settlers peace

Labor of sweet love

The last two weeks we have been in recovery mode, from a major labor of love.

When we were expecting the birth of our children, there was a lot of prep work and some anxiousness over the labor and delivery which can last upwards of a day. Luckily, I was done in under 5 hours both times. It is a time of joy and anticipation.

In this season of our life, we have been blessed with the addition of another to the family, but let me tell you, the labor lasted more than a day!

In the time that it took to get from the last blog post to this kiss

The garden has gone from an explosion of weeds, (where are the pathways?)

To the manicured garden that it was intended to be

The barn went from storage of the unimagined, unwanted, and the cherished (though it was hard to tell),

To dance hall and reception venue

It was a rather great day and I am so excited to see the photos from the photographer, I was there and still couldn't take it all in. Having the wedding at home was pure joy and excitement, even though the labor was long and hard. We are still reaping the rewards, enjoying the yard, the barn, the trimmed trees, the pastures and the new swing next to the fire pit. Ultimately, enjoying the blessing of getting to watch them build a life together, it is a beautiful thing. I am certain that we'd do it all over again, the only thing I'd change? Delegate, delegate, delegate, we did way too much right up unto the last moment. The rain in the midst of a drought only added to the intensity of the day and the sweetness of what brought us all together. While not what we planned on, I cannot imagine it being any more perfect.

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Winds of Change

You wouldn't know by the weather here, as it seems to be unchanging, but the seasons of life seem to be shifting for me. My job as mom will never end, but it has certainly taken on new light with one out of the house and another that simply uses it as a rest stop. Fortunately, O. is only an hour away and we get to see her a bit, but the goodbyes are always the same, never quick.

As she was gathering things to set up her apartment, I was quick to get a first aid kit together. Her very first comment when she started talking of moving out, was her fear of being ill and not having me there. I couldn't resist the opportunity to leave her a note or two, for when she is in need of some sympathy :)

In the midst of all of the changes, it seemed the perfect time to gather with friends and enjoy a retreat. I needed the escape, as I was in danger of setting up my very own pity party for one. This is my slice of design wall, and what I worked on. It was so surprising to see the projects together and how it reflected my style.

A simple table runner in neutrals, a wonky log cabin in solids and a modern-mini done in reproductions. Yep, that pretty much sums me up, even though I do lots of other things, these really represent my heart in quilting, well, and life.

This little piece measures 13" x 16 3/4" and started from scraps way back here.

Here's to hoping that the winds of change bring that cold front this weekend, I'm so done with 100 degree days!

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How to best enjoy the sunshine

My sidekick, Jeffery, thinks that sunshine is best enjoyed when laying in it.

I have not been able to be lured outside quite so easily though.  I am finding that I enjoy the sunshine just as much when I am digging through the 5 boxes of vintage fabric that I have inherited.

Plenty in there that I will pass on to others, as I won't be making use of it anytime soon, some very interesting fabrics, too.  I think that I am most in love with the variety of corduroy fabrics.  It is my intention to incorporate more texture into my quilts this year, I find that I am getting bored with simple cotton, but I need durable.  Think Gee's Bend Quilts, lots of corduroy there. 

It was a bit after Christmas, but I did finish the Bargello quilt and give it to my in-laws.  They were mighty happy with it, I was happy to have it finished.

This beautiful quilt, Majestic Migration, is the raffle quilt for the Quilters Guild of Dallas.  While it will be going to a new home in March, I was happy to have it visit for photos when the sun was out, just enough, last week.

It is simply beautiful.  I am looking forward to the quilt show in March, ummm, I just have to finish my entries to really be excited.

It's Crispy Outside

It's hard to not mention the fact that it feels like we are living out our days with the blow-dryer on.  Just a step out the front door and the jumbo dryer kicks on.  I've learned not to go outside with damp hair, just a trip to the mailbox can leave me looking like some sort of twisted porcupine.  

Saturday morning I was enjoying a bit of stitching when the electricity had a bit of an outage.  A few minutes later, a neighbor stopped to let us know that we had a grassfire.  Old school learning emerged and I grabbed a bucket of water and some bath towels and headed to the fire.  What an adrenalin rush as the winds were blowing it towards the house!!!  Fortunately it was in an area that was kept mowed and was relatively easy to get out with what we had.  The culprit, you may be wondering?  A cigarette butt?  No.  It seems it was result of a tragic mistake by a bird on an electrical transformer, jolted off and catching the dry grass below on fire.  Hence the power outage moments earlier.  I'd love for it to cool off, but what I really pray for is RAIN.  Yesterday, over 3,000 acres burned near here.  I feel on constant alert.  Come on, rain!!!

It's been too hot to be going or doing much, so I have been getting some projects done.  

I made this precious pink and grey quilt for an expectant friend, and a doll quilt and pillow for the soon to be big sister.

As much as I'd like to be tackling and finishing up old projects, I am happy that I am finishing the new ones that I start, and not creating more UFO's.  

Two months ago I signed up for a doll quilt swap at The Quilt Asylum with the theme of "Circles"  I had many starts and redirections and finally came up with a design that I liked - Sunday night.  The swap was to take place on Monday at 6pm!!!!!!  Yesterday found me frantically trying to get the quilt done.  By 5 o'clock, I knew that there was no way for me to finish the quilt and make the 45 minute drive there.  Thank goodness for teen drivers!!!  S. got me there safe and sound, I put the last stitch in at 5:58 as we pulled into the parking lot.  I really kind of liked it and wish that I'd had some time to bond with it before sending it on to it's new home.

My very skilled driver and the finished quilt - 'Love Notes'.  All fabrics have dots or circles, the thin red line near the binding is an embroidered stem stitch which almost had me bleeding by time it was done.  And this is the quilt that I won in the swap.

A modern Bull's Eye, by the very fun and talented Sarah H.  You can see all of the quilts at the link above.

I sure hope that I can keep some sort of creative momentum going in this crazy schedule the next few weeks.  Stay cool and please send rain!!!

 

Having Fun

We somehow get wrangled into puppy sitting occasionally.  A real arm twisting ;)

He is SO cute it almost makes up for all of the antics he is up to when he is here.  He looks a bit like a mini Jeffery, is as bull headed but with 10 times more energy. 

Everybody sleeps well after Diesel goes home.

D. has been telling me of these really cool walls painted in Dallas that we needed to go see.  When we were in town recently, we drove by and couldn't resist hoping out and taking some snapshots.

They were funny, jumping into new characters within each painting and adapting to the scene.  It was so entertaining watching them evolve and then bust out laughing at themselves, it was the highlight of the trip.

I've gotten a few more liberated baskets made. 

I'd love to hear what you have been up to lately!?!

Loads of laundry and sunshine

Today was a made to  order day.  Sunshine and 75*!  Snow in the forecast for next week, so I knew to get out and enjoy it.

The sunshine coming in and the breeze blowing through the screen door made me happy to tend to the laundry piles on the floor though.  The washer and dryer humming along with the birdsong in the yard, were simply food for my soul.  I only wish that we had our laundry lines up to hang the laundry out.

I went out and played with my new camera a bit.

Jeffery was non too happy with me leaving him in the house as I went out to explore the day.

He is forever fun to photograph and I sometimes wonder if his thoughts are even remotely close to his expressions.

 

Riches of Nature

The weather here is BEAUTIFUL, and the color is amazing.  I planted these petunias back in the spring, they dried to twigs in the summer and came back looking like natures very own velveteen.

The skies have been painted in technicolor schemes.

Only the Almighty God can create a sunset in these glorious colors.

So many things to that surround us, inspiring us and blessing us with their beauty.  So many things to be thankful for.

And thankful for a vet that we have known for 20 plus years, so that when we discover that one of the four legged companions has a gapping hole in his side, we can get him stitched up.  He now gets to wear the cone of shame.  I sure wish that he could explain how it all happened in the first place.  He is on the mend and chipping the paint off of every corner in the house with that darn cone.  Hmmm, maybe a chance to think of some new wall colors come spring!

May you be richly blessed today!

Rhythm and Routine

I must say that I'm doing a happy dance, not just because the girls are back in school, but because it gives ME structure and hopefully I'll get back in a routine.  A routine of house cleaning - can't wait to clean early in the morning and have it stay that way for hours again - routine of creating, blogging, writing, walking, etc.  I'm always so anxious for summer and NO routine, but enough is enough, I need structure.

S. celebrated her Sweet 16, and requested a punching bag as her gift.  I must say that it got a work out after the very first day of school, not real sure what that means. 

My sewing room is still trying to recover from the furniture swap.  You would think that moving one piece out and putting one in its place a rather simple feat, but alas, the piles say otherwise...

I've been taking advantage of the situation and really going through stuff and nesting.  Maybe it has to do with the reality of the girls growing up and me having to settle in on me, strange, but I like it.  I'll reveal more when it gets to that point, but here is a shot of a corner that makes me smile every time I go upstairs.

Artwork by S. and my stash of silk and velvet scraps.  More to come, hopefully soon!

The Energy of Change

I have been so energized by some of the changes taking place in the house.  More and more projects and distractions, but very exciting.  In one of the big furniture moves, we had to unload all of our photos from the cabinet they were stored in.  Some in photo boxes, but many still in the packets from being developed!  Then add to the mix that neither of the girls have a baby book or scrapbook AND milestone birthdays THIS month, I hit panic mode.  

O. turned 18 last week and S. will be 16 this week.  So, in the midst of chaos, I've tackled a scrapbook of sorts for O.  And I do mean chaos.

As much as I'd like to think that it is about her, I think that it's turning out to be more of a love note to my daughter.  It's more my style than hers, but really, what can we possibly give them worth more than our hearts?  I'll let you know how it progresses.

Her birthday dessert was a real hit, we're still on a sugar high.

Butter Brickle Ice Cream Bars

2 1/2 Cups Crushed Rice Chex

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 butter, melted

1 cup pecans, broken into pieces

1 cup coconut

1/2 gallon Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Mix Chex, butter, brown sugar, pecans and coconut together in a 9 x 13 pan.  Toast in oven at 300* for 30 minutes.  Stir often to prevent burning.  After toasting, take out 1/3 crumbs and reserve.  Leave remaining crumbs in pan to cool.  Then spread 1/2 gallon softened ice cream on crumbs in pan, cover with remaining crumbs.  Freeze.  Remove from freezer a few minutes before serving.  Cut into bars and serve with caramel sauce.

Enjoy the days, the count down to a routine schedule that comes with school days is on!

The Deep End of the Pool

Sorry for the absence, I'm paddling like crazy, only the pool just seems to be getting bigger and deeper.  I've been practicing the 'art of subtraction' throughout the house for months.  And each removal seems to land here......

....because there  was s-p-a-c-e.  Not so, anymore.  I'm trying to get motivated to place sale ads.  I'm pretty happy with the way the rest of the house is looking, it's just extremely frustrating that this is in the middle of the house!  But it will feel fresh and new once the pool is emptied for the season, ahh, summer refreshment!