iPhone Addiction

I gave Blake a new iPhone for Father's Day.  This is a man who could never text or navigate the menu on his simple flip phone.  His son said it was a waste of money.  His old friends from the Sheriff's Office are in awe.....they think he pulled the wool over their eyes all of those years, pretending he couldn't figure out his simple phone.  This man is an iPhone wiz.......totally addicted.  This is a typical morning scene on our back porch:  coffee, rocking chair and iphone :-))

On Monday, Sara Ashley and I had a girls' day.  We went shopping (she bought a purse, some socks and a hat for her brother), got her toenails painted (blue, of course),  and had lunch at the restaurant of her choice, Red Robin.  She is so grown up now......in fifth grade already.  When we were shopping for her purse, she clearly didn't  go for my suggestions.  She informed me sweetly that she had her mother's taste.  I had to laugh.

Robert made the Evans Middle School Football team.  We are so proud of him and his hard work.  I am also very proud each time I have the privilege of sewing more badges on his Boy Scout sash.  I trust that one day he will make his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout.

This week has been the week of the book.  Some times it is better to stay away from Amazon and blogs......this was probably one of those times.  Oh, well.......I got some great stuff.

For Quilting (a book and two patterns) :

 For Weaving:

For Inspiration and for just because there is nothing better than a good dog story:

I also accomplished my goals.  Meadow Cosmos blocks 8 - 16 are fused and ready to stitch.

and the Paisley Runner is bound, labelled and has been delivered to its new owner, Ashley.  I believe it is one of my favorite rugs thus far. Sorry, but the iPhone photo is a little blurry.

Primitive Gatherings Freebie block 10 arrived and was promptly done!! These have been so much fun.

Over the Meadow Block 5 is now stitched.  I wish I didn't hate prepping these blocks so much.  They are so cute when they are done.  And I am three blocks behind schedule.  I may or may not catch up, but will eventually get them finished.

At my weaving class I finished the overshot table runner I was working on, but didn't cut it off the loom as there was plenty of warp to weave a dishtowel.  Diane shared a nice deep red yarn and a pattern with me.  I think it is going to be quite nice.

We lost our chicken, Esther, this week.  I was really sad, but it was not unexpected.  She had not been well for a couple of weeks, as I had mentioned.  She was eating well and looking better that morning, but when I went to check on them later in the day, she was gone.  And on Sunday, Zulu will be going to his new home with Captain Cluck and lots of other chickens.  I am simply not cut out for the rooster thing.  Bobbie has been cranking out an egg everyday or every other day for the past week.  We don't expect the younger girls to lay before late October or early November, so Bobbie will be our sole egg producer for awhile.

My goals for next week include finishing this cute Hooked Santa with Star that I hooked up last night (I will do this with my Eric's Day friends on Monday).

Preparing the binding, using the method from Red Saltbox, for this rug that I hooked back in June is also on my list.  It is called Wish Upon a Star.  Looks like I have Christmas on the brain :-)

Finally, I want to get the buttonhole stitching done on at least four of the Meadow Cosmos blocks.
Sounds like enough to commit to for the week.

GRATITUDES:

Cooler temperatures.......do I detect a touch of Fall in the air??

Deer grazing in our meadow.

Technology that allows us to be friends with people we have never met.

Take care,

Jennie

Setting goals

Setting goals seems to be helping to keep me more focused.  Over the past week I prepped eight of the Meadow Cosmos blocks, as planned.  I love the way the fabrics blend and are so subtle.  I can just imagine cuddling up in this quilt.

The binding on the Paisley Runner is a work in progress........I am about half done.

Blocks eight and nine of the Primitive Gathering's Favorite Things are done and I expect the next one in the mail tomorrow.  I am trying to keep up with these.  They only require about an hour each, so it is really not difficult.

The next blocks on Coxcombs & Pomegranates have not arrived.  However, after a considerable amount of effort, I finally spoke to Tori at Jan Patek's yesterday and I am hopeful that the kinks on this BOM are now resolved and the blocks will arrive soon.

One of my Yahoo groups is doing a project from the latest Primitive Quilts and Projects magazine.  I loved almost every project in this issue and was glad to get the nudge I needed to do my favorite, Sweet Pickins.  I changed mine a little and did the applique in wool.  The top is finished.  Now for my least favorite part:  Quilt as Desired.  I don't know how I desire.  I desire that I would wake up in the morning and it would be done for me!!!!

So, my next goal is to finish the binding on Paisley Runner and to prep the next eight blocks on Meadow Cosmos.  Anything else accomplished is icing on the cake.

On the chicken front.........raising backyard chickens is not as simple as I thought.  Like my friend, Diane, said...."I thought you fed and watered them and collected eggs".  Well, that and some more.  Last weekend Esther was eggbound.  That was an education in itself.  She finally laid on Sunday, thank goodness.  But then she didn't seem to get better.  On close inspection, I found that she was literally covered in chicken mites.  YIKES!!!  They were sucking her blood out and she was anemic....think pale comb, listlessness, shortness of breath.  The others were all okay, but had minor infestations.  Thank goodness for the internet, You Tube and local chicken expert Brian.  The chicken house and yards are decontaminated, as are the chickens.  You don't even want to know how much work that was.  Esther has been getting extra iron rich foods and seems better, but not quite herself.  She isn't laying again, but doesn't seem in distress because of that.  In the meantime, Bobbie has started laying.  She is one proud girl, clucking loudly as soon as she produces her lovely brown eggs.  Zulu, the rooster, is in the market for a new home.  I find that I am just not up to having a rooster, even though I love to hear him crow.  All that being said, I am still enjoying them immensely and spend an inordinate amount of time at the chicken condo.

On Sunday we had our first meal that was compliments of the girls (the eggs, not the sausage).  And they were yum!

The Hornes recently vacationed in Florida and spent some time at the amusement park.  When Macy saw this chicken on the Merry Go Round, she had to have her picture taken just for me.

Son in law, Rob, is on a flight to Brazil tonight for a ten day mission trip.  Robert and Macy started school this week.  Robert is trying out for Middle School Football and made the first cut.  Jackson attended a camp at Newnan FUMC and loved it; he won't start preschool until after Labor Day.  Colten, Dillon and Sara Ashley start school next week.  Today Ashley and Sara Ashley surprised Macy at school and had lunch with her.  Here are those two sweet girls:

GRATITUDES:

The privilege of being a part of the lives of our grandchildren.

Rain.

Cooler temperatures.

Hummingbirds swarming our feeders, preparing for their trip south.

Take care,

Jennie

We've got eggs!!!!

Well, Esther finally delivered for us........literally........and we've got eggs.  Pretty, perfect little brown eggs.   Five in the last six days.  Go, Esther!!!!

Two brave mothers took Robert, his friend, Macy and Sara Ashley to Six Flags for a very hot, busy day.  They had a great time.  Macy was finally tall enough to ride some of the big kid rides and even rode the Scream Machine!  No thanks!!!!  Robert's companion was a game win, Eric the pencil.  You have to be thirteen, I guess.

The Sew Crazies have a second QOV, needing just to be quilted now.  We all contributed blocks and Sandra put it together for us.  We made this one with a female soldier in mind.  A third quilt is in the making.

Dear friend Laura made these beautiful, leaf shaped face cloths for me.  She is one busy lady.  I don't know how she gets so much done and is still a working girl.  And so generous.  Thank you, Laura!!

Block 4 of Over the Meadow is finally stitched up.  I love these blocks, but the prep work takes a long time and I am awfully slow getting them done.  I am using the Invisible Machine Applique technique with Sharon Schamber's wash away applique foundation paper.

I continue to make progress on my projects.  The Paisley Runner is ready to whip and I would like to get that done this week.  The first three blocks of Coxcombs & Pomegranates are complete.  I wish I had the other two to work on, but they still haven't arrived yet.

Block 3

Block 2

Block 1

 My friend, Kathie, says that if you are "hot" to do a project, you need to go for it.  If you lose that enthusiasm, you aren't as likely to whip it out.  Taking that to heart, I am starting a new project this week.  I know.........what can I say??  The project is from Blackbird Designs new book, "In the Meadow" and the name of the quilt is "Meadow Cosmos".  Just love this muted design.  I have the fabric and the background blocks are cut.  I am going to use the fuse and buttonhole applique technique, so it should be fairly fast.  My goal this week is to get 1/2 the blocks fused (that would be eight).  The blocks are 20", and the quilt is 80" x 80".  I am excited about it.

GRATITUDES:

My faith.

The feel of fabric in my hands.

Toenail polish and sandals.

Pretty "homegrown" chicken eggs.

Take care,

Jennie

Progress

I actually feel very positive about the progress made on my projects last week.  I stayed on task, which is amazing, and accomplished what I had hoped for on both of the projects that I planned to work on.

The first, the Freebie BOW from Primitive Gatherings, is now caught up.  All seven blocks thus far are completed.  They offered up a finishing kit this week, and I went ahead and ordered it.  Hopefully I will be able to keep up with the remaining blocks and end up with a cute little wallhanging.

Hen and House is also complete and ready to go on the wall in the mudroom.  I really like the way the braid turned out.  And that crazy chicken just makes me smile.

My hooking goal for this week is to get the Paisley Runner Rug ready to whip.  That will include trimming and finishing the edges of the linen and whipping the cording in.

On the quilting front, I want to prep all of the blocks received thus far in the Cockscombs and Pomegranates BOM from Jan Patek.  I don't know quite how far I will get with this.  Block #4 never arrived and I have notified them.  They said that they were shipping another on Thursday, but it hasn't showed up yet.  And Block #5 has background fabric that is too small for the block, so I emailed them last night about that.  I haven't heard from them, but that isn't unusual.....unfortunately.  Love their product, but hate their service.

Before it is time to take it down, I wanted to post a photo of the Cupboard Series Blooming Flag (Anita White) that was finished in time to be hung for the month of July.

I have many collections, and thought I'd share this one.  I have been collecting wallpockets for several years now.  Most are old, but some are modern.  They are hung on two adjacent walls in our basement dining area.

On our way home from Caraway last month I found this one at an antique mall.  It is unmarked, but looks like Nippon china.

My son in law, Matt, shared this one with me.  His grandmother recently passed away, and it is from her estate.  I thought it was really sweet of him to think of me.

This last one, I found at a yard sale for $1.  It is old, and one of my favorite shapes.

We have Market Day on the Square in downtown Newnan around the historic Court House once a month.  Vendors bring their wares, mostly handmade items.  It is a great place to shop and I never fail to find something that has to come home with me.  Last month I found this great little house that now sits at our back entry.  Can you see the little handle and hinges on the door ?......too sweet.

Yesterday Kathie, Laura, Diane and I gathered at Diane's for "Eric Day".  This has been our habit ever since our hooking teacher, Eric Sandberg, moved to Virginia.  We figure that even if we don't have a teacher, we can get together monthly and encourage each other, hammer out our hooking questions and other dilemnas, eat good food (thanks, Diane, it was really delicious!!!), and just generally enjoy each other.  As always, it was wonderful.  I am so blessed to have these friendships.

It has taken two days to get this post done.  First it was Blogger, and then my computer wasn't recognizing my camera.  A day late and a dollar short, but here you go.

GRATITUDES:

A new hairdresser who listened when I said "not too short".

Mexican food.

And a husband who indulges my love of Mexican food.

Sharing funny memories of childhood.

Laughter.

Take care,

Jennie

Project Overload

Since the weather has gotten too hot to work in the yard all day, I have been working on my projects a little more.  Seems I had weeks when that wasn't the case, as the yard and garden were constantly calling.

I am, as usual, on Project Overload.  So many things I want to finish, start, dream about......you know the routine.  I really think I could have Adult ADD....honestly!  I so admire those people, like my dear friend, Diane, who can only work on one or two things at a time and totally finish them before she moves on.  I just don't have it in me.  I so wish I did.  I have a million plans on how I am going to do better, finish what I start, etc., but I just keep doing what I do.  I guess I am too old to change.

We have just finished Block #5 on the Kisses from your Beloved BOM.  These are turning out nicely.  I like the colors and the technique ruler is fun to use.  I think I can use it on lots of other quilts if I just take the time to figure out where it will work.  Making flying geese and half square triangles with it is amazing.  I would even consider making a whole quilt with some of these blocks.  Despite the fact that there are so many pieces, they are quick to do with this ruler.  Sound like an advertisement, don't I?

I joined the Primitive Gatherings Summer Block of the Week this year.  When you do that, you also get an adorable freebie each week.  I haven't started the BOW because they are only shipping the wool to many of us because of a backorder on the background fabric.  I am working on the little freebies.  I got the woolen pieces fused last week and this week I am doing the blanket stitching and embroidery.

I am excited to be signed up for a class with Lisa Bonegan from Primitive Gatherings in September here in Georgia.  Even though I already know how to do wool applique, there is always something new to learn.  And I am really hoping that she brings a Trunk Show.

Hen and House is blocked and ready for finishing.  I have prepped the fabric for the braiding to complete it and hope to get that done this week, also.  Kathie, the braiding expert, helped me choose the colors......primitive black, a textured gold and a textured red.

It was nice to finally get my rugs back from their three month stay at our guild rug show.  Hidden in the Garden is finally on the floor for the first time.  Roxie always has to try a new rug out.......I think she approves.

The summer storm that blew through last night gave us some much needed rain.  We didn't need the dead tree that fell on our garden fence and flattened the young corn.  Thank goodness the damage was only minimal.  And that the chicken coop was unharmed!!

While I was picking veggies this morning, I noticed how pretty the colors in this okra blossom were.

Think I will go stitch for awhile now.

GRATITUDES:

Mornings in the garden.

The smell of summer rains.

Fresh veggies.

Take care,

Jennie

Chicken Update

Lots of news in the chicken world.........some good, some bad.  Raising chickens is certainly as much fun as everyone said, not so much work if the temperatures don't top the 100s, but a little unpredictable.

Since the last post, we added three chicks that were about 6 weeks old a few days after the initial crew joined us.  There was a Black Copper Maran, a Cuckoo Maran and a Rhode Island Red.  We lost the little cuckoo maran, who knows why, within a couple of days, but the other girls have grown and done well. That being said, the Rhode Island Red is definitely not a RIR, but a mystery chick instead.  Which is a little disappointing, because Blake had RIRs as a child and we really wanted one.  Maybe next year.  This is Lily (the Black Copper Maran) and Ginger (the mystery chick); it was hard to get a good photo of them, but they are best buds and almost always together:

While I was at rug camp, my very favorite chicken, Nugget (the Lemon Cuckoo Orpington pullet) got sick and died.......Blake is pretty sure that it was the fault of her mate, Captain Cluck, our Lemon Cuckoo Orpington rooster.  So, Captain Cluck went to live where there are more hens for him to woo (and a promise that he won't be dinner at his new home).  I decided that I would just forego having a rooster and was good with that (although I did love hearing him crow).  However, when I arrived home Blake had suspicions that our handsome Easter Egger pullet just might not be a pullet.......it had been strutting about ever since Captain Cluck left the coop.  I was sure that he must be wrong.  Two days later, much to my dismay, Zulu (the Easter Egger) began to crow.  It was really hard to tell Blake that he was right.  He will get to stay provided he is a good boy (the rooster, not Blake VBG).  Right now he is.......and he is very protective of his girls.  We will see.

So, after I got home from rug camp we decided to add to our flock since we were down three.  We found a really nice guy over in Carrollton, loaded up Sara Ashley and Macy and went to select a couple of pullets.  Which turned out to be five.......yes, five to replace three.  Go figure.  Anyway, they were chosen, loaded and had names (thanks granddaughters) before we arrived home.  After a few days of isolation, they have now integrated into the family.

This is Chloe, the little Black Cochin.  She is definitely the most timid of the girls.

Snowflake is a Splash Cochin and quite a little beauty.

Ronnie is a Blue Laced Wyandotte and is very personable. She really likes people and enjoys being petted and picked up.  She was also the first to adapt to the other chickens. 

The Ameracauna, Puff, is also very friendly with people.  She has little tufts of cheek feathers when you see her head on.

Alex is a Buff Orpington and quite a lovely girl.  She doesn't care much to be handled, though.  She was the first to join the old girls on the roost; despite the fact that she received some pecks, she persisted and won.

I couldn't resist adding this photo of little Stella, one of our original girls.  She is some kind of a Cochin, maybe a Partridge???  At any rate, she is so funny and full of attitude.....and she is so busy; she never misses a trick.

And Bobbie, one of our original girls.

We have no eggs yet, as our two oldest girls are still only about six months.  Hopefully in the next month or so.  And pray that we have no more roosters or someone else will have to go.

During the horrible heatwave, Blake and I worked like dogs to keep these chickens alive.  Tarps for more shade, fans, ice water, electrolytes, apple cider vinegar, frozen water bottles, misting......you name it.  But it was worth it, as we didn't lose anybody.

Everyone thinks I am spoiling them, and maybe I am, but that is okay.  Margaret Woody, a rug camp friend, told me about a concoction that her girls loved.  I tried it and she was right.  Every morning I serve them up whole wheat pasta, a little yogurt or cottage cheese and some fresh veggies or fruit.  They nearly knock me down coming in the gate they are so excited!  I am also hand feeding them oatmeal, which they love.

Okay, I know, enough chickens.

GRATITUDES:

Watching the little granddaughters have fun with the chickens.....and knowing that we are making memories.

Time to do things like chickens and gardens.

Blake.

Take care,

Jennie

Caraway

Yikes....I started this post two weeks ago and never finished it!!  Well, here goes.............

Our week at Caraway was everything we had hoped for.  Good companionship, a great teacher, three meals a day......no cooking, no clean up, hooking, wool, vendors.  A rughooker's paradise.

Sunday started with Laura, Kathie, Diane, Jan and me piling everything (and I mean everything) into two cars and hitting the road.  A few potty breaks, a good lunch and lots of laughter later, we arrived at Caraway and were greeted by our fearless leader, Eric Sandberg.  We settled into our room, classroom, ate, sat through orientation and then got busy in the classroom with our wonderful teacher, Anita White.

It was fun to have so many friends in our class.  We encouraged one another, laughed a lot, got into a little after hours mischief, and did a heck of a lot of hooking.

In addition, we were offered several mini classes.  I chose to take Anita's class where we made really cute wool notebook covers.  I finished hooking mine at camp and Anita showed us how to stitch it up - we actually came home with a finished project!!!!

I started two rugs with Anita, and made decent progress on both.  The first was Anita's pattern, Paisley Runner (below).  I love the colors and the design was a dream to hook.  It is finished now and awaiting binding, but the photo is what I got done at camp.  The second rug, by Sharon Smith, is Readers, and you can see my start on it below, also.  I changed the dog to a schnauzer, of course, and got a little of that hooked with Anita, also.

Friday morning arrived more quickly than you could ever imagine.  It was nice to get home, but also nice to know that we can look forward to next year at Caraway!!!

GRATITUDES:

The camaraderie of friends, old and new, as we gather to enjoy a like art/craft.

Laughter.

Creativity.

Coming home.

Take care,

Jennie