Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I, obviously, had trouble keeping up with posts the past couple of months.  My intentions were good.......but, well, it is just life I guess.  At any rate, here is Christmas.

The Estes

The Hornes

The Cates

Ricky & Colton Adcock

Looking forward to 2013 with all of my blogland friends!!!

GRATITUDES:

Family, friends and home.

The open slate a new year offers.

The aroma of bean and ham soup emanating from the crockpot.

Take care,

Jennie

Catching up......

Alas, it has been far too long since I posted.  So many things have happened and life is so good.  The days are full and happy and blessed.

For tonight, I will try to play catch up on my projects.  Lots going on here this month, with the routine projects being set aside for the most part.  But last month, much progress was made.

A lovely week long trip to Hilton Head with four hooking friends lent to a great deal of progress on the scroll runner.  It will be set aside now until after Christmas, but I can see an end in sight and it is pretty exciting!!!

This little wool appliqued cardinal door hanger (pattern from Primitive Quilts & Projects) was a hostess gift for Nancy, who so generously invited us to spend the week with her......hooking, shopping, eating and generally just having a grand time.

The second Primitive Garden block was finished in November......it is the Geranium block.  I think the ticking background fabric is just perfect for this block.  All of the pieces are cut out for the December block and hopefully it will get done after the Christmas rush.  I had really forgotten how much I like this quilt and am glad to be working on it again.

Had a request for a quilt as a Christmas gift from a special guy in my life, so I came home from Hilton Head and got it done and off to the LA quilter last week.  The pattern is, of course, Ohio Star.  I made it using the Square in a Square Ruler and it really made it easy.  Wanting it to look masculine,  I chose the darker colors and included my favorite black and tan pheasant toile from Jo Morton.  I was pleased and I do hope he will be.

Finished the stitching around blocks 6 & 7 of Jan Patek's Oakleaf & Pomegranate BOM.  I still need to do the November blocks (yes there were two in that one), but again.......after the holiday rush......by that time I will have December's block, too.

I have to admit that I am having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year........despite spending hours making ribbons for the church last week.  I don't have a single decoration up!!!  Maybe this weekend.........

While Christmas shopping eBay, I ran across this cute vintage Japan wallpocket that I just couldn't resist......Merry Christmas to me :-))

Enough catching up for now.  See you again soon.

GRATITUDES:

Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts.

The sight of chickens foraging in the garden for the first time.

Young women with the vision and faith to go out and raise a lot of money for a very special charity.

Take care,

Jennie

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It has been almost a month since I blogged........I can't believe it.  I have lots to share.  But today I will stick with Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

GRATITUDES:

The beautiful grace of Jesus Christ.

Family.

The United States of America.

The smell of yeast rolls rising and dinner cooking.

Take care,

Jennie

Progress Report

Last week I set several goals, but suspected that since we would be out of town for a few days,  they might not be accomplished.  I am delighted to say that each one was completed!  FOCUS!!!  Really, I believe that blogging about my goals does make me more accountable for some mysterious reason.

Finally, I've started back on Primitive Garden.  It was  originally started back in 2009, just before our house flooded.  At that point it was packed away and I just never got back to it.  Recently a friend from one of my online groups suggested that we work on this as a BOM together.  Having seen the original at the Lisa Bongean class recently, I was inspired to get started on it again.  It really is a great quilt, full of my favorite things.

Next was the buttonhole applique around Block 5 of Oakleaf & Pomegranates.  There is nothing about these blocks that I don't like.

I worked on Redware Crow while we were on our trip last week, then backed and bound it over the weekend.  The wools in this piece are just gorgeous.......the photo doesn't do them justice.

And the scroll rug got two clusters of leaves and some background added.

One thing that has really helped me with this big rug was the purchase of this frame.  I had seen it used by two friends at rug camp......gals who work on really large rugs.........and I was impressed.  Rightfully so, as it is wonderful.  It provides a lot of hooking room on the work surface and is quite stable, a real asset when working with a large rug.  I was able to purchase it from Sherri at From Crook to Hook Wool Studio in Chattanooga.  The other thing that has made progress easier is to not look at the entire rug and become overwhelmed, but instead, choose small segments to finish.......one motif at a time, and sometimes, as in the scrolls, one small part of a motif.

This week's plan is to continue to work on the Scroll Rug.......slow and steady wins the race.  I would like to get another Oakleaf & Pomegranate block stitched down, and to choose a pattern for a quilt that will be a Christmas gift.  I will also try to get the hand buttonhole stitching finished on the Patiently Waiting wool runner.  Sounds like enough, don't you think?

Yesterday I picked this pretty bouquet of zinnias, knowing that the cold temperatures would take the last of them out overnight.  And, this cake was baked and ready to take to the church tonight......it is a Butter Pecan Coconut Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze......easy and pretty good, too.

Finally, my niece added these great hen and rooster wall pockets to my growing collection.  Not only are they cute and appropriate, but there is a sentimental attachment......they came from her cousin, an elderly friend of mine, who recently went into assisted living.  They had spent many years in her kitchen with wandering jew growing in them.  I will always think of her when I see them.

GRATITUDES:

The little things in life that mean so very much.

Seeing the young people in my life really growing in their faith.

The opportunity to do things for others.

Take care,

Jennie

Fall afternoon........

Last week Blake and I took a spin on the Gator.  Down to pick up the mail, chat with our neighbor along the driveway and deliver the trash.  Then to take a Fall journey around the property.  It is amazing how quickly the scenery changed.......almost as if overnight.  Lovely Fall.  Some people view it as death........I see it as shedding the old skin in preparation for something new.  It is captivating to see the vibrant color that is a prelude to the bareness of winter,  the earth's moment to rest.  And now, this week, it seems that Winter is already blowing in, unmindful of my need for a few more quiet days of Fall.

Fortunately, before the windy, colder weather set in, Blake and I were able to spend a few days in the North Georgia mountains.  There is something about the mountains..........an almost primal feeling for me......as if in some other time I was at home there, sitting on the front porch of a cabin, stitching a quilt and taking in the wondrous views that nature offered.  I have felt that way since I was a girl. 

We stayed one night with dear friends at their cabin, took in lots of beautiful scenery, and of course antiqued, shopped and ate.  We stopped at our favorite grist meal, Nora Mill Granary, and picked up some cornmeal.

We bought a few collectibles at various antique shops:

And Blake patiently searched out several quilt and yarn shops for my pleasure.......bless him.  My favorite was The Quilt Shop on Main in Jasper, GA......where, of course, I did a little retail therapy.  I thought that this nice stack of fabrics would make a great starting point for Comfort & Joy, a pattern I bought a few weeks ago and hope to start after Christmas.......so that it will be ready for next year, right?

The chickens seem to be enjoying the cooler weather, though the winds of the past couple of days have sent them to roost in their coop more frequently.  They are definitely enjoying the Fall crop of turnip greens.  When I throw a handful out to them, there is a feeding frenzy.  Almost as much so as when they get their pasta for breakfast.  Are they spoiled?.......well, maybe.

  

Surely, as much as they are maturing,  there will be more layers soon......though, from what I read, the shorter days may stymie that.  There is quite a bit of interest when I go into the run with my camera.  They are especially intrigued by the clicking noise that is made when I snap a photograph.

Lilly

 Ginger

 Puff & Lilly

 Macy...of the beautiful plumage.

Ronnie....who just might be a rooster, too.

Let me preface the next part of this post by saying that I really hate the idea of hunting animals.  I mean, I can't even go fishing.  That being said, it is a reality, and as long as the animal is used for consumption I kind sort of live with it.  All to get to the point here........Sara Ashley, at age 11, killed her first deer a week ago.  In one weekend she bagged a doe and an eight pointer.  To say that her dad was thrilled is an understatement.  I will spare you the photo of the dead deer, but will share one of SA with her gun, which is as big as she is.

That's it for tonight.

GRATITUDES:

Hot chili and cornbread on a cold evening.

Warm, fuzzy slippers.

Porch time with old friends.

Take care,

Jennie

You've got to be kidding.........

Blake swore he heard it.  I refused to listen.  He doesn't hear well.  I was sure it was a mistake.  I was wrong.

Remember Stella of the bad hair day?  Well, you guessed it.  Stella is crowing.....sort of....a prepubescent crow.  Another rooster.  Macy is not pleased, as she claimed Stella as hers.  She will need a new name.......a "he" name.  And he just might end up needing a new home.  No wonder the girls are steering clear!  Great................

The gold and black overshot runner is finally hemmed, pressed and on to the buffet.  It isn't perfect, but I am pleased with it.  Finished is better than perfect, right?

More progress on the Scroll runner.  If you put all of the hooking together, I think it is about half finished.  And it is a whopping 39" x 77" in size......what was I thinking???  I am trying to put in at least a few loops everyday, and it is paying off.  Another dreaded scroll is done and I can go onto some flowers and leaves for a little while.  Sure would like to see this one finished!

The goals I set on the 11th have been met.  I finished the fourth scroll on the big rug,  wove a breadcloth and runner that are awaiting their finishing touches, and Robert's Scout patches have been sewn on.  This week we are going to the North Georgia mountains for a couple of days, so I might not get much done.  I would like to make more progress on the Scroll rug, finish Block 1 of Primitive Garden, complete the Redware Crow wool applique that I started in the Lisa Bongean class and stitch Block 5 of Oaks and Pomegranates (which is already prepped).  Sounds pretty ambitious, huh?  But they are all WIP......nothing new.

Remember when I mentioned in a previous post that God always seems to be reaching out to you with scripture or other spiritual messages when you really need Him and are listening for his voice.  This post is just another example of how I know He wants to care for me while I am mourning the loss of my dear friend.

Sometimes I see a rug or quilt that just "speaks to me".  The minute I saw this antique rug,  The Bride,  I felt that tug at my heartstrings.  The sweetness...... naive and innocent.  What I wouldn't give to know its history.  This one just may be in my future.

Back to my stitching.

GRATITUDES:

Imagination.

Spiritual music.

The warm, liquid eyes of my little man dog.

Take care,

Jennie