Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalms 136

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to Him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

who by His understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

who made the great lights--
His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night,
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Eygpt
His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.

But swept Pharoah and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

to Him who led His people through the desert,
His love endures forever.

who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings--
His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan--
His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance ,
His love endures forever.

an inheritance to His servant Israel;
His love endures forever.

to the One who remembered us in our
low estate;
His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

and Who gives food to every creature,
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.


God bless you and your families and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Defrosting freezers

No quilting going on around here. Yesterday I got the upright defrosted. Today I transferred contents of chest freezer to upright and started on it. I think chest freezers are a lot easier to defrost other than the whole diving thing for this vertically challenged person-- still has my tummy hurting. Our upright has the coils under each shelf and seems to take forever to melt enough to turn loose (anybody have a better way, please leave a comment). I used my blow dryer to speed it up. But with the chest freezer--just turn off and use the blow dryer a little and then scrape with an ice scraper like you use on your car windshield and scoop up the ice with a Rubbermaid dust pan and ta da you're done. You know in the process of moving things around in the freezers I FOUND things. Made me say "I didn't know we still had some of that!"
Or in some cases, "Ewwww, how old is that?!" Max (the dog) has been enjoying some of the fruits of my labors. HeeHee!

Well, anyway, we're ready for our beef and venison from the butcher.

Blessings,

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Star BOM #8



This block was more challenging. I don't always like being challenged but I know it's good for me! Things I learned: 1. Stay focused and THINK about what you're doing ; ) 2. Don't wad it up and throw it in the trash can--breathe 3. It's not nearly as bad as I think it is. 4. Frogging (rip, rip) never hurt anyone LOL

Blessings,

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Disappearing 9 Patch Done



Yeah, baby! I finished tying it yesterday afternoon. In the process of tying I found a place I had snipped with a cutter or scissors. 8-( Oh, no, what do I do now? Well, you do some embellishing. I just happened to have some handy dandy just right color yo-yos made from when I got the yo-yo makers in and was practicing before I demonstrated them. I turned the back to the front and sewed it down with one of the decorative stitches on my sewing machine. I'm telling you the reason it took me so long to complete this--after buying the backing fabric I sssoooo wanted to cut it to make a 4 Patch Stacked Posies. I restrained myself--it was very hard. I'm glad I did. I just love that fabric.

Blessings,

Monday, November 17, 2008

Just call me a pig wrangler!

This time it was the litter DH had weaned from their momma on Sunday. Momma and babies got reunited. Momma got their gate open. If you've ever nursed a baby you can sympathize with her; she was probably hurting something awful. ANYWAY, when I went to feed I see all these (make that eight) little pigs running out in our grass field behind their momma. Oh, joy, not again. At least they're not fifty and sixty pounders. More like ten pounders. I got 'em in their pen. Yeah! DH got a phone call though something like--I think we need to talk about these pigs!

And yes, I told the young man who helped me the other day I owe him a home cooked meal. Good thing it wasn't tonight; dinner would have been late, huh?

And yes, I used to make chow-chow with green tomatoes but I still have some that I made last year. And since we don't seem to be great fans of chow-chow I don't see putting in all that work. Especially when I'd rather be quilting ;D ! I'm having a little problem with the quilting machine so I'm tying the disappearing nine patch baby quilt. I am so good at making things harder than what they have to be. Here I am thinking I will tie at each corner of a big square. Sounded like a good idea. 'Cept I didn't separate the embroidery floss and Dixie had suggested I use a combination of purple and green. Looks real good! It's like pulling teeth to get it through those corners though. So my hand is hurting, my knees are hurting (it's on the floor-remember I'm good at making things harder than what they have to be?) and I'm tired. Did I mention that I broke two needle threaders trying to thread the floss through the eye of the needle? Good thing I know someone who sells them, huh?

Goodnight and blessings,

Vintage embroidery patterns and green tomatoes



What a combination?! I had to have the pig embroidery pattern and I loved Jacque Hencell's quilt tops for future great grandchildren (that's planning) she had made using the frogs and balloon girl. I picked the green tomatoes Saturday before our killing frost. I have these two containers, two other buckets, and a cardboard box of tomatoes. The cardboard box I set in the garage to keep cool so all these don't turn red at once and so we have a supply of red tomatoes for several weeks.




DH went deer hunting again this weekend. Remember my previous post with the sew-in ; ). He got him a very nice deer and had a wonderful time. I'm so glad. And I had a wonderful time with my friends, guild meeting, and putterings around the house. BUT big but, (not butt which I know mine seems to keep get larger and larger each year) I didn't enjoy the surprise I got when I went down to feed Saturday afternoon. I am feeding the animals now since daylight savings time ended. DH goes to work in the dark and comes home in the dark. Can't feed animals in the dark. Well, you can but it's not a good practice. You need to observe them in daylight to see how they are doing. ANYWAY, since DH was away deer hunting I was designated feeder. I went down to feed Saturday afternoon and SURPRISE. The young boar pigs had somehow gotten their gate open and four were out of the pen and running around the barn. The other four stayed in the pen. GOOD BOYS! These boys are no longer babies. They weigh probably fifty to sixty pounds, my guess. DH has a young man he works with who is my designated person to call when I encounter such kinds of problems. I called he came--pigs back in pen. Whew! Nothing like a good workout catching fifty to sixty pound pigs. Heehee!


God bless you,

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Guild meeting today and I have a question


We had a wonderful WCQG meeting today and a really neat program. Jacque Hencell brought a
trunk show called "If Quilts Could Talk". She was a very good speaker. I just wished her quilt holders would have held her quilts straight and a little longer. Jacque gave us permission to take pictures. She also sells vintage embroidery patterns. I will post pictures of the ones I bought on another post.
Now for my question. I decided to go ahead and post a picture of this project because the one receiving it doesn't know they are receiving it so it's okay. I need your input please. I thought setting these blocks this way was a good idea orignally. This afternoon after laying it out; I'm not so sure. What do you think? Leave it. Use one color. Or change it entirely? This layout will have the focus fabric as an outer border and maybe another smaller inner border if ya'll think it needs it.
Thanks for your advice.
Blessings,

Friday, November 14, 2008

Sew-in Day Retreat


And fun we had! Thursday afternoon I decided to call and invite my quilting ladies over for a sew-in day retreat on Friday. Two could make it and another came by to share lunch after teaching school a half day. Priscilla squared up blocks for the Jackie Robinson quilt she is working on and Dixie started on a fabric basket that Priscilla had shown us how to make(I am making myself finish some UFOs before I make a fabric basket--I sure do want to make one, though). I cut triangles for setting the Navy 4 Patch Stacked Posies. I am trying another kind of setting from what I've used before. I will post pictures when I get it together. This is for someone and I'm not sure if they read this blog or not so will have to wait until they receive it before I post a picture.


We had a lot of fun. I made a pot of stew and a pan of cornbread. We definitely want to repeat this Sew-in Day Retreat.
Blessings,

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Star BOM Block #7


Another one done and waiting for #8 on the 15th.
Blessings everyone,

Monday, November 10, 2008

Another giveaway to enter!


Not mine, sorry. But Abbie is giving away a quilt! I entered and I was #230. Hurry on over because she will be drawing on Nov. 14.
God's blessings be upon you,

The DGKs


Yes, the darling grandchildren came for the weekend. All three! First time for all three to sleep over at our house. We had a blast. The weather was perfect for playing outside--leaves falling and the temps in the seventies. We went to the park after getting ice cream. But boy, oh boy, I was one tired grandma Sat. nite. I was in bed by 9:30. The kids all fell asleep between 8 and 8:30. Whew! Thank God the older two are eight and six years old. I don't know how I could handle it if they all were a lot younger!

Friday, November 07, 2008

Picture of Giveaway


Patricia has received her giveaway package and has an excellent picture here. I really enjoyed making this bag. It is based on The Essential Tote by Lazy Girl Designs. It was my first tote bag to make from scratch. I've put together some bags that were kits that were partially assembled. This tote pattern is SO easy. Of course, I did my own thing. I had some blocks left over from the Purple 4 Patch Stacked Posies and used them and I love the way it turned out. I even used some of the leftover sashing. I even used some of the leftover blocks for pockets on the interior and I used two blocks and made yo-yos with buttons in the middle to decorate the bottom pleat that made the bag sit flat. I had seen SOMEWHERE to do it on the outside instead of the inside and I really liked that idea. Sorry, my camera was acting up and that picture didn't turn out. I didn't know if I could use a block and make a yo-yo and now I do! I BELIEVE in using what you've got. This has given me ideas to make more bags using orphan blocks from other projects for Christmas gifts for all my girls.
Lindi, if and when you read this would you email me your mailing address. I have a surprise for you.
God's blessings be upon you,

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Please pray then vote

Our country needs our prayers especially today as we vote for our next president. My prayer is for a president who is a Christian; follows after God's heart; willing to lead our country with Christian principles; and most of all the president whom God would appoint as our leader. Amen

Please exercise your right as a citizen of this wonderful country and go vote.

God's blessings be upon you,

Monday, November 03, 2008

To answer your question

Anonymous asked me if I had the pattern Funky Boxes. No, I don't. But I have one very similar called Round and Round . Click on the name; it takes you to Quilt Country's web site and scroll down to find the pattern.
Patricia, I finished what I was working on for you tonight. I have one more thing I want to shop for and then Wednesday--I want to show DH what I have done--and he is horn hunting (if you know what I mean) LOL and then Wednesday I will take it to the post office and it will be on it's way to you.

God's blessings to you,

Sunday, November 02, 2008

New Look

Do you like my new look? Thanks to Aqua Poppy Designs for my makeover and it was free and easy! She does custom work as well so hurry on over and visit her site.

Blessings,