We Will Never Forget

This is a photo of my uncle Bill, who I never got to meet.  Lt. William H. Stimson was reported missing in action October 11, l944.  My Mom's older brother was a fighter pilot and his plane went down over the Pacific Ocean.   We all pause this Memorial Day to remember "freedom isn't free" and we honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.  I pray daily for our soldiers, who currently serve all over the world and the families who support them here at home.

 I'll be back blogging tomorrow.  We had a wonderful time with family this week-end.  The wedding was beautiful.  All of DH's eight siblings were able to be there and get a family photo taken.  Jen  flew home today.   AND I am exhausted--sleeping was not one of our activities.  Laundry and cleaning tomorrow.  :(   Hugs.....................

Doin' the Happy Dance!

I think the dancing started in my heart yesterday.  So much energy and bubbles inside!  What's happening you ask?  I am picking up my baby girl at the airport today!!!  Jen is coming home for the wedding this week-end.

There will be a lot of laughing, giggling, talking, cooking and Phase 10 playing in the next 4 days.  DD2 hasn't been home since Christmas, so we have alot of hugging to catch up on too.  DD1 has work off Saturday and Sunday and is coming home too.  DH's nephew is getting married, so we will get to see alot of family over the week-end--more laughing and hugging.  We are looking forward to a happy time all together.

I promised llama shearing pictures.  The shearing went better than we thought.  The critters didn't like it, but they are much more docile than cattle to work with. 

We put them in the cattle chute.  BIL used his sheep shearing clippers.

Poor brown one didn't appreciate the hair cut.  She was vocalizing and spitting the whole time, but she stood pretty good.  The guys worked fast together to get her done.

She's working up another good wad of spit here. 

Looking much cooler for summer!

Not looking too pleased while waiting her turn.  She vocalized and showed her teeth while she waited, but stood very well for the actual haircut.

What a sweet boy.  He just layed down in the chute.  No yelling, no spitting, just laying low.

Do you have any good llama names?  We were waiting for the girls to come home and help name them.  DH and I haven't come up with any good ones ourselves.  BIL has a llama that lives with his sheep.  His name is Homer.  I have been giving them a few raw carrots.  They don't eat them out of my hand, but they seem to like them.  We will be taking them to pasture for green grass next week.  It's been fun having them close in the yard, but I know they will be happier after the move.

We are getting down to the last calvers.  Yeah!  We will be working calves and taking everyone to summer pasture sometime in the next 2 weeks.  The weather  has been rainy this week so far.  We have received 3 inches of rain.  As I said before "the wettest spring ever".  Our corn isn't planted yet.   Our neighbors have been cleaning up the tornado mess.  There have been alot of people helping.  Sunday there must have been about 80 high school age kids come to help.   It's been so awesome to see everyone work together.  I'm so thankful their house didn't get damaged and the boys weren't hurt.

I've only gotten 2 words playing Spring Fever Bingo--am I surprised? No!  lol  It's been fun to check for the words, tho.  Have you been to Jenny's to sign up for The Christmas Story giveaway?  Thanks Vivian for entering! :)  I think my "girls coming home" joy has splashed over into all my daily living.  Isn't it crazy how happy that can make you---"they are coming home".  I better get cracking around here.  There probably won't be much blogging in the next few days.  Have a great Memorial Day week-end with your loved ones and activities!! Hugs................

Thank you, Kathy!

I received "happy" mail today.  I won a  paper piecing kit from Kathy's Quilts.   Kathy had her 500th post anniversary around Mother's Day.  She had a giveaway to celebrate.  She gave away a variety of lovely prizes and I won one.  Please click on the photo to see the pretty card she included.  The fabrics are wonderful fall colors to paper piece some fall leaves.  We were married in October and used fall colors to decorate with.  I've always liked the colors of fall, especially gold and rust.  I have lots of fall fabrics too. 

Have you ever paper pieced?  I took a class 2 years ago.  I really learned alot and finished the paper piecing of the project, but I need to get it back out, because I am still taking paper off the back.  It is a very pretty table covering in batiks.  I haven't done any paper piecing since.  This little kit will be a fun project.  Thanks, Kathy and congratulations on 500 posts!

I Love Jenny!

I love Jenny of Elefantz patterns.  I am doing her free BOM Bouquet.  BUT now she has designed a really wonderful pattern for a Christmas Quilt called The Christmas Story.  It has such lovely stitchery.  I love the manger block.  So sweet.  She is having a giveaway for the pattern and some of the fabric she used.  I want extra chances to win, so I am blogging about it here, so you can check it out.  IF you mention my name in your comment, I could win a pattern.  Don't you just love this fabric--Robyn Pandolph's "Roses de Noel". 

Too many loves in this post, but I really love the real Christmas Story and I would love to have the pattern for this quilt.   Have a lovely day.  Hugs........

Tornado

We had tornado warnings last night until 1:00 AM.   There wasn't any programs on TV only the weather men until after 11:00 pm.  This is looking west of our house.  The storms came from that direction.

This is called a wall cloud.  The tornado snakes down from them or the whole wall can come down.

This shot is looking south of our house.  You can see tails on this one traveling by.  The clouds are moving fast and changing all the time.

This shot is looking northwest.   The neighbor boys called us at 9:30 pm.  A tornado had touched down and traveled through their place.  It took the garage and shop, but left the connecting breezeway and their house.  The large barn was totally gone.  A lot of their farm equipment is damaged too.  There is much cleaning up to do.  DH quickly loaded up the Rhino and headed north to their place.  Their cows were out and running all over.  Their parents had gone to a birthday party 45 miles away.  There were other tornados further north of us.  Many farm places were damaged and electricity was out in many places.  Mother Nature can make changes quickly in our lives.  I am so very thankful that no one was injured. 

Cleaning for company

Just a quick post, while the company went to the farm sale.  Yesterday I was cleaning house like a mad woman.  Uncluttering, dusting and vacuuming!  It has been cool here, so the afghans are usually just draped where ever.  We keep the thermostat down and just cuddle up under a blanket in the evening.  Maybe you noticed Rocco right away, but I had to look for him.  He knew we had to keep things looking neat.    He usually digs a nice nest for himself.  This time he just slid under the neat pile.

Such a good boy!

We have new kittens.  Blackie (real creative name for her)  had 5 and brought them up to the deck.  They were really hungry, so I have been soaking cat food and feeding them a couple times a day.  Blackie laid the law down right away, so Rocco has nothing to do with these kids.  I think kittens are my favorite thing on the farm.  We only have 3 outside cats, so more is fine. 

Three grays, one stripe and a tiny little black one, who is getting his or her face washed.  I'm off to make a banana pie for supper.  I'll post about the llama shearing next time. 

Mini In The Mail

I put the mini quilt in the mail today.  It was nice to get it all packaged up and sent off.  I'm glad I did the swap.  Now I'm looking forward to getting something in the mail myself. 

Sorry for the off center picture--I didn't want you to see the mess on the other side.  I'm so far behind, but the light is at the end of the tunnel--the calving tunnel that is.  We have about 30 moms left.  The neighbors that plant our corn came this afternoon, so DH is out of my hair.  He is helping them, so I don't need to help him.  Sooooo am I cleaning?  No...............

I quickly escaped to the sewing machine and stitched up my Jelly Roll Sampler block.

It took me awhile to pick out the fabric I wanted to use, so I had good contrast.  I really like it now that it is done.   I have learned from some of my earlier projects that contrast is an important element.  Contrast is what makes a successful project "pop".  Sometime I'm lucky and get it right.

I have alot to look forward to.  DD 2 is flying in next week for the Memorial week-end wedding on DH's side of the family.  DD 1 has taken a few days off too, so we can really enjoy family time.   This means:  the sewing room needs to be a bedroom.  I thought I had another week to accomplish this, but last night DH invited his sister, her husband and DH's brother  for the week-end.  The neighbors are having a machinery auction and of course, the llamas need shearing.  So cleaning and extra cooking are on my schedule.  If I didn't like the in-laws so much, I'd complain. It will be fun to have them here.  I just won't have time to sew or do any extra organizing.  

I know from experience it will all get done or enough of it to be ok.   And after all it's family, so no pressure to impress.   My timer for the buns is ringing, so I better make sandwiches for the field.  Hugs..................

Come play with me!

I am playing Spring Fever Bingo at The Quilt Shoppe.  I never win at Bingo!  This just sounds like too much fun to miss out.  There are going to be great prizes too.  Come play with me.

New Residents!

Do you have one of those children that always brings home stray animals and friends?  DD1 has always been that child in our family.  DH has never been able to say "no" to either of his daughters, so we have new "critters" on the ranch. 

Some people Michelle knows wanted to get rid of these llamas, so now we have llamas. 
We put them in a small pen by the old barn, until they get used to being here.  We don't know much about these animals, but I guess we'll be learning.  DH's brother has sheep, so he is coming to shear them on Saturday.   I read on the internet that heat stress is a factor for them.  It doesn't look like the oldest one has been sheared for sometime.  Her fleece is really matted and dirty.  She is very standoffish and puts her ears back when we approach--as you can see in this picture.   The other two just seem to be curious about us, especially Rocco.

They have such expressive eyes and they look like they are smiling part of the time.  This one is a female and seems to be the most friendly of the three.  She has such pretty markings.

This one is a male and seems the most agressive.  He comes up to the fence and looks at us.  Rocco wags his little tail and when they approach he turns and runs under the fence.   Some people keep llamas or donkeys with their sheep for protection from coyotes.  I'm very interested in researching about their fleece.  I think it can be spun into yarn.
I'm wondering what our cattle will think of them.  DH plans to keep them with the heifers in the smaller pasture close to home.  You just never know what new adventures can come your way, unless you have had children. 

I finished up my mini quilt this afternoon.  I  hope to get it in the mail tomorrow.  We are taking a beef into the butcher in the morning.  Our freezer is getting low on meat.  Summer is a wonderful time to use the grill and DH can taste the steak already.  I'll keep you posted on the llamas.  Hugs..............

The Finches are Back

 

 It was a beautiful day earlier, but has now clouded up.  It is nice and warm too.  I am thinking "garden" very soon.  The greenhouse opens in town on Monday.  It is later this year, because of the colder temps.  I know there are people who have planted potatoes and onions, but they haven't hardly come up.  I think things are about to change tho.... I am so ready.  The garden is not.  I need to get it tilled up this week.  I did pick up a few seeds, but we need to get potatoes and onion sets.

The gold finches are back.  There is only one in this photo.  Every time I want to take a picture they all leave.  This is a brave one or an extra hungry one.  I don't really have a camera that takes nice close up shots.  I have been stalking ducks for 3 weeks, but I'm never close enough.   We enjoy looking out the patio window at  these bright colored little guys.  They fight and carry on so with each other.  

This little barn swallow is a window peeker. When DH mowed, he just happened to stick this pot holder in the ground close to the window by my computer.   The barn swallows have been busy trying to make nests under our roof.  They have the whole barn, but they like our roof best.  They do eat flies, but it can be messy under their homes.

I finished my mini quilt for the swap.  I fought with my sewing machine through part of it.  I'm not sure what was wrong.  I re-threaded everything and then finally changed the needle.  Those adjustments seemed to help.  I held my breath through the whole binding process.  I didn't really have more material if I screwed up. 

I learned alot from this swap.  I won't sign up this time of year again.  I was really nervous making something for another quilter.  I think I put down that I was an intermediate quilter, but maybe I should have been a beginner.  I have never put tabs on a wall hanging, so this was my first.  I think it went pretty well.  I hope to get it in the mail on Tuesday.  I'll probably wait to show you the quilt later.  I have been checking the flickr group.  There have been some very nice ones posted.  I hope she likes mine.  Hugs..................

I Couldn't Resist

It has been a cold and rainy 4 days.  We got 4.8 inches of lovely, slow rain.  I don't think it's ever rained 4 days in a row in South Dakota. Yesterday I made a much needed run to town for supplies.  We were out of potatoes and milk.  I can always bake bread, but potatoes and milk are necessities of life for DH.  I have been working on my mini swap quilt here and there.  I wanted to see if I could find a little "something something" to add to the packet.  SO I stopped in at The Fabric Inn. I blame it on the weather!!!...... I bought a few things. They had a sale table--$2.99 a yard so I bought this:

I'm not sure how true the colors are going to be on these pictures.  This is 6 yards of light green background and pinky purple flowers.  I needed backing for my pinwheel quilt.  This should do nicely.

I'm going to add some more pink to my pinwheels, so this had to be added.  There was only 1.75 left on the bolt, so I had to buy it all.  Didn't I have to?

And I thought this was just so pretty, so I bought it too.  It's only $2.99 a yard!!  I had to have it.  I liked it.

Such pretty colors, feathers of  teal, purple and gray on a black background.  It just seems to glow.  3 yards.   It was calling my name--take me home, take me home.  I tried, I couldn't resist. 

Ok, now this wasn't on the $2.99 table, but it was 25% off.  It looked more purple under their lights.  I was thinking pinwheel quilt again, but it really was the butterflies that cinched it.  I love butterflies! I was speculating about adding borders.  :)  So I had to buy 3 yards of this.  If it doesn't make it to the border, I really do like it and will just love looking at it until something else comes up to use it.

I have been saving the patterns for the embroidered baby quilt blocks over at Cori Blunt's blog Creativity Amongst Chaos.  There is a new block every week.  I wanted something to make the background squares for a girl baby.  I just bought a yard of this, but it was 25% OFF.

It has little pink flowers that I hope will work with the embroidery designs.    I still blame the weather.  My defenses were down after days of gray, cloudy, cold and wet weather.  I needed a little sunshine--it came in a fabric purchase.  Oh, I feel so much better!

I finished up my other shopping and layed in supplies for another week.  As I was heading home, the clouds started to break up.

It's hard to see, but in the middle there is light and a dab of blue sky peeking out.  Today is a gorgeous day.  We are playing catch up.  The weather forecast calls for warm temperatures the next few days.  The grass is popping up as we speak.  The calves are all sprawled out enjoying the sun.  I'm enjoying it too. Hugs..........

Happy Birthday, Razzy!

I want to wish Razzy a very Special Happy Birthday on Sunday!!  She is celebrating by having a giveaway on her blog Razzy's Special Place.  She is giving away such lovely prizes--I want to win, so I am posting it on my blog.  I love butterflies!!

Roseanne is a very special friend of mine.  She encouraged me to blog and sent me a gift for becoming a follower of hers.  Thank you Razzy for your encouragement and thoughtfulness.  I hope you have an awesome birthday.  AND since you already have my address, please send me the prize.  lol

Hugs.................

Yummy!

Michelle came home after work yesterday afternoon and brought ice cream cake.  Isn't it pretty? DH cooked steak and potatoes for supper.  What a lovely celebration.  I also got some wonderful warm vanilla body lotion and lovely cards from both daughters.  Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post.  I hope you all had a lovely day.  I know that this isn't a happy day for everyone and I remember those in my prayers.

I finished up my Snowbound block.  The new one is out, so I better get organized to prep the next one.  I hate getting behind.

It is raining again.  There is 100% chance today for rain and it has been-raining that is- all day so far.   Rain is predicted for the next 3 days.  It wouldn't be so bad if the temperature would be a tad warmer, but at least it isn't snow.  Wet and cold makes for sick babies.  We have done extra bedding and the smarter ones find shelter in the barns.

You can see some peeping out the door.  We try to keep everyone as dry and comfortable as possible.

These don't seem to be suffering too much yet. 

The wind is blowing and our furnace has kicked on and off today.  Jen in FL called for a recipe and of course, it is a gorgeous day there.  She has Monday's off and is doing errands.  I told her to enjoy the day for me too.

 Michelle headed back today.  She works 4-10 pm.   It is Nurses Appreciation Week.  They are having activies every day at the Living Center.  Today is "hat day".  I dug in the closet and found a skunk hat, one of my SIL gave to DH for a joke at Christmas a few years ago.  Michelle should have the most original hat--if she'll wear it.  The hat makes a noise and moves its tail when you push a button.

We will soon be heading back outside to see how everyone is coping.   Hugs.................

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone.  Here is a picture of my wonderful Mom as a high school senior.

She was a young widow with 2 children when she married my Dad.  She had always been a city girl and married a farmer.  I am the oldest of their 3 children.  My mom was a wonderful example of strength and love.  I get my faith from her and her ability to go with the flow.  "This too shall pass" she often told me.  The only thing I really saw her get upset about was storms of the natural kind.  I hated going to the cave--damp and sometimes salamanders.  ick

Her sweet smile never changed.  This is a picture of her at her 80th birthday party.  She had alot of health problems in her later years, but it was her goal to live to be 80.  She was healthy and having a good day for her party.  I'm thankful for all she taught me--to love, to believe, to cook, to sew, to garden and so many more things.  She was a wonderful Mom and I miss her, but she still is with me in so many ways.

I was married for 9 years before God blessed us with the miracle of children.  This is one of my few and favorite pictures of my girls and I.  I took alot of pictures of them, but I'm not in very many of them.

I'm so thankful everyday for being a mom.  My daughters are the best things in my life.  When all 4 of us are together it's magic.  I am so proud of them and what wonderful young women they have become.

 DD1, Michelle has to work today from 6-2 and then will be coming home for an overnight.  I received a lovely card from DD2, Jennifer and I know she will be calling me later today.  I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day with your family.   Hugs........... 

Snow in May

The huge "goose feather" flakes started this morning about 7:30 am.  Snow in May isn't really that unusual in SD, but it is a pain when it comes.  I know I'm whining again.  I just want sunshine for my baby calves.

It snowed for about an hour and then turned to rain.  It had warmed up to 35, but with the wind gusting to 44 miles an hour it felt much colder.  I checked the rain gauge at noon and we had gotten .60.   The grass and trees are really greening up.  The rain is great for that!  I just want 65 or 70 degree warmth with the rain.  I'm not fussy or anything!

DD1 came home Tuesday night after her last test.  She is done with this school year.   She has one more year of nursing school and will graduate next May.  DD1 has a degree in Health and Wellness.  She moved to FL and managed a fitness center for 5 years.  When the economy started affecting her job, she decided it was time to return to school.  It's nice to have her closer to home ( only 75 miles away). She will work at the Golden Living Center full time this summer.  Hopefully, she can come home more often for visits.   It has been challenging for her to have any time off working and going to school.  She will make a wonderful, caring nurse.  We love having her home.  She plans on coming back for Mother's Day. 

Only 3 more weeks and DD2 will be home for our nephew's wedding Memorial week-end.  We haven't seen her since Christmas, so we are all more than ready for another visit.  She bought her house in Pensacola 3 years ago.  It is a nice little 3 bedroom home.   We haven't been to P'cola for 2 years now.  It's hard to get someone to watch the ranch while we are gone.

I finished my "love" block for the Gifts of Grace BOM.  The pattern called for yellow hearts too, but I opted for different pinks.  I like it!

I missed our church's Ladies Night Salad Supper tonight.  It started out years ago as a Mother/Daughter night in our small church.  It has progressed to a larger all community involvement.  We invite all the women of the community and have a potluck salad supper in the town auditorium.  The theme this year is "God is Love".  BFF Peg called me this morning to see if I was coming in to town.  Part way through the conversation, DH beeped in---the north cows were coming out the gate he left open.  We were running a little later with chores, because we were waiting for the rain to let up.  These girls didn't appreciate having a later breakfast.  They returned easily to where they belonged with some "encouragement".  With the wet weather and extra work, I just couldn't get away tonight and leave DH to do it all alone.

Everyone is dried off and out of the wind.  Looks like we might have some sunshine tomorrow and then rain the next 3 days.   We will regroup tomorrow.   Hugs............. 

The Chosen Winner is

Thanks to everyone that entered the May Day book giveaway.  I enjoyed all the posts and plan to visit some new blogs.  The winner of A Baker's Dozen book is Barbieann!   It's kind of funny, because when I clicked over to her blog she had posted her Jelly Roll Block.  And I am going to post mine today too.

I made time yesterday to get it sewn up.  I had to do some ripping right away.  I've never sewn the corner to corner technique used to make the angles.  I was off the first 2 times I tried, but the next 2 were better.  I needed to watch carefully and make the angles correctly and then sew them in the right places.  For an easy block I kind of had a struggle,  I must be out of practice.  I also did the applique sewing for the Gifts of Grace "love" block and the Snowbound block.  I'm trying to get all my April blocks prepped and started.  I can't believe it's May!  I no longer have a long evening, like I did in the winter.  Supper is more like 8 or 9 o'clock.

I have started on my embroidery swap quilt.  I'm kind of nervous.  I'm just going to make something I like and hope she does too.  I want to get it done and in the mail next week.  We'll see how that plan goes.

DD1 had her big "final test" today.  She came home yesterday, because her laptop quit on her.  We didn't get to see much of her.  She was sequestered in the bedroom with our computer and her books studying.   She called this afternoon and said she "passed".  She has one more test and then no school until fall.  We are looking forward to having her home for a few days before she begins working full-time this summer.

We moved some of our cattle to a different pasture today and vaccinated next year's heifers.  My BIL, Ron and his son, John came to help.   It was good to see them and their help is always appreciated so much.

Catch you later............Hugs, Janet

Giveaway deadline

I should have set a deadline for the giveaway.  You must comment by 12:00 noon your time today to be in the drawing.  I will post the winner later today.  This has been so much fun meeting some new bloggers and hearing from my regulars. Later.................