Life as we know it.....

 It's been awhile, lots of changes in our lives and new babies that are growing like weeds!  Last week was our winter armagedden with a week full of below zero temperatures. Slowly the last days of February are warming up to normal temps and snow is melting.  A few of the quilts that I've made lately, the purple/lavendar is a quilt as you go.  

March's Escapades..........

March is almost over and i'm planning on decorating for Easter.  April 17th this year, seems later than usual, no? There has been a lot going on around our house lately, we laid down those 50 bags of mulch and things are looking fresh and clean.  The garden needs a good rain before we can till and think about planting early crops like lettuce and broccoli.  Not planning a huge garden this year just the usual tomatoes, peppers, corn and some zucchini.  I recently bought a spiralizer and love it for making the zucchini noodles, such great flavor!  Mr. Outdoors has been busy cutting down volunteer trees that seem to crop up with a vengeance every year and also fertilizing the brome and pasture.  It truly is so nice to have the warmer weather and be able to work outside without freezing!  We just returned from a trip to Arkansas, going down memory lane and enjoying some hiking.  A first time for us to hike Hawksbill crag, some beautiful scenery and a good workout as the trail is full of tree roots and rocks to step over.  We always enjoy eating at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper, Arkansas.  Great home cooking and very generous portions, chicken fried steak to die for!  Our great-grandson is 6 months old now and growing like a weed, he is quite the entertainer.  His facial expressions are so cute and he does this thing with his eyebrows going up and down that is so funny!  His Momma has started him on a few foods and he loves his oatmeal and avocado but boy the expressions from peas and sweet potatoes are hilarious, he does not like them!  I recently found a gardenia plant at a local store and have it in the dinning room, oh my goodness, the smell is sublime.  Everytime I walk in there it is such a sweet smell, been years since I have smelled a gardenia.  Deer stag quilt i'm making for Mr. Outdoors is coming along and such a fun project.  Time for that picture roll, have a great weekend!

February's Doings Compressed......

February went by in a flash and here we are in March and the 10th already!  Our weather has been so good and spring has arrived very early this year. Lots of wild fires here in Kansas, luckily has not affected us but sending out prayers for the ones affected. I have been busy raking all the flower beds and am in the process of mulching.  30 bags of mulch is a lot but I fear it won't be enough, we shall see. February's going's on...... My one and only Aunt celebrated her 91st birthday, we got to spend some quality time with our grands and great grand, I crocheted a cardigan sweater for myself (nice and warm), Mr. Outdoors did a lot of tree trimming, did some MCC quilting with my sisters, made our first grilled PBJ's (move over grilled cheese), gardenia's filling the house with their sweet smell, isn't this the best kitchen island

and last but not least beautiful Kansas sunrises charm us every morning!

  Musn't forget the beautiful Roses Mr. outdoors gave me for Valentines Day, he is the sweetest! Aren't they lovely.....

January's Going's On......

Been a busy month for me.  Pieced together a tumbling block quilt , great grandson's I-spy quilt and a baby quilt along with shoveling a lot of snow in Colorado.  Got the living room painted here at the farm and started a sweet crochet sweater.  On January 2, I started the "forks over knives" diet and so far so good. Basically no meat, dairy, sugar, so lots of fruits, vege's and protein from beans.  We never really ate a lot of meat but I sure do miss that sugar! LOL.  Kansas hasn't had any snow to speak of but Colorado is setting a record this year for sure. After spending weeks in Colorado and shoveling snow every day I was happy to get back to Kansas!  Blue Mesa Res. will be full when this all melts.  Hope your winter is a Happy one...

Table Runner......

A sweet table runner, AddyLou creates posted on pinterest.  It was fun making this and the length can be whatever you desire.  I made this one yesterday and will be making a longer one for my dining room table.  Cute!

I-spy Quilt

Can you believe December already?!  The tree is up but no decorations yet, on my to do list.  We still are having warmish weather, 50's most days but they say cooler, much colder is on it's  way.   Thanksgiving was so much fun.....Thursday with our Family at our son's house and Saturday following was at Granddaughters house in KC.  We got lots of smooches from our new Great Grandson.  He is growing like a weed!  At 11 weeks old he is wearing 6 month sized clothes!  Such a sweet baby boy, we love him so much!  There is a I-spy quilt in the works for him for Christmas, fun to put together and almost ready to quilt. 100 different blocks, they make so many fun fabrics. Hope your day is a good one!

Pug Quilt.....

Just finished this little (48x48) baby quilt for my dear friend's daughter.  It was a fun quilt to do and I made it a quilt-as-you-go which cut down my quilting time a bunch.  Said daughter has two pug dogs and the baby's room has some dog "theme" going on so I went with the appliquéd pugs and dog bones.  

Where Did Summer Go............

Sometimes life just takes over, no other reason for not blogging for this long.   Our Family has been Blessed with the sweetest baby boy, our first great grandchild.  He is adorable and sweet and soft and cuddly, well, you get the picture.  Mr. Outdoors and I are so loving this baby boy, just can't get enough snuggles!  Summer went by in a flash didn't it?  We are spending some time in Colorado getting in the last of trout fishing before old man winter decides to join us.  Every year we plan to spend some time in Arizona come February and it never seems to work out, maybe this year we can do that?  Always good to have something to look forward to.  I have always heard it's best to have three thing's after you retire....someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to.  We seem to be pretty spot on in that department.  Here are some of our happy moments from this past few months. First picture is great grandpa and grandpa with our newest Family member.  Happy Fall!

Quilt As You Go.........

Have you ever done "quilt-as-you-go?"  I have done several log cabins, nine patch's and love the process.  When you are done sewing your quilting is done also.  This is a different take on quilt as you go and I really like the effect.  Depending on how you place the blocks, several patterns here.  Would be a quick and easy baby quilt, tho I would make the fabrics strips narrower for a baby quilt.  Happy Thursday!

Mobile.........

Granddaughter had seen a mobile she liked for the baby's crib, well really it will hang from the ceiling over the crib.  She didn't want anything attached to the crib, smart Mama she is.  I made stuffed safari animals, attached them to dowel rods with small twine and added some primary color balls.  The one she really liked was much smaller, like baby safari animals (esty for sale $182.00!).  I tried to downsize them but once you had sewn the smaller 3" animals they were impossible to turn right side out, for me anyway.  Sooo this is what I wound up with, and I told her my feelings will not be hurt if they don't use it.  She assures me it is great, but as you know Granddaughters are sweet that way.

Time Flies!

Wow, last post was May 11, summer has flown by for me.  Lots of good stuff going on around the farm and Colorado too.  With our Great grand baby due to arrive at the end of August, two baby showers have been so fun!  We had one where everyone painted a onesie for the new little guy and they turned out so cute!  Getting to see an old school friend I haven't seen for 20 years was such a delight!  Our 50th class reunion was in June, we were unable to attend but did receive a great book telling of what everyone is up to these days.  After driving my husbands trucks for the last ten months I got a new to me car and I love it! vroom vroom!  The garden is producing wonderfully this year and I have done a little canning with more in my future.  A few months back I got a pressure cooker, small one for roasts, beans ect.  I love that thing!  Brown rice in 7 minutes, pinto beans in an hour (best beans ever)!  I have only ever had one for canning, this is perfect for everyday cooking and it's super fast.  Everything I have been working on craft wise for the ggbaby is finished and his room is all set and ready for his arrival.  They say a picture says a thousand words so i'll let mine do the talking......hope your summer is awesome!