2012 Free Motion Challenge for January

The give away is closed 1/31/2012 at 11:59 PM.

I signed up for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge at Sew Cal Gal's.  I finally took the time to attempt the leaf motif for this month.  Not the greatest sample, but it got me started!  There are some really nice samples in the flickr group.   I'm going to keep working on this and the new February tutorial will be out very soon.

My camera is taking fuzzy pictures lately.  I'm not sure if it's me or the camera.  I free motion quilted this fabric sandwich for something I'm making.  (Can't show you yet.)  I quilted around the flowers and went over the stems and leaves.  This really was good practice.  It gave me a pattern to follow and I really enjoyed it.  I didn't have to decide where to go next.

I had planned a longer post today, but DH just called with other plans for me.  I'm off to the shower.

If you read this far---

I finished reading Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick.  If you would like to read it, leave me a comment with the word book in it.  I'll be choosing someone next Wednesday, February 1st. 

Later gator!  : )

What is it about a box?

A cat just can't resist a box.

The cats loved having the dishwasher box in the kitchen, while we were waiting for a good day to do the installing.   They took turns laying on top of it.  DH loves his pets.  I'm stuck with the dishwasher box for a little longer--only now it's in the living room.  Puss was the first one in. 

Peanut was patient about waiting her turn for box fun.  I really think she is telling me "It's my turn.  Make her get out".  Puss has taken up residence.

Here she is checking to see if Puss is still in the box.  Sorry for the fuzzy picture.  :(

Puss took her time playing in the box.   Some how a mouse and a ball got inside the box for some extra excitement.  Aren't pets fun?  LOL

I spent most of yesterday morning completing the under the sink clean out.  I ended up with a garbage bag full and a box for the Thrift store.  I'm finally parting with 15 flower vases that haven't seen flowers for years and years.  I'm keeping 6 of my favorites, but they got moved to a top closet shelf--maybe when that closet gets cleaned I'll be able to part with some of them.  The glass mayonnaise jars (they don't even make those any more), plastic ketchup bottles and other assorted precious items went to the dump. 

Am I a hoarder?  I know I hoard fabric, but I don't think I'm a hoarder.  I have the genes of settlers from years past that had nothing and re-used everything.  When I watch those hoarding shows I do recognize how I associate feelings with things.  Scary, huh.  DH doesn't think there is any one else in the world who has their Mom's prom dress and wedding dress in her closet.  There has to be someone else out there that does.  How could I possibly throw those away?  I am thinking of calling the local historical society tho.  Our house seems to get smaller and smaller every year--besides I need more room for fabric in that closet.

Wordless Wednesday

Traveling and Choring

We have been doing some traveling the last few weeks.  After having not been to North Dakota for years and years, we have been there twice in a two week period.   DH has been combine shopping for sometime.  He wants to be able to combine on his own schedule and not have to wait his turn.  A combine is a big investment, but he believes it will pay for itself in time.  We made a day trip to LaMoure to Green Iron Implement.  They delivered "the machine" last week.  It has some fixing needed, but DH has until next fall to get that done.

Only a few days later the feed wagon brokedown.  They make the wagons in Jamestown, ND.  After calling all the local places, we made a road trip to Midwestern Machine for the necessary parts.  The feed wagon is vital to feeding all the cattle in the mornings and needs to be functioning every morning.  The weather has been cooperative for traveling, unlike other Januarys.

Our weather has caught cold here.  It was - 11 degrees F this morning while we were feeding.  The calves had frosty whiskers and snow on their backs.  It snowed a couple inches overnight.   The ice on the water tanks was thicker than usual.   I usually put out warm water for the cats to drink, but these guys must like it icy.

DH and I installed our first dishwasher yesterday.  Our dishwasher lasted 12 years.  I had never had a dishwasher until this last one.  I've been washing dishes for about 6 months and we decided to put in a replacement.  DH was sure he could install it instead of paying someone to.  Why don't men read instruction booklets?  Do they just make them for the wives to read?  Of course, we needed to make a trip to town for extra fittings that they didn't tell us about at the store.  So after 7 hours we have a working dishwasher and one small drip under the sink.  DH fixed the drip this morning.  I have to be honest--I hate projects like this.  I know I will appreciate the dishwasher tho when calving starts.  I can put my feet up quicker.

Do you like Swaps?

There are so many fun things happening on the quilting blogs.   Quilt Alongs, BOMs and Swaps are all starting.  Have you had good experiences with swaps?  The only swap I ever signed up for was a disappointment.  I was so pumped up and nervous for my first swap.  Would my partner like what I made?  Would I get it done in time?  Should I send extra stuff?  I made a wonderful friend, Maria.  Maria will always be special to me, because she was my first swap partner.   She was a very appreciative partner.   It was my last swap, because I never received a wall hanging from my other partner.  This was one of those swaps where everyone sent to someone different, not an exchange of items.  Perhaps something came up for that person, but letting me know would have been helpful.  Silence doesn't make things easier.

I'm always careful about signing up for things.  I want to be sure to fulfill my obligations, so I don't disappoint anyone.  This time of year I will have time to make something to swap.

It's a new year!  I'm ready to try swapping again.   How about you?  In fact, I signed up for two swaps!

If you want to join the fun, follow the badges posted on the right side of my blog to sign up!  Maybe you will even be my new partner.  Or I'll make a new friend!  I'm looking forward to a new year of blogging fun and activities.  I think this will jump-start my sewing again.

Lots of Ones and Twos

Lots of ones and twos in todays date  01/02/2012.   Happy New Year to all of you!  It's been over two weeks since I blogged and it seems like just last week.  We had a nice Christmas.  Although it didn't go as planned--never plan.  The stormy weather in the south caused cancelled and delayed flights.  Jen was unable to get home for the holidays.  Thankfully she had friends to spend it with and was not alone.  

It isn't often that DH tells me to take a picture, but he was very impressed with the dessert table this year.  Every one was so full of turkey and dressing there was alot left over.

Cherry Cheesecake

Here are the traditional Kolaches I only make at Christmas.  They have cherry and prune filling.  The cherry always disappear first.  I should make them more often.

Pumpkin and pecan pie are favorite holiday treats.

Lots of fun, food and family--another Christmas in the book of Time. 

It's hard to tell it is January here.  We are having very, very unseasonal weather for South Dakota.  We haven't had any snow since the first 6 inches we had.   Last Thursday it rained.  We have been enjoying the 30 to 50 degree days--and so have the cattle!  It makes doing chores so much quicker and easier.

The bulls wait for their breakfast of ground hay and silage.

The cows are fed in the pasture south of the place.  They have the run of the corn stalks and wheat stubble too.  It looks like fall.

The calves are no longer babies.  They have grown well on their diet of corn, silage and ground hay. 

I have been really lazy lately.  I have been reading books on my new Kindle Fire and crocheting potholders.   The quilt bug has not bit me yet.  Our quilting group meets next week.  I think that is what I need to get started again.  The pheasant and deer hunting seasons are over now, so I can spread everything out in the bedroom again.

Merry Christmas!

I have a feeling I better wish you all a Merry Christmas now. It's going to be a busy holiday. I've already attended a Christmas party at my baby sister's home on Saturday night. We are planning on having an early Christmas Eve at DH's baby sister's home on Friday night. There will be lots of coming and going every day this week. DH has a dental appt on Tuesday and DD 2 flies in on Thursday. I'm trying to get some what organized today, because I am at home.

I love how Puss enjoys the tree.  When I first set it up, she wanted to attack it.  After a few hand clapping sessions, she has taken to just laying under it.  Every night about 8:00 she takes her position. She just sits under it and seems to enjoy the lights. 

Peanut had to play with a few of the bottom ornaments the first time she saw the new addition to the living room.  Since then she has pretty much ignored it all together.  I don't think there will be any Christmas tree excitement this year.

You may notice there are no gifts under the tree.  We celebrate the One Gift, Jesus with time together eating, playing games and watching movies.  Our family has two birthdays in December, one in January and one in February.  A few years ago we started doing our gifting at birthdays.   Of course, there are stockings to fill!! 

Merry Christmas to you all!!