A New Shirt

The little scarecrow has a new shirt and I think it looks pretty good.   Down on the Farm is officially done!  We are hoping to  see the new baby, John over the Thanksgiving holiday.   Michelle has to work Thanksgiving Day, so we are still figuring out our plans.

I decided I wanted to make a zipper bag.  I used LuAnn's tutorial.  I have a zipper phobia.  I haven't put a zipper in anything since I was in high school.  It was an awful experience and I've just always avoided making anything with a zipper.  I've been saving tutorials for bags.  There are so many cool patterns on blogs now.  When I was at the Quilter's Corner last time I looked at their bag patterns and of course they had the turny thing full of Terry Atkinson's Snip, Zip and Go zippers.   I decided to buy a couple, so I bought a orange one and a black one, because Halloween was coming.

Here it is--with it's orange zipper.  I probably would rather have had a pink one, but this one will be for me.  It is my "over coming zipper phobia" bag.  I used two fat quarters and will have two bags.  The inner lining is pink--no picture.   Since I used fat quarters I didn't have fabric for a handle, so I have a handle made from different fabric.  I just used some yellow ribbon for a zipper pull.  

I used the left over batting from around the edges of the  baby quilt and quilted a grid pattern with the #4 stitch on my Bernina  2.0 length.  I like that little squiggle stitch.  I can see some more of these in my future.  I think my girls would like them.  I'll have to wait until I go somewhere for more zippers.  

The weather has gotten colder here and there is a touch of snow in the air.  They came to combine our sunflowers today.  I had meatloaf and baked potatoes in the oven for dinner, but switched to making ham sandwiches for a field lunch.  I baked chocolate chip cookies this morning, so they got some of those too.

Rocco spent part of the morning outside in his flannel shirt.  He's warming up his feet on the heating pad, so he can go out again.

Our quilting group meets tomorrow night.  We are going to work on another "fire" quilt from donated fabric.  I hope the farm schedule allows me to go--we'll see.   

Is It Friday Already?

 Down on the Farm is completed--not quite.  I really did think I was done.

 I even made a label (blocked the last name on the photo).  Then I washed it with Color Catchers--lots of green flannel color was caught.  Oh, dear now look................  Have you ever had fabric disintegrate?

Sorry for the out of focus shot!!  This John Deere fabric just disappeared from the scarecrow's sleeve and neckline.  I know I should wash fabric before I use it--I don't, never have.  I might start.  I know I've had this material for a while--not sure how long, but evidently too long.  I'm going to do a little patching.  : ( 

I learn something new every time I make something. 

 DH has been hauling bale stacks this week.  This is the stack mover empty.  The mover tilts down and slides under the stack of bales.  Little fingers help pull the hay up on the stackmover.

 Here he is headed in with a load.

There are 20 big bales in each stack.

He is headed to the feed yard to unload.

We should have plenty of hay to feed the cows this winter.  (click to make larger for better photo).  DH is glad to get this job done.  He had been waiting a week for parts for the stack mover, so he could get started.  We also worked on water tanks and the well this week before the weather gets colder. 

We found out today that a regulator on our 1000 gallon propane tank failed and it leaked to empty.   It was an expensive failure for a $15.00 part and propane went up $.30 since our summer fill the end of August.  Rats! 

The weather has still been fairly decent out.  I don't think Soot could get any higher in that poor little volunteer tree. 

Rocco and friends have been enjoying the sunshine this week.



It's been a busy week but I've been blog hopping and trying to win the new 100 Blocks magazine from Quiltmaker.  I won a copy last year and was hoping I could again.  I really need another magazine.  : )

As soon as I get the little scarecrow patched, I'm looking forward to starting another project.  I need to do something quick and easy again, before I go back to borders on my pinwheel quilt.  I still need sashing on my Jelly Roll quilt too.  It will be fun just to work on whatever I want to.  Have a great week-end. 

John Wayne Arrived

The biggest news in the family--the baby has arrived.  John Wayne was born yesterday weighing 6 lbs 15 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.   Here he is with his proud parents Kelly and Clint (DH's nephew, who was born on his birthday).   Interestingly enough it was my sister's birthday yesterday, so it will be easy to remember this little guy's birthday.  The baby is named after his two great grandfathers.  Every one is doing great.

Here are the proud gramps and granny, DH's youngest sister.  What a wonderful day for them all.

Now to get Down on the Farm completed!! 

I added some clouds to the sky.

A few crows in the sky above the scarecrow.

I did some loop de loops in the sashing borders. 

And a lovely scroll stitch in the yellow border.  (Bernina #146  -- 3.0 length)   I still have the outer border to quilt and then I can do the binding and label.  I plan to do that today if there are not schedule changes.

Michelle and I drove to Minneapolis, MN for a wedding (6 hour drive).   We left on Friday and returned on Sunday.  The wedding was for a very good friend and high school class mate of Michelle's.  They were married at the Basilica.  It was beautiful.

It was a wonderful day for November. 

Rachel was a beautiful bride.

A mother/daughter picture at the reception.   It would have been nice to include Rachel and her Mom, but there were just too many people and not enough time.  We had a wonderful time.  The best part of the trip for me was the 12 hours in the car with Michelle.  We got caught up on all kinds of visiting.  DH stayed home with Rocco and hauled hay to the feed yard.  I think they enjoyed that much more than the wedding trip.

I'm getting caught up from being gone and hope to get the quilt finished for the new baby.  I can't wait to start the next project or go back to one of the old ones. 

The weather continues to be gorgeous here.  It was 70 degrees yesterday--unreal for November in SD.   Today is suppose to be almost as nice and then the cold front is coming.  DH will finish hauling hay today.   We still have sunflowers to combine and calves to wean.  The days just seem to fly by.

Rocco is so enjoying his time outside with his friends in the sunshine.  Every nice day is a bonus for him and us.  Have a wonderful day where ever you live.  Hugs........

Just Busy

Just checking in--it's been busy here.   I'm headed to Minneapolis to a wedding tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday night.  I'll miss you all. 

Am I Procrastinating?

I completed #3 of Raggedy & Friends and cut the blocks to start the embroidery for #4.  I didn't notice until I was done just how flowery this whole block got to be.  I still like it and I'm sure Raggedy does too.  I wanted to get this sewing done, but I also think I might be procrastinating alittle.  I need to sandwich Down on the Farm.  I laid everything out on the bed yesterday to relax the batting.   The sandwiching part of a quilt is where I really drag myself along to get started.  Once I start then I'm ok, because I need to get it out of the way.  I'll start on it next, unless I let myself get distracted again.  lol

Thank you to everyone who read my 100th post and stopped to comment.  I didn't get individual answers sent, so you get a group--Thank You!  Carol is the winner of the Blush fat quarter stack.   I love Carol's blog and never miss reading it.  She is a very creative and productive quilter.  I enjoy her old photos on Fashion Friday.  I'm old enough to be in them.  I also enjoy reading her granddaughter's blog about her Peace Corp assignment.  Carol was one of my early followers and has always encouraged me alot in my blogging.  Congratulations on your win!

It is back to nice weather again today.  Rocco is enjoying time outside with his friends.  I did too--more procrastinating.  :)  Just too nice not to spend some time outside while I still can enjoy it.    The cats love to be brushed, so I sat on the deck and they took turns.  I wish Puss liked to be brushed like they do.

I made a trip to town for supplies and parts yesterday.  I went to the clinic too.  I feel better already after the first 2 pills of the Z-pak the doctor prescribed.  I slept all night last night with the "big guns" cough syrup he gave me.  Now with a little sunshine I should be good to go sandwich that baby quilt.   If the baby isn't born this week-end on his own, he will be coming Monday or Tuesday next week. 

Have a great week-end.  Hugs  Janet

Snowin' and Blowin'

Twenty bright pillowcases were made last week at quilt group.  These pillow cases will be donated to the FCCLA's Angel Tree project.   One of our members was the Consumer Science teacher (Home Ec to  us oldies) for 35 years.  She died from cancer last year.  Her husband gifted her stash to our group to use in

community service projects.  We used her stash and some of our own to make the pillow cases.  The pattern we used was call the burrito method.  It makes a very nice pillow case with finished seams.  It is like

Robin Gallagher's method.  They were alot of fun to make.   We have also made two quilts that were given to families who had house fires.   It was so nice to see everyone and catch up on each other's projects.

Down on the Farm is a flimsy!    I need to piece the backing and start the sandwich process.    This has been a fun project.  The baby's due date is Halloween and he is still waiting.  Although I think his mom is more than ready for him to be here.

Today is post 100.  For those of you who have read all of this post, you will see that I am giving away this lovely stack of 14 fat quarters--Basic Grey's Blush.  Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win.

You can see from my header and title that today is a nasty weather day in SD.  The wind is blowing 40-60 miles per hour at times and the snow is flying.  It is a reminder for us to get prepared for the season ahead.  Thank goodness this is a little taste for a couple days and then back to more temperate stuff for a short time.

I have had the crud again.  This time a chest cold with lots of coughing.  I'm feeling better today and hope to get more done today.

Rocco hates the cold.  It has put an end to his outdoor fun.  He is cuddled up on my lap under the afghan.  He has gained alittle weight and his winter clothes from last year don't fit him.  So we'll need to do some winter sewing and shopping for him too. 

Blogger has given me fits the whole time with this post.  So I'm done.....................

Quick Visit

A big thank you to Linda for the wonderful Chocolate Chai and the new quilting book "Let's Do Lunch" by Terry Atkinson.  I won these from Linda's birthday giveaway.   I'm looking forward to making some of the bags and runners in this book.  I haven't tried the Chai yet, but anything chocolate must be wonderful! Thanks so much Linda for your friendship and your prayers.  You have been a special quilting blog friend to me.

Down on the Farm is sashed!  I have a couple borders to put on yet.  I'm still deciding colors for them and sizes.  I'm using my stash!  The baby due date is Halloween. 

I made a few scrap blocks one day last week.  I have been reading about crumbs and strips so much lately.  I decided maybe I should start learning how to do this with my leftovers.   I've been saving all these little pieces and have a couple containers.  Sometimes they are nice to use for applique, but once you have more than one container full maybe it's time to do more with them.  (I know that is a long incorrect sentence, but I blog how I talk--sorry.  :)  )  I decided I would make 6.5 inch blocks.  As you can see some of these pieces are maybe too small.   I'll have to be a little more choosy.   Pleasant Home's Jodi is going to be doing a Sew Scraps Along and some people are giving away scraps too.   I have plenty already.  It will be fun to see what Jodi is going to do.

The weather has been just awesome for October here.  Last year it was cold and we already had snow.  This year it has been sunny and temperate.  Rocco and I have been going on a daily walk.  Sometimes we walk on the gravel road and sometimes we walk on the prairie road.  We always have company--anywhere from 6 to 8 cats.  I look like the Pied Piper only with cats.  lol  Rocco and the cats take turns running on ahead and then seeing, who can be the first to get back home.  It makes me laugh.

I have quilting group tomorrow night in Highmore.  We are going to be making pillow cases.  The cases will be given to the FCCLA group as part of their Christmas Angel project.  I haven't made any pillow cases and I think this will be a fun project for all of us.   I'm  looking forward to seeing everyone.  I'm suppose to take the dessert.  I'm still deciding what that is going to be.  

 I better get back to Down on the Farm before DH needs me for something.  The corn combining was finished up yesterday.  He is stacking bales today and moving them to the hay yard tomorrow. 

This is post  99.  :)