Category Archive: quilts
Pumpkin Head is now all put together. He still needs to be stitched down, but he is in one piece. This pattern is called Devastation and a scarecrow
Devastation is the only word to describe what is going on in the path of Irma. We have been to some of these islands and the people were very poor before this storm. I can’t even imagine not being able to get clean water. The sadness of it seems to bog me down. So after picking up my co-op order of rice and dates, feeding the bees which has become a daily need, and dealing with the garden produce,
I decided to start work on this happy scarecrow. It was designed for turn under applique which is not going to happen here for a small seasonal wall hanging. So I am putting seam-a-seam on the back of pieces and re-cutting them. This has a lot of small pieces, but it should go fairly fast. There are enough pieces cut for two hangings so I’ll have one for me and one for a gift.
Ankle brace and long ago
I spent two afternoons getting this ankle brace fit. I somehow injured the tendon that goes by the ankle and so for at least the next 6 weeks, I will be wearing this. It does slow me down some. But hopefully it will give the tendon time to heal.
This afternoon, I was looking for felt that I think I have to finish the twinkling snowmen wall hanging when I found a box that was put away long ago and I wasn’t even missing. In it were some unfinished projects. Imagine that! One was labeled as a quilt that a daughter was going to make. However, she only chose fabrics and didn’t actually start. So that was easy, I just put the fabrics back with the other fabrics. Project done. 
Then there was this Fall pattern with pattern pieces pinned to it and not put back together very carefully. So I will try to figure out what was going on here and possibly finish it. The pattern is dated 2001, so I know that it is not older than that and might be 2-3 years younger.
I did make a trip to the grocery as it has been so very dry that we are having to supplement this for nectar from flowers so the bees don’t starve this winter. 
Then I went to the bee supply store. The item on the left is a “J” hook to use when looking inside the hive and the thing on the right is a “bee protein patty” which I’m guessing has peanut butter in it. The screen is for making the entry hole smaller to keep the yellow jackets from storming into the hive and stealing.
We froze a few more bananas for “nice cream” which we enjoy on hot days.
And, because you asked, this is what the cucumber chips look like when they are ready to eat.
September’s OMG plus other goals
ELM STREET OMG
This project has been in the making for 3 months and this is as far as it has come. So this will be my primary focus. I’ve stalled because this will take thinking and doing some unfamiliar things. All those spots in the photo on the left are little twinkling lights. Perhaps linking up to Elm Streets One Monthly Goal will give me the push I need.
OTHER GOALS: September’s sewing/quilting goals will be more modest as we have much work to get the sheep and pastures set up for breeding. We also will be finishing up the gardens in the next two months. Grapes are set to start picking in another week and tomatoes, cucumbers, and other items need to be harvested and put up. Then there are the new greens for winter which are just peeking out of the ground. Hopefully, we will get the water and propane lines finished that we started. Then we are still waiting for the big dozer to come in and clear more land that will be put into pasture. So the next two months will be extremely busy.
2. I haven’t chosen a project yet, but there will be one for Hatched in Africa
3. If there is time, I’d like to get another of the Sunbonnet Sue quilts quilted and bound.
TODAY: I occupied my time picking up some bananas at the grocery and two 30 mile round trips to pick up the grain that I had ordered. It comes in 40# bags and I was on my own today. So I was pleased to find that I could handle the 26 bags and get them where they needed to be.
I am also doing a fair amount to studying to find exactly what these sheep need to produce the best wool. It seems there is some controversy on this, so I’m doing some research.
2017
08/31
Category:
Bees
farming
food
Garden
Life
machine embroidery
quilts
Sewing
COMMENTS:
1 Comment »
Whirlwind August
What a whirlwind this month of August has been. I feel as if I have been chasing my tail. Today is the end of the month and I did finish 4 sewing/knitting goals, but two were left undone. A third,
is now put together with backing and batting, but when I have time, I’d like to add more quilting.
In addition to these projects, I have spent an incredible amount of time in the kitchen. Today again, there was more pear butter canned as well as more produce brought in. I have another dehydrator full of cucumbers for chips, the last batch of pear butter is condensing in the crock pot, the refrigerator is full of cucumbers waiting their turn. I gave up and gave some raspberries, blueberries, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes to the neighbor. The grapes are starting to get ripe and the weather is so incredible, this scenario may continue for another month. We have started new beets and greens for the winter and they have popped their little heads above ground now. And we water, water, water, water. Usually it rains a day or two when school starts, but not this year.
Today a neighbor came over and we wormed 1/3 of the sheep for the winter. We will be dividing them and giving each group a suitor soon. Then we count out 5 months to start the baby business.
In between all this, we have made time for doctors visits and a very few staples to eat. (Today, I visited with the Geek squad so I could bring you this report – I love those fellows) And we have daily fed, watered, and cared for the bees, sheep, ducks, geese, and dogs – oh, yes, and for each other. I am loving this crazy, out of control summer.
Male Cardinal is paper pieced
Between picking blueberries and cucumbers, watering, working on the tomatoes, etc., I finished this little fellow. He will finish at 8″ square and will get a mate sometime in the next week. I do enjoy getting a chance to work on projects, but often during the summer, they have to take a back seat.
There is another double batch of cucumber relish now in the refrigerator. In the morning, I will rinse it, put the rest of the ingredients in and can it.
Beau, the dog in the foreground spent some time at the vet’s on Friday. He had to have stitches in two places and they updated his shots, which were way out of date. In two weeks we go back to have the stitches out. The window that he went through to cut himself now has fencing over it. He didn’t go through glass, it was a cutout, but had a nail where screening had previously been. However, we don’t enjoy spending money at the vet’s, so have that covered.
I also went to the grocery store that day and had a physical. When chores were done, I just lay down for a bit and went to sleep and that is why no blog post.
More animal adventures
Animal adventures are getting a bit too time consuming around here. The dogs managed to get out to the road and visit with a couple neighbors this morning. Beau got out of one pasture into another 4 times before we figured out how he was doing it. He also got a cut, so he gets to go to the vet for 3-4 stitches. Tomorrow, the electricity will be moved lower on the gate. Then we’ll let him test it again.
It was hot for here today. At 95 degrees, even the bees came out to get cooled off. See the mass of black on the gray box. That is just a mass of bees. I’ll check their box again tomorrow. Maybe they need another box for ventilation. See the fellow in the background? If they see me, their is one thing on their mind: FOOD. Yes, I am the food dispenser.
After all that fun and running around this morning, I was able to spend a bit of time in the studio (where it is also cooler) this afternoon. I think I will get this fellow finished on Sunday.
Tomorrow, there is gym, then picking blueberries, watering and another doctor appointment.
July monthly goal link up + cooking
I am linking to http://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2017/07/one-monthly-goal-july-goal-setting-link.html with this little fox.
I won’t make all my goals this month, but that seems to be the new normal.
Today, after going to the gym and picking blueberries, I tackled Lasagna from scratch, making a double recipe of marinara sauce. It took two hours to chop and prepare everything for the marinara and “cheese”, then an hour in the oven. It will be gone in two meals. Something seems wrong with that, however, that’s goes to show how much being able to buy preassembled items affects our lives. And I do have enough of the marinara sauce for another meal.
Dar, one of the readers here, sent me a relish recipe to try. This is as far as I am. Everything is cut and salted and spending the night in the refrigerator. At least when I tackle that tomorrow, it will be half done, so it won’t seem like it is taking so long. I am nearly caught up on the cucumber issue. Next I’ll tackle the zucchini. I can grate that and put it in the freezer to make items during the winter.
And I did get a chance to check on the bees who are doing just fine. One hive received another box today.
Paper pieced fox; dogs, cucumbers
I used both ends of the day to be able to complete this little fox. The pattern comes with two sheets to paper piece, one facing each direction. I decided with this month’s intrusions, one will have to do.
This is the way the cucumbers looked going into the dehydrator and here they are finished. 
Then I crumbled some in the blender for sauce or soup so you could see how that looks.
This is a quart of dried basil. Growing and dehydrating basil takes so little time and is really cost effective.
The rest of the day was spent trying to outsmart the 2 dogs who live here, but would rather be off checking out the entire neighborhood. They are in escape mode once again. So I erected some electric netting in one place and am hoping it stays hot. In another place, I put a 2 x 12 x 8. Let’s see if they can chew their way out of that! They can be challenging. DH says it is because they have the coyotes trained to not enter and they have nothing else to do but think up escape plans.
And we did get a visit from youngest grandson who turned 12 yesterday – (along with his mother who is tad older). It was terrific to have a normal day.
The little fox and cucumbers
I’m currently working on this little fox, 
but progress is slow right now, and there are many small pieces.
The garden also beckons me and there are now 9 trays of cucumbers on the dehydrator. These will be great for sauces, dips, and flavoring. Although there are still many cucumbers to share. I am only making a very few pickles this year, because there are still some from last year. I am also looking for a great relish recipe if anyone has one and is willing to share.
The current plan is rest and relax tomorrow. I hope you will join with us in enjoying the day.