Nature Walk...

I did get some walking time in with Tom and Lucy today. Two miles. Not a buffalo in sight, but a Doe ran across the road just twenty feet in front of us as something flushed her out of the woods. Also watched two Eagles. They came down low enough to show off their white heads. We live close to a river and open fields that offer a nice wildlife habitat.

This pair came to visit our backyard last year. They clear out a Hosta garden like it's dessert.

Hope there are some fun nature sightings in your day!

Gudrun, This is What I'm Working On :O)

Here's what I made while enjoying this week's rainy day weather.  This is a Patch Abilities design.  Purple Cone Flowers is the name of the pattern.  It is a narrow 6" by 21" wall quilt.  I will show you the cute wire hanger once it's bound and ready to hang.

This is a raw edge fusible web project.  I don't like the way that the edges fray when I sew the blanket stitch around each piece.  I have no idea how to avoid this problem other than using needle turn applique.

If any of you have a better way to do this, I would love to hear about it.  The flower petals are cut as one piece which makes "real" applique difficult for this design.  Julia, do you think the Kim Diehl method could work?

Happy Quilting!

What About Bob?

First of all, please accept our heartfelt thanks for all of your kind messages of hope and prayers for Bob, his family and ours as well. I think the prayer chain circles the globe by now.

Bob is home from the hospital and appears to be recovering well from his surgery. The surgeon was not able to remove the tumor, just took biopsies because of the additional cancer that they found.

Bob has been out walking a little bit. Jane says he's over doing and should be resting more and that he still insists that he will be at the hunting shack come November. I don't doubt him, LOL, will take more than cancer and chemotherapy to keep him away from that buck he has his eye on...I am not a hunter, but I try to understand his passion for it as he will have to understand when I speak Quilting! I think for each hunting story told there should be a quilt story shared. What do you think? Fair enough, right? We remain hopeful and optimistic that medicine can turn this around. BTW, Bob was surprised and touched to hear of all the prayers that are going out on his behalf, he is very big on prayer and this especially pleases him. Quilters are awesome!

The new roof was completed just in time for an inch of rain and a welcome break from outdoor chores - painting! Was a real nice thunder booming stormy day that kept me inside, so naturally I found my way up to my sewing room. Picked up a WIP and made some progress. Always does my heart good to do some stitching. Hope all of you are sewing, quilting, stitching, running...whatever brings JOY to your life.

Big Hugs,

PS: D' and Dan, can't thank you enough for all help provided. You took up the heavy lifting when we truly needed you to.

A Sick Friend...

Tom and I learned (about two weeks ago) that our friend Bob has pancreatic cancer .  This Tuesday, Bob's surgeon attempted surgery to remove the tumor, but he discovered more cancer than originally thought existed.  He was not able to remove the tumor from the pancreas, the liver and other areas are now affected as well.  Needless to say, times are very sad here at Stillmeadow. We are worried beyond words for our friend.  It is difficult to comprehend what is to come.  If you pray, please send up a word or two for Bob, Jane and their boys...they need a miracle.   

Quilting? Ha! Roofing Project Straight Ahead...

There I am, stripping away the ridge cap. Do you wonder if I wouldn't rather be sewing? You bettcha I would! This is a tough project. Hubby is inside pulling together supplies to replace rotted wood, but don't worry, he's coming back to bulldog the rest of the shingles off. This is a steep roof, didn't look that way until I climbed up here. Our DD1's friend, Dan, loaned us a Bulldog to strip the shingles and nails off and it is a sweet tool. Thank you, Dan!!

Tom's growing a Hops vine on the end of the building. He's a brewer of some very tasty beers! No doubt he would rather be brewing than working on this project just like I would rather be quilting. Poor guy, he works way too hard!

Here is our Carpenters Workshop and Garden Shed building. Would this not make the nicest Quilter's Studio? A girl can dream, but where would I do my dirty work? Where would I work on my workshoppy projects? The garden shed is actually separated from the workshop space by a wall so the business end of the garden shed in this building is kept to itself. It's a stinky place, not good for quilting. The carpenter's shop is finished inside and has potential...

Here is the other project that has kept us busy.

Our "Swing House" has been moved to it's new location. It now has a fresh coat of paint.

The old wood swing is in the shop being stripped of it's old paint and will reappear next spring all bright and shiny new. All it will need is a comfy cushion, a quilt, couple of magazines and a cuppa, or, maybe two little kids swinging?!

Some things to look forward to. A workshop made new again and time to daydream while gently swinging on a freshly painted swing, all in good time...you know how it is.

Ute...You are a Hoot!

So, I'm reading this little ditty, it's got me laughing so hard I could, well, you know...you see my friend Ute just had to send this to me tonight and I am still laughing.  Because Ute has a wicked sense of humor she likes to send these bits of wit that start out sooooo innocently and end up with a zzzzinger at the end!  

Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply.  If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.  If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.  If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.  If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.  She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.   So - if you give her crap, you will receive more poo than any one human being can handle.  

And there you have it, Ute style!  Be careful what you hand a woman, you might get more than you bargained for.  Tee hee.

No Bull and the Price of Hay...

No sign of Buffalo Bull today. Hubby and Lucy came along with me for a walk this morning. My cheerful companions kept me going for THREE miles today! If you all had any idea what a success story this is for me you'd be hootin' and cheering! Sigh, it felt good...real good! We are supposed to have rain tomorrow, but I think I'll just dress for the weather and see how far Lucy and I can go in the wet...I know, I'm made of all sweetness, but I doubt that I'll melt...you know how it is.

I also had a chance to chat with a local farmer about the price of hay and straw. He's selling good 1st crop hay for $3.00, 2nd crop for $2.00 and Straw for $3.00 a bale. These are the big old fashioned bales, tied with twine. Not those new newfangled round ones. Those are against the law here...cause the horses weren't getting a square meal! LOL!

I'm heading back out to pick up some of that straw for our fall decorating. We re-purpose it later as winter ground cover. Hope you find time to enjoy the outdoors today!

Falling into a New Routine and a Lot of Bull...

The hot summer days are slipping into Fall coolness. It's time to hit the road again. I'm ready to take up my walking toward fitness plan, again, but this time I am joining Wendy's group, where I can soak up support and encouragement and offer some too! Today, Lucy and I made it 1.5 miles. Our walk was cut short by an escapee from the Buffalo Ranch. Mr. Buffalo Bull was located about 3/4 of the half way through our walking route. I have encountered the big guys before and I'm telling you that I have yet to sneak past a Bull, you just don't push your luck, you turn and Google a new route! LOL. Tomorrow, Lucy and I will do the opposite direction, that'll give Buffalo Farmer Bob time to collect his critters before I head back up my favorite trail. Rabbit Stitchings is having fun with a Bull today, too.

Happy Trails from the land where Buffalo roam!