March 14… the Value of life…..

I want to thank each of you who sent their love and sympathy on my last post, if truly meant a lot!

Papa’s death was a shock to all of us as he was a very active 80 year old . Papa’s death was treated as a crime site being a fire was involved,he was burning some trash in a bin when some tar on the outside of the bin caught fire lighting the grass around it. He was trying to move a small trailer away from the fire,when he went down on his knees,coughed than there was no more respondence. A grandson who was there called 911 right away,but till they got there the fire was pretty much out except for the front of papas shirt where he had put the lighter to light the fire in his pocket. Papa was burnt bad enough on the face that there was no viewing of his body, however the undertaker made it possible for the family to view a hand which gave closure to the lot of us.

The autopsy reported was there was no smoke in the lungs , it was stated as a medical heart disease as the clause of death. That ,my friends ,was a real relief to me to know he was gone before the fire ever hit him!

While parting of a loved one is hard,it was wonderful to be loved and have memories of a wonderful father in law.

Then there is freshness of spring to value….

And then the enjoyment of having a sweet tempered Rottweiler around again. Caroline didn’t want her picture taken.😄

The fun of sewing for others….need to finish binding them yet though.

The anticipation of watching this cocoon hatch…

Also valuing the time spent with hubby in a short get away in the blue ridge mountains.

Moments that make precious memories are what make my life full of value.

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Feb.28… a sorrowful day

Just a quick post to share with my blogging friends. I wouldn’t be able to post on the Hand Quilt Along with time . My father-in-law just passed away, we are now headed to the eastern shore of Maryland. A shock to us all as he was so lively, we are thinking a heart attack.

I probably won’t be able to keep up with posts or post while there. So if you don’t hear from me that’s why.

Feb.10…Hand quilt along ….

Here are some of the superstitious saying that some of the ladies wrote, I found them interesting ,also did some googling as I wonder how they ever came to be…

1. Never walk under a ladder.

Interesting enough.. the Egyptians started that one,they thought a ladder formed a triangle ,and triangles were sacred to them as it referred to the trinity,so to walk through was to desecrate them.

Then centuries later the Christians ( that was a shocker🙂) took a little different turn when a ladder was placed against the cross , it then was a symbol of wickedness,betrayal and death.

In England in the 1600 made their prisoners walk under a ladder to the gallons.

2 when you spill salt toss some over your shoulder to avoid bad luck

This was started 3,500 BC by the Sumerians.

3. Never bring a peacocks feather indoors

For the western world it was believed that it there were any single girls in the house ,and there was a feather the girls were doomed to be old maids ,the eastern world brought them in the house especially the ones that looked like there was an eye that meant they had an extra eye to watch over them.

4. Never rock a rocking chair with no one in it,or your invite a ghost or spirits in.

That’s a southern favorite,which wouldn’t surprise me that came over with the Irish as that is where it originated from

5. Step on a crack and break your mothers back

This started when racism become prevalent in the 19,20th century with the saying of step on a crack and you’re Mother’s baby will be black.

Well that will give you readers something to think on.

Now time again for update!

💃💃 I have Grammy ready for trimming the sides then binding 💃💃

A closeup of the back…

I also worked on the Fire Island Hosta quilt ….here is where I was

Here is where I am now….

You can see that I working on the end where the green stops

I’m tryin hard to get these two projects finished before the outside work hits full swing. I’ve already been out planting potatoes,onions with lettuce ,peas and red beets waiting.

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

Jan. 20.. Hand quilt along…

There’s not to much to update this time,as I didn’t get a whole lot of quilting in these last few weeks. I was hoping to finish the double wedding ring.. that didn’t happen..why not? Well maybe this picture will explain what I have been doing while the weather is cooler.

We just have to smoke the bacon and hams yet , while I enjoy butchering ,it is a very good feeling when the last kettle is washed and put away until the next time. We did three nice size hogs this round.

While back to the update… I have three more blocks to finish on the double wedding ring.

The Fire Island Hosta really got no attention. Maybe a better progress report next time.

You know when ladies get together to quilt there was always lots of gossip,story telling or sharing a new idea…. well I happen to come across an old superstition about pins.

See a pin and pick it up ,And all the day you’ll have good luck..

See a pin and let it lie,and luck will surely pass you by.

And that set me to thinking.. I wonder if you ladies grew up with an old superstition? Please post a comment if you do I’d love to hear it. If there’s enough I post them on next update for all to enjoy.

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Connie, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

Dec.30 Hand Quilt along….

Here’s to a short post update…..

First update ,the Fire Island Hosta quilt….

I’m where the red x is ,the part above the line is what I need to do yet . Not much longer yet!

Grammy is coming along , last time I had 17 blocks to finish now I only have 8.

Here’s the corner I need to finish.

Now I’m off to a birthday party for a little boy.😄

Check out the others lovely work!

Hand Quilt Along Links

This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan,  Nanette,  Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen

Dec.17… Tis the season for cookies

There was a request for a sour cream cookie recipe from Kerry at Love those “Hands at home”. I also got a text message from one of the church ladies needing cookies for gift baskets for those that the church go caroling for.

I have two recipes to share the first one the sour cream cookie recipe then the no bake cookies that are gluten free and a real favorite with the grandchildren. The sour cream cookie recipe is enjoyed too,but one of the grandsons is gluten intolerant so at family gatherings I like to put out food that all can enjoy together.

Sour cream cookies

1/2 cup of butter

2 cups of sugar

1 tsp of vanilla

2 eggs

4 cups of flour

1/2 tsp of salt

1 tsp. of baking soda

1 cup of sour cream

Sugar mixture…

1/4 cup of sugar with 1 heaping tsp of cinnamon

Cream butter,sugar together.Add vanilla,and eggs,beat until fluffy. Put dry ingredients together and Add alternately with sour cream. Drop by spoonfuls in sugar mixture,or drop by spoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet then sprinkle with sugar mixture…place 2” apart. Bake at 375* for 12 min.

Put wax paper between each layer of cookies so they don’t stick together. These freeze well.

Then the No bake cookie recipe…

No bake cookies…gluten free

First part…

2 cups of sugar

3 Tablespoons of cocoa

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 cup of milk

Bring this to a rapid boil for a minute,then add part two quickly

Have ready…

Part two

3 cups of quick oats

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1 tsp.of vanilla

Stir rapidly until well mixed then drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper

Ps. Old fashion rolled oats don’t work as well as quick oats

Time now to enjoy a cup of coffee. I’m not a Christmas movie fan but I do like coffee and those old red trucks.😄

Dec. 9… Hand Quilt Along…

The last post I wrote had this same title….. 🥴 There simply isn’t enough time to do all I would like to do unfortunately,but never mind that as I’ve had a blessed three weeks. Thanksgiving was filled with family and grandchildren,after they all left to resume their normal activities,I had one day to clean and get ready for my mom who is still with me!

Wash day after Thanksgiving 😀

My mom was the one who taught me to sew at an early age of 12 to sew my own dresses,slips and other clothing. The poor dear had a time of it ,as I hated to sew clothes! I would slip out to do any other kind of outside work,or bargain with Mom or my younger Sister who loved to sew clothes at even a younger age than I ,that I would make the evening meal if they would finish my sewing. I still would call mom after I was married to see if she needed some cleaning done ,wood chopped or yard mowed in exchange for her to do sewing for me.😁

I would love to say I grew up and now love to sew my own dresses ….. but sadly I can’t I can only say I bite the bullet to get it done.

This just blows my mom away that I love to quilt … will spend hours at it day after day. How can I explain that there’s freedom in quilts, no pattern to follow to the T, delightful visions of quilt designs and the feel of cotton fabric…. I know it just doesn’t make sense to a lot of folks ,that’s okay for I would have never understood either if I hadn’t stumble into making simple block knotted quilts to keep the children warm when there was no heat upstairs in the old farmhouse.

I learned quilting the hard way by figuring it out on my own for back then computers were to costly,and besides who had heard of YouTube. So I had corners that didn’t match Or wavy borders and of course some puckering in the quilting . I loved the challenge that quilting has given me ,still do.

So what do I quilt the most .. modern or traditional… I reckon most of you bloggers know that one! Machine quilting is truly beautiful, modern quilts are wonderful to see but the old traditional quilts surpass them all in my eyes.

So mom , I’m truly thankful you taught me to sew even if it was clothes. Here’s a photo of her.

I have been working on Grammy while visiting and taking care of mom, last update I had 27 blocks to quilt ,I have finished 10 of them .

Until next update….