Hello from a cool Texas!

Record lows forecast for tonight! We were in the 40s today. In May. We've gotten some wonderful rain last week and this weekend. The grass is so pretty and green. Our pear tree is loaded with pears. Speaking of grass--it grew inches overnight.

I put the hummingbird feeder up a week ago. They found it within an hour. This weekend we had swarms of hummingbirds. It was amazing. They drank 1 1/2 cups sugar water in two days. I've got to get another feeder next trip to Wal-Mart. 

Have you seen Molly's Place blog? She's got a free Boots BOM going on right now.  So cute!

Blessings,

Spring is sprung and a lot of yackety yack

If you haven't listened in to Pat Sloan on Creative Talk Radio you are missing out. DH was out and about last night and I turned it on. So much talent and so many talented people still not discovered. Aneela Hoey was one of her guests via skype. Aneela is from the United Kingdom. This is a link to her blog. You simple must see her adorable embroidery patterns. Look at those stitches for the hair. Love it.  I like her style.

On the home front--the fruit trees are beginning to bloom. We went from deep freeze to spring in the matter of a few weeks. We need rain. It is very dry. There have been wildfires in west Texas. We have had a few around here but if we don't get rain there will be more. The wind has been blowing and blowing. The dust came with it. I don't know if it is the dust, pollen or what but I came down with allergies/cold/crud/yuck over the weekend and am still trying to get over it. I haven't been this sick in a number of years. I feel for you folks that suffer from allergies on a regular basis. Saturday I tried to cough my head off then Monday I tried to sneeze it off. My head is still attached although SOME people who I know and love really don't think so at times LOL; better known as my DH.

I woke up at 12:30 the other night. Couldn't go back to sleep for hours. Last night slept like a rock. Boy did I need that!  And during these unscheduled early wake ups--the thought occurred to me. You know we all have been hearing about Charlie Sheen and Lindsey Lohan in the news. We who are Christians and pray ought to pray for these folks. I know I am so quick with the thought : ). But really I should be quicker to pray than to shake my head. But for the grace of God I and many others might be in the same turmoil. Just sayin'!

Daffodils are up and blooming. The tulips aren't far behind. They are very small this year. Lack of rain and probably time to replant.  The redbud tree across the road is about to burst into bloom. The wild plums are blooming. It seems early. We could easily have a frost and lose the fruit.

I sewed some string blocks in the last couple of weeks while working on other stuff. You know Bonnie's leaders and enders style? The ladies at Paradise Piecemakers put me onto making string blocks using Bounty paper towels for the foundation. At that time they were eleven inches square. Now they are not. More like 11 X 10 1/2 or even 10 1/4. More down sizing of product. If you think about it--fifty sheets multiplied by 1/2 inch. That is a LOT less. Are they putting more sheets in a roll? Hmm. I gotta go check. You know what? It doesn't say. I buy the big packages of like 8 or 10 and store in the garage. All it says -- 12 giant rolls = 18 regular rolls. If there are fifty sheets to a roll (sorry I don't have my grandkids around to count them for me and don't expect me to okay?) multiplied by 1/2 inch = 25 inches less in a roll. Multiply that by 12 = 300 less inches. That's 25 feet less. I know you stuck around to get to the bottom of this. LOL

Dishwasher is swishing, breadmaker is kneading, and since I have regained the status of free breathing -- I got lots of work to do. See ya.

Blessings,

Items required--waders--this is deep

What is it that makes us want to resolve to do things better; set goals; change habits? And the list could go on. What is it? Is it because for us in the northern hemisphere Jan.1 falls when there is dormancy and winter and we have a little more time for retrospect? Do people in the southern hemisphere have the same inclination? Is it out of tradition? Is it something in us that wishes for change? Maybe we either liked or didn't like what happened the previous year. Or a combination of both?

So tell me what you think but you have to get your own waders.

Blessings,

A Little Snow and Computers

First a little rain that started in the night and then mid-morning the snow started. Just a dusting. It sure was pretty.

We received a new lap-top from our kids. Yesterday DS#1 came and hooked up the fast transfer cable. Our old computer has been threatening to crash. Very slow. To make a long story short--the old computer was being very very slow. DS#1 needed to go home. I stopped the transfer software download. Removed some programs. Then tried again and it worked. Praise the Lord.

Then I tried to sign in to this blog on the new computer and it wouldn't let me. What in the world? It had been working on this new computer. It worked on DH's lap-top.  What gives? What has changed? I wracked my brain all day. Then tonight I searched on blogger help. Then it occured to me to try blogger in draft. It worked. Forevermore! I'm pretty sure I had been using blogger in draft on the old desktop and perhaps when I transferred everything over MAYBE that had something to do with it?! At least it works and right now that's all that matters.

When it's cold sometimes I get in the baking/cooking mood. Today was no exception. This morning I made sausage and buttermilk pancakes. Then after breakfast dishes were all cleaned up I made banana bread. It turned out really good. Then for lunch I made potato soup with broccoli cornbread. I didn't have cottage cheese for the cornbread but I had sourcream and a little buttermilk. It turned out really good.  We made venison chili tonight for DH to take to work. The guys always love it. Real spicy.


Blessings,

Busy

Time flys. Let's see what have I been up to? September 24 & 25 found me in Post Oak with a booth at their Quilt Show and Trash & Treasures sale. We got up and it was raining (as in pouring). We had gone the night before and set up the canopy it was dry. When we arrived Friday morning we found out that the canopy is not completely water proof! Uh-oh. The ladies came to my rescue! They have an old time pavilion where they always have their Trash & Treasures sale and they offered to move their things around to make room for me. And they did! I told you these ladies are super nice. So we set up with them and we had a very successful weekend. The rain let up around noon each day--yes, it rained Saturday as well. It was sloppy but it didn't keep the people away. And as it turned out our canopy was used for their diners. They serve a meal with your choice of a variety of sandwiches complete with onion slices, pickles, chips, and cookie or beans and cornbread. Secretly I think some people come for the food! It's all home cooking. And they published a new cookbook this year! Love it. Thanks for the best chicken salad recipe ever. I will be trying a lot more.

Of course the week before I went to Post Oak I spent cutting fat quarters, one yard cuts and organizing. I stayed up late cutting and cutting. DH took off on Friday and went with me. He is good help. He doesn't totally understand a lot of quilt things but he is encouraging and and offers his help. What is most important he values quilts and the process of quilt making!

The week after I reorganized then we had our little visitors come spend a few nights with us. DGD Paisley can sit alone now and she is so sweet. When I hold her she pats me on the shoulder. How sweet is that?  DGS Mason is getting so tall. And his vocabulary is amazing. I took pictures. Want to see? I knew you would.






This past weekend we were in Wichita Falls at the Red River Quilters Guild Quilt Show "Quilting in the Falls".
We were one of ten vendors. We learned a lot. Saw some pretty quilts. I didn't take pictures; will you forgive me?

Yesterday I got two calls from two different quilt groups asking me to come do a demo. How about that?
The first one is next Thursday. Yikes! Gotta get one worked up. Saturday we have a little booth at a local fall festival to try that market. I made up postcards and mailed out today to let fellow quilters know I would be there. We'll see how it works. Saturday is also guild meeting and I will miss it. I am helping get the little program together and to some ladies on Thursday. Tomorrow is Kraz-z Quilters and we are still hand quilting on the Time Travel quilt. We've had fewer quilters the last several weeks so it's been taking longer. So we probably still have a couple more Wednesdays to go.

How about the wonderful weather? Fifties at night and eighties in the day--just wonderful. We have the house open day and night. We decided to give Roy (Roy-L-T) away. He went to a family that needed a second dog to work cattle. DH is doing better. I can tell a big difference. He isn't breathing heavy anymore and he isn't exhausted all the time. Really nice.

Blessings and happy quilting,

Checking In

I have been neglectful about blogging lately. Sorry. I just got back from retreat and I wish I could say I had pictures. I don't. I took the camera. I didn't take the battery charger. You guessed it--the battery was low. Some others took pictures and if and when they get to share I will post. We did have a good time. There were ten of us -- more than we've ever had. We stayed at LeRetreat House in Gainesville, Tx. It is a nice old house with four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It is always so much fun to see what everyone brings to work on. I took the black and red exploding pineapple project to make more blocks and sew together. Mission accomplished! I will post a picture just as soon as I charge the battery. LOL

We've also had more house guests. Not quite as little as last time. DGD Aimee and DGS Mac came and stayed several days and we had a good time. We sewed. Even Mac! And he is good. I sewed Aimee a tiered skirt from one of the batiks I sell. No picture. I know bad blogger! Maybe I can get her mom to take one with her wearing it. That would be nice. I found this neat tutorial for a cute little girl's ruffled skirt. I can't wait to make her a few of course I will have to refigure for a larger size but it will be easy. Also found this and want to make one. And not to leave Mac out I asked him about making a shirt for him and he picked out a fabric. I guess I better get busy!

I am only going to acknowledge that the temperatures here have been well, AWFUL. Well over 100 degrees for several weeks. The grass is burning. We turned the cow and calf in on the blackeyed peas. The tomatoes and peppers have dryed up. I gave up on them. BUT we are forecast for cooler weather soon. Ten degrees will be so much of a difference. Can't wait.

Ya'll stay as cool as you can, 

Checking In

Does the summer seem to be flying by to you? Well, as far as I'm concerned the near 100 degree temps and high humidity can fly by and totally away. And we did get welcome relief last evening and today. Rain showers overnight and clouds today brought some welcome lower temps.

What have I been doing? We had little house guests again. Yes, DGS Mason and DGD Paisley. They stayed most of last week. Let's just put it this way. I sure did enjoy relaxing when they went home.  LOL Oh, I gotta tell you this. Mason and I were talking one morning EARLY ('cause that's when he wakes up is EARLY and his sister likes to wake up during the wee hours when her pacifier is not in her mouth). He said that someone must have tickled the sun and woke it up. I asked him if the sun had tickled him (me-what sun? it's still asleep.) and woke him up. He told me the sun didn't have any arms.

In the picture above it sure looks like Paisley is observing the quilt and the stitches. A future quilter perhaps. Sure hope so.

Not much quilting going on. I've been rearranging the sewing/quilt notions/fabric room. And I am liking it. I bought a couple of shelf units and started organizing, sorting and tossing. I have a couple more areas and then I'll be done.  Have you ever reorganized and then slept (dangerous) and then couldn't find something? Yeah. Not fun. I still haven't found it. Oh dear. It will turn up. I hope sooner than later.

Like I said not much quilting going on. But there has been canning. And there will be more canning. Blackeyed peas. Yes, they recovered from the grazing of the bovine. Two weeks after their haircut I picked a bushel. That produced a couple of meals for us and eight quart jars. And then there soon will be peaches in the water bath canner. We picked about a bushel this morning and there are several more trees. The neighbor  with his proposition with the plums is the same one who has the peach trees. It was so funny that morning. He came to the house and said to DH, " I have a proposition for your wife."  Of course he was talking plums. The deal was he would supply the plums and sugar if I would make the jelly. He liked the jelly I had sent by way of DH. I've never canned peaches before so I am looking forward to it. And I might make us some preserves, too.

I haven't posted what we decided to name the puppy we kept. Roy-L-T  because he looked like he was wearing a crown. Now not so much. His head has gotten more slender. LOL We call him Roy for short and it suits him fine.I would post a picture but someone might turn us in to the Humane Society. He looks like he starving but I know different. He's at that clumsy, awkward, feet too big for his body stage. Lately he has been wanting to chew on everything. Not my favorite part of puppyhood. It was almost hilarious the other day. We leave our outside shoes in the garage. We had just come out of the garage after putting on a pair of outside shoes and I had left the garage door open. Not smart. I kid you not that pup ran in there in a flash and grabbed one of my old tennis shoes and ran behind the nearest tree and commenced to chew. I took off running and so did he. Commanded "Drop it." and he did. We had already done this with my flip flops, Mason's crocs, DH is stilling missing one flip flop. Oh and did I tell you that with hot humid weather also come ticks. Yeah. Not so fun either. The pills from the vet fixed them right up.   

Quilt retreat is coming up in August. I can't wait. I might get some sewing done.

Blessings and happy quilting,

Checking In

I have guild meeting this morning. I have been machine quilting lately so I'm busy with that. We went Monday night to visit DS#2 and fanmily. Read that--hold the baby. We took pork chops cooked in the slow cooker and enjoyed some family time. We hope to repeat this process over the weekend. LOL

We still had some patches of snow in the shade and anywhere the kids built big snowmen yesterday. But with the warm weather we have had it won't stick around.  We are forecast for more snow on Tuesday. Can you believe it?

Gotta go get ready for the meeting.
Blessings everyone,

Brrr! It's cold.

I was really liking the 60 degree weather we were having. 60 degrees has temporarily been replaced by the 20s. We did have some rain first and then the temps fell. We had a few snow flurries but no accumulation. Snow is no longer a novelty. Our temps are supposed to be back in the 50s early in the week.

Update: For those checking on my DDIL--she made it to the 34 week milestone. Yay! The baby weighs over 5 pounds now. Yay! She will remain in the hospital until delivery. Poor DDIL. The plan is -- wait and see what happens. Sounds like pregnancy, right?

I was waiting for a black ink cartridge to come in (thank you, DS#1) so I could print the paper foundations for the ribbon border for the next border on the Star BOM. While waiting I felt the urge to do some string quilting. I had pulled some strings and grouped colors. To make a long story short I got sixteen made and sewed them together into a C.A.S.A. quilt top. I got the backing fabric from our quilt room at Kraz-z Quilters this past Wednesday along with some other fabric. I quickly sewed up another little C.A.S.A. quilt with a novelty print for the center square and some coordinating borders. So now it is time to do some machine quilting and I will post pictures soon.

The ink cartridge came in yesterday so now it is time to switch gears and thread color and piece some ribbon border. Yay!

Oh, I almost forgot. I found a neat blog with lots of links to tutorials. Please check it out. Who can resist free? Freebies for Crafters is great.


Blessings,

Has the "Bag" Bug Bitten You?

I've made a few bags and I've been checking out some of the sites online with patterns for bags and totes. I've found one that is the "mother" bag place called DIY Bag Lover. It has many links to many bags of all kinds. It will be listed under Tutorials in my sidebar for your future reference. Enjoy.

Blessings,

Happy 2010 and Cold is on the way

And what a cold 2010 it is starting out to be. And yes some of you are already experiencing the cold. Ours is to get here Wednesday night. We are forecast for night time temps to drop into the teens and late Friday night early Saturday morning possibly in the single digits. This is the first time since 1997 for temps like this. I don't remember that weather-- just as well : ). We ran errands today to get ready. Bought covers for our outdoor faucets, made ready the barn with heat lamps and closed up openings(we've got a sow that is due to farrow her litter soon) and groceries and dog food (don't want to run out).  I've done the laundry. We'll put a pot of soup on and make a pan of cornbread. Now if there aren't any power outages I can quilt to my heart's content.

By the way, would someone please tell the global warming people that evidently global warming has taken a vacation?

Oh another by the way, we STILL have patches of snow in some areas on the sides of the road. Never in my life have I seen this in Texas. Again, would someone please inform the global warming people? 

Oh, for those of you checking on my DIL--she is still doing well. Week 31 starts tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,

How is everyone?

Doing very well, I hope. I am wishing you a glorious and miraculous December. Totally filled with joy and blessings. We had a very cool start to our month but yesterday and today was balmy -- in the 70s.

Our DDIL is still hanging in there. She had a little episode last week. She went into labor and they immediately started administering an IV and the labor subsided.

We had our guild Christmas party this past Saturday. We had a lot of fun. We played Quilt Bingo. We had been given the instructions to make our Bingo "cards" at the November meeting. The instructions came from a past Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine. We used buttons we brought from home for the markers. Christmas ornaments were our prizes. Food--Oh, my goodness! Need I say more. We had made Christmas stockings for C.A.S.A. and baby quilts and items for our local pregnancy resource center and those were picked up by representatives from those organizations. Hopefully they enjoyed our fabric Bingo games and didn't think we were totally crazy!

I quilted a baby quilt last Friday on my quilt machine. Then sewed the binding on and finished the hand work last night. I wanted to practice some more. I have two quilts lined up to quilt for a customer before Christmas.



Today DH as I was hanging clothes on the line (gotta take advantage of the good weather) asked for help in herding pigs. He was moving four feeders (180 lbs. avg.) to another pen. They didn't WANT to go. What normally takes us maybe a half hour took several hours. They wanted to run. Back and forth; just not where they needed to go. So we had to wind up using the stock trailer to move them. And in the end it all worked. Yeah! I had had plans to load another quilt on the machine but duty called. Then there were errands to run. And then clothes to fold and the supper to make and another day done. Thank you, God, for the good day you gave us. Sunshine, time together, a roof over our heads, good food -- all of these I am thankful for.

Blessings,

Hi

What's been going on with everyone? I know we have been busy. We finished painting the well house and have a couple of touch ups and we'll be done for good. We've had our first real cold front and a light frost.

Last Friday we went to Gainesville to the quilt show. Saw several ladies I knew. Always fun to run across fellow quilters from various areas. We went to the quilt shop, Past Times, and they were swamped. The poor ladies were cutting fabric as fast as they could and calling in help. DH had gone to the quilt show with me and also the quilt shop. He was the only man and he didn't seem to mind at all. He is learning a lot about quilting. :)

Please pray for our DDIL. She is in the hospital. She has just started into her sixth month in her pregnancy. She went for her regular visit with the OB and she had dialated between a 2 and 3. She had started having back pains.They are monitoring her. The baby is fine and she is fine. Please pray that our baby granddaughter will decide to stay in the womb for several more months.

DH went deer hunting and I decided to have a marathon working on my quilt club's scrapbooks. I had gotten behind. So I got all of 2008's book completed and will work on 2009 shortly. So nice to get that obligation done. Now on to other UFO's.

Blessings,

Hi again

Not much quilting going on yet but I hope to remedy that real soon. LOL I did get a Take 5 small quilt top pieced week before last. And we took my quilting machine to Denton to have a repairman look at it. The only thing he found wrong was the needle was in backwards. He said that would make it sew like it was out of time. I haven't quilted with it yet. Why? Well, we kept DGS Mason for several days while his parents were out of town. He had a cold and developed an ear infection. After an antibiotic and decongestant he is on the mend.

This has been the wetest(around 16 inches) October for our area in years and cooler too. It was in the lower 40's this morning. We have been getting the eaves and trim on the house ready for paint. Between rains. Tomorrow we plan on opening the paint buckets. We hope to get a lot done because we are forecast for more rain Sunday night and then later next week. My shoulder is sore from scraping this afternoon. I washed and hung out clothes. My clothes lines were full. Hanging clothes out has been challenging with the rain as well.

Oh, I found 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting blog while reading another blog (that's how I have found some really neat blogs!). She is a very talented quilter.

Sorry there are no pictures in this post. I will try and remedy that soon.

Blessings,

Just in case you didn't know

I'm back from Wal-Mart and thought I might share a tip with you. Wal-Mart will price match competitor's ads. I got my local grocery stores ads and circled the specials I wanted to buy; made me a list with the price I wanted Wal-Mart to match; and went shopping. I found this site that gives good information and here is Wal-Mart's policy. You need to be organized and polite to the cashier. I put my items on the belt last with the divider between my other things and before he/she gets to them I tell them I would like to "comp" them please. I take the ads with me to show if the cashier needs to see it. It is better to make a list and write the prices beside your list than to be hunting through an ad. At our Wal-Mart they are always really good. A lot of people know about this evidently because they had a sale on Folger's coffee and that size and variety was GONE from the shelf. That does happen sometimes. It helps to shop the same day or very soon after the ad comes out if the sell item is a really good price. Also be sure and check the shelf price at Wal-Mart BEFORE you comp because sometimes their everyday price might be lower!

Hope this helps.

Blessings,

Busy Again

Hi, everyone. How's your world? Busy I'm sure. What's God been doing in your life? Plenty I'm sure. He is so good. DFIL is doing well. He has the green light to start his cardio rehab.

Let's see. What have I been up to? Thursday last week the insurance adjuster came to evaluate water damage between the wall of our two bathrooms from a leak we found. The toilet in our master bath is leaking from the fitting to the tank. We could not figure out where the water was coming from until I was cleaning and saw it dripping. How weird is that? DH had already taken out a small portion of drywall to see if it was a pipe in the wall. Friday morning I picked a bushel of blackeyed peas and took them to a neighbor who had been wanting some to buy and then did some cleaning. Saturday morning was Wise County Quilt Guild. DS#1 came and spent the weekend with us. We really enjoyed it. Love you, Brian. Then we had the three grandkids come for a couple of days. They went home yesterday. Whew. LOL Lots of fun, lots of energy, and thank God they need lots of sleep! LOL



Tuesday afternoon it was so hot and youngest DGS wants to go 'side (outside) all the time so we put up the wading pool and turned them loose with the garden hose. It took some convincing for the two older grandkids that it was okay to play in the water in regular clothes (they hadn't packed swimsuits). LOL They had so much fun. Spraying and splashing and of course Max got in on the action. He doesn't like water but he does love to bite and catch the splashes of water. He would get water down the wrong pipe (so to speak) and choke and take a time out and then he was back at it again. Hilarious! He was soaked and didn't seem to mind. DGD and I went to Kraz-z Quilters on Wednesday for a little while. She made yo-yo's and I quilted. She helped me make chicken salad sandwiches from the chicken that cooked overnight in the slowcooker and we were hostesses. She loves it. DH and the boys stayed home and did their thing.

And in the mix--DH looked up Tuesday morning and the calves were in the garden! A little damage to the tomatoes and okra but I'm not sure if the blackeyed peas will recover. It's getting late in the season for them anyway and we have enjoyed them immensely. And I had the top and backing for a little C.A.S.A. quilt ready so I sandwiched it while the DGKs were sleeping Monday night and then got up early Tuesday morning BEFORE they woke up and turned it and topstitched it. Then Tuesday we (read on) tied it (they tied a few and decided it was too much work) and turned it in Wednesday to the Kraz-z Quilters. AND we have a new kitten. Since we have a Butterball and this one is a darker yellow I named him Butterscotch. We were told that Butterscotch was two months. Nope don't think so. Probably more like five weeks old. I was concerned that Butterball would be too rough with him--he's probably three months old. They were so funny at first. They both hissed at each other something awful. Then the next thing you know they are playing and getting along just fine. AND we have thirteen (make that 15--I went down a minute ago to turn on the mister) new baby pigs this morning. AND Ruby has come in heat and we decided that she was too young to breed and will wait until next time; so she has been locked up. Poor baby.

AND I have lost 3 1/2 pounds! Yay. I have a goal to lose 16 pounds.

Today it's laundry, figuring the checkbook, paying bills, straightening the sewing/quilting room, etc. etc. Answering the phone! Don't you just love it. DH has been to Wal-Mart to buy new batteries for his pickup and on to do some tractor work.


Blessings,

Hello

If you're still reading-thanks and God bless. I am adjusting to DH being home--if you ladies know what I mean?! LOL We are doing better. LOL

I am picking okra every day. More than we can eat in one day so I am sharing. : ) We are getting a few cucumbers, tomatoes, and yellow squash. AND I'm picking blackeyed peas about once a week. I cooked a big pot with bacon ends yesterday along with a pan of cornbread. Yummy! Patsy, I hope you've gotten rain today. We missed out on this round.

Today, I attended the memorial service for our darling and beloved Agnes. She passed Saturday at 96 years of age. I am so thankful to have known her. The church was nearly packed. Everyone loved her. I don't know how many baby quilts Agnes made in her lifetime! If only she could have lived long enough to see the next great grand baby that is due very soon. Brian, David Walker is going to be a father.

Today as we sat around the quilting frame after the memorial service we talked about others who were in our club who have passed on. We had a good time remembering. Tell me about your memories of some special quilter in your life.

Blessings,

Update

Sorry, that I haven't posted lately. It's been busy again. We traveled to San Angelo/Ballinger last week on Thursday and Friday to take a Charolais bull to DH's dad who raises Charolais cattle. We took DGD and DGS with us to visit their great grandparents. It rained on us while driving down there. They went home Saturday evening. Then on Sunday I got ready for our quilt retreat. There will be a post about the retreat up and coming. I had a wonderful time. While at quilt retreat DH called to tell me his dad had been taken to the hospital. I got home Wednesday evening and then the next morning we drove back again to San Angelo. DFIL's stent they put in 2007 was completely blocked and found another blockage. They fixed all that. We drove home the same day. We stopped in Abilene to see DN who is visiting from the UK (and she is expecting their first child). This morning DFIL was supposed to go home but after an EKG they found another blockage and took him back into surgery. Thank God they found it and took care of it while he was there. We stayed home this time.

Rain--when we left at 4:00am Thursday it was pouring rain. We drove for about an hour in rain you could barely see to drive. When we got home the rain gauge had 2 3/4" in it. Glorious.

I am so tired. I am doing laundry and paying bills. I have made a note to myself. No traveling or grandkids before quilt retreats. It is too exhausting.

God Bless,

Cooler!

Oh, yeah! It was in the lower 80's today. I woke up to the sound of rain. Wonderful. Our temps had come down from those horrible triple digits from last week to upper 80's and 90's earlier in the week and today was absolutely awesome. Isn't it amazing how the weather can change and pick up your spirits?

Our neighbor down the road brought us a cantaloupe. Yummy! We are enjoying our okra and sharing our harvest now. I have an orange tomato just about ripe. My zucchini are dying off. Probably the results of 100+ temps. The yellow squash got a good soaking when we were at the hospital with DS#1. A hose sprung a leak that fed one of the nozzles in a hog pen and soaked the yellow squash. We had a young man checking on things but it must have happened after he had come. That's probably what saved the yellow squash during those horrible 100+ temps.

DH is enjoying his time off. We are beginning to call this lay off an extended vacation. : ) He has applied for unemployment and been picking up applications. He has also been working on a tractor for the neighbor who brought us the cantaloupe. DH talked with the supervisor who laid him off today and there may be a possibility of going back to work in 2 to 3 weeks. Now we have some decisions to make. We want to be in God's will most of all and are praying. Does he even want to go back there? If he can find something better--he would be happier. Does he want to work for himself? Does he want to work with me in the quilting business? Would we be able to work together? We have been talking a lot lately.

Oh, and here's something quilty. I hadn't updated the Featured Blog lately. Check out the most recent one. Seriously good. Penny Halgren's blog How to Quilt has a wealth of information.

Blessings to all,

Hot!

This was sent to me in an email.

"YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN TEXAS IN JULY WHEN. . . . The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground. The trees are whistling for the dogs. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. Hot water now comes out of both taps. You can make sun tea instantly. You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron. The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly. You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window. You actually burn your hand opening the car door. You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m. Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?" You realize that asphalt has a liquid state."

It has been 106 to 108 degrees for highs this week. And no rain. We have a cool front forecast for tomorrow. 95 degrees for a high. Ahhhh! Our grass which once was green after the wonderful rains has turned crispy. Our garden--the okra and blackeyed peas love it. But all the other vegetables are shriveling. It is taking a tremendous amount of water to remedy the heat. But it will cool down and everything will be better soon.

This blog in the last few months seems to have taken on a pretty constant need for prayer. That must mean that those who read my blog are praying people. And I am grateful. We are again in need of your prayers. My husband is without a job. He took the week off when DS#1 had surgery. On going back to work on the following Monday he was laid off. The company is in bankruptcy. We are confident that God is supplying our needs. Our desire is to be in God's will when the next step comes. It is very interesting. My husband told me that Sunday morning the Lord was dealing with him about the amount of hours he was working and the next morning he didn't have a job. God is up to something good.

Blessings to all,