April Birthdays and Snow Storm!

What started as freezing rain on Thursday morning turned to snow in the late afternoon.   It was slush when I drove home from school. This is what we woke up to this morning.  It was our second storm in a week.

This time we have about 8-10 inches of the wet heavy snow with winds blowing it around. 

 Many schools are closed.  

I did bring paperwork home from school last night  to work on IEPs just in case this happened.  I am planning to spend this afternoon working quilting  a wedding gift.

We celebrated Cole's 3rd birthday last weekend.  Everyone expected to be in the fields this coming week.  DIL #1 made his Mud Stomper cake complete with monster trucks. 

 We are definitely not a Norman Rockwell painting---However,  there is never a dull moment when we have all six grandkids together.

The week before my brother & sister-in-law came from Sioux Falls to help celebrate my mom's 87th birthday.   She had plenty of help opening her gifts.  She lives in her own duplex,  drives wherever  she wants to go, folds and stuffs the bulletins at church every Friday morning!

                                                                  I am blessed! 

Ann Voskamp's "A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are, One Thousand Gifts"

A few weeks ago my small group Bible study began our journey studying Ann Voskamp's "one thousand gifts."  Ann is an outstanding author with a unique style of writing.  She is extremely poetic writer.  She challenges the readers to join her in listing one thousand gifts.  She describes it as,“The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo...this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. We don't have to change what we see. Only the way we see.”

She also has a Joy Dare. Each day she gives a dare.  Today's Joy Dare is:  3 gifts inherited.
1.  Gold locket Grandma Peck gave me to wear for my wedding,  the same moon and stars locket Grandpa gave her to wear at their wedding.

2.  Memories of Grandma Peck reading "Popcorn Party".

3.  Memories of Grandpa Peck's laughter as we teased him with Orchard Grass.

I am still learning about this walk of  “Eucharisteo."  

Read more of Ann's Joy Dare at  A Holy Experience  Joy Dare.

I will be attempting to record my journey on my blog, Linda's Faith and Friends.  You are welcome to come along with me on my journey.

He Has RISEN!

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:6



This year I made Pillowcases for the kids for their Easter Baskets. 

Only DS-1, DIL-1 and family and my mom were here for dinner today.  I had an apron waiting at Kasey's chair for her.  As soon as she was certain it wasn't a bib..She loved it!  I have aprons cut out for Tatum and Jessa...Hopefully finish them before next weekend.

This grandma just had to add a new picture of my youngest grandbaby at 4 months..Growing fast.

Mud Season

Before DIL-1 arrived home to pick up the  kids, they had baths,  clothes were washed and dried, the only remaining evidence was wet boots!   I have always maintained that kids and clothes wash!

 

Friday Night Sew In

Last week I saw this quilt in McCall's Quick Quilts.  I decided it would go together quickly.  Also it would give me a chance to try applique.  

 

With a few revisions, here is mine.  The flimsy is ready to be sandwiched.

That will have to wait until my wrist heals.

 I was pleasantly surprised how easy the applique went on.  Now I am ready to try again!

 Sunday afternoon this baby girl quilt will be opened by a mom to be. I think I will have to look for another pattern.  I have made this several times and have liked it each time.

 

Enjoy your weekend.

How do you know what price to put on a quilt?

Not only did I not "Spring Forward" when daylight savings time started last week.  I also discovered that I don't bounce!   I wiped out on the ice walking into school last Thursday.  The clinic did an xray of my left wrist and  put it in a brace. I found out today there is a hairline crack. 



Question.  How do you determine what to charge for a quilt?  I have  requests for my John Deere baby quilts.  It uses approx. 3 1/2 yards of fabric plus batting.  I posted a picture of the quilt I made for grandson #3 on a facebook page for quilters when they asked for photos of quilts made for sons or grandsons.  Several people asked if I would sell them.   I have enough of the tractor fabric to fussy cut squares for 2 quilts.  It is not available any longer.  All suggestions will be appreciated!  Thank you!

My Own Friday Night Sew-In

I finally finished Conner's quilt.  All that was left to finish was the binding.  I had planned on using the red Lightning McQueen fabric.  However, when I saw the black and white check I decided to use it.  I think I like it.

 

I needed to spend some time tonight to relax my mind from the week.  This really helped!

Warning..Gramma Posting Pictures!

We celebrated Granddaughter #3's second birthday on Sunday.  Her princess cake was slid across the table a few times before  I was able to snap a picture. Notice the tilted doll.

 She was our special miracle to survive the last three months before she was born. We continue to be so very thankful that she and her mom both were fine after her birth.

 Grandson #3 is now  three months old.  He weighs over 15 lbs and is wearing size 6-9 month clothes.
My mom enjoyed loving up her youngest great grandson.

 

Granddaughter  #2 made sure she had her share of the frosting on the doll! She already placed her order for her princess cake this summer.

"My Greatest Blessings call me Grandma."

Do you know how to use this?

Do you know where to find the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) where you work or places you may go?   A  friend's life was saved last Saturday when he collapsed while officiating at a high school basketball game with his son.  A coach or trainer at the game ran for the AED  to shock Tim's heart.  It was able to restart his heart.  He had  quadruple bypass surgery on Monday. Today he is home with his family thanks to the AED and the quick response by someone who knew where it was and how to use it!

I should finish working on farm taxes today.  We have Monday off from school and I am planning to spend it sewing!!!

Procrastination

Hello Friends!

I am sitting at the computer doing farm bookwork and trying to prepare for taxes.  Agriculture/Farm income taxes are due the end of February.  I have been working since 7:30 and needed a break.

I haven't been able to spend much time quilting yet this year.

I did finish a quilt for our neighbors new baby.  He is the newest addition to the young family whose three year old was killed in a car accident last January.

My "sister" (college/forever friend)  oldest daughter is expecting her third any day.  Since Dar and Len both grew up on Wisconsin farms, I made a John Deere quilt for the baby.  That is if he's a boy.  It is the same pattern I have used before.  I used some different fabrics and backing.

I have to finish free motion quilting  border of the "if the baby's a girl."  Yes,  again I used a pattern I have used before! 

The day after Christmas a former neighbor "boy" who grew up with our boys came with his girl friend to announce they had become engaged two hours before. They hadn't even called her parents yet.  He has been an extra son to us most of his life.  I had tease them before that they needed to give me enough time to make their Christmas Tree Skirt between engagement and the wedding.  Their wedding is being planned for May. I have the flimsy ready to sandwich and quilt.

 

Enough procrastinating!  Back to bookwork!

Merry Christmas

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

This year Christmas came without any baking, very little decorating, not much shopping, and very few cards were mailed.  (And NO sewing  or quilting time!) However, as the Grinch discovered Christmas still came. It came in the form of the smiles and laughter in my grandkids faces, in the look of their great grandmother as she smiled at their actions, the look as they all gazed into the face of baby, Colby, and through the lighting of candles as the light was passed around the entire church family on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas my friends.

 Linda

The Circle of Life...The baby is a BOY!

The last time I posted was following my MIL's funeral.  It has been a challenging two months dealing with her estate and family dynamics.  It has been even more reinforced  that we are completely blessed having our sons,  daughters-in-love, and precious grandchildren.  Things are only things...others may argue and fight over things...we are blessed with our family.

Now the the exciting news!  Colby arrived on November 30.  He was delivered through emergency c-section following several hours of labor.  He weighed 10 lbs,  22 inches long, his head measured 14.5 and his chest was 14.75.  He became stuck in the birth canal. 

 

 Kasey decided it was ok to have another brother.

 

Cole still isn't sure about a baby.  He was more excited about the two little John Deere tractors that came in his big brother bag at the hospital. 

I had two quilts ready!  The front is similar to Cole.

 Cole had thought it would be ok if the baby's brothers

quilt was almost like his.

 

Hopefully, I will now find time to finish or begin Christmas gifts!

And..reconnect with my blogging friends!

God Bless,

Linda