Somewhere In The Middle

 It's such an odd time of year, isn't it?

We might have snow one day and sunny skies the next.

With that,

one day we want stew and the next something lighter and fresher.

I have actually enjoyed this winter for the most part.

I still am on those blustery days.

I am also planting seeds and enjoying watching them sprout.

Like those little seeds bursting to life,

I feel like the house is going to burst.

I think those winter projects come out into the living space

and take up room.

They can make the house feel cluttered.

Please tell me it's not just me (cringe).

(Still working on my Forever Quilt)

I've begun the spring cleaning.

Before you shoot, remember this is me.

By the time I get one spot clean, two more are in need.

It does feel good to know that it was done though.

Even if it doesn't last.

I'm not sure if it's the knowing it has been cleaned

or the sense of accomplishment at having done it,

but either way it's good.

On the rare days we have had warm skies,

I try to get out and do some small thing.

It's surprising what a difference they make.

Last weekend, I trimmed up the thyme plant.

I also got one small bed leveled out where the spuds will go.

Then pelt, pelt, pelt. . .

icy rain pellets were being lodged from the clouds

and the wind came along to rile things up.

All said, I was forced back inside.

I tried again yesterday.

I went out to prepare some more trays for planting seeds.

As I was out there,

Mother Nature began snarling and growling and huffing and puffing.

I did get the trays readied, but then went in once more.

The good news in that is that my kitchen is cleaned.

The dining table however, is strewn with seed packets,

calendars, almanac and the like.

The Mini-greenhouse is now in the house - oy!

It used to kinda bother me to have it in the house.

Now, for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me.

I remember that it is temporary and once I am knee deep 

in preserving the harvest, I will miss the days of new green sprouts.

(Cherry Tomato sprouted after 2-3 days!)

I am trying to reign it in this year.

Yeah, I probably say that every year.

I think I only planted 18 tomatoes rather than 82.

So you see, I'm getting better.

(It's okay to laugh.)

There are some specialty herbs I want to try again.

Last year, I struggled getting things going.

The herbs seemed to be the least hardy.

Well, that just means I should try again right?

But it's early yet.

And as tempting as it is to want to rush the season,

it will be gone all too soon.

It's easy to appreciate that springtime sunshine,

but we can also appreciate those growls and grumbles

that come from the sky.

They give us the opportunity to wrap up those indoor projects

and get ready for the upcoming outdoor season. 

Whatever your day holds,

I hope it is a good day and that you are enjoying it

to its fullest.

A Little Stitchin' Time

 I've been working in the fun room.

It been a game of sorting and nixing and did I mention sorting?

I began a pinwheel quilt-top last spring.

I had the pinwheels arranged on the floor.

And there they sat. . . 

all summer!

The garden happened, and that was all there was to it.

Then the garden ran late~

Finally, during the past couple weeks,

I've been able to get back to it.

I finished the quilt-top.

I have to finish the quilt I'm quilting now

which is taking forever.

Then I have another one in front of it,

then I can get to this one.

(before the borders)

As I have been stitching,

I have also been trying to go through things 

and do what I like to call "editing."

I have done plenty of good ol' organizing,

and I have a stack of things to go to donation.

In addition to that, I've been trying to think

of projects to "use up" some fabric.

One of the things I've wanted to do for a long time

is make new ironing board covers.

I have two ironing boards - both vintage/antique.

The covers on both were in dire condition.

The larger board, I use for shirts and household ironing.

The smaller board, I like by my quilting 

for pressing blocks and quilt pieces.

I figured I would make a new cover for the smaller one.

So I gathered some fabric and set out to work.

Well, I didn't feel like measuring and thought I could just wing it.

I thought wrong.

Cheater cheater Punkin eater - never pays.

In this case, it was too big so I went ahead 

and put it on the larger board.

It worked fine but then I still had the smaller board to cover.

Back at it but this time I measured like a good girl.

It looks more "wine" colored than it really is.

Both work great and it cleans up the room that much more

having a couple more pieces of fabric out of the stash

and not having ratty looking ironing boards around.

It's funny how something so simple can render a sense of accomplishment and pleasure in using it.

It's nice to move back indoors for the winter.

Our first flakes fell this morning.

Nothing sticking and I still had to go to work,

but enjoyable to see nonetheless.

By February we will be singing a different tune.

But for now~

the first snowfall is cause for celebration.

Keep well and warm dear friends. 

 

The Little Everyday Things

 Hello Friendly Folk~

It is apparent that I'm not the only one struggling

to write when our world as it is seems to be in tumbles.

Over the past several weeks, I've started two different posts

but just couldn't finish them.

Blogland has been pretty quiet.

I hope people are finding home and heart.

Christmas was a new experience for so many this year.

When reflected upon,

may it be that kindness is chosen over the many alternatives.

It's been pretty quite at our home also.

We've been fortunate that we've been busy at work.

It's been a crazy, hectic, chaotic year, but we have work

and we are grateful for that.

It's only been the in past few weeks that we've been able

to have our winter evenings.

I love winter evenings~

Though, since the time change I've not slept through the night

more than a handful of nights.

(Things on my mind, I s'pose.)

So my evening activities usually end about 7:30-8PM 

when my eyes begin to water and tell me to go to bed.

We do wake about 4-4:30 so I guess that's eight hours.

I've been able to do a little stitching (finally!) and reading.

If you ever run across a copy of Della T Lutes "The Country Kitchen,"

snatch it up.  It is one of the funniest books I've read in some time.

She does share methods about the foods they prepared and ate,

but she has a knack for telling of the accounts in such a way

that has humored both Mr. LB and me.

When you laugh out loud while reading a book,

you know it's funny.

And right next to my book and glasses is a big hoop

with the quilt I'm quilting on.

This is the one on the hoop.

I told myself I had to quilt 2 quilts before I could start another. 

Did I listen to me?

Nooooo. . . 

Go ahead and roll your eyes at me.

I know.  Bad, bad, me.

I couldn't help myself.

Those Singers are like sea nymphs calling, luring me to stitch. 

I have yet to sew a whole quilt on Birdy.

I don't think you've met Birdy yet.

Here, let me introduce you.

She is a 1940 Singer Featherweight - my youngest Singer.

That's how she got her name.

Isn't she beautiful?

She was a gift from Hubby, and I love her.

(And him too by the way:-).

And go ahead and listen to that.

You can't hear anything can you?

That's one of the things I love about her.

She is soooo quiet and stitches like a dream.

I've only made a few blocks,

but I can't express how much good it did my soul.

I'm replicating a vintage pattern.

I kinda do my own thing so I have measurements like

2 1/8" x a generous 3 3/4".

It really doesn't matter as long as it's consistent.

It's just like cooking "a skosh more" or "just a smidgeon."

Heehee~

The Christmas decorations are gathered and ready to go back into the tote.

The tree will soon be out of the house.

I didn't do a ton this year.

More and more, I am finding that less really is more.

Not just in decorations, but in general.

Before Christmas, I finally went through a box of photos

from my friends who passed in '15 & '16.

I got all that I'm keeping into a very thick album,

sent some to their one living relative, those I thought she might want.

And the rest went into the burn pile.

There were lots of pictures of flowers etc. among the family pictures

so going through them took time.

I think we all have these projects.

I have a tote out in the garage that is full of photos

from when the kids were little.

Once the tree is out of the house, and I haul the Christmas tote out,

I will bring it in and begin going through them.

For some reason, I am feeling the need to get down to those things

that matter in the long run.

I still have a constant donation box though these days

it's slower to fill than it once was.

I still like to call it "editing."

I think I've mentioned that long ago when we were considering down-sizing.

I'm not sure we will ever go much smaller,

but I sure don't mind an empty shelf here or there.

And open space is refreshing.

Speaking of refreshing,

it's about that time~

A fresh new year.

Have you chosen a word of the year yet?

I've done this for several years now.

My 2020 word was "Grace."

God somehow knows what we need, doesn't He?

My word for 2021 is going to be "Flourish."

We don't know what lies ahead, 

but I hope whatever the year brings that I might find a way to flourish.

And for the new year, 

I'd like to wish every one of you a year filled to the brim with blessings.

Until next time~

Long 'nuf I Suppose

 Once in a while, it's nice just to have a chat.

Have you noticed how folks don't just drop by anymore.

I've had friends say,

"We wouldn't just stop in on somebody without calling."

Why not?

My friends are always welcome.

If I'm in the middle of peeling spuds, 

pull up a chair and dig in :-)

Then, let's chat.

Some of the best conversation happens over snapping beans

or bucking hay, or digging a row.

So pull up a chair or tip the bucket over, whichever suits you.

Have a seat.

I'm so sorry it's been so long since my last post.

It's just been that B word (busy).

Our tomatoes went crazy again this year and supplied

not only for our needs, buy my parents, my in-laws, and one of the guys at work.

Hubby discovered he looooves homemade salsa.

So we've made about 17 gallons! (I think?)

We've also been busy at work and trying to deal with all the challenges

this year has presented to small businesses.

Hubby worked 8 weeks straight and finally took this past Sunday off.

We are still slammed, but I think we are beginning to see the light.

I have been trying to stitch a little in the evenings when I can.

I have been quilting on the first quilt I have ever made.

No, it's still not finished!

I will show you that more in depth another time.

But I had to take an intermission in order to make a baby quilt

for some friends who were expecting.

I got it made, hand quilted it and to them before baby arrived.

The little one was a month early so I'm glad I didn't wait until the last minute.

Not great pictures but, it's Pooh Bear fabric and the full collection book

to go along with it.

I like Pooh Bear for little ones because there is no bad guy.

There are only situations that they work through.

When I mentioned that to hubby, 

he said "Well, of course you would notice that." :-)

We aren't even to Halloween yet and I am thinking about Christmas.

There is an odd feeling about it this year,

both gratitude and sadness.

I am so grateful my dad is recovering and doing a little better each day.

But my grandmother (his mom) is 96 and probably won't be with us much longer.

I'm not sad for her, but for my own selfishness.

She has lived a good 96 years, and it's only really been the past year

that she's had many issues.

And I am comforted in that as much as I love her,

I know God loves her even more.

I also just received news that the man who is like my second father

is now on hospice.

I'm not sharing this to make you all sad.

The opposite really~

We should be grateful for the time we have with our loved ones.

And so I am looking forward to Christmastime.

We cannot stop the circle of life - nor would I want to

as difficult as it might be at times.

But this year, I might try to make a special effort to make

Christmas even more meaningful.

I just placed an order for a little surprise I am planning to make.

As soon as it arrives, I will share in case you would like to do so also.

As we head into the holidays, especially this year,

I'd just like to encourage everyone to remember kindness,

be appreciative for all of our blessings and loved ones,

and be as generous as your circumstances allow.

I've begun adding Christmas items to my etsy shoppe.

Am certainly enjoying having it open again.

Also, do any of you know what's up with line spacing on the new blogger?

I can't find spacing - oy! 

Mrs. Kirksey's Quilttop

 Mrs. Kirksey and I have had a wonderful time stitching together.

She's made a very nice top

that now just needs some attention from yours-truly

in order to get it quilted.

It will have dark binding - 

the same fabric as the narrow inner boarder.

It has it's imperfections,

but overall, I quite like it.

The pattern was called "Rob Peter to Pay Paul" in a 1970s

McCall's quilting magazine,

but this is not what we know as that pattern.

With the help from a couple others, 

it appears to be more of a "Kansas Dugout" variation.

I don't think names of quilts were as important in the past

or it could have been a typo or over-site at the time.

The pattern was just for the center design,

but I can't leave well enough alone and added borders:-)

It will be a full/double size.

Soon Mrs. Kirksey will be wiped down and 

returned to her cupboard for a bit of a rest.

No rest for me though.

Instead of quilting on the quilt I showed here,

I decided to put a UFO in a hoop

and work on it.

I know - I'm the only one who has UFOs calling. :-)

It will be nice to get Gracie back in her spot

and to get the rest of the space back into 

some resemblance of order.

(Feel free to do that teen-ager eye roll thing at that comment.)

Also, I am working on a post in response

to my last post - 

specifically in regards to soaps and shampoo.

But. . . I wanted to share this with you

in the mean time.

Have a beautiful day all.

Off & Running

In my last post,

I mentioned that one of my goals is to use my fabric stash.

Now, what I'm about to show you 
might not be for the weak of heart.

I'm actually showing you 
my stash.

Gasp! Cough! Choke!

Yes, I know.

And this is after 3 full car-loads of donations.

You see,

using the vast majority of my stash is only a "small" part of the "big" goal.

It's okay, I'll wait here and give you time

to pick yourself up off the floor after falling over with laughter.

They say laughter is good for the soul.

 I'm just helpin' ya out. :-)

(Flannel backed cozy throw.)

The real goal is to down-size even more.

I mentioned when we moved here that we down-sized by almost 40%.

I had lived up the mountain for 18 years.

My kids were 3 and 1 when we moved there.

There was a lot of "stuff" that's been sorted and relocated.

And as I mentioned in the last post,

that transition, though difficult at times, has been a very good one.

We have absolutely no desire to become minimalist~

just to make that clear.

I see extreme minimalism as reliant and unprepared

which is not something I aim to be.

 

Backed with
chamois flannel
for extra
cozieness.












But. . . 

Enoughism, I do aim for.

The computer is telling me that's not a word.

Well, it's a word in my book.

We want to keep a good supply of useful items

and things that would be useful in an emergency situation,

but the fabric stash is more than enough.

I don't want to have none,

but I have a small book shelf that 

I'm hoping will eventually house all my fabric.

That's a pretty lofty goal, 

especially considering I don't care for "quick and easy."

I like items that are made well

which often means the old fashioned way - the slower way.

There were actually a couple more totes,

but I've made a little progress already.

I started with some of the simpler and bulkier projects.

That helped to get me started.

Now I'm trying to use up fabrics that 

I don't have an emotional attachment to.

If you need to roll around on the floor in laughter again

after that statement, 
I get it. :-)

(Cowboy quilt, original design, hand quilted, pieced back.)

There are fabrics that are so beautiful in my eyes

that I want the perfect project for them and don't want to just chop 

them up for any ol' quilt pattern.

So, I'm starting with the fabrics that are easier to part with.

I have a feeling it will be a bit like decluttering.

At first just part with the stuff that doesn't matter,

then it's okay to part with the things that we don't use,

then choose favorites among the duplicates, and so on.

A little about how I typically roll with my quilting.

Though I occasionally hand piece,

I usually machine piece the quilts on my 

1918 Singer I call Gracie.

I had over a dozen sewing machines at one time.

I've decluttered and down-sized that collection as well.

I'm down to half-dozen.

That might still sound like overkill to some folks,

but they are each different and they each get used.

Once the top is pieced, I layer it and put it in the hoop

or on the frame depending upon the size.

I prefer hand-quilted quilts to machine quilted.

Machines essentially knot each stitch, and

hand-quilting is a running stitch that from the side

would look like a wave going up and down through the layers.

This allows the materials some "slack."

It's why machine quilted quilts are stiffer and

hand-quilted quilts drape around you - give you a hug.

So, I try to hand-quilt my quilts.

I'm not a professional hand-quilter,

but each one I do gets a smidgeon better.

(Note - there is some beautiful machine-quilting out there.)

 (In real life, the greens really do match.)

 (Current project being pieced: Rob Peter to Pay Paul.  An old pattern that requires scissors to cut out as opposed to a rotary cutter - slower.)

I will need to keep at it and get a lot done 

if I am to attend a bazaar or two next fall.

I also hope to get some smaller quilted items done

so that there will be a variety.

The perk of all this will be as these totes empty,

I won't be refilling them.

They will leave and we will have that much more room.

It sure won't happen over night, but

I'm looking forward to that.

(Next on the frame.)

For now, I'll just keep stitching ~

Weeeell, we'll see what happens come canning season.
Hopefully, I can at least make a good dent in it.

QAL in the Snow

Howdy folks.

Just a quick post so you can see how deep it is around here.

We got a foot of snow yesterday!

It dumped on us.

I opened our front door to see this.

Our Christmas tree is still out front and looking festive.

Since it's been snowing all week (though not a foot in one day like yesterday,)

I joined a Quilt-a-Long.

I had never done this so had many questions 

as I wasn't quite certain how they worked.

Mary Elizabeth Kinch was very kind in answering my list of questions.

She is hosting the Foothills Quilt-a-Long.

I was rather smitten with it so decided to join in the fun.

Here are my first 7 blocks.

Please forgive the quality of the photo - not the best.

They don't look very exciting this way, but set on red fabric, they do pop.

I didn't have room to lay them out properly,

but the first 5 blocks are the top row.

The last 2 blocks are the first 2 blocks in the second row.

I am keeping the "mistake" in the second block just as the original maker did.

I've not bought a thing for this but am using fabrics I have in my stash.

I told Mr LB sometime back how there is/was a superstition

that every quilt needed at least one mistake to let the evil spirits out.

He laughed.

I'm not sure he believed me until I told him about quilts that were impeccable,

but the maker would stitch a number backwards when dating it

or put a non-matching small piece in a corner.

I showed him this one and asked if he could see the mistake.

He didn't until I pointed it out to him.

Then he laughed again.

He is too much of a perfectionist to do such a thing.

I just think it adds character ~ especially since this is a scrappy quilt.

If you are interested in joining,

I don't think it's too late.

Hop on over on the link above and take a peek.

Now you know what I do while it snows.

Spokane Valley Quilt Show~ Techniques

This past weekend was the Spokane Valley Quilt Show.

I thought rather than sharing pictures of the

oh-so many beautiful quilts,

I would share a couple that used unique techniques.

First is the Poppy~

It uses a couple of techniques.

Many small pieces layered then quilted give the background almost

a Monet-like appearance.

It was interesting to see how this was all quilted together.

There was another one that was more of a mountain scene using the same

layering technique.

Then there was a quilt that used so many techniques,

it's difficult to keep track.

I was somewhat flabbergasted to say the least.

Applique, ruching, embroidery, hand-quilting...

And do you see it?

It's fabric turning like the quilt I am still working on.

The entire thing was beautifully done.

This show has become one of my favorites.

The people are friendly - both those who are working,

and those who are viewing.

It is professional, and the quilts are well presented.

If you are ever in the area at the right time,

 I would certainly recommend attending. 

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches