Stash report for June 03-2012 - already again!

Used This Week:  0.5 yards
Used This Month: 0.5  yards
Used Year to Date: 46.5 yards
Added This Week: 9.50 yard
Added This Month:9.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 24.67 yards
Net Used for 2012: 21.83 yards


And here's another picture of my "finish" (keeping in mind that I count flimsies as a finish as well! esp since I don't quilt as of yet!  Other than rudimentary stuff!)

This is the Threadhead Mini Sampler with one block pieced FOUR times because I kept losing it (either that or the cats especially liked it!)  Yardage is "guesstimated" - quiltlet measures 16" by 12" - and this is without backing or binding - BUT keep in mind that one piece (QSTs) I had to REMAKE FOUR TIMES!!!!!  and the last time was REALLY fun since I was out of the fabric in question and had to cannabalize something else (which involved finding something different for THAT block!)

Yee-haw! Another finish!!!

This mini quilt was a design/challenge from the Threadhead blog - and a lot of fun to do (up until I turned the 'points' around and made a different to me 'star' that wasn't - if you know what I mean!  And then proceeded to lose/re-do FOUR times 2 of the tiny blocks that make up the points!D).  And by NO means is it "perfect".  BUT it is DONE - and MINE - and that' all that counts (other than getting it quilted!).  I was going to add applique - but not now.  I'm just glad to get it done!  (And I have the 'perfect' little table to put it on, too!)

Judy's (PWP) "Muesday"!

I am NOT in favor of getting sick, then getting UN-energized and with a holiday thrown in - because SOMETIME I have to pay the piper - and personally, I'd rather the piper was paid bit by bit than all at once!

This morning I had a dress try on.  Note to self - STOP EATING!!!!  Seriously!  While I was sick - the ONLY things that seemed to agree with me were definite carbs - of the crackers/bread variety!  That and icy fattening beverages!  Now you KNOW where this is heading don't you!  Yes - I COULD fit into the dress that was ordered - BUT - I would rather lose 5 - 10 pounds to get remotely back to where I was!!!  Provided, that is, the 5 - 10 pounds comes off where I want it to!  And not some place new and different!  And wierd!

Drive to Sturbridge and back was GORGEOUS!  Glad I went!  Although it would have been nicer if I had scheduled it on a day when Nathan and Lynn were available!

LOL _ on Nathan and Lynn - lol - he said something about finishing up things and I burst out laughing.  His comment at that point was "don't you think I will get this done pretty soon?"  Uh.... this is NOT a  question I want to answer!  And I KNOW he is busy!  However....  all that aside - I also know that he (like ....uhm....er.... me!) tends to underestimate the time something will take and overestimate his abilities to accomplish something!  I am HORRIBLE at this!  And he learned quite well!  So I REALLY hate to even consider answering his question - only now, because I TRIED unsuccessfully to evade the question, he knows....!!!!!

On the schedule – GARDEN – REPLANT those Peas, spray everything with stinky onion/garlic spray, set Pfred the big bird back up (and hope he scares the other birds away from my veggies!).

HOUSE – clean back steps, side porch, front porch, my room and laundry room. Spend at least 15 minutes decluttering my living room.

PAPER – self explanatory! (Essentially! – actually my goal is to not be buried beneath it!)

SEWING – two-fold – take stock of what I need for summer – and scrounge what I can sew up for that. Finish that mini-quilt, work on project for tomorrow’s class (hopefully up through remaining Block A sewing today ’cause tomorrow I want to work on Sewing Block B and sewing the blocks together).

An Owl named Pfred!

In honor of the 4 beds of missing peas (unless you count the remains scattered throughout the cabbages, potatoes, etc. - several beds away) and the missing cabbages (also scattered a bit of everywhere) and the 1 empty bed of beans (first up - now gone - with big ploddy holes where the plants used to be) - I decided to add Pfred!  Now Pfred has a job - to horrify and otherwise terrorize all the birds!  At least that's what the salesman said (it didn't help that the salesman was a gorgeous hunk!  Price was certainly not THAT expensive - although..... no Pfred would have been cheaper!)  Personally I'm not so sure about that!  Supposedly he can sit in the middle of my row (bed) or on a fence post (won't straddle my T-posts - though I wouldn't necessarily want to either!)  Supposed to scare the what-for out of the birds.  I think he looks adorable  with great big eyes and a swivel around neck. 

Design Wall in progress Monday - 05-28-12

Hah!  It IS Monday! 

Re design wall - I'm in process (eventually) of re-doing my design wall(s) - involving shelf brackets (2), flannel backed tablecloths (3-4???), skinny rods and a sewing machine to sew a sleeve on/through/whatever.  This was something suggested by a friend - and should work - and will work to create not only a somewhat almost stable but also a traveling design wall (to take to class). 

So - all I have to do is get the tablecloths and those skinny rods (which name escapes me until 2 or 3 AM when I'm sound asleep).  IF the stores are open - then today I will have at least ONE new design wall.  If not - then I'll post the results on tomorrow's!  Pictures of the process forthcoming (as soon as I get out the dustrag and broom!)

Stash Report for 05-27-12

Nada new to report - I sewed up a storm until after class Wed eve (Irish Double chain - can hardly wait until it's done!) - though mostly getting ready for the class!  And of course I had my Weave It to Me class last Sunday too.  Then Thursday I decided to spend at least part of the day in the garden.  It would have been nice if I had remembered DRINK FLUIDS!!!!!  and DON'T SPEND THE WHOLE TIME BENDING OVER!!!  Result - OH my!  I was sick - and it hurt to move.  The old fee-fi-fo-fum nursery rhyme kept coming to mind - especially the part about grinding bones!  All I could do really was sleep - for almost 2 whole days. with a lot of sleep all the way up to today.  That and drink liquids - not much on the solids - but lots of liquids.  And of course visit the little room out back (actually off the kitchen).

Actually though - as of last Wed evening - the double chain is really coming along, so is the Weave it to me (only lacking the "easier" rows and sewing it together)

And of course - I am sooooooooooooo glad that the yardage does NOT include rulers - since I came home with 3 more I absolutely HAD to have (one for a double wedding ring quilt - the tiny pieces, and one for a class later this year). 

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month: 3.0 yards
Used Year to Date: 46 yards
Added This Week: 9.50 yard
Added This Month:9.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 24.67 yards
Net Used for 2012: 21.33 yards

Rulers .... I'm not saying.....

Stash Report for 05-20---- uh oh, it's the 23rd! 2012

Almost is once again the word!  So close I can taste it!!!!  Now if I could only make up my mind on the Sweet Treats quilt, figure out WHERE I stashed the quarter square triangle that goes with the Ohio Star on my mini quilt, finish up the Row x Row....  I'd have a bunch of finishes to report!  Well, maybe this week!!!!!

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month: 3.0 yards
Used Year to Date: 46 yards
Added This Week: 9.50 yard
Added This Month:9.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 24.67 yards
Net Used for 2012: 21.33 yards

The ADD part was for a class I am taking - Double Irish Chain.  I already had the center fabric - a GORGEOUS floral - and the New fabrics are an absolutely luscious burgundy/mauve and a snow white.  Yum!  (I had a lot of white - BUT not enough of any one pattern and actually not enough even all added together EXCEPT for my backing fabric!!!!  Re the Mauve - I had NONE!  I DID have a gold fabric - but the mauve looks so much more striking with this!)

Today.....

Geez!  I have SO much to do!  and it is Saturday.  Oh my!

So - I am trying to finish up Threadhead Mini Sampler blocks - I think I've got all the problem blocks un-problemed.  Hopefully.

Also hope to finish up Zone 2 household stuff - maybe.  This means polishing cabinets, (stuff already straight in them), cleaning my refrig, emptying the dw and reloading it.  Re-polishing counters, and - gasp - sweeping and scrubbing that floor.

Also hope to get the smaller shelving up.  Hoping.  Then will move into the laundry room and move all my pantry stuff in there and redistributing everything else in the big room.  Hoping to get this done BEFORE I sweep and scrub that nasty - uh - nice kitchen floor!

However - MOSTLY I intend to work in the garden - at least 2 - 3 hours worth - which means keeping mosquitos and those blasted gnats at bay.  Definitely!  Also need to water garden - even with the monsoons we've been having - the back half of the garden while getting enough sun - ends up in drought because of nearby trees preventing water from hitting the ground.

Re paperwork - I've been ignoring that - and can quite successfully ignore that another day!

My Underground RR update!!!!

And ANOTHER block done!!!! 

This is a tad different from the book - because I grabbed the wrong large square - and used that!  However I am NOT going back and change the brown viney thing to bluegray - not at this time or in the forseeable future!

This leaves Wagon Wheel - and Drunkards Path - both of which I am doing applique! and both of which I hope to finish up today!  Yeehaw!!!!

Gardening - or how to feed the wild birds and beasties!!!!

Ugh - I just came back from my second sojourn in the garden this week.  We've been having monsoon rains and chill weather.  Even so - it would have helped a LOT if I had watered my greenhouse plants (which are ok - but definitely NOT happy with me - understandably!)

Now my strawberries look fine and are berrying up just great!  My horseradish plant is HUGE. And my Asparagus (all 4 plants out of 25 - and I'm NOT counting the first 25 of which 2 survived SOMEPLACE!) was quite good and is now going to seed!  The Rhubarb (one out of 5 - I - um - killed two others - late evening and having a hoe in my hands - BAD combination!)

Let me explain - with pix - sometime eons ago (April???? maybe even March) it was warm and the calendar said for THIS region - go ahead and plant peas.  So I created my bed for peas.  and one for beans as well as 2 for salad crops, coles, greens.

Planted it - watered it maybe twice (it was very dry at this time) - and then we had a cold snap - even a freeze! (which wiped out most of my sweet potatoes - more on that in a bit).  Eventually - somewhere around the last part of April I had ONE pea sprout.  ONE mind you!  Of the gazillion I planted!  A week later I had almost a goodly number - in THAT bed.  Mind you - there are 7 beds devoted to peas - with 2 being planted AFTER frost time is over (and the monsoons stop long enough for me to wade out there)


As for the REST of the beds (there are 6  4x4 beds - but 2 not planted in - so that's four more planted....)

So now - I don't know for sure what to do.  It IS late for planting peas - PLUS I know that if I did - EVERYTHING would come up - from this year and obviously the previous years (despite having planted in different beds the previous years) and it would be a royal mess! 

Now it is time to get the beans in.  Unfortunately beans have a nasty tendency to rot in cold ground (cold snap and monsoon - remember?) so I still have to put up the fence there - which is looking sad at the moment

Same situation for Sweet corn - and I suspect tomatoes/peppers/eggplant this week -= it has just been entirely too cool for them. 

Just like it was really too cool for sweet potatoes (which I knew WHEN I PLANTED THEM!!!!) and the poor dears have a tendency to croak.  I really feel guilty about this!  And royally ticked at myself because I KNOW better!

I planted potatoes and root crops - and don't really expect MOST of the root crops to make their appearance yet - since they like to sleep late.  This includes such things as Hamburg parsley, Parsnip, Salsify, Scorzonera.  However I DO have some beets, and a few radishes (to mark the rows) have appeared!  Also the birds haven't figured out where these plants are yet. 

Re the potatoes - the look great!  Weedy - but great!

And then there's the salad section - or should I say Onion patch?  Re lettuce and such - it is REALLY tiny and virtually non-existent in part because of the weather and in part because of the rabbits!

Finally there are the cabbages and coles.  They looked REALLY nice all planted out - a LOT of everything.  That was up until the birds discovered them - and as per usual played dive bomb the plant - snipping the tops off and dropping them in various other beds.  This is all that I have left - These are mostly cauliflower, a few broccoli.  My brussel sprouts, red cabbage, and all the cabbage and collards are gone!  However I still have some seed left - and will plant out in the garden this weekend and grow them from there for fall plantings.  Still and all - I am NOT a happy camper!

Thoughts for next year - Get the greenhouse going earlier.  Set ALL fences, etc. in place.  Make sure all fertilizers are on the ground at the proper time.  And DEFINITELY get bright and shiny stuff to wave in the wind and to throw the birds' attack patterns off!!  Either that - or resort to the beer can garden again - which is always hard since I don't usually drink beer!

The Design Wall on Monday.... - No! It's Thursday, isn't it!

Geez - I loused up - at least - in part on purpose - although it would be easy to do so accidentally. 

My walls are {{{{{CHANGING}}}}}  But actually that's probably a good thing!

On the big wall are elements of Sweet Treat.  And one lonely row of Double Duty (this is just the top half, mind you!) - the reason for the change - Double Duty now has setting triangles and is in process of becoming "attached"  - but I'm not posting pictures this week of new changes - mostly because I don't have the other "blankie" strung up for an additional design wall.  Besides - I am HOPING to get that doo-dad at least mostly finished this weekend!  So gaze at last week's offering - and go from there!

Instead - on the design wall are the Sweet Treats quilt - which I am sooooooooooo behind on.  Wierd looking hanging thingies are in reality blocks that I have to "fix" (someday I will learn to sew STRAIGHT seams! and not gigantic ones at that!) Why did I hang them up?  Because I'm not really sure I like the color arrangement yet - and keep playing with them (which is why I'm behinder than otherwise)  Oh yeah - I also discovered I can't count - I have an extra block!  Anyway - this is my "take" on the May colors - and sashing will be white (although I think I like the pale blue of the flannel sheet better!)  Hope to get this one also done this weekend.  Hopefully! 

Re the Weave it to me - I was wrong - class is NOT this Sunday = it is a WEEK from this Sunday (YIPPEE!!!) - and I want to have that one done done done!  Mostly because I want to spend the next 2 sessions doing some applique across them.  Thoughts there are to applique vining flowers across the "lattice weave" and/or to have kitties and puppies playing hide and seek behind the lattice with birds and butterflies making their appearance as well!  LOL - this is funny - this quilt has gone from a rather maligned "it has got to be boring quilt" to one I'm excited about - and that I LOVE the color play in!

Oh yeah - can you see the "oops" in the second row?  I didn't notice until I was uploading my photo into the folder!  So - guess what I will be doing this evening!

Other quilts involve the mini Threadhead sampler - which hopefully I will finish today - and will post a picture then!  Was soooooooooooooo embarrassed - I was following along faithfully - and talked with my dd Wendy - who mentioned 2 (not 1 like I did) 9 patches and FOUR (yup, I did only one) four patches!  TG the basket was only one - although I did have to search everywhere for the pieces for that and the churn dash that I had "just had in my hot and grubby hands" - searched 2 hours, gave up and went to bed.  Next morning I headed to quilt shop (where I live) - and lo and behold - out of my Underground RR top fell all the missing Threadhead pieces!  Geez!  so no I am pinning and labeling EVERYTHING and trying to track everything through when I take it in my hands.  Is this a thing of getting "more mature" as time goes on?  I wish!  I've been this way since I was in elementary school and definitely have NOT improved any!

Anyway - I did the rest of the TH pieces and have attached all the thises and thats and now only need to finish up.  Picture will be posted when I am done.

Items NOT touched this week - include Arizona Skies, my shoe fly and the re-do on the Paper piecing.  Sigh!  This last one while a delight (and falling apart - I forgot to lock the seams!) is hanging around my neck like a millstone - and needs to be done!  NOW!  TODAY!!!!

NEW class - Irish Double chain -= and I had pre-cut all the fabric - so was able to get quite a bit done.  Still - no design wall for this one (I ran out of DW's! LOL)  Will take pix probably on Monday - IF I finish one of the other quilts!

AND TA-DA!!!!  Home to me!

My Row by Row - which the other ladies did miraculous things with!  This is part of the swap I'm so behind on! 

BEST OF ALL!!!!!  Home to me from Canada and my dd Wendy - came my Carpenter Star!!!!  OH MY!!!!

By the way - the rows and lines ARE straight - just not on my bed!  Will try to get a better picture of that!  Also am sending a more detailed picture of Wendy's gorgeous quilt work on the star itself!  She truly did a fantastic job - completely outdid herself! 

I showed the quilt to the ladies at the post office when I got it - and the long lines and postmistresses just were totally wow-ed!!!!  I also took it to my quilt shop - and then the next day to quilt class (also at the shop - EVERYONE loves it - and even Maureen who is very good at quilting said that she couldn't even come close to the quilting job that Wendy did!  I just love it!  I only wish that the photos showed up better the quilting that she did!!!!

Stash Report for 05-13-12

Man!  I have 2 (yup TWO) flimsy's just about ready for final quiltling!  And with 2 more not far behind!!!!  One is the Threadhead Mini Sampler, another the sweet treat (well, it's a bit farther back than almost done - but not THAT far!), a third - the Weave It to Me!  AND I have another block in Underground RR just about done as well - leaving only 2 more blocks, sashing and cornerstones, and all the borders in the world (can you tell I don't like putting on borders???)

HOWEVER the word is ALMOST - and almost is NOT completely done!  So - for this week....

Used This Week:  0 yards
Used This Month: 3.0 yards
Used Year to Date: 46 yards
Added This Week: 0 yard
Added This Month:0 yards
Added Year to Date: 15.17 yards
Net Used for 2012: 30.83 yards

And I am soooooooooo glad I didn't buy the fabric I saw yesterday (just darling!  and I didn't have enough in spare cash at the time!)  AND am so glad we don't count rulers on this one (found the CUTEST 4.5 inch square ruler!!!!)  Did also buy 8 clear plastic shoe boxes - for squares and rectangles - I am tired of fighting with my odds and ends!!!!!  My strips are just fine and all organized (thank you, Bonnie!) but the squares - oh my!

Design Wall Monday - 05-07-12

YAY - I think I have the cord for the camera to computer - at least I have a cord that fits properly into both camera AND computer.  Let's hope it is the right one!  Now to figure out how to upload pix - cause it didn't show up automatically!  So I have to figure out what drive!

Anyway - all this to say - HOPEFULLY I will have pictures of quilts - past and present to put on my blog!  Hopefully!

Design walls - and I'm short three! - (1)my big design wall - my poor Double duty is still there - didn't get to it last week.

(2)  The interior lid on the top of the shoe box - I move this! theArizona Skies (really known as Tequila Buzz - I just like my colors better! LOL) - I STILL have to take some of my blocks apart and probably re-size a bit!  THEN it will be all systems go!

(3) the portable (top of the plastic chest) - Weave It to Me - Looking really cute - ready for more strips - AND sewing strips together - definite progress made!

(4) over my sewing machine - Row by Row - I do NOT like the way I did one block - am re-doing it.  It is the only one I have left - no major problem - BUT I forgot to lock the seams!~  Therefore.....

(5) (On the inside lid of the large shoebox/bin I keep this on in - Sweet Treats - this is a quilt-a-long that Judy is doing - so far I'm up even - so far!  Oh yeah - my take on the April color palette was slightly different from Judy's - hence the pink and purpley things!  This is what showed up on my computer.  Sorry no red - and I had to really for the orange - my stash is sadly lacking in the tones I needed for that!..

There really should be 3 more.....

(6) Currently sharing the one over my sewing machine -  Joan's Mini Sampler quilt - I'm behind on this one..... 

(7) On the inside lid of the box I store this one on - Churn  Mill Dash - this is one I've long wanted to do!!!!

(8) On the inside lid of the box I store this one in - and sometimes over my sewing machine -  Underground Railroad

Apparently I sew/piece about like I read - 6 - 8 or more at the same time! LOL

Stash Report for 05-06-12

A finish on a flimsy this week - table topper - was 2011 New Year's Mystery quilt from About.com - ABSOLUTELY cute!

Used This Week:  3.0 yards
Used This Month: 3.0  yards
Used Year to Date: 46 yards
Added This Week: 0 yard
Added This Month:0 yards
Added Year to Date: 15.17 yards
Net Used for 2012: 30.83 yards

Preserving Kettle - 05-02-12

Am taking stock of what I have, what I have planted, and when it is sort of due to be harvested and marking that on my main calendar so I can be on the lookout for it.  Also am trying to determine whether the item is to be canned, dried, preserved some other way and whether pickles or jellies get made from it.

State of the Garden - 05-02-12

Hmm - this was SUPPOSED to be a Tues post.....  Oh well!

In reality - it rained yesterday and somehow I thought it would be dry enough today I could go take a look-see.

PLANTED:
PEAS (Sugar pod: Golden Sweet, Oregon Sugar Pod, Carouby; Snap: Sugar Snap, Sugar Anne snap; Regular: Telephone, Lincoln, Green Arrow, Asparagus)
ONIONS: Red sets, Yellow sets, white sets, shallots
CARROTS: Danvers, St. Valery
RADISHES: Mixed Rainbow,
SALAD: French Endive (mixed)
MUSTARD: Tendergreen
LETTUCE: Lettuce Blend
POTATOES: Blossom, La Ratte Fingerling, All Blue, German Butterball, Marris Piper, Yellow Finn, Purple Viking, Desiree, Mountain Rose, Sieglende
SWEET POTATOES: Beauregard
SCORZONERA
SALSIFY: Sandwich Island Mammoth
HAMBURG PARSLEY
PARSNIP:
KOHLRABI: E. White, E. Purple
TURNIPS: Purple top, Golden Ball, Rapa di Milano
BEETS: Chioggia, Golden, Italian, Ruby Queen, Detroit Perfected, Crosby, Detroit

TRANSPLANT: COOL SOIL:
BROCCOLI
CAULIFLOWER
CABBAGE
COLLARDS
BRUSSEL SPROUTS
SWISS CHARD

TO BE PLANTED: COOL SOIL -
KALE
LETTUCE (more - x 2 x sections
CELERY
SPINACH
SWISS CHARD

TRANSPLANT: WARM SOIL:
TOMATOES
TOMATILLOS
PEPPERS (SWEET)
EGGPLANT
JALAPENO PEPPER (1)

TO BE PLANTED: WARM SOIL:
CUCUMBERS,
PEAS:Speckled butterpea and Dixie Speckled Butterpea
BEANS (all)
OKRA
SWEET CORN
SUMMER SQUASH
ZUCCHINI
WINTER SQUASH
MELONS
WATERMELON
PUMPKIN

Design Wall Monday - 04/30/12

On my big design wall still hangs the Double Duty Quilt that I had on there last week (actually last month would be more like it!)

The "portable design wall" (extra lid to the plastic chest) has elements of the Arizona Skies on it - in various stages - although almost all have been sliced and ready for the final sewing.  Still debating and think I will have to re-do 2 - possible 3 squares: 2 because I managed to slice them BACKWARDS!!!! of the way they're supposed to be! :(  and the third because I was tired and didn't read my ruler right.  3/4 is NOT 1/2!!!!  Blast it anyway!  Other than those 3 - am at point of re-sizing quarter blocks and sewing together! 

Another "portable design wall" or rather should I say plastic shoe box lid - holds some of the elements for the Weave it to me quilt.  Quite a bit done there -  would like to have it ALL sewn together up to the borders by class time!

The fourth holds the individual sampler blocks I'm working on between sessions of other quilts.  Almost done there (TG!)  For the most part - looking great - though I would be happier yet if some of the sizes weren't wierd sizes for blocks - at least of those that I'm copying!)

Pix - I still need to get that cable going from camera to computer.  Then will insert pictures as possible.

Stash report for 04/30 (oops again!)/12

ALMOST done with 3+ quilt flimsies!  Key word there is ALMOST!!!!  What can I say!  Unfortunately until my almost is a definite for sure - it doesn't count as USED.  Sigh!


Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: .67 yard (it was butterscotch - a close blend, not match, for one of the fabrics used in my Arizona skies of which there was a sad amount lacking!)
Added This Month: 6.67 yards
Added Year to Date: 15.17 yards
Net Used for 2012: 27.83 yards

And I had best get finished up on those flimsies or I will NOT be posting net USED at the rate I'm going!

28 things!!!!

Oh lordy - now Judy's done it!  And my compulsive/obsessive me gets to make a LIST of 28 things to get done in next 4 years!!!!

(I'm also going to post this on a separate page so I can keep track!)

01. Quilt 28 QOV
02. Quilt 28 quilts
03. Knit 28 pairs of socks (Baad Judy!  BAAD!!!!)
04. Sew 28 items clothing
05. Adoption inquiries on 28 children (not all at once!)
06. Donate money to charities 28 times
07. Shiny sink for 28 days
08. Declutter for 28 days
09. Exercise - yoga for 28 days
10. Mandarin Chinese lessons for 28 days
11. Make 28 items for newborn layette - charity
12. Make 28 baby blankets
13. Unpack 28 boxes
14. Food Storage for 28 months
15. 28 lapbooks
16. Read 28 fiction (this is EASY for me)
17. Read 28 Non-fiction (this is NOT easy for me)
18. Lose 28 pounds (and keep it off!)
19. Use net of 280 yards fabric
20. 28 birdhouses and birdbaths
21. 28 fun surprises for Wendy
22. 28 fun surprises for Nathan
23. 28 fun surprises for Lynn
24. 28 consecutive days posting on my blog
25. Plant 28 trees/bushes
26. Cull 28 movies/books
27. 28 weeks of manicure and pedicure complete with nail polish
28. 28 bottles of conditioner/body lotion used

Preserving Kettle

Today - am preserving a lot of not much! 

HOWEVER.... I thought it might be nice to:
(1) Draw up a tentative harvest calendar (when whatever is in season - and underscore when MY stuff is supposed to be in season
(2) Write up a tentative list of what I wanted preserved how!!!!  (ie, Peaches.... spiced, canned, pie filling, peach jam, peach cherry marmalade, peach amaretto chestnut conserve (no, I don't have a recipe for this - sounds like a possibility though!), peach pickles, peach ketchup (yup - there IS such a thing - use on or with meats!), dried peaches, peach brandy, peach liqueur, and just for fun - peach ice cream! - along with a hoped for buy in (no, my brand new baby peach tree is NOT ready for this!)

Game plan would be to keep this in my notebook - and then post on a month calendar of events maybe, posting the more interesting recipes along the way (and no, I'm NOT trying the super old fashioned way of bottling peaches - ie, filling bottle with water and putting lid on.)   And then put how much (if any) I actually did do.

And yes, I HAVE made all this - in a single year - had a windfall of 22 bushel of overripes and seconds for 22 dollars!!!!!!  Was great!  Would have been better if greedy gut that I am I hadn't set my eyes on the plums (seconds also) and got 7 bushel of those as well as apples.  Still and all I DID get all that put up - (TG that not all the seconds were ripe and could hold a day or 2!!!!) along with the sweet corn, green beans, tomatoes (all by the bushel) that my dd and a neighbour thoughtfully picked for me!  Shall I say that it was also one of the hottest weeks of the year and I didn't have air!  And went without sleep for 3 days running before I collapsed in a pile of peach peelings, snoring away madly!!!!

Keys are MODERATION and SPACING THE HARVEST ALL OUT!!!!

State of the Garden - 04-24-12

Garden tilling done (whoopee!!!!)  I wasn't going to till and was going to set up completely with lasagne gardening - but due to opening up - and tilling under a new area - I without thinking turned under all the gazillion leaves in that area - so - no raw materials for a while at least!

Game plan - this fall - will set up 2 - 3 more long beds (28-30' x 4')  That's the thought anyway - we'll see!  Do know however tilling is NOT for the weak at heart and those who are iffy about garden plans!

Peas are in (whoopee!)  except for limas and cowpeas which go in May 1 or thereabouts.  Beans - posts are in - need to string the fence - although I will probably wait until after beans are planted - in another week or 2.

Salad and Coles - growing wonderfully in greenhouse - EXCEPT for those plants which are drought stricken (dried up)  Next year - I plant in FLATS - NOT in peat pots!  Still need to get my marigolds going though - but will probably seed those out in the garden proper.  Am putting onions in with salad stuff - should deter some  bugs - even tho onions are a "root" crop!

Potatoes and roots - have put in the add on section - am thinking I need more - I also bought in some sweet potato plants Beauregard I believe.  Have set up tall hills for those since I have no desire to visit China by digging my way through the earth!  My seed potatoes arrived - and I have some of them planted.  Am at point where I need a row stretcher or some such!  Still need to get the rest in - plus also need to get the rest of the root crops in toute suite!

Tomatoes and buddies - doing great in greenhouse - a few dried up though - will have to see how all is going.

Squash and Sweet corn - not yet - not yet! 

Whew!!!! 

Still need to get the rest of my herbs in.

Did get some flowers, etc. from a very nice lady in Southwick.  I still want to get some Lilac bushes and would like to ge a lot of varieties of peonies and Iris as well!  and - oh yeah - petunias!

I think I need to clone myself at this point!  And will actually be doing great to get everything in and growing well - and then, of course, begins canning season!  (which is sort-of right now - tail end of winter)

Hope to find the cord that goes to my camera - then will post pix of everything.  Hopefully it all will grow.  So far the best growing are the gazillion baby maples that seem to be EVERYWHERE!!!!

Design Wall Monday

Well, this is where all my pix of my 4 design walls will appear - with current projects on them! 

Why 4?  Well - there's the big over-all one - that I am trying to finish - and needs some adjustment - my Double Duty quilt. 

Then there's the one I hang over my sewing machine - big enough for a couple of blocks or so - actually one FQ in size - and that's for trying out patterns or helping me focus on the "now" picture.  This has sampler projects, new blocks, etc. - currently sampler projects on it.  Pinned because they may be there a bit.

Then there's the portable FQ one that I slapped together from the top of one of those plastic drawer thingies (I stacked the drawers - 2 high - so didn't need the extra top)  It's portable.  And I can show Wendy on Skype.  Unfortunately - it is also bigger than sometimes I can focus.  Not on there yet - but will have my Underground RR quilt on there to show W. next Monday - which hopefully I will have the outside borders on it.  Have been working on the blocks LE style!  LOL

Then there's the one I threw together AT the sewing class yesterday - the inside lid of my shoe box project.  Didn't have a felt lining at that time - however I'm taking care of that today!  AND if I'm careful - could probably throw in a pocket for various rulers etc. that I carry too.  That is just right for the class!  This one has the class project.

Now - as soon as I can get photos uploaded onto my computer I can show here.  However that involved my re-discovering (AGAIN!) what I did with the cord from my camera to the computer!

Stash Report - 04-23-12 (oops!)

Spent most of the week in the garden - then decided to get tiller after all - not easier (as muscles will testify to) but faster!  And I'm behinder already!

Still.... Sewing....  New quilt starting yesterday (Sunday)  After quilt/lap robe is done - I'm going to applique kitties, puppies, etc. on it - at least that's the game plan - we'll see!

No projects completed - yet!  Did go to fabric shop however :D  And added from there - needful since I had ALMOST - but NOT QUITE enough FQ for this coming quilt!  TG I don't have to account for ALL I spent there!!!! ( classes - which are Open Sew ad infinitum - a way to blackmail myself into working on the quilts - and having fun while doing it!)  Also added 2 patterns - Irish Chain in a Day which will be used in a class - and Grandma's Scrap Bag - Miss Rosie - which will be used in my fall quarter of the Quilt a quarter class (we're going to do some swaps here!  Hmmm - might be fun to MAKE a pretty bag to go with the swap stuff!)  New rulers added - the Cleareview Triangle 10" (All mine measured 7" :( and I NEED the 10") and as of yesterday - Pam, clever sales woman she is, demonstrated another ruler  - Creative Grid Quiktrim - which - oh my!  I'm going to love this ruler - right up there with my Loc-Bloc!!!!  Again we shall NOT discuss costs, save that the 2 rulers were definitely under 40!

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 2.5 + 6 FQ = 4.0 yards
Added This Month: 6.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 14.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 28.50 yards

Still in the black, but BOY! I had best get busy!!!!

Preserving Kettle Report 04-18-12

ORANGES:
Orange rind dried - 4 oranges worth
Candied Orange Rind - in the process of - so this will go on next week's

Not enough Asparagus to count
No strawberry blossoms.  I have hopes though!

Preserves, and putting food by

Orange marmalade is the food for the day - not a lot -- but some.  Also from the peels - I'm candying some and drying the rest. 

DRIED ORANGE PEEL Peel orange. Remove all white parts.  Dry in drier or in very slow oven.  When completely dry and tough and brittle store in closed jar for use in tea, making an incense, or flavoring (ground up) in cookies, etc.

CANDIED ORANGE PEEL Peel fruit.  Remove all white parts.  Cut in 1/2 inch or smaller squares - can also be cut in shapes like flowers, hearts, etc.  Put rinds under dripping faucet for day or 2 then put into pot of water (3 parts water to 1 part orange peel - and bring to a boil.  Cook 15 minutes then plunge in cold water.  Drain.  Weigh.  Equal amount weight sugar as oranges plus just enough water to make paste.  Cook over medium heat stirring constantly.  When thick to way I like it - pour rind and syrup into warm jars, seal with sterilized lids.  Store in cool place.

I would LIKE to make some orange liqueur - but unless my son or my dd drinks it - it would go to waste - either that or age more than 100 years!  With this - the rind is what's important again - white part being removed.

Garden report - 04-15-12

GREENHOUSE - FINALLY all the coles are popping up and GROWING!!!  So are the onions!  OK - I planted late - by about 3 weeks! :(    Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tomatillos aren't up YET - but I do have hopes!!!!

PEAS/BEANS BEDS - Most of the peas are in (also several weeks late!)

SALAD AND POTATO/ROOT CROP BEDS - Am running so behind that I decided to finish making up the lasagne beds for these 2 - then flat gardening - with added in leaves - tilled, I hope - definitely NOT lasagne style - for the salads, nor for the potatoes and root crops. 

CORN/SQUASH AND TOMATO/EGGPLANT/SWEET PEPPER/TOMATILLO BEDS - However when I get to these - I SHOULD have time enough before they are ready for planting to get these 2 rows of beds set up!

Then this fall after everything is done for the year - I'll finish up at least the Salad section - and do the Potato/root crop section either then or the following spring.

HERBS - most of what I want to do here is done!

PERRENIALS/STRAWBERRIES - this is as done as it gets - unless I want to lose a bunch of plants in the process!  Strawberry plants doing ok - not as prolific as I would like to see - but give it another year and I think I'll be considering another bed.  Horseradish is in its own square - and honestly I only want the one main plant - considering the number of rootlets it puts out every year!  Asparagus - hmmm - what there is looks great - BUT we are talking about less than a 25% survival rate - so I am considering moving the asparagus bed over to the orchard area.  Mind you, I'm only CONSIDERING it!  Maybe I'll just start one all over there!  Rhubarb SHOULD be coming out my ears.  It isn't - too shady and the soil makes a BIG difference - this will DEFINITELY get moved! 

ORCHARD - I added 3 new trees this year and 1 bush arrived - so current count here is.... 2 apple (one probably will have to be replaced - just hasn't taken well to transplanting from being heeled in entirely too long to its new place.), 1 peach, 1 cherry (North Star), 1 pear.  I still want to get plums but both the garden catalog was out and so was my money for this!  :/ 

BERRY PATCH - this is still in transition - I HAVE lots of raspberries - stuck (heeled in) in the middle of my potato patch - and they gotta get moved!  Question is - before or AFTER they bear raspberries.  Each possibility has it's positives!  And yes - I may pull a switcheroo - probably be a good idea anyway - planting the potatoes where the raspberries are going - and letting the raspberries do their thing this spring where the potatoes are.  This is NOT a permanent arrangement - and if I say that often enough I may actually believe it!

This is where the Asparagus and the Rhubarb patch will be re-located (which leaves the question - what to put where the asparagus and rhubarb currently are and from where they will be re-located - hmmmmm)

CHICKEN PATCH - oh, I sure wish!!!!!  Not this year anyway - but will start doing some discussion with the city re hens only.

Of course there will NOT be a GOAT PATCH nor a CALF PATCH - although I sure wish!  And although I THINK there is enough room - there really won't be a WHEAT patch either - although the section on the other side of the fruit trees MIGHT work.  Oh well - can't have everything!

EQUIPMENT ADDED: son brought over his wheelbarrow - sure helps my VERY ouch back in hauling compost from the current position to where I need it.  This too will get moved to the top of my side of the driveway.  And a leaf bin (hardware cloth) will be added.  Son is starting to get into the act big time - it's funny!

Oh yeah - current count of the garden shovels/spades - 5!!!  LOL

Stash Report for 04-15-12

Didn't complete any projects this week but I did get some ideas from my dd about what to do with some of my projects. Spent most of my time on the garden or fretting about "what to do" with my quilt projects.

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 0  yards
Added This Month: 2.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards

Stash report 04-08-12

Didn't complete any projects this week (close - but no cigar! :(   ) but then I didn't add anything either! LOL
It's a NEW month!!!

Used This Week: 0 yards
Used This Month:0 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 2.0 yards
Added This Month: 2.0 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards

Currently (today) finishing up my log cabin quilt.  Also hoping to get that last strip done - then a new project and a bunch of sampler blocks (including one repeat - which I hope to duplicate for a quilt for a little one in England)

Tomato Tuesday (will be on Thursdays)

This is an idea I saw on another blog.  Kind of keeps me accountable for (1) planting, (2)care and maintenance of those beds (SHOULD be tomato/pepper/eggplant/tomatillo Thursdays!)  However....

Today I planted the seeds - only 2 weeks late for bell peppers and eggplants  for this region (March 22-28) and 1 week late for tomatoes (hot peppers would have been March 15).   Tomatoes, Basil (I'm raising some with the tomatoes this year in addition to my herb garden), cilantro (herbs), dill (herbs), Thyme (herbs) plus Oregano (I already have that - and it has been doing very well!) all are to be planted around here from March 29 - April 4 - IN THE GREENHOUSE - or inside - whichever!  And -= if I have extra tomato plants - I may try raising some in with the strawberries - SHOULD work.  Hopefully!

But then I also planted all the cool/cold weather crops (coles, onion seed) the week before - only 6 weeks late!  :(  Poor dears will be raised during hot weather - may have to put up some sun shading for them - either that or sink the peat pots into the ground a bit earlier than otherwise intended. (Leeks were supposed to be transplanted today in this region - I just got through putting in the seed!  Hmmm!)

Anyway - currently they are in the greenhouse - WAITING to grow. 

Also - pruned my poor apple tree.  The other 3 trees have been waiting to be planted - think I will scout around and see what I can find for a spade!  Nathan gets busy and forgets - besides - these are MY trees - and he more than has his hands full!

I quilted/cleaned with Wendy this past Sunday - was great!  I always have fun doing that!  Anyway - I think she is jealous - she wants A LOT to get started on her garden as well!

Nathan who was always the kid who was not about to garden - says he will be getting hot peppers and tomatoes and some potatoes - planting them in planters on his deck.  I think he will enjoy that!

Speaking of potatoes - MY potato order hasn't come in yet - and I'm getting VERY nervous!!!!  This would be the second year I've ordered from Ronniger's - and I know they have been super busy.  I just don't want to miss my planting dates (like I have the onion seeds!)  nor do I want my potatoes lost in transit!

Stash Report 04/01/12

Sent off one swap this week - have one to go, then samplers

Used This Week: 2.0 yards
Used This Month:27.50 yards
Used Year to Date: 43 yards
Added This Week: 2.0 yards
Added This Month: 3.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 10.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 32.50 yards
Also worked on several other quilt things - but not finished.  Hopefully this coming week will see them done!

It's leftover Wednesday!

I'm TIRED!  Sent package to friend, did some sewing, got things ready for greenhouse onslaught.  (tomorrow will be teaching day IF they call tonight!) and menues planned for tonight and tomorrow.  Problem is - I'm too tired and sleepy to cook!  Not that I'll waste away or anything - but instead I'll wake up at 2 AM ready to eat a bedpost or something - and that is NOT good. (Neither is the bedpost!)

Selected colors and patterns - tentatively for another project.  Want to sew - spirit is willing - body is shot!  So tonight I think I will recoup a bit then cook supper  - not sure what I will have.  What I WAS going to have has been changed around a bit.  But I'll get over it - or not!

Do you know what is frustrating - is when you KNOW you have something - you've seen it in your house at least a dozen times or more - but can NOT find it no matter what!  It's like that this evening!  Tomorrow I'll look again - and probably locate it right off!

Stash Report - 03-25-12

No major change this week - due to not feeling well and sleeping almost 24/7 - well the first 4 days anyway.  DID try sewing weekend - ended ripping it all out!  Cut up quite a bit on Sat.  Should have more done by next weekend.


Used This Week: 0 (I was NOT feeling well most of week and slept most of time.  When I did sew - I ended having to un-sew every little bit - drat it!)
Used This Month:25.50 yards
Used Year to Date:  41 yards
Added This Week: 0 yards
Added This Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 33.50 yards


As of today - the 25th - this afternoon - I added one pattern for a class, 0 fabric (shopping from my stash first!), and have nearly finished 2 more items on my list! 

Stash Report for 03-18-12

Used This Week: 1.50 yards on 1 swap plus 30 yards on log cabin - swap has problems. BIG ones! = 31.50 yards CORRECTION - Log cabin used 24 yards - which included backing, binding which I am sending along to be quilted.  I can't add!!!!!   Total used this week - 25.50
Used This Month: 25.50 yards
Used Year to Date:  15.50 + 25.50 = 41.0 yards
Added This Week: 0 yards
Added This Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 33.50 yards

Stash Report 03-11-12

Used this Week:  1.50 yards
Used this Month: 1.50 yards
Used year to Date: 15.50 yards
Added this Week:  1.50 yards
Added this Month: 1.50 yards
Added Year to Date: 8.50 yards
Net Used for 2012: 7.0 yards

Earrings

Many years ago - way back when my daughter was growing up - I had my ears pierced.  I had a lot of earrings too.  But over the years, I got sloppy and didn't always wear them. 

When my son was born some years later, he was attracted to the pretty dangly things hanging from my ears - and would grab and pull.  Needless to say - I was NOT happy.

So - I stopped wearing them - just for a while, I thought!

Then I couldn't.

So - this week I decided WEAR the earrings - OR re-home them!  so I bravely took a set of posts - and tried them - knowing they would probably be tight.

Tight is NOT the word I have in mind!  The first earring went in ok - was a bit ouchy - but then it had been a long time. 

However - the SECOND earring - it was like re-punching the whole earring - the HARD way - a gazillionth of an inch at a time!  OH MY!  Pain!!!  Definite pain!  And once I had managed to push the earring all the way through (we will NOT talk about punch the earring - not at this time!) it continued to let me know it was there all day long.

I took them out at night - to let my ears relax - then put them in again yesterday.  Again - first earring - the left one - fine.  At least until both were in!  The second earring continued to be a royal literal pain!

Again - I took them out at night.  Today I am relaxing my ears.  Actually - I'm chicken!  Although I suspect the hard part may be over.  If so - I will put them in this afternoon. 

However I AM re-thinking my decision to wear earrings and wondering if it really is too high a price to re-consider re-homing them!

A Funny Thing happened....

A funny thing happened on my way to clean yesterday - I got a call to come substitute teach! 

YAY!!!

Especially since I Love to teach! 

Although the teaching yesterday was more all-day reading (all classes - 5).  Which was as well.  In the interest of "modeling" reading behavior - I decided to join my young students - and read one book by noon (quite interesting) and ALMOST (with exception of 50 pages) completed another by school dismissal (this one was of one of my favorites - the young Sherlock Holmes).  Still and all it was a nice restful day.  didn't accomplish a thing at home - in fact, I got home and proceeded to fall asleep over the computer so took myself off to bed for a nice nap.  Woke up several hours later - fixed and ate dinner, played TM for a while, made plans what all I was going to do today - and went back to bed. 

Does it help any to say that while the classroom was definitely overheated - my apartment was definitely the other direction and I felt like I was freezing???? (This despite the thermostat saying it was 70!  The thermostat LIES!)

So - what to do?  Son is supposedly coming over today so we can (oh joy!) clean and clear off that side porch, put up plastic so I have a temporary (read the word TEM PO RARY!!!! and pray that isn't for the next 5 or more years!) greenhouse!  Should be easy enough - hopefully.  6 ml plastic which is what the greenhouses use.  Lathing to hold the plastic in place so it won't rip.  Hopefully. Wind the plastic around the OUTSIDE of the posts.  Put something across the porch floor to cover the 1/2 inch wide cracks between boards - and cover that probably with cheap indoor outdoor carpeting.  Get a table (potting table for now) and set it up. 

Oh yeah - door - flap on one end - so I can use that as a doorway. 

Gro-lights - that's the only thing that is tricky - not even sure I really need them since I get a lot of indirect light during the day - as in this is NOT a south facing exposure - but east with another house maybe 20 - 30 feet away.  Some shading - but NOT really that bad at all.  Still and all.....

Gro-lights - a shoplight suspended by chains with electric cord probably wound around and through the chains - and plugged into my kitchen (no outside outlet) after being wound through windows - including the busted one (storm window is busted - NOT the inside one).

SHOULD work.  Hopefully it will!

AND if son does NOT show up (as in NO ONE in their right mind looks forward to cleaning off that porch - in the snow, yet!) - then I can haul stuff up to the fence.  There are some doors - and I have clothesline, hammer and nails - and can rig up a way to haul the jerry-rigged toboggan with it's full load of JUNK to the fence for easier access.

It's Gorgeous Out!!!

Everywhere around me is covered with snow - SOFT snow - but it is absolutely gorgeous!  I keep feeling like I should break out in singing "sleighbells ring...." etc. - but I'm concerned my neighbours would throw hard slushballs at me!

Best part though - I don't have to go out in it!  I can sit here at home in my sewing room - and sew and sew until my machine falls apart!  That is, AFTER I have finished my morning routine AND have done some anti-procrastination items!!!! 

Anti-procrastination - on the schedule for today - Declutter dining room the rest of the way - and toss as much as possible (NOT the books though!)/  Also - sitting down with my lesson book sheets and working on that!

And then a mountain of sewing!  Yeehaw!!!!  First off - gettting those charms ready to go. (all ready - just need the envelopes)  Then the RxR - I have most of the messed up stitching removed from the first one (thank you Janome!  sarcastic humor here!) and only need to sew blocks together.  Like my new machine for sure - I'm not fighting it all the time! 

And a baby quilt - that only needs to be finished being quilted. (borders only and binding). Which is part of my March project (there is another baby blanket) from last year! 

first big package ready for Wendy. 

IF I can get out of my driveway - and this is a major if here! - send all this stuff from the post offfice!!!

List what I can on Freecycle.

And solve world peace!