Finally back in the saddle

 I'm finally back on track with my quilting projects.  I've set up a small area in my bedroom and have been busy getting a few projects done.  I have quite a few projects listed on my sidebar, and sadly, that's not even all of them.  I'm serious.  It's kinda crazy.

I thought I'd just post today with the projects that I have completed the past few months.  

This wool wallhanging was a pattern and kit from Buttermilk Basin.  My mom and I were lucky enough to go up and visit a few months ago.  It was so much fun.  We took a class because although I knew some of the basics, it's always best to take a class from the people who know all the tricks.  I still have to quilt this but it almost done and ready to hang.

This fabric and kit was from last year that was so popular and I just fell in love with the colors.  Its off to the quilter right now and hopefully will be back soon to enjoy the cooler summer nights.

This was a BOM from Fort Worth Fabric Studio this past December and January. It has a light blue minky back and is all quilted and bound now.  I'm excited to use it this next winter.

I am so far behind on this.  I literally just finished putting the binding on.  The problem is that it is a wedding gift for a friend's daughter and her wedding was last September.  I'll hopefully get this into the mail this week.

I'm excited to get more and more projects done.  This week, I hope to catch up on some much needed yard and flower bed work.  We literally had 5 days of rain and its just so wet outside.  Its supposed to be 80 tomorrow so I hope some of the yard will dry out.  We really need it!!  

Have a wonderful week!

Hubby's quilt

 My husband is always freezing.  In the winter, he has about 8 blankets on when we go to sleep and about 4 in the summer.  Meanwhile, I'm dying under 2 blankets of heat.  It's pretty funny and we share many jokes about how cold he is all the time.

He's over an over the road trucker during the weekend and made a comment how he sometimes gets cold sleeping in the semi.  I put together this flannel quilt with wool batting and cuddle backing.  He's had it for about two weeks and commented that its almost too warm.  I can't win.  hahahaha.

I am working on the following projects this month.  Several are for Christmas gifts:

• 2 Christmas table runners (for my house)
• 1 Christmas table runner (for Hallie)
• 2 Christmas table runners and placemats (for Trey)
• A lap dinosaur quilt for my step grandson
• A lap truck quilt for my other step grandson
• A rag flannel quilt for the house
• A few small embroidery projects
• I need to quilt the Christmas quilt I put together last year

Lots to do and I'm already behind.  I'm hoping to get the small projects done this year.  Hallie is moving into her first apartment next week and I hope to make some quick projects to help her decorate some for the holidays.  Trey moved into his last January so he needs some stuff to decorate his apartment.  I have the placemats almost done and the table runner needs to be completed.  I also have a wall hanging that he picked out from the quilt shop that I work for his wall that I will work on after the holidays.

Enjoy your week!!!

Canning is finally over and I've learned how to use my embroidery module

 The cold weather at night has really taken a toll on the garden and I'm almost grateful.  I'm entirely over tomatoes.  I've canned over 40 quarts of spaghetti sauce, 20 quarts of chili, 15 pints of salsa, and 10 pints of pizza sauce.  We still have tomatoes left and I just don't have the energy to do them anymore.

With cold weather approaching, I'm finishing up some projects outside this week and hopefully going to focus on the quilt projects I have lined up.

I took a class this week to learn how to use the embroidery module on my machine.  I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to making some really neat items.  We only worked on items on the machine but I learned how to embroider and how to applique.  What fun that was!

I've been working at the quilt shop for a few weeks now and really enjoy it. I love being surrounded by beautiful fabrics and quilts everyday!

Have a great weekend!

 I am finally able to stop working full time.  The kids need me at home more and quick frankly, with hubby out of town Monday through Friday (and sometimes Saturday), someone needs to be home more to take care of things around here.  Owning 12 acres with a huge garden and lots of animals takes a lot of work and time which neither of us has had.

In celebration of this and my birthday, I was able to buy a new Bernina machine with an embroidery module.  I am so stinking excited!!  

AND, while I was at the quilt shop, the owner and I were talking and she offered me a job.  I am so excited.  I cannot wait to start working there.  I'm not sure that I'll take any money home, but I'll have a great supply of everything!!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Busy season

 May through September is always super busy here on the farm.  This year we added potatoes and corn to our garden.  Unfortunately, the green beans and zucchini did not do well this year.  I did manage to make 50 quarts of spaghetti, 19 quarts of chili, 8 pints of pizza sauce, and 8 pints of salsa so far.  We've added 40 quart sized bags of corn to the freezer and I'm not sure about what to do with the potatoes yet.  We have so many and I'm afraid they will go bad before we can eat them all.  Our basement is not the driest so food down there doesn't do well.

In July, the girls were able to attend a very small prom that was put together for homeschool students.  Hallie attended with Courtnee.

We added ducks to the farm this year.  They are certainly entertaining....but they poop everywhere!

On the cutting board:

Working full time with farm life in the summer hasn't been very productive.  I've decided that next year, I will take time off.  Kevin's been hauling sileage so its a 12 hour day 7 days a week gig, for about 10 weeks.  There's just not enough time to get everything done.

Today, is my birthday.  Kevin surprised me by buying a accuquilt machine and some awesome dies for it.  I've been playing all morning long.

Hopefully, I'll be able to use it soon to make some nice projects.  Its just too busy these next few weeks.

Stay at home order

Our stay at home order has been extended until May 18th.  I am really  not surprised about that.  I'm almost enjoying getting some projects done around the house, although, the weather has made it difficult to clean the garage and barns out.  I hope to have the garage done this weekend, but I need to go and get some shelves to put all the toolboxes and other items on.  

I have made it a point to work on Courtnee's quilt every night for at least 30 minutes.  I hand pieced this quilt 6 years ago and it still isn't done.  I am working on quilitng the borders now, so my goal is to be totally done by the end of the month.  I hand pieced another just like it for Hallie, but she'd prefer a more grown up quilt now, so Kailyn will get this next one.  I need to get one made for Hallie and Tylar.  I don't know if they will be done by the end of the year, but I'm trying. I need to get into the habit of working on them, even if its just for 30 minutes each day.

Here is the quilt I'm currently hand quilting

The above kit is on my cutting board.  I need to get this done.  Living in a farmhouse, I'm decorating lmy farmhouse and I'm enjoying the different wallhangings and such I'm finding to make.  I also have a wonderful fabric to work on a new quilt for the living room.  The current one has been used by us for about 12 years and its about done.  I had found a wonderful barn wallhanging but I'm not sure if I am going to get that or not.  I'm not sure I need another project to do at this point.

I hope to also complete the following projects this year:

• Halloween quilt
• pumpkin wallhanging
• Christmas wallhanging

Have a wonderful week everyone!

I have returned......

It's been almost two years since I've posted so much has happened and our world is upside down now the covid-19.  We are in our fifth week of quarantine and it certainly has changed and challenged our lives.

Update on the last two years:

• We added cows and goats to our homestead.  We've had several calves and kids born this last year.  
• This year, we're adding more chicks (egg layers).  The last two years, we raised meat birds but decided not to do that this year.
• We are increasing our garden this year by adding corn and potatoes.  I am excited to add both of these.  We are also adding 70 strawberry plants and 4 raspberry plants.  We added two pear trees last year and we're adding another one this year along with 2 plum trees and two peach trees.  
• I finished an introductory course on herbalism this year.  I am adding 6 different herbs to our gardens; echinachea, st. John's wort, mullein, calendula, chamomile, and yarrow.  I've found a nice mulberry bush on our fence line so I'm excited to pick those this year.  I've also foraged elderberry and nettle on our property.  And I can't wait for the dandelions to come in so I can make some dandelion jelly.  I only made one batch last year and it delicious; tastes like honey.
• I'm working fulltime for a little over a year.   A nice retail job that gives me time to homeschool as I work mostly nights. 
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Quilting projects:

• So many projects so little time. I'm working on hand quilting the quilt for Courtnee that I started several years ago.
• I have a hen wallhanging I want to get done by the fall
• A pumpkin wallhanging to get done by the fall
• I hope to start handquilting Kailyn's quilt in the next month or so.  Hopefully, it won't take me years to get this one done

Have a wonderful day everyone!