Retreat Fun

I really enjoyed the Faulkton Fall Retreat. It was held at their community center. The lighting and space was wonderful.

There were cutting stations and ironing stations too.

The food was amazing!

Friday evening the Red Hot Quilters from Valentine, Nebraska did a trunk show for us.

I worked on this fall table runner by Cotton Way.


I didn't stay overnight in Faulkton, but drove back and forth. DH is working down at the "cousins", so I took care of morning chores and pasture checks. The retreat was a nice break from every day life. It was fun to meet some new quilters, spend time with old friends and learn some new things.

I'm not liking the new blogger formatt. Why do they have to change things?!

The Frost is on the Pumpkin

The nip was in the air this morning as the sun came up.  The thermometer read 28 degrees F.  Our county wasn't on the map for frost last night, but Mother Nature didn't ask the weather man.  I took the chance and didn't cover any of the garden.  I picked all the red tomatoes yesterday, so we have quite a few to eat. 

The grass was all white and the windshields were frosted over too.   I took DH to the neighbors.  He caught a ride to Faulkton with their high school student.  Our tractor was in the shop for 3 weeks.  It is now fixed, so DH is driving it home. 

I'm headed to Faulkton later today for fall quilt retreat.  I need to get organized, but first DH has a list of "help me" items to do.  He will head south to the "cousins" to help them chop their silage after lunch.  The retreat starts at 3:00 pm, but I'm not sure when I'll get there.    I won't stay overnight for the retreat, but will come home.  I have morning chores to do, but then I can spend the day at the retreat.  They are having a supper and trunk show tomorrow night.  Two ladies from our quilt group are going too.  I'm looking forward to some concentrated quilting time and visiting.  

Last Week's Pictures

I downloaded these pictures last week with intentions of posting.  Where does the time go?  I sure say that a lot!  lol 

Here is a picture of the plants I planted in June on the west side of the house.  I forget what the center plant is called, but they look like brown-eyed susans.  I love these Lamb's Ears. 

The leaves are so soft and pretty.  They are easy keepers too.  I didn't get many flowers planted this year, so I hope these new perennials will come back next year too.  DH planted sweet corn in my flower patch in the garden this year (which was mostly eaten by the raccoons).  Every year I think I will have more time to garden, but so far not. 

We did get the boat in the water over Labor Day week-end.  Michelle had Sunday and Monday off, so we enjoyed time with her.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day and  75 degrees out.

We only caught two bass that went back in the water, because of fishing regulations concerning size requirements.  We even stayed overnight in a motel!!   The neighbors were nice enough to come feed Baby for us.  It was a well needed break for us both. 

The silage pile is completed and covered.   DH will need to spend a week at the cousins when their corn is ready.  We have been hauling bales that are already done.  As long as it doesn't freeze we will continue to "make hay while the sunshines".   It takes a lot of bales to feed the cows all winter long.

I'm looking forward to the next few days.  Our quilting group starts meeting again after the summer off.   The first night will be tomorrow night.  I've missed those gals and it will be fun to see them.  I also need the motivation I get from that time together.  Then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday the Quilter's Corner will be having their Fall Retreat.   I plan to make one class project and use the rest of time sewing on some other things.  I should be back in quilting mode by next week--and maybe DH will be gone to the cousins and I can play.  I spent some time this afternoon sorting and organizing.  I hope the film crew for Hoarders doesn't show up here some day. 

Moda Country Fair

Meet you at the Fair this week.

Time for harvest

The silage cutter is starting on the corn today.  This end of the field is still pretty green, but the other end has already gotten pretty dry. 

We cut the oats for silage this year instead of combining or baling it.  DH is trying something new.  So the pile already has a good start.  DH drives the tractor with the dozer back and forth to pack the chopped up corn and stalks down into a compact pile of feed. 

 

The garden is producing!  I had men for dinner, so I picked a box of vegetables.  I'm so glad my tomatoes are starting to ripen finally.  The green peppers are small, but plentiful.  I hope the freeze holds off, so I can get some more tomatoes.  There have been years when it froze Labor Day week-end. 

Look who wants breakfast.  DH has renamed "Baby".  She is affectionately called "The Beast".   He feels sorry for her being in her pen by herself, so now she has "free range" of the place.  I really don't like it.  After DH saw me running for the house from her with an empty bottle, he christened her --The Beast.   I told DH--"next thing you know, she will be on the deck looking in the patio doors".  I sure hope not!!  lol

RIP Rocco

Garden or Jungle

It's hard to believe that it is August and it is still this green.  Usually by this time things are starting to dry out and burn up with the summer heat and no rain.  This has been a "different" year as it rained in July.  Rain water is like a magic ingredient.  Everything has grown so much!  I got behind in "nipping" back the tomato plants and they are huge.  One night a high wind tipped them all over (cage and all). There are not a lot of tomatoes on them either.  I have heard of other people having that result this year too.

On Sunday I posted a blossom from the one volunteer pumpkin plant that came up this year.  I had lots of pumpkins last year.  I still have frozen pumpkin in the freezer so I didn't plant any this year.  One plant came up and I left it to grow.  It has gone crazy--taking over the whole garden with huge leaves and lots of blossoms.   I'm not sure if we will have many pumpkins grow to maturity before it freezes, but I'm giving it free reign to do it's best.

I only planted two pepper plants this year.  They are the biggest plants I've ever had, but I'm still waiting for the peppers to grow.  Other years I've had small plants loaded with lots of large peppers.  It is just a different year.

I planted four hills of cucumbers, because we had plenty of relish and pickles left.  They have really produced vines.  The cucumbers are coming now tho and I will need to share with the neighbors.   I'm glad now that I really didn't plant a lot of garden.  I just haven't had time to tend it or harvest it.  Cucumbers that taste like a cucumber are such a treat! 

Thank you to all of you who have expressed your concern and prayers for Rocco.  It has helped me a lot too.  I think I just needed to share my burden with all of you.   I was pleased to see Rocco laying on his back sleeping.   He hasn't slept like this since he started having symptoms.  I think this is a sign that he is feeling less dizzy.  He is walking some better, but time hopefully will be the needed healer.  Michelle was home for a couple days and he enjoyed that.   He spends a lot of time sleeping.  He's eating and drinking regularly, so that is probably a good sign.  

No sewing done yet.  I spent some time organizing yesterday afternoon--maybe that will help get me motivated.  lol