Catching Up

A lot of life has happened in the last few weeks.  Ken's mother died.  

The last few years were hard for her.  She took care of her husband who had Alzheimers.  After he died she did okay for a while, but gradually her health deteriorated.  She moved from her house to a duplex, to an assisted living, to rehab facility, to nursing home.  Ken's sister Jo says she died of a broken heart, she missed Marvin terribly. She was 85yo and they were married 63 years. 

Ken and I got new phones.  Somehow in all the switching my August photos were lost.  We had taken family pictures after the funeral as everyone was there.  (I hope Jo has some to share with me.)  First I chose a Motorola phone, it was nice but I wanted a better camera.  I switched it out for a Samsung A50.  Here is the first picture we really noticed the difference in the photo quality--

We noticed the detail on the coin and on the tiny bat skull.  Capturing photo details on small shiny objects is hard.  Today we took pictures of a cicada--

Note the detail in the pic, the color was exceptional, we had not noticed how "green" he was until we saw the photo.  (He's on my hand.) Even his eyes were a shade of green!  Next we moved him to his natural habitat--a dead branch--

See how well he blends in?  Then I took a normal picture--

He has almost disappeared!  I only cropped the pictures, no editing of color.  

Mason and Ken had birthdays, Mason turned 11yo and Ken, well, we didn't put candles on his cake because it was a fire hazard!

During all this Ken and I had bad coughs/colds/sinus infections.  Unfortunately I shared mine with Karla.  I'm sorry Karla!  

I'm happy with my garden in pots--

13 big tomatoes on this big plant--its a Brandywine, an heirloom variety.  The flavor is spectacular, not mushy and flavorless.  A tomato should taste like a tomato!

The Fuchsia plant has some exotic beautiful flowers.

This Canna surprised me in the best way, I had forgotten what color I had planted, love the orange/yellow splashy pattern.  These last three photos required no editing for color/light, all I did was crop and add text.  The A50 camera is that good!

Tomorrow I hope to go to Lorri2Rs and sew a little.  Its time for a break, my soul needs feeding!

The weather is absolutely beautiful.  Its hard to stay inside.

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

My flowers are starting to bloom, here is the "flower tower"--

There are two varieties of Morning Glory--Grandpa Ott and Heavenly Blue.

They have a luminous glow to them.  I love old fashioned Zinnias too--

Zinnias and Morning Glorys never fail me.  This small vine/flower snuck in a hanging pot--

The flowers are small but bright!  I have a Tropical Hibiscus I overwintered in the house.  Its new to me, I followed the directions on the internet and pruned it back severely over the winter.  I thought it might not recover or bloom--but here is the first flower--

 Yesterday I saw different butterflies visiting the flowers--

"The Silver-spotted Skipper almost never visits yellow flowers but favors blue, red, pink, purple, and sometimes white and cream-colored ones."   

I read this information after taking pictures, so I paged back--nope, no butterflies on yellow flowers!  

Not being able to sew has been awful.  Yesterday I pulled out some blocks that needed pressing.  Instructions were in the bag with the blocks--

I had completely forgotten the pattern but remembered it as I was pressing them!   

https://quiltnotes.com/learning-center/corner-4-patch/

Summer is beginning to wind down.  The weather has been perfect the last few days.  Warm days with cool nights.  Ahhhh--I love summer!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Update and a Finish

Over the weekend LB and family camped next to us.  FUN FUN FUN!!  Little boys wandered back and forth, they are all budding entomologists--grasshoppers, butterflies, beetles and caterpillars were collected in cups and jars.

Max picked me a sunflower and its became a centerpiece in a solo cup.  Ken and I had summer colds so I forgot to take pictures.  But the corn dog maker saw lots of use--I used it for breakfast sausages with both pancake batter and cornbread.  

 

Perfect breakfast finger foods.  I used these sausages and a box of Jiffy Cornbread mix--enough to make 12 cornbread sausages. 

It is so easy!   

I did a little binding this weekend and finished a UFO--

I started this quilt in March 2015 using the Missouri Star Disappearing Pinwheel Churn Dash pattern.  30's fabrics were used in the blocks, I was determined not to collect them instead of SEW with them. My blocks somehow were assorted sizes so I used this pattern as an idea to add sashing to the blocks--

There was not enough of the pink fabric to finish it so I carried a pink scrap in my purse for a couple years until I found more.  This quilt finishes 75"x93" and used about 11 yards.  The backing is two different pieces of flannel so its a cuddly quilt.  No idea where it will find a permanent home.   But its DONE!!

Not sure what this week will bring.  More cold tablets and coughing, I shared my cold with Karla.  Poor Karla--she sounds miserable!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Summertime

Its butterfly season!  The flowers have been covered with Painted Lady butterflies feeding on nectar--

Painted Lady butterflies are the most common species of butterfly, seen on all continents except Australia and Antarctica.  You can distinguish between an American Lady and a Painted Lady by the "wing spots"--a Painted lady has four and an American Lady has two.  They do not become dormant in winter and are dependent on overwintering in warm climates.  You can read about Painted Lady butterflies here.

Another beautiful butterfly was photographed by Karla outside the Visitor Center--

A Red-Spotted Purple butterfly (I know, they look BLUE).  They are founded in wooded areas and are less abundant than other butterflies.  The color is so vibrant on these butterflies.  Read about them here.

The Visitor Center also has interpretive programs, here is Andrew getting into his role for a Lewis and Clark program--

I'm not sure why but the hat is super small!  Andrew does a great program interacting with all ages of visitors.  Can you imagine wearing the full dress uniform made of wool in August 200 years ago?  Lewis and Clark met with the Yankton Sioux here for a three hour speech.  Hot, sweaty, bugs, lice, and not much soap.  Maybe the smell kept the mosquitoes away?  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

A New Toy

I had been reading about Corn Dog Makers, studied lots of reviews and recipes.  Then I ordered this one--

Was it going to work?  Would it be a total flop?  Would I regret buying it??

OMG!!  It works perfectly!  No deep frying, no hot oil, just superbly made corn dogs.  They are small corn dogs (you cut a bun length hot dog in half).  Make the batter, roll the hot dogs in flour or corn starch (makes the batter stick better) then dip in a deep glass filled with batter.  Lay them in the tray and bake--probably 5 minutes.  Six perfectly cooked corn dogs!  I brushed the cooking trays with oil/brush in between batches.  It worked so well I made corn dogs for the entire Visitor Staff on Friday!  My plan is to make these with the grandsons.  Little boys armed with sharp sticks, hot dogs, and drippy batter--what could possibly go wrong?  ROFL!!!!  😉  DD said this new nifty appliance has to stay at Grandma's house!  Where's her sense of adventure??  The boys are so impressed with her making them waffles, think how much they would enjoy CORN DOGS!!  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Accuquilt Ohio Star Die

I forgot to include the Ohio Star Die I received in my Ambassador box!

Classic blocks are my favorite, earlier this year I used Dee's die to make a set of blue Ohio Star blocks--

Cutting an entire set of 42 blocks from assorted scraps of blue and white was so easy.  The triangles were all perfectly cut to sew together--no dog ears to trim.  I'm looking forward to using this die to make an Ohio Star quilt using Island Batik fabrics.  Thank you so much Accuquilt for sending me this die.  Accuquilt is an Island Batik Ambassador partner.  My Accuquilt GO makes cutting projects EASY and ACCURATE.  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

*I was given the Ohio Star die free from Accuquilt*
 

Friday Confessions on Saturday

No sewing.  The Dr says I have to rest my arm/shoulder for another 3 weeks.  Rehab exercises and wear my sling.  UGH  Then we'll reassess.  Rotary cutting is out.  Sewing binding by hand is out.  I sewed some 5" squares together (they were precut from my scraps) to do a new method of Uneven 9 Patches or Puss in Corner blocks.  (Made prior to the latest Dr. appt, BAD LORI).

https://susies-scraps.com/2016/09/17/uneven-nine-patch-block-tutorial/

Is it easier?  Faster?  No, but I have a large tote of precut 5" charms cut from scraps. 

I used my pink squares for the July Rainbow Scrappy Challenge.  I'm linking with SoScrappy.    The sewing of these blocks really irritated my arm, but my soul felt better.  Sigh  

I have a new friend--meet Lester--

Lester is a common toad.  He was in front of the Visitor Center one very hot day baking on the concrete.  Andrew caught him and put him in a box, I took him to my campsite and put him in the flower bed.  I'm hoping Lester eats lots of bugs!

My garden in pots is doing well.  Recently we ate the first tomatoes--

There are lots of small tomatoes and flowers, I'm looking forward to eating lots of tomatoes.  The zucchini blossoms are beautiful--

The zucchini plants are covered with blossoms and have lots of zucchini babies. Did you know there are male and female blossoms?  This is a male blossom.  The plant will produce many male blossoms when it begins blooming to attract lots of pollinators.  Here is a picture of both sexes--

(Photo from Pinterest)

You can read about them here.

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

2nd Island Batik Ambassador Box

The 2nd Island Batik Ambassador box has arrived!  Here are the contents--

21 Fat Quarters of various beautiful batiks.  These coordinate with the Mermaid Cove collection below.

 

A Mermaid Cove Jelly Roll with two yards each of a coordinating light and dark.  There are Mermaids, Octopi, Seaweed, Turtle Shell, and Bubble prints.  8 coordinating half yard cuts of blenders and basics.

I am EXCITED about the Geared Up collection--STEAMPUNK motifs!  Blacks, golds, browns and neutrals.  8 half yard cuts of coordinating blenders and basics, two yards each of a light and a dark.  A Layer Cake of different prints.  Ahhh!  I love the colors!

Island Batik also sends backgrounds--4 yards each of white, black, gray, and vanilla.  Aurifil is a Ambassador partner and included four 1422 yard spools--Bubble Gum pink variegated, Peachy Coral, Chocolate brown, and a cream.  Aurifil is the BEST thread.  Long staple Egyptian cotton and hardly any lint when you sew. 

Hobbs is also an Island Batik Ambassador partner.  They sent a queen size 80/20 batting and two throw size battings, one 100" wool and one 80/20 with wool.  You can never go wrong using Hobbs batting!  I'm looking forward to using the wool ones. 

Nature surrounds me.   This turkey hen was in the shade underneath the tree, she has nine chicks.   I fill a small plastic bucket with water for them to drink.   She tolerates me taking pictures through the window but leaves if I come outside.  

Although its August the weather is nice.  Overcast and 71F.   A bit muggy but it is August.  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~ 

*I was given the Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs batting*

No sewing but .....

There's been no sewing.  My shoulder/arm are not getting better.  More Dr appointments will be needed.  But I WANT to sew!  Earlier this week I was cheered up by two boxes of donated fabric from Judy B--

 The big box was HEAVY!  Here is a pic of the contents--

Judy sent me yardage on the right, and her stash of homespuns.  She even included BLADES!  Homespuns are not something I buy but they make the most beautiful comfortable cuddly quilts--perfect for boy quilts!  How much did she send?  27 pounds.  That's 80 to 100 yards of fabric!  WOOHOOO!  Thank you Judy!  Next began the search for patterns to use the fabric.  This one has made the short list--

Snowball and Puss in Corner or Uneven 9 patches.  Perfect!  I am always looking for patterns that are simple and use limited background fabric.  This is a picture I copied from Pinterest--no link to go with it.  Can't you see those homespuns using this setting?  

It has turned hot and humid.  Still getting lots of rain.  During the weekend of the 4th we had 1.80" of rain at the camper, and 2.75" at our house.  We did not plant any crops this year.  A road to one field has either been closed or 4 wheel drive only--and that's the public road!  The weeds are going crazy, too wet to spray, too wet to disc them under.  But its better than drought, nothing more depressing than planting seed only to watch them wither to nothing.  And you still have all the costs associated with planting.

~Lori1R in Nebraska~
 

Air Pruning

Gardeners have been hearing lots about air pruning.  Its using air to control the growth of a plant's roots in a container.  I tried it using old laundry baskets and some tulle--

This is a picture 10 days later--

They have grown like WEEDS!!  Planted in cheap potting soil using 3yo seed.  Old laundry baskets lined with green tulle.  Its been less than 3 weeks and they are BLOOMING.  I'll keep you updated on how much these plants produce.

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

We Survived the 4th

The 4th is now a happy memory!  Lots of fun times spent with family.  Nick, LB, and the boys camped next to us.  Little boys wore a path between the campers.  

We had bought cheap Dollar Tree inflatable beach balls--2 for $1.  BEST TOY EVER!!!  

Nick and Boys

Why is Nick in the lilac bush?

Little Boys threw the ball into the bush!

The balls survived much hard play!  They even got one stuck on the roof of the camper!  Max used his as an "exercise ball" on the rocks, laying on it and rolling around.  I heard it finally succumbed to Max biting it.  Why?  Why do little boys do those types of things?  Because they are little boys!

Piglet was well exercised!  Nick gave rides one afternoon.  There is a private quiet road that goes in a big circle--I wonder how many laps Nick did?  

 

 

In lieu of motorcycle helmets the boys wore their bike helmets.  Piglet is not like a big motorcycle, top speed is maybe 40 mph down a hill with the wind.  Gentle rides with little boys is much slower.  One time we saw two little boys riding with Nick!  

Grandma made waffles one morning for breakfast--

Little boys are growing and have healthy appetites. 

 

Another fun Dollar Tree find was Glow in the Dark necklaces.  The boys wore these at the night fireworks display.  There's always a huge crowd, and the necklaces made it easy to keep track of the boys when we left, walking to our cars.  They also made it easier for cars to see little boys!  Always a parent and grandparent worry.  And the Dollar Tree had other fun glow in the dark items--

Glow in the dark swords!  It was pitch dark when I snapped this picture, I should have turned the flash off.  The boys had fun with them, and I know the swords were played with in bed that night.  ROFL--I bet their parents appreciated that!

All too soon they had to go home, Grandpa will miss his boys--

This was the first time in 20 years Ken took a week of vacation.  Usually he takes a few days here and there.  

Now its back to volunteering.  A beautiful but windy day today.  How did you spend your 4th?

~Lori1R in Nebraska~