Playmate Quilt in Redwork

Last night I finished Block #4 in the "Playmates Quilt" designed by American Jane. I'm hand embroidering the redwork. All twelve blocks are children playing based on an early reader primer from 1934 and Ruth Caroline Eger's illustrations in those books. There are 2" and 4" pinwheels and an occasional appliqued circle that work as sashing in between all the blocks. I've been collecting 30's repros in red for about two years. The blocks remind me of the primer I learned to read in, and of a time when children's toys were simple and running and playing were the norm. The whole quilt can be viewed at:
http://www.quilterswarehouse.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=AJP122#

National Quilt Day Sew Along Retreat

Pat Sloan is hostessing a three day online retreat weekend to celebrate National Quilt Day. The retreat occurs the same weekend as the Dallas Quilt Show! I'll be at the Quilt Show and sewing too, what a great way to begin my Spring Break! (should I sew in my swimming suit and pretend I'm on an island someplace warm? crank up the heat, light a fire??)

Pat is encouraging us to make a charity quilt. I'll be working on a quilt to raffle to help send my kids on a mission trip this summer. I'll be posting my progress as the weekend progresses. Stay tuned! To see details on the Sew Along Retreat visit Pat's blog: http://patsloan.typepad.com/

Horsing Around

I won't be trying this stunt!

Kitchen Window Meme

My friend Sophie http://sophiejunction.blogspot.com has a blogspot that always interests and inspires me. She recently had a post sharing the view from her kitchen window that was linked from another blog http://www.lulusbay.blogspot.com. I found it so interesting to see the different views that I had to jump on this one! Lulu will bring it up again in the summer so we can see the view from the perspective of another season. My view is a work in progress. If you look hard, you'll see Miss Daisy in the top view with her front hooves up on her goat house. She's been trying to figure out how to get up on that house for months. We've offered her a plank, but she's not brave enough yet. Her pen and house are temporary, and once we've gotten our barn underway our backyard will once again become our own backyard. You'll also notice a temporary firepit, with temporary seating (planks!). We have materials set aside for a real firepit, and that is another project on hold while the more important barn goes up. I only photographed the view from two angles out my kitchen window, the third view would only give you an 8 foot high fence to see.

Roses in February

My husband and I have been married for nearly 18 years. About 16 years ago, we mutually agreed that Valentine's Day was too commercial and we would not celebrate it by succumbing to the "expectations" of the holiday. We skip the pricey cards, flowers, restaurants, and just enjoy a nice dinner at home and find other unexpected ways to show each other appreciations.

This year, he broke the rules. Our teenagers put pressure on him, and since the economy is in so much trouble he bought roses. They are pretty to look at, particularly after a rainy and very muddy weekend.

Andy on Ultium

Here's a photo of Andy, after being on 100% Ultium for a month. I think he looks just right! I always manage to photo him on the opposite side of his mane. We started the switch about 6 weeks ago when he started becoming quite "hot" when we did a feed increase. I felt he was looking too ribby. He's his sweet old self again and looking very healthy! I love the way the Ultium makes his coat look.

Sassy

Here's the new girl in the pasture, Sassy! Sassy is a 17 year old Quarter horse. I was so excited to ride her today that I barely got my shoes changed into my boots to get on! She's a real sweetie, very responsive and does only what you want her to. I got a closer shot of her head while Tony rode. Her mane is a bit rubbed off at the top, the former owner had a round bale holder and his horses had all rubbed their manes off on it. She's a very experienced trail horse, been everywhere and done it all.