How to Give Grandma a Near Heart Attack

I've been going through old pictures and these are from last winter.  There was so much snow on roofs that they had to be shoveled.  Over 15 sheds in a 10 mile radius of us collapsed because of the weight of the snow.  Here's Brandon and Taylor scooping off our roofs.

This is where Grandma grew faint.  Click on the picture and I think you can pick out Brandon sliding from the tallest peak towards the living room roof... on his shovel...on his stomach.  There wasn't a lot of soft snow if he would have gone off that edge.  He knew he could stop (because he had done it before) but Grandma didn't.

Here is Brandon jumping off the sewing room roof.  It wasn't so high and there were feet of snow below him.  That wasn't so hard on Grandma.   Boys.                  Jolyn

Baby Quilt Time

For the last couple of days I've been working on baby quilts.  Last year sometime (who can remember when) I cut up a whole bunch of fabric and made a large bag full of baby quilt kits, so that now I could just grab some and start sewing.  These all are Rail Fence pattern.  I sew the three fabrics into strip sets.

Measuring the width, I then slice the strip sets into squares...in my case 6 1/2".

Sew the blocks into rows, rows into a quilt, add border and they're ready to quilt.  Notice how the "Rail" forms.  Actually two rails form.

Seems like I always end up with more "girl" quilts than "boy" quilts.  Need to remember that next time I get into a cutting frenzy.

I like to give each new baby in our church a baby quilt.  The last couple have been girls.  We had a long run of boys, so seeing little ones all decked out in pink is fun!  New this year are Addison and Amelia.  What precious gifts of God!        Jolyn

Evening Projects

Finished this one last night.  Still haven't decided if I like the black thread better or the gold.  In person I think I like this black thread best.   They are fun to make.

(My blog is giving me fits!  It seems to have a mind of it's own!!)  This penny rug is one I made several years ago.  It fits the top of a small cupboard in our living room.  It was fun to make, but not sure I want to do another one!  That was a lot of collecting different colors of wools!

  Kind of threw these blocks into a pillow.  Not very practical for use, but again was fun to make.  Now I'm caught up on wool projects, so better get another one ready or I'll sit empty handed tonight.  Course, I could always eat!                        Jolyn

Thinking Spring

This makes me happy!!  Neil and Amy (up in Moorhead)  picked up 20-25# of organic rye flour for me.  From them it went with Karissa to Minneapolis, to Bryce in St. Paul to home to me!!  This will keep me baking for another year!  Course, it all depends on how much I give away.  Let me know when you're coming.

I'm thinking spring.  I took down all the snowmen decorations, put away the Valentine's tree (that's a past story) and put out this Springy wall hanging.  This was made out of leftovers from a bunch of baby quilts.  Each block measures 2" square.  It ended up being the inspiration for a larger quilt pattern (Banana Split) that I designed and can be bought with or without a kit at Calico Hutch.  Be sure to tell them I sent you!!

 

Our church gives each new bride a shower.  Becca is center with her sister, Angie and little Levi on her right and her Mom, Vicky on her left.  We have the most wonderfully talented decoraters who always go all out.  Becca's colors are lime green and bright pink!  Love it!  Because she is living out in Oregon most of her gifts were gift cards or money...

 

 

but this was probably her best gift when her Grandma and Aunt flew in from Arizona and surprised her!  (They could have at least brought some warm-snowfree weather!)  I was part of the serving crew and we had 4 delicious, mouth watering, melt in your mouth refrigerator desserts.  I forgot to take a picture, but I sampled 3 of them if that helps.

 

                                                                    Jolyn

Cats and Cooking

   Introducing a long standing farm cat.  His name is "Trooper's Cat".  I know--kind of silly, but this cat loves our dog, Trooper.  The feeling is not quite returned, altho Trooper does put up with him.  This cat likes to rub under Trooper's chin and walks about the neighborhood (farm) at Trooper's side.  She is also the worst mother cat I've ever seen.  She likes to make sure she has her kittens (regularly every spring) in the same box as the other cats so they can take over the care for them.  One year she had them as she progressed across the yard.  She is the only cat on the farm that comes up to the house.   No other cat would dare to lay in Trooper's chair. (I will be scouting garage sales this spring for a new pillow.  They only last so long.)

   Changing the subject, these are the ingredients for some of the easiest bars you can make.  When I take them to pot lucks, usually none come home with me.  That's good (and sad).
  Cook the pudding (not the instant kind) according to directions.  Add to the dry cake mix.  Put in 9x12 pan, sprinkle with a liberal helping of chocolate chips and bake at 350.  When they really really smell good, check the center to be sure it's done and pull them out of the oven. 

  Here are the results!  It is best to sample them to be sure they are fit for human consumption--probably from each corner... and middle... and sides.  Last night I took the customary corner sample and pretty soon here comes Wayne as he thought he should even out the row.  This morning I packed up 5 generous (very generous) pieces and made 5 ham and lettuce on rye sandwiches for the guys as they load out 3 semi loads of hogs.  Glad they don't need my "help".
                                Jolyn

Choices

My grand plan is to make 19 of these and use in one table quilt, but I don't know which color thread to use.  #1 is black, #2 is gold, #3 is cream (although it looks white), and #4 is a variegated.  I've pretty much ruled out 3 and 4.  Before I do the big one, I have one more small one to do--maybe 7 flowers.  Anyway--any opinions?  If you can't get the comment to work--my e-mail is wajmo@bevcomm.net

 

                                                                             Jolyn

Runaways

   Yesterday we ran away...not too far..had to be home by 5.  Just to Mankato to browse (and eat).  This is what I've been working on.  Not too impressive.  I dug out all the wool coats I've bought and got them organized.

   Some went on shelves like this (nicely folded--rather than stuffed.)  I wash the coats as soon as I get them.  It's really a mess cutting them up so I like to stick with it once I start.

  The rest I cut into large squares, small squares and  rectangles.  Two small squares sewn together are equal to a rectangle.  Four small squares make a large square. And 2 rectangles make a large square.  I have a whole tub of them all ready to sew!  (Instead of 5 tubs)  But for now--they're back in the garage waiting their turn.
                      Jolyn
Now you know why I like to run away once in a while. (When we left home the temperature was around 41 and by 5 it was 26.)