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~

A Great Day

Yesterday was a wonderful lecture at the Sassy Cat Quilt Shop. Mary W. from Vermillion spoke for two hours on her favorite subject--QUILTS!!!  She spoke on style, fabrics, dating quilts.  We were asked to bring our antique/vintage quilts and the stories behind them.  So much eye candy!  Here is Mary---

Her husband Steve helped hold quilts plus Mary brought more friends to help.  Mary, Lorrie2Rs, Me, and Dee from Nebraska--

Mary, Lorri2Rs, Me, and Dee from Nebraska

We had a wonderful time!  Dee brought the most wonderful quilt made for her husband by his mother--

The picture doesn't do it justice.   The pattern was by Rainbow Quilt Co.  This quilt was very heavy--Dee and Lorrie2Rs arms hurt after holding and waiting for me--

Mary brought me boy quilts, boy tops, and some fruit and veggie fabrics--

When I look at them I don't see the fruits and veggies (well, maybe the bananas), I see TOT fabrics.  51 pieces--I need to think of a pattern to use them.  I think I will sort them by value.  A good tool to sort is using a photo editing app and change your picture to black & white--

See how much easier it is to sort for value?  Mary also shared one of her patterns--it is exactly the type of pattern I like--

Mary writes great directions.  There are a lap, twin, double, queen and king size patterns in it.  

Still not much sewing.  Sigh  This is getting old.  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

How does my garden grow?

I plant tomatoes, flowers etc in pots.  Laura Beth asked for zucchini plants.  I'd saved some old laundry baskets and used them for the zucchini seedlings--

I've been reading about "air pruning" and was excited to try it.  I lined the baskets with tulle fabric.  A few seedlings were planted in pots I had on hand.   Most my vegetable plants live on picnic tables, the wildlife often wants to investigate/eat/dig in them.  If they are on a picnic table they are less appealing.  There is a small flower bed next to my camper.  I planted it with flower seeds--

 

Morning glory, zinnia, and other flower seeds were sown.  They are happily growing and will need some sort of trellis.  I raised the wire panel and put long garden stakes in the corners and tied them together at the top.  Plastic plant tape was used to tie the wire to the stakes.  Eventually it will be a blooming flower volcano (I hope)!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Thursday Update

Its been busy.  Last week we had "Pie Day".  I made two pies--a pecan and a buttermilk.  These were the entries--

I didn't win, Andrew won with a Banana Cream pie and Ashley was 2nd with a Coconut Cream Cheesecake with her secret ingredient (a little lime juice).  They were both VERY GOOD!  ROFL--the buttermilk pie was eyed with trepidation, but I liked it.  The flavoring was nutmeg, and I adore nutmeg!  It was basically a custard pie with lots of cream, sugar and eggs--what's not to like about that??

Here are the winners--Ashley and Andrew. Next month we are having Ethnic Food Day.  I am making a Cajun dish, I like Cajun cuisine! 

We had a visitor to the VC--

Hannah modeled the Pioneer clothing Lorrie2Rs made (Hannah is a former Ranger at the VC).  The dress up clothing is a popular spot in the VC.  There is usually lots of laughter from that section of the building!  

I've done very little sewing.  My shoulder is unhappy and I will probably need to see the Dr. again.  So no goals this week.  We're still having lots of rain, this morning was 2-3" of rain north of me and it was still raining.  Here at the camper we got a sprinkle and lots of thunder and lightning. I was worried about wind/hail in the night so I moved a few favorite plants under the picnic table.  The big hibiscus sheltered under the front of the 5th wheel.  Summer has finally arrived, it will be in the 80's today and possible 90's this weekend.  

Have a great week!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Yesterday I finished sewing the May Make It Modern project together.  The next time I am home I will quilt it.  

Pat helped me pull fabrics for my June Try A New Technique challenge.  There are very few techniques I haven't done, so I decided to do one I do not really like but produces beautiful results--Paper Piecing!

The Quilters World magazine is from June 2010.   I save old magazines and page through them for ideas all the time.  I'm linking with Oh Scrap, Love Laugh Quilt, Moving It Forward, and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Yesterday I practiced making cupcakes with my new oven.  

Banana Nut cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting.  Or you can say they are Banana Nut muffins with frosting.  More healthy to call them muffins!

Weekly Goals--

More binding

Start Paper Piecing project

That's all for this week, its a busy week.  

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

RSC--Blue

This week I made three blue 9" churn dash blocks--

I cut these from a box of pressed scraps I brought to the camper.  I had 11 blues, so far I have sewn three blocks.  The Accuquilt GO is so handy--I have the 9" churn dash die.  The blocks fit together so perfectly when I sew them.  I'm linking with SoScrappy.

I miss having an oven in our camper.  Recently I bought an Oster countertop Convection/Toaster oven.

I put it on bricks in case it gets hot underneath.  Does it work?  My brownies were a failure but that might have been "operator error".  But I was able to bake cupcakes--

Its big enough for a 13x9 cake pan or a whole chicken.  I'll keep practicing.

Piglet is back--

Grandma's "hog".  Last night I rode it down to the mailbox.  So far no road rash moments!

Not much sewing happening, a month ago I fell UP the steps to the camper and smashed my shoulder against the doorframe.  I rested it for a month, but it's still extremely sore.  Dr. appointment yesterday, Xrays, and a cortisone injection.  Oh well, so it goes!

Have a great week!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

I'm sorry but I'm not sure what's wrong

The preceeding post has strange font and sizing--I can't seem to change it!  ~Lori1R~

Wednesday Update

June is here and we finally have had a few days of sun.  But we are quite soggy!  The bird feeders are up and I checked the birdhouses--

One nest has eight wren eggs in it.  The other house has bluebirds building a nest but no eggs yet.  The bluebirds are quite territorial, their nest is close to the feeders and they aggressively chase the other birds away--except the orioles--they are bigger and can only give them "stink eye"!  So far I've seen purple and yellow finches, warblers, hummingbirds, wrens, bluebirds, orioles, cardinals, catbirds, towhee, nuthatches, black capped chickadees, doves, woodpeckers, and several kinds of sparrows.  The turkeys wander through and clean up under the feeders.  Its relaxing to sit by the window and watch them.  

There's been no sewing.  😢  I was carrying a laundry basket of stuff up the camper steps and fell against the door frame with my right arm.  Of course its the arm I had surgery on and now the shoulder is sore too.  I have been resting it (really--that's what the Dr. would suggest) but its been 3 weeks, I may have to make an appointment.  I jammed it pretty hard and hope I haven't torn anything in the shoulder. 

Instead I will study patterns and do the math--I am ready to START SOMETHING NEW!!!  I packed 2.5" strips, 5" charms, 3.5x6.5" bricks, and bolts of neutral backgrounds. 

Remember the snowstorm in March that broke our power line?  It fried my favorite stove.  But recently I found a replacement for now on an online garage sale Facebook site--

Not the best picture--but the stove is a really nice Frigidaire, the oven HAD NEVER BEEN USED!  A good buy at $80.   

I did get my garden planted--

Tomatoes, a basil and a mint plant, cannas, dahlia, begonia, asian lillies, a few bedding annuals all in pots.  My small flower bed and around the flag post were planted with various seeds, morning glory and moonflowers.  I charged all the solar lights and they are now along the edges of my campsite.  This weekend I had help--

Asher (grandson #2) fertilized and watered all the pots and flower beds.  He and Mason spent the weekend with Ken and I.  We were pretty relaxed--hot dogs, cold cereal, and fudge sickles!  We ate breakfast at the VFW--the first Sunday of the month they serve big breakfast--all you can eat.

I hope you are enjoying nice weather and a great summer!

~Lori1R in Nebraska~

Finding Happiness

Recently I read this article--

https://tinyurl.com/y8xvfjzw

Its based on a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson--

 “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

Too many times we rely on things to make us happy.   Being useful makes me happy too.  Volunteering, making and donating quilts, cooking for others--these all make me happy.

What makes YOU happy?

~Lori1R in Nebraska~