Adam's Request

I got a text from my 10 month old grand son asking for something special for his 1 year old birthday photo shoot.  Well, actually, the text was from his mom, my daughter Amy, but I think my girls have figured out that if the text sent to me starts out "Gigi, will you..." I will do it if at all possible.  Here is the picture I got. She had seen it from the photographers website. So, I got on Etsy and sent her a link to one and she said, "yeah, I saw that, but they can't have it done by the time it was needed for Adam's pictures.  Well, then, I guess it's Gigi to the rescue.  I had a class yesterday at a quilt shop and just happened to find the perfect red and white polka dot fabric needed for this project and found the pattern on Etsy which I could download the .pdf.  So it took about an hour to complete, and then I had to hunt up a suitable model.  So, I got another project out of the way.  

Bella B-Day Present

My granddaughter's 2nd birthday was coming up and I didn't know what I was gonna get her until I ran across this playhouse idea on Pinterest from Parties and Patterns.

Then I thought, do I dare start something like this. Well, yeah!!!!!  Might as well go for it. I worked on it off and on, gathering fabrics and supplies a little at a time. I tried using a lot of what I already had on hand, but really didn't have a lot. Anyway, I got it finished.  Here are my final pictures before delivery.  As soon as her mom can get her still enough to take pictures of her with it , I'll post them.

This was one of the bigger projects I have tackled lately, but really loved doing it.  There was a variety of techniques I had to use on it, so it wasn't boring.  That's all this time, but I have started a new project and will post soon.

I'm Back!!!!!!

I'm so excited to get back to blogging. It's been almost a year and a half. I started a new full-time job and totally have been trying to get my life organized to where I can work full-time and be able to have the time to do what I enjoy. I've missed my blog.  I have been doing some quilting and sewing when I could. I still have to deal with my Fibromyalgia flare-ups sometimes but I believe my doctor is on track to having me on the right medications.  So here we go....

I really don't know where to start. I have so many things to tell you. I guess it's best to start where I left off.

I was telling you that I had a new grandson on the way. Well, he made it. He was born on July 11th, which means he has his first birthday coming up. Meet Adam Logan. He is one precious little boy.  He smiles all of the time.

Is he not a cutie?  Of course, I'm not prejudice. We love him so much. We don't get to see him, or the other grand kids nearly enough lately. Seems like everyone is so busy now-a-days.  Speaking of the other grand kids, let me go ahead and give you an update on Luke and Bella.  Luke just graduated Kindergarten last week. He is now officially a 1st grader. 

Now Miss Bella just turned 2 years old and had a fun birthday party.  Her mom found some fun ideas from Pinterest for the kids to have outdoor water fun. Wish I had pictures, but nobody seems to have any. Really??  Where was I with my camera?  Gigi is slacking in the photo taking department lately.  Is she not just precious?  You should look back at some of the last posts I did on her. Boy has she changed..

As for my oldest grandson Jordan, today was his last day of 5th grade.  We normally get him the last day of school for a few weeks to start off the summer, but he decided to change it up this year and go to his other grandparents first this year. We will see him soon.  His mom sent me this picture of him at his school field trip a couple of weeks ago.  Can you say, "Cool Dude"?

Okay so that updates you on my grand kids.  At least this is a start to get back on track. I'll be back soon with some posts on what my sewing machine has been up to lately. 

Take care and have a fun and safe weekend.

Meet Fannie Mae

Isn't she Bea-U-ti-FUL!!!!  She was born in 1949.  She was my Christmas present this year.  I couldn't believe when we found her on Craigslist. She looked good, she sewed great, the case was amazingly in great condition and she came with several accessory pieces.  And, the price was right.  I promptly ordered bobbins and needles for her.

You may wonder about her name. My first memories of quilting are from my Great-Grandmother Fannie Mae King.  I remember her really small living room that she had quilting frames hung from the ceiling.  I want to say I remember playing under the quilt while she and her friends hand quilted.  That could be my imagination, but seems like I remember something like that.  I still have the baby quilt she made for me.  It is a little ragged out, I must have really used it a lot.  I don't even think it is restorable at this point.  Someday when I get it out again, I'll take a picture and post.  It also had hand-embroidery on it.  I believe my mother helped with the embroidery.

I have only gotten to play on her a little bit, but hope to start my first quilt on her soon.  Fannie Mae will accompany me to quilt guild meetings on work days and possibly on retreats.

Happy 2013!!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Boy, this new year has already started with a bang.  Many things have been going on around the farm.  Changes are good, right?  I'm going to cover everything, but will probably end up being in several different posts.  I'm going to start with Christmas Eve.

We enjoyed 2 Christmas celebrations with our families this year.  On Christmas Eve, my kids and grand kids came down to spend the night and celebrate.  This is a new tradition my girls decided they wanted to start this year.  We are kinda going back to the way our family used to celebrate Christmas when my kids were small.  And then the next weekend, Bill's kids and their families came down for our 2nd Christmas celebration.  (later post).

This is my living room prior to the arrival of the kids.  I promise, you don't want to see it after the invasion.  You can see Miss Palyn resting in one of her favorite spots.

You gotta have pictures of kids
playing at Christmas time.

I asked the girls what they wanted me to fix for dinner that night (being used to having hot ham sandwiches, potato salad, and baked beans), I knew this is what they would want.  Oh no, not my girls, they wanted my chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and ball beans (English peas).  Yes, in our house we refer to English Peas as ball beans.  So this is what we had, but I also threw in a platter of Chicken Fried Back Strap for the son-in-laws.  As for the dessert, we didn't have anything other than all of the goodies (will post about later) I made the day before while I was stuck here without a car (Bill's truck was in the shop) while he went down to Laredo with son Trent, and grandson Patrick deer hunting (will post later).  This was a last minute trip, so I stayed here and cooked.

Here I am mashing my famous mashed potatoes.  I say famous because this is one thing that my family and Bill's all enjoy.  They are very basic.  I just use Yukon Gold Potatoes, lots of butter (or margarine if that's all I have) and some Pet milk.  This combination just seems to make them so creamy and good.  I don't think there were any left.  I think everyone enjoyed their Christmas Eve dinner.  Total there were 9 of us here plus the GrandDog Piper, Libby and Palyn.

But WAIT!!!!  Let me tell you.  While I was sitting at the table fixing to get up and start clearing away the dishes, I was told by my daughter Amy that I couldn't get up until I see what was in my stocking.  I'm thinking what is in my stocking? NO IDEA!!!  So they went and got it for me to see.  Inside was this picture of Piper (Amy and Aaron's chocolate lab) and a small lime.  

This is my Grand Dog Piper with a very interesting sign around her neck.  If you can't read it, it says, "Only Child, Expiring July 2013".  In other words, Amy is pregnant!!!!  I'm gonna be grandma again!!!  I was so happy.  They had been trying for quite awhile.  I am so happy for both Amy and Aaron.  Oh yeah, the lime.  That was the size of the baby at that time.  Such a cute idea!!!!!!  

Okay, so after the excitement calmed down, we got the kitchen cleaned and the kids ready for bed to await Santa's arrival, Mandy got the french toast ready to go in the fridge to soak up it's goodness for breakfast the next morning, and the guys played a few hands of Cribbage.

(l to r) Aaron, Larry (Bill's brother), Bill and Ryan

The only one without a picture is Amy.  I took some of her, but she would probably disown me if I posted them.  She was feeling so bad that night with her sinus infection as well as being in the hospital the day before being dehydrated and throwing up (pregnant you know).  So maybe I'll catch a good one of her later.  I know we have a gender reveal party in the near future coming up, so I'll post then.

Again, Everybody, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Christmas Goodies

I've been working on a few Christmas things this year.

First, here is a picture of my paper-pieced Christmas tree wall hanging.  I worked on this during our quilt guild retreat we had a few weeks ago at the new Sunset Retreat.  I got it quilted last week and got it hung this week once my hanger came in the mail from Connecting Threads.  I had a spot picked out on the wall that needed something.  I believe it is going to be the ever-changing wall hanging block spot.  Well, let me say the "ever-changing" if I get different blocks done for different seasons and holidays.  I have high hopes, but we shall see.

Next, also I completed this Twister Wreath while at the retreat.  I had been wanting to tackle a twister project for awhile and I finally got around to it.  This was using the Lil Twister with 5" blocks of fabric.  I haven't had the time to quilt it yet, but hope to get to it soon.  Will probably be a new addition next year.  Since that was so much fun, I have now purchased a mini-twister that I can't wait to try out.

And today, I made Santa a key so he can get in our door Christmas Eve to bring them grandchillins lots of toys and goodies, since they are staying here this year.  I'm so excited to see them wake up Christmas morning to see what Santa has brought.  Well, Bella may not be too excited, but I know Lucas will.

And, speaking of grandchillins, I just happen to have a picture of them with Santa this year.

This will be my last post until after Christmas, so I would like to say to everyone,

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!"

Update

You ask?  Where my blog are updates?  Yeah, I’m still trying to find them too.  I know I put them somewhere.  I can’t find them, so guess I better rewrite, right?  NOT!!  I have just not been able to get my stuff together around here since starting work.  There is just so much always going on here at the farm that I have to prioritize and my blog has definitely been put on the bottom of the list.

Me

As I’m sitting (at least I’m not laying now) here trying to get my strength built back up from my long week of this illness I have had, I thought I would reflect over the last couple of months.  I took off work last Wednesday with sore throat and fever, plus I couldn't talk, therefore, you can't answer phone if you can't talk.  I went to Dr. De Leon on Thursday because I wasn't feeling any better, but worse, and he said that it was upper respiratory and sinus infection and gave me drugs and told me to rest.  Well I didn't feel like doing much else, anyway.  It just seemed to gradually get worse.  I tried to start moving more on Saturday morning, but my body said no, not yet.  As I tried to get up and do somethings around here, I got dizzy, light headed and nauseous.  I called my sister, 'the nurse', and she could tell that I was hyperventilating.  I think I was scared being here alone and feeling this way.  So, I did what I was told and got the paperbag out and breathed in it and slowed my breathing down.  I finally gave in and called Bill to come home.  I thought I might need to go to emergency room.  We called and Dr. Holloway was still in the office so he rushed me up there. They took blood and flu test.  Good news, I don't have the flu, but was very dehydrated.  He threatened me with drinking LOTs clear liquids vs hospital stay and IVs.  He gave me a shot of phenergan and told me to go home and do nothing but drink clear water.  I was ready to just tell Bill to just shoot me.  But I didnt' say it too loud, he might of if there had been a gun close.

 

Bill had his 50 year class reunion going on Saturday and I hated calling him home in the middle of it, but you do what you have to do.  Once he got me back home and settled back in my bed, he went back up to reunion.  I think he still had a good time.  I hate I had to call him away though.  How many times do you actually make it to your 50 year High School Reunion.?
 

My plan today is to gradually get myself moving again and getting my strength back.  I’ve GOT to get back to work tomorrow.  I’m sure I have been greatly missed.  Well, probably not, but just hoping.  I know it causes my boss to have to juggle others schedules and I hate having to cause more problems for her.  She has enough on her plate.

 

Here We Go!

Now, onto reflecting back over the last few months.  I say a lot has happened around here, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I took a lot of pictures.  I’ll see what I can scare up since July.   

New Water Well

On July 22^nd, Bill had a new water well put in on the back part for the cows.  With the lack of rain we get around here in the summer months, the creek doesn’t run, therefore the cows have to make their way all the way back up to the front for water.  So now they have a fresh new tank to drink from.  I was amazed at how clear the water was.  I think the cows are probably drinking better than I am now.  Here are a few pics of the process.

Here is the drill rig and when they actually hit the water.  Bill took these pictures because I was at work.  He got some pretty good ones I think.

He took me down to see the whole set up after they put in the tank and solar panel.  Pretty impressive I might say. 

 

 

We are high class here now.  I asked Bill what happens to the solar panels when a hail storm is coming , he showed 'me' how to get a BIG wrench and unloosen the screws and tilt the panel straight up and down.  Yeah, right, let me get right on that.  Let's hope he is here when it hails.

 

Painting the Living Room

Rene so graciously offered to come help and paint the living room.  We had grown so tired of the green and yellow that we had put up back in 2003 when we did the first remodel here at the farm.  She came down on August 8-9 and Bill and her got with it and got the new color up while I was at work.  I only hope she knows just how much I appreciate her help.  I'm loving the colors we chose. 

 

 

Bella Visits

Actually, the whole Duncan clan came down the next weekend to visit, but the only pictures I took were of Bella.  Mandy was showing me how she was turning herself over now.  She is just growing too fast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Starts

I love iPhones.  The kids send me cute pictures off and on of the grandkids.  It makes it so nice since I live so far away and don't get to see them near enough.  
Jordan and Luke both started on August 27th and Patrick and Will started on August 28th.  So here they are.

Jordan is going into the 4th Grade (just happens to be the grade that Amy is teaching for her first year of teaching, and Lucas in starting Pre-K.  Wow, how time flies.

Patrick is starting his first year in High School (9th Grade) and Will is going into the 2nd Grade.

 

One Last Topic

I haven't been doing alot of sewing, but have been getting a few things done here and there, a little at time. 

First off, I had volunteered to make a quilt for the new Sunset Retreat place that is opening in Sunset.  I got a free weekend for it.  It was one of the tougher quilts I have made.  I'm really not for sure why, but it just seemed to take me alot longer and caused me a lot more frustration.  But I finally finshed it.

Something else I did, was took a class on making Snap Happy Bags at the Denton Sewing Center. I learn so much when I take these classes. I just wish more of them were on the weekend. I would probably take a class every weekend if I could. I learn how to use my machine and all kinds of helpful ways to do things. As you will notice, it is made out of some of the scraps I had left over from the quilt.

 

  

Then, while watching TV at night I finished up this wall hanging I purchased the kit for at the Alford Inn Quilt Shop in Van Alstyne when I went on the bus trip with the quilt guild a few months ago.  It was made by making yo-yos and inserting a bottle cap in the center before closing up.  Then I glued the caps to the black felt provided.  Bill cut me a board to attach it all to.  I used some of the Quilt Across Texas fabric I had left over from Jordan's quilt to make the hanger.

 And the last thing I have got to complete is my Block of the Month from the July quilt guild series.  I owed this to Phillis since then.  So I finally finished and get to give it to her at the October meeting.  Better late than never I guess.  Hope she likes it!!!

 

So, this is as much getting caught up as I'm going to do today.  Time to sit back and watch the Cowboys do their 'thang'.  Whatever it is that their "thang" is nowadays.  Take care, and I'll catch you next time.

 

July 2012

Well, as I said in my prior post, my posts would be fewer and farther in between since starting work.  I guess I was right.  I'm just now getting a little organization going on.  Between housework, and grandkids, it's been a fast paced summer already.  But I wanted to post a few pics to let you know I'm still kicking and there is still lots going on around here at the farm.

July 4th
The grandson Jordan was here for his 2nd two-weeks for the summer.  He is here mostly every 4th of July with us.  Larry, Bill's brother had his 3 grandkids here also for a few days.  I got volunteered to take them to buy fireworks this year.  We were very picky on what we bought, nothing that could start fires in the pasture and things that they all could do safely WITH adult supervision.  I think they had fun.  We all sat out on the patio and watched them play with fire.  NO one was hurt and they had a good time.

Here they are playing with the black snakes.  Jordan, Ryan, Meghan and Chase.

This is Larry's grandson Ryan, is he not a cutie.  Look at those eyes.

The kids also played a little bit of the All American sport of baseball for this 4th of July Celebration.  It was just us few here, but we celebrated.

July 14th
This was a very busy day for me.  Once a year the Texas Association of Quilt Guilds has a Rally day and this year it was in Mesquite.  Beings that I had never been and wanted to check it out, I had to figure out a plan to go.  It was also the weekend I needed to take Jordan back home to his mom.  So I carefully coordinated with my daughter Mandy for Jordan to stay with her while I went to the Rally and then back to pick Jordan up and take him home.

Once I got back to Mandy's to pick Jordan up, we took the boys and Miss Bella over to Ryan's uncles pool (close by) and let the kids swim for a bit. 

I think they had a lot of fun, while we were there sitting and sweating.  Luckily there was shade.  Makes me wish we had a pool here at the farm.

And I didn't want to leave Miss Bella out.  She was there in her Texas Rangers finest.  Mandy put her feet in the water, and she didn't like it a bit, so she just watched.

This was a long day for me.  I got home about 9:30pm that night. 

July 15th
Today was the day Bill decided it was time to let the calves we had this last year find a new home.  In other words, they went to the Decatur Livestock Auction.  With us getting pretty much no rain this summer, there just is not enough grass for them to eat.

July 21st
Bill's son Trent and his family came down to visit.  Trent attended a shooting competition out on 51 between Decatur and Gainesville, plus it was Trent's birthday.  We celebrated with dinner at Sweetie Pie's Ribeyes in Decatur and then back to the house for dessert and fun taking pictures.

Ashlie and Baby Owen (the Great-Grandson) came to celebrate too.  Here he is with his PawPaw.  We have to watch PawPaw though, he tries to sneak certain food goodies past mom. 

I had asked Janet what was Trent's favorite cake flavor and she had told me that he liked lemon and cream cheese frosting.  So I jumped on the computer and off to Pinterest I went.  I found this recipe for Cream Cheese Lemon Bars.  It was a hit I think. 

Cream Cheese Lemon Bars:  1 box lemon cake mix - 1/3 cup butter or margarine - softened - 1 egg - 8 ounces cream cheese - softened - 1 cup powdered sugar - 1/2 lemon - grated - 2 tablespoons lemon juice or 1/2 fresh squeezed lemon - 2 eggs - 1 teaspoon vanilla

More of July to come.

Update

I wanted to let everyone know that my posts will probably start coming alot longer in between.  I have started a full-time job, which is definitely putting a kink into my blogging and quilting and scrapbooking.  I am finding it a hugh task to get my new schedule organized, but I will prevail eventually.  Being gone most of the day is not fun, but this change is necessary and will be fine once I get into the swing of things and figure everything out.
I am really sad about being able to spend the time I love with my new found hobby of quilting, but I will sneak in little time slots as I can.

I am enjoying the extra time I have right now with my Jordan the next two weeks. I do have a few posts that I will work on this week and update everyone.

Have a Blessed Day!!! (gotta get ready for work)  :)

Gaila

Farm Updates

I found a few photos that I had forgotten about.  When your pulling them from two different cameras and an iPhone, I forget sometimes what I have where.  So, now I think I have everything uploaded to my computer, thus the new updates of what's been going on around here.

Mole Hunting

Seems like every year we have moles, armadillos, grasshoppers, etc. visiting us.  And, we have had them all this year.  Libby and Palyn got on the trail of a mole one day.  It was so much fun watching Palyn dig and get her little long nose down in the dirt.  You have to know her to know that she is just too much of a princess to get her nose dirty.  I mean, when Bill literally pics her up and takes her out to the carport for potty breaks when it's raining, you gotta know how much of a princess she is.  So without adieu, here are a couple pics of the mole hunting.

Once they were through digging and things settled down, Jordan got down and played with the dogs in the grass.  Doesn't it look so nice in green.  It's so hard to keep it green without rain.  But we have been getting a good deal (well, a little) here and there.  So things look good right now.

We got Libby back in 2006.  We just happened by PetSmart one day and there was a rescue place out front with 4 of the cutest black lab looking puppies.  Well, we called Pawpaw and told him, and it wasn't soon we were bringing Libby home with us.  She was about 3 months old they were guessing.  The puppies had been found in a cardboard box on the side of the highway.  We named her Liberty because we got her on July 3rd.  It got shortened to Libby soon after.  But she does get called Liberty every once in awhile when she's in trouble.

Around the House

Now on to some other things going on here.  Our plum trees really gave us many many plums this year.  My freezer is full.  Now I just need to find a day in my schedule to get some jelly made.  Here is a picture of the last handful of plums we gathered from our trees.  They are so pretty and red.  We had to pick once in the morning and once in the evening for the last couple of weeks because they were ripening so fast.  As you can see, Bill had to place a board under those limbs because they were so loaded that it was sagging to the ground. 

Then, these beautiful sunflowers just popped up one day.  Bill has moved dirt from different places of the yard, filling in mole holes and leveling the yard.  One day these sunflowers just started popping up.  They were just in the middle of the yard (kinda).  We just left them and let them grow.

One more last thing I have to add about what's been going on.  Bill has been working on a walkway from the house to the carport.  You know how it feels to have to walk across wet grass in the mornings from the dew or after it rains in flip flops.  Or to have heels on and they go down in the dirt.  He finished it this week.  It looks so natural with him using the sandstone that was taken up from the old walkway that went to the old porch.  We still need the grass to grow to cover, but it's looking great.  Thank you Hunnie!!!

Well, that's all I can think of today.  Have a wonderful rest of the week! I've got a Math Exam tomorrow, so you know where I'll be.  STUDYING!!!!