I have a bunch of projects I'm working on and trying to get done for Christmas. I hope to have them completed before Thanksgiving. I just found an adorable snowman flannel panel that I'm going to make some quick lap quilts with to save some money this year. No problem, I have tons of flannel to make borders and lots of backing. Except that apparently my box of flannels is still in storage in CA so I will have to go and pick up some yards of flannel. Oh well. It won't be too much though and I'll get several gifts out of it.
I have plenty of fat quarter Christmas fabric that I plan on making into table runners and placemats also. I have enough batting to be able to do all of this and enough to baste the next twin size quilt that I'm working on for one of the littles.
I also need to quilt my son's quilt for his room. I finished the top for his birthday in July and still have to quilt it.
I hope to have pictures up later this weekend or early next week.
Happy quilting!!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Lots to do!
This summer was full of things to do. Lots to do around here on this little homestead. I still have another bed to clean out of weeds and its almost winter!
I spend the summer taking kids to playdates and of course, swimming. I worked on some projects inside and outside of the house. The garden kept me busy, although it was small and didn't really produce a lot with all of the rain we received this spring.
My dad came for two weeks and he worked on a lot of projects. He put up motion lights outside the barns (it gets really really dark out there without any outside lights), fixed the leaky shower, and power washed the deck.
My mom was here a few weeks ago and we went to Walnut Grove MN to visit the Laura Ingalls Museum.
So all of this plus working in the garden has kept us really busy. I was able to make 20 batches of spaghetti sauce and 6 batches of chili. I was really disappointed with the cucumbers. I only got 8 pints of pickles. I have enough tomatoes to make some salsa so that's on the list this week. My pumpkins are really small but I may be able to save the sugar pumpkins and get some pumpkin frozen from them. I also got enough apples off the trees for us to eat quite a few, although I have no idea what kind they are. I think one tree may be macintosh. I didn't spray them and they have never been pruned, so although we got a lot of apples, they are tiny. I made one batch of apple butter and another is going in the crockpot tomorrow.
So, my sewing has been little. I also got a job teaching online to high school history homeschool students. I have to write the curriculum though and I've been so busy I haven't really started. So, that is my project these next few weeks. I hope that I can about sixty lessons done in about four weeks time. I have other things to do!!
I spend the summer taking kids to playdates and of course, swimming. I worked on some projects inside and outside of the house. The garden kept me busy, although it was small and didn't really produce a lot with all of the rain we received this spring.
My dad came for two weeks and he worked on a lot of projects. He put up motion lights outside the barns (it gets really really dark out there without any outside lights), fixed the leaky shower, and power washed the deck.
My mom was here a few weeks ago and we went to Walnut Grove MN to visit the Laura Ingalls Museum.
So, my sewing has been little. I also got a job teaching online to high school history homeschool students. I have to write the curriculum though and I've been so busy I haven't really started. So, that is my project these next few weeks. I hope that I can about sixty lessons done in about four weeks time. I have other things to do!!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Feeling lazy
I have pulled out some items to work on for the living room wallhanging. I just found out my dad is coming in a few weeks so I need to try to get the living and dining room painted and wallhangings done so that he can help me hang up some things while he's here.
I machine quilted around the blocks and meandered the border of one of the princess ballerina quilts. I'm going to hand quilt some designs inside the blocks. My machine quilting skills are not good enough to trace things, but that's okay, I enjoy doing it. I'm too lazy to whip out the camera and take a photo. Maybe later, we'll see.
I hope today to baste and possible machine quilt the other princess ballerina quilt, cut out pieces for the Civil War wallhanging, and find all the pieces for the wallhanging for the living room. It seems that I can't find the Debbie Fields book that I need. Hopefully it will show up soon.
I'll be working on hand piecing the Civil War Wallhanging during swim lessons this week. We're at the pond about three hours a day for lessons and some swimming time.
I haven't gotten outside to do much. Its looking a little ghetto out there. I need to purchase a weed eater because our trim is about two feet high and we have a few spots that the rider can't reach that are pretty tall too. We did have a push but I burned up the motor. In my defense, I thought Kevin had checked the oil level when he was home in May (he did tell me it was good to go). I was using it to cut down the high grass in the ditch when it burned up. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.
Well, I'm off to pick up the kitchen and run and grab a few groceries. I hope to come home and get this sewing done since its too wet to do any outside work. We've have thunderstorms that last three nights that have dumped about three inches of rain on the rain. Its even too wet to weed, unless I want to get all muddy and I really don't.
Take care everyone!
I machine quilted around the blocks and meandered the border of one of the princess ballerina quilts. I'm going to hand quilt some designs inside the blocks. My machine quilting skills are not good enough to trace things, but that's okay, I enjoy doing it. I'm too lazy to whip out the camera and take a photo. Maybe later, we'll see.
I hope today to baste and possible machine quilt the other princess ballerina quilt, cut out pieces for the Civil War wallhanging, and find all the pieces for the wallhanging for the living room. It seems that I can't find the Debbie Fields book that I need. Hopefully it will show up soon.
I'll be working on hand piecing the Civil War Wallhanging during swim lessons this week. We're at the pond about three hours a day for lessons and some swimming time.
I haven't gotten outside to do much. Its looking a little ghetto out there. I need to purchase a weed eater because our trim is about two feet high and we have a few spots that the rider can't reach that are pretty tall too. We did have a push but I burned up the motor. In my defense, I thought Kevin had checked the oil level when he was home in May (he did tell me it was good to go). I was using it to cut down the high grass in the ditch when it burned up. Oh well, nothing I can do about it now.
Well, I'm off to pick up the kitchen and run and grab a few groceries. I hope to come home and get this sewing done since its too wet to do any outside work. We've have thunderstorms that last three nights that have dumped about three inches of rain on the rain. Its even too wet to weed, unless I want to get all muddy and I really don't.
Take care everyone!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Finally!
With all this rain we've had lately, I've finally today decided to pick up my quilting and get some stuff done. I basted on of the little girls' quilts and another wallhanging (just a panel). I was hoping to get started on the quilting but then the sun popped out. Its supposed to rain again tomorrow so I had to get out and get some of the lawn mowed. TL did most of it, but some has to be done with the push mower. I didn't quite finish. The mosquitos were swarming bothering sucking out all my blood.
We got our chicks last Monday. They are cute and have already doubled in size it seems. They're starting to stretch their wings too. I'm sure I'll open the door to the coop one day and they'll all fly out at me, just like in the movie The Birds. If you hear on the news of some woman running away screaming, it was probably me.
I finally graduated!! I now am the proud owner of a bachelor's degree. I hope to start my master's in the fall. This is a big accomplishment for me. I'm the first in my family to earn one and in my hubby's family too. I'm pretty excited and happy to start on the next step this fall.
We got our chicks last Monday. They are cute and have already doubled in size it seems. They're starting to stretch their wings too. I'm sure I'll open the door to the coop one day and they'll all fly out at me, just like in the movie The Birds. If you hear on the news of some woman running away screaming, it was probably me.
I finally graduated!! I now am the proud owner of a bachelor's degree. I hope to start my master's in the fall. This is a big accomplishment for me. I'm the first in my family to earn one and in my hubby's family too. I'm pretty excited and happy to start on the next step this fall.
I had to add this photo of Monkey. Isn't she adorable? I'll think twice however about letting her apply lipstick to me!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Finally!!
I am finally done with school!! All of my assignments have been turned in and I'm just waiting for my grades to be posted this next week. I should be getting my diploma in the mail in the next few weeks. I am finally a graduate!! I hope to start working on my master's degree this fall.
We have had some crazy weather here. On May 2nd and 3rd we had 20 inches of snow. Hubby had arrived home for a ten day visit and was blown away; it was 95 in CA when he left there. Thankfully it melted quickly and he was able to work on his honey-do list which consisted of hanging up tire swings and building a chicken coop in the corn crib.
I've been setting up cinder blocks for a raised garden bed. So far, I only have the fruit section done. I hope to finish the rest this weekend and get the dirt and get some things planted. Until that is done, everything else is on hold around here. Need those veggies!
Here's some photos:
We have had some crazy weather here. On May 2nd and 3rd we had 20 inches of snow. Hubby had arrived home for a ten day visit and was blown away; it was 95 in CA when he left there. Thankfully it melted quickly and he was able to work on his honey-do list which consisted of hanging up tire swings and building a chicken coop in the corn crib.
I've been setting up cinder blocks for a raised garden bed. So far, I only have the fruit section done. I hope to finish the rest this weekend and get the dirt and get some things planted. Until that is done, everything else is on hold around here. Need those veggies!
Here's some photos:
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| TL getting the tire swing ready |
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| The two littles, they love their farm |
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| Loving the tire swing and TL gives great pushes! |
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| Waiting for the tire swing to go up |
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| View out of the front yard. The lower left is the cherry tree I just planted |
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| A tornado came through here two years ago and twisted all of the branches of this tree around toward the south; none were broken, they were just twisted around the tree |
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| Princess enjoying her new ride |
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| Hubby building the coop |
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| Chicken coop all done |
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| Quiet and peaceful.....sunset |
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Still here
Been super busy with school. The next six weeks are going to be really difficult, but I'll make it if I can stay focused!!
No quilting to speak of. It may be a while since I have to finish up this class and in the process we'll be getting ready for spring. Garden beds to build, lots of fruit trees and fruit bushes to deal with too.
Take care!! See you in about six weeks!
No quilting to speak of. It may be a while since I have to finish up this class and in the process we'll be getting ready for spring. Garden beds to build, lots of fruit trees and fruit bushes to deal with too.
Take care!! See you in about six weeks!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
my week
I'm trying to get back into the swing of things with school. I'm not too motivated to do homework, I'd rather sit and quilt some.
I have been knitting a few doll blankets for the girls. I hope to have them done by the end of the month.
Last night I cut out the pieces for a four block Civil War wallhanging. I want to get it done and hang it in the dining room. I also have a Revolutionary war era fabric one that I'm working on. I have several pieces in my hutch that are older such as a set of Currier and Ives dishes, some crystal, and a few pieces of milk glass. My dad made a few shelves to hang up in that room that I can display my "old" family photos. So, my theme will be "old".....can't really call it antiques. I hope to eventually display our family trees.
So, that's what's going on here. Today I'm going to work on homework and hopefully a little sewing. I also have the yule log defrosted. Its about ten pounds of hamburger meat. I'm going to make taco meat, chili meat, and meatballs and freeze them today.
Its pretty chilly today. I had to pick up the oldest two this morning from a lock-in at the church last night. It was one degree on my truck. Got a fire going already!!
I have been knitting a few doll blankets for the girls. I hope to have them done by the end of the month.
Last night I cut out the pieces for a four block Civil War wallhanging. I want to get it done and hang it in the dining room. I also have a Revolutionary war era fabric one that I'm working on. I have several pieces in my hutch that are older such as a set of Currier and Ives dishes, some crystal, and a few pieces of milk glass. My dad made a few shelves to hang up in that room that I can display my "old" family photos. So, my theme will be "old".....can't really call it antiques. I hope to eventually display our family trees.
So, that's what's going on here. Today I'm going to work on homework and hopefully a little sewing. I also have the yule log defrosted. Its about ten pounds of hamburger meat. I'm going to make taco meat, chili meat, and meatballs and freeze them today.
Its pretty chilly today. I had to pick up the oldest two this morning from a lock-in at the church last night. It was one degree on my truck. Got a fire going already!!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Still no camera
And this is really driving me batty. I would love to have a camera around to take some photos of the house or even some of the quilting I'm doing.
I'm about halfway through with one of the wallhangings that I have planned for the house. Its getting there. I'm making time in the evenings to sit and quilt. Sometimes its hard because I'm exhausted but it is relaxing to sit and hand quilt so I have been getting more done.
I started back to school this week. I have this class and one more to complete my bachelor's. I've started looking into masters programs but not sure when I'll start. Next year, I'll have five kids that I will be homeschooling. It keeps me really busy and I need to stay on top of it so not sure how a master's class would fit into that. I would definitely only be taking one class at a time.
I have started planning out my garden. Next month I am ordering two plum trees, two pear trees, two peach trees, and two cherry trees. The good news is that they are dwarf trees so they only get to be about six feet tall and as soon as next year I could get fruit off of them. The bad news is that I wont get alot of fruit, but that's okay too. I plan on buying two more of each next year and two apple trees. We have three full sized apple trees on the property now but they haven't been pruned in years. The advantage of a dwarf tree is that it is easier to reach to pick and prune. I'm not looking forward to pruning these big huge trees.
I'm also ordering four blueberry bushes and six raspberry bushes. Fifty strawberry plants will finish out the fruit planting. I hope to add more of these on next year too and include some blackberry bushes.
I have been drooling over the seed catalogs since they came in last month. I have picked all the veggies that we plan on growing and will be ordering those seeds as well. Its going to be busy here with all this planting, but it will be fun and worth it in the long run. I plan on building raised beds to garden in. Getting too old to plant in a traditional garden and then have to stoop down over to weed will kill my back.
Hubby will be home in early June so I may wait for him to come and work on the chicken coop. I think I'll be all gardened out by then especially since I have four flower beds to take care of. Thankfully, they didn't have many beds, but they are massively overgrown. I dont plan on buiding any others; well maybe one out front because there isnt one. And of course, an herb garden as well. I want to look into drying them and using them for medicinal purposes.
Take care everyone and happy quilting!
I'm about halfway through with one of the wallhangings that I have planned for the house. Its getting there. I'm making time in the evenings to sit and quilt. Sometimes its hard because I'm exhausted but it is relaxing to sit and hand quilt so I have been getting more done.
I started back to school this week. I have this class and one more to complete my bachelor's. I've started looking into masters programs but not sure when I'll start. Next year, I'll have five kids that I will be homeschooling. It keeps me really busy and I need to stay on top of it so not sure how a master's class would fit into that. I would definitely only be taking one class at a time.
I have started planning out my garden. Next month I am ordering two plum trees, two pear trees, two peach trees, and two cherry trees. The good news is that they are dwarf trees so they only get to be about six feet tall and as soon as next year I could get fruit off of them. The bad news is that I wont get alot of fruit, but that's okay too. I plan on buying two more of each next year and two apple trees. We have three full sized apple trees on the property now but they haven't been pruned in years. The advantage of a dwarf tree is that it is easier to reach to pick and prune. I'm not looking forward to pruning these big huge trees.
I'm also ordering four blueberry bushes and six raspberry bushes. Fifty strawberry plants will finish out the fruit planting. I hope to add more of these on next year too and include some blackberry bushes.
I have been drooling over the seed catalogs since they came in last month. I have picked all the veggies that we plan on growing and will be ordering those seeds as well. Its going to be busy here with all this planting, but it will be fun and worth it in the long run. I plan on building raised beds to garden in. Getting too old to plant in a traditional garden and then have to stoop down over to weed will kill my back.
Hubby will be home in early June so I may wait for him to come and work on the chicken coop. I think I'll be all gardened out by then especially since I have four flower beds to take care of. Thankfully, they didn't have many beds, but they are massively overgrown. I dont plan on buiding any others; well maybe one out front because there isnt one. And of course, an herb garden as well. I want to look into drying them and using them for medicinal purposes.
Take care everyone and happy quilting!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Busy, Busy, Busy
Christmas came and we were very lucky to have both my hubby and father here for two weeks. With dad here, we were busy doing projects. Seems that he really likes to drive to town to go to Home Depot. I think he was worried that the rest of the world had disappeared in our little town of about 150 people.
Dad bought me a dishwasher for Christmas. Its wonderful to be able to throw the dishes in there and not have to hand wash everything anymore. I've been doing more baking because of it.
He also moved the thermostat for me. With it being so cold (Christmas week, the average temp was 8), we had fires going every day all day long. The temp is CA where hubby is was 60 when he left and it was 65 in VA for my dad. They were dying in the cold temps. Our thermostat is located on the wall directly across from the fireplace, not the most ideal location. Dad just moved it to the wall behind it in the dining room so now it will stay on when the fire is going. The living room gets to be 74 or so with the fire, but the rest of the house freezes because the thermostat wasn't kicking the furnace on. It was particularly cold upstairs. This old farmhouse doesnt have any insulation upstairs I think, so its about 4-5 degrees cooler up there. We have a plug in heater for the kids to keep it warmer up there. I don't think the heat travels well up through the vents either. The heater keeps things much warmer so I'm wondering if the vents need a good cleaning.
We also redid some lighting issues. The schoolroom has this little light with four tiny lightbulbs and only one worked. We replaced it and now I can see!! We also replaced the light in my son's room. The room had duck wallpaper which he is keeping but kind of a girly light, so we changed that out. I still have to replace the horse (yes, I did say horse) chandelier in the dining room and a few other lights throughout the house.
Hubby was busy hanging up things upstairs. I didnt have him hang anything downstairs because I still have to paint down here. I would love to show you pictures, but not only is my camera broken so is my son's.
I have been busy organizing my quilting projects so that I can get some done for the walls. I have a civil war wallhanging for the dining room to work on. The dining room has some pieces of crystal and milk glass that have been handed down to me. I also have some old family photos so I'm hoping to go with an "antique" theme. I have an american revolution wallhanging that's almost completed and then I want to work on a 1930s wallhanging. I think the wallhangings and photos will go nicely. Eventually, I want to finish our genealogy charts and put them up too. I have my dad's family traced back to the early 1800s in AL and NC, but haven't been able to get any farther.
In the living room, I have two wallhangings that I want to work on. The first is the bald eagle with the flag (its a popular panel right now) that I'm going to use on my hubby's "I love me" wall. I am going to put all of his plaques and things from the navy on there. The other wallhanging is from Debbie Fields and is the outdoors theme. I want to go with a more "cabin" feel in the house....kind of strange for a farmhouse I know.
I start school on the 14th. Two classes left to finish up my bachelors degree. I'm not sure if I'm going to go on to my masters or look into getting my genealogy certification.
And because I have nothing else to do, I'm reading Quilt or Innocence by Elizabeth Craig. So far I'm really enjoying it. The character Miss Sissy is a hoot!
Dad bought me a dishwasher for Christmas. Its wonderful to be able to throw the dishes in there and not have to hand wash everything anymore. I've been doing more baking because of it.
He also moved the thermostat for me. With it being so cold (Christmas week, the average temp was 8), we had fires going every day all day long. The temp is CA where hubby is was 60 when he left and it was 65 in VA for my dad. They were dying in the cold temps. Our thermostat is located on the wall directly across from the fireplace, not the most ideal location. Dad just moved it to the wall behind it in the dining room so now it will stay on when the fire is going. The living room gets to be 74 or so with the fire, but the rest of the house freezes because the thermostat wasn't kicking the furnace on. It was particularly cold upstairs. This old farmhouse doesnt have any insulation upstairs I think, so its about 4-5 degrees cooler up there. We have a plug in heater for the kids to keep it warmer up there. I don't think the heat travels well up through the vents either. The heater keeps things much warmer so I'm wondering if the vents need a good cleaning.
We also redid some lighting issues. The schoolroom has this little light with four tiny lightbulbs and only one worked. We replaced it and now I can see!! We also replaced the light in my son's room. The room had duck wallpaper which he is keeping but kind of a girly light, so we changed that out. I still have to replace the horse (yes, I did say horse) chandelier in the dining room and a few other lights throughout the house.
Hubby was busy hanging up things upstairs. I didnt have him hang anything downstairs because I still have to paint down here. I would love to show you pictures, but not only is my camera broken so is my son's.
I have been busy organizing my quilting projects so that I can get some done for the walls. I have a civil war wallhanging for the dining room to work on. The dining room has some pieces of crystal and milk glass that have been handed down to me. I also have some old family photos so I'm hoping to go with an "antique" theme. I have an american revolution wallhanging that's almost completed and then I want to work on a 1930s wallhanging. I think the wallhangings and photos will go nicely. Eventually, I want to finish our genealogy charts and put them up too. I have my dad's family traced back to the early 1800s in AL and NC, but haven't been able to get any farther.
In the living room, I have two wallhangings that I want to work on. The first is the bald eagle with the flag (its a popular panel right now) that I'm going to use on my hubby's "I love me" wall. I am going to put all of his plaques and things from the navy on there. The other wallhanging is from Debbie Fields and is the outdoors theme. I want to go with a more "cabin" feel in the house....kind of strange for a farmhouse I know.
I start school on the 14th. Two classes left to finish up my bachelors degree. I'm not sure if I'm going to go on to my masters or look into getting my genealogy certification.
And because I have nothing else to do, I'm reading Quilt or Innocence by Elizabeth Craig. So far I'm really enjoying it. The character Miss Sissy is a hoot!
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