It's a Flimsie!

I started June Bug back in mid-July of last year.   I just needed to make the petals that went on the borders.   After fusing them, I did the blanket stitch around them on the machine.  This was a fun quilt to make.  I love the bright colors.

Next comes my not so favorite part of quilting--making backing and sandwiching the quilt.   I spent most of the afternoon today piecing the backing.  I'm still working on it.  When I do things I don't like I have a tendency to procrastinate take my time.  

 I took little breaks.  I watched 3 videos from Leah Day's Free Motion Quilt Project.  I watched 1, 2 & 3.  I was really impressed with them.  I think they will really help me with my stipple quilting.  

 I listened to Pat Sloan's podcast with  American Patchwork & Quilting editors Jennifer Kelter, Jill Mead, and Elizabeth Beese while I was making the backing too.  Do you listen to her podcasts?  They are pretty interesting. 

I'm using some of the leftover jelly roll strips to make a scrappy back.   I'm kind of excited to get this quilt sandwiched.  I want to hand quilt it with perle cotton and big stitches.  I've never done that before.  I'll probably have to procrastinate take my time before I start. 

Look at all these yummy colors!!  If you have any tips for me, I'd appreciate hearing them.  I'm sure I'll have to do some googling for "big stitch quilting" or searching on youtube.  

They are predicting snow and wind for tomorrow. Our tax appointment is for tomorrow too.   I have lots to look forward to--lol.  I hope your outlook for tomorrow is brighter than mine.

I have linked up to Sarah's Friday Whoop Whoop.  I'm so happy to get this quilt to the flimsie stage.  I also get an extra chance to win a new book--check it out!

Summer Days

 Peanut has been the only one working on the quilt this week.  What is it about fabric that seems to draw cats?  Peanut spends the hot days inside sleeping and then prowls the cool nights.  

The wild sweet clover is tall and thick this year.  The Rhino can hardly travel through it.  The sweet clover comes in two colors white and yellow.  I love the sweet smell.  We cut this and bale it for the cattle.

Actually the sweet clover is a weed.  Some people like it and some people don't.  It has a tendency to take over.  The bees love it.  Beekeepers ask landowners permission to set their hives close by.  They pay the owners in honey.  You have to be careful feeding it to cattle, because it can cause sickness if not cured and baled correctly. 

Purple prairie clover is a natural prairie grass.  It is not an aggressive grass.  It is high in protein.   Bees love it too.  It isn't as common to find it.  The Indians brewed tea from the leaves and also applied soaked leaves to wounds for healing.  It is sometimes called the thimble weed.

We took Baby to the south pasture close to home with the last of the cow/calf pairs.  These cows are old and will be sold this fall.  We have a feeder with pellets for the calves, so they get extra feeding.  The old cows don't have as much milk.  It was fun to see Baby run and jump with the other calves.  She seemed to settle in with everyone.  Guess who came home that night?  I had just mixed up the bottle of milk replacer and was headed out to see if she would come to my call.  Surprise, surprise--there was Baby.   She came home for supper.  lol  We have her back by the barn again and she can come and go if she wants.  She seems happy to be home. 

I'm off to town for parts, twine and groceries.

Staying Cool

I've been staying cool in the house in the afternoons.  I enjoyed blind stitching around all the petals as I listened to my audio book.  I used the thread I ordered from Connecting Threads.  It sews and looks very nice.

This afternoon I layed out the blocks.  I kept moving them around and around until I finally decided to just sew them together.  It's been so much fun to be making a quilt again.  I can tell the difference in my mood when I sew.  You would think DH would want me to sew all the time.  lol

 

  

DH has been "making hay while the sunshines".  The sun has definitely been shining.  It has been hot, hot, hot.  Tomorrow is suppose to be better.  It really cooled off tonight--must have been at least 75.  It's lovely to have an air-conditioned cab on your tractor, but break downs are not so much fun.  I nearly melted this morning helping DH fix.  I hate "fixing", especially with such a cheerful fixer.  I really needed to sew this afternoon.  lol

 

  

This is what we call a hay binder.  DH uses it to cut the alfalfa and  the tall grass down.  It puts it into windrows.  He usually lets the hay lay for 3 days to "cure" and then bales it into large bales.  The grass is extra tall this year because of all the rain we've had.  The high humidity has made it harder to get everything to work like it usually does.  The grass is tall and thick and wetter than ever.  

The alfalfa is in full bloom.  It is very pretty and smells sweet.  Cows love alfalfa bales in the winter.  We have two fields of alfalfa.   DH has cut and baled them once.  If we get some rain, it will grow up again and we can cut and bale a "second cutting".

 

The alfalfa has spread to the road ditches too. DH will cut and bale there too. 

 

The canary grass is shoulder high this year.   It grows wild with other native prairie grasses.  It's extra tall this year, so it's been a challenge to work with.  DH will spend tomorrow baling.  I have an appointment for a hair cut.  I need to stock up on groceries too.  We are going to be chopping the oats for silage next week.  I'll be taking lunches to the field for the crew.  The wheat is starting to ripen, so combining will be next.  It will be a busy time ahead.

 

 

Happy Again

 I worked on the June Bug Quilt with the Happy jelly roll.   I forgot how "linty" you get when sewing with jelly roll strips.   lol  I completed the 21 blocks that are made from 4 strips.  I have the  21 petal blocks all fused.  I just need to do a blind stitch around them.  It was so hot and humid out today we spent the afternoon inside.  I plugged in a small fan in the sewing room to circulate the air. 

I thought you might like to see how much Baby has grown.  She gets a bottle every morning and evening.   We  feed her pellets too.   She's three and  a half months old now.   We feel bad for her being all alone by the barn, so next week we are going to take her down to the south pasture.  There is a calf feeder there with pellets and DH thinks she will come when I call, so we can give her the bottles of milk. 

It is suppose to be very hot this week-end.  I'm not sure if we'll be boating or staying inside.  I'd be satisfied to stay home and sew in the AC.  Have a wonderful week-end!