Yesterday I finished the tree skirt for Randy & Kelsey's wedding this afternoon. I was showing it to DIL-2 when she came for Conner and Tatum. Conner took one look at it and started laughing. Remember he is 3 1/2---he laughed and said, "Grandma, there is a hole in your quilt!" 
DH made a quick trip with a friend to Minot, N.D. A long story made short--the friend purchased three old John Deere tractors from a farmer there. He bought 2 John Deere Model A's and a John Deere Model D. He asked DH to ride along--after a great deal of self-arguing, he decided he would go. They left at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and returned at 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning. The load was heavy for the trailer and they blew a tire at 1:00 a.m. It is supposed to be a 10 hour trip each way--However, when you are pulling a load and can only drive 55 for 960 miles-It makes for a long trip. This isn't one they brought back--the ones Jay bought need LOTS of work to restore. 
Monday through Wednesday I was in class and earned 1 credit towards my license renewal. 8:00 until 3:30 with a 10 minute break at 10:00-45 minutes for lunch and a 10 minute break at 2:00. It is another method of classroom management and working with students. Giving ownership of problems to the students-giving guidelines to solve their own problems--A different philosophy from the Positive Reinforcement model that so many are currently using. Like all methods--there are great ideas and some drawbacks. 
Then this afternoon--I had one of those, "DUH! Linda" moments. I was working on machine quilting the tree skirt for Randy and Kelsy's wedding. I was thinking-I wish I had another hand to lift the pressure foot and still hold onto my fabric. Then the light bulb flashed! I received a "knee lifter" when I purchased my machine! So I located it--figured out how to attach it--and VOILA it worked! (that is almost all the French I remember from French class!) Tonight I will sew on the binding and it will be finished!
No "Friday Night Sew In" for me. DIL-2 and Son Chad both had to work late at their respective jobs and again this morning. So Grandson -1 and Granddaughter- 2 (Peanut) spent the night with us. Peanut is 11 months old and not just walks-but runs- everywhere. When 7:00 p.m. comes she is ready for bed and will sleep until 6:00 a.m. Grandson 1 is 3 1/2. He doesn't think bedtime should exist at Grandma's house. So he and Grandma go into our bed where we read from "Beginner's Bible for Toddlers". The Stories are very short with great illustrations.
We always read--David and Goliath, Daniel in The Lion's Den, and Jonah. Several times each. Then he "reads' them to me. After we finish reading-just when he is on the verge of falling asleep. He will say, "Scratch my back Grandma. On my skin" Then, "Sing Grandma." Last night our song was "Only a Boy Named David." MANY TIMES!!!! Even at 2:30 this morning when suddenly it was, "I want my daddy--I want my mommy!!" So once more I rub his back and he says, "Sing, "Boy Named David" Grandma." Of course--I add extra sound effects- WOO-WOO-WOO-Woo- When the stone flies after the giant!
Son Todd stopped with Granddaughter-1, "The Princess" (2 1/2 ) when he came for tools from DH's shop. Kasey came to the house--when she found that Tatum and Conner were here she decided to stay also. So I have three of the four grandkids this afternoon. I just walked in to find the two of them in Papa's chair reading. Peanut (Tatum 11 months)-Is just having fun walking!
This morning when I went to check the mail I took my camera to take a picture of the lilies I transplanted to a temporary location last summer when the highway department decided to widen the county highway in front of our farm. They took all of my flower bed and 12 sixty year old spruce trees. I had been trying to establish a perennial bed. I dug the lilies and planted them temporarily in front of the house! It worked! The flower bed needs lots of help right now! That is one of my goals for the summer, along with scraping the paint of the front step and repainting it. We are trying to think of shrubs or something to put along the front of the house for privacy and sound reduction.
In the mailbox I found a package from Nancy of Patchwork Penguin. Last week she had a give-a-way! I won!! All I can say is, "WOW!!! It is a box FULL of awesome coordinated fat quarters. The colors are beautiful! Now I need to find just the right project to make with them. I think they definitely fit into Amy's category of "Too Good To Cut." Thank you Nancy!!!!! I have met the greatest people through blogging! I think I am actually starting to build a stash!!! 
I knew DH was planning to take a load of beef steers to the livestock market at Rock Creek, MN this morning. (About 2 hours away) I had several things I thought I would be accomplishing while he was gone. However, at 7:05 he came in asking, "Would you like to ride along?" Many years ago I made the commitment that when asked me to ride somewhere with him I would! So I quickly smiled saying, "Sure let me grab my shoes, a book and a quilting magazine." The reading material is for when he is sitting in the sales barn watching the steers sell and I am sitting in the truck. I have learned that it is a great time for us to talk and he shows me the things he sees each time he goes. It is really one of the things we have missed after I returned for my second teaching career 12 years ago.
Today he didn't wait for the steers to sell. We got back home about 11:15. He is off to an "Answer Plot-Knowledge Event" field day about 45 minutes south. (For non farmers- they are sponsored by seed, fertilizer, chemical companies to check their test plots- as to what works most efficiently and economically yet with the greatest yield and production) Plus they have free lunch and a time for the guys to talk! 
I saw this Christmas Tree Skirt on the Fat Quarter Shop website. I thought it looked festive and would make a great gift. I ordered the complete kit and pattern. (Happy Holidays by Atkinson Designs) On the pattern there are three sizes. I need a quick gift for a friend. Since I have red, white and blue fabric--and really like the table runner I made with same fabric. I decided to make the smallest version. 
I wanted to use three colors instead of four. The red was supposed to be two colors. This is the result. I think I will use the blue for the binding. Maybe I should add a red or blue border to it-then the binding. Currently it is 20" X 23". It needs a good pressing yet. It called for using a 60 deg. ruler. I used my Tri Tool Ruler. It was quick and easy to make. 
First things first I was privileged to have grandson Cole this morning. DIL-#1 had to go into work for a couple of hours. She asked if I would be able to have Cole. He is 7 weeks now, smiling and starting to talk. It was the first time away from his mom. First time taking a bottle. He was here for four hours and he did great! She needs to go in again next Tuesday and I will be able to have him again.
