settlers peace

Monday, Again?

It's hard to believe that summer is passing so quickly. We had a dog dumped out on us a few weeks ago, making a total of 4.  What a circus when we go outside!  We are looking for a home for her, she is the sweetest thing, but given the fact that she is a Pit Bull, I'm afraid that placement is going to be difficult.  She's off to the vet tomorrow for spaying and shots and general upkeep, a bill I wasn't planning on, but choose to do anyhow.

I've not taken the time to work on any of my AFF projects, but have a few pictures that I can share of completed works.  First up is a crown from my class with Alisa Burke.  What a sweetheart she is!  It was a very fun class and a good start to the creative retreat.

The last class that I had was with Ruth Rae, she was feeling a bit under the weather, but that didn't slow her inspiring ways.  I made a few pages for a possible fabric book.

There was another class, but I am hoping to get some more work done on it before I share it, I'm guessing that I just need to put it on my schedule.  It's hot enough to stay inside and enjoy some stitching, maybe tomorrow.  Hope that you are staying cool.

The challenges we face

Ahhh,  I'm back home from ArtFiberFest and re-entry into daily life is a challenge.  Well, honestly, a let down.  It is so much fun to go on a retreat with friends and get to be creative, and all the while spend the time laughing.  The dirty dishes and dog hair just don't compare.  I'll have some photos of my projects, probably next week, as they need a bit more embellishing.  But here's the crew.

Jeanne, Linda, Tammy, Cindy and myself.  And then myself and Lori.

It is so much fun to meet up year after year, and pick up right where we left off.  Jeanne was a newbie this year, and the cool table always has room to expand and welcome new friends, so make plans to be there next year, you won't be sorry!

And as a catch up, I have neglected to post my finished project for the guild challenge.  We were given 3 fabrics and allowed to add 1, making something approx 18" square.  My biggest challenge was not the fabric choices, but being limited to only 4 fabrics.  It was a challenge for this scrapper!  So I made two, one within the confines of the rules and one my way.  Here they are.

It was good to stretch myself, and Tracy was so excited to get them.  She is an amazingly supportive person, so positive and giving, a great role model in so many ways!  And boy can she crank out the quilts, she knows no fear in trying new things in quilting.

So, back to the unpacking of supplies and projects and maybe finishing them up soon.  Have a great day!

Catch if you can

I was out on the porch the other night after a rain and realized that much of it was moving!  There were tiny frogs everywhere.  I caught this little guy and then had to try and hold the camera and take a picture with my left hand while not losing him and not dropping the camera!  So tiny!  I just had to share it with you.

Time has been sneaking up on me and I'm not prepared for my trip to ArtFiberFest but I am SO ready to go!  I'm ready to take classes from amazing teachers and to get to hang out with other amazing women artists for days!  Oh the laughter and bonding that happens on these art retreats!  yep, Cindy and Tammy will be there! Our theme this year is orb's, and I have managed to make some trades.

I'm still in love with flowers and found these on sale at the grocery store the other day and had to treat myself!  Hope that you find a way to treat yourself nice today, too!

All ruffled up and no place to go

Another one of those finished projects that have languished in the to-do pile a bit too long.  I am not much of a kit buyer, but I absolutely fell in love with this quilt at a show, ahem, years ago.  It was the red checked ruffle that got me.  I was swooning over the romance of it all, and thought it would be just precious for S. bed.  And it is.

It was also the ruffle and binding that had me stumped and delayed completion.  It's done and I don't think that I'll be so romanced next time.

Let's just say that she's beyond ruffles, and has been hard into tie-dye for sometime.  So while it did look good on her bed, it didn't stay.  It is currently looking for a home with a full to queen size bed to romance.  I am happy to have it off of the to-do list, and will be on to another finish soon.

May you have a blessed weekend with a touch of romance.

Fear or Freedom?

Mixed emotions going on here.  We finally got a car for O.  She's had her license for months, just not the car part.  While I am doing cartwheels inside over the idea of no longer having to play taxi all of the time, my stomach is also doing flips at the thought that they are growing up!  Not to mention the fact that they are on the road!

Ahh, I best go use this time creatively!  How exciting!!!!?!!!!

Southern Comfort

I was not born in the south, but I was raised here.  My mom never cooked beans, and as a kid I never acquired a taste for them either, but as an adult I have.  Let me tell you, I have come across a recipe that will be a staple in our home, probably more suited to cooler temperatures outside, but yummy no matter what.

Tex-Mex Bean Soup

1 lb. pinto beans, rinsed, and pick over

12 oz. bacon, chopped (I used applewood smoked)

1 sweet yellow onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 jalapenos, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

4-14oz. cans chicken broth

3 cans water

fresh cilantro (I used half a bunch)

Saute bacon until crispy.  Remove from pan and drain.  In a small amount of the bacon grease, saute the onion, peppers, and garlic until tender.  Pour in chicken stock, water, bacon and beans, simmer until beans are tender, add cilantro near the end of cooking.  Serve warm with tortilla, cornbread or chips.

The mockingbirds are so fun to watch and listen to, I caught this one on the well.

These wild roses are growing in the pasture.  They have a very short bloom cycle, it looks like a pink cloud has settled in the trees along the property line when they do bloom.

And of course, another southern comfort is quilts.  Last week I helped sew quilts for US servicemen and women through the organization "Tribute to the Troops" created by Lori Shelton.  Small quilts are made to give to those serving our country, along with a Sharpie pen, to gather signatures and sentiments from those serving along side of them, as a memory quilt.  Lori's presentation at our guild was very inspiring and uplifting, her motivation and desire are from the heart as she seeks to share God's great love with those securing the freedoms, that we so often take for granted.  It was a pleasure to sew with our guild members that day and enjoy her company and stories that she shared.  I was also inspired to donate a quilt that I had made several years ago in a guild challenge, to be given to a serviceman/woman as they return home from the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.  What a feeling to think that I could possibly offer comfort to someone that has given so much to our country, and yet it feels like so little.  If you are so moved, you can contact Lori at   lorilynneshelton@sbcglobal.net

May you enjoy all of the comforts that are near and dear to you.

Caught in a book

Well, so much for my getting more done in the mornings idea.  I have had this book on my list of must reads, with the timeline-before I see the movie-and it's been out for weeks now.  Combine that with an intense desire to sit and soak up the sunshine that we are having after weeks of rain, and I've been lost on the back porch.

I am really looking forward to the movie and the music, played with such soul.  A much different audio than I have had with Jeffery by my side as I read!  Oh, what companions they are, how blessed I am.  

I'm struggling with the idea that I need to be capitalizing on the weather and get some painting done around the house, like Cindy is, ah, it's a quick read, maybe the weather will hold out and I'll get to do both!  Enjoy your day, whatever it holds!

Junkin'

Wow, we have been hit by the junk of the season.  Both girls have been sick with completely different things, and one or another or both have been home for a week!  In the last 10 days we have had 9 doctor visits, 1 vet visit, and driving a rental car because some high school girl backed into me in the parking lot one day after school!  They were back at school yesterday, and I'm still trying to play catch-up with the house.  Well, I say that, so far today I've taken myself out for breakfast and journaling time, and then hit a few estate sales.  Just trying to refuel, right?

I found an odd mix of treasures that all seemed to be calling my name.  There is the platter, lace, thread, jewelry bits, crystals, doll arms, mirror, photographs, tea tin, plastic deer (what was I thinking?).  Actually, as I type this, I'm wondering why I question the plastic deer and NOT the doll parts?  Hmm, something to be said for my nursing skills lately I suppose.  Anyway, treasures, just the same.

I did get some time to work on my challenge project, which is coming along nicely, once I decided to break the rules!!  Luckily, I know that the "someone" that is getting this is okay with that fact.  Oh, and the big news is that Cuddles goes home today!  A true lesson in the fact that we don't need to add anything else to our life.  She's a sweetie, but high maintenance.  

I guess the best thing about this last week, is that I have gotten a new perspective on my morning routine, I haven't been running near fast enough!  Time to get more intentional with how I spend my time.  I'm off to sew before they get home.  May the junk in your day be the kind you treasure!

Binding Love

I have an antique quilt, somewhere, that inspired me to save all of my leftover binding pieces.  The quilt is very simple, scrap pieces, and bound in a scrap binding.  I love the simple utility of it.  I decided to use up some of my binding stash to finish off some small pieces that were ready.

It was fun to try and remember what they were all from, and hard to believe that I had such a variety.  

I am currently struggling with a guild challenge, guess that's why they call it a challenge.  We were given three fat quarters, chosen as favorites by another guild member, and we are allowed to add another to it.  We have to create a finished quilt at least 18" square.  My challenge is not in the fabric selection, but in the limited number of fabrics.  I'll let you know when I get off of start!  May your days be challenge free!

Puddles and Cuddles

We have finally gotten some much needed rain.  It's been in the forecast all week with barely a sprinkle.  But yesterday afternoon the heavens opened and we had 5.79" in about 8 hours and then rain through the night.  Ahh, it is so green out now.  The dogs were happy to be out today and I had the realization of the horrors of mud after a storm like that!  As if three inside dogs were not enough, we are dog sitting for my in-laws as they vacation in far off wonderous places.

It is taking precious Cuddles some adapting to life in a busy family with three other dogs.  She's been playing the "abandoned princess" for days now but has finally realized that if she walks away from her food bowl, the food will NOT be there when she comes back! 

I have also been so inclined to get chicks again this spring.  I had been rather taking my time in getting some, only to find out that it seems to have become the national desire of the people to raise chicks this year, and they are hard to come by.  So when my friend Tracy told me that she had new chicks from the feed store in town, I ran over and fell for 7 new chicks!

All of these critters and I'm still getting some quilting done.  More on that soon, I'm heading out to enjoy the damp green earth!