"With blackest moss the flower pots were thickly crusted one and all."

Who can guess where that quote comes from?

I made this little improvisational piece(thanks to the Hedgehog) a while back and I even quilted it, but then I wasn't sure I liked it... so it stewed a while in the cupboard... it's more appealing to me now- that, and I added the buttons. And I just used some binding scraps. Felt good to be sewing, again. This was my first attempt at "light and airy." The pots are my favorite part of the whole thing- and they are NOT light and airy. But it was a fun little thing to do. And it looks right smart on my quilting room wall- though it might move to over the kitchen door. I think I'm gonna go out to the quilting room and see what trouble I can get into. You all have a great day.

A sweater in July...

May sound a bit...unorthodox, but it's very light weight. I have all of the components done and now I need to pull it together. I have the shoulder seams and the sleeves sewn together. Then I think I'll finish the openings with some single crochet and some shells. It's a bit too big, but I think it will work. My first peice of crothet clothing. the sleeves don't have the best shape, but at least I won't have to worry about it binding under my arms!

Play on words...

Having 6 sons, you gotta embrace all things manly. Like armor. My boys love the stuff. So this is my latest paint project. I used stencils I bought at Walmart and just threw them up there- the kids helping decide what words to use and where. They love standing in front of the steps and reading them out loud. I think me and the girls are gonna need a spot somewhere for the "Fruit of the Spirit." Just sayin'.

Windowpanes Vest...

Just a quick post on my way out the door. And don't give me a hard time about not being able to see my face- my eyes are tired these days and I didn't want everyone saying, "Nines, you look tired." It's the vest I wanted to show you, not my tired eyes.

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This is the Windowpanes Vest by Rag Merchant. I started it last...September, I think. Finally finished it up, last night. What a journey into boredom and tedium! The end results are worth it, but it involves a whole lot of sewing. Down the vest and then across the vest. And I might be a Maverick quilter, but I resist using glue on anything and that was what you were supposed to use to hold the blocks in place while you sew them down. Too much of a traditionalist, I suppose. If you're all hung up about getting everything straight ya better glue. I am not so tightly wound and so I just pinned them in place- with a whole lot of shifting going on. It's based on a man's shirt and then just bound all the way around with a button under the arms to hold the front to the back- I used two buttons because my vest is longer than theirs. All in all, I am lovin' it. Hey! I get to wear my favorite batiks and hand-dyeds. And it matches everything! Gotta run, you all have a great day.

Must be in a Red mood...

what do'ya think? Mom and I have been having an high ole time makin' doilies. It's like a game I play. See, my friend, Sandy, lets me borrow her Crochet Magic magazines and I copy out the easy doily patterns. But then I return her magazines... and I am left with the patterns, but no picture... see? Like a game, picking out the doily, not knowing what the end result is gonna be. This one is for my son's sweetheart. She'll like the deep red color.

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I'm diggin' on Joss Stone these days. Good R&B tunes. Bought all three cds. My fridge died. Quietly in it's sleep. I don't see why it couldn't have breathed it's last while my Dad was here- an air refrigeration specialist, that he is. Must have been having mercy on the poor man. I bought an old one from Bill's store. A frig not a poor man. Much smaller than mine. The frig, not the man. I think we all need to learn to scale down during these difficult economic times. But 10 people sharing a moderately sized refrigerator... it ain't gonna be pretty. And I just bought some more wild salmon... maybe there's room in the outside freezer. And no icemaker or water dispenser. I am such a spoiled brat.

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I did sew some the other day. It's a secret project, so no pictures. Which is a good thing as I was on Benedryl while I pieced it... not a point on it to my satisfaction. I kept thinking I shouldn't be peicing while woozy- but I couldn't seem to help myself. It wasn't like there was a warning, "Do not operate sewing machine while taking this medication." I think I will put a label on it that says, "It'll all quilt out." And it most likely will.

Goings on...

Things I've been doing...

1. Crocheting. I've finished a doily and I am almost finished with another. Then I started a sweater- a first and with no pattern, I'm not sure it will work out wearable. The yarn is wonderfully soft and called "denim ombre" It'll look great with jeans. It's a nice change from the tiny little doily hook- i'm using a honkin' huge K hook.
2. I've been acquiring red and white fabrics for a redwork quilt. Sandy has been doing the embrioidery on the machine for me and I plan on piecing little borders for the squares. Some of these fabrics came all the way from Oregon.
3. My parents visited. the mower is running- along with a couple weed whackers. that's a very good thing. My dishwasher never ran so good as it does now. All thanks to my Dad. the garden is tilled and looking very healthy. New green beans are planted- for the third time. Hopefully third time is a winner. My Mom did laundry and laundry and more laundry. Welcome to my world.
4. We had a 4th of July picnic at my Sis in law's. I made a cherry cobbler- big shocker, I know. But no one else made cherry anything and I was surprised by that. The cobbler was a huge hit and disappeared in no time. I also made baked beans and potato salad- 'cause it was a picnic, right? And 5 gallons of lemonade. My oldest set a big fireworks display in the front yard and we had a singing. It was a grand day.
5. Today, I'm tired. Imagine that? So I crochet a little and "rest my eyes" a little. Read a little. Rest my eyes a little more. You get the picture. I might get up some gumption and go sew a little, but don't hold your breath.

Life's just a bowl of cherries...

We've been busy working with some of the summer's bounty. Aren't those cherries just beautiful? And sooooooooo tasty! We made 6 batches of cherry freezer jam. And the rest of the cherries we froze for pies and cobblers. Three of the boys did all of the picking and the girls and Grandmother helped me with the seeding. It was light work with so many hands.

Grandfather cut down the big Elm tree from the front yard. Here on the prairie, we hate to cut down a tree- there are so few that can survive the winds, but this one fell victim to a big gust of wind a few weeks ago and it was so pathetic looking... it just had to go. It'll make good firewood, this winter. John was playing among the fallen limbs and yep, he fell on his face. Kooky kid. He'll survive.