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.................