Michael W. Smith-Above All Things

View from my Kitchen Window

This is the panoramic view from my kitchen window as I was washing dishes tonight. The pictures would go from left to right. There are Canadian geese swimming on the pond and eating in the corn stubble. In the back field there are deer eating. On Sunday morning I watched as a Trumpeter Swan worked to break the thin layer of ice that had covered the pond during the night.

(In the foreground is the road construction that wasn't finished last fall!)

Friday Night Sew-In results

I found this pattern in the March/April Quiltmaker Magazine. Last night I sewed it together. When I had finished the inside I thought it was too busy--my white print had too much design. Once I added the inside border and the outside--It is a little better. I have the backing sewn together. It will be 48 X 48 when it is finished.

On the Quiltmaker website they have directions to make it in larger sizes. There is also a machine quilting diagram. However, I've never learned how to transfer the diagram onto my fabric. I'm hoping to make a quick trip to Rice Lake today to the Busy Bobbin for advice!

I would have loved to have spent the Friday night Sew-In with my sister near Sturgeon Bay-- Just knowing that she was quilting and everyone else was fun makes it even a better night!

Friday Night Sew-In

Tonight's the night! DH will be watching NCAA basketball--I will be relaxing at the sewing machine unwinding from the week. To join in you will find more information at Homemade By Heidi. So far 143 are signed in!

Motto & A need to vent!

Last week Sheila of My Empty Nest is Full of Cat Hair posted pictures of plaques and quotes that she has in her home. This is a magnet that I have in my classroom. It is the motto we claim in my Special Ed. Classroom. There are never two days alike. Some days are extremely frustrating. There are general ed teachers who are extremely cooperative and willingly make accommodations and modifications in the general ed setting for the students. The same teachers who volunteer and participate on curriculum teams and school committees. Then there are others who will not give any extra consideration or assistance to the students.
This past week I could have pulled out a student's IEP (Individual Education Plan) in an attempt to enforce the aids and services on the program summary (I-14). However, I knew in the long haul it would anger the teacher, make things more difficult for the student, and I still need to work with the teacher. So instead, I take the inch she was willing to give and work harder to help the student succeed.

There--I vented, now to take a deep breath and go back in the morning to teaching and advocating for my students. That is after I go on-line with Skyward and work on an IEP and finish writing a reevaluation report on a student. No quilting tonight!

March BOM

I just finished my three March blocks from 2010 BOM by Amy. I will pack away the fabric for my blocks until April and move on to the next project!
I am going to work on the Christmas Tree Skirt that I am making for Becky and Travis's wedding gift. This should make a good project while DH watches or is it sleeps through March Madness Basketball, Unless it is Big Ten Teams--Go Badgers! . I am trying to think of how to machine quilt it.

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.