Quilts

With Autumn blowing it's damp chill winds this week (in the 50's during the day!) it is quilt time. I love quilts and I am currently working on a couple for some very special girls:>)  This quilt was a flea market find this summer for $1.   You might think I got a bargain to see it now, but then it was a uniform stained brown and had a scent that encouraged us to drive home with the windows down.  I soaked it outside for a couple days in Biz, and when I pulled it out of the (murky) water it was sparkling white and I could see the hand embroidered squares  much more clearly.  It turned out to be a great deal and I have spent several evenings snuggled on the couch with it with the windows open, and used it for an outdoor concert in the park.

Now this little lovely is in the current issue of Quilt Sampler magazine and I am in love with it! It looks simple enough for a beginner and I  have it on my project list for this winter.  The dotted line led to a larger picture of the cherries which are made of yo-yo's and ric rac. Love it!  The colors, the cherries, the little kitchen sign under it (bet I can make that too!)  Oh, I am hopeless when it comes to adding projects to my already full schedule but I can't help myself.  So now you have a peek at what I hope to be making a fall and winter project. Any projects on your list for this winter?

Sunday

Grandpa Ott is invading my garden. Not my grandpa, but the name of this pretty purple morning glory that reseeds itself profusely every year. Earl and I have torn out hundreds of these as they came up but we finally gave up and are enjoying the blooms each morning as they tangle through the fence, the tomato supports and even the lilac bush nearby.  Sometimes you just have to give in to beauty:>)

Not much happening today. Delicious Sunday dinner at a cousins house with time to play with our adorable godson.  He is just taking his first toddling steps.  The rest of the day was spent replacing the coffeemaker that last night gave up the ghost when the entire pot of water that was poured into the reservoir came pouring right out the bottom of the coffeemaker. Exciting. After that I came home and read for a while and then caught up with my blog buds. Nothing fascinating to report, no projects finished, nothing purchased or found by the side of the road. Tomorrow another week begins, but for now, I need a cup of coffee (decaf) and a relaxing hour of zombie like trance in front of the t.v.  That's all.  Mindless relaxation is the order of the day.  Put your feet up with me, ok? We don't always have to have something earth shattering to share.  How do you relax?

I'm heading for work in about 5 minutes, but I thought I would share a little fall decorating I did yesterday after shopping the house:>)  This little bust was a garage sale find this summer. I couldn't resist her. Sitting on a stack of covered books she adds a little sweetness to a corner of the hutch in the dining room.

This beautiful tureen was a gift from a dear friend. Every time I see it I think of her. Filled with bright apples it adds a pretty touch. The rest of my day? Work, a run to the feed store for chicken feed and then settling in for a marathon of sewing some of the house and home pillows. Oops! Gotta run, I'll catch up with everyone later. What are you doing today?

Red

Yes here it is again, my favorite color in a flirty little vintage reproduction apron. I couldn't help myself.  Just think, 4th of July, Valentines day, Autumn, Christmas...they all just beg for a little red. so I pulled out all my red (well ok, not all of it, you know I have more) and trimmed it all in crisp white vintage cotton ric rac and bias tape.

Three flirty little ruffles made of stars, gingham and polka dots. I love it. Click on a picture to get a better look.

It's even cute in back:>)

Can you see yourself in this cutie stirring up Christmas cookies? Or pies? Or maybe candy apples? If so you can get it here. But hurry, there is only one.

Suddenly it's here

Autumn that is.  A beautiful weekend forecast here.  Hope yours is beautiful too. We have a little road trip today...I'll update later but I don't want the person we are going to see to know we are coming.:>)

Our road trip was a quick drive to our youngest daughters campus. She has been feeling quite ill and we needed to surprise her with some home made chicken noodle soup and a few goodies.  Poor baby was running a fever and we made sure she was supplied with tissues, meds and ginger ale.  It was a two hour drive each way but she was so glad to see us and I was glad we could take her what she needed and provide a little comfort.  Say a little prayer for her, I think it's the flu and I hope its not the swine flu!

A Day in the Life

Tuesdays Earl is in school. Did I tell you he signed up for college this fall to get a degree in construction management? No? Well he did, I am so proud of him I could bust. But Tuesdays are his long day. 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.  He can handle it,  He's my superman:>)   Anyway, since I have Tuesdays to myself I can get things done that I otherwise wouldn't. No interruptions you know?  So after work I came home, checked my email (of course!) spent way too much time online read a few blogs, and just plain messed around for a while. I think we all need time to mess around don't you?

I went outside and gathered the eggs. The hens just recently started laying and the eggs are so brown and beautiful. The blue-green egg is the first of that color. It comes from an Aracuana and I think it is just a wonder.  I cooked some sweet corn from the farmers market and cut it off the ears so I could freeze it and enjoy it this winter.

After cutting up the corn, I took the empty ears and corn husks out to the compost pile, out past the henhouse and the tomatoes ripening on their teepees. I looked toward the woods and five deer who had been helping themselves to some apples from our trees watched me watching them as I approached. They finally ran into the woods.

On the way back to the house I stopped and took the clothes off the line under the pear tree. Fresh sheets tonight, infused with fresh air and sunshine (and a little rain that fell this afternoon).  I am wearing my apron and I am suddenly struck with the thought that I am living my grandmothers life.  She did it all.  The corn, the clothesline, the chickens and fresh eggs. She baked bread and sewed....just like me.  Or am I just like her?  I didn't set out to do all these things, Grandma was a farm wife and that life is a hard one. She was happy living it though.  The skills I learned from her clearly stuck.  Funny how these things connect us and come full circle without us thinking about them.

My day will be finished with me finishing up this pillow while I wait for my sweetie to come home.
Thanks to Marilyn at The Cutest Cottage Lamps for sending me this beautiful blue chicken fabric, (hey, I'm branching out! It isn't red!) I admired it on her blog and she sent it to me, just like that.   I, of course, had to immediately make another pillow for the sofa, can you have too many pillows?  One thing grandma didn't have..."imaginary" friends on the computer that sent her gifts.  I think she would have liked that:>)

Heart and Home

I finally finished the batch of heart and home pillows, the one on the right was gone before I could list it so I better get started on a few more...

In the meantime, this is the one that is left and I just listed it in my etsy shop.  I have some apron orders and a few other things in the works so it may be a couple weeks before I get anymore of these babies finished. Thanks for your patience:>)

I just may keep one of the next ones! Sold! Thanks for all the heart and home love, I better go get more fabric;>)

In the Henhouse

I was taking photos for some etsy listings Saturday in the morning sunshine, I thought the scarlet runner beans out by the chicken run were an especially good backdrop for some more rustic cake stands.  The carmel apples made great props (and tasty too!) and it was a beautiful morning. Can you see the chickens watching over to the right?

Yes, they love to watch and you can almost see the fervent hope that something will fall to the ground that they can eat. Never mind that chicken wire between them and the food, they are sure they can overcome that little obstacle.  So the pretty cake below? Made for Earls mom's birthday Sunday (Happy Birthday mom!) He spent a good deal of time making it pretty and filled the vanilla cake with home made lemon curd and iced it with vanilla buttercream.  It was just the thing to use in my photos. A thing of beauty...

Of course, as soon as the photo was taken, as I went to take it off the cake plate (it was on a cardboard round), it slipped and fell to the ground! Right next to the chicken yard. We were going to mom's house right after that and taking the cake.....Sorry mom.

Sorry girls, cake isn't good for you.  I'm afraid I'll have to just throw it away:>(

They were some very disappointed little chickens. 

But the cute rustic plates will be in the shop later today. I think they look great with candy apples, pumpkins, fall leaves and all kinds of autumn decor:>)

An apron

I swear I am working on those pillows! It's just that I needed a quick gift for someone special this weekend and an apron seemed just the thing. An autumn apron in apple red (yeah, I know, branch out already right?) with plaid ties and ruffles and a rosey pocket. Some big vintage ric rac was the  finishing touch.

Ok, now I'm off to work on those long awaited pillows....right after I hit the Farmers Market.  It's only open for two more weeks, a girls gotta enjoy it while she can:>) Have a great weekend everyone!

A little fall nesting

I was feeling the need for a little autumn color. I can't abide orange and brown, I love them outside but red is still my go to choice for color. I'm beginning to think I need to branch out a bit, but for now, I whipped up these pillows for the sofa.  I am still working on the heart and home pillows, it is slow going with all the applique and embroidery but these stitched up quick as a wink with simple envelope backs.  I should have the other pillows finished this weekend:>)

I also wanted to show you the new/old coffee table Earl and I found while we were out garage saleing this summer. It used to be a piano bench and we both really love the curvy, carved legs. It was a steal at $8.  A light sanding and a few coats of poly brought it back to life.  Ok, enough sharing, back to work on sewing those pillows.  I am just closing my eyes to the housework today and getting them done.  It's always a balancing act when it comes to what you need to do (housework),and what you want to do, (sewing).  Today, sewing wins:>)

Youth is Wasted on the Young ~ George Bernard Shaw

Dropped off at University yesterday, one daughter.  Going back to work today, one mom.  I helped carry her few belongings into her dorm room yesterday and was hit with a wave of nostalgia.  I wanted to move in.  Of course, this is my Alma Mater and I have many happy memories there, not the least of which is meeting the man of my dreams (yes it's Earl!).  Let me pause a moment to reminisce..........sigh.  Yeah, life was good.  Did I realize it then?  Well, a little, but when we returned home I told Earl that just for a moment I had thoughts of selling the house and both of us returning to carefree days in an apartment on campus.  Walking in the cool night air and looking at the stars on campus, no bills once tuition was paid.  Opportunities for fun just laid out for you.

We had our chance and now it's her turn.  Lucky girl.  I wouldn't go back to high school for a million bucks, but college?  If I could live those carefree days again? You bet.  How about you?  Would you go back?

What to do with an abundance of zucchini

If life gives you zucchini...make zucchini chips!  We were blessed with an overabundance of this favorite veggie this year. Two huge plants gave us all we could eat fresh and kept on producing! I sliced the fresh zucchini fairly thin, about 1/4" thick, and laid them in the dehydrator. Sprinkled lightly with salt and left overnight it produces a crisp, delicious veggie chip that is fantastic with your favorite dip.  Healthy, low cal, NO FAT!  Perfect when you want something crunchy and lighty salty but are trying to lay off the fattening stuff.  We have been drying these practically non -stop for 3 weeks and what you see in the bowl is all we have. We can't stop eating them.

My sis-in-love turned me onto the next great thing.  Home made greek yogurt in my crock pot!  Seems it is easy as can be using the directions here.  Easy as pie, and with a little honey and fresh raspberries, oh my, it is my family's new favorite treat!  I had a quickie garage sale just before heading to Florida (I made a whole $20, next time I'll advertise, or just donate to begin with)  Sis brought over some things to put in the sale and among them was this yogurt maker. I snatched it up in case the crock pot thing didn't work. Since it does, I went to retrieve the maker to give to Goodwill when I noticed the little jars that came in it were milk glass! Did you know that sis? No, you can't have it back! lol:>)(No. really, you can't).  I think they are perfect for portioning out the yogurt and keeping in the fridge.  If you try this recipe and run into any glitches contact me and I'll try to help. We didn't read the directions as carefully as we should have and had a few batches that didn't thicken properly. We heated them up and came up with a wonderful soft cheese that Victoria herbed and we used as a spread so it is a no lose recipe as far as I am concerned!

Today I have a free day so I'm baking, doing a little sewing (house pillows!) and puttering around. This weekend we take Victoria back to University. Last year I cried all the way home, this year I am just so grateful that her financial aid made it possible for her to go back, and I know she will be fine and will be home before I know it. No tears this year, I swear!   Enjoy the last weekend of summer. It seems more like the first weekend of Autumn to me. The weather is cool and I am ready:>) Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

I'm back!

Back from florida and a much needed vacation. It was fun but I returned with very few photos.  This is Cinderellas castle at Disney. It was great fun and we stayed for the evening fireworks. Lovely.  Now I'm jumping back into real life and it's going to be a busy week. Today, shopping for school essentials before Victoria heads back to college Monday. Tomorrow, a work meeting and Thursday I head back to the school kitchen to put things back together for the school year. This weekend we will visit my mother and move Victoria back to school.  The summer has flown (as I am sure you have all noticed!) I also need to get my etsy orders mailed, the house cleaned, meals cooked....you get the idea. Sometimes I wonder if a vacation is worth all the catch up work you need to do when you get home. I'll be stopping in to say hello  and catch up with my blog friends too. Oh happy September. Things do speed up again in the fall don't they?