Sorry for the absence

There are not enough hours in the day seems like anymore.  Lately, Hog Man has gone back to work and I've been cooking lunch for him.  Wait a minute--I was doing that before when he was home recuperating.  The difference is now lunch needs to be ready at a certain time.  You know what that means. Cook, eat, clean up.

We are having some really nice cool weather -- 70s. Week before last though was much warmer. We got in the low 90s. Nothing like in other parts of Texas who were in the 100s. In April?! We haven't had any rain, though, and we really need it.

How does my garden grow? See for yourself.

I planted in containers this year all but the tomatoes.   See that cute baby squash? Gonna grace our table probably next week.

These are the cucumbers. We have two containers of them and we are going to try the baskets and see how they do.

These are the three tomato plants. I started out with four and one died.  : (  I've been putting my used coffee grounds, banana peel, potato peelings, etc. in the middle between the plants.

Sunday evening when we finished feeding the hogs; Hog Man told me to get his big hammer and he would stake the baskets. I started across the yard and eeeeekkkk--there was this black snake RIGHT there in the grass. LONG BLACK SNAKE. 5 ft or more.  After catching my breath and Hog Man stopped laughing we checked it out and determined it was harmless.  We left it alone and it left us alone. We got the baskets all staked and went in the house to eat. I came out a little while later and big black snake was gone. I'm sorry I didn't have my camera but from my research it looked just like the black ones in these pictures.

This is my block for WCQG block of the month. I didn't win last month : ( -- Carolyn K did.  If you visit the WCQG blog shortly you will probably see pictures of Carolyn K with the blocks.  Gaila is doing a fantastic job with our blog. She also took over our newsletter and she is doing an absolutely stunning job with it. There is a link on the blog to the newsletter.

And these are little blocks we (the guild) are making for another baby quilt for Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center.

I'm working on a demo to take to the Bowie quilters this month.  Quilting on Wednesdays with the Kraz-z Quilters and trying to keep a clean house.  Time--it goes so fast.

Oh yeah. Patsy, my mother-in-law asked me if I could figure a quilt pattern out for her in Electric Quilt. It was the push I needed. I made myself do the lessons after supper each night and guess what? I did it. I learned to draw straight lines and do a simple block with a square in the middle and flying geese going around. I learned how to put fabric of different colors in each block. I will keep on doing more and learning more.  It is amazing and I am enjoying it.  Thank you again.

I have been making and using my own spray starch using corn starch.  I found a recipe here.  I haven't used the lavender oil but I might try it. I have seen where there are those who boil their water first. They say the cornstarch dissolves better.

I've also made my own laundry detergent. I've tried the powered recipe and now I want to try the liquid version. I've started using vinegar in the rinse instead of fabric softener. I was very pleased how the detergent cleaned. I have a pair of black capris and I thought they had faded due to hanging in the sun. After washing with the homemade detergent they are no longer "faded".  A very nice surprise. Who would've thought?  The recipe I used for the detergent used Fels Naptha, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, and 20 Mule Team Borax.  I'm not real fond of the smell of the Fels Naptha.  I have since picked up a bar of Zote and will use it for the next batch. I will keep you posted on my adventures.

Blessings,