn't thought it out enough. I think the chance of driving might have had an influence in that decision.

2011-12-22T08:59:00.000-05:00

Rebekah's Feast...

Bekah is 10 and she's a real sweetheart. She's a homebody- if the other kids plan a trip to the store, she'll opt to stay home with me. She likes to cook, garden and sew but isn't too fond of housecleaning or laundry. Sounds like her mom. Bekah is very bright and learns easily. Even though she's kind, she won't take any guff. If you sucker punch her, she'll punch you back- even if she has to chase you all over the house to do it. I'm thinking that has something to do with the 6 brothers... Yesterday, she said to John, "You're making it very hard for me not to get mad- and I'm not supposed to get mad." She leans towards being shy and hates it when all heads turn towards her. Then she gets embarrassed and she cries- which gets her more embarrassed... I get lots of hugs from her. She's a delightful girl... and we love her to pieces.

luminary

Bekah had a Chinese feast. That girl loves her Chinese food. I take the kids out to eat before we shop for their feast and when I asked her where she wanted to eat she said, "Chinese, of course!" It didn't matter to her that she was having the same for dinner. Her appetizer was Pocky sticks and onion rings and cheese- and before you think that onion rings aren't Chinese- they have them at the buffet for the gringos. She had rice with broccoli/chicken stir fry and also Mandarin chicken. She left some of the chicken plain because her daddy's a gringo. She had fried biscuits with sugar on them and little ice cream cups for dessert. I just loved what she found for her table decorations. We were looking for some of those round Chinese lanterns, but couldn't find any. Instead, we came across these very pretty acrylic take-out boxes that were frosted and looked so pretty with our red votive candles. We had a little bit of extra tinsel that lying around them. Why don't we decorate the table more often? It adds such a fun touch to the table and could make the everyday seem special. Her gift was chopsticks. A very enjoyable feast.

2011-12-20T10:53:00.001-05:00

Lupe and Mary's Feast...

The great thing about our feasts is that friends and family want to get in on the action. And that's fine by me! Their feast was the day immediately following Jacob's...hmmm, think there's a connection? Lupe is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. She's generous and thoughtful. I've never met a harder worker- I do believe she could keep up with my Dad- only she would go much faster. We think alike on so many things and that's a rarity- I hope she sees that as a compliment. Lupe is attentive to the small children- always making time to listen to them and ask them questions. And of course the children love her to pieces. As we all do. Mary(17y) is a lot like her Mom. Sweet, generous and thoughtful. She's very intelligent and a deep thinker. Mary has a good sense of humor. She's very mature for her age. And very tender hearted. She wears her cowboy boots with pretty dresses and loves animals- she has a blind horse that she barrel races. That would make her very trust-worthy dontcha think? She makes her morning tea with milk instead of water and well... we just love her to pieces.

They made a Mexican feast- imagine that! Wow, was it good. The best I've ever had. They made flour tortillas and meat to put on them. The meat wasn't spicy- but very flavorful- with tiny pieces of potato in it. There was Spanish rice and some kind of chipotle shrimp- which was amazing! That was very spicy. Her pico was incredible- with avocado. And all the other fixin's. And someone else did the cooking! How cool is that? It was a GREAT feast!

2011-12-19T16:48:00.000-05:00

Jacob's feast...

Jacob is 18 and he's still hanging around at home. Not that he's very happy about it, but that's just how things are working out for him, so far. Do you remember how you felt when you were 18 and ready to get on with your life? I'm so glad that I'm past that. He's doing really well with trying to be patient and waiting on the Lord. Contrary to what the shirt may say, he does have a job and a car- just no money and he's not in a band. Jacob has great social skills. He's personable and makes people feel like family. He's been known to mooch meals off some of the older ladies at church- which they just love. He's usually not so subtle in the asking department, "Some of your shepherd's pie would taste real good on, say, Monday." Something very satisfying about cooking for an appreciative and hungry young man. And he'll pay them back with some yard work or moving something heavy. If I've been busy for more than a few days, he'll stop me and say, "Mom, it's been awhile since you've talked with me." Capable of saying what he's thinking. Jacob's a very good thinker- quick. After Bible study, he'll slide in next to me on the pew and say, "and what about... and did you think... and doesn't that sound like..." He's always been very creative. He's been collecting items for his own forge. An anvil is sitting around here, somewhere. He's been hiring the small ones to clean out a corner of the barn to set up shop. Jacob's an incredibly dear young man... and we love him to pieces.

Jacob has always been a huge fan of red meat. I don't think that in all the years we've been celebrating our feasts that he has ever served anything but red meat. What a guy! He made cheese steak sandwiches and seasoned fries. His flank steak was cooked to perfection- melted in your mouth. (He used to have a crush on Rachel Ray. He was pretty disgusted when she got married. But she certainly scored points with him on her directions for cooking the steak. His appetizer was a really pretty fruit salad. Jacob's gifts were plastic candy canes that were filled with different candies- chocolates, Skittles, Runts, Gobstoppers and Sixlets. Jacob has always had a phenomenal sweet tooth. There was coffee cake for dessert and Jones Soda to drink. The table was gorgeous with fresh cut pine, white twinkle lights, and hurricane lamps. Shiniest crystal I ever saw in this house. He had little red bead wreaths with gingham bows and fresh red and green apples nestled in the pine. We had a lovely evening.

pucker up, baby!

2011-12-13T11:52:00.001-05:00

Wearing Grandmother's jammies

the real Abraham...

Abe's Feast...

Abraham is 8 years old and has a very..... well... let's just say exuberant personality. Most 8 year old boys have lots of energy and he's no exception. He wiggles and squirms in school and struggles to stay on task. Abe amazes me in his willingness to share. If he has a special treat and someone asks him for a bite, he never hesitates in saying, 'OK!" and gives a very generous portion. He just isn't stingy. He has an unusually varied vocabulary which, no doubt, comes from having 7 older siblings. Just now I heard him use the word "equivalent" in it's proper context. Abe has a very cheerful nature. When we were shopping for his feast, I became discouraged and frustrated because, after choosing just the right items, their cash register crashed and I couldn't buy them. I had to call Will for moral support. I should have just turned to Abe and said, "What do you think?" While I was dialing the phone, he says, "Look at it this way- you made your kid happy!" I'd taken him to lunch and what turned out to be a window shopping expedition and he was happy. Wasn't that the whole point? He's extremely easy to please. Abe is also very affectionate and I can't leave the house without letting him know so he can get his hug in. He never takes a nap or goes to bed without a hug and a kiss. He's a sweet kid and we love him to pieces.

the late Santa

A Christmas Crime Scene. That's the theme Abraham choose for his feast. I don't know how... or why... but that's what it was. It all came together very easily, oddly enough. His decorations... Well, he wanted to make a masking tape outline of Santa. Cracked me up when he said he didn't know where he could get a Santa body to trace. He did just fine without the body, dontcha think? Then he scattered around some spent shotgun shells- complete with their own numbered card markers. There were some evidence bags- a lollipop, a tuft of deer fur, and a list of naughty kids- one name was half-torn off and the remaining portion looked suspiciously like Jacob's. The table decorations was a toy police set he picked up from the dollar store. Abe made his own police line tape and the crime scene was set.

His gifts were little mini- Wooley Willys. You know, those heads that you create hair on with metal shaving and a magnet. Those were the "mugshots." His appetizer was soft pretzels. The meal was stake-out food. Hamburgers and chili-dogs, individually wrapped so they look like fast food. With grape pop in cans. The dessert was, of course, Jack's donuts. My apologies to police officers everywhere- but there's a stereotype for a reason, right? We all had a really fun time. The kids had to try out the floor for their own crime scenes. Dropping like flies, they were.

shot

poisoned

the fetal position is rare but it happens

2011-12-10T18:51:00.001-05:00

Always smilin'

John's Feast...

This is John and he's 15 years old going on... I'd say about... 5. He's just such a big kid. Literally and figuratively. He's the tallest in the family, so far. The fact that he weighed nearly 11 pounds and was 23" long at birth shoulda clued us in. As the fifth son, he doesn't let anyone else tell, intimidate, imply or force him into being someone he's not. John is the epitome of practicality and doesn't even consider what anyone else might think of his quirky ways. If it works, it works and that's the end of it. What little sense of decorum he has, he overcomes quite easily. He's confident. John's extremely easy to please and excite. He's the resident inventor and all-around visionary. I'm thinking that he needs to get busy with that one brilliant invention that's gonna support us for the rest of our days... he made a Leiden jar the other day. What's that? Well, it collects and stores stray static and then you can release it with a pretty sizable electrical jolt. Nothing heart stopping- might should avoid it if ya have a pacemaker. His materials for the project were a sour cream container, some foil and tape with a couple pieces of wire. Funny thing about John... there's really nothing he considers outside his ability to make. I think that's where the "5 years old" part comes in. A whole lot of times it doesn't turn out as he plans... but he doesn't seem to get discouraged. Just revamps the plan or trashes the idea as too much trouble or not enough raw material. A really fun guy... and we love him to pieces.

objects in picture are every bit as big as they appear

John prepared a very nice feast. For an appetizer, he had chocolate stuffed croissants and honey roasted peanuts. There was homemade hot cocoa- with french vanilla marshmallows- and an assortment of pop for his drinks. The main meal was poppy seed chicken and these honkin' huge rolls. With John, bigger is always better. He used an entire 5lbs of flour in those rolls. He served them with cinnamon butter. He had candy bar cake for dessert but, oddly enough, no one had any...wonder why? That's OK, they all agreed the cake made a mighty fine breakfast! His gifts were matchbox cars- the classic type, and the girls got little sun catchers they could paint themselves. His table was decorated very tastefully with fresh pine and candles. Kinda different from last year's "Alien Invasion" theme... Maybe he's more like 15 than 5 after all...

2011-12-07T16:58:00.000-05:00

Tip your head sideways... Sorry, but it was too cute not to share.

2011-12-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

Mundane Monday...

Not exactly. I've been busy. In a good way.

Eva just finished her first hunting season. 12 years old is the traditional age. She didn't get a deer, but I know she enjoyed her daddy time. The season is over and there's meat in the freezer. Will harvested a roadkill, last night. Now, don't shudder! If it's fresh, it's perfectly kosher and it would be such a waste of it's life- and death- to lay there by the side of the road until... well, then we can shudder.

Now it's time to box up the hunting supplies so that my guestroom doesn't look like a camouflage monster has moved in.

the infamous ladder

'Tis the season to be jolly! Love this time of year! Always have. I made some curtains for my window over the kitchen sink. With the serger that the-man-who-loves-me got me for my birthday, last summer, it only took me about 20 minutes. How's that? The fabric was free, so it's a win-win. Aren't they merry? Yeah, there are dishes in the drainer, and dishes on the sideboard... what did you expect? It is what it is, my friend. I'm here to say, we all have our parts to play. I'm here to make you feel better about your so-called mess. I'm pretty sure that there's only a 5 minute window, each day, where there aren't dishes in the sink. I guess I could have made the effort to pick up a little... but how would that make you feel better? And it's all about making you feel better.

Bought some "old fashioned' candy the other day. I'm looking at the box and I'm looking at the bag... tryin' the find some common ground. Maybe that one red and green striped one- which happens to be made in Columbia. Says right there on the box, red and green striped candy made in Columbia. the rest are made in the USA. OK, that's a mystery in and of itself. I just can't figure that one. Wonder what that conversation sounded like? But what a disappointment the candy was. My Grandma used to have a dish of candy out at Christmas time and I was all hopeful this would be a lot like that. Ya know, but not really. It fell way short. So I'll continue to search.

This is a toilet seat cover- complete with floor mat. I...I... I just don't know what to say about that one...

2011-12-02T12:04:00.000-05:00

Feast Days!!!

The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived. How thrilling! For those of you who may not be familiar with our feast day tradition...

Quite a few years ago we decided that the season was filled with too much "Give me, Give me!" So we came up with the Feast Days as a way to encourage the "Serve you, serve you!" that needs to be in all our hearts. We drew upon the example of Queen Ester and how, by serving meals to her King and also her enemy, she changed the fate of an entire nation.

At the end of each November, the children draw a number from a bowl to determine the order of their feast- we have about two feasts per week leading up to Christmas. Each child meets with me, individually, and we secretly plan a special meal to serve to the family. They give special attention in choosing foods they know the other children love. On the day prior to their feast, the two of us go out for lunch together and then shop for their feast ingredients. They choose simple, inexpensive gifts and decorations- spending no more than $12, usually. Everything is hidden and, on their big day, the kitchen and dining room is curtained off and the cooking and decorating begins. (The children tend to choose a theme for their feast to simplify the meal planning and the decorating.) When all is ready, they invite their guests into the feast with great ceremony. Will reads some scripture and after a prayer, the child goes around serving each person the meal. Clean-up is their responsibility, also. It's a real treat for all of us. So without more ado...

Eva's feast...

My, how she's grown! Eva is 12 years old. I find describing the children, as they get older, more of a challenge. They get more complex, you know? Or maybe I just notice more of their complexities. Eva has a simple way about her. What you see is pretty much who she is. She's tends to be direct- in the most kind way. Some people are brutal at this, but it's not in her heart. Eva is easy to please and flexible. She has a very strong sense of what's right and wrong- much to her younger sister's annoyance. She's extremely friendly and, as with all our children, has an incredible imagination. You should hear the stories she and Bekah make up! They spend hours curled up in their bed concocting the most amazing story lines- full of twists and turns and some humor thrown in- "just to break the mood." Eva is a happy worker and never complains or pouts. Thoughtful of others and their feelings. A real joy to us and we love her to pieces.

rockin' out

Her feast had a rock theme. At first, I thought she meant "rock" as mineral, but no, she meant rock as in rock stars and all that. She wanted to surprise the kids and do something they wouldn't expect her to do. She accomplished that! She hung CD's from the ceiling and put laser-shot Mylar on the table- along with tinsel and some blue lights- it looks fantastic, doesn't it? Isn't she just hamming it up? (Her oldest brother, Joe, is laughing as he's looking at this picture, I'm sure. Dan is rolling his eyes, but grinning- we so wish they could be here!) She had some music jamming nice and loud when she invited her guests in. She found sunglasses at the dollar store as her gifts and the kids all agreed to pose for a picture- rock star style. There were grapefruit halves for the appetizer- pre-sectioned. She had buffalo wings, boneless bbq bites, and potato wedges for her main meal. Sparkling grape juice was her beverage and the dessert was chocolate cupcakes with mohawks in multicolored icing. As usual, everyone was smiling as they rolled away from the table. Thank you Eva!

2011-11-29T16:49:00.000-05:00

My Mundane Monday...

Shew! I've been parked in the quilting room for two solid days. I think I needed that. The past two weeks have been kinda busy and hectic with some stress thrown in. It's nice to have some down time.

Put a couple borders on these two wallhangings- measuring about 38" each. Tried to keep it simple- my kind of borders. (I snagged a picture off one of my fellow quilt bloggers for the inspiration for the one with the leaf border- when I finished it and wanted to give the original quilter credit- I couldn't find the blog. I feel so bad about that! She posted her wallhanging sometime in October, I think. It was orange- no doubt that got my attention- sound familiar to anyone? If I'm plagiarizing your work, feel free to give me a shout-out! They say imitation is the sincerest for of flattery, right?)

Got this checkerboard border on before bed. Got me kinda riled up. If you don't quilt, you can just skip down to the next paragraph 'cause this is gonna get ugly. I've noticed a trend with quilt patterns, lately. When it's time to put on borders, there's this gaping black hole in the instructions and it goes something like this: "Measure across the middle of the quilt and cut the borders to fit. Sew on borders." This is my cue to start growling. I bought a pattern so that I don't have to do the measuring- that's your job as the quilt designer. You don't think so? OK, that might work for a solid border. Now it's time for the pieced border. The length of the border necessitates the size of the quilt be of the same length. There's no room for some vague measurement here. Yeah, I could get out my calculator and figure in the size of each sub-unit in the border, subtracting the seam allowances and come up with the exact measurement that the side of the quilt center needs to be in order for the border to fit... but I DON"T WANT TO!! That's why I bought a pattern! Honestly, I can't figure out why a pattern would apply this method when it's time to add a border- laziness, sloppiness or a lack of calculators in their sewing room. You can see that I do have a calculator and I do know how to use one. I'm just irritated that I had to. There was a third border in the pattern for this quilt- but at this point, I was stubbornly holding my breath- out of sheer orneriness, stamping my foot and refusing to budge one more inch.

Proof positive that fleece jackets and sewing rooms are not compatible! Well, I've never aspired to be a fashion plate, so I'll continue to collect threads. After three days of constant high winds and rain, I needed a little extra warmth. But look! Something new in the weather!

I think it's finally sinking in...winter is here. And I like it.

John doing his grandfather impersonation- fixing things and wearing my reading glasses! He wasn't too happy about my taking his picture, but it was just soooo Grandfather!

While doing a little decorating, I beaned myself on the head with a hammer. I set my hammer down on the top to the highest rung on the ladder- climbed down to survey my handiwork, promptly forgot about the precarious position of said hammer and moved the ladder... kerthump! I saw brown. Why? I have no idea- there were no stars or fireworks. Just brown- along with a lot of echoing, 'cause I must not have a brain to have done something that stupid. I guess the kids heard the crash of the hammer landing on the floor and the consequent groaning. Rushing to investigate, John commented on the fact that there's a reason for the caution about placing items on the top of the ladder- printed right there on the ladder! In two languages. Split my noggin' open pretty good. Figure I had it coming. Left a couple goose-eggs, a crashing headache- no pun intended, and a very small puddle of blood, but all seems to be fine, today.

Got some fun things planned for my evening to compensate for the scab growing on my head. Just some more sewing, but it makes my heart go pitty-pat. Have fun and if you plan to use a ladder for your holiday decorating- do be careful.

2011-11-26T12:46:00.001-05:00

Told ya I could do it!

And it's only 12:30. That big queen size Hawaiian one was a real wrestling match- might need some lineament on my shoulders, but I prevailed as champion. The other two were a breeze. I guess I was in the mood- too bad I don't have more to bind, 'cause it feels mighty good to have these done. Well, I do have one- bias binding and by hand... think that can wait for another day.

2011-11-26T08:58:00.002-05:00

Joe- the handy man. Fixed my leaky fridge, cleaned out the garage and the cellar and installed a sump pump. Nothing like an older brother to "motivate" the younger ones

Laurie- aka the Pied Piper

Daniel- always a joy to have at home- even tried some Black Friday shopping out of love for his Dad- don't think that will be happening again is his lifetime

loved ones...

Had all of the children under our roof sometime during the past couple of weeks. Not simultaneously, but that's OK- hoping to catch them all at the dinner table late next month.

Gonna get three quilts bound, today. Oh yes I am! Our nephew and niece called Thanksgiving day with the very happy news that they are expecting a baby in July. I was playing around with quilting a baby quilt- my Dad tweaked the quilting machine during his visit. Figure the new baby should get that quilt. Just an everyday kind of one. The other two are seasonal and it would be awfully nice to finish those out for this season instead of next year's. So I'm off!

2011-11-25T16:30:00.001-05:00

Feelin' the stripes...

I'm looking forward to working with these stripes. Lots of hot pink, acid green and bright turquoise. (If "You'll know a leopard by it's spots" will you "...know a tiger by it's stripes?" And isn't that saying you'll know someone by how he looks instead of by how he acts and isn't that unfair to said leopard or tiger? But I suppose it's an easy way to differentiate between a leopard and a tiger... Anyway...) There's a pattern in that calender Will got me that would work great with these. Mix 'em with some hand-dyeds and maybe throw in a couple polka dots. yeah, that'll work.

Dilemma...

"Labyrinth" Calico Carriage Quilt Designs by Debbie Maddy

Gotta an issue with this quilt. Like the design. I just used fabrics from my stash. Now, you know I'm not the biggest fan of borders- but don't you think this is all a bit much? There are "only" three borders on the sides- (the ones on the outside edge) two small and one wide. I'm OK with that. But you'll notice that the top and bottom have an additional two borders... the center is square so they needed to make it rectangle shaped... I'm just not convinced that it needs to be 20" longer than it is wide. It finishes out at 90"x110." Doesn't that seem too long? What think ye? I'm pondering the idea of removing about half of the brown upper and lower border... do you think that would look too cheesy? That's a lot of stripes... If I had it to do over- and I will make this pattern again- I'll just change the size of the three outer borders at the top and bottom of the quilt- keeping it more simple. The pattern didn't have a picture of the queen size quilt or else I would have said, "I don't think so."

And considering how much I just love and adore putting on borders I'm so looking forward to working on changing these. sigh

2011-11-24T08:34:00.002-05:00

For The Beauty Of The Earth

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T14:25:00.000-05:00

Bekah's brights

Eva's softer colors

Ready? Get set... GO!!

Gift-giving coming up and I'm trying to do more sewing, this year. Times are... well, they are blessed, indeed, but not a lot left over for frivolous frivolity.

Isn't that little bag pattern adorable? (Nellie's Needle, The Maggie Bag) I found it a while back, but hadn't made the time to sew them up. I picked out fabrics from the stash and I think that they suit the girls perfectly. They're gonna love them, I know! The black and bright kitty print has Bekah's name all over it, while the softer colors are more Eva's style. The pattern looks simple- no snaps or zippers or anything. And I think my serger will come in handy. The only problem is finding time to sew when they aren't underfoot. A challenge to be sure. Might have to lock the quilting room door and post a sign about some top-secret machinations goin' on.

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I still haven't made up the menu. I have a nebulous idea of what we'll be having, but I need to pound out a list. The kids all fix one dish, each, and I've made some pies- 4 pumpkin and 1 apple. Grandmother made a fresh apple cake. There's a turkey thawing. Toast in a bowl for dressing. Eva already made the cranberry salad. Paul's called dibs for making the green beans. (And to set the record straight, no- absolutely no- green bean casserole in my house. Seems like a perfectly awful waste of a green bean- cream of mushroom soup? Really? blech!) Grandfather brought the creamed corn and he also made enough chex mix and caramel popcorn to feed us for days. (I had chex mix for breakfast- figured it was made out of cereal, after all.) Mashed potatoes, gravy- I make good gravy, squash casserole and rolls... that should do it. All very traditional. No need to mess with tradition- it's only once a year. Now see? You helped me with the list. I'm well within the parameters of having a successful day of cooking.

2011-11-22T16:40:00.002-05:00

Success!

Jacob(18y) had a good day in the woods.

2011-11-15T16:17:00.002-05:00

Yellow was her favorite color

775th post...

How about that?

My sweet William's mother slipped off the corruptable for the incorruptable, today. Death can be a long, slow, sticky ordeal. But she's free now. Free to be the vivacious person she was in years' past. She was a godly woman. A devoted daughter, faithful wife, loving mother, doting grandmother, steadfast friend, a talented artist and zealous servant of Christ. Will and I sat vigil these past two days and, as with most men, it was difficult for him to sit... with nothing to be done. He read Phillippians and the gospel of John to her- she always loved it when he would read to her. He sang to her. He reassured her that it was alright, telling her often that he loved her, and that he was right there with her. How difficult to watch the man you love loose something so precious to him. He wept over her... and yet, while he felt such loss, he would smile and state loudly- as only he can- how wonderful she must be feeling at this very moment. Now, on to all the stupid little details that need attending to. Finally, something for him to do. His sister is flying in tonight and I'm sure she will work out all the artistic nuances and leave him to the practical. And maybe some sleep.

2011-11-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

Middle border to piece yet

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

Felt real good to spend the morning sewing. Been awhile. Too long, really. And yes, I've other things I should be doing- who doesn't? But I'm feelin' pretty good about not starting anything new but working on something that had already been stashed away for quite some time. All I did was sew the blocks together and cut some strips for an inner border. A modest accomplishment. Sometimes you need a morning like that. The sun was even shining for me. So I did my little bit, left a note for myself and boxed it back up. Might have to reward myself with starting something new... ya never know.

2011-11-11T14:14:00.002-05:00

Abe's color-coded my pins- I feel guilty if I don't put them back in the proper place.

Changin' Tunes...

Seeing how this is the month of special thanksgiving, I've decided to suspend my whining. Never fear, I'm keeping a list for future reference. But in the spirit of the season, I'd like to spend some time being thankful. A thankful heart is a happy heart and I've got plenty to be thankful for. Mind you, this week's thanksgivings might could double as a whine... old habits die hard and all that.

My house is scattered with the evidence of my very creative children. Every nook and cranny spills over with their imaginative activities. They make me smile and it's nice to see that they aren't being stagnant little lumps of mashed couch potatoes. And I won't say it, but you can see where this might have it's drawbacks. I won't say it, no I won't. But a picture paints a thousand words so let the evidence speak for itself.

Eva's adorable homemade doll- on top of a quilt I'm gonna get to, next.

Joe's metal sculpture- I can't find the right way to display it... so it sits on Grandma's hutch..

One of John's mysterious inventions- in the cd collection.

One of Jacob's knives- tucked in with my wall quilts.

Bekah's collage- how cool is that? On my design wall.

John's efforts in making notebook covers- scattered over his sewing desk.

Eva's artwork- on my quilting room desk.

A collection of Abe's paper airplanes- in the walkway.

But blessings all the same and I am very thankful for the frequent reminders of these people who are so very precious to me. I'd enjoy hearing about one of your "everyday" blessings.

2011-11-08T19:47:00.000-05:00

Donna Dewberry meets a windowpane. Mom, I think you could do that.

My Mundane Monday...

Been having a good time all around. I'm sure there must have been some less than pleasant moments... I just can't think what they were right now. No problem with that!

Spent Monday with Sandy- and Janet. Janet fixed us breakfast. I can't remember the last time I sat down to a breakfast that someone else cooked. How cool was that? Everything tastes better when someone else cooks! Sandy and I trimmed the two quilts that I quilted up for clients. It's amazing how much easier that chore is with an extra set of hands. We then decided to get into a completely pointless project. A smallish wallhanging. Just 'cause we liked the pattern. Or, rather, we liked the picture of the pattern. There was no pattern. But it was all just HST and a few squares so how hard could it be? Sandy was being a pill and insisted that I pick out the fabric- from her stash. She has an extensive stash and quantity of fabric wasn't the issue. I just seemed to be blocked. I dithered and finally settled on two colorways. I got mine pieced and decided that, meh, it left me cold. Sandy then had a good laugh 'cause she knew that the set I had chosen to sew was more suited to her tastes- and I had just sewn hers for her. The other set was mysteriously less sewn. Could that have been part of the plan? So we switched and I'm playing with getting mine together. I don't know what I was thinking- pink? Really? I have two pieces of pink in my stash and I'm purt' near sure they came from Sandy- who does a whole lot of pink. This is the one that was supposed to be hers but became mine after I sewed hers... well, yeah, it's confusing. Suffice to say, I got one I like and she got one she likes. But I am missing four yellow blocks...

Well, the second time sewing the same pattern did come a little easier...

Got my hair revamped, today. Must be a drastic change as the kids keep staring and John(15y) has threatened to tie me up and interrogate me as to the location of his mother. I didn't know he cared. Just for fun, I keep giving him the sneaky evil eye. I couldn't really afford it, but then I remembered that I had some money in my wallet for an emergency. Emergencies are subjective. And by shopping at the thrift store, I even had enough money left over to buy some new, cheery, clothes. Who says you have to wear dull colors just because it's winter? And honestly, where is winter? I do believe it got into the mid 70's today. Bizarre weather for this time of year. So between the new hair and new clothes... maybe the kids are right and I'm a secret agent infiltrating their home. I just don't see the point in that...

They don't make 'em like that anymore... Paul in his element

I'm sure there's more mundane news, but it's all a blur. Not a bad thing, I'm thinkin'. Have a great week! ~nines

2011-11-05T17:02:00.003-04:00

Friday Favorites....

Just snagging a minute in between kitchen time. Company for lunch, dinner and another lunch- all in two days. Love it, but the ole dogs are barkin'- time to sit- but only for a minute! Yes, I'm feeling 100% better, so thanks for asking.

The Pilot Frixion pen. This is my favorite pick for the week. I'm confident that it'll be one of your favorites, too. If you sew or quilt, this little product must find it's place into your box of tools. I love mine!! This pen isn't advertized as a sewing notion- but a pen that's erasable with the little rubber tip at the end. Apparently, it creates friction on the paper and erases the pen. But what is friction? You're so smart! Yep, it's heat. Draw all you want on fabric and just glide over it with your iron. Completely disappears. And I mean completely. No trace, no shadow, no nothin'!! way cool.

You don't have to press and scrub with the iron, either. Think about it, if a little friction from a rubber tip makes it dissappear, just how amazing an iron would work. (I haven't tried it but I can almost gaurantee that the clothes dryer would work, as well.) Can you imagine the applications? Quilting lines, embroidery lines, applique tracing, placement marks, any marks on fabric that you don't want to be permanant.

Wanna know another reason I love mine? You can pick up a package of three- in different colors- for just about $5 at Target. (red, blue, black) They come in other colors, also- different set. But what a great deal. You might think that it doesn't take much to make me happy, but these little pens pack a lotta bang for the buck.

2011-11-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

No Whining Wednesday...

Just in case you haven't figured that out. I caught some kind of bug and I haven't been feelin' so hot. And whining about that would be redundant, eh?

artwork by Bekah "the weeping princess."

2011-11-02T09:56:00.003-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

I'm a little late on this post. I tend to write in the late morning as I'm really not a morning person. Mind you, I still get up and move around like I'm actually doing something. But the tasks tend to be the mindless ones. Laundry, string piecing, picking up the house, getting a head start on dinner. But yesterday, I was busy later on in the day and didn't have time to blog. So this morning I'll attempt to type and think at the same time. No doubt it's a dubious business.

Busy doing what? I finished painting my living room. I love my 10' ceilings, but painting them... wow, what a bother! Even with the extension pole on the roller, it's heads up and arms over head. The cutting-in requires a 100 times up and down a tall ladder. There are two beams across the ceiling so that makes for a lot of cutting-in. It got to the point where it became a "you get the idea" kind of paint job. The girls helped me cut-in the wall paint along the lower parts of the wall while, again, I was up and down the ladder on the upper parts. With a total of 8 windows and doors in that one room...yick. But I'm done. I'll need to get the furniture back in and then have some fun playing with new things on the wall. (Wish I could eliminate the deer heads. But the guys insist and I'm outnumbered. I don't mind them too much and you do eventually get used to them, but they sure can collect dust.) I took the little ones out for the yearly candy gathering and walked about three miles through two of the nearest communities. So worth it as I snagged two homemade caramel popcorn balls from that man on Main St. It's a tradition, but he only made 200 this year instead of his usual 300. The best treat ever. All this to say, that between the ladder climbing, the above-the-head paint rolling and the three miles hiking... the discomfort is equally distributed on both the lower and upper parts of my body.

kinda yellowy green with a pale blue ceiling.

A friend set Abe up with a bow and arrows just his size. That is one happy camper. He's out there as often as his sore fingers will allow and he's become quite good. The guys have shot their deer dummy to smithereens.

the headless wonder

The weather has been brisk and gorgeous. Sunny days and no wind to make it too uncomfortable. The smell of woodsmoke and drying leaves in the air. I love this time of year. My refusal to turn on the heat before Thanksgiving has the kids wearing their hoodies all day, but it'll thicken our blood and get us prepared for the winter's cold. That's my theory. Do your kids make faces out of their veggie soup and crackers? I put some pasta in it (not my favorite) in an effort to get Paul to eat some- made the face-making even more fun.

Lunch time with the "little ones"

smile!

Pulled out my 301 and had forgotten how much I loved it. Such a great sewing machine. I love my others, but this is my absolute favorite. If you ever have a chance to pick up one, you won't regret it. Powerful, fast and accurate. Last week, Will got me a quilt calendar for the coming year- he's been sick by the way. (That's why I've been able to paint all day and sew some late in the evenings. He's rather like Hezekiah when he's sick- face to the wall and all that.) The calendar has 12 patterns by Debby Kratovil- one to go with each month's picture. I've already started January's. I had some bright batik FQs and thought they would make someone a cheery quilt. I'll need to buy some border fabric.

Singer 301

hmm... I'm not sure if it's bright enough...

That's the majority of going-ons in this neck of the woods. Hope to be talking at ya in a couple days! ~nines

2011-10-29T10:10:00.003-04:00

my favorite because it marks ours

Friday Favorites...

I have a strange fascination for property line markers. Yeah, bizarre, I know. But I love driving down the county roads and noticing the variety in them. Different shapes of concrete and steel. How long have they been standing there? How did they get them in just the right place? Most of them stand all by their lonesome.

This one is massive- 2' wide and 2' deep and almost 3' tall.

scrub bushes usually grow along property lines- 'cause it ain't mine and it ain't yourn

A whole lot of them are tangled in old fencing and fence posts. Most aren't on corners- the road is enough of a marker- but some are.

  Some of the markers are getting swallowed up by suburbia. Used to be farmland.

Just a little peice of history standing as witness next to a field of corn, wheat, or soybeans.  And I just plain like 'em.

Which brings you to a tutorial on County Roads. No, I didn't leave an "R" out of that word. County Roads are, by definition, a country road. Ever flown over the midwest? Wonder how they got their fields so straight and in perfect grids? Here's how. Indiana roads, wherever possible, are set up on a grid. Easy to do on flat land. Alot of the midwest uses the same system.  At first, the names of these roads may appear to be rather lacking in imagination, but once you understand the methodology behind it, I think you will agree that it is all very practical- at least to the natives. And we tend to love our practicality. First we start with the county courthouse.  Here's ours. This becomes the center of our county road system.

Next, the roads are set up in relationship to the courthouse. And named accordingly. If you live on 250 County Road (CR) North (N) then you live on the road that is 2 1/2 miles north of the courthouse. Simple, huh? But that doesn't tell you exactly where on 250N- which is miles and miles wide. So then you are designated a number based on how far east or west you live from the courthouse. Your address might read 638E CR 250N. You live on 250N and a scootch over 6 miles east. So you'd travel north on 600E then turn west onto 250N and your house is coming up. Ain't that hysterical?? No one around here says left or right- just north, south, east, or west. So usually we just leave out the directions- 'cause, let's face it, that's a whole lotta Norths, Souths, Easts and Wests. Here's my address and you're on your own. Oh, and unless that seems just way to simple... Better make sure you know what county they live in 'cause once you pass that line, all the roads change names according to the position of their courthouse!  I was driving on 700 S and all of a sudden I'm on 200N. Don't worry, there's a sign for leaving and entering counties. And now ya know where their courthouse is, just in case ya might need some kind of legal document. The conditions of the roads vary from county to county- I usually notice this more than the signs.

grid system of roads in relationship to the courthouse

intersection of county roads

Better be alert to these signs or you might end up in Kansas

Catch ya on the flip side!

2011-10-27T12:31:00.001-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

Let's cut to the chase- Televisions in restaurants. Bugs the snot out of me.

I'm wondering how this came to be such a common place thing. 'Cause that's what I do: I wonder about things. Did someone say, "Wow! I just don't think that we have enough noise and distractions in our lives.  I know! Let's put 5 TVs in every restaurant! Brilliant!"

And I hate to sound sexist, but you know it was a man. It's every woman's worst nightmare. Sitting across from her guy but his eyes are glazed over and he's looking straight through her. He can't help himself...must watch TV...must watch TV... to which I can only say with the utmost vigor- Walk away from the TV!!! For cryin' out loud! We women like to socialize- that's why we're going out to lunch.  Guys probably think we're hungry. Eyes rolling. We talk, we visit, we share. I don't need the TV blaring in competition. And what about those restaurants that mute their TVs? Worse! 'Cause now the guy has to read the subtitles which takes even more of his attention away from what's important- it's all about me, ya know.

And are TVs in restaurants such a great pull for business? Still wondering about things. What, do people actually say, "Hey, let's do lunch. How about Joe Shmoe's? Nah, they don't have a TV." Are you kidding me?

Could the restaurant managers be concerned that their employees might get bored during slow times? Just wondering.  I can't imagine. And as you can probably tell, I can imagine alot. Maybe they have the wrong personnel if they can't find something to do.

OK, maybe they're catering to the lonely diner. Hey, if I want that amazing garlic jalepeno tilapia with angel hair pasta in a lemon butter sauce(Johnny Corinno's) I'm not going to skip out just because I'll have to dine alone. I think that most people that are confident enough to eat alone don't need the crutch of looking like they're not alone because they're watching TV. I'm thinking that nobody's fooled. And, trust me, between the other diners and the waiters, there's plenty to entertain even if you're sitting by yourself.

I must say that there was one TV in a public place that I did think was a great idea. Truly inspired. The waiting room in an ER. How cool was that? And they even had the imagination to turn the channel away from sports and the latest breaking news about some grasshopper who saved a small child from certain death- you think I'm making this stuff up? OK, I am, but you know there's probably just such an inane story out there. They had comedy movies running.  I never saw so many smiling faces in the ER. Let's face it, no one is sitting in that waiting room for social reasons. You don't want to talk. You just want the time to go by faster. You actually want to be distracted. Mission accomplished. Amen and great job.

But leave the TV's out of the restaurants!

Alien invasion brought to you by Abe.

2011-10-25T19:37:00.000-04:00

My Mundane Monday...
Had a lovely week, how about you? No real rush to finish anything or get somewhere or any of that stuff that stresses a body. It's all good. A little rain, a little sunshine.

John, Eva and Jacob's friend, Mary, all passed their hunter's education course. John(15y) made a 99, Eva(12y) a 92, and Mary(17y) a 100! I'm real proud of all of them. Here's Jacob, Mary, Eva, William, and Abe after some target practice. Deer season is coming up and meat in the freezer would be a good thing.

.

Did a "little bit" of paper peicing. This is a "Little Bits" pattern. Enjoyed it. Made it from hand dyed fabric by Darcie, Sarah, and Sandy and myself. Tissue paper really is easier to paper peice than copy paper. Maybe I'll get it quilted in time for next Halloween. No rush.

The children are learning the themes to all the books of the Bible- and I along with them. They're working on them during bible class on Sunday, but we've been spending some extra time on them here at home. After about 17 books, things can get a little blurry so the girls and I came up with this little chart- all books of the Old Testament on the pumpkins and their themes on the leaves. We stir up the leaves and then we'll try to sort them out- they attach with little bits of velcro. We also play a hide and seek game with the themes- seeing how fast we can find them and get them on the chart. How wonderful it'll be to know the theme of each book in the Bible! "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. If anyone would like the list, I'd be glad to email it to you.

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Finally, I had some fun playing with postcards. Sandy keeps her excess bobbin unwindings for me and I entomb them on a postcard. I just layer them in between the backing fabric and a peice of netting. I stitch around the edges and a little across the top to hold everything in place. The interesting thing about the netting is that it melts a tad when you iron the postcard top to the stabilizer- must use parchment paper. But that melting actually holds the thread in place. Cool, huh? I discovered that all on my lonesome. I'm so addicted to these little projects. With quilting, it may be weeks, months or even years until a project is finished. Postcards offer a little instant gratification.

I'm gonna scoot along. I'm working my way up to a good whine for later in the week. See ya then!
~nines

2011-10-22T15:19:00.002-04:00

Happy Fall Y'all!

Random post. Finished the table runner I was making for a friend. Very pleased with how it turned out. I seem to make quite a few table runners. Small projects that don't take up a lot of time or fabric but brighten up the room. Uses up those scraps of batting. It's also nice to try out new techniques and such on them. Also a nice hostess gift. An all around pleasant activity for an afternoon. Catch ya on the flip side. ~nines

Lindah won the drawing for the primitive sampler blocks. Shoot me you snail mail addy to my email and we'll get the ball rolling! congratulations!

2011-10-18T10:42:00.002-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

Feeding frenzy!!! Pictures galore. Thought I might should show some restraint and post just a few at a time, but where would be the fun in that? It's not like I won't be taking more. I did hold back two for my Friday Favorites post. Let's dive in, shall we?

Fall has arrived. We had one day of leaves for the children. The winds clear them away in short order. Don't even own a rake. God has provided one. You'll notice Abe's goofy face- that's why I always use pictures of him as my Wednesday Whine- no need to pose him. He just has a way of being a doofus.

Been busy making bee blankets. I just love saying that. "So Nines, what have you been up to?" "Oh, I've been making bee blankets." Making them is the easy part- tucking them in...now that's the challenge. Our friend, Malcolm, keeps bees and he wanted some blankets for his hives- helps keep the moisture out in winter and keeps them from getting stressed when you open the box- no popping. Something like that. They had to be made exactly the right size- down to the 1/8th of an inch. My new serger worked lovely for the task.

Dawn and night skies. When the sun rises this window covering glows. Love that. Makes me smile when I get up. It covers the window in the door that leads to my porch- directly across from my bed. The moon was showing off the other night- lighting up the clouds around it.

Mending jeans...sigh. Not my favorite thing to do. Son John is a monkey and he's been helping his dad work on a couple friends' roofs. (How do you pronounce "roof"? Around here we say "ruff." Funny, huh?) He is very "ruff" on his knees. And they get so stained. No point in buying new ones as he will ruin them in a couple days- so they get patches. The only way to patch knees in pants with such long legs is to rip out the side of the legs- the one that isn't a flat felt seam. You just can't get the sewing machine down the leg far enough. I usually do the ripping once I get settled into bed for the night. Not too bad of a chore, but don't tell John that. I want him to appreciate my hard work. With six sons, patching jeans could be a full time job.

A day at Bob and Jane's farm. These pictures pretty much speak for themselves. Thought my dad would like the picture of the the spiffy tractor:

Isn't that pretty? A garden decoration made from a plate and a couple bowls with a fancy vintage door knob in the middle. All glued together with some kind of clear heavy-duty glue. The stem is a painted length of rebar. I want one!

You lookin at me? Why yes I are!

Did you make it all the way down here? Well that deserves a chance at a little reward. I was going through my project bin and decided that this project wasn't one I wanted to finish up. Time to pass it on. The blocks are pretty, but just not me(you know I usually prefer more vivid colors) and I don't know anyone who would like the primitive style. (There's a primitive wallhanging I'll be giving away before Christmas- If that's your style, stay tuned for that.) I have 13 out of the 15 blocks sewn and the patterns and fabrics for the remaining two blocks packaged up. The blocks measure 5" finished. I'm also including almost a yard of some coordinating Moda fabrics. The project is Cheri's "Soot and Ashes" design and I've included her website and dates so that you can check out how she arranged it- or you can do your own thing. You could probably get it done in time for a Christmas gift... Just indicate in your comment that you'd like it- if there's more than one, I'll draw a name. It's good to be back!

2011-10-11T10:47:00.003-04:00

Nines is frustrated and she's walking away until she gets some tech support.

Funny thing... I hate tedious. Weird, 'cause I love to quilt and let's face it- quilting seems to be pretty accurately described as "tedious." And maybe if I were sewing a gajillion half inch triangles together... yeah, I could see where that would be a game I wouldn't be playing. I'd leave that to someone else.

I find figuring out the mysterious language of computers tedious. I just do. My computer died last week. Something with the hard drive. So a friend is working on that. Meanwhile- six hours before it died, he gave us an older computer. Talk about weird. But timely. Works good. Just can't figure out how to upload pictures. And wouldn't ya know? I've got a lot of pictures to share. Supposed to get my other computer back tonight, so maybe in the next few days someone(else) will figure out how to re-install some software and I'll be able to post with pictures. I hear they're worth a thousand words- and with me already being gabby... pictures are good.

Be talkin' to ya! ~nines

2011-10-04T19:49:00.002-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

How did that happen????!!! Another week, come and gone, already? Really?

This'll be brief. For me. I'm tired and ready to flop down with a movie. I fantasize about curling up with my Kindle and soaking up a new book- but by the time the day is ending- I'm just too pooped to read. That's a fact.

Cute block, huh? Hold your applause- I'm blushing. Aren't I just the bee's knees for figuring out how to get all those stripes in the same direction on the diagonal. Yeah, I'm one smart cookie. Just brilliant. Oh alright, it was 100% accidental and pure coincidence. Maybe all stripes line up like that when you're making quarter square triangles. I have no earthly idea how that happens. But it looks nice, doesn't it? I'm making a table runner for my friend, Angie. Just need to put the sashings and the cornerstones on- then the quilting and the binding. Shouldn't take too long if I can fit it into my schedule.

I've actually been making nubbin blocks, again, after a long sabbatical. My aim is to sew up enough of them to make an entire quilt using only nubbin blocks. No sashing, no borders. I have hundreds and I wonder how close I am to my goal... might need to do a little sewing/joining to get some idea of how many I have- and how many I'll need- to make a queen-sized quilt. Yeah, yeah, I could sit down with a piece of paper and a calculator and figure it all out- but where's the fun in that? The mystery is part of the allure of quilting. The unknown. The suspense. The sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrill... Wow, I need a life.

2011-09-29T10:23:00.007-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

hmmm... what shall it be, what shall it be...

Bumpeldy entries. The first 15' into the more popular of supermarkets have bumpeldy floors. They're very rough and extremely textured to help prevent someone from slipping and falling when they are wet. Rain, snow, ice=wet. Thus the bumpeldy floors. I have noticed that the other area stores have somehow managed to survive without this added safety measure. They provide mats that have deep grooves and crevices to catch any runoff water. And their interior floors lack some of the highly polished and deadly slick concrete in ... OK, I'll just say it! Walmart. Yes, Walmart has bumpeldy floors in their entry ways and slick as snot floors in their interiors. Yes, they do.

So what's my whine about the bumpeldy entry ways? I'm all on board when it comes to safety. This is what I'm getting to. Almost every time I get a cart, it rumbles across the bumpeldy floor. You have to get into the main part of the store- past that greeter- and then you figure out- Hey! I got a bum cart! It lists. It pulls. It makes an unearthly racket- all without the assistance of the bumpeldy floor. See? All of this was impossible to discern when you're on the bumpeldies. I don't know about you, but I'd just as soon not make the rounds through Walmart with a troublesome cart- way too many square miles to be covered- 'cause ya know it would be just too simple to put things together that actually made some kind of sense- oops- trespassed into another whine. So very easy to do.

Where was I? Yeah, the bum cart. After discovering it's defects, there's the u-turn past the greeter to choose another cart. Taking the gamble that the second cart is better than the first- no way of knowing until the same process has been undertaken, yet again. So past the greeter-again-(maybe I'm secretly whining about that greeter- whom I find ironic in a store where one can never find help, but where they are setting out this token greeter to make you feel like they actually care. When all they're really there for is to deter miscreants from shoplifting. Man, I'm in a mood, huh?) And now you can finally exhale 'cause this cart is doable. After smiling and nodding at that greeter three separate times- and you're gonna have to do it again on your way out. Whine accomplished- with a few bonuses thrown in. More bang for your buck- rather like that store.

2011-09-27T14:22:00.004-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

I've had a great few days. Lots of fun going on.

Howda ya like my poppy? It's orange and it's a poppy, so of course I'm lovin' it. When I showed the kids the pattern and the fabrics I was gonna use, it was the common consensus that I make it in purple. I gaped, aghast, wondering just whose spawn they were? I vetoed the children from Mars and went with the orange. It is a poppy, after all.

The poppy quilt measures at just under 50." My Aunt Isobel gave me the nifty 9* wedge ruler and accompanying book a few years back. The picture on the front of the book didn't appeal to me- it was a pastel butterfly and I'm physically incapable of working with pastels. Must have had a traumatic experience as a child. And, I admit, I was a bit intimidated by its roundness. A common phobia among quilter. Guess what? Not a single curve to sew or cut. 100% straight lines. If I had only investigated sooner I might have had this much fun quite a while ago! That'll teach me.

The directions in the book- oh, I guess it would be nice if I shared the title with ya, huh? Quilts Without Corners by Cheryl Phillips. Anyway, the directions were some of the best I've ever seen or used. Really excellent. Lots of helpful hints to ensure success. I followed them faithfully and that quilt lays as flat- if not flatter- than any other quilt I've made. Way cool. One of her tips was to use loops of wipe clear packing tape on the back of the ruler- keeps things from shifting- even better than those little rubber strippy things. I only had to change the tape out once for the whole project, so it's cheap, too. Took me 5 hours to cut, piece and sew. There are several other designs in the book that I'm looking forward to trying.

Sandy and I took an impromptu trip to Rushville Indiana, yesterday. After seeing my poppy, she wanted a wedge ruler,too. Enjoyed the drive on one of the few sunny days we have had lately. And the quilt shop, In Stitches, is always a treat. They have a longarmer who works out of the shop and we had a very pleasant visit. Nice to share war stories and ideas with a fellow quilter. She had the coolest set-up for storing her quilts. Her husband had built her this super strong hanging frame. oak. All of her quilts are folded over sturdy hangers- including the backing and the batting (as long as it was cotton. The larger batts are stored under the hangers.) The names and phone numbers of the clients are on little tags attached to each hanger. That's a great idea even for our own quilts because they're easy to see and keeps them in our minds so much better than tucking them away in a Rubbermaid tub and forgetting about them. Can't tell you how often I find a quilt that I'd completely forgotten about. Plus, I think it would also be a bit more motivating to get 'em done if they're staring me in the face. Sometimes I need a little intimidation.

This is a block from the quilt she was working on. It's made from the shirts of her client's father. I've seen and quilted several of these, but I loved how she pieced it and then set them together. The blocks really show off the fabrics effectively and they don't get lost in the busyness involved in most shirt quilts. Her sashing and cornerstones were consistent throughout the quilt, but the stars all had different shirt fabrics and different complimentary colors. Loved it. Of course, the quilting is brilliant, too. She was saying how she had to go home early, the day before, because she had hit a creative wall. So nice to hear that happens to other quilters. Sometimes it just takes some distance to come up with the right design for a quilt. It doesn't always just pop out at you. I'd say her quilting is inspired, though. She does great work.

I'm sure there's something else I should be doing... I'll skedaddle now and see if I can figure out just what that might be. Or, better yet, maybe I'll stay happily oblivious...Have a great day!

2011-09-23T10:22:00.003-04:00

One of the last summer days...

I love to watch my kids contented and enjoying the sunshine. So sweet.

Bizarre thing happened, yesterday. Actually, it all occurred exactly as the laws of nature dictate. The funny thing about it- it involves my hair- you guys are gonna think I'm obsessed. But that's just how it happened. Maybe I should include a hair feature in each week...nah.

I was coloring my hair- for those of you unfamiliar with the process, I color my roots- wait 15 minutes and then the remainder of my hair and wait another 10 minutes. I had just finished my roots and I had 15 minutes to kill. It was at this point that I remembered that the shower stall needed cleaning. (It has a door on it, so I never think to clean it until I am getting in and then there just isn't any time for that.) Perfect opportunity to get the chore done. I spray the walls and floor with cleaner. The cleaner I have to use is very potent-and perfectly legal- as we have hard water. Nothing else, short of a jack hammer, will remove those stains and white chalk-like residue. I usually let it set for a few minutes, so I went ahead and colored the rest of my hair, figuring I'd wipe down the shower during my last 10 minute waiting period. Bear with me, I'm getting to it.

I turn around and I'm confronted with a cloud of smoke of near Biblical proportions. Hydrochloric acid(the cleaner) gives off fumes, but nothing like this... Ah, now I see. Ammonia Hydroxide(the hair color) also gives off fumes. Apparently when they meet up they do a little boogie. Should have paid more attention in those college chemistry classes. Dr. Winton is shaking his head sadly- but with a smile on his face 'cause I finally caught on. I quickly opened the window and set up a fan and the cloud cleared out pretty fast. I'm not sure of the chemical properties of this concoction- other than toxic- but I've a sneaky suspicion it was explosive as well. Good thing I didn't have a candle burning. It was a singularly bizarre occurrence. Whodda thunk?

When the guys got home from work- just a few minutes later- they were so offended by the smell, I'm pretty sure that any wife they may have in the future will be strongly advised about the dangers of coloring their hair. I somehow doubt they will be as adamant about the dangers of cleaning the tub.

2011-09-22T10:04:00.008-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

Climate control. We sure are a spoiled nation. In the winter, it would be a fate worse than death to actually get cold. And in summer, it would be a crying shame to actually get hot. Living in an old farm house, I'm a little more in touch with weather reality. But that puts me in a tough spot when it comes to those who have control over theirs. I have to wear t-shirts in the winter and sweaters in the summer because of what I consider excessive use of air conditioning and heating. I'm trying to be reasonable here. I really am. And I won't be whining about the waste of energy and environmental issues. But some of these cases are absolutely beyond ridiculous.

Air conditioning. Its the quintessential Monk situation. "It's a blessing... and a curse." Love how air conditioning takes the humidity out of a room. Keeps things from being all sticky. Love how it enables us to do strenuous work without popping out in a sweat. (I've heard it said that men sweat and women glow. What a bunch of hooey. Most of us sweat when the air is heavy with moisture and the temps are high. Good old-fashion sweat.) And air conditioning off-sets the heat from the oven or clothes dryer so that the weather doesn't interfere with our daily lives. Gotta love that. Truly a boon to civilization. That's the "blessing" side of the equation.

The "curse." Overzealous air conditioning. Have you ever gone into a restaurant or store and felt that familiar chill run up and down your spine? I won't be doing much exercise in these situations and doubt a lot of other people will be doing so either. Brrrr... I don't go anywhere without my jacket. Can't tell you how many I've misplaced and lost. And even though I hate being overly warm, I hate being overly cold almost as much. I'm not talking about being slightly chilled. I'm talkin' about the kind of cold that puts you at risk of suffering from frostbite. Something truly arctic.

This seems to be more prevalent in Northern climates. I guess if you live in the South you have a higher tolerance for heat and it takes less air conditioning to make them comfortable. Whereas Northers have a phobia about being too warm. Oh the humanity! Studies have shown that the average person is comfortable at about 72*. Of course there aren't too many "average" people out there, so some are going to be too cool and some are going to be too warm. I get that. A little warm or a little cool. Seems all very reasonable to me. You can't please everyone. But you set that thermostat at 68*... You're pleasing a very small segment of the population and I don't happen to be in it. What a bummer. So it's my personal whine. I'm too cold at many restaurants, movie theaters, and stores to be able to relax and enjoy myself. No, I am not one of those cold-natured people who always have icy cold hands. Honest, I'm not. To be fair, in restaurants, I only add to the problem by drinking iced tea. Love the stuff. Drink about a gallon a day. I guess if I worked really hard I could learn to like coffee. I could see where the excessive amount of air conditioning might be off-set by drinking scalding coffee. I just don't want to. So there. I'll continue to sit in a jacket, shoulders hunched, hands clutched between my knees trying to conserve body heat.

I felt kinda guilty about whining on this particular Wednesday. But it's tradition and I do so love traditions. Why did I feel guilty? It was my 24th wedding anniversary and I've already expressed how much I love and adore my sweet William. I don't want to be with anyone else or anywhere else. A truly blessed life. So I have nothing of true substance to whine about. But picking on silly little things is a whole lot of fun.

I went to Joann's yesterday and came away with this gorgeous rainbow of fabrics. Admit it, even if you don't particularly care for orange, it made you smile. Got a project in the works. Hope, hope hope it turns out like I ...hope. Anyway, after lunch, I try to get into my car and the doors are locked. I have to confess, I never lock my doors. Ever. Trust me when I say that my car isn't at risk of being stolen. I think we paid $600 for it a couple years ago. And before I get a lecture on personal safety, I never get in without checking the back seat- can't figure how people always fall into that situation in the movies... You know, they get in and shocker! some one is in the back seat with a gun... maybe it's because they always lock their doors and assume no one is in the back seat... yeah, I bet that's it. I digress. So my car doors are uncharacteristically locked. Unlocking and getting in, I notice a big box between the seats. A serger with a love note on top! He is the most darling man ever. Took a break in work to buy and deliver it for me. How sweet was that? Being Will, he got a great deal, so I'm trying not to feel too guilty to be on the receiving end of such a generous gift.

2011-09-20T09:31:00.009-04:00

My "Mundane" Monday...

The past week has been anything but mundane, so it makes sense that Monday followed suit. Ever feel like there are just too many deadlines in life? Things that have to be done by this day and stuff that needs to be done by that day. I don't like it when it gets to be all about the deadlines. Some people call that motivation. I'm thinkin' its more of a pressure tank than I want to live in.

Finished the wedding quilt in time for the wedding shower. Carrie loved it and Miss Daisy, age 84y, chirped up that she was gonna get married. I wish I'd gotten a picture of the backing. Found a close up! I tie dyed it a couple summers ago and Carrie was very happy about that. Apparently she has a thing for tie-dye. Who knew? Turned out all very well, I guess. The girls were holding the quilt up for me- too gloomy to try and take a picture inside. And too big, as well. They nearly went para-sailing. Another reason why I usually have the guys do that job- always windy it seems.

I hesitate to call this a "doily." It turned out rather larger than I expected. Three balls of thread- the most I've ever used in a doily. Most patterns indicate how large they are expected to be- all depending on how loose or how tight you crochet. This one didn't have that little detail, but I figured it would be large as there were 38 rounds. But I didn't figure on it being quite this large. 30." I'd rather it didn't hang down over the sides of my table. I started it last fall, but put it away at round 29. Shew, those bigger rounds can go on and on and on. After an extended breather, I picked it back up and finished it. Mom- the pattern is called "Burst" and you would make one about 5 inches bigger than mine.

Roadtrip! Spent Monday on the road with Sandy. We drove up to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and visited with our friend, Marsha. She gave me that vibrant purple batik. We all like to quilt and so we kept on driving to a little town that had a very charming quilt shop called, "Caroline's Cottage." The house was built in 1871 and was stuffed with all things yummy. She had a great variety and lots of patterns and tools. I was such a good girl and used herculean self-restraint. Honestly, I broke out in a sweat. I bought a few yards of clearance fabric at $5.79. How could I not bring that home? A girl can always use more neutrals. And I just couldn't turn my back on that fleshy batik. But I only got half a yard. See? I was really very good! We visited one more fabric shop that was quite sad. They were doing some close-out sales. I picked up a few 1/2y cuts at $4 a yard and two fat quarters for a dollar, each. We had lunch at a steakhouse- can't remember the last time I ate red meat. Then we followed up with Marsha's famous pumpkin roll. Pumpkin and spices and cream cheese. What's not to like?

Since we've already hit upon my hair woes...Rained all day yesterday. Marsha was freaking out a little over the damage it might do to her hair. 'Do you know how long it takes me to get it this big?" I shook my head over that one. The more it rains, the bigger my hair gets. And it's already bigger than the average head of hair. When people look through my wedding picture album, they are sure to laugh and say,"Look how big your hair was back then!' I raise one eyebrow and wait. They invariably look up to make the comparison. Eyes bug out and they say, "oh." I'm not stuck in the past or making a fashion statement from the '80's. I have a ton of curly hair and while it isn't stylishly straight, I've better things to do with an hour of my time than blow dry and flat iron that bushy head of hair. I'd rather be sewing. Every now and then I do make the effort to restrain it, but it's usually in the winter when the humidity is down and all my hard work isn't ruined in a few hours.

And yeah, my bathroom walls are orange. People rarely look up and notice that the ceiling is purple. Might as well have some fun- it's just another empty canvas. Have a great week!

2011-09-17T12:22:00.003-04:00

Friday favorites...

There's no place like home. Our house on the prairie.

My brother flew over in his plane and he took this snapshot. Every so often, we get advertisements in the mail from a company offering to take aerial pictures of our homestead. I just have to laugh. Like I want to pay for a picture of that! The barn used to stand on the bottom right corner there, but alas it bit the dust quite a few years ago. A sad day, but it was past the point of being repaired and the cost would have been much more than the value of our entire property.

The original house was built in 1891- just two rooms and a buttery- an ingenious creation of a trough in the cellar. A pipe ran from the well that was powered by a wind mill. The water would run down the pipe, through the trough and slowly out into a drain. Kept the milk/cream/butter cold. The floors are mostly wood and the ceilings are around 10'. That gives plenty of room to hang quilts. Over the years, the house has been built onto and I have to admit, we are the primary perpetrators. We didn't move any walls in the original house, but we have certainly more than doubled the living space. Rooms stick out willy nilly. We are exceptionally good at willy nilly. There are four bedrooms and three baths. A very large dining room which doubles as a schoolroom. A small livingroom, and a small TV room. The kitchen is bright and sunny, facing the south, with a very large picture window on the wall over the sink. The laundry room is small, but it has a double sink and two dryers. Oh, and of course I have a quilting room because I'm spoiled rotten. Lest you think it all sounds too perfect: the roof leaks, it's hard to heat on a budget, I can't change the seat on my toilet- it seems to be fused to the stool, cobwebs are a real issue with such high ceilings, wood floors are very loud with lots of kids tramping through, and the water is hard as nails. But I love it and am thankful every day for a home that fits us so well. Every time I walk through the door I think, "I love my house!" (The first time we showed my Dad the property and asked him what he thought, he simply said, "Gotta match?" I am so happy we didn't have one on hand.)

Outside, we have a large garden (bottom right,) a few apple trees (behind the house,) a chicken house (that red dot over on the lower right) and lots of weeds and rubble and then there's the acres of grass that always need to be mowed. There's plenty of privacy and lots of room for the kids to run, play, climb, build, and dig holes. Generally, a great place to be a kid. And it ain't half bad for a grownup, either!

2011-09-15T10:40:00.006-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

So what's with that? No, I didn't take the battery covers off my remote controls to show you something. The covers are what I wish I could show you, but you'll notice I can't. Because they're missing. You have my word, this is not a staged picture. My house is the Bermuda Triangle for battery covers. There one moment and then gone the next, never to be seen again. It's a mystery. Maybe they're part of someone else's collection- an apothecary jar full of them displayed to their best advantage. I know I'd be impressed because I can't seem to find even one.

And since this is a Wednesday whine, I figure I can waller in it and say how annoying it is to pick up the remote only to have the batteries go spewing out. Rolling across the floor, even going under the bed- perhaps to join the missing covers. Destiny lends a hand. I'm usually quite happy to be different than most households, but in this one instance, it would be sublime to be normal. Have battery covers. Feel that sold plastic under my hand. Pushing buttons without having to hold the batteries in place. No worries about them popping out and then needing to reset the codes. Everything in order and as it should be. But why should my remote controls be any different than the other quirky things in my house? We're a matched set.

2011-09-13T09:54:00.011-04:00

My Mundane Monday

Another week ... weird how that happens.

Been keeping busy. More busy than I'd like. But what's a girl to do? Just charge ahead and hope for the best.

I finished the piecing of the queen size quilt I started last week. I had moments of doubt, but I should have had more faith in my obsessive ways. It's been a habit of mine for quite a number of years and even if I'm beat and frazzled, I still stick true to form. So the quilt is on the frame and I'm chugging along. Switched thread after the first two passes, at which point, I didn't care if the threads matched or not. And they don't. Sarah N. do you want my collection of Signature cotton thread? I will be keeping the short repeat variegated for postcards, but all the others you can have with my blessing. On occasion, I've fallen into the trap of thinking that one of those threads will match the quilt better than my favorite Medeira ones. I figure if they are no longer in the draw, I'll never make the mistake, again, of underestimating what a royal pain in the patootie they can be for me and my machine. Requires all kinds of tension adjustments and it still just doesn't look right. Thus, thread change and I feel like I can finish it, today. If I don't allow myself the distraction of an entirely unrelated project. Also true to form.

In between quilting, we got through school, lunch and naps. I'm a firm believer in naps. Not that we often sleep, but just imagine a two hour break in the middle of the day where you don't allow yourself or anyone else to do anything other than reading or sleeping. OK, sometimes I cheat and crochet. I'm such a rebel. You can hear the entire house sigh with relief. It's very beneficial to set that quiet time aside when there are this many people living under the same roof.

Then the three youngest and I ran errands. First, the apple orchard- where they got their free apple cinnamon donut. (Spell-Check didn't like that- who spells donut "doughnut" anymore?) With only $5 in my pocket they were given the choice of apple cider slushies for themselves or a bag of apples for their daddy. They didn't hesitate in choosing the apples for Dad(his favorite- Honey Crisp.) Breaks my heart they are so sweet.

Then on to the library for new books. Two each, this time, as they ran through the last ones so quickly. I was all settled in with my crochet but they were very decisive and we were only there for about 5 minutes. Kinda disappointed I didn't get my hook time in. On to a couple stores and then home- all in about two hours. Amazing.

Canned tomatoes, this weekend. The girls asked why we are always canning on a Saturday night. Good question. Gardens can be such slave drivers. Having two more helping hands makes an amazing difference, though. Eva and I peeled the tomatoes and Bekah packed all the jars and loaded up the canners. We did 21 quarts in record time. I've come to the conclusion that we operate at a faster pace than most folks. A bit of a necessity, I suppose.

I did some tutoring, Sunday afternoon, for a friend in college. English. I enjoyed that immensely. She didn't really need much help, just some pointers on the basics and some refresher lessons on how to study effectively. Love her textbook and wish I had one for myself. But the price of college books is absolutely ridiculous. $125 for a little paperback book. I guess they charge that because they can. Shame on them.

The flower was appliqued by Sandy and she used the fabrics we dyed this summer. Her daughter(the same one I tutored) drew the flower she used as a pattern. There's a little black mark at the top, but I think I'll be able to get it out- or chop it off- or applique a butterfly over it... that might work. Either way, I'm glad she didn't discard it as she'd planned.

So onward ho with that quilt and school. Hope everyone has an amazing day!

2011-09-10T10:54:00.007-04:00

Friday favorites...

So far we've covered a couple favorites- a place and a product. Today, it'll be a person- why not my all-time, number-one favorite person? My sweet William.

Most folks call him Bill. He just feels like...more... to me. We met 26 years ago on his first day at college. I saw him across a crowded room- yep, just like the song. I can even tell you what he was wearing. He was standing "at ease" and by himself. He didn't look anywhere near helpless but still... there was something about him. So I gathered up a couple guy friends and marched up to him and introduced ourselves. What a coincidence that one of my friends had the same last name. "Bet you don't spell it like mine." If I had a dime for every time I spelled my last name, I could retire and give up this life of crime. Wanna play a game? How do you pronounce "Koen?" Ugh, even spell-check says it's all wrong. Give ya a hint, it's of German/Dutch origin and there's something missing from the word- but no letters.

Bill and I married two years later. I love and adore him more each day and I've learned a lot about him over the years.

Bill is loud. And I mean loud and rowdy. He left the house 15 minutes ago and the dust is still settling! The music was cranked up and he was hollering along while dancing some kind of booty dance. (Bill will listen to the same cd all day long without a single pause or change. Makes a girl feel secure that he doesn't tire of the "same ole same ole.") Small children will just stand and watch him- with these huge eyes- cause they've never seen an adult quite like him. He's intense and magnetic. Once they realize that, while he is bigger than life, it's all good and if they're brave enough to step out there, he's the most fun they'll ever have.

Bill is generous. I have at least a dozen sewing machines and he has brought home 9 of them. Around him, you have to be careful mentioning things you like. 'Cause if he can get it for you, it's yours. If he sees something you don't have that would be helpful, it's yours. If you're invited out to dinner with us, don't even think about paying for yourself. Bill's got it. And he's sneaky about it. He's the guy who leaves the house in the middle of the night with your car keys and fills up your gas tank. He takes care of everyone. Just imagine how dangerous he'd be if he had any serious money.

Bill is a rock. He never gives up on anything. Or anyone. He's been called a bulldog because he just won't let go- even the nieces and nephews have called him "Uncle Bull." He's the consummate problem solver- nothing's too great or too small to be worthy of serious consideration, time and effort in solving. He will just keep at it until it's taken care of. No matter how long it takes or how difficult it is. He'll figure it out and we'll all be better off because of him.

Bill cares. It's important to him that you are all you need to be and all that God wants you to be. He really doesn't care about what most of society thinks is important. Stuff and things. It's about loving God with everything in you and noticing how God's blessed you and being thankful. And remember that cd he'll listen to repeatedly? He sounds just like that cd- over and over and over again. Love God and be thankful. I couldn't agree more.

Pink Doily give-away: Looks like Angela's daughter is gonna get a late birthday present! Shoot me your snail mail addy to my email- I'll try to get to ya through email, but just in case, we'll cover all our options. Congratulations!

2011-09-08T18:24:00.003-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

Yeah, yeah, it's Thursday and late at that. You do the math: 1 computer+9 people(5 teenagers+1 seeking employment.) I'm doing good to get my mail checked, daily. Said I'd keep the whine light, this week. I'll do my best to deliver.

String beans. Oh, it's all very bucolic. Sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch, watching the buggies...er, cars go by. Nice breeze, sunshine. Crickets humming. Good company. Big ole pile of string beans on your lap. Snap snap, into the pail they go. What could be more enjoyable? Industry meets pleasantry.

Now, I love snapping beans. Yep, like the pop they make and the occasional flying seed, all very amusing. It's just those annoying strings. They make it such a slow, tedious process and they just plain-out bug me. Sometimes the 'string' only comes off halfway down the bean and then you have to start at the other side- twice wasting the edible part of the bean. So some of you know nothing of which I'm speaking? Well, count your blessings folks, 'cause it's enough to make a girl swear off the country life in trade of a penthouse suite surrounded by concrete. And there's no easy way around it or avoiding it. Trust me, I've tried. String beans must be stringed. Strung? Ever get a string in your mouth? You can chew all day and that sucker ain't goin' anywhere. Completely incapable of being digested. So there's no alternative- ya gotta spit it out and, in my book, any meal that involves spitting isn't worth eating. And don't make the mistake of thinking you can pick string beans today and snap them tomorrow. Oh no, that just exacerbates the problem. You need a really crisp bean to facilitate the removal of the string. Otherwise you sit there bending and twisting the stupid thing until you have green bean puree.

And you know what? There are such things as stringless green beans. It's beyond me why anyone would choose to plant and grow otherwise. I've heard folks say that the stringy string beans taste better. Well, no kidding, you'd have to tell yourself that after all that work!

Deep breath. Ahhhh....

2011-09-06T12:53:00.007-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

Had a productive day... gotta love that!

The weather has changed to lovely cool temps- it's barely topping 60*. (so sorry Tamara- maybe you can find some vicarious enjoyment in ours.) Windy. While quilting this morning, I heard a loud droning. There's a small airport about 20 miles north of us and sometimes smaller planes will fly over- or maybe a crop duster. An occasional military plane. But this sounded different. Louder. Longer- it went on and on. Finally, I go to the door to investigate- didn't need to look up so much. There, hovering over the soybean field, was the Goodyear blimp! Bright yellow and blue and amazingly, alarmingly low. The kids and I ran out to get a closer look and it was pitching and yawing something fierce- I was getting sea sick just watching. The kids would squeal at certain times, sure that they were going to see a catastrophic event. He was slowly making his way Northeast- into the wind. I hadn't thought they would fly in such weather, but I guess he had to be somewhere. It doesn't take much to give someone a thrill when you're living in the middle of thousands of acres of corn and soybeans, I guess.

I found out Sunday, that a friend from church is getting married in three weeks and her wedding shower will be in two weeks. Whoa. Time to get a quilt made. I wasn't sure how I would pull it off, time or money-wise. Bill lost his job about a month ago- silly man, he is always laying things down and forgetting where he put them... Anyway, as it turned out, her bedroom is the same colors as mine- brown and blue. I've been stashing fabric away for a few years now and I could use it for hers! No, that's cool 'cause I've already cut a quilt out for me. It doesn't coordinate with my room, but then... why start all that matchy matchy stuff now, hmm? I had a $50 budget. I tend to think I need to hang onto money when I have it, 'cause I might not have it next week. But that's "stinkin' thinkin' " as my brother would say. God does provide and He will provide. So onward ho! I found a queen cotton batting at Jo-Ann's for only $15. It was the only one they had and wasn't marked but when I got up to the counter, it was on sale! And then I only needed one feature fabric- which was regularly $8 a yard but on sale for $4.29 a yard- bought enough for the blocks and the binding. I just happened to have a blue and brown backing that I had tyed-dyed a couple summers ago. So the grand total was only $30! At $20 under budget, I'm pretty thrilled. I love it when a plan comes together. God is good.

I'm using the BQ pattern and it's going very quickly. I've set a goal of sewing 10 (very simple) blocks a day and that way- with school and other obligations- I should be able to get it done in time. The cutting table has some lovely stacks of blue and brown fabric.

I also got a quilt for a client quilted up- mostly. I would've finished the bothersome thing, but I had to use a different thread than what I was accustomed to and the tension gave me fits- isn't that the way it works- dozens of quilts of your own and not a hitch. Soon as you decide to take a paying customer, things go sideways. Sigh, worked out the kinks. Oh well, I'm proving that "things done, can't be undone" to be not entirely true. They can be undone, but it's time-consuming. I had about a three hour sit-down with that quilt and now it should only take about an hour or less to finish. Loafing on the couch wasn't an entirely unpleasant experience. So thankful for those zipper leaders!

I've been staying up later than I should, crocheting. As anyone else who takes to the hook will tell you, it's addictive and extremely difficult to put down once you pick it up. I've been using 10 weight thread 'cause the one I prefer (20) isn't easy to find . Hobby Lobby has it in various colors of cream, cream or cream. That's OK. But I do notice that the 10 weight is a bit more of a challenge to pull through the loops and I get this interesting groove across my thumb. Nah, it's not permanent or anything, but it remains sore. Ah, the price I pay for my art...

So, for those of you that have made it thus far- bless your hearts- I have a little give away. Don't get all worked up, it's small enough. See that pink doily? I just bought the thread 'cause it was a pretty shade, but the practical application for a pink doily is questionable. Fun to work with, though. I'll pop it in the mail for you if you let me know you'd like it. I was thinking that maybe you could re-gift it- no worry about offending me- it's not like I want it! The doily isn't small- about 20" across. If by some slim chance more than one person is willing to take the poor thing home, I'll just draw a name. Ya got til Friday, OK?
Hope everybody has a great week!

2011-09-02T11:08:00.008-04:00

Friday favorites!!

Last week's favorite was a place and this week, I've decided to go with a product. My most favorite possession is...

My insulin pump. Rarely does a 24 hour period go by without me clutching it close and fervently saying, "I love my pump!" I even have it skinned out in custom orange! I figure there might be quite a few of you that may not know what a pump is- have never even seen a pump- or know how it works. So here's some general information for those who are curious and a maybe a good bit more for those who might be interested in acquiring one for themselves or a loved one.

An insulin pump... pumps insulin. It's for type 1 diabetics- insulin dependent- which is a funny way of puttin' things, 'cause we're all insulin dependent- just some of us can't supply our own. It takes the place of insulin injections. I used to give myself about 5-7 shots of insulin per day. It wasn't fun, but it was life support in the purest form. I'm not complaining about the tiny discomfort of the needle, itself, but the hassle of carrying around all those supplies, being on a strict timetable and figuring in all the computations that make real control possible. And even at it's best- and my best- it was a roller coaster of ups and downs and while discouragement is not an option, it was a constant struggle with some serious frustration.

This is where the incredible gizmo of an insulin pump comes in. It delivers insulin all day and all night- it's greatest advantage- my blood glucose levels are more even 24 hours a day. Generally, one injection every three days. I still need to check my sugar with a meter, but the pump reads the meter through radio waves and the numbers are factored in when I eat. Insulin delivery for meals involves inputting the carbs I ate and then the pump does the preset computations for my individual needs. No calculating for me. Quick and easy with none of the hassle of shots. No more eating or not eating on a schedule to cover insulin. No trying to be discreet 'cause I don't want anyone passing out from seeing a needle.

Most people don't notice I have a pump and when they do see it, they assume it's a cell phone or some other electronic gadget. It hooks on my pocket or belt and the tubing goes under my clothing to the injection piece- which is called a "set." The set is connected to a small vial of insulin that slips inside the pump. At the end of the set is a very tiny rubber cannula(yes, injected with a needle, but the tiniest needle you will ever see- even smaller than those butterfly needles they use on children. It slides right out as soon as the set is inserted.) The cannula goes just beneath my skin and the insulin drips in through it. It's all held into place with some kind of adhesive. It's pretty tough and under most conditions will stay put for the 72 hours the set can safely be worn without the risk of your insulin dying- from being room temp for three days or infection- from the small puncture.

The set is completely pain-free- you can push, pull, tug- I don't feel any discomfort- it's just a small button. It can be placed anywhere that you would normally give yourself an injection. I like the back of my arm because I'm less likely to rip it off when I'm changing my clothes or um... among other things. (Lisa, quit rolling your eyes.) I disconnect the tubing and pump when I shower or swim or doing the "among other things" anytime I choose- for short periods of time- an hour or two is usually just fine. Yes, I sleep with the pump- just sling it under my pillow or beside me- it never occurs to me that it's even there- just another part of my body.

Let's talk bottom line. It's a great advancement in the quality of a diabetic's life but it sure does come with a huge price tag. The pump costs about $6,000. No, I didn't add too many zeros. The cost of maintaining a pump lifestyle is also very pricey. It runs about $83 dollars every 3 days. ouch! My insurance pays for my pump, disposable supplies and insulin. Who says they don't have a heart? But I figure they're not getting such a bad deal and they know it. The more my blood sugar is under control, it's less likely I'll run into costly complications.

So that's my favorite for this Friday! Have a great weekend and I'll catch you on the flip side!

2011-09-01T10:35:00.006-04:00

Wednesday's Whine of the Week...

You knew it was coming, didn't you? This week's whine....

ADULT. Come on, you know what that means. Maybe it's not global. Here in the US, when we see the word ADULT- spelled in all capital letters- it's becomes a four-letter word. I'm not sure when this euphemism occurred, but it's common enough. ADULT means pornography, profanity, and/or profuse amounts of blood(which really falls into the "mature" heading- but the application is the same.) And while I'm on a letter "P" kick, the word perversion comes to mind. Not that they would put it that way. They would call it nudity, sensuality, strong language and graphic violence. Ever see those signs for ADULT BOOKSTORES? (No offense to my Southern friends, but they seem to be more prolific the farther South you drive.) I've never been in one of those places, but I'm doubtful there's much book selling going on in there. My whine is the use of a perfectly good word to describe something that is so shameful that it shouldn't even be spoken of- much less advertised on huge billboards. Call me old-fashioned. A fuddy-duddy. But if it were all completely appropriate and decent, the signs would read considerably more accurate as to what is really going on in there. And the parking lots would be well-lit. And there'd be lots of windows.

I suppose that qualifies more as a rant than a whine. I'll try to think up a more lighthearted one for next week.

Isn't that a sweet little sewing machine? Rescued it from a barn. It had a $50 price tag on it- which was a great deal as the table is in excellent condition and it even has the original stool. The machine looks like it was never used- it needs a little polishing from handling, but the finish really is gorgeous. It also has the original manual and all of the attachments. But I didn't have $50 and I felt too guilty to ask if they would take less- I did mention it was a very good price, didn't I? So my son, Paul, returns to the scene and asked if they would take $25 for it- they said it wasn't theirs. Paul asked if they could call the owner and ask them if they would reduce the price. Paul spoke to her for a little while and she agreed to sell it for $35! He came in carrying this machine and the first thing he says is, "Don't ever cast aspersions on my social skills again." Giggle. He's known as a stoic kind of guy and I tease him that he could scare people away with that frown of his- he's the big muscled frowner on the left. I asked if he "please ma'amed" them to death and he said no but he did "thank you ma'amed" them to death!

The guys don't normally go around covered in this much dirt. They had just finished up a long day of roofing. Left to right, Paul, Jacob and Joshua.

2011-08-29T13:18:00.009-04:00

Mundane Monday...

It's that time of week, again. Love that.

Thought I'd share some of my goings on. Made my sweet Evabeth a wallhanging for her bedroom. She likes all things Asian. And of course, all things pink. This particular piece was made using a weird method. But it works and I think it is a bit more pleasant than dealing with triangles. First, you sew together some squares and rectangles. Then you layer a larger rectangle under that piece- with right sides together. Draw diagonal lines and sew, cut apart and you have two of these squares. Clear as mud, huh? Wish I could remember the name of the book I got this from, but it's Sandy's book so...

Isn't that funkiest tomato you've ever seen? I have no idea what kind of mutation it would take to transform a round tomato into Grue from Despicable Me. I planted a ton of tomato plants, but alas, I've seen very little return. We had a month of drought and extremely high temps and then it's been very cool ever since. Tomatoes really struggle to ripen in cool weather. Maybe next year.

The last picture is of Nena and her quilt for a new grandson they're expecting in a week or so. She choose a Michael Miller print with retro cowboys and cowgirls and his handkerchief fabrics in red and blue. She has her two granddaughter represented and the new baby with an adorable little cowboy on a saw horse. We just meandered it in red thread. Doesn't she look just tickled pink?

Hope everyone is having their very own wonderful Mundane Monday! Catch ya on the flip side!

2011-08-26T17:13:00.007-04:00

Friday favorites...

I've challenged myself to feature a favorite, each Friday. Some of my favorite places, people, and products. Thought that would be a lot of fun for me and maybe it would bring to mind some of your favorites, too.
*
This week's favorite is Ivanhoe's. It's a mom and pop diner in Upton, Indiana. They've been in business since 1965- before I was even born. OK, not by much, but it still counts. They used to be a drive-in, but presently they are a sitdown, carryout business. And they do a very brisk business. Expect a line, but it moves quickly and there's lots of friendly folks to visit with and for us quilters out there- lots of mini's on the walls to enjoy and inspire. Too few restaurants like this remain. People like the consistency and familiarity of a chain restaurant, but you can't beat the quality of a locally-owned restaurant that depends on happy patrons in order to stay in business. Ivanhoe's is a great all-American diner. While most diners are known for greasy comfort food, Ivanhoe's has set itself above that standard. They're famous for... drumroll.... their salads. Yep. I know that's hard to believe, but if you mention Ivanhoe's to anyone within a 50-mile radius, their eyes roll back in their heads and they breathe a big sigh and say, "Ah, their fruit!" I admit, I was skeptical. Fruit is fruit, right? Nu-uh. Not true. So I had to experience this phenomena of "ah, fruit!"

Anybody who knows me, knows I'm a serious gnosher. Ain't anything dainty about the way I eat. So I order the large. I was hungry, after all- and how full could I get eating fruit? Thought I'd need a dolly to get my tray to the table. No kidding and no exaggeration when I say there's a solid 8 cups of fruit in that bowl. And it was amazing! The fresh seasonal fruit isn't mixed until it's placed in your trough- I mean, dish. Any fruit you don't like? No problem, just request it be left out. I had my fruit topped with their homemade chicken salad, which is in a class of it's own. On my most recent visit, I didn't see a single burger among at least 100 customers. I hear great things about their vegetable salad, also. I'm just hooked on the fruit. I haven't a clue if their accompanying muffin is any good- I never get to it. And I haven't ordered the large since that first time- a "small" salad ensures enough fruit for two meals.

As an aside, Ivanhoe's is also known for it's 100 different ice cream sundaes and milk shakes. All I have to say about that is, while they are excellent, there will be no room for that particular indulgence if you eat anything else there. So the ice cream is an entirely different visit. And then you'll see the fruit... and the ice cream becomes an afterthought that will only rarely come to fruition- get it? fruition- fruit. Ivanhoe's- a great American establishment. I'm hoping they'll be serving up quality food for many more years to come.

http://www.ivanhoes.info/

2011-08-25T10:32:00.004-04:00

Wednesday 's Whine of the Week....

so it's Thursday. Ya wanna make somethin' of it?

I was figuring that if I allowed myself one whine a week, it would cut down on some negativity. Not that I consider myself a negative person... but then who does? Hmmm.... I've whined about hair color and Hollywood slime, there must be something else out there that annoys me. Oh, I know.

Letters To Juliet. I like that movie. Nothing award-worthy, just a sweet movie. The older I get, the more I enjoy a "mature" love story. (The kids think it's freaky. Too bad I won't be around to remind them of that when they reach the age to find love between two 65 year old people very touching and romantic. But that's not my gripe.)

My problem is the wardrobe. Vanessa Redgrave could wear a potato sack and still be elegant, but the rest of the world needs a little more help. I've never seen a movie where the wardrobe drives me to distraction like this one. And someone was paid big bucks to torture me. I honestly sit and crochet while "watching" it so that I'm not having to see the horrid clothes they are putting on these beautiful people. When I do look up at the screen, I concentrate on keeping my eyes above their chins, or else the whole mood is ruined. Why oh why is she wearing a gray T-shirt? In Tuscany??? Do you honestly expect me to believe that the lovely Sophie is going on a romantic trip to Verona, Italy, and she packs a bag full of utilitarian gray and beige clothes? And they are even more cruel to Charlie. A very attractive guy with typical body shape issues. And the best they could do for him is an ill-fitted T-shirt and a sloppy, rumpled, long-sleeve shirt hanging over that? He's an urbane, successful lawyer people! In the final scene, he did look very dashing in a morning suit- but then, who doesn't? Generally, they all look washed out and ghostly- very sad ghosts, at that. Along with every criticism, we should present a solution. The wardrobe should've included the colors of Italy- rich reds and purples, blues and golds. It doesn't have to be a constant onslaught of color and you could still go sophisticated, just make something interesting to look at so the poor actors don't have to fight their way through to be noticed. But what's been done, can't be undone... I guess I'll just keep my head down and enjoy the soundtrack.

I do feel a tad better. What? Things like that don't bug you?

2011-08-23T09:52:00.004-04:00

My Mundane Monday...

My brothers must have all the thrill-seeking genes in my family. Being real adrenalin-junkies, they ride motorcycles, fly airplanes, camp in the dessert- with scorpions as companions, and I don't even want to know all the other crazy things they do and don't tell me. They really are kind that way.

I love the dull, everyday, "same ole, same ole" routine. If my sweet William comes home and asks me how my day went and I answer, "uneventful" he knows I've had a good one. Hmmm....maybe that's a result of having 5 sons in 7 years. It was a solid decade before an uneventful day ever occurred. True to say, I might have had my share of "thrill-seeking" kicked out of me- a steady diet of adrenalin could do that. Now, I treasure days that require nothing special, no calls to the poison control center(hello, it's me again...), no wails of injustice(those would be mine, by the way) no near catastrophic events(um, Mom, John was blowing up this thing and...) Just laundry and dishes, a bit of sewing and crochet thrown in, fixing dinner, a movie before bed. A stellar day. Oh I still enjoy a bit of excitement, I just have much lower standards than the general public...

Mondays are meant to be mundane. The crazy rush of the weekend comes to a sudden halt when that alarm clock goes off on Monday morning. Back to the regular schedule of routine tasks. It's my "regroup" day.

I did have a date night with my sweet William- after a mundane day. See? My idea of excitement. Dinner- I had an amazing salad, he had enough meat on his plate to be mistaken for the local butcher shop. Then we went to a movie- Cowboys and Aliens. Why? I don't know. Bill wasn't in the mood for a chick flick and I wasn't in the mood for stupid humor, so we do what a lot of couples do- we compromise so that neither of us will be happy! Actually, he had a great time- if his laughter at my expense was any indication. When I saw the previews, I was thinking- a little action, a little western, a little sci-fi- hey, what's not to like? But a very important issue had completely slipped my mind... the whole Hollywood slime factor. Who was it that decided that all aliens must be slimy? As far as I'm concerned, "mucous membranes" is the all-time most nauseating words in the English language. No kidding, I'm holding a bucket on my lap just typing those words. gag. So the cowboys are tough- Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. The little flying spaceships are tough- all metallic and zoom-zoom. Then they have to throw in these aliens dripping...gag...mucous. Their slippery, snotty, bodies are jumping out at people- just once, I'd like to meet an alien with dry skin- in need of some moisturizer. Nope, not in this movie. The other movie patrons are getting a double feature watching me climb over seats and dash for the bright red EXIT sign! What can I say, I have finely honed my emergency responses. Were the aliens really scary- oh yeah, but I was honestly more concerned that they were gonna drip on the cute...er...tough cowboys. When I wasn't clawing Bill's arm off, I was standing up and making a dash for the door. As Bill's laughter is echoing across the parking lot, he's expressing his amazement at how fast I could move and how far I could get before he'd even had a chance to flinch. Oh yeah baby, that mugger's gonna have to catch me first.

So I'm all wrung out and ready for a tepid Tuesday. Please...

Girls, so here's the red head shot- it was supposed to be brown- with a hint of red. My hair didn't get the memo, I guess.

2011-08-21T07:51:00.002-04:00

Happy Lord's Day!!!

"Today is a fresh day- with no mistakes in it."

Well, that didn't last long. Picked up the wrong box of hair color. Who knew there would be such a drastic difference between "auburn brown" and "copper brown?" I got up early to color my hair because I just couldn't stand another day with all that white hair at the roots. I am almost completely white headed in the front and while I understand that some people are enamored with white hair(they don't usually have that particular "blessing", mind you) I don't particularly care for the look on me. Now I'm wondering if these "beautiful auburn brown" tresses might not be "ten times worse." I'm gonna have to shoot "The peddler I met on the road, today."

This post sponsored by Anne of Green Gables.

2011-08-03T11:28:00.004-04:00

Just like me...

Instead of working on a project that simply needs to be finished, we start a new one. But it was small, so that makes it OK, right? Sarah and I had a really good time during her visit. We ate out several times and went to a local quilt shop. She bought some blue batik to bind the quilt we quilted while she was here. Her son, Ian, has a thing for Pez dispensers, so we all had to check out a couple of the antique malls. Sarah got the find of the day with a McCoy pitcher- in robin's egg blue- for only $12! How cool is that? I found a few neat books. Sadly, Ian didn't find any Pez. My quilting machine was a bit stand-offish with her- the thread kept breaking. It must be used to me, 'cause it was more friendly when I had a go at it.

These "baskets" are by This-n-That and are called "Clutter Keepers." I got the pattern at the quilt shop and thought it would be a fun project to do, together. I had all the supplies needed except some heavy weight interfacing. I was a bit disappointed in the size. For some reason, I assumed that it was much smaller. Turns out it's 5" high and 12" long. Should have read the details. We had fun sewing it- though I must admit the directions were a bit vague and half the fun was figuring out just what in the world she was trying to convey. We both choose fabrics from my stash. Hard to believe that these two color ways came from the same stash- must have multiple personalities. One guess on whose is whose. Yeah, mine has some orange in it. Go figure.

I have more company this week- and next week. So the sewing will be minimal. But I have started painting my kitchen. I am now fully appreciative of the fact that it has taken me 7 years to repaint in there. 10' ceilings and lots of cabinetry is a real hurdle to paint. I'm taking the day off- sore muscles and all that. But my company- our two nieces- have agreed to give me a hand- bless their hearts. That will get me all squared away for company, next week.

Well, I feel the couch and my crochet hook calling me...

2011-07-26T09:48:00.003-04:00

There's a bright golden...

er, silver, haze on the meadow. Isn't that beautiful? A few minutes before dawn. I love the skies of Indiana. We've had some extra hot weather, and the humidity you can see plain enough. Another unusual occurance, here. Usually too windy for fog or haze. It makes a beautiful change, though.

Not much sewing going on this month. I quilted 5 quilts, last month. Wanting to get out there and do some more. But I've had company and I'd rather visit than sew. Maybe I need to rethink my priorities... The quilter in me is wondering just what is going on. I am preparing for my 9th set of company since April. That's summer for ya. Not many people are brave enough to visit in the winter months. My oldest son readily comes as he misses the cold and the snow. Everyone else has concerns that they could be stranded longer than they plan.

Who's my company this week? Guess. Ok, you give up? My quilting buddy, Sarah, of www.alwayswantstobequilting.blogspot.com . We saw each other at my son's wedding a couple years ago, but aside from that, I haven't seen her since... July 2006!!! Can that be right? Surely not. But I can't think of another time. Anywho, we plan on sewing some and so I'll get my quilting fix. It's all good. I have some projects in the works, as ever. The only difficult part will be deciding which one. Hope everyone has a great week- I plan on it!

Ghost Chicken in the Sky

2011-07-05T23:11:00.002-04:00

Just for a laugh!

The middle girl is my daughter-in-law, Laurie Anne, and the other two girls are my neices, Hannah and Caitlin. Laurie Anne dislocated her knee practising for this little skit- so she's sitting on a stool with her leg in a brace. The trauma didn't slow down her enthusiasm for performing with her new family members. Our family reunion talent show is never dull. Hope you enjoy it!

2011-06-09T10:27:00.002-04:00

New projects...

I need a new project like I need another hole in the head. I just quilted up one of my quilts and plan on giving it to someone. It's one of my favorite patterns, but I haven't had the chance to keep one for myself. I've made a couple of them. So this one's for me. A lot of the fabrics are from my Uncle Greg's stash, so that will make it extra special. I miss him. I miss the idea of him sitting there in his chair and quietly sewing the tiniest stitches and cutting his pattern pieces- all with scissors. He would back his templates with sandpaper to keep them from shifting when he traced them. I can see him playing with paints and stamps, making the most amazing patterns. He would email me pictures of his latest completed block, always beautiful. I digress.

Sandy and I cut this one out, last week. She liked the pattern so much, we also cut one out for her. She let me go through her stash and pick her colors out. How fun is that? My favorite part of quilting. Looking through all the beautiful fabric and combining different colors. Hers couldn't be more different than mine. But using the colors from her stash, of course it would be that way. I'm pretty sure I don't own a single pastel. Except the ones she has given me. I really need to branch out from my first inclination. Sometimes we get into a rut, don't we? But I like my rut!

2011-06-03T19:44:00.004-04:00

New hair...

Amineta is so proud! As well she should be. The process took hours and hours. She didn't mind getting the twists, but the picking out- now that was just downright painful. It took two sessions to get it all twisted up. The things we girls do to look lovely! Ami looks beautiful when it is a bushy mess, but she is so much happier now that she has hair that "flips."

2011-05-31T17:01:00.004-04:00

Playin' around...

that's what I've been doing for the the past month. I've had company for three out of the last four weeks. All the chickies have flown home and the house seems very quiet.

I did find some time to get together with Sandy- in between thunderstorms- and we dyed some fabric. We had a blast just playin around. Sometimes we say, "Hey! Let's_____!" You fill in the blank. (We rarely plan anything in advance. We just go where the fancy takes us. No pressure, no expectations other than having fun.) A couple of weeks ago, it was, "Let's dye fabric!" We had everything- Sandy has a pool so we had soda ash and she had some white Kona on hand- 50% off coupon. The dyes we've had for a while- a little container goes a long way. (Have I ever mentioned how much I love to play in the water? I'm like a kid when the garden hose comes out. Need your flowers watered? I'm your girl!) We dye fabric outside. (Have I ever mentioned how messy I am?) Can't imagine doing it inside. So there was lots of splashing and experimenting. Must have used up twenty pair of rubber gloves. Still got dye all over me- I was doubtless splashing a little too enthusiastically. Oxyclean gel. Works wonders. Just let it set for a few minutes.

These three are some of my favorites- we did a bunch of graduations in solids, also. Sandy has already been cutting into hers while I'm still in the petting stage. You know, in my best pet lovers voice, "Oh you're such a good fabric. Mommy is so proud of you! Yes she is, yes she is! Aren't you just the prettiest thing?"

2011-05-24T10:57:00.003-04:00

Currently...

I am trying to get this quilted, this week, so that I can get it bound, next week. It's a wedding gift for a friend from church. I haven't been doing any sewing for quite a while, but I had this one in one of the "to-quilt" bins. Turns out it is in her favorite colors of red, green and brown. Amazing how things turn out like that. So far, I have the top pinned onto the frame and am trying to get the back on. It's a rather large quilt and I have been... distracted. We've had friends and family visiting these past few weeks- with more to come, so the quilting has been lagging- which is all good. People are more important than things. I plan on just meandering so it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, if all goes well. And I always bind on the machine these days. Fast and easy.

My daughter-in-law is with us this week and we've been enjoying spending time with her. The children adore her- as everyone who meets her does.

The kids and I planted corn and beans in the garden, yesterday. The garden is huge and it amazes me how fast the planting goes with all my "little" helpers. (Five of my children are bigger than I am. How weird is that?) They do almost all of it and I supervise- you know, the hole is too deep, too shallow, you're patting the soil down too firmly, not firmly enough, the rows are too close, too far apart. And finally, great job! And they did do a great job. We'll be getting tomatoes to plant, this weekend. When we returned to the house, Laurie Anne had the TV room all organized and spic and span- no small task. How cool is that? She's also helping with my Bible class projects as I am teaching this quarter. A fun class of 7-9 year olds. The first class is Wednesday and I still have a couple bulletin boards to make. She's been doing laundry- think she's trying to get on my good side? Should I tell her she's always been on my good side? I figure she already knows that. Busy days. Joe is coming for a visit this weekend and will be taking her home with him. Sigh. But we have been blessed so I'm not gonna complain. Much. And we'll have the added bonus of getting to see Joe- always a joy.

And can I just say- what a thrill it is to have some beautiful weather sandwiched in between thunderstorms and rain? Sometimes you forget just how lovely the sunshine can be. The girls and I even weeded the flower garden. Bill took one look at it and asked, 'Were all those flowers already there?" Honestly, they have been. They have just been hidden by weeds for the past couple of years. Blessing can be like that.

2011-05-13T12:41:00.004-04:00

Notice the smile...

I don't know if I would have the same expression if I just had my face dragged through the dirt. I know I wouldn't. Kids. It's the start of "swing" season. My kids are acrobatic daredevils. I try not to watch. Their swings are right outside my quilting room- which is surrounded by windows. A constant, "Hey, Mom! Watch this!" Do I have to? Apparently it is important to them that I do. And make all the appropriately moaning and groaning sounds at their daring-do. Lots of the worried Mom routine- it wouldn't be as fun otherwise. I have to keep reminding myself that I used to like doing those kind of things, too. A lifetime ago.

In the sewing room, I've been making hundreds and hundreds of flying geese blocks. I started this project a long time ago and I have been chipping away at it a few at a time. Sarah, now you know why I haven't gotten your birthday blocks done, yet. I know it is just 16 more flying geese, but the very idea makes me nauseous. Did you have to choose that pattern? Sigh. I don't know why I picked out that particular quilt top to make when it required so many of them. A friend suggested that maybe it was like childbirth- you forget how painful it can be! Indeed. Not that they are difficult, but just oh so monotonous after the first 250. But maybe it will be worth it in the end. I am good and sick of it at this point. I can see me giving it away with little regret

2011-05-10T10:55:00.004-04:00

Now isn't that a good feeling?

I finally, finally finished that quilt on the frame. It sat there for 7 long months. In actuality, it only took me about a day and a half to quilt. I was delayed. It aggravated my allegies and kinda took the bloom off the rose. I just didn't feel like doing it. It had been so long since I started it, that the bottom is quilted a bit different- but no one will notice but me. And since I don't really care about that, it's a non-issue. The blocks in this quilt were given to me by someone who found out I like old things. Love them. There was a bit of a hitch. They were supposed to be octagons and they were more like circles. That might be the reason they were never put together in a quilt top. The peicing was naive to say the least. There are only a few rare points existing, but with a little finaggling, it all came out in the wash. Speaking of wash... it is in desperate need of one. I figure it has been at least 80 years seen any of these fabrics have seen water. Most of them are from the 1930's, but there's also some shirting from the turn of the century. Some one used a rag bag, no doubt. I need to buy some fabric for the binding. And then it will be ready for the washer and the clothes line and finally rest on my bed. The pictures are blurry because I can't find the battery charger for my camera- had to use my Bloggie. It takes great videos, but doesn't have a flash.

2011-05-06T11:52:00.002-04:00

Sissy...

I looked that word up and I had to giggle- "an effeminate man." In our house, we refer to someone as "sissy' when they are extra feminine- a girly girl. Or to a sister. A close sister of the heart. Someone you love. A special term of deep affection.

I got to spend some quality time with my sissies, this past week. One drove down from Lake Michigan and one from West Virginia(where, by the way, if you are a girl, half the waitresses will call you sissy, instead of hon.) We had such a blast. It's been too long since I laughed so hard or played so much. We stayed up late, colored each others hair, painted toe nails, went shopping for good smelling things, clothes and shoes. We cooked- I made desserts, baked beans and a ham, Stephie made some stellar potato salad and Lissy made banana pudding which had the kids drooling. And we talked and talked, constantly. We did regular sissy things. And it was great!

Now the house sure seems quiet. But I can still hear the laughter in every room. I feel like my batteries have been recharged. I have lots of goals on my list of things to do- all of which I'm looking forward to. Painting and sewing and gardening. Even that laundry mountain looks like more fun than usual.

And I have the anticipation of my Sissy from Alabama arriving in just a couple of weeks! She's bringing an entourage of beloved "daughters"- four of them! Can you imagine the fun we'll have? I don't think we'll be doing nails, or hair or too much cooking... but I see thrift shopping, movie watching and more talking and laughing. It's all good. It's all great! Being a sissy is just too much fun.

2011-04-13T14:55:00.004-04:00

new cupboards...

There are certain perks to having a husband in the home improvement business. Of course a lot of the time, it's rather like the plumber with the clogged drains and leaky faucet, but when he comes through it's especially nice. Will got a bargain on these oak cupboards. He was disappointed that the ones on the end weren't the same size, but I have really low standards. I think they look just fine. And it leaves a little headroom to put my vintage sewing box.

Sandy was the one with the brilliant idea to hang cupboards on my wall in the quilting room. She's full of brilliant ideas. And an organizational wizard. Me? While I'm pretty good at getting rid of things and letting them go, the getting around to it is a challenge. I have no real inspiration on new ways of looking at the same old space. She's one of the most orderly people I know. Not my forte. I seem to work best in chaos, but I suppose there's such a thing as too much of a good thing. I like neat as well as the next person, I just really hate to stop what I'm doing to achieve that neatness. And a blank canvas can be ... well, a bit of an inspirational downer. Kinda overwhelming, I suppose. The whole, "now what?" feeling. And I'd hate to get all that neatness and orderliness messed up. 'Cause I know it won't be returning to its former state any time soon. Neurotic, I know. But I never claimed sanity as one of my stronger character qualities.

Sandy then helped me sort through all the boxes of cast offs other people had passed onto me. See? I hadn't gotten around to it- didn't even know what was in those boxes. While I may find much of it unsuitable for my needs, I'm also happy to help those people incapable of letting things go unless they imagine those things are in a safe and loving environment. I have no such emotional attachments. Or if I do, they don't last long. There comes a point when blessings can become burdens and its important to know when that point has come. Otherwise you'll end up on that TV show about people who are being buried alive by their stuff. Of course, none of those poor people think they have a problem. And we all have problems we're blind to.

Sandy and I organized my projects. I just hadn't bothered with putting them in a specific place. That would have taken time. So now all the projects are in their own bins. Yes, two bins. But honestly, don't you ever just get tired of working on the same thing, day after day? I know I do. I don't know how people start and finish a project all in one long stretch. The thought simultaneous exhausts and bores me. I love the thrill of starting something and finishing it. The middle part? Well, I enjoy the process, but it doesn't have the same excitement, does it? And finding these stowed projects brings back all the old feelings of anticipation I originally had. Always new and exciting. I like that.

Maybe I should cover that quilt on the frame with a sheet- that way it will seem new when I uncover it. It's a thought. Ah, the games we play. It's been sitting there for a shameful amount of time. Really shameful. Good thing it's one of mine, huh? I could unzipper it and try something else. Nah, I'll get to it when my muse returns. You can see how close I am to the end. The thrill of finishing it is right in front of me. Still ain't feelin' it. Love the quilt, though. The antique blocks were given to me by someone who needed to give them a good home. So glad some one knew when their blessing/burden ratio had been reached!

2011-03-31T13:13:00.003-04:00

Ridiculous...

but adorable.

I have no idea how or why they decided to wrap Bekah's hair around a hanger!

Cabin fever must be setting in.

It snowed, again, yesterday. It was a beautiful wet snow of fat fluffy flakes- which we rarely get- we tend to have the powder sugar variety that's so dry it sqeaks when you walk on it. But when the children saw snow, their little shoulders slumped, heaving big sighs. I am still wearing my coat and scarf around the house and sleeping under five quilts. I can tell you, rolling over is a chore with that many quilts- but what's a girl to do? By morning I'm usually toasty warm, and that makes it getting out of bed a chore. I'll heave my own sigh, now. I'll try to store these moments away when the summer heat keeps me awake at night. And for now I'll daydream about going around barefoot, sitting on my swing and crocheting, my arms bare. I'll feel so light, won't I?

2011-03-29T16:55:00.002-04:00

Pretty Cool, huh? John and Bekah made this amazing little lighthouse for me while I was sick. Who wouldn't feel better seeing how ingenius and creative her children are? It really is an engineering wonder. They duplicated my favorite lighthouse- West Quoddy in the Bay of Fundy- even down to the little house next to it. Bekah collected some rocks from the driveway and washed and dried them all carefully so that the glue would hold them down to the cardboard. The lighthouse is made from cardboard- carefully wrapped in paper they had colored the red stripes on- and foam- the light is encased with the plastic from a 2-liter bottle. Such imagination! I couldn't even begin to guess how the light is rigged up- I think a flashlight bulb with some kind of battery in the lighthouse tower- you just have to touch the two wires on top of the pole together and voila! light! They are always surprising me. And you should have seen their faces- they were so excited about it- knowing how much I love this particular lighthouse!

2011-03-23T15:37:00.002-04:00

Officially Spring...

Of course, we don't actually believe it-usually snows even in April. But there are warm days- and not so warm days. Which certainly makes one appreciate the ones that are warm. Does that make any sense? I am sure I could make that sentence more concise if I were so inclined. Can't say that I am. Now aren't I just the little rebel? Cabin fever. Yeah, I'll blame it on that. Nothing to do with me just being bratty.

Aren't my Spring blooms pretty? Jonquils and lilacs. Two of my favorites. (Of course, I would be hard pressed to say which flower would not be one of my favorite.... I guess gladiolas- 'cause my Aunt Karen always said they reminded her of funerals. I've never seen them grown here, anyway- too windy.) This wreath has been the sum total of my creativity- and yet I am feeling pretty proud of myself. I have been wanting one for some time- they always cheer me up but, wow, can they be expensive- if you want a pretty one. The cheapest I could find was $25 and only had half the flowers I used. Mine came to a grand total of $12- grapevine wreath included. With leftover flowers and greenery to boot. The ribbon was one I already had- from a gift basket sent by my Aunt Isobel. You know, I have some pretty spectacular aunts. She and Aunt Patsy got me a Kindle- all for being sick. That almost made it worth it. Maybe more than almost. I figure I have read nearly a dozen books in the one week that I have had it.

My little sickness is an infection in my mastoid. It's the bone behind the ear. Kinda wraps up and around it. How this happens or how long it takes to happen... or more importantly, how long it takes to get rid of the infection- I have no idea. This is my fifth week on antibiotics. Some so strong that my skin is coming off in big sheets. TMI? And ya know what? The ache is still there. Not as bad as it once was, so in this, I am extremely grateful. Maybe, just maybe, my body's immunities will kick in and I'll be... free. Well, one has to have hope. As an insulin-dependant diabetic, it is more of a challenge. But I have been so very good with my control that honestly, there is nothing more that I can do. It's in God's hands, as everything is, and I know that I am learning a lot from this- otherwise, what would be the point?

I did try to sew a few weeks ago- my arms shook and I broke out into a sweat. And bugger it all, the block came out too large. I copied the directions down wrong- 1/2" is NOT the same as 1/4". No way, no how. Ah well. A block for my nubbin box.

Hope everyone is enjoying a touch of Spring. So sorry Darcie! You will get yours, eventually. You are always warm in my thoughts!

2011-02-19T10:07:00.005-05:00

Jacob's Feast...

This is Jacob. He is 17 and quite a character. In the best sort of way. Jacob is very sociable. He is just as comfortable with an 8 month old as he is with an 80 year old. He isn't gabby, but he likes to visit with people. Talking, listening, and laughing. Jacob is an avid outdoorsman. He is going cold weather hiking and camping, next week. Without a tent. He has a survivalist mentality. If stranded on a desert island, I am pretty sure he would take another person with him- to visit with and eventually use as a food source. He is very creative but in a 3-diminsional sort of way. This is one of the knives he made. Jacob is one of the best songleaders I have ever seen- and no, I am not prejudice;) Coffee is a passion of his and he would someday like to open his own coffee shop. Oh I just love him to peices!

Jacob's feast had a waffle house theme. He had orange wedges and assorted muffins for his appetizer. Blueberry, lemon poppyseed, apple cinnamon, and banana walnut. He had two drinks- orange juice and Jones Soda. His main course was dinner waffles made with sausage and cheddar cheese served with sausage gravy and hash browns. He then had dessert waffles that you could stuff with vanilla ctream and the fruit of your choice. Strawberries, cherry, blueberries. And of course whipped cream for the top. His gift to the other children was the waffle maker that he made all the waffles with. I never saw so many children so miserably full!

That ends our feast season. We had such a grand time. Thanks for sharing it with us!

2011-02-09T11:08:00.004-05:00

Life is like that...

you have to keep your eye on the gorgeous, good things and not get caught up in the telephone wires.

2011-02-04T21:43:00.004-05:00

Abe's feast...

This is our "little man." He is 7 years old and a bundle of energy. He flies from one task to the next, forgetting where he was and where he is going. It really is comical. "Abe, weren't you getting yourself a drink?" "Oh yeah, right!" Nothing gets in his way. He is always looking on the sunny side of life. He doesn't blubber over disappointments. Just shrugs his shoulders and says these things happen. Abe is a great problem solver. He likes to figure things out and has his own unique way of looking at a problem. "Mom, I'm not so sure Heaven is gonna to be that great of a place." Now why would he say that? "Cause all of the people there have to wear those round things on their heads to keep the sun out of their eyes." Obviously he's seen a picture with folks wearing halos... that's Abe!

***

His feast really tickled my funny bone. His theme was... wait for it...worms. Yep, worms. I giggled all over the place when he told me that one. His brothers and sisters were gonna love it! So he wanted roots hanging all over the place and on the table- which we made out of twisted brown packing paper. He wouldn't even let me iron the table cloth- 'cause that's more like dirt. And it wasn't a problem that the table cloth didn't cover the entire tabletop, because dirt is brown like the wood of the table... See what I mean? Nothing flaps him. When he said he wanted pineapple for an appetizer, I asked him what that had to do with worms..."It's just an idea, Mom." Then he served spaghetti- of course, and he twisted breadsticks up like worms, also. He had punch for his drink and then, finally, for dessert he made rice krispy treats with gummy worms climbing out of them. His gift was those long twisty balloons- 'cause they look like worms, ya know.

2011-02-03T11:45:00.004-05:00

My View...

Lots of ice and some snow mixed in. I still can't figure out how it is ice instead of snow when it is 18 degrees outside. Weird. We had a couple days of that and now- mixed with the snow- we have several inches of ice on the ground- and on the windows. I guess that makes knowing what the weather is like easy to guess- icey. It took Bill four hours to get the car up and running. There was a lake of ice down in the dash and had to be all thawed and chipped away.

We had to postpone Abe's feast. Weather permitting, it will be tomorrow. There is talk of more snow, though. Silly weather. The kids are enjoying it. They don't usually get to sled because it is just too flat around here. But the ice makes it a whole lot of fun to make a semi-running start and jumping on a "sled" and sliding across the ice. John has even done some wind surfing. The "semi-running" because it is near impossible to stand upright on all that ice. Eva and Boo have a fair number of bruises on their... more delicate parts. The sun is shining today and that is such a welcome change.

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I hope you are happy, warm and well.

2011-01-28T20:11:00.003-05:00

John's feast...

This is our fifth son, John. He is 14 and a bundle of incorrigible creativity. You know those movies where some precocious kid is constantly inventing these amazing contraptions? That's John. Full of confidence. Of course, things don't always turn out the way he plans, but he is never discouraged by past failures- just takes it in stride and tries again. I am certain that his mind never, ever rests. Sometimes I get a little freaked out by his inventions and we have to reign him back in (the blow darts come to mind.) He is happy and smiling 99% of the time. He has big dreams and big plans and with his winning attitude, I just can't imagine him not attaining them. Oh, I just love him to pieces.

His feast was awesome. No, really. It had the theme of "Awesome." He even wrote that word in duct tape across a table runner. He found every extra strand of twinkle lights he could find and strung them up all over the ceiling. Swags everywhere. He has a great sense of humor and pretended that his gift to the other children were little coupons. "Free Hug" was written on them, but for his older brothers, it was "Free Handshake" and "Free Wave." They all got a kick out of that. The real gifts were whistles for the girls and a dinasaur for Abe. The older brothers got whoopie cushions and something called Flarp- which I am sure if you use your imagination, you can figure out what it does. Bill read about 20 verses stating that our God is an awesome God. He'd point to a different child each time that the word "awesome' came up and they would say it for him. John served coffee drinks- containing icecream, topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup and caramel- with his appetizer of jerky, honey roasted peanuts, and dried pineapple. His main course he changed at the last minute to please his sibling. Fetticine alfredo with garlic bread. They each got their own bottle of root beer. John had a sundae bar for dessert. Paul said, "John, you have no idea how happy you have made me!" It was unanimous.

2011-01-24T20:12:00.004-05:00

Paul's feast...

Paul is 16 and he's a very... complex guy. He thinks everything out and voices very little. I am pretty sure that he never says a thing that he hasn't thought through at least a dozen times. At least. He is the epitome of the strong, silent type but inside he is really very sweet and thoughtful. If he sees something that he can do to make your life easier- he's there for you. He gets a kick out of funny things that people do. He spends a lot of time studying and he seems to like that. Go figure. Paul is the self-appointed puddle police. Woe to you if you do not remove your shoes at the door. An all-around great guy and I love him to peices.

Paul had a "darkness" theme. Honestly, where do these kids come up with these things? Paul is like Johnny Cash in that he wears a lot of black. No, he's not goth, just very practical and insists that it doesn't get stained as easily. So... black it is. Black tablecloth, plates, silverware, napkins and cups. The floor was covered in black balloons (which I had to inflate as the asthmatic isn't going to be able to get that job done and his Dad has nerve damage in his lips and holding a seal while blowing was so funny he had Paul and I in stitches.) Black streamers from the ceiling fans and a black lantern on the table. It was downright dark in there when he invited his guests to the feast amid an eerie tune he recorded of John playing his keyboard. Will had to use a flashlight for the scripture reading(1 john 1:5-7 -God is the light and in Him there is no darkness.) His appetizer was After Dark Doritos and Chicken fingers with BBQ and Asian orange sauce. His meal was a heaping plate of shells and cheese. And his dessert was mini cherry pies with ice cream. He had every variety of Mountain Dew available. Paul went to the Army/Navy store and bought the kids their own MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for later. We certainly couldn't have held another grain of food.

2011-01-21T19:38:00.004-05:00

Evabeth's feast...

Eva is 11 years old and such a beautiful young lady- inside and out. She is sweet and thoughtful, and loved by everyone. She enjoys spending time with her little sister. She has a mothering personality. Nurturing and protective. When there is a job to be done, she is the first to roll up her sleeves and get to work. She is fearless. I have never seen her be intimidated or shy about anything. Ask her to do something and you can consider it done. Her favorite color is pink. She is an accomplished artist. She loves her big family and mentions almost daily how much she misses her older brothers and sister. And, yes, I love her to pieces!

Evabeth played the role of Queen Esther and invited her guests to a Persian feast. She had flatbread with zahowie for her appetizer. Rotisserie chicken(she contracted her Daddy to construct the spit and he did a great job improvising with some shelving brackets he had in the garage) with a salad and basmati rice for her main course and the gorgeous fruit tower for dessert. That fruit tower was a real eyepopper and between that and the spit the kids were duly impressed. And she thought up all by herself. Very creative. Her beverage was grape juice and her gifts to the other children were handmade ephods with glitter jewels. All 12 tribes were represented.

Rejoice with us! Yesterday, Eva had her final neurology appointment at Riley Children's Hospital. Things look very, very good in regards to her epilepsy. Aside from cautious living-ie: no high risk occupations, like piloting an airplane or operating heavy equipment(to which she said, "Why would I want to do that?") she is free to live her life. Avoiding sleep deprivation will always be a goal with her, but this is an excellent prognosis and so much more than we ever dreamed with the initial diagnosis being- "persist and evolve." God is indeed very good.

2011-01-17T21:03:00.003-05:00

Feast days!

Each year, each of our children contribute to the holiday season with the preparation and presentation of a special feast for the family. This year, it will be 6 feasts- since we only have six children at home. Seems like a small number to us, but plenty enough to still have a wonderful time. All year, the children are planning for the feasts, changing their minds as many times as they can until they are settled into the perfect celebration. All is done behind closed doors in the secrecy of the kitchen. Each child trying to out-serve each other. Now isn't that a wonderful thing to contemplate? We have scheduled two feasts a week. Enough to hold the winter doldrums at bay. And before any of you think that the date on my posts is somehow off- yes, I realize that there's still a tree in my house. And it is most definitely the middle of January and I have no intentions of finishing up with the holidays until the middle of February. I might be a tad behind as far as the calendar is concerned, but, as any physics professor will tell you- time as we know it is an arbitrary measurement at best.

Bekah's Feast...

Sweet Bekah, my faithful sidekick. No mother has ever had a better companion in the mundane chores of each day. She is the happiest of helpers- and a very adept one, at that. At 9 years old, I daresay that she can outcook most high school graduates. She can stir up a mean pot of gravy and soups are her specialty. She never misses a detail and can rattle off ingredients for almost anything I cook. If I am in the kitchen, she grabs an apron and is there by my side. And such a joy to have around. She is a practical little thing- no muss, no fuss. Purple is her favorite color. She loves reading more than she loves cooking- the scarier the better. She has an amazingly dry sense of humor for one so young- upon hearing the same word in as many sentences, she says, "We get the point..." rolling her eyes. Yes, I love her to pieces.

Her feast had a "fire" theme. She decorated the dining room in "flames" of red and yellow crepe paper. Her meal was a zesty compilation: Salsa(which she helped me make last summer) and chips for the appetizer. Hot wings and BBQ wings with steak fries for dinner and Coke zero with vanilla and limes to cool things down a bit. She couldn't think of a zingy dessert so she settled for Key lime pie- Jack's favorite. In fact, at the dinner table he announced that if a key lime pie were a woman, he'd marry her! Recipe follows. Her gifts were glow sticks in assorted colors- some as swords and others as fairy wands. As usual, we had to be rolled away from the table.

Key Lime Pie

One- 9" graham cracker pie shell

One- 14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

3- egg yolks

1/2 cup- Nellie and Joe's Key West Lime juice

Combine milk, egg yolks, and lime juice.

Blend until smooth.

Pour filling into pie shell.

Bake at 350* for 15 minutes.

Let stand 10 minutes before refrigerating.

Serve with whipped cream (or Cool Whip.)

2010-12-13T12:58:00.005-05:00

Hold that thought...

This time of year has always been very special to me. A time to share with my sweet children. We bake. We listen to carols. We craft. We curl up under quilts- yes to stay warm, but it's a way to be close, too. A joyful frenzy. Feast days are celebrated with so much thoughtfulness and anticipation. Each child shining like the stars that they are. A time to really appreciate our many blessing, especially of each other. Just being together.

In some ways, this year is no different than past years. We are counting our blessings. Maybe more so. We are spending simple times together- a whole afternoon styling barbie hair, coloring pictures, no baking- but the "spice cake" candle makes us think that we are. The lights twinkle just as brightly. The snow is lovely- perfect for this time of year.

But we've made the decision to "hold that thought." A gentle abiding is in the air. Festivities will come. Celebrations will be renewed. But for now, it is enough to enjoy the snow, the quiet, the peace of the season.

2010-12-09T21:01:00.003-05:00

Bunny Stew...

It was amazing. He is a great hunter and an even better cook. You'll notice the weapon is orange tipped- that means it isn't real. It's the latest thing in plastic pellet guns and he shot the bunny in the cellar after a mad dash ala Peter Rabbit and Mr. MacGregor. All that's just logistics after you add taters, onions and carrots! Simmered in a cast iron dutch oven... wow.

2010-11-24T16:04:00.001-05:00

For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies;
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the wonder of each hour,
Of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale and tree and flow'r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight;
For the mystic harmony,
Linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on Earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

For Thy church that evermore,
Lifteth holy hands above;
Off'ring up on ev'ry shore,
Her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This, our hymn of grateful praise.

2010-11-21T14:23:00.002-05:00

Some sewing, at last...

first sewing project in over two months. This measures 50x50" and is for my 3rd son, Jacob. He helped me lay it all out because the "simple" pattern was really beyond me. They had you start from the center and work your way out. What's up with that? Not the way my mind works on a good day, and these wouldn't be called good days. So we did one row at a time. Took me four days and now I need to grow it to 60x 76" so that it will fit the minkee blankee that I bought to go with it. I wish it could have been green, his favorite color, but they didn't have any green minkee when I bought it a while back, so this will do. The minkee is a lovely russett color. Lots of chopped off corners in those HST, but not one of my boys would ever even think to mention such a thing. The rust fabs are from my uncle's stash- I weeded some out that didn't call to me, and the backgrounds are from my own even if they did suggest you use the same, but you know me, I like it all scrappy.

I have a new med and it is helping. an improvement. and any improvement is a good thing. Hey, I did laundry, yesterday. wow.

2010-11-15T10:40:00.003-05:00

Update...

My sister says she needs to see an update here. I was wondering how long I could get by without posting before she started nagging. But she only nags because she loves me.

I haven't been well. Trying to get some meds adjusted so that I can feel more normal. Normal-a tall order, my sister would say. I really would settle for anything in the general vacinity of normal. I can see improvements in some areas, but on the whole, I'm still pretty miserable. I'm hunkering down and just trying to weather it out. These things take time. That's what sweet William keeps telling me, but I'm so impatient to get back to my life. Like it's slipping through my fingers. My days involve reading a little, watching Hulu, avoiding the phone like it's the plague- I'm just not up to casual conversation, and not a single lick of sewing. Maybe it's the lack of sewing that has me so distressed, huh? I've wandered out there a time or two and I still feel a familiar fondness for the colors and textures, but no strength to do anything but turn away from it. Yeah, it's sad and it's getting me down. Basically, it's a waiting game. Increase this med and we'll see you in two weeks. That didn't work? Well, let's try this and we'll see you in two weeks. So this is my life- in two week intervals.

Son, John, drew that picture with one of his Etch-A-Sketches. He is so good at that. I have some of the sweetest, most talented, kids on the planet. I'm not bragging, I'm just stating fact.

2010-10-08T15:54:00.002-04:00

Two weeks and no sewing...

Must be some kind of record for me. I haven't been sick. Not very anyway. Just still having to lay low with the allergies, but they are improving everyday that we move away from the harvesting that has taken place around our house. I love living in the middle of farm land, but the harvest- and the spraying- are not my most favorite parts. Beautiful and kind of exciting to see the fields cleared, though.

Oh, I guess I did play some with those puzzle balls, but that's it. OK by me. I have been entertaining myself just fine. Whodathunk?

Hmm... so what have I been up to? Can't rightly recollect! I have been reading some. After two years on a particular medicine that completely scrambled my brain and made my attention span equal to that of a hyperactive flea, it feels so good to be off it and onto another one which, so far, seems much more friendly. So I have lots of reading to catch up on and I have been doing just that. Oh nothing too deep, just dime novels, but I am giddy to be able to do that! I have been cooking more(the c's- cookies, casseroles and cupcakes!) and having the children help me organize some. Months of stashing things willy nilly does catch up with you, eventually. Time to rotate and reevaluate storage. Coming up with some exciting new plans. Things must be bad when you are excited about cleaning out cupboards, huh?

The same quilt has been setting in the quilting frame for the last two weeks. I think it might be responsible for my downward spiril into allergyworld. At least the catalist. Must have been one dusty top- circa 1930. It is gorgeous and I am two passes from finishing it, just happy to see it there for now. Looking forward to showing it to you. Have a great weekend!

2010-10-05T10:20:00.006-04:00

A rather disappointing finish...

Bekah looks like I feel. No, she isn't pouting. That's the look she gets when she is concentrating. The bottom lip juts out and is too adorable not to snap a picture of. I surprised her, can you tell?

Now, I am pouting. I had such a glorious time sewing these little puzzle balls for my friends- flying up on the wings of anticipation, only to fall to earth with a thud. You'll notice that something is missing. They're rather flat, aren't they? I figured that I would make the balls and then buy the stuffing for them. Jenny Beyer recommends the cotton stuffing as it compacts better into a harder ball. None to be found locally. No problem as that is what the internet is for, right? Shopping. I found cotton stuffing at a wide range of locations- even some organic stuffing, which is what I preferred. It runs an average of $8.50 a lb. A price I was willing to pay. I needed 3 lbs. so $25 and my heart would be happy. Figured $8 for shipping. Nope. $16!! Really? I mean, are you kidding me? $16?? So the poor little balls will have to remain uninflated until I can justify spending $40 to stuff them! Think that will ever happen? I think not. I should have know Jenny would get me into trouble. And I'm kinda addicted to sewing them. Really wanted to try some of the more complicated balls now that I have my friends covered. Kinda takes the bloom off the rose. And to think, I was actually hand sewing! Oh the injustice of it! Waa! Somebody call the "waa-mbulance!"

2010-09-24T16:52:00.002-04:00

Nines' tub of shame...

Sandy started the whole thing by asking how many quilt tops I have that need to be quilted... a lot, I figured. Quite a lot. But I hadn't actually counted in a long while so I went digging in the tubs under my counter. After sifting and sorting I came up with one large tub.

First, I would just like to say that this represents an extensive amount of piecing. Right? It's hardly like I haven't been doing anything. Right? The grand total? Well... there are 19 bed-sized quilts and another 10 or so smaller ones. And I call myself a quilter. Shameful. Sigh. And this doesn't include Mom's tub. No, Mom, I am not trying to make you feel guilty. Just stating facts. (amidst the quilt tops were numerous finished quilts. Too many to number, to be honest. I need some of my grown children to come home and take some of them away. And I need to make gifts of some of them. It isn't like I won't make more, you know. Something has to be done about this overwhelming urge to cut and sew...)

So what do I plan to do about the situation? Well I worked at the LQS for two quilt backs, today. And I am going to seriously curb my fabric shopping in favor of backing and batting shopping. And I need to set a date with the quilting machine and stick to it. A little discipline. Wouldn't that be novel? Wish me luck.

2010-09-23T07:47:00.002-04:00

Recovery...

I just didn't get any sewing done, yesterday. Now, ain't that sad? I was still beat from gadding about on Tuesday, I think. I did pick out fabric for the Ashes and Soot blocks and then I got busy cleaning house. Took a nap with Abe. I figure it won't be long before he is too big for naps with his Mama. I love watching him sleep. Plus it was a rainy, dreary day.

Isn't that a pretty journal? Darcy gave me one a few years ago with a composition notebook in it. I have used it so much, I must have switched the notebook out several times. This one is filled with sketch paper. Kathy made it- right down to the artwork on the cover. She's a retired art teacher. And one of the most skilled seamstresses you will ever meet. She sews almost all of her own clothes and I am thinking I will buy some batik fabic on sale and have her sew me up a tunic. She's very generous that way. I have been blessed with having some of the sweetest people in my life.

2010-09-21T19:29:00.002-04:00

Whadda day!

Man, am I beat! Up early. Had a Dr. appointment. I don't know why I always schedule them so early! Guess I just want to get them over with. I do get nervous about them. Shouldn't, but I do. Everything went great.

Had lunch with the Wayward Fabric Club- which was yummy and so much fun. But then we needed to help Tanya organize her shop for the big "Going Out Of Business" sale. We just tried to stay upbeat and promised not to make Tanya cry. But it is a sad thing when the local quilt shop has to close. The quilt guild(of which I am no part) has been less than supportive and the economy stinks so... I picked out a bit of fabric at 50% off and plan on helping her out over the next few weeks as she tries to sell as much as possible. The Quilter's Toy Box looks great, and if you're in the area...

Ran by JoAnn's and used a 50% off coupon to replenish my batting supply. Tanya carries Dream cotton and I might pick up a few of those, but I really like Warm and Natural batting. It doesn't stretch and is cooler than poly batting. I might set out a few backings for myself, as well. She has some really lovely ones.

Now, I came home late. Bekah wants me to put that in. I think she is holding a grudge. I will have to make it up to her tomorrow. Tonight, I am thinking to put my aching feet up and watch a movie. Don't I sound ambitious?

2010-09-20T11:40:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Abe!

He had a birthday, last week, and we are celebrating, today. Sweet William's day off. Abraham is so excited- as only a 7 year old can be. He said he is going to have a fruit theme. Pineapple, pears, grapes, oranges. Then, there's the poppyseed chicken- which I suspect his brothers put him up to. Followed by a candybar cake. We'll be taking the kids to the apple orchard just down the road, later, today. Full of fun.

Non-Triangle therapy...

The top quilt is just a weekend project. I still need to join the blocks and make the checkerboard borders. The pattern called for plaids but since I don't have any... thought batiks would do. I used up a lot of my 2" strips. Makes one realize just how much stash one has! Might need to make another one to use up the rest of the my 2" batik strips. Sub-cut to 5". Cut some more 5" blocks to go with and the blocks are pretty much done. I started this as something to do between making flying geese blocks. I need 360 of them and well, it's rather tedious. Sandy said I was doing it all wrong- should have worked a little while on each project, just to keep it more interesting and give me a break from the flying geese. I have trouble setting aside a project once I pick it up. Oh well, maybe I'll get more flying geese done, today. In between birthday clebrations.

2010-09-17T09:26:00.006-04:00

Magic Doilies...

I'm Hooked!

I know most of you need another hobby like you need another hole in your head. But this is one that I just enjoy so much. I thought I'd be selfish not to share. Most of you know I crochet doilies. Lots of doilies.

Funny thing, I can't follow a standard pattern to save my life. All the symbols and abbreviations just wear me out. But this Magic Crochet... that, I can do. Sandy introduced this to me a couple years ago and, as long as it is round, I can crochet it. I showed my Mom and she has shared it with neices and nephews of mine. All of them have picked it up with no trouble.

First, there is the graph. It is just a pie sliced version of the doily that you will be crocheting. It has numbers for the rows and sometimes they have numbers for the chains. But the coolest thing about the graphs are the symbols. Each symbol represents a different kind of stitch. And these are mostly self-explanatory, but there is also a key in the front of the magazines to help you keep it all straight. They are just your standard crochet stitches- chain, single, double, triple. Nothing mysterious. You just repeat the symbols of each row until you are finished with that row.

I have never timed myself, but I figure that if I work on a doily, in my spare time- when I'm not quilting, an average-sized doily would only take me a week or two. The larger ones take longer, of course. Getting used to the tiny hook and thread is one of the hurdles to jump, and when I first started, I felt like a two year old trying hold a crayon and draw between the lines. It was kind of comical. But now I find the yarns and larger hooks quite clumsy to work with.

And doilies aren't just decorative. I love making small ones to use as coasters. Darcy gave me that beautiful variegated orange thread. It is a woven thread- so perfect for coasters. That just takes and hour or two. East peasy!

The Magic Crochet magazines are out of print, but you can still find them on the internet. Ebay, used books, you know. Hope you give it a try.

(Dear Joe, I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures of hearth and kin in this weekend post. That doesn't mean I don't love you, just means that the children probably looked like no one was tending them- think lots of mud pies. Quote of the week goes to Abe- "Light me!" Followed by lots of uproarious laughter. You have to figure out what they were up to as I am not telling. Only the boys... I'll try to do better next week. I love you son. Give my love to Laurie.)

2010-09-16T09:19:00.003-04:00

Before...

After...

Nines' stash enhancement!

Had a great time at Sandy's on Tuesday. We organized her fabric and Sandy did a wonderful job at being decisive and choosing what she would keep and what she would get rid of. Took no time at all. Most of what she got rid of was added to my stash. I haven't had the time to sort through it but it got me to thinking about ways that I could better use my space and fabrics that I don't guess I'll ever get around to using. Fall organizing.

See, I had a serious allergy attack yesterday. No, nothing life threatening but I must have sneezed a 1,000 times! Wears a body out. Rebekah, who is 9, sent me to bed at 10am and I took a benadryl. Won't do that again as I slept the day away. What a waste, but I really couldn't function anyway. They are cutting the soy beans and you can see the plume of dust a mile away. It looks like rain, today, and I am joyfully anticipating it settling the dust down. As it is, I have shut the house back up and have the air conditioning running again. I am feeling better if a little stuffy headed and still dripping from time to time.

When I woke up from my drug induced sleep, I found that Bekah had cleaned my sewing table off and had also done some work on my counter in the quilting room. How sweet was that? Got me all inspired to sew- doesn't take much to do that! We did have a productive morning of school and canning salsa- black bean and corn. Might be the last of the summer. Today, I might just sit on the couch and crochet- a good rainy day project.

2010-09-15T08:55:00.002-04:00

A story to tell...

That little quilt was my first little quilt. It was a challenge from Sandy and we cut them out together. I figured out that, for me, it was best to nibble on it. Just a bit at a time and then sew something else, come back and nibble some more. Before you knew it and it was done. I'm hooked and still enjoy making small quilts- as the walls in my dining room will attest. Bill has promised me that he will finish the dry wall so that I can paint before a big party here in November. Might even get the floor finished. All a big deal around here.

That peice of McCoy pottery on the chest of drawers sat on my Mom's dresser when I was a little girl and now it sets on mine. Not only do I love McCoy, but I love crockery of any kind. And this set has sentimental value as it reminds me of home. I'd be intersted in seeing others' sentimental pieces.

Off to sew- took the day off yesterday. Can't wait to get back to it!

2010-09-14T08:53:00.002-04:00

A little bit of sewing...

Here's Jacob with his new pillow case. This one is from that pattern where you put all the parts together and then stuff the whole thing into the cuff, sew that down, pull it right side out and tada! A pillow case. Was that totally confusing? I have made quite a few of them, but it has been a while and thought I better get his done before I forgot how. But it all came back to me and I whipped it up in no time. And kids love new pillow cases. Jacob said this one was "pretty much awesome."

Of course, he isn't much of a kid anymore. He'll be 18 in the Spring. He works for a construction company a few days a week and seems to like it. He does all sorts of work- drywall, windows, ditchdigging, painting and cement work. He really is a good guy and he loves all things coffee. He would love to open his own coffee shop. He has even some really great expresso soap. He would make a good shop owner as he is very personable. More naturally outgoing than our two older sons. Used to drive me crazy how he would talk to everyone- he was that baby in the buggy at the grcoery store that would wave you down and always say, "Hi!" Took me hours to get done with my shopping as he charmed his way through the store. I rather like that quality in him now.

Well, I am off to help Sandy organize her fabric cupboards. I am really looking forward to seeing what she has in there. I made us a nice lunch of poppyseed chicken casserole. We plan on spending the day "working." I can hardly wait to get started. Have agreat day!