Fall Projects

One of my Yahoo groups is having a Parade of Fall Projects.  Thinking it was a great idea, I've  been trying to get all of mine together to share.  Every few days I think of another one that is packed away somewhere.  Maybe this was a sign that storing everything together would make decorating easier!!
At any rate, it seemed to be a great idea for a blog post, so here goes........

This one is a self portrait, hung every year for about 15 years now.  I have no idea who the designer is, but it remains one of my favorite fall wallhangings.

Sweet Pickins' from the Fall issue of Primitive Quilts and Projects.......still awaiting quilting.

Wool applique pumpkin designed by Woolen Willow.  Perfect frame from TJ Maxx.

Cupboard Pumpkin mat designed by Anita White.

Scarecrow hooked mat, designer unknown.

Bedspring Hooked Sunflower.

Jan Patek Pumpkin Quilted Wallhanging.

Wool applique pumpkin candle mat, designer unknown.

Mighty Oak Hooked table runner, designer Sally Kallin of Pine Island Primitives.

Hope you have enjoyed!

GRATITUDES:

All things Fall.

Take care,

Jennie

Isaiah 40:31

Last night my dear friend went to be with her Lord.  Death, though the ultimate fate of us all, is not usually easy for those of us left behind.  Today I have struggled, but I am so glad I was blessed to be her friend.

She was a woman of integrity, sensibility and honesty.  She was frugal, true to her German upbringing, and really didn't need to feed upon the material things of life.  Not that she didn't enjoy them sometimes.  She had this incredible tender heart beneath all of that.  I would have trusted her with my life.  We shared so much and understood each other so well.  My fondest memories are of us sitting in a booth sharing lunch and life.  She never judged and gave the soundest of advice.  Our friendship was different.....no history, no personal agenda, just honest, true friendship for the sake of friendship.  She taught me so much.  To make it even better, we shared an insatiable love of handiwork.

One year for Christmas she surprised me with this beautiful quilt, which I cherish.  Today I sought it out, touching the blocks she so carefully pieced.........

Smiling at her trademark Yo-Yo that, she admitted, cleverly covered a hole she inadvertently snipped into the fabric as she was quilting............

And the label, beautifully embroidered, as was her way.

Life had not been easy for her, especially health wise, but she always seemed to pull it off one more time.  She was fragile and strong all at the same time.

I am so grateful that she had the blessing of this last year.  A lovely new home in a place she loved, family trips, stitching once again.  It was good and she was deserving.

Today, in my grief, I opened my Bible to a passage in my Bible study text.  God has a way of reaching out to comfort us in these times.

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles.  They shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk and not faint.

Just one thing, God........could she please have a dog in Heaven?

I love you dear friend and I will see you again someday.

GRATITUDES:

Faith, friendship and memories.

Take care,

Jennie

Hooking update

We had our Dogwood ATHA Guild Fall Hook In on October 6th.  It was a great day.....nice facility, good food, great speaker and vendors and wonderful fellowship.  We were fortunate to have such a hard working committee to put it together.  I took the Polly Minnick "Semper Fi"mat to work on as it is a sort of brainless hooking.  It is showing a little progress.  That white star looks mighty bright to me, but that is what came in the kit.  I won't rip it out yet, but.................

The Hook In was followed by classes here at the house with Eric.  We have missed him so much since he moved to VA, and it was a joy to have him here with us for two days.  I worked on my big scroll rug and then color planned another rug that is in my future.  Sticking with the scroll rug before starting another major project is my committment........it has been in the works way too long now.  Slow and steady, the goal is to pull up at least a few loops everyday.

The sewing room, which was so neat and tidy a few weeks ago, looks like a bomb ripped through it now. 

I can't work like that, so I have been tidying up a bit tonight.  It is a little better.

Today our church celebrated Homecoming and its 177th birthday.  The inspiring service was followed by dinner on the grounds as only the Baptists can do..........GOOD FOOD!!  Tonight we had singing, and the next three nights we will have services.  I will have to get my stitching time in during the day most of this week if it is going to happen.  The calendar is pretty full.

Almost bedtime now.

GRATITUDES

Voices lifted up to the Lord.

An afternoon nap on the porch swing.

A belly full of good food.

Blake's hand reaching out to hold mine.

Take care,

Jennie

Fall days

I do love Fall days.  It is my favorite time of the year.  The gorgeous weather, with flowers still lingering.  The rustle of leaves falling gently in the soft breezes.  That special crispness in the air.
Mornings spent with Blake in the front porch rockers feeling the gentle sun on my face.  Fall garden crops and fresh apples.  Lovely.  Thank you Lord.

Fall means moulting to Miss Stella, who is having a very bad hair day and an attitude to go along with it.

Snowflake and Chloe, the Cochins are an interesting contrast in black and white.  They are steering clear of Stella.

On the way home from the GA National Fair, we stopped at a couple of cute antique shops.  Being a sucker for vintage dogs, this cute piece found its way home with me.

A high school friend posted this photo on Facebook of a group of us girls back in 1964......I think we were Juniors in HS.  So fresh faced we were.......and thinking we were so worldly.  At first I had to laugh, but then the memories flooded back and I mused over how fortunate we were to live where we did and to go to such a great HS.  They were wonderful years.

GRATITUDES

Fresh greens simmering on the stove.

Memories of days gone by, but so close to my heart.

Chicken antics.

Friends, old and new.

Take care,

Jennie

Overdrive

Just when I think I cannot possibly be any busier, it happens!!  I will give you a taste of what has been happening tonight, but not all.  My camera battery went dead and I can't transfer anymore photos till I charge it, which is probably just as well.  I will go backwards from today, but not in any particular order.

We have never been to the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA, and it was on the list last year, but didn't happen.  Today was the day.  The weather was gorgeous and Blake and I enjoyed the ride down.
We had fun going through the exhibits and looking at the animals.  There were lots of gorgeous quilts and other handiwork and art, antiques and such.  And horses, bunnies, cows, goats and sheep.  But only baby chicks.  They didn't have a chicken exhibit.  Bummer.  We, of course, had the requisite fair food........corn dogs, fries and funnel cakes.  Yum!  It was a nice day and now I can cross that one off my list.  Once was plenty, but I would be sorry if I had never gone.

One of my favorite online stores is Primitive Gatherings, owned by the talented Lisa Bongean.  I was fortunate to be able to take two days of workshops with her when she visited the Quilt Guild of the Southern Crescent in Fayetteville recently.  Even though I have done plenty of wool applique, there is always something new to learn.  And talk about inspiration.........her trunk show was to die for. The only bad thing is that now I have two more projects waiting to be finished.  Go figure.

My projects

Some of Lisa's lovely projects.

Lisa giving a demo.

The buttonhole stitching got finished on Oakleaf & Pomegranates Block #4.......with 5 - 7 sitting on the sewing machine awaiting my attention.  Am really loving these blocks.

We had our quarterly ER lunch.  Attendance was down, but that didn't stop the fun.  I don't know what was so funny, but we all look tickled pink.

Still have some zinnias and morning glories blooming at the garden fence.  Also still getting some okra, tomatoes, and maybe one more mess of peas before frost.  The collards and greens are ready to pick for the first time, too.  The chickens are producing about 2-3 eggs a day.......I think I have another layer, but am not sure which one it might be.  And I believe the mystery layer is moulting and not giving us any eggs right now.......two of the girls are moulting (they don't lay when they are making new feathers) and the particular looking egg that the mystery layer produced hasn't showed up in a couple of weeks.  It is all very intriguing, don't you think?  I am pretty certain Blake thinks I am losing my mind......but that is okay, I am having fun doing it.

As for my goals.........the Meadow Cosmos blocks are still awaiting setting.  I did, however get a lot done on the big rug, including the scroll that I wanted to finish.  That photo will be on the next post.

Goals for this week........to finish at least half of my new weaving project, sew Robert's new patches on and work on another scroll on the big rug.  Sounds pretty ambitious........we'll see how it goes.  If I could only quit jumping around from one project to the next!  FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GRATITUDES

The Word of the Lord.

Days in which I can do exactly as I please.

The soft rustle of falling leaves.

Take care,

Jennie

Wednesday

Halfway through the week, and it has been a full one.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  Except for this week we have lost three of our elderly friends/ family.  They had lived long, full lives and they were Christians, but the losses still evoke memories and a certain sadness for our loss, not theirs, for we know it is their gain.

This sweet little friendship basket for a friend's quilt went off in the mail today.  It was fun and quick to make.

As for my goals, the weaving is in the washer and then will be blocked.......step forward.  And the Meadow Cosmos blocks are trimmed and pressed; now I have to decide on the setting.  The blocks are too large to fit on the design wall, so I will lay them out on the floor and photograph them when I decide on the layout to assure they are where I want them.

Have also made some progress on the big rug.  I am going to work on one more floral motif and then go back to the scrolls.......and pull out my hair.  Those scrolls are a bit tedious, but they really make the rug.

Oaks & Pomegranates is moving along, too..........three of the blocks finished, the next four fused and ready to stitch.  I won't post photos until they are stitched.

Jackson started playing soccer this week.  He looked so cute in his little soccer clothes.

Macy was Sacajawea at her school's History Day.

And Sara Ashley got acquainted with Dakota.

Sometimes I like to share some of my favorite things.  Today I will share several of them.  First, my Desert Rose China (see the two little cannisters) which I have been collecting since I was sixteen years old........and that was a long time ago!  My sister and I chose the same pattern for our "everyday dishes" and we have had fun exchanging the pieces on special occasions over the years.  Next, the zinnias in the little bird vase........I love the bright, cheerful colors of these easy-to-grow flowers.  The fresh eggs, straight from Bobbie and Bella.  And finally, the sweet little bird bud vase.  This little guy is my favorite year round vase.  It only takes a single flower or bit of greenery in this vase to cheer the kitchen.

GRATITUDES:

A handful of rocks, compliments of a three year old grandson, for Mimi.

Catching up on the lives of friends that I don't see very often.

Long sleeves in the cooler morning hours.

The warmth of morning sun on my face while sitting in the front porch rockers.

Take care,

Jennie

Time flies........

Honestly, where does the time go???  It seems I am "in the road" an inordinate amount of the time.  But it is generally by choice.......and I am not going to work!!!.......so it is good.

I only accomplished one of my goals for the past week.  The Meadow Cosmos blocks are completely stitched down.  Now to get them trimmed and set together.  That is one of my goals for next week.

I did not get my weaving projects washed, blocked and hemmed, but that is on my list for tomorrow.

What I did work on was my hooked Scroll Runner.  Realizing that my teacher, Eric, would be here next month and I really haven't worked on this rug since he was here last, I knew it was time to get busy.   One side of the motifs we planned last time are now mostly hooked and I plan to try to get the other side hooked next week.  My goal is to also get some of the scrolls finished before he comes, and that is rather tedious work, so it is time to get my nose to the grindstone.

We had a new experience with the chickens this week.  It seems they had some kind of respiratory illness going on, so I contacted our local chicken guru for advice.  The advice was to administer antibiotic injections to all of them twice this week......really.  Now, I thought I had retired from the nursing business, but apparently not.  It has been an experience to say the least.  All of the coughing is gone, but Lily still has a goopy eye.......though it is better.  On the brighter side of the chicken business, we are averaging two delicious eggs daily.......from Bobbie, Bella and the mystery layer.  Today we gave them pea vines that Blake and John pulled up from the garden and they had a grand time with them.

 Chloe......just look at those gorgeous feathers!

Puff

Macy and Jackson spent the afternoon at Over the Hill Farm this week and we had a good time.  Macy helped gather eggs and drive the Gator.  Jackson played on the swings and rode the Gator with Pop.  They are getting so big.........

Sara Ashley turned eleven yesterday.  She had her first Junior Cotillion practice....just look how she has grown up.  She had to wear gloves. Her mom found an old pair of mine and cleaned them up for her...........how sentimental!  Tonight we had her family birthday party at Sprayberry's and had a great time.  She got a huge surprise from her parents.........a horse of her own!!!  I can hardly wait to see her riding Dakota.

GRATITUDES:

Fall crops planted in the garden.

The joyful laughter of grandchildren.

The fresh, clean scent of my daughter's hair as I kissed her.

Rascal's sweet, soulful eyes.

Take care,

Jennie

Getting my groove back..........

It is time to get busy and get my groove back.  Declaring my goals for the week seemed to be working well for me and I want to continue doing that.  My last goal was to get my sewing studio back up and running, and that was accomplished.  This week I would like to finish the buttonhole stitching on all of the Meadow Cosmos blocks.  That was started last night.

I would also like to get the Overshot runner and dishtowel washed, blocked and hemmed.  I am anxious to see how the wool in the runner fulls out.  Runner is on left, towel on right.

While I was exiled from my sewing studio, I needed a simple project to take to my monthly hooking group.  Fortunately I had stashed a kit, Patriotic Checkers,  that was purchased from Minnick and Simpson several years ago, in the upstairs closet (see, there is a reason for having stash from one end of the house to the other).  It suited the situation perfectly.  Thus, I have started another rug.  But, really, it is perfect for those times when you do mindless hooking.

Yesterday as Blake and I were in the process of preserving some more veggies from the garden, I decided to give my fridge a much needed cleaning.........not my favorite job.  Alas, way in the back was the sadly neglected sourdough starter.  Hoping it might just be able to be revived, I pulled it out, washed the crock and fed it.  It rose to the occasion, and I will be making some sourdough bread to go with the chili in the crockpot.

On Friday a dear hooking, quilting and prayer group friend tragically and unexpectedly lost her husband.  She has been through so much the last few years, and has just retired and was really enjoying her life.  I know that her strong faith will once again pull her through, but if you pray, she could really use your prayers.  And give your husbands a big hug for no reason at all, other than you love him.....the best reason of all.

Now it is time for some stitching.

GRATITUDES:

Friends who pray.

Blake, my wonderful husband.

The smell of chili bubbling in the crockpot.

Take care,

Jennie