Tuesday, November 30, 2010

In pieces

I think the title says it all! there is plenty of undone things here. Sometimes even the smallest thing is the hardest to accomplish. It is the end of the month, which means it's time for the LaPetite.Mine is in pieces.

But I believe... there is no use crying over an unfinished project. I know that I can get back to it later. Like so many other things this too will wait for me. When I look back at this month. I have had some wonderful times with family and friends. The memories are priceless. Life is good, be sure to do what you want.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Apple Cider 101

I didn't get to share this a few weeks ago. So how about now. We had the opportunity to share the fall day with friends, who should really be more like family. It was a day to remember.


Step 1: Collect apples and maybe a few pears.


This can be done various ways. But it's always good to have a kid climb the tree. Then shake the tree with friends below. Laughter will ensue.




Step 2: Wash the apples


During this step you want to give eviction notice to the worm. Or possibly send his home back out to the field.


Step 3: Throw apples into the masher.





Step 4: Smash apples until all the juice runs out. Then drink in limited amounts with friends.


I have read that you could make your own apple press. For more info check out http://http//www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/1982-09-01/The-Maytag-Cider-Press.aspx




Thursday, November 11, 2010

This & That

1 purple + 1 pink + a flower here and there = scrap along. I had no intentions of starting another project until I seen all that Jodi had to share. (find more on the link on the sidebar, or on flicker)I was hooked. I started with the the 4 square patches that I had here. These were pieces that I stalled out on a while ago. They get put to perfect use here. From the 4 square on I just went about adding scraps of color. Although I can't take credit for the flower blocks, these were leftover pieces a fellow quilter gave me years ago. They finally got put to perfect use here. As of today I am 2 blocks shy, and I would love to finish this weekend. But it might have to wait until the following weekend. For even though weekends are supposed to be a break from the week. They tend to be full.
What are your plans for the weekend?


Thank-You!

I have been a military wife. It’s a very difficult job. But very rewarding. I have been able to live in Germany. But I have also seen my husband go to war.

In February of 2003 the world was changing. I sensed what was coming some how I knew that my husband would be called to serve and so would I.

The day that my husband left there was many tears. The children cried shortly but then he was gone. They said goodbye as if he was going to work not quite realizing it would be more than a year before they would see him again. My husband’s employer came and got his work truck the very same day. I think he took my heart with it. This was real. Brian was not coming home tonight.

As time went on, I taught our children about faith. Sometimes you have to trust that something will happen. One day daddy will return home. We go about our daily lives as best as we can. You learn to block out a good many things. You don’t watch as much TV or listen to the radio. You just trust.

We continue on, and are outside playing. It’s spring. I start to think about going inside. It’s almost dinner time. In the distance I hear a diesel truck coming up the road. I know it can’t be. But I have to turn and look. The boys start running across the yard, yelling “Daddy.” When they see its not him, they start to cry. I sit in the grass holding my boys telling them to believe one day daddy will come home.

We tried to share as much as we could through letters and pictures. We took things day to day.
Daddy returned home in April 2004.


The military has always been a part of our married lives, and I am certain it's part of our future. Our oldest wants to follow in dad's footsteps.


So I want to say "Thank-You!" to all of veteran's today and the families who support them. We appreciate all that you do.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Spring ahead, Fall behind

Spring ahead, Fall behind ...is the little ryhme I was taught in order to make sense of daylight savings time. But tonight it's ending for the year, so we set our clocks back an hour. But I really don't need the clock to remind me to fall behind.

(photo is from google images. Thankyou!)

I allready feel this way. I have seen what I have on my "To Do List". There is the laundry,dishes, running for bowling practice, dinner to be made, I have papers to write, items I want to make for the upcoming holiday, and the list could just go on. I sure you have something like this. I feel like the clock up above. For everyone thing that I seem to cross off, there is one more added. I really want to spend some time being creative. It helps me to feel like me, and not the housekeeper, cook, bus driver, etc. I feel energized if I have some creative time to myself. Then I'm ready for anything.

So I have devised a plan. If I do some of my schoolwork,some housework,and spend some time with the family. I may have 5 min to an hour to do something creative. So I'll set my little chicken timmer and give myself a time-out! I am off to my corner.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Blogger's Quit Festival

I decided to join in the wonderful Bogger's Quilt Festival. What a great way to share. I thought I would share with you a quilt that I made about 2 years ago. It is my absoulute favorite! Not my husbands. But it still resides on the bed. hehee!

Anyway this is my version of the spiderweb quilt. I made it when I was just starting quilting. It was great to just put things together. I tried to use as little thinking as possible. I just had fun, and used a lot of color. I think that is why I am so drawn to it. It reminds me of my grandmother's quilts, scrappy.

I tried my best to add as many different pieces as I had available. Even the white areas are made of different white prints, and some tan. When I started I really didn't have a plan of size. I just kept going to the point you now see. There is also some special pieces left over from my boy's quilts and just fabrics that seem to evoke a memory for me. I have to tell you that I bought nothing new for this quilt top. It still amazes me to make something from nothing or little. I hand quilted this around each of the stars and thru the spiderwebs. I used different colored quilting threads. I just seemed to fit the scrappy feeling. I didn't want to go for a matching look. I wanted more of favored piece. Which it very much is.

Thanks go to Amy for showcasing so many beautiful quilts and the storyies behind them.

Amy's Creative Side - Blogger's Quilt Festival

If you would like to see or know more please visit Amy's blog. And thank you to you for coming to visit me and hear what I have to say!