These are a few of my favorite things!

Conner wanted to hold Tatum or as he calls her, "Tatumcole". Chad and Katie set him on the bed and placed her in his arms-It lasted about 30 seconds.






The happy new family! Katie and Tatum went home on Saturday. Sunday afternoon Chad did up all the laundry so Katie wouldn't have to climb the stairs. He also had Conner out in the shop with him so Katie could rest while the baby slept. We are so blessed!






Since the dairy cows are gone--Hallejuah! I am not getting the
1 1/2 to 3 hours of exercise a day that I had other summers. However, my knees, hips and elbows no longer ache. Last week I rejoined Curves to make sure I exercise in the correct way. Also-hopefully lose many extra pounds. I look at it at 5 pounds at a time, not quite as discouraging that way!

I made a quick trip to Rice Lake to run some errands this afternoon! What grandma cannot resist a sale, especially when things were 70-80% off the lowest sale price! I found several special outfits for Tatum for this fall and Christmas time all 3 to 6 month size. I am sure she won't mind last years fashion!



I am really going to do it! I found this pattern in the Sept. Quick Quilts--It looks to be something I can handle. So I found the fabrics on-line from three different sites. The final four arrived today!




I am enjoying meeting new friends through the blogging! So until next time! Enjoy your quilting, children, grandchildren, DH, and friends.

Linda

The newest Princess!

Conner is excited to announce that he is a big brother to Tatum Nicole Schrankel. He was very excited to see her for the first time last night. He wanted to show her his monster trucks and thought she should have one in her bed. She looks so much like Conner that the baby pictures will definitely need to be labeled. She has smooth skin and a beautiful complexion with long black hair.

We are so blessed!

Conner and Tatum have 2 sets of grandparents, 1 great grandpa and four great grandma's.

New Grand Baby!! It's a girl.

No pictures yet--Katie (daughter-in-law) called this morning at 10:15. She said she had just called Chad to come home from work. She said, "I think we will have a baby today-could you come to pick up Conner? No hurry." Well- I left immediately and was there in about 15 minutes. Chad arrived home.
At 12:05 we received a text from Chad stating, " Left home at 11:00, arrived at hospital 11:25, baby arrived at 11:50. Interesting ride from home to hospital.) We were able to talk to him for a second-She weighs 7 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches long.
We will head down later today and return with pictures!!!!!

Conner is a staying with Grandma and Papa playing with the new wooden train set he found on Grandma's stairs!

Making New Memories and Remembering Old!

I've learned from reading blogs that it may be a place to express excitement, challenges, accomplishments, and emotions. So here goes!

We were invited by son,
Todd, to accompany them (Todd, Marie and Princess Kasey) to visit the Minnesota Zoo near Apple Valley, MN. We met Marie's mom and dad, her sister and brother there for a day of exploring the zoo with a 19 month old. Seeing it through her eyes was the best. At this zoo you are able to get up and personal to many animals and fish while observing them in their own environment.

It was a perfect day! The little princess fell asleep on the way to the car.


Remembering an old memory:
Today would be our oldest son's 32 nd birthday. He celebrated
4 birthdays with us and today was his 28th birthday in heaven.
We knew that Todd and Marie didn't remember that it was
Travis's birthday today. So-while it was wonderful spending
the day with them. For today--my heart is breaking with the
memory of the joy we felt 32 years ago when Travis was our
first baby! So this mom shed a few tears in the shower this
morning and will go for a walk after this blog entry and let some more tears out. Then dry my tears and move on to return to 2009 and will be thankful for the 4 years 3 months he was part of our lives. I thank the Lord for our two other sons, our wonderful daughters-in-law, and our two precious grandchildren!!
Remembering: "The will of God will not lead you were the Grace of God cannot keep you."

Home Alone!!!!

Being home alone is a rare night for me!!! Son, Todd, and DH took Todd's JD 630 to a farm tractor pull last night. That meant the TV was MINE for the night!
I spent the time quilting a smaller version of "Pinwheels and Prairie Points". It is one set of blocks smaller. The perfect size to wrap a new baby. I had watched the Stipples Tutorial on Crazy Mom Quilts blog (Thanks Amy!) a few times-decided to give it a try. I used the free motion foot to do the outside border. I know I have a long way to go--but I'm learning. I finished the quilting and sewing the binding. The handsewing was enjoyable when I was able to sit and watch "You've Got Mail" at the same time!!!!!

I wasn't ready to quit--so I pulled out a charm pack I had purchased. (Moda-Holly Jolly Snowman) I started on the newest Orginal recipe on the Moda Bakeshop--"Christmas table topper." I finished three blocks--it is so quick and easy.

Frustration!

I finished the top of the soon to be Christmas Tree skirt. I was ready to start on the sandwich when I realized I was short about 6 inches of backing. So I have to wait until Wednesday when I will be going to Rice Lake to pick up backing fabric. DH's comment, "How are you going to get that around a Christmas Tree?" When I responded I would cut a hole in the center and up one side--he looked at me with that "look." I am thrilled with how it turned out. I ran into one problem-I have no idea what I did wrong-but was able to fix. I am anxious to finish it.

My next challenge is to learn how to machine quilt with "stipples." Amy of "Amy's Passions" blog sent the link to a tutorial by "Crazy Mom Quilts". Some day I will learn how to add links to other sites.

I learned today that the little guy I wrote about earlier this summer, after three trips to the specialist, has been diagnosed with "Williams Syndrome." Please keep this young family in your thoughts and prayers as they learn what they need to do as parents.

Strawberry Blueberry Trifle

Strawberry Blueberry Trifle

SERVINGS: 14

TIME: Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cold milk
• 2 packages instant white chocolate pudding mix
• 1 prepared angel food cake (14 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 4 cups fresh blueberries
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1/2 cup whole strawberries, halved

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
Place a third of the cake cubes in a trifle bowl or 3-1/2-qt. glass serving bowl. Top with a third of the pudding, 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1-1/2 cups blueberries and a third of the whipped topping. Layer with a third of the cake and pudding, 1 cup strawberries and a third of the whipped topping.
Top with remaining cake, pudding, strawberries, blueberries and whipped topping. Serve immediately or cover and chill until serving. Yield: 14 servings.

***I mixed the whipped topping with the pudding and added it together.

On a "MINI"-Roll

Yesterday after Marie picked up Kasey-I needed a project. (Not that I couldn't have found plenty of work to do). I pulled out a pattern I found this Spring. I had purchased the fabric thinking I
would do it right away--WELL-It is called Winter Star. It will eventually become a Christmas Tree Skirt. I have a few more logs to add to the other three woodpiles.

Now-I need to finish preparing for our picnic with friends and family.
I have Tator-Tot hotdish baking, Rice Krispie Bars are ready, and now to finish the Strawberry Blueberry Trifle.

Enjoy your day as we celebrate this wonderful country we live in!
Happy 4th of July,
Linda

Another Quilter is Hooked!

A new quilter is hooked! As I was cleaning the living room, I looked over to find Kasey climbing onto my sewing chair. She reached into the "scrap pail" to find the fabric she wanted. She picked the long strips of yellow and pink. Instead of taking her away I reached for my camera. She worked to straighten out the strips, then she knew it had to go under the presser foot. That took her awhile. When she started reaching for knobs I knew it was time to intervene! She is like all quilters! She definitely did not want to leave the machine!

Kasey is Todd and Marie's 19 month old daughter! My favorite granddaughter--I can still say that for a few days! Katie is due next Wednesday!!!

Linda

Pinwheels and Prarie Points

The Pinwheel Baby Quilt is finished for "Baby Schrankel if she's a girl". The pattern is from the Moda Bake Shoppe. Their pattern is in white with '30's fabric for the pinwheels.
Katie likes bright colors--so this is the result. Prairie Points were fun! I have also finished a quilt top that is one row shorter with the same pinwheel and prairie points.




Christmas Lights Mystery Quilt is ready for the next issue! I dug and found Christmas fabrics from projects that never were finished! I did purchase the black print. This may prove to me that I am ready to move on to more difficult projects and tackle a full size quilt.


Oh! My daughter in law just called--no labor yet! However, I did tell her that the quilt is finished so she can go ahead and deliver. It would be fun to have her wait until next Wednesday when the birthday would be 07-08-09!!

Happy Wednesday!

Linda

Greetings From The Holiday Inn I35W

Two days of class down and three to go! When the brochure said 30 hours of comprehensive training they were not exaggerating! We start at 8:00--somewhere around 10:00 someone will ask if we could have a break. She gives us about a 5-7 minute break. For lunch she stretched it out to 45 minutes and the afternoon break is "take a quick break when you finish with your group work." We wrap up around 3:30.

I worked on machine stitching for about two and a half hours last night. The baby quilt is coming great. I worked about two hours again tonight. I plan to finish quilting the outside border yet tonight. I found the black print for the Mystery quilt--hope to work on that tomorrow night and Thursday night.

Wednesday, after class I am heading to St. Paul to visit Dar, Len, Louis, and Evelyn. I will be seeing Evelyn for the first time. She is the baby I made the Charming Baby quilt this spring.

It is HOT in Mpls!

Take Care,
Linda

One more finished--and a question!

Next week I am attending an Orton-Gillingham Comprehensive Training in
Minneapolis for five days. I will be staying at a Holiday Inn in Bloomington. Now for my question--Would it be totally weird to take my sewing machine with me to work on projects at night? All I can think of is uninterrupted time to quilt!!!!!!!

What do you think?

Thank you! Happy Friday,

Linda
gpfarms@centurytel.net

I finished one more project! This is for me to use now! It is a purse tote. I found the pattern in a Fons and Porter mini mag which I received when I subscribed to their magazine. I made a few changes in it--But I like it. DH is going to cut a piece of something to give the bottom stiffness.