Monthly Archives: April 2014

2014
04/30

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

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Another finish

On our short walk in the park, we noticed these trees.   Is this natural, or were they bent that way?

P1010395 bent trees at park

The second bee box is on each hive.   All those spots on the white are bees, though a bit difficult to see.   It is amazing how wearing the bee suit takes the fear out of working with the bees.  Even though they are swarming all over, knowing I’m not going to be stung gives me confidence.

P1010399 large hive

  And yes,  that is me in the bee suit.

P1010400 signed

Do you see the signature embroidered in the binding at the bottom of the photo?

P1010402 bound, signed and finished

  The koala quilt is finished – signed and bound!    I gave it a bit of a push to be able to count if in April’s finishes.

 

2014
04/29

Category:
Foods
Garden
Knitting
Life
quilts
Sewing

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Craftsy

Have you been to Craftsy, yet?   They have a multitude of classes on different topics.  They even have some mini-classes that are free so you can try their classes and see if you like them.    Look here for the list of freebies http://www.craftsy.com/classes/free?_ct=sbqii-wqbbuho-ikrdql&_ctp=free.     

I have taken the pizza making one and just now enrolled in the one on knife skills.   I have also signed up for several that have been on sale and still have not finished all those classes, but am working on them.

Once you sign up for one of their classes, you can take it as many times as you want until you master the subject they are teaching.     I’m delighted with these classes as sometimes it takes me seeing something new a few times before I really retain it.     Class subject are on food, gardening, painting, drawing, sewing, quilting, embroidery, etc.   I know I missed some, but I think you would enjoy having a look.

2014
04/28

Category:
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
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Koala quilt

It was cool out today, but sunny.   I love to sit by the window and spin with the sun coming through the window on my back.   Tomorrow by 4, the  temperature is forecast to get up to 75 and maybe up in the 80s late in the day on Wed and Thursday.   You people in the sunbelt have no idea how wonderful that sounds to those of us with webbed feet.    I  will take my knitting outside (when it warms up) and soak in as much sun as possible.

 P1010392 finished quilted koala

Here is the Koala quilt that I quilted today – It is only 48″ square so wheel chair or child sized.  It has been waiting it’s turn.

P1010394 close up of koala quilting

Here is the back, perhaps, if you enlarge it you can see the design of Australian wildlife.   This back is the same dark brown as the front, but the flash changed the color.   It still needs trimming and binding.

I have been asked how I get so much done.   First, it doesn’t seem to me that I do.  But I do push myself with lists and stern talking to get something done daily.

Today, after spinning most of the morning, then winding two hanks of yarn into balls, we ate a quick lunch and went to get some more beekeeping supplies.

We came home and I did the quilt which took 4 hours (but a lot longer working up to getting it done including deciding on the pattern) .  Then a quick trip to gather eggs and pen the animals (no choice there).

I convinced myself that whatever spray paint I could find in the garage would work just fine for the bee box I need tomorrow.   Chalkboard paint was the only thing I could find, so used it.  I  now have several white bee boxes and a black one.   In this case, done, was better than waiting to buy white paint as I need to give it to the bees tomorrow after it warms up.    There are 3 more to paint and I will buy paint before I need them.

Supper was left overs from other meals this week, so just had to warm them.

As you can see, I do what matters carefully and the other as quickly as possible.   Tomorrow, I have a morning appointment, after which I absolutely must fertilize the plants in the greenhouse.  (Many things get done out of last minute necessity)  If I get up early enough, I’ll get some sewing in, but I’m not counting on that happening.

I will attend to the bees in the afternoon which will take an hour and then enjoy knitting a new pair of socks in the sun and taking a walk.

Housework is only done under duress or when company is expected.   Unless, it really gets to me, then I’ll take the time to take care of the issue that is bothersome.   Most things get done on the way to doing something else – such as taking laundry to the machine on the way to breakfast.   A couple mornings a week are spent preparing food for the week.

Now it is 9 PM and I’m collapsing.    At 6 I’ll start this all over again.   I’m never bored and I hope you enjoyed this small look into my life.

 

2014
04/27

Category:
Garden
Life

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Pouring rain and gardening

It rained so hard today, I am ready to share with those of you in Texas who are wanting rain.   However, I am not complaining, because it is much easier to get out of the rain than to get rain when it doesn’t exist.    Today, I spent considerable time spinning the dog’s wool that they are shedding like crazy.   Then I planted some tomatoes – but only about 1/2 of them.   I still need to put the others in larger containers to grow until we can plant outside in another month.

P1010389 volunteer tom

These 30 tomato plants were volunteers in the greenhouse

P1010388 see tomatoes

And these 39 I planted from seed.   The volunteers are winners so far.

P1010390 frozen banana

This is the banana plant that I so feared had frozen to death in December

P1010386 garden destroyers

These are the cultivators or shall I call them seedling destroyers.

P1010387 egg size

And just for fun, I thought you’d enjoy seeing this tiny little egg laid by one of our large egg layers.   The larger egg is a normal sized egg and the little one is more like a love bird egg.

2014
04/26

Category:
quilts

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Star tracks quilt

It’s done!   Completely done!     It measures 52 x 64″, so it is a nice nap size.

10103589finished star tracks

This has been on my quilting machine since the beginning of the month or maybe the last month and too many other things grabbed my attention.   However since it is on my list of things I wanted to accomplish this month, I started quilting it first thing this morning and bound it this afternoon.   It is Christmas fabrics, so I will put it aside for street mission or another donation closer to Christmas.

2014
04/25

Category:
farming
quilts

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On Grandpa’s Pond bom =Jan block

 P1010377 on grandpas pond fin Jan

January’s block is all finished – including the stitching.   These take a bit of time, but aren’t difficult.   She still has the patterns up on line if you would like to make them.

P1010371 perched babies bantams

And I must share that the bantam baby chicks are now perching.   Here’s a prayer for a great weekend for each of you.

2014
04/24

Category:
Life

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On Grandpa’s Pond bom started

Today I was scheduled for the dentist.   I tried, honestly, I did.   But the rain was heavy enough that there were many accidents and people weren’t getting anywhere.   After an hour and a half trying to get there, I gave up, came home and rescheduled.     So my nerves needed calming and here we go.
On Grandpa’s Pond“,  applique pattern uses a double stick fusible web where one draws on the paper side of the web (the other side eventually is peeled off and the web gets stuck to the back of the fabric).

P1010360 stean a sean2

P1010361 fish pattern

After drawing, the pattern is roughly cut out and pressed to the desired fabric which is then cut out accurately.

P1010362 cut out

I remove the back paper on these roughly cut pieces and then press them to the WRONG side of the fabric I’m using for that piece.

P1010364 removing backing

Sometimes as on the red one, I pressed it to the right side, which meant, I got to cut out another pattern piece and another fabric piece.   The green one is correctly on the wrong side of the fabric.

P1010365 press on back

Many pieces overlap slightly.  When I have them laid out to my satisfaction, I press in place on the background.   I then zigzag with a small stitch around the pieces.  (not yet done)   I like to use a polyester invisible thread for this.   It holds nicely and unless you really examine it, it isn’t that noticeable.

P1010369 grandpa pond fish

This is the boat that is also part of January’s pattern.   On this piece, it has me do stitching before adhering the next piece.

P1010368 pressed down.

So until next time, I’ll stop here.

2014
04/23

Category:
quilts
Sewing

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April Sew Fun

It seems that the Sew Fun days are coming closer together – but I guess it’s really just that my days are full enough they pass quickly.    Today we were shown some Anita Goodesign products made up

P1010351 anita gooddesign plant markers

Here are some seed packets one might enjoy In the house.

P1010354 anita g silverware holder

And what a great way to have the silverware and napkins ready for each person at a picnic!

The teacher showed us an eyeglass case and then a beautiful baby quilt with Anita Goodesign Nursery rhyme designs.   What was really lovely about this quilt was the rhymes were actually part of the picture.   It made an unusual and beautiful baby quilt.

P1010356 anita g nursery rhymes

The switch was then made to talking about spring clothing of which I don’t have photos.   She had a few Nancy Zieman patterns and told us these patterns had excellent illustrations and are very easy to construct.   She also had some  simple gifts from “Sew Knits with confidence” by Nancy Zieman that were simple with a seam or two and looked quite attractive.

 

 

2014
04/22

Category:
quilts

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Knitter’s gifts blocks

Here are the 4 new hats for the Knitter’s gift BOM

P1010349

They will be added to the other blocks done in previous months.

head to toe 76x96

2014
04/21

Category:
farming
Life

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Need entertainment?

      IMG_0065 Christian selfie

Today brings us a guest blogger – or at least photographer – and here is his “selfie”.

P1010340 lisa and xn

He and his mom, our daughter, Lisa are here visiting for a day.    Of course all the animals are extremely interesting to him and he loves visiting with them.   So here are a few photos he took for the blog.

P1010324 baby bantams

The new bantam chicks

P1010326 hen by front door

The hens laying eggs behind the fountain by the front door.

P1010337 setting hens

Another hen actually setting on eggs in the coup.

IMG_0064minecraft

Then it was lunch and shopping time.  This is a character from Mine Craft and a diamond that interested him.

P1010334 PACAS wsheep

p1010333 alpacas

P1010345 christian feeding hoofstockBack home to the animals, it was hoof stock time and he loved that they would come to him if he had a bit of grain in the bucket.   Nana tired out, but tomorrow we will be out there with the bucket once again.

Now if you need entertainment, I know a 10-year-old that can keep a person busy most of the day.