Busy as a Bee During Honey Season

Will try to sew some this week. Just been busy...

We had a wonderful time down at The Farm. We got lots of yardwork done. Sunday was no exception. After we cut down the trees the day before,  we started planting the orchard.

 Now don't expect an engineer and a mathematician/scientist to just "plop" those trees into the ground willy-nilly. They had to use geometry to get it just right. After all that figgerin we were able to plant. We got four trees planted.

Everyone had a great time. Like I told the gang... we're making memories here... (my muscles have memory, I'll say...LOL -- knees are acting up big time)

Yesterday was doc appointment day. Hubby had an MRI done on his right hand on Monday. Long story on that ordeal. Let's just say that it pays to be really nice to the office staff and that cupcakes help.

:-D)

Hank goes in for surgery on Friday. It's a sebaceous growth on his right thumb that is sitting right on top of the main nerve. Yes, he's back with my hometown buddy the hand doc. The growth was there when he had the carpal tunnel release, but since they released it the has been growing larger and now hurts. Luckily enough, the MRI doesn't show that this will be a complicated procedure. Thank you God!

I had a meltdown on Monday night. Yesterday I felt like doody, but I'm much better today. With me I'm like a bottle with a cork.... Sometimes I just gotta let it out and then move on. Today is a new day.

My job today and tomorrow is to get tax stuff done for the accountant. Not my idea of fun. Does anyone else wanna do it for me? It wouldn't be so bad if I knew it was being spent wisely... but so it goes.

Mabel's coming home for spring break. Her birthday is coming up. This weekend we're going to Grammy and Grampy's for her birthday celebration.

I finally finished the book, Keeping the Feast. That book really spoke to me in many ways... I got the book recommendation from Amy over at Park City Girl.

Y'all have a great day. I will.

Prophylactic NSAIDS

I know I'm going to regret waking up tomorrow (you know what I mean). I can already feel it after taking eight aspirins today. I started myself on a prophylactic painkiller regimen to keep muscle pain at bay.

We did a lot today at the kids' farm. On the side yard between the house and fenced-in pasture area there was a row of bradford pear trees. For folks unfamiliar with this species, the have beautiful blooms, but do not stand up to storms and wind. In fact, many city codes outlaw them nowadays because the limb breakage is such a nuisance. The kids purchased four fruit trees (I think peaches and apples) and they are going to start a fruit orchard. Today we took down the trees to make room for the orchard.

For a brief moment today I felt tall, thin and cute. All courtesy of a gas-powered weed whacker... don't ask me why, I know I'm not right in the head... but holding it just made me feel that way. Never mind that all the while I was humming the tune of "Mrs. Brown You Have a Lovely Daughter..." (remember that song?) -- don't know where that came from, either. Then I'd switch to Bill Murray's famous Carl the Greenskeeper character...

I never said I was right in the head...LOL

Gladys and I started clearing out the front beds, cutting back the monkey grass, so new growth can get sun...

All-in-all a good day... now I'm horizontal, and I'm gonna call it a night. More to come tomorrow... From what I hear the next two days are going to be gorgeous!

Hope your weekend's a good one!

Goodbye to Vivian

I packed up Vivian today to take down to the kids' farm for Mabel take with her when she comes home from spring break. I know that Mabel will love and appreciate her. When I started sewing I envisioned myself doing a lot of embroidery. Truth be told, I found myself doing quilting much more... Therefore Vivian will go to someone who can make her shine...

On the way back from Illinois, I stopped again at Hancock's of Paducah. In the $5.98/yd end of bolt bins, I found more Breath of Avignon pieces. Those bins in themselves make it worth stopping to shop in person. They usually are 30-50% off regular price for those pieces. I worked on my Avignon quilt squares while up at my sister-in-law's home. I took a honeybun and bordered a set charm squares. Easy peasy.

I've got a quilt to sandwich and stitch. I purchased some basting spray to help me out. Never used the stuff. This should be an adventure... Right? Any tips or tricks?

Right now I'm struggling with a life lesson. I'm dealing with it, but it just humbles me.. This time I won't be so darn stubborn. Good will come out of it... and I am building character. Right?

Yep, I'm a character... Hahahahaahahahaaha!

We're off to the kids' farm. I may even drag out my machine... Weather is supposed to be nice... spring is coming. At least I hope so!

:-D)

Talking Fabric and a Trip to Mecca

While traveling on our way to Southern Illinois, we made a stop at Quilt Mecca (Paducah, KY). While we didn't go to the Quilter's Grand Cathedral (the Museum), I did stop at one of the nation's leading quilt stores (Hancock's of Paducah).

And I was on a mission. I came with my list and shopped my list. I purchased two other things than I had listed, but that made up for the one thing they didn't have. LOL!

And this trip was just for ME.

Yes, I give away most of what I create, but this season finds a beautiful fabric line that evokes a fond memory... That of my travels to France. Not Paris, but the real beautiful part of France -- Provence, the Alps, and the Riviera. And this line just speaks to me...

My goal when I got there was to search the end of bolt sale bins. They used to be $4.98/yard, but now they're up to $5.98/yard. Either way, that is still a bargain. I was lucky in that I found three pieces from the fabric line I came for. I purchased one other piece from the bolt (the blue fleur de lis), then went back into the back room to get two charm packs and a honey bun.

This fabric really tugs at my heartstrings. I normally don't go for the "ditsy" floral, but this is truly a line based on fabrics I've seen in country France... Just wonderful! And for some add reason it really suits my current provincial mood. It evokes memories of simple bistro food, Beaujolais, wildflowers, and fresh air markets. And that, my dears, makes me smile.

Stay tuned for more on this fabric... I'm excited to hear what story it tells me.

Building my stash and one task down

I forgot to show y'all what I had waiting for me when I got home. I shopped two incredible sales on Fabric.com and got all this. And I got it all for a very good price thanks to coupons on top of clearance sale prices... The Lizzy Dish fabric on the bottom left here today as part of a happy pack for a special someone -- it was purchased with her in mind. :-)

These were the four fat quarters I won from a fabric drawing online... They are designed by Liz Scott who runs the Wonderfluff etsy shop... LOVE IT! I've got to save that for a super, special project.

Speaking of happy pack, I'll be shipping my latest completed project out to a childhood friend as a surprise. It's a casserole trivet to cover an ugly hot pad, and a matching table runner. I'm especially proud of  how the binding turned out. Binding is usually a bugaboo for me, but I managed quite well here. The fabrics came from Hobby Lobby in Fayetteville, AR. The solids are just basic Kona solids... The backing is done with the big green print. I got the block idea from Quilter's Cache. This is the Indian Star Block. I did create the flying geese part of this block (the large white triangles) in a different way, but the effect is still the same.

Next up will be hemming some pants, I think... I can get through that one quickly.

What are you working on?

Spreading the word... Praying for Legrand Strickland

(image credit)

Have you ever had a news story just touch your heartstrings? While in Arkansas a few weeks ago, I learned about this family and what they are going through. LeGrand was serving in the US Army in Northern Pakistan when he was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device) and seriously injured. Ever since then this family and soldier have weighed heavy on my heart and have been in my prayers.

And you all know what a precious, most intimate gift that prayer is.

Folks, this is a true story of HOPE and the power of prayer...

To learn more about this family visit Praying for Legrand and also visit his Facebook page. (Update: his wife is now blogging here)

Please join me in lifting him up...

Meanwhile back at the ranch....

Ok, it's really the condo...

Had a fun weekend down at the kids' farm. The weather was perfect (60+ degrees), whetting our appetites for Spring. Hopefully it will arrive soon. Click here if you want to see photos from yesterday.

I'm back home with Betty and Vivian (see machines on sidebar), trying to finish some projects. I've got several projects in my queue (in no particular order):

1. Quilting and binding a small table runner/trivet project for a gift (I'm working on this now)
2. Hemming some pants for my brother
3. Sandwiching, quilting, and binding a larger quilt for my brother's dorm room
4. Sandwiching, quilting and binding a lap quilt for a gift

These are the projects requiring immediate attention. After those are completed I will work on some curtain panels sets for our airstream, then attempt to try my hand at sewing on vinyl cushion slipcovers (an experiment).

I'll be passing down Vivian soon. I'm not doing the embriodery thing like I thought I would... it will be going to Mabel the next time I see her. I think she will get more quality time with it than I did. Betty is all I need right now. It was a tough decision, but I think it's a smart one. Mabel doesn't know about it, so it will be interesting to see her reaction when she reads this. :-D)

Well, y'all have a great rest of the week. It's back to winter again...