Trying to catch up........

But not all in one post.  It has been over a month since I last blogged.  I don't know where the time went.......and I won't try to catch up all at once, so this post may be a bit of a hodge podge of goings on.

Just got back from Caraway Rug Camp..........my eighth year, and as usual, I had a ball.  I really got a lot done.  But more on that in a later post.

On my frame at the moment is a crazy chicken rug by the name of "Hen and House" by M. Shaw.  I love it, even though it is a bit out of the box for me.  I used Sari Silk for the wings, tail and flowers and did a chain stitch with wool for the legs and feet.  It will be great for my mud room....I have the perfect spot.  I started it just before rug camp and am trying to finish it before I go on to finish my camp rugs.  I only lack a bit of the hill and part of the border.

My sister and I celebrated a late birthday in May (both of our birthdays are in April, but we celebrate when we can).  She and my niece came up and we had a fun day of plunking......yard sales, antique shops and a good lunch.

Ashley celebrated her 38th birthday in June and we gathered here for our usual home cooked dinner of choice and birthday cake.

The garden is producing a bounty and we are thoroughly enjoying eating, preserving and sharing it.  There is nothing quite like your own fresh produce.  As I sat on my front porch yesterday snapping beans for dinner, I was drawn back to my childhood.........sitting on Mama and Papa Vickers' front porch glider in the hot summer afternoons snapping beans, shelling peas and listening to the grown ups talk.  Sweet.

The cosmos that came up volunteer in my cutting bed are so pretty.......but they have totally choked the zinnias I planted out :-(

It seems that the warm winter and the copious amounts of acorns produced a bumper crop of squirrels....all of which are eager to share the feeders with the birds.  And most of which are clever enough to figure out the squirrel resistant ones as well.  This little guy figured this one out in short order.  I had to laugh.........

Sweet Success :-)

On the weaving front, I finished my first runner and it now resides on my kitchen china cabinet.  I am pleased with the results, though it is not perfect.  This photo shows it a little redder than it is.

On the class loom, I have started an overshot runner.  This is my first overshot, and I am hooked.  It is fun and lovely.

I hope to warp Miss May with something easy to work on at home soon.

This is about enough for this post!!

GRATITUDES:

The feel of fiber in my hands.

The giddy laughter of friends.

Peach cobbler and ice cream.

The back porch swing.

Take care,

Jennie

Oak Grove Plantation Garden Tour

Last Saturday Blake and I went to Oak Grove Plantation for a continental breakfast and Garden Tour.  It was wonderful.  We avoided the rain and it was not too hot.  The gardens were beautiful with  dozens of pathways and little vignettes amongst the natural looking plantings.....so many years of hard work and love are reflected in these gardens.   I was so inspired that I could hardly wait to get home and start digging.  We have worked on our property so much since the weather got pretty.......and have enjoyed every minute of it.  It does mean, however, that I don't get much else done.......like quilting, hooking and weaving.  Enough said......here are some photos of Oak Grove Plantation:

I know this isn't the garden, but I couldn't resist :-)

Then, on Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day here.  Blake cooked ribs and the girls furnished the sides.  Everything was perfect.......especially the company.  I am blessed to be the matriarch of our family.  It is very good.

I have been baking some bread.  My latest was this multigrain sourdough boule......yum.  I didn't take a photo, but it turned out exactly like the one in the recipe file.

We attended Macy's gymnastic recital this week, and today we joined the whole family in celebrating Macy's sixth and Jackson's third birthdays with a cookout at their home.  It is hard to believe they are growing up so fast.

Blake is an active member of the Coweta County Genealogical Society.  A good while back he asked me to make a quilt to be used as a fundraiser.  I thought it appropriate to use reproduction fabrics.  This is what I ended up with........the blocks are actually from a Little Quilts Second Saturday quilt started several years ago........the border with the applique is my design.

And this is the label I attached.  I signed the quilt on the front in a section of one of the blocks.

Past my bedtime........you know, I get up with the chickens now :-)

GRATITUDES:

The beauty of nature.

Family.

The excitement and innocence of a child's birthday party.

Take care,

Jennie

We have chickens!!!!

Did I say I was excited???? We have chickens.......ranging in age from 5 weeks to 5 months.  They are so cool.  We picked them up in Ballground, GA, today.....all from the same breeder, Danielle.  The chicken cottage is mostly finished.......need to get the windows installed and some more vents.  Hopefully that will happen tomorrow.  Thanks, Chris.

I am already thinking of ways to "cute it up".  You know me........

 First out of the crate was this pretty Light Sussex pullet.

Then came the Coronation Sussex pullet, now named Esther by Christi.

Captain Cluck (named by Robert), the Lemon Cuckoo Orpington roo.

The Easter Egger pullet........look at those colors!

In the foreground, the Lemon Cuckoo pullet.

The little Cochin baby.....the first baby out of the crate.

Two Gold Laced Wyandottes, a Barred Rock and the little Cochin chowing down.

Sara Ashley with her little Barred Rock which she 

dubbed Bella.

I can hardly stay out of the chicken coop.  

GRATITUDES:

The innocence of these little chicken creatures.

The wonder and excitement of a child........regardless of the child's age.......holding a chicken for the first time.

Life.

More later,

Jennie

Still working on it.........

Finally got the new photo editing program downloaded and working.  Not sure I really understand it, but then, I haven't spent a lot of time there yet.  Camera #1 turned out to be less than I had expected (wouldn't you know it........I mean, the price was right), so I returned it and ordered Camera #2.  Camera #2 came in yesterday and I have 30 days to decide how I like it.  Classes are included, thank goodness.  You better believe I am going to be snapping photos up a storm.  Disclaimer.....only a few of the photos on this post are made with the new camera.

The past month has been full of family birthdays.......Christopher, Dillon, Macy, Robert, John, Sister and me......whew!!!  Robert and Dillon are now teenagers.  Hard to believe.

Last night we attended Evans Middle School's Chorus Concert.......Robert was one of the performers.

Sara Ashley has started taking horseback riding lessons.  Her grandfather gave her a twenty year old Tennessee Walker, Lad......not her lesson horse, but a great choice for her to become comfortable with caring for and just having fun with.

I have been trying to play catch up on the Over the Meadow BOM.  Here is the March block and the first three blocks together:

Wanted to share a couple of handmade gifts I received for my birthday.  From Laura is this precious needlepunched pin.......I love all things "bird", and so does Laura.

And the multi-talented Diane surprised me with another talent........this incredible egg basket (for you know what) and the cute little towel with the hand embroidered chicken and eggs:

The schnauzers also had birthdays this month........they are now thirteen.  Here is a cute photo of Miss Roxie, who is still quite spunky despite her senior citizen status.

Finally, from the garden, where I am spending most of my time now..........

GRATITUDES:

Rain.

Lunch and laughter with friends.

Getting to share in the grandchildren's lives.

The opportunity to volunteer.

Take care,

Jennie

Change........

I am usually not so resistant to change, but this photo editing thing is driving me nuts.  I finally found something I wanted to use.  It wasn't free; I paid the fee and they still haven't sent me the code to sign in despite several emails.  If I don't hear from them tomorrow I will have to try another approach.  In the meantime, I have bought myself another camera..........a little more sophisticated than my point and shoot. I am not absolutely sure how I feel about it yet.  This week I will go in for a class and that should help.  When I downloaded my photos, I can see that they are better, even without the benefit of photo editing.  All of this being said, posting to the blog has just seemed beyond my reach.........but it is way past time.  I need to put on my big girl panties and deal with it, so here goes.  Enough whining.

We are spending a tremendous amount of time in the yard and enjoying every minute of it.  Blake has all kinds of things coming up in his garden.  I have been busy cute-ing up my garden house.  I have more fun things in my head, but here is what I have done so far:

The chicken house is now in place and the footings were poured today.  Progress is good, even though slow. 

Lots of flowers blooming in our yard.

Went to a fun class by the incredibly talented Jill and learned to make floor cloths......we actually made a smaller table matt size, but the technique is the same.  We each designed our own, and I was pleased with the way mine turned out.  It is pretty "me".  We had lots of laughter and the usual very good "Jill food".

 I have been experimenting with different twills on Miss May.  I am starting to feel more comfortable with her, and my weaving is improving little by little.

I finally finished the simple triangle alpaca shawl.  It was easy enough for someone who knits like me....barely adequately.  I did enjoy making it and am looking forward to wearing it.

It took awhile for us all to get together to celebrate my birthday. When we did, the food was good and the company even better.  Thanks to my wonderful daughters and their families.

Okay, past my bedtime.

GRATITUDES:

Living in the country.

A powerful prayer breakfast.

JESUS.

Family and friends.

Take care,

Jennie