Wishin' I Was Quilting!

I've been thinking about quilting all day; browsed through two new quilt magazines that came in the mail today, and have studied a bit of a hand quilting book I got last week at Half-Price Book Store.  I just haven't gotten my energy revved up to start sewing yet! 

Here's a little pillow cover, made by my mother in the '30's; it matches one of my Dutch Doll quilts she made.  In times past, I've displayed it on my grandfather's piano stool, but discovered it fits very well in the little doll bed I bought at a garage sale and refinished last fall.  I may have shown it earlier, I'm not sure.  Anyway, I have my mini quilts---table runners and wall hangings --- stored in it, and I thought maybe the Dutch Doll pillow cover would make a nice covering for them. 

See, I am beginning to think "quilting" again!  I'll probably wait until after New Year's to really get into it.

I even sat down with a tablet and pencil and made a list of things I want to accomplish around my place in 2011; no guarantees those things will get done.  I did the same thing with quilting plans, to some degree.  One thing that was on my imaginary list last year never got done, so it is on the list again.  I hope to make simple labels for all my antique quilts --- just makers' names, location, and approximate dates.  The information is recorded in my journal, but not on the quilts.  Someone someday maybe will want that information on them.

Happy New Year to all my blogging buddies!  I hope 2011 will be a better year for all of us!   Stay well, and stay safe! 

Happy Quilting too!  ---"Love"

My Favorite Candy Recipes

Maybe some of you candy makers would enjoy a few of my favorite candy recipes for Christmas. 

---"Love's" Divinity

In 2-quart pan, mix together

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup hot water

1/2 cup white Karo syrup

Dash of salt

Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. 

Continue cooking and boil, stirring often,

until it forms a hard ball in cold water.

Meanwhile, while it's cooking, 

beat 2 egg white until very stiff, and transfer to large mixer bowl.

This is a good time to put wax paper on cookie sheet,

and get dipping spoon and knife ready too.

When syrup makes hard ball in cold water,

remove from heat and add slowly to egg whites,

beating constantly at full speed until candy begins to thicken.

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla, and continue beating

until it begins to lose its gloss and holds its shape.

Remove from mixer; add 3/4 cups chopped walnuts (or pecans),

and beat with wooden spoon until

it can be quickly dipped onto wax paper. 

Hint:  Place wax paper on cookie sheets before beating begins

so it will be ready;

be sure to have your spoon and knife ready to dip quickly

or it will set up in mixing bowl before you finish.

Cookie sheets make it easier to move out of your way when you finish.

I usually get about 50 beautifully swirled pieces.

Store in tight container;

if they last long enough to get sticky in a few days,

loosen the lid and give them a little air for a couple of hours,

then re-seal.

This recipe takes about 20 minutes, start to finish!

So hurry!

---"Love's" Old Fashioned Fudge

In 2-quart saucepan, mix together

2 cups granulated sugar

1 small can (5 oz.) evaporated milk

2 squares semi-sweet chocolate

3 tablespoons white Karo syrup

Dash of salt

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,

until sugar dissolves and chocolate melts. 

Continue cooking, stirring often, until it comes to a full boil.

Do NOT stir again after it is boiling.

Cook until it forms a soft boil in cold water.

(Reduce heat a little if necessary.)

Remove from heat; add 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

DO NOT STIR UNTIL COOLED TO LUKEWARM

or  until you can hold your hand on bottom of pan.

Then beat until it thickens and begins to lose its gloss. 

Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts if desired, and pour into buttered pan.  

Cut into squares as soon as it sets up.

HINT:  If you wait too long to cut, it may crack instead.

After cutting, cover pan with plastic wrap

for a couple of hours to mellow.  

Then store tightly; it lasts for several days (if you hide it!). 

(I like mine "smoooooth", without nuts!)

---"Love's" Peanut Butter Balls 

Mix well together in large mixing bowl

1 pound box powdered sugar

1 cup smooth peanut butter

2 sticks margarine, melted

Chill in refrigerator until very firm.

Roll into balls, about 1 teaspoon each.

Chill again until very firm.

Melt white dipping chocolate in double boiler, and dip balls. 

Lay out on waxed paper on cookie sheets to cool.

Store in tight container; they keep well several days.

HINT:  Brown dipping chocolate is good too!

Ambrosia brand chocolate from HEB grocery

works best for me for this candy.

I use toothpicks to dip, and then drizzle the hole with more chocolate.

This recipe makes a lot. 

---"Love's" Easy Pecan Pralines

Mix together in 2-quart pan

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup evaporated milk (not a full small can!)

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, to a rolling boil.

Add 4 tablespoons butter and 1 1/2 cups broken pecans.

Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat; add 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat by hand vigorously immediately

until firm enough to hold shape.

Dip quickly by teaspoon onto waxed paper on cookie sheet.  

Makes about 40-45 beautiful creamy pralines.

Store tightly; they keep well for several days. 

If they get sticky in a few days, give them some air!

HINT:  Keep them hidden if you want to save them for later!

My fireman buddies fight over them!

The fire chief refused to share his!

Unfortunately, I've not been able to stand long enough this Christmas

 to make as much candy as I usually do,

so I thought I'd just share my special recipes.

Hope you try them; I know you will enjoy the candy if you do!

Wish I had some made so I could take pictures;
they all turn out beautifully!

ENJOY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

---"Love"

A Most Unusual Christmas Season!

This has been a most unusual Christmas for me so far!  As I mentioned in my last post, I finished decorating before I cleaned house, and fortunately, mostly before I injured my foot on December 7.  Well, here is how my foot looked last night, 12 days later!  It has been constant severe pain, and I usually can handle pain well, but not this!

I wouldn't think of showing what it looked like on the 8th!  Everything you see was black and blue, plus swollen about twice its size!  My toes looked like they might rot off!   The podiatrist told me Dec.15 that I had to keep it elevated, or face surgery.   I told him that would not be possible until Saturday, the 18th, because of the party at my home on Friday.  The large hematoma just refuses to go down, even though I've been on the couch all of Sat. & Sun afternoons!  I guess I'll be there again tomorrow, and I still have not bought a single Christmas present!  It's too late to do the Internet shopping!  (A friend and I are in a race to self-destruct!  I'm winning!)

Several friends wanted to cancel the party, but I said No Way!  They were bringing all the food anyway, and they also did all the dishes before they left.  There were 19 here, not the 24 I expected.  Traffic tie-ups and other plans kept some away, chemo kept another away; we missed them, but had a barrel of fun anyway!  I should haven taken pictures of the food they brought!  Again, a real oddity for my house, only one person brought sweets, and that was candy; there was not a cookie, cake, or pie, can you believe?  I was shocked; of course, we didn't need sweets after all the other things, but if I had not made a batch of peanut butter balls, fudge, and divinity, we would not have had enough to go around!  I still don't believe it from that bunch, and neither did they!  I just always tell them, "We'll eat what you bring!", and apparently no one knew what anyone else was bringing.  Still, it was wonderful, and no one went hungry!  Somehow, they all managed to take home a can full of either candy or TV Trash.  As usual, I read the Christmas story from the second Chapter of Luke and gave a little "sermonette", and we each recalled a favorite Christmas memory; it was a fun evening!  I have never known of another high school class like ours; I think we all love each other more after 54 years than we did when we were in school!  We truly are family!  We always have a good time when we are together, whether we are at a Christmas party, a class reunion, or  even a funeral visitation!

Here's just a few more Christmas pictures from around the house.

I made this back in the 60's when I also made Christmas stockings for the boys.

"Christmas Chickadees" hangs in the den, and is my favorite Christmas  quilt;  I made it in 2004.  You probably remember it from APQ.  I hand quilted it with metalic thread.  The berries are little round glass beads.

"Flying Home for Christmas" was new in 2009, and hangs in the sunroom.

Remember back in January when Ann (A Good Yarn) and I were going to make at least one Christmas thingy a month?  Well, here's my January thingy!  That's the last Christmas thing I finished in 2010!  Click twice to read the door hanger.

I do have another unfinished one on the coffee table in the den.  The fabrics are the same as the "Christmas Chickadees", but I never finished the quilting before I closed the machine down for Christmas!  Maybe in January I'll finish it???  My sister cross stitched the little lid on the TV Trash jar; hope you can read it.  It says "Tis the Season to be Snacking".

This little tree is in the den.  I have to tell you that both quilts were store bought, but I love them.  Can you believe Santa hasn't left a thing in my Christmas stocking since my sister died?  I surely thought I'd been a good girl, but I guess I was wrong!

The big tree is in the sunroom; I love how the lights reflect in the windows.

I found these little cross stitch decorations among the things my sister had made, and they will become a permanent part of my Christmas displays.  There are about 25 of them; I'm so proud of them!





My family will be here Christmas Eve as always (except last year when the snow didn't allow them to get here!)  Other than that, I guess it will be pretty quiet around here.  I'm just really not up to another party, though we had another one planned, but I agreed to cancel because of my foot.  Also the church quilters' leader wanted to have that party at her house this year, which was good, and I still had to miss it because of this foot!  But it could be worse!  I could be in a big cast!  So I'll try not to complain!

At least I got to see and hear the Christmas program at church tonight; it was all great, but the music was superb!

Just one more thing I want to share.  I don't read as much as a lot of you do, but I would like to recommend a quick read that I've enjoyed this past week.  It is "A Stranger for Christmas", by Carol Lynn Pearson.  It has a surprise ending, and will surely make you think about how you raised your children.  I loved it!

Hope all your shopping is done, your gifts wrapped, and most of the cooking done, so you can enjoy this week and next week-end with family and friends. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!

---"Love"

An Accident Just Waiting for a Place to Happen While Looking for Christmas!

Well, I've done it again!  I found that place for an accident Tuesday afternoon --- right in my sunroom closet!

Somehow I managed to knock my heavy metal 3-hole paper punch off a high shelf, and it fell on the top of my right foot.  Some of you may have heard me yelling, "My goodness!"  (Yeah, right!)  A big knot popped up immediately, and by night I could hardly stand to touch it!  My son took me to have it x-rayed Wednesday morning; no broken bones were indicated.   I was told to keep it wrapped and elevated.  That not easy to do during Christmas preparation!  My entire foot is severely swollen and is black and blue all over!  I do not own a shoe I can get on!  My toes look rotten!  Worst of all, the severe pain has been constant!  I've never experienced such pain in my whole life!  Again I'm told, it is only severely bruised, and will just take time --- (that I don't have right now!).  Oh well, it could be worse I'm sure, and life will go on, just not in a big hurry!  Somehow, and soon, I've got to go shopping!  I haven't bought a single Christmas gift yet!  (Are you sobbing yet in sympathy? --- *grin*)

Fortunately  my decorating is finished (except the front porch posts --- still waiting on the repairman!), but I haven't finished cleaning yet.  On second thought, maybe I have finished cleaning!  Hopefully my house is as clean as any of those coming to my party next Friday night!  That's something I'm not going to worry about!  Neither have I made any candy, and I usually make about 50 pounds of sugar into candy to give away to everyone who comes to my home during Christmas!  (I have everyone spoiled; they've come to expect the candy!)

I've taken a few pictures around the house, and thought I'd share some with you.  I'm not fancy; I just love Christmas --- and I want it everywhere!

Angels in my living room.  Double click and you can see that the little ceramic standing angel has his hands behind him; he is holding a sling shot!  I just love things out of the ordinary!  *giggle*  One aunt made him and the little kneeling angel.  Another aunt crocheted the two tall angels.  The little Christmas ball says, "Friends are like angels without wings" and was given to me by a dear friend.

 On my sewing machine, in the sunroom.  I love these!

Ceramic quilt shop, and Jim Shore Santa,  in sunroom.

Jim Shore Nativity in sunroom.  Aren't they beautiful? 

I've had this Nativity Scene since 1973, and have always displayed it in the den.  I had to put new "grass" on the top this year. 

These little frosted glass snowmen have little lights that fade from red, to blue, purple and green.  The Nativity is another favorite of mine, and I love the little skaters!  This is in my guest bedroom.

This little village scene is also in the guest bedroom.  The little mice dance when the piano keyboard is raised, and it plays Christmas carols LOUD!  I got the little needlework piece above the piano at a garage sale, as well as the little wind-up piece on the right.  My grandson found the village, complete in its box, at his neighbor's trash can, so he asked permission to give it to his granny.  Not fancy, but I love it!

Back to the living room.  The cabinet, Dickens Christmas Village, and the deer and trees were my sister's.  The pink tree on top was given to me by a friend; it is made from clear crystal beads put together with big safety pins, and has lights inside.  She also gave me a green tree that's in the den by my little mouse playing a piano.  I leave the Dickens Christmas Village out year round; it's too hard to pack up, but I do have all the original boxes!  The smaller trees glow also, and I think the deer are beautiful, though the picture doesn't do them justice.  Click for a better view. 

In my bedroom, another Santa!  Also notice the prissy little gals strutting their stuff by the little piano music boxes.   Then the little tree is also in my bedroom with a pretty ceramic Santa. 
















And then on my piano in the den, there are four little pianos that play Christmas songs.  This one is the one I got at Branson, MO last month; it is gorgeous, and the keyboard moves.  I love these water globes.  In the windows in the sunroom, there are about 20 more.  You will see the carolers around the little Christmas tree here are spelling out "Leon" rather than "Noel"; my youngest son started that almost 40 years ago!                                                                                      

Just a couple more, and I'll quit!  This is a collection of little Santas and snowmen I've collected over many years.  Many are wind-up toys, or jigglers on springs.  (Yeah, I know; I'm just a silly old woman!  But I do love Christmas!)

These little pillows will be scattered on the furniture throughout the house, in addition to some already out.  The quilt will go on the loveseat; one like it is already on the den couch.                                                         

And of course, this guy keeps a watch on everything! He hangs on the ironing board cabinet in the sunroom, but can also see in the den! *wink*

                   

Okay, I'll stop now, even though there's much more I could include, but I just realized I didn't show the few little quilts I have out.  I think I've shown all of them before except maybe one, but I'll do another short post soon for them.  

While the emphasis may seem to be on Santa, believe me, it is not!  There is at least one Nativity Scene in every room, and that's the most important thing.  After all, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!  ---"Love"

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas!

So much has happened in my world in the last month; my head is spinning still!  But I'm beginning to slow down a bit.  After the estate sale and the trip to Branson, I was exhausted, and really haven't done very much very fast!  To add to the problem, this old lady took a fall on the church parking lot last Sunday; exposed myself to God and everybody around, ruined a good pair of shoes and my stockings, and embarrassed myself!  Oh well, nothing was broken; I'm black and blue, and sore, but I'm okay!  (I never was known as "Grace"!  *giggle*)   At least I have an excuse for moving so slowly this week!

Don't ask me why, but I took a different approach to Christmas decorating this year.  For some silly reason, (the kid in me I think), I just couldn't wait to start dragging out Christmas until I had cleaned the house!  I have Christmas scattered all over the house, some settled in its place, and others looking for a place to land.  The worst part is I didn't move out all the usual stuff before I began trying to set up Christmas, so now I'm having to find places to hide all the pink roses all over my house, and other stuff!  And I still haven't really cleaned house --- ceiling fans, carpet, window sills, etc.!  You probably know the drill! 

This is in my living room; the front door is just to the right of the poinsettias.  It's obvious I'm too tired to take a decent picture tonight; and I didn't even get the drape closed properly! 
My mother did the tatting in the 1920's.
 
The small tree is finished in the den, and the big tree in the sunroom is about half finished tonight!  Last week-end, the grandsons put lights on the big live tree in the front yard, but because I must have some carpentry work done on the porch posts, I haven't been able to put the lights on the porch yet, which really bothers me!  I won't turn on the tree lights until I can light the porch!  I like to have the outside lights on by the night of the City Christmas parade, which was tonight!  My yard was dark as people drove through the neighborhood!  Disgusting!  Maybe the man will come tomorrow, but I doubt it!

I did get my piano tuned Tuesday, and it sounds so much better.  I have it tuned every year just before Christmas.  It's hard to believe it is 53 years old --- a wedding present from my father and mother.  I play every night at least 30 minutes before I go to bed, but this week I've stopped by to play several times a day; it relaxes me and soothes my spirit. Will play again tonight before I sleep!

A few weeks ago Ruth (Country Log Cabin)  was so sweet to send me some "piano keyboard" fabric.  I've had an organ since 1973, and never had sense enough to make keyboard covers for it.  Consequently, dust has collected over the years on the electronic contacts, causing some of the keys to either not play, or to put out a lot of static.  Well, Ruth, tonight I've finally finished the keyboard covers with the fabric you sent me, and I thank you so much for it.  After Christmas, I may try to hand quilt each key, but I know I won't have time before that.  I think it looks fine just like it is, so I may leave it alone.  Thanks again, Ruth, for your thoughtfulness!

I still have to finish this display, but wanted to show how I used the fabric. 

I'm way behind on loading pictures from the camera to the computer, and when I finish Christmas decorating, I'll post more pictures.  Can't say just when that will be, but soon, I hope!

I hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas season; I think I've told you at least 40 times:  This is my favorite time of the year!  ---"Love"

WHEW! What a Month! But Just Wait Until December!

Seems like forever to me since I've posted a blog!  Tonight is the first time I've actually been able to sit down long enough to think about what to write.  My brain is really tired, but I think my body is dead all over!  *grin*  Most of all, my feet hurt!  I've been on them non-stop for way too long! 

My girl friend (the one who helped me with the estate sale) went to Branson, MO with me, and we had a wonderful time.  We didn't get to see the Gatlins or Andy Williams, but we did see the Oak Ridge Boys, and I have to say we were disappointed in them.  We also saw the Brett Family Show, and they were wonderful!  If you go there, be sure to see their show!  The Veterans' Day Show was really great, with lots of great entertainers, and what a tribute to our troops, past and present, by Brigadier General Paul Maye!  I wish everyone could have heard him.

My friend was born 50 miles south of Branson, in Arkansas, but her mother moved them away after the death of her father when she was five years old, and she had been back only once---last year.  She rented a car the first day, and we went to her grandfather's farm for a visit.  It was for sure a trip "over the river (low water crossings) and through the woods, to Grandfather's house" we went.  The current owners were so gracious and  invited us into their home.  They had torn down her grandfather's barn, and had incorporated three of the beams in their living room; it was beautiful!  We also got to visit with her mother's 92-year old best friend for about an hour.  The drive through the Ozarks was beautiful, with the leaves turning red, gold, and brown.  What a joy that day was, and one she will never forget!  Nor will I!

We got home on a Friday night, and the next day I went to another quilt show with a quilting friend who was making her first quilt hanging at a show!  What fun!  (Sorry --- I haven't gotten any pictures into the computer yet, but maybe soon I will!) 

I went to church and rested on Sunday, and then on Monday my friend and I went back to my sister's to finish setting up for the estate sale.  We worked every day, along with the man who helped me with the tools, until Friday when the sale began.  Everything in the house and garage was priced separately, and when 7 AM came on Friday, it was as though a tornado got inside the house and couldn't get out!  I think there must have been about 300 people or more on Friday, and at least 200 on Saturday, that walked through every room, and most bought several things (which I might add I had priced to sell)!  I don't have room for another thing in my house, and the important thing was to get rid of it, and that's just what we did.  We sold every bit of the furniture, and all the household things and tools!  I could easily pack what is left in my car, and that's pretty unusual for estate sales in this area!  Next thing is to sell the house, but I'm waiting until next week to get into that!  I need some rest badly!  Now I know why estate sale handlers charge so much!
But by golly, we got it done!  I could never have done it without the girl (I called her a slave driver!), the man who helped with the tools, and my son who is the best "gopher" in the world!  He did anything we needed done, and carried things to the cars for people!  We were all beat, and I don't think any of us have recovered yet; I know I haven't!  But God is Good!  I don't have much left to get rid of, and it can wait until next week!

I'm taking it easy this week, and will go to my son's on Thanksgiving.  Tomorrow I clean my dirty house, and hopefully Friday I begin dragging Christmas out of the closets --- not the tree yet, but all the trinkets, etc.  I can hardly wait to unpack the new little piano I got at the Cracker Barrel in Branson; it plays 50 songs, and is gorgeous!  I'll get my real piano tuned next week to get ready for parties here all month long.  My high school gang will be here Dec. 17, and I can hardly wait!  Haven't set the dates yet for some other groups.  Got to start making candy!        If my house were clean, I'd start decorating tomorrow, (I'm going from spring flowers that I never got changed out, straight into Christmas poinsettias and holly) but I've been so busy with the sale, I haven't had time to vacuum, much less clean windows, wash crystal, or clean carpet!  Ugh!!!

DID I EVER TELL YOU THAT I LOVE CHRISTMAS?!!!  It is my absolute favorite time of year!

The weatherman said we are to have a freeze and maybe some bad weather for Thanksgiving and later.  Maybe I'll get to stay home -------- *wink*!

Guess where I'm going now!  I'm going to bed, and I'm NOT setting the alarm!  This old lady is far too old for this much activity!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of you!

---"Love"

Ready for Some Fun After Some Disappointments

Well......I'm sorry the Texas Rangers didn't win the World Series, but I'm proud of them anyway!  Wish I could say the same for the Dallas Cowboys!  Oh, but there are lots more important things than Pro Sports, right?  So forget that!  Right!!

I've been busy as a three-legged cat in a sandbox the last 2-3 weeks!  Getting ready for an Estate sale (my sister's) is no fun, but lots of hard work!  I should have done it a couple of years ago!  Fortunately I have two friends who have worked tirelessly with me, and we are almost finished and plan to have the sale before Thanksgiving.  Now I have a lot of "stuff" at my house, but my sister had even more!  Enough about that for now; I'm tired of fooling with it all!  (Sorry, Ruth, no vintage patterns!)

I think it's time for a break!  I and the girl friend who has helped me so very much are leaving Tuesday at 6 AM on the church bus, headed from Texas to Branson, Missouri, for four days.  For those not familiar with Branson, go to http://directory.branson.com/listing/guide/shows to see a fun place! I'm not sure what shows we will see, but I do hope we get to see the Gatlin Brothers, and maybe Andy Williams.  I think there will be about 30 of us, and we are really looking forward to it.  I just hope I can get my things together and get to the church in time to catch the bus!  Actually, I hope I get to go to bed tonight----sometime!  *giggle*  Still have lots to do, but I did get two batches of cookies packed for munching on the way. I made a little pillow so I can sleep some on the way.  (Dream on, right?)  I don't think I've been away from home overnight since last November when we went to Branson.  We went to the Veteran's Day parade and program, which was wonderful, and we will do the same thing Thursday this year.  It is one of the largest Veteran's Day celebrations in the nation.

Then the next week is the Estate Sale, and then Thanksgiving the next week, and that's when I begin Christmas decorating and parties, so as you would guess, there will be very little, if any, sewing/quilting until the New Year!  I don't like that idea, but I do love Christmas!  *grin*

I'll try to catch up on blog reading next week!  Keep up the good work, everyone.

---"Love"

IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW -----

The Texas Rangers are going to the World Series!  YEA!!!!!

Just thought I'd let you know in case you missed the game tonight!  *grin*

---"Love"

Congratulations are in Order --- Again!

Congratulations to you again, Ann; 

you made the Home Page of apq.com

with your little Rolling Stones quilt! 

It is one of my favorites (the colors, you know!),

so I was glad to see it there. 

Enjoy the ride! 

---"Love"

Have You Ever Cut Into An Old Down Comforter?

Well, don't!

This morning I cut just a very small 2-inch cut on the edge of one, and now my sunroom looks like the house of the abominable snowman!

When I first went to work in 1956 in Fort Worth, with my very first paycheck, I went to "The Fair", the fancy store across from Striplings, and bought the most beautiful baby blue satin down comfort. I had always wanted one, but can you believe that's one thing Mother never bought me! Now I think I know why!

I used it on my bed for years, until it got too dirty to be seen. When I washed it, it faded to an almost silvery gray and of course, never was pretty again. I still used it on cold nights a while longer, but finally packed it away, as is my lifelong habit!  (If I ever once had something, I probably still do --- somewhere!)

Well, when I looked in the wooden quilt box in the garage, there it was! I put it in a big garbage bag and brought it in the house to check it out. I wondered if it was really down inside and if so, what would it look like by now. So I took it in the sunroom this morning and cut a little slit along the binding edge.

Believe me! It IS down! The tiniest, fluffiest stuff I ever tried to hold in my hands! First thing I knew, it was all over my legs and floating down to the floor everywhere! I'm glad I had cut just a small slit! I'm also glad the ceiling fan wasn't on! I was at the sewing machine, so I folded the edge over and turned on the machine while holding it with one hand. I stitched that hole closed in a hurry!

It may be a real challenge to get it all up because when I try to pick it up, it moves from the air movement caused by my hand! I hope the vacuum will grab it; then I hope it doesn't clog the vacuum!

Actually, not a lot got away, but it is a mess; that's for sure!

I grabbed a handful and stuffed it in a plastic snack bag to show the grandkids when they come.

I wonder how many geese had to die to make that big down comfort?!!!

I'm glad I had not already vacuumed today. That's next on my agenda!

Thought you should know: DO NOT CUT INTO A DOWN COMFORT, FOR ANY REASON! --- unless you are outside and upwind!

---"Love"

Three Weeks; Three Quilt Shows!

Prepare for a conglomeration of thoughts in this post;  that's what happens when one doesn't post a blog in almost three weeks!

First off, I want to say thanks to all of you for your comments on my last several blogs at least; for the sympathy over the cemetery markers - (did I tell you they caught the kids and they are incarcerated awaiting trial?); for the backyard menagerie pictures; for the sewing machine cabinet addition, and especially for your sweet comments on the old blog re-run. I got all teary-eyed re-reading them again tonight.

Perhaps I've been a little emotional recently anyway, because a few days ago, one our our dear church quilters went to the big quilting bee in the sky!  She had been very ill for many years with a lung disorder.  She was an excellent and loving quilter who will be missed greatly in our group.  Her funeral was last Wednesday.  I miss her already.

                                       

I have been to quilt shows each of the past three week-ends.  The Trinity Valley Guild held its annual show in Fort Worth a couple of weeks ago.  It was a good show, but somehow I didn't feel it was as good as last year; I arrived at that conclusion by recalling the quilt(s) that I just cannot get out of my mind.  To be truthful, this year only a couple stood out in my memory although there were lots of really pretty quilts there.  These were some I liked best:




The Cheddar reminded me of Ann.

 

The precision reminded me of Theri.






"A Touch of Texas"

 There was a wonderful display of antique quilts with notes attached to some.


Old Paper Piecing



Egg Money Note





Match Sticks!




Enlarge & Read This Poem About a Quilt with No Label!

 Two weekends ago a friend and I went to the Weatherford, Texas, Show, where there are many great quilters even though it is a much smaller show, probably about 100 quilts.  I always love to go there; the quality of their quilts is always excellent, and everyone is so-o-o friendly! Some of my favorites:



Check out the machine quilting!



Seven Sisters

  

Then this past Saturday we went to the Stephenville, Texas, Show which had probably 100 quilts, many which I thought were excellent. There was a higher percentage of hand quilting at this show than in the other two shows. They have a lot of wonderful hand quilters whose work was beautiful. Some of the really talented local machine quilters did several quilts in both the Weatherford and Stephenville shows. A fun show every year!

Dutch Treat

Stack and Whack Fans

Roseville

Tonight I finished the binding on a third quilt that belongs to a friend. I have one more to do, then maybe I can get back to my own projects.

I hope no one ever knows how long it took me to get these pictures in; I cannot get them where I want them! *big frown*!  I don't want to hear a word about the arrangement! *wink*

Hope everyone has a fun week of quilting; don't look for much from me right now!  I think there is one more small quilt show this month; I hope I get to go!

---"Love"

Unusual Dresden Plate Setting, Beautiful Handquilting!

More Animal Life Watching than Quilting!

Two weeks, and no quilting I can show!  But I have been doing some binding!  Not on my quilts, but on four quilts from the '30's made by a friend's mother.  (It just occurred to me as I typed that last sentence that it won't be many years until we will have to say and write 1930 rather than just '30's. ) I have finished one binding and about half of the second.  They are to be family Christmas gifts, so there's no rush, but I want to get them finished and out of my house!  Maybe after Christmas I can show pictures, though I doubt anyone would see them if I posted now ; ---- but I'll wait!

I have used the new sewing machine cabinet extension to hold the big quilts; it is so nice, and I just love it!  I have painted the support legs that were white; maybe "antiqued" would be a better term.  I used two shades of brown and matched the cabinet as well as I could.  Again, I'll say it's good enough for who it's for --- ME!  I really don't know how I got by before that was added; it made stitching the bindings on those big quilts so much easier!  I can't believe how much I use it for a variety of things.



While sittin' and stitchin' in the sunroom, I've watched lots of animal life again.  I looked out just at the right moment to see what I thought was a bluebird go to the bird feeder.  Then it flew up in my neighbor's yard, and I grabbed my camera.  Turned out to be someone's parakeet.  It stayed around that day, and was gone.  You may remember that last year I had a big yellow one on the feeder.  I wonder if they both belonged to the same person. 

Then I looked out again, and there sat Mr. Bushee, digging and eating grass roots!  He couldn't possibly be that hungry! I feed him corn every day! 

Then I found the front porch graced by a beautiful big butterfly!  I had never seen one like it here before!  On a second thought, that may be a big moth of some kind.  No matter --- lovely anyway!

Then back to the sunroom and binding!  That's when the little hummingbird stopped in for a quick drink!  I just love to watch them!  You can see where the water swept through the rose garden and washed the mulch away!  Got to get that replaced, and those weeds out too when it dries up!  *frown* 

No wonder I don't get more quilting done!  *grin*

---"Love"

I'm Really Angry Today!

This is totally off the subject of quilting, but I just have to express my anger!

Four generations of my family are buried in four different cemeteries in close proximity to one another.  Yesterday I paid a visit to all four cemeteries after receiving word that one of them had been hit by vandals.  What I found there was very disturbing!  Broken granite markers were lying all around the cemetery, at least 103 were damaged according to the newspaper report.  Thank God, the other three cemeteries did not receive damage from the criminal vandals! 

My maternal great grandfather's family came to Texas in the mid-1850's, and he and his family are buried there, but his large family marker was not damaged.  Markers for two of his babies buried in 1877 and 1882 were broken several years ago when a similar incident occurred.  This cemetery is probably one of the oldest, maybe the oldest, in this county, and markers are there for many early settlers and several Confederate Army soldiers, including my great grandfather.  The cemetery is right in town, surrounded by occupied homes and a church;  yet nobody seems to know how or exactly when the dastardly damage occurred.
 

Some of the markers were beautiful tall spirals; others were simple small upright markers; nonetheless all were a precious piece of history.    Why anyone would want to do this is incomprehensible! 

This kind of damage is scattered all across the cemetery!  Workers tried to move some of the pieces close together in hopes they won't get scattered further.  Look at the top right picture; it is evident this is not the first time that marker was damaged.  The pieces in the front are embedded in the soil, while the base and the pieces behind show recent damage, since any rain.  Most likely there are very few family members who will ever know this has happened to their early family burial sites.  Most have either moved away generations ago, and may have all died elsewhere.

I took more pictures of my great grandfather's family markers, but chose not to post them.  It is a large solid marker, probably five feet tall, four feet wide, and about two feet thick, and on a larger base, with his Confederate marker standing at his feet.  If and when vandals decide hit it with a vehicle, they will be walking home; their vehicle will be out of commission! 

Most likely the criminals will never be caught, but I can tell you if they are, this County will prosecute them, I hope to the fullest degree allowed by law, regardless of their age!  There is no excuse for such actions!

---"Love"