John Deere Green for a Country Baby Boy! & Amy's BOM

Last night when we arrived home from DH's post surgery checkup at Abbott Heart Hospital in Mpls-( Yes I drove out of the cities during Friday night rush hour) -I finished the binding on the John Deere Quilt. Now comes the wait to find out if the newest grandbaby is a boy or girl. We are praying for healthy baby with no preference boy or girl. D-I-L-M goes for an ultra sound at 36 weeks to check the size of the baby. Two years ago Kasey was 10lbs. 3 oz (and she was two weeks early) and they don't want this baby to get that big. I used the suggestion made by Amy to use the "Quilts For Kids" pattern.

I have completed 5 blocks from Amy's BOM January and February blocks. I was so excited to piece The Mosaic Star together and have it measure 12 1/2 in. That I didn't realize for a day that one four patch in the corner needs to be turned on turn . I will rip it out tonight and turn it. Then on to the March blocks.

I couldn't resist posting the picture of our youngest grandbaby, Tatum. She is 6 1/2 months old and walking around the furniture. She skipped the "army crawl" going straight to up on all four. That only lasted a few days before she started pulling herself up. She had a cold and is cutting teeth--So she does have the continuous runny nose!

It is almost finished!

Thanks to Homemade by Heidi's Friday Night Sew-In, I was given the mental boost I needed to work this weekend until I have almost finished the baby quilt. I worked Saturday night after Conner and Tatum were picked up. Then finished the machine quilting and sewing on the binding after church on Sunday. I don't believe it--all four corners were perfect the first time. All that's left is the hand sewing on the binding.

If I ever get my hands on the TV remote so there is something I would like to watch on TV, I will sit to finish the binding. Now I need to make the "if the new grandbaby is a boy" quilt!

A New Pattern Designer

There is a new quilt pattern designer! Take a look at her blog, A Little Bit Biased to win a new pattern. Amber is a young gal who learned to quilt with inspiration from her grandmother. She tells her story of how she became a pattern designer.

Friday Night Sew In

As one of the 194 quilters /crafters that took part in Homemade by Heidi's Friday night Sew In . I worked on my "If the new grandbaby is a girl" quilt. As usual--I didn't complete as much as I had intended or hoped to. I did finish sewing the blocks together-(had to rip apart one row when I found I had the center block one turn too far) and added the three borders.
Hopefully tonight-after the grandkids leave- I will sandwich it together and work on the quilting.

I drove DH for another blood draw last night and we stopped for dinner at Adventures afterward. We also stopped at Menards for some walking time. So that took up some of my "Sew In" time.

DH is beginning to climb the walls-for someone who has always been a workaholic and now has a ten pound lifting limit and no wheels, it is challenging. Thankfully one of our sons does all the feeding of cattle on his way home after work. A few friends have picked DH up this week to ride with them to appointments or for coffee. Hopefully as the weather warms up and the ice melts he will be able to walk outside.

February 's Friday Night Sew In

Friday night I am planning to take part in a virtual sew in with over 100 quilters/crafters. When reading A Stitch and a Prayer's post I learned about the Sew-in. To sign in and find out the details read Homemade by Heidi.
I think I will try to finish my "Ava Jo" flannel baby quilt. It is my "if my new grandbaby is a girl quilt." I need to finish sewing the blocks together, add the three borders and quilt. Saturday I will post what I have finished!

WooHoo! Farm Taxes Finished!

This stack of file folders contains the statements, invoices, receipts, and bills for 2009. I am thankful for computer spreadsheets and bookkeeping programs that have made record keeping easier. Tuesday after school, I meet with the tax preparer who will put my numbers into the correct spaces. Last year's tax return was 48 pages. (Farm taxes are due Feb. 28 )

It took a little longer to finish because of several interruptions. Friday we had to go for a blood draw for DH's INR levels and revised coumadin doses. Saturday the grandkids were here for the day. All three were here for a couple of hours--lots of fun! I am so blessed.
Sunday after church and breakfast at the deli with friends, I came home to cook a birthday dinner for DIL-M's birthday. We had lasagna, cheese garlic bread, and White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake. It was delicious!
Tonight out came the sewing machine! I worked on sewing blocks and sewing strips to cut into blocks. The long weekend is over-- back to school in the morning.

I WILL NOT QUILT

I made myself promise I will not work on any quilting projects until my 2009 Farm Income taxes and bookwork is complete!!! Oh NO!!! My fabrics arrived today for the John Deere Baby Quilt! No school on Friday---I will work on bookwork--I will work on taxes!!!!!!

Looking for Ideas!

I am looking for ideas for making a baby quilt using John Deere fabrics for my grandbaby that is due in April. We won't know until if it is born if we have a new grandson or granddaughter. So I am covering both bases. I have a good start on a quilt if she is a girl--however, papa thinks it needs to be a John Deere quilt if he is a boy! All the tractors and most of the machinery on our farm are John Deere--so what else would a baby boy need! Especially when the newest baby's Daddy is employed by a large John Deere dealership!

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Patches and Mending- the wrong UFO for January

Sometimes necessity has to take priority over pleasure. Chad needed his jeans patched. So I put aside my UFO for January to sew patches and mend 8 pairs of his jeans. They are coming for Herb's birthday day dinner-so I will send these home with him and anticipate receiving another stack of jeans needing patches.


Where's Kasey?

There she is! She likes her new "big girl" blanket. Of course "blankie" is wrapped up inside of her new blanket. And yes--this is the last you will see of Kasey's Fuzzy Flowers!!

New Experience

I had several new experiences during our week in Minneapolis while Herb was a patient at Abbott Heart Hospital. One involved three "Good Samaritans" who happened to be walking the skywalk, two security guards and three Hennepin County Paramedics . The result was a huge goose egg, one very black eye, black and blue shins, very bent glasses and three concerned family members back at the hospital. The boys hadn't expected to receive a call from a total stranger using my phone. Stress does strange things to your body! Later in the week, one of my "Good Samaritans" recognized me at the Skywalk Cafe in the hospital. She filled in the missing minutes for me. (Herb didn't see my black eye until just before we came home on Sunday--makeup really worked well)

Slow Walk

I just went for a very short and very slow stroll down the hall at Abbott Northwestern Heart Hospital with my boy friend also known as my DH. The new valve is working--a few difficulties-but things are looking up!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
Linda

I'd Rather Be Quilting

Today "I'd Rather Be Quilting". I am attempting to do the things that need to be completed before we leave for Mpls. early Monday morning.

My checklist for school:
Plans for the substitute for two weeks --done
All work graded and grades in computer for the end of the quarter---done
Quarterly Goals reports as required by IDEA for Students with Disabilities---done
Parent Letter describing accommodations, modifications or alternate curriculum-done
Notifying parents I will be gone from the classroom for two weeks---done

Checklist for ME!
*Reservation at the Sheraton which is attached to Abbott Heart Hospital by sky walk--done

*Books --2 Debbie Macomber, 2 Sherryl Woods, 2 Jennifer Chiaverini's quilting books, Kate Jacob's Knit Two and Knit The Season, my small group study book--Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow and Pearl Girls ( a collection of short stories -"encountering grit, experiencing grace by a variety of authors) I didn't know I would feel like reading so I have a variety--I won't take all to the hospital. Oh! and the latest Country Sampler magazine to dream over!

* My friend, Julie, put together a care package consisting of Bath and Body lotion & body wash, a crossword puzzle book, and CHOCOLATE!

*Now the best--genius on my part----I have borrowed a folding cutting mat from Amy. A tote is packed with my rotary cutter, two rulers, blocks that need to be squared, fabric that needs to be cut for future projects, and quilt pattern books to dream from!! If I really need to escape at night if and I can't sleep.

Seriously, I don't know how much time I will be at the hospital or the hotel-so I don't know really what to take. Todd, Marie, and Chad are coming on Tuesday the day of the surgery. Katie will stay at home with the three grandkids. DH doesn't understand why they need to take off work to spend the day at the hospital. MEN!!!!!

Now--back to cleaning and laundry--and really "I'd Rather be Quilting"!!!!!!

Trusting in Him,
Linda