Quilting. . . . just one of my many winter projects

For Christmas this year, Randy gave me these quilting frames - - -Grace EZ frames. I love 'em!


Now I have a way to hand quilt the quilt tops I've been working on this past fall and winter. I have room to work on them right in my own family room instead of having to set up quilting frames somewhere else.


The quilt top is pinned onto the top roller. . . then as I quilt, I roll it onto the bottom roller.


These frames are great - - I'm thrilled to have them.

This is my "Bull's Eye" quilt that I pieced last year. I belong to a quilt quild that meets once a month at the Basalt Church. Last year's project (my first year in the quild) was to exchange quilt blocks with other members of the quild, which we did for about 7 months. Then I cut all my blocks into fourths, mixed them all up, and sewed them back together to make this scappy old fashioned looking quilt. It was a lot of fun mixing so many fabrics together to make my "one-of-a-kind"quilt.

Here I am working on my quilt.

I worked on it whenever I had some free time . . . an hour here or there . . . making a little progress each day.

My goal wasn't to rush through until it's finished, but to enjoy each part of the process.

And here's the finished project!

After about two and a half weeks of quilting, I finished it! I added the binding and now it's ready to be used and enjoyed. I'm going to show it, along with some of my other quilting projects, at the upcoming quilt show at the Library next week.

It's been such a fun project . . . . just one of the many things I'll enjoy doing during these winter months.

Winter Wonderland

We've dug a path to the shop and barn so we get out to take care of the horses and cats. I love having a place to keep my animals safe and warm during all this winter weather. We also need to be able to continue to work on projects in the shop. Randy has been busy using his lathe--making sawdust and experimenting with some of the wood he's stockpiled over the years. He's been making some cool little wooden bowls in different sizes.


The back patio and arbor are snow covered but beautiful. We've had a few birds (Northern Flickers) earlier this winter but now that they've eaten all the frozen grapes, they seemed to have flown to warmer climates. I can't say I'd blame them, I'd fly to warmer weather too it I could.



" Oh, the weather outside is frightful. . ."

but it's made the yard a beautiful winter wonderland. We haven't had snow like this for several years.

When it snowed it fell straight down, piling high on all the fences, trees and shrubs.

Even the garden looks like a christmas card. . . all snow covered and frosty looking!

I love the snow dusting all the trees and benches. . .it makes even the winter a beautiful time in the garden.

Crossing the U.S. in 13 days. A great adventure !

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2007 we flew into Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and picked up this pretty little Lexus. Hope it turns out to be a "sweet" ride ! We're off..........

Yes indeed. We really were at the Atlantic ocean (at the beach near Melborne, Fl.). It was VERY windy and we didn't like Florida much. It's too flat and you can't see anything. We're heading for Georgia.

We hustled right on out of Florida and into Georgia. We had some pretty good BBQ at a place called Sonny's in Valdosta and stayed in Macon for the night. We traveled north the next day and stopped at a few interesting places including this neat antique store in the hills northeast of Atlanta.

We stayed the next night in a great Marriott Courtyard Inn in Chattanooga, TN. Actually, we stayed in great Marriotts for all but 3 nights thanks to a wonderful "hook-up" named Nalani and our personnal "reservationist" Lani. Boy, are we spoiled . . . but in a very good way ! (Major props to those two ladies.)

The view from Lookout Mountain above Chattanooga is pretty impressive. This mountain was the site of a very significant battle during the Civil War. The North prevailed and took over the city along with control of the Tennessee River. This set the stage for the Northern army's march south to Atlanta.

There were many artifacts and much information at this site. One sign said that 12,000 men died during the 3 day battle on this mountain. The mountain lies half in Tennessee and half in Georgia.

Here's a couple more photos taken on Lookout Mountain.

Tuesday morning (10-18-07) we headed north from Chattanooga and stopped in a little town of Tracy City where we found the Dutch Maid Bakery. It seemed like the perfect spot for breakfast. . . .it was! Talk about backwoods Tennessee. The next several photos were taken in the bakery/cafe. It was here we sampled our first "grits". Folks have been buying bakery goods and eating breakfast here since 1902.

Fruit and grits ! That's where it's at . . .

Nice clean preparation area !

Ilene's sitting in her Lexus in a driveway that she could probably get used to real quick. Just one of many lovely homes / estates that we saw in the south.

We just happened on to "The University of the South", which was a really attractive old school in Suwannee, Tn.

Ilene and her new friend (Jason Day) at the Cedar Ridge Farms stable (see below) near Shelbyville, TN. Tennessee walking horses are certainly a big and beautiful breed with an incredible high-stepping gait. We just drove into this place and the guy was more than happy to show us around and talk to us for an hour.

The 4 photos below were taken at Stone's River battlefield near Murfreesboro, TN. This battle was the bloodiest of the Civil War. 81,ooo soldiers squared off here and 24,000 of them died during 3 days of battle in Dec 1862. Note of interest: No southern soldiers were buried in this or any other national cemetery since they were traitors to the union.

The battle site. Stone's River Cemetery.

Civil war cannonballs. (How many?)

Happy Fall Y'all

I love the fall colors with all the rich oranges, reds and yellows. I gathered a few pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks from the garden and the few remaining flowers from the yard to put together my "Happy Fall-Y'all" display on the front step. This beautiful display of color lasts for such a short time so I need me to get out there and enjoy as much of them as I can before Mother Nature changes the color scheme to all white!

Don't let these beautiful fall days pass you by from inside--you'd better get out while you can. Get the kids, the dog, ride your horse, talk a walk. . . .whatever, but get out there and enjoy the some of the season's best colors before they are just a memory! (And don't forget to take your camera.)

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

Random Yard Pictures

This is mom's first blog, so we picked random pictures of the yard for starters!