Here Tis' Pink and Brown Beauty

Well it looks like I may not be working(painting) again this week! (CRIPE!!)So the only thing to do is KEEP ON QUILTING!!!!AND...........
As promised....here are some pics of the latest full size quilt that I just finished quilting.The owner is Florida now enjoying some R&R..so I have a little bit of time to bask in the glow of the finished project. These are the ones I grow attached to the most and regret having to return to their rightful owner!!*sigh*
I especially enjoyed this one...and am filing this half square triangle idea away for future reference. I have some half square triangles from a swap awhile ago...and would consider making more anyway. They are fun and fast.
I used 3 colors of cotton thread.I ONLY USE COTTON THREADS and Mako by Aurifil is one I use a lot . They have a huge range of colors to choose from. This one was quilted with a nice antique-y brown, peach and cream all 40 wt.
I've included a shot of the back ,but couldn't seem to get a nice detail of it.
I've finished yet another quilt today..this one is a wall size . Pics of that one coming soon...Stay tuned!!!


As always click on pics for close up detail view......

Shipshewana Summer Stitch N Bitch 07

Ok so here we are ( L to R) Sandy, Mom and me

at Lolly's digging through the fat quarters in The Boat.

Mom had to have a pic taken and some kind unsuspecting quilter obliged.

The TRADITIONAL pose though is usually taken from the other side butts out. Its kind of fun diggin through these cause you might find a fat quarter of a line of fabrics that has been out of print for a while.. It isn't a baragin however because they are $2 a piece. Fabric is generally $8( more ) a yard anyway........
Here is a shot (a VIGNETTE if you will ) and you will, of what I aquired whilst there.....and one of the projects I was working on. Note the shoes (Crocs,plastic,hoseable) they were creating quite a crowd at Yoders .They had a huge display and a large selection of styles and colors...more than I've seen anywhere else.Several ladies were deliberating .....of course being the enabler that I am..I encouraged one and all to "git cha some".

The vintage blocks on the left were purchased for $1 a piece (16 total) which was a deal that day. It was odd as a whole because random single blocks were going for $3 and more while vintage unfinished tops were quite reasonable. Right Mom????? Mom let a very old beauty go ....It had one hole in it but a great old Claret fabric as the background with a circular motif in off white...she tried to get a better price.... It was only $30 anyway.....I guess someone else snarfed it after we walked away..Pity.

The fabrics under my shoe are the choices for the alternate blocks for the top I'm putting together with the 30's& 40's 9 patches. You can see I've started assembling them. They are a pain because the stitching is teeny weeny in some spots which makes it hard to rip and reassemble. Some of them need it ..the piecing is pretty wonky.

And lastly you can see the larger of the 2 vintage leather suitcases I picked up at a vendor booth at the antique fair. I already have too many ,most of mine are the straw/fabric/linen type..but these 2 were a must have at $26 for the pair...and in great shape!!Such a deal.

Ok back to the finishing of the quilt at hand....pics later!!!!!

Ready for my close up!!!

Enjoying some basil.........

Biff the Rooster (formerly known as Buffy the Bug Slayer)

Here are the usual suspects....almost all grown up!

In fact, we have just succombed to what we have been suspecting for some time ....but did not want to admit..Yes, Buffy the Bug Slayer( last pic) is indeed Biff the Bug Slayer .

She (he ) had been displaying advanced growth patterns (large butt, more comb and waddle and a generally larger disposition)....and .....

We had considered it....but after a visit to our local county fair and seeing several full grown hens and roosters we decided she (he )was just a more developed hen and went about our daily

state of poultry denial.

I went away last weekend for some quilting shenannigans and returned to an undeniable COCK-A DOODLE-DOOOOOO( 4 or 5 times!) on Monday morning when I went out to feed the flock.

Doug admitted he witness the same this weekend whilst I was away.

Now I have had some doubts about having a rooster.....and we ordered all female chicks trying to avoid a situation... having heard of aggressive roosters and the inevitable fryer/roaster smackdown.

Doug spoke with the owner of a feed store today, who proclaimed it was actually better to have a rooster especially when it comes to Organic eggs: health food stores actually seem to prefer this!!

Of course it wierds me out a tad..( me who won't even EAT CHICKEN lately)

But I guess we will have to wait and see if he can behave himself!!!!!!

WEEK OFF!!!!!

So.......
I just found out from my boss there isn't any work for me this coming week. He suggested perhaps getting a lot of quilting done in the mean time...and
I'm back from a fun filled Stich N Bitch weekend at my parents lake cottage with a side of Shipshewana...(Antique Fair,Yoder's.. Lolly's)
What happens at the Lake stays at the Lake...but I'll tell ya we had us some fun.
New shoes.....(Black Mary Jane Crocs..) unusually girly for the Schnoobie
Vintage blocks....... 16@$1 a piece
Reproduction 30's fabric purchases......oh and some previous century (Colonies Blue out of print) yardage 7+ Yds!!for sashing a set of another Vintage 9 patch blocks Yeay!
2 Monogrammed Leather Suitcases (40's vintage like new!) $26 for both
Smirnoff Raw Tea...New!!Yummy!! (6 pack )

Although we had this outing planned for a year there were 3 others that either never RSVP'ed or cancelled at the last minute. As had been previously warned they were talked about.
You know who you are and you know the consequences.

I didn't get a ton done....dabbled in several project options with minimal enthusiasm , zest or results . (Although it took me two weeks worth of digging through 3 large rubbermaid containers full of vintage block sets and pieces parts....trying to decide what to take to work on)
I did accomplish the selection and purchasing of fabrics for 2 different projects from 2 different points in quilt block making history...
Now I'm excited about actually sewing a set of 50 nine patches from the 40's that made me wonder why I purchased them in the first place.(poorly constructed and fugly) I found 7 different repro fabrics from the same era and am putting them with the 9 patches as alternate blocks in a concentric pattern.
I have several quilts to quilt, a studio to organize and a new design wall to dig out...(plus laundry...etc and blah blah)
Stay tuned for more info and pics as the week digresses...
I have to talk to somebody!!!!!!!!!!!Later!!!!!!

Chicken Lovin'

Well !!

Hello again!!!

As you can see, it has been quite a while

since my last post.

I do believe there are a few things I must update you on.

1. Not at the quilting machine job anymore.

(surprise surprise do I ever work anywhere more than 3 months at a time??)Got wierd very quickly...more later!!!!!

2.Went back to the greenhouse the day after I decided to quit the previous job. Was greeted with much joy and relief...would not let me leave unless I agreed to work there.

3. Left to go paint houses in June after greenhouse owner announced he was closing Fathers day.( not a bad living working 5 months out of the year...huh!)

4. have been painting houses (interior,exterior, new construction and existing) since.

5. claw hand is holding up quite nicely. thank you.....thanks to

6. hot wax home spa hot hot yowza

7. girls girls girls!!!!!4 Buff Orpingtons and 4 Auracanas ..they are now older teenagers and have moved into their permanent residency next to the grain shed. When they were babies living in a U-haul box in my studio I would hold each and every one of them everyday. When they graduated into the moveable coop it became harder to catch them to hold them. The coop was too large for me to reach into all areas of it. Now I can walk into their enclosure and force my lovin on them.

well maybe 3 of them..But I'm not giving up. I have one very special girl ..she is one of the Buff Orpingtons and I've named her Trixie Chicken. She likes to be held..will actually climb on to my leg from the ramp and sit in my lap for as long as I will let her. I have my own sideshow in the backyard for whoever is willing to watch my trick chickenshow.Eggspecting sometime this fall

8. Weeding weeding weeding my flower beds....

9. Getting geared up for the annual summer Wawasee/Shipshe quilting/antiqueing/eating/drinking retreat. I've decided to take inventory of all of my antique and vintage blocks and parts and put some together with other blocks of the same era or some reproduction fabrics from the period.I haven't yet decided which ones...but Yoders is fantastic for fabric choices. I am also going to take this time to get aquainted with my newly refurbished (old) Singer Featherweight (Thanks Mom!) that was gifted to me on my Birthday this year.(those of you who do not know......it was spotted sitting out in the weather on my mom's neighbors front deck.One step away from the garbage truck!!!!! )

Also....my mom is a Pied Piper of sorts...old Singer sewing machines just come to her,as well as stray cats and unfortuately small obnoxious children....But as I was saying.......just a few small repairs and a new part and she's sewing fine! Plus I got a new softsided case for it to live in!

Now I'm no longer the only one in our group that doesn't have one.Cause I can only afford FREE.

10 .Farmer's Market. Have done it twice now....will do again later on when veggies start coming in. Doing 3 kinds of Heirloom tomatoes and 4 hot peppers and 7 different colored bell peppers , small watermelons,cantaloupe and brussel sprouts.Sold Hollyhock,morning glory,catnip,lemon balm,heirloom tomato plants, zinnia and cosmos starts.Fresh cut flowers too. Organic catnip was the surprise hit at $2 for a snack size bag!! Also brought some designer fabric samples and hand-dyed muslin and hung a quilt each time to promote my longarm quilting services.This took a lot of work and energy and I've decided I cannot do it every weekend.Especially with painting houses full time and

11. Machine quilting too.Still. I don't get as much done in the Summer simply because I cannot stand to be indoors when the weather is so inviting.End of discussion. Everybody knows its a long, cold ,dark and dreary winter in these parts. Thats prime quilting time.

12.Motorcycle riding whenever I can get Alien boy to go. Daylights burnin!! Next week is Porter County Fair. Woohoo.Tractors!!Combine Demo Derby!! More farm animals!! Snarf Bunnies!! Jumbo Roosters!!Revenge of the Corn Dog!!Pig Racing!!We are so there.

So in retrospect, I have been a busy girl!!!! I just hope my fanclub masses can forgive me for the absence of bloggage. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful!!!bwaaahaaaaaaa

Enuf I Said!!!

Mrs Robinson sent me an e-mail today with the announcement that she just couldn't take a certain "Fiber" blog today and she was removing it from her book mark list.

Well! It's sooooo overdue....
I must concur and you shant see the button here no mo.
Can't deal with the pedictable rainbow pallette and bad furniture gallery "paintings".
Like anybody reads this and knows what the hell I'm referring to anyway!?

( Dont hate me cause I'm waaaaaay sexy..I looked this way cause I turned 40!!!! 3 times that weekend !!!!!! anyway...........)

Yesterday I found out that a co-worker (24 , brand new to the industry...great kid don't get me wrong....) makes a couple thousand more a year than I do.

!?!?!????????!!!!!!!!!????????????????????????

Ok I know its a different job ..but I've been in the "Industry" for 7+ years......Degree in Textiles... (have been a spell check and terminology coach to previously mentioned co-worker since)

Not to mention another temp co-worker (whom the VP knows has come in smelling like booze on several occasions ....and has joked about it to the above co-worker)
we shall call him "Playa" is next in line by default (if coorperate gets their way and eliminates the regular guy) to be the next Full time employee.

Unless of course The Bears played the night before in which "Playa" is a no show.....

I'm tellin ya its the BUILDING!!!!!!!!!

aND i GOTTA GET OUT if only it werent for the fabric addiction...............
Also I came home and found out Dougs assholebrotherboss fired one of his co-workers today.
It's all sooooo waaaaay too complicated to get into here but lets just say that one certain person could take several years worth of dysfunctional pest control foibles and turn them into a Broadway hit.......
because we all know
YOU CANT MAKE THIS SHIT UP KIDS.
Have I mentioned this before?

Outta Control Winter Quarter 06

So sorry Mrs. Robinson!!! I know its been over a month since I've felt like I could take the time for the luxury of blogging.
I'm feeling like my life has gotten away from me.
Working In the BIG CITY has affected me in more negative ways than I had ever experienced or imagined.
The drama, oy the DRAAAMAAAA!!!the reality of the 6th floor just cannot exist without it!
For some reason my body is not adjusting to the "get my sleep in chunks mode"(4.5 hours at home.2 in the am commute.2 in the pm =8?) ..which in turn has affected my everyday not for profit(putting laundry away,general houskeeping ,cooking hahahah) AND second job tasks(getting these customer quilts done on time ...you too mom! promise!!)
Of course the neverending darkness is the constant struggle but it feels like February already folks!!!!!!
My company promised health care benefits by Oct. 1st. Well............the insurance broker called today to say they are going to call my Dr with my info .Because I live on another planet, INDIANA, there was a problem.A 3WEEK DELAY WAITING FOR BENIFITS PROBLEM! So I can get there and get my Asthma meds (I have called off the past two days due to the 10 block haul to and fro which makes my lungs shut) and return to the urban working world.
This was mostly me making a stand because cripe , I was sick of being jerked around!!
AND.......
I decided to open up an Ebay store(FabricFarmgirl) to sell off those lovely pieces of fabric I've been dragging home from work AGAIN . These are the ones I'm not keeping for myself obviously,but delicious enough to offer up to a good home.I tried this when I first lost my job over a year ago and forgot how time consuming it is.SO! I've got ONE LISTING so far!!! yeah!! Only took me all dang day!!
I did get others ironed and photographed and descriptions roughed out though,ready for listing.

Will I ever feel like I've got a grip on something?Maybe its not having a feeling of ever being done, or not having a feeling of accomplishment?Don't get me wrong!! I AM NOT A PERFECTIONIST by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not whining because my sheets arent pressed. I just don't want to have to use heavy equipment to try and dig them out.
Am I ineffective? Should I stop comparing my accomplishments (more like lack there of) to others??Will I ever feel like I've got a handle on things?Will anyone even bid on my fabric listings? PS sorry no pics!whats up w/da blogger anyway??
Any and all advice is welcome!............
...

Shut -Up Date

Well I finally got the phone call from the insurance adjuster. $150 for tree removal..(after the 500 deductable !)huh!pass the steak knives kids ...we should be able to cut this thing up by SPRING!
I AM surprised at the amount for the truck. Just short of the $2000 mark after they deducted the percentage for salvage, and sales tax. yadda.
This means a new used windshield from the junkyard ( hi Dad!) and I drive it till it falls apart.
hello . duh.
Doug took the sledge hammer to the door frames and the inside roof and managed to do a DANDY JOB pounding all dents back to near original.
AGAIN HE ROCKS!!!
NOT TO MENTION the brakes he fixed and the super new improved toasty heater coil he replaced for me.
He's a righteous dude!

whomp!

Well I got up waaaaay to early this am and have been tragicaly behind on blogging . Here is the latest( last Friday) so not the greatest. Did I mention my insurance company? Hello? Farm Bureau! You suck!!!
I have had to make all the call stinking calls to check up on everybody to see, if indeed ,anything is being done.Dude! That's my truck!
So the auto guy is " guessing " it will be totaled. nice. Let's hope they give me enough $ to buy it back from them plus enough for a new windshield.Still haven't heard about what is up with tree removal $!!!Or if anyone has even come out to look. I sent my agent photos last friday and she still hadn't responded. SUCKY SUCKY SUCKY
Doug's truck was damaged to the tune of @$ 3000. His sprayer tank was completely distroyed.
Thank goodness it just missed my studio!! or worse yet we could have been in the driveway in one of the trucks or on the motorcycle!! OK GOTTA go catch that train to funville. Mo better post later. ya'll. word.

Shut-Update Tuesday August 8, 2006

OK!!!
So they made me an offer I didn't refuse. I really wasn't trying to play hardball.
My manager called me and offered full health benefits ( medical, dental and vision,....mental would have been nice too) and a full-time (ish) hourly wage that is more than they were paying previously.
Full time-ish means hopefully ,I can work as little as 32 hours per week and still be considered full-time. Which means quickie lunches and staying 1/2 an hour later daily.....this I can handle. For a 4 day work week. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.For a while anyway. My fanclub at Kravet is rejoicing I hear....
And all the fabric I can haul home.......
This is an example of a slap and sew thing made with discontinued memo samples....
It's a lumberjack quilt top and its OK!!!Especially loverley with the vintage lawn chairs and the outta control barberry. I did not receive the overachiever award during the sewing retreat.Even though I did complete an entire quilt top. Something about a minimum amount of piecing and maximum block size. Details!!! whatever!.......This one will be quickie quilted and for sale at the next upcoming show I will be vending. Please let your lumberjack friends know!

Serenity August 2006

This past extended weekend was spent at my family's cottage near Lake Wawasee. It is located in Syracuse, Indiana , dangerously close to an Amish community/quilters heaven in Shipshewana, IN.
Previous posts recorded the time we spent there this past January. This time was especially special because they had a large outside antique fair there. This was the reason why we chose this particular time to go. Not to mention the other attractions and fabric purchasing possibilities in the area. Yoder's .Lolly's. Rebecca Haarer's Antique quilt shop.Fishers Antiques. JoJo's pretzels....HELLO!!!! The rest of the time was spent on the screened porch sewing,solving the world's problems,enjoying the nonstop hummingbird king-of-the-feeder competition and local bird show right outside the porch.Along with a show-and-tell session and a discussion on creativity.Some of the participants were show offs and sewed many small pieces together in a very precise fashion........others preferred the grab slap and sew/ginormous block methods. You all know who you are.Varous types of diets were represented among the participants. From the "rabbit food points "variety to the "no migraines please" as well as the "all snack foods covered in powdered cheese or chocolate and peanut butter all the time let's stop for a "Moolatte" type.
Naturally the best ever cruise around the lake wasn't documented. Let me tell you the water,sky,sunset,blooming mallows were all just about perfect.Every single time I take that cruise I decide to become a millionaire and purchase one of those cottages on the lake . Something modest of course. Which leads me to the second part of this post.




I think I quit my job today. After two discussions with my financial/tax advisor ( hi Mom!) I made the conflicting decision to give up the ultra high profile glamour job in Chicago. Here's the facts.
1. low independant contractor wages.........
2. which means I have to take out my own deductions for 2 state taxes, FICAand my county tax( either save it all now to pay later or just hope I can pay it later) huh!
3.est. 1/3 of wages for above mentioned taxes=unable to pay bills/live /feed animals/pay daily train ( 4hr round trip commute)ticket of $15.40
4. Actual income = about the same I could get working anywhere local.Don't forget I'm working 2 hours just to pay to get there and back.
I went in as usual today before everyone else. My manager probably wasn't going to show till sometime @ 9 . I realized my return train options were severely limited so I wrote her a note and explained my plight.I expressed my desire to negotiate if at all possible also. When I was first approached about the job I was quoted a higher range of possible wages . The final offer however, was below the low end.I accepted anywas mostly because I didn't have any other options and did not know I would be hired as an independent.
So......today will be spent quilting, putting laundry away, weeding etc etc...........lalalalalalalal

Stripes Stash

OK!

here they are . striped fabulousness. mine.

all mine.

I just loves me some fabric.

lots of it.

love it long time.

stripes are my all time favorite.

over it!!!!!!!!!!

Well obviously the annual family 4th of July wouldn't be complete with out some CRACK so here ya go. Courtesy of my 11yr old niece Bailey( enabler) and 14 yr old niece Taelor( addict). We were headed down to the boat for some fireworks on the lake. Never a dull moment.

Since I was unable to download a photo of the stash of striped fabrics I have acquired recently, I thought the butt shot might lessen the disappointment. Maybe not. Ok! on to the title of this post.....

Sometimes I surprise myself with what I look forward to and / or dread and what the actual result in reality is!
Case in point: going back to work at the Mart.
I was looking forward to it, truly.
Now that a week has come and gone I have to admit
I'M OVER IT! who knew it would come with such lightening speed?
I'm blaming it on a combination of many things:
1. My vocation in life. This used to be a job that made me feel like I was doing something that was directly related to my passion/knowledge/education.NOW= Trained monkey w/staple gun.
2.My direction in life. Now I am pursuing this independant/machine quilting/flower farmer/quiltmaker/quilt history studies/lecturer/teacher/quilt shop wanna be owner direction.NOW= feels like a step or two back.
3. Capacity to endure tales /trials of dysfunction in the(previous) work place.I used to just let it erode by the slow drip method. NOW= My perspective is crystal clear and my precious mental health just wont allow it!! It saddens me to see several of my friends still enduring. And the perpetrators are becoming even worse!
4. Current job stupidity. Working with unorganized cheap companies that hire inexperienced help that can't even speak clearly!what? WHAT???? Always time to do the job over again but never time to do it right the first time.NOW= I just hope I can hang on and work through this temporary situation until the end.
5. Superior additude. Been there done that . I'm EVOLVING ... Experiencing personal growth!Working towards goals. Movin' on kids!! Not settling into a comfort zone ! WHAT A RELIEF to realize this!!!

Well Hey and Yeay!

Tomorrow is my last day at the greenhouse ! That's a good thing because today was painfully stupid. Mostly because I have "somewhere else brain". You know.... when you've finally made the decision to go on vacation , move on ,change your hairdo, get a new car...whatever!!I't almost impossible for me to focus on the present because I'm too busy wondering and planning for the big thing thats coming up!!In this case its not so much a big thing, but the next thing!!I will miss the view across the street. I watched the farmer pick up those hay bales 2 at a time and then fly across the field to put them all in a row. I mean that tractor was screamin!
All this week the boss has been giving away flats of annuals with any purchase of 25$ or more( which is really 50$ because everything is half off....) boy, people were just thrilled when they found out. ( I was instructed not to tell them until they had actually made the purchase, because I'm so sure the customer would stop at 25$ .....) my boss is not a retail wiz .......in fact he is one of those people who come out smelling like a rose despite himself. ( Top notch staff and sales crew no doubt!!!) So in retrospect.....I think it was a positive experience overall. I made some new friends, bought some more perennials(on sale!!) for my cut flower farm plans... and got an awesome( but slightly wierd ) tan . If I do it again next year,I know things would have to change. The line would have to be drawn somewhere regarding overtime. We did not get extra pay for over 40 hours, not to mention the lack of discount for employees. This is unheard of in my many many years of retail experience. I wanted to try selling at the the European Market(farmers market) this year but was unable to even have a normal life this past Spring. Due mostly to the insane greenhouse hours and the quilt show on top of it all. But hey live and learn right ?? Well..... hopefully!!!Speaking of ........on to Chicago and the daily drama that is
( DUN DUN DUN!!.).....THE MERCHANDISE MART!!!!!!

This should be fun for awhile , I hope.Let us keep our fingers crossed that I don't run into my ex-bosses lest I tell them exactly what I think of their dysfuntional duo and the sleezeball they still pimp themselves out for. Me bitter? Nah!

Hello Again!!!!!

Well.... It's been a few months since I've had the chance to get going on the ol blogger and I do apologize.......
Stuff has been going on:
frog poo on my spigot,
flowers bloomin and ..........mostly workin at the greenhouse( full-time plus hours!!) the past months also.....
getting ready for my guild quilt show(finishing client quilts,sewing hanging sleeves on my own, getting my stuff together for my vendor booth!) that has now come and gone............. so I have been busy!!!!!!















The above 2 purple flowers are lovies I've brought home from the greenhouse....passion flower vine and a delphinium. Needless to say I've drug home quite a few specimens ..especially when the 50% off hit ( we don't get a discount normally...shame on my boss!!) Today I called off , thunderstorms predicted and I hate being in that greenhouse during a storm!!!!!!! My last day is Thursday anyway .Next week I go back to Chicago to work at the Merchandise Mart for Hinson and Co......they are expanding and remodeling their showroom space and were in need of some experienced temporary merchandising help . This should be fun because I will be working with and across the hall from previous co-workers... I couldn't ask for a better temporary gig!!Uh.... not to mention all the discontinued fabric samples I get to drag home!!Tragic, really!!!

Testing!!!!!!!

Well the ol Blogger had some issues today. Naturally!
Cause I had prepared a farm fresh Springy ode to the old Polish lady who planted tons of stuff in her barefeet half a century ago in this very locale.
Sniff!
So....here's a little tip for all you XXL coffee drinkers who may have to mix up yer morning caffeine in the studio.
Without a large wooden spoon don't cha know!
This has been working for me for 2 weeks now.
Inkpens just weren't tall enough!!
Yet another reason to sing the praises of knitting.
So here's a mini indoor Spring thing.
Note the Rosemary in the discarded Penland pottery,the Jack -in-the- Pulpit to the left and the 2 very lovely and juicy Columbine in the foreground.
Please ignore the beat-up-left-over-from-Chicago-days-coffee-mug.
The 5-gallon buckets just weren't so portable.

Ode to Mrs. Pudlo

Back in The Day........circa 1949 Mr. and Mrs Pudlo built this house on the chunk of property that is now my farm, my neighbors property and a few acres that are owned and farmed by the neighbors down the road. Mrs. (Grandma) Hay across the road proclaims that Mrs. Pudlo used to garden in her bare feet. She could be found most days doing this.
I had heard tales of the colorful bulbs that would pop out every spring and this cemented my will to own this place.
The yard had a lot of random planted tree and bush wierdness, the driveway was completely overgrown but I couldnt wait to see what a new season would bring.

There are tons of tulip, daffodil and narcissus bulbs, violets, peonies, sweetpeas,and garlic growing in a spot I call "My Meadow". I have been plucking away at 50 plus years of
garlic overgrowth and various weeds.Some years more than others.This Spring has been the most abundant I can remember.
Or maybe its because
now that I am not working in the city, I have been able to enjoy the daily flora and fauna surprises that happen here at my farm.
I am looking forward to spending more time restoring and adding to Mrs. Pudlos work.
Once Spring hits its almost imposible for me to remain inside ,but I have quilts with deadlines and the least amount of housework I can get away with!!
What's that?
I hear my windowboxes calling to me ,pleading to be planted!!!
OK!OK! Twist my arm, but after I get some quilting in!!!




My Larch is larching!! According to the local nursery owner these trees, this size, in this area is rare!They are more common in the Northwest area of the country. Lucky me!!And they produce the cutest mini pinecones!!

Chicago/Houston International Quilt Festival

Here are a few of the pictoral quilts that really blobbed my nob tab. The top one on the right with the yellow flowers is by Ruth Powers I think she is the one who won viewers choice for her 3 robins quilt. Great Stuff!!!

Apologies to my 3 fans.....AND big city stories

Sorry !! I know it's been a while and all 3 of you out there are checking everyday to see if anything exciting is going on here at the farm.......I do have to say that I have been working full time at the new greenhouse gig . I am loving it but it makes me just plain ty-red at the day's end.

OK soooooooo.

Fyyyyyyyuuuuuuuh!

Well it had to happen and now our friend Rich (the pyro) can sleep at night.

Until the next seasonal accumulation.

And if you happened to miss it this time...(sorry..it just kind of happened with out a lot of pre planning) you will be getting an engraved invitation to the next one.

Who knows maybe there will be a wedding thing too at the next one. OK! OK! Maybe.

So I made the trip into the big city today to surprise my friend Lauren at lunch. Her birthday is sunday and I havent seen her or the old Chicago work crew since last year around this time.She was completely surprised and pleased .....and preggers!!!!! Due in August.She looked adorable and I know she is going to be a great mom. Plus she will finally get out of that crazy place!!

I first started blogging so that my friends in the city would be able to check in on my comings and goings and antics out here on the farm. And I obviously had a relating- to- people -on- a- daily- basis need that wasn't getting met Alas most of them didn't get the" blog thing".. but.......

Today was like a welcome back party for me actually. I've never worked with a group of people that have made me feel like my daily presence is truly something they miss . It was so great to see all of them plus a few of the co-workers from other showrooms.

I got all the low down on the dirty deeds of the company owner(unethical grabby old gross schmoozer cheezeball) and his thong girl thing and both of their impending divorces.Gross. Such a surprise.And the updates on the "Dyfunctional Duo"management team. Will she and her brother finally "do it"after a planned romantic vacation together?Will his elderly father have to move in and find out after 45 years that his son is gay? Stay tuned for another episode of "The Mart Memoirs". Oiy. NONE of this surprises me , nor do I miss the daily draaaaahmah.But it was a bit entertaining to hear these tales. Not to mention the recurring feelings of mental instability while I was employed there.How on earth did I deal with all that stuff?

It WAS THEM( crazy!) not me! ( I KNEW IT!)

Ahhhhhhhh what a perspective a year doth make.

Sproing!!( Life is short... Stay out of Knox, Indiana ! )

Well yeay! SPRING! It finally showed up for a day! Here are just a few of the lovilies blooming here at the farm.

And as you can see the dogs were happy for the promise of better outside conditions.( they have inside heated quarters,too if they so choose)



I managed to get a few wheel barrow loads of willow sticks picked up ( tons yet to get to later...)

When Dougie came home a bit early and forced me( hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!) to go for a ride on the bike.He really had to twist my arm.OK! OK! Ouch! that hurts!Stop! I said OK! !!!!!!!!!not!

We took a ride down to N. Judson to Bailey's Discount Warehouse, looking for surplus bathroom stuff. I had heard tales of aisles and aisles of beef jerky but was quite disappointed. Must have been an urban( well maybe not so urban) myth.
I did find (at bargain prices!) :

SUCH AMAZING DEALS!!!!!

Quite the selection of Halloween 05 candy( Fresh Gummy Lifesavers!)I put the Giradelli chocolate back on the shelf...

Foodservice size cappacino mix ( hard to find Pumpkin flavor!had to try..)

Bath and Beauty Products: 10 bar(2 bonus!) count Dial Citrus Sensation Soap.....
Healing Garden Green Tea Therapy( my fave!!) gift set:cologne
and shower gel!
Needless to say, I got over the lack of beef jerky selection.

But the most remarkable thing about this outing was the encounter at the Knox Burger King.
Doug had parked the bike in front after getting some gas . We had just sat down to inhale our burgers when in walks this woman.She walks up to us and asks if it was our bike.Well yes .( duh those are helmets on our table)She then proceeds to inform us of her recent motorcycle upgrade( which up to this point is typical biker chit -chat) But then....... goes into how she had 5 miscarriages, a brain aneurism,was in a coma for months,came home, was in diapers,couldn't talk or walk...(20 minutes later, we had finished eating!) and is now riding her own Harley. Pretty amazing stuff( if it was true..) makes me want to ride my own........
If I hadn't stood up to put my jackets on, we would still be there listening to her story.
On the way home I was commenting on the encounter.
Naturally I was amazed by the incident.
Doug insists stuff like that happens in Knox all the time.
I'm thinking we were just a fresh audience!