What to do next?

We had a wonderful Christmas--lots of family, food and fun.   I didn't take any pictures.  I borrowed one Jen took, so I wasn't totally photoless--and it looks fuzzy.  I'm exhausted.   Lots of late nights just hanging out as a family again.  The girls are back to their jobs and homes.  DH and I spent yesterday recuperating.  lol  Today we made a business trip and DH bought a snowblower for the tractor.  We had snow last week and are expecting more tomorrow.   The snowblower will make it easier to get around the hay yard and clean the calves' yards.  It will also help keep the road to the highway clear.   I really hope we don't get that much, but now DH is prepared for the worst.

Now that the girls are gone I can get all my sewing stuff out again.   So many quilts, so little time.  I should have January and February to sew.  I really need to get projects out and get organized to finish some things.  Of course, all the new BOMs will start in January and I haven't finished any BOMs from last year.  I need to catch up on Raggedy Ann & Friends.  What to do next?  I need to do borders for one Pinwheel quilt, sash the Jelly Roll blocks, make 3 more Pinwheel blocks in the purple/green colors and practice my Free Motion Quilting.  There are some Snowbound blocks to make and quite a few blocks to embroider for a variety of projects.  Oh my, but I can't resist starting the new BOMs.

The first BOM is from a German blog, All About My Quiltshop Kaleidoskop.  There is a translator gadget on the right side.    

I love hearts.  This is such a pretty design.  I'm going to do this BOM or at least save the patterns.

Little Miss Shabby is starting a BOM in January called Birdie Stitches.  Of course I can't resist this BOM either.  What's a blogging quilter to do?  So many cute BOMs and so little time.  : (

There is going to be a Blog Hop with Valentine Designs.  I bet there will be some give aways too.  It's good to get started thinking about Valentine themed projects now.  You know how I love those blog hops.  : ) I put the button on the right side.

Do you struggle with all the wonderful things there are to do online?   I'm not going to let it overwhelm me.  I'm just going to enjoy working on whatever I am working on whenever I have time to work on it.  This is suppose to be fun--right? 

Rollin on the River

We took the boat motor for a tune-up last week.  We took time yesterday to go and get it.  Michelle worked 6-2 at the living center, so she cruised with us.  BF Jared joined us later too.  This is the capitol building as seen from the Missouri River.  It was a gorgeous day on the water.  It has been a hot week of 100 degree days, but Sunday was 82 F with a light breeze.  The motor purrs now. 

The bridge divides Pierre and Ft. Pierre--also Central time from Mountain time. 

 

Rocco enjoys boating too.   We left the boat in Pierre.  Of course, now that it runs so well, DH wants to sell it.  There are a couple people interested in it.  DH already has another boat picked out.  We'll see it on Wednesday.  "Boys and their toys"--always need to be bigger and better.  We have had the pontoon 22 years.  It will be kind of hard to let it go--lots of memories.  :) 

The kittens are growing.  Their eyes are still closed.  Peanut allowed herself a trip outside the last 2 mornings for about 4 hours each time.  She must wear a watch.  lol  The babies just slept while she was gone.  I was feeling rather sorry for her.  She has always been such a hunter and loves to be outside.  It was strange to see her stay in the house doing nothing.  Puss has become more actively affectionate and sleeping on our bed at night with us again.   I'm sure she's wondering how long these new cats are staying. 

Rocco was such an active part of taking care of the 5 orphans last fall.  He doesn't have much to do with the new babies, but still loves his Peanut and misses her playtime.  I'm glad he has the kids outside to entertain him.  I'm glad you enjoyed the video.  It is like a circus watching them play.  I wish I could get a video of them chasing Rocco and him chasing them, but they all move too fast.  We laugh so hard.

I'm still working on my pinwheel sashings here and there.  I've just about got a flimsy!  I finished another block for the Bouquet BOM.

I just have the finishing blocks to do.  I'm so behind with every BOM.  I don't know what made me think I could do them all.  There is just so much talent and generous sharing in Blogland.  I really don't know how Jenny can come up with so many new designs and stitch them all AND move in the process.  She must be a wonderwoman.   I know she's a wonderful woman--always sharing her creativity.

I know I spend way too much time on the computer!  I also know I will have more time this winter to stitch.  It amazes me how quickly some people accomplish things tho.  I'm not sure I've had a finish this year--let alone two or three a month.  I'm too busy seeing what every one else is doing maybe.  BUT I love to see what you are doing too. 

Gotta run.  Looks like I have to run to town for some parts after lunch.  Have a great week.  Talk to you later.  Hugs..............

New BOM/Wind Power

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Raggedy Ann.  Kaaren with The Painted Quilt blog is once again sharing her generous spirit and creative talent with fellow bloggers.  Starting 7/21 she will be hosting a free 10 month BOM called Raggedy & Friends.  It will be stitching and patchwork.  She has already finished her quilt.  It is so cute.  I'm looking forward to a new series of stitcheries of one of my favorite dolls.

When we drove to the river last week-end, we passed through the Wind Power Farm on the way.  Do you have wind towers in your area?  I always feel as though I am passing through alien territory with the huge towers on either side of the highway.

 

There are 27 towers in this project.  I'm not sure where the power goes, but I know we have plenty of wind to make them work.   There is another project to the east of these about 15 miles with 12 towers.  We can see the lights blinking on them at night from our house over 25 miles away.

They don't seem to bother the cows grazing here. 

Were you ever pregnant in July?  Do you remember how hot and uncomfortable you were?   Well, Peanut can sympathize!  She just can't get comfortable at all, but when she does she is totally out of it.

We aren't too happy about the pending additions, but it is our own fault.  I had good intentions of a vet visit, but it didn't get taken care of.   We gave away 4 kittens last year, so I'm hoping we can find good homes again.  I'm also hoping there aren't very many.   I'll keep you posted. 

No sewing this week.  DH is still under the weather.  He has antibiotics now, so we are hoping for a faster recovery.  Thank you for all your get well wishes for him.  It has rained off and on all week, so he really hasn't missed out on too much work.  He has been sleeping alot.  Michelle is home for a few days, so  we are enjoying that.  Hugs to all............................

Vacation

I "feel" like I'm on vacation.  DH is helping at the neighbors for a couple days and I am just enjoying it so much.  :)  I'm feeling a little guilty, but it's so nice to have the whole day to just putter about doing whatever I feel like.   Rocco and I slept in this morning.  I know it's a waste of a beautiful cool morning, but it's been so long since I slept til 9:00 am.  Rocco enjoyed it too.   I spent a half hour on the deck drinking coffee and telling God what a beautiful day He had made.  Blackie and I watched her babies.  The kittens were in high spirits as they ran, chased and fought with each other.

Rocco wanted to join in the fun, too.  The kittens aren't sure what to think of him yet.  He loves it when they jump at him.  He takes off running in circles around the yard and wants them to chase him.

The black one is such a scamp.  He was sneaking up on me too.  He's all black, but has about 6 white hairs in the middle of his head between his ears.

The striped one has such pretty markings.  The "bride" is hoping to take him home with her.

I did catch up on laundry yesterday and do some sewing.  This is the last of the Blush pinwheels, so now I can start sashing.  I've been looking at the quilts in the flickr group for finishing ideas.  There are lots of pretty quilts.

I finished the stitching on the Gifts of Grace block "Patience".  I've really been enjoying these blocks.

Oh, dear I have so much that I should be doing, but oh what fun to just goof off.   Enjoy your day--I'm going to.

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

Good Rainy Weekend

It was a cool rainy week-end.  It's not often that we wear jackets to work cattle in June.  Usually by now the days are in the 80's and it's dry and dusty.  We worked the cattle starting early on Saturday morning.  This was the day all our helpers could come and rain was in the forecast for the next 3 days.  We have the pairs split into two bunches.  We brought the first bunch in and worked them and moved them back to their pasture.  The crew stopped  to eat a roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy dinner (lunch to some of you).  After dinner we got the next bunch in and finished up about 4:30 pm.  It was cool out, but hard work in the extra wet and mud.

The llamas went first.  They got poured for flies and mosquitoes.  We put them in the pasture with the cows that are still expecting a calf and the ones that lost their baby or aren't having a calf this year.

The crew sorted the calves from the cows. The calves go through a small chute and the cows will go through the big chute. Michelle was home to help.  She needed to borrow her dad's slicker pants.  The orange plastic panel is so the calves can't see out and will go down the small passage way to the chute.

Michelle and nephew, the groom have to persuade the calves to take their turn.  It involves some pushing and wrestling and getting kicked.

DH, BIL and nephew catch the calf in the chute and give it shots and pour it.

Calves are done, now for the cows.  As you can see all the work DH did last week on the pens didn't do much good after the 1.5 inches of rain we got on Friday night.  It did stop raining about 8:00 am Saturday morning, so the crew didn't have to work in the rain, just the mud.

The cows take their turn.  Only the first cow is caught in the chute and they can do 8 to 10 at a time.
Then we let the cows and calves mix again and move them back to pasture.  It's nice to have this big job done.  Everything went pretty well and no one or animal got injured.  I always pray for safety for them all.  And yes I took my turn after dinner helping too. 

It was nice to relax on Sunday.  Michelle stayed for dinner and we took naps afterward.  It rained again.

I got my Jelly Roll Sampler block stitched up, so I don't get behind.  I'm still loving the "Blush" fabric.
I've been printing off the directions for all my BOM's.  I'm missing those long winter evenings that I could do all that hand work.  I spend more time mowing now.

I found out today that my mini swap quilt will be late.  My partner has been ill.  I hope she will take her time getting better and not worry about finishing the quilt up.  I'll still be here when she's done.  I haven't received any of my prizes in the mail yet.  I can still anticipate on the drive to the mailbox for a surprise.  

Hugs to you all.........

Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence

It's been a busy week here. I'm sorry I haven't been good about answering comments.  Just not enough time.  I love to hear from you.  Sometimes when I comment I don't need a response, I just want to comment.  Is that how you feel?   What is good blog etiquette about replying to comments?  Maybe some of you that have been at this a long time will comment and let me know.  I would never want someone to feel bad that I didn't respond.  I love my blog friends and checking on your blogs makes me feel like we talked to each other that day.

 We have been fixing fence so we can move all the cattle to summer pastures.  Fixing fence is an everyday project.  We fix the fences of the pastures the cows are already in and fix the ones that had winter snow damage.  You'll have to click to enlarge the photo and see all the steel fence posts leaning over.  The cows are reaching as far as they can to get to that luscious tall grass on the other side.  The barb wire doesn't really phase them either.  In this case the grass is really better over there--taller anyway.

We use steel posts mostly, because the staples that are nailed into wooden posts come out with enough pressure.  This post needs to have the wire reattached.  We need to work the cattle by giving them shots and pouring them for worms and flies.  Then they will all be moved to the larger pastures of tall grass for the summer.  We worked some of cows and calves yesterday.  We were a man short so I had to work and didn't get to take any pictures.  The heifers had been in the lot since December.  We branded them.  They will be our new cows for next year.  We don't brand the calves.  They have ear tags only.   I'm sure the heifers  think they are in grassy heaven now.  It was good to see them get out and have some space.  This next week we will do the big herd and I will try to take some pictures for you.

The Llamas went to grass on Wednesday.  We are still deciding on names.  Big decisions!  lol  They seem much happier out in the pasture.  They keep to themselves.  I'm not sure the cows know what to think of them.

I did get my Jelly Roll Sampler block done this week.  I have a really hard time making flying geese with this method.   I struggle with the sewing corner to corner concept.  I usually use Eleanor Burns' method of making flying geese.  I make them a little bigger and trim.  I think I need to call and make an eye appointment--for real.  I'm not seeing as well as I should.  The block did turn out pretty well.  Don't look at the flying geese too close, tho.

I added a couple of  "Bouquet" blocks to flickr that I finished stitching and I finished the Under The Sea block for May.

These little characters have been fun to stitch and I like the coloring aspect that adds to them.

I won at Spring Fever BINGO!!  My first win ever at Bingo!  It's been fun to check the sight and see what words were picked for the day.  I've gotten 8 words so far.  I won a box of Petit Fours in Thursday's drawing.  I see it has a pincushion pattern included, so that might be fun to make.  What do you put inside your pincushions?   I've never made one, but want to.

I'm trying to catch up on cleaning and laundry today.  I'm kind of stiff and sore from yesterday. I think a nap might be in order today too--just for my mental health.  I still haven't planted my garden spot.  There just hasn't been time.  Gotta run.  Talk to you later............ Hugs!

A little gift and a thank you

  I didn't even know I was entering a giveaway when I became a follower of Razzy's Special Place.  Razzy emailed me for my address and let me know I was a "winner".  Last Saturday when I went to get the mail there was a surprise for me.  It was wrapped and had a sweet little card too.

Thank you Razzy for the cute little card wallet you made.  I love the colors.  I know it will be very handy for me to use.  This is my first blog prize.

I want to thank Razzy and Eli for encouraging me to start blogging.  I had been alittle afraid to jump right in.   I am like that--always letting my fears hold me back.  I am working to overcome that in my quilting.  Encouragement from others really helps.  I'm not sure why I let my fears spoil my fun, but I am learning sometimes its better to not play it safe all the time.  When it comes to quilting and blogging I am going to be more adventurous from now on.

I finished up my Gifts of Grace block last night.  It is a free BOM from Val.  These are so fun to do.  My first blocks with beading.

I'm looking forward to the end of the month.  All new block patterns to look forward to.  It is a beautiful sunny day here today.  I need to check on the cows and enjoy some sunshine.  Until later--Hugs to you.