Monday Morning---Back to work, but I wanted to catch up from the holiday. I had a great time with four days off. Thanksgiving was fun. Enjoyed food and family. It fun seeing your kids grow up. Chelsey manages to juggle school, work, and a social life better than anyone I’ve seen. She’s toting A’s as far as grades go. Don and I sit back in amazement--- why couldn’t she do this last year? I guess everyone has to find the path. She babysat Saturday night. She was rocking one of the kids and the chair backed into a shelf. A birdhouse fell and she covered the kid, but now she’s got a heck of a black eye.

“Eric—how does it look?”
“Chels, you won’t even be able to tell after you get make up on…”
“Eric--- I have make-up on.”

Friday – Ransom and I threw out the pumpkins, gourds, and fall leaves. Deer food for the forest. I swapped out quilts, tucking away the pumpkin ones and bringing out others. Eric walks in the house—“Mom, your having fun.” Usually, after I make a quilt, I’m sick of it. But if I put it away for a while, take a break, I find a friendship with it after all. And when you bring out old quilts it truly is like finding old friends all over again. Eric will sit and let me go on and on about the squares, the fabric, what I’m going to do with the quilt----Man, I like that kid. Even if he’s not interested, he does a great job at faking it. He’ll be home for a month in two weeks.

I machine quilted the Bear Family quilt Saturday Night. It was almost a “family" project getting it loaded. I understand why quilters say they load a quilt one day and quilt it the next. I didn’t have any backing to coordinate, so I had to go to Wal-Mart--- my only local choice. The fabric wasn’t square and didn’t pull right. I hope I haven’t made a bad mistake. I’m washing it with Baby soap before I give it away just in case.


And I’ve almost quilted another block on the Primitive Garden. Here’s a “wrinkled” snapshot. I’m getting better--- the legs are even part of the single piece of the crow. I never quit trying.

I’m headed to Louisiana to visit my folks on Wednesday for four days. I’ll get a lot of one on one with my mom and we’ll decorate her tree. It’ll be fun. If we don’t chat again, take care.

I’m not even a “purple” person, but I’ve been holding onto these fabrics for a week. Contemplating a couple of Christmas gifts, I think I’m going to put these to good use this weekend.

Eric made it home safely. Due to an “issue” with his laundry card, he brought home a ton of dirty laundry to share. I just laughed. The turkey’s thawing. The menu’s planned. We’re not having out of town family. It’ll just be the four of us. But don’t feel bad for us. We have great holidays with just the four of us. Everyone helps cook the meal. Board games are played. Snacks and cheese and sausage trays are a definite. We’re not worried about protocol and the clothes we’re wearing. It’s fun. I have great thanksgiving memories with just the four of us.

The faces have been embroidered on the bears. I was nervous about doing it---not wanting to mess up the quilt, but I’m pleased. I even got the buttons on the night gowns.
I did some mending and played with the Primitive Garden blocks a little last night waiting on Eric.

It’s been overcast all week, snow showers that melt by daylight every day. We’ll have snow soon enough.

I guess it’s only fitting to pause and count our blessings this time of year. I’m grateful for—
My faith
My family
My job
My quilting--- It has opened doors in finding friends. Quilting has given me something constructive to do with ‘free time’. It has allowed me give and share with others…an incredibly good feeling. On the other side, Quilters have shared so many wonderful things with me. Quilting has given me an appreciation for quilters both past and present and their talents in creating beauty from squares of cloth.

Happy Thanksgiving.

An outstanding weekend – I left work at 2:00 pm on Friday and knocked out most of the housework for the weekend. Childless, Don and I grilled steaks and caught up from the week. I walked into my sewing room late Friday night, going to start organizing and moving fabric into my cabinet. I looked on the counter and the Teddy bear quilt was all over the counter. I can’t stand wasting, and leaving “unfinished business”. I studied it a second and took the seam ripper to it. Starting back at ground zero, I went to work on it. Remember here is the pattern.
I explained in an earlier post how the family that was to receive this quilt had four kids.
I remember as a kid, if there wasn’t an even number of everything my brother and I fought about it. All the way down to characters on a cereal box… I didn’t want anyone left out so ---enter stage left--- the Polar Bear. Well, Tracey left a comment about how she could incorporate the quilt into her crew of kids---All I kept thinking was, “ Come on Tracey… you are from Australia, you HAVE to have a Koala Bear!!!”
I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I ditched the calico bear studied pictures of Koala bears and so, this is what is what my Bear Family Quilt looks like. I still have to embroider the mouths on the faces and the toes on the bear paw.
I’m pretty pleased. I’ll, hopefully, get it stretched and quilted in the next week. I’m thinking I’ll outline quilt the bears and then a soft meander on the patchwork. Hey, this was a stash buster. I pulled pieces from my stash. The only thing I purchased was the fleece for the Koala bear. The pattern talked about using textured fabrics and how kids would love it. I have cotton, fleece and wool pieces. I kicked around fake fur, but I worried it wouldn't wash well, and I'm counting on this piece getting lots of love and needing tons of washings....

Saturday afternoon Don and I made a pot of coffee and listening to the High school semi final ball game. Not being able to just “sit and listen”, I traced, cut and even ironed down the pieces on that Primitive garden block and I’m ready to plow into it on nights when I too tired to do anything else. Our kids lost, but put up a heck of a fight down to the fourth quarter.

Packers won, and Don and I started the ‘Winter Workout’ routine. I think it’s going to be a good week….

Nothing like pumping $3.26/gallon gasoline at 5:45 am in 28 degree weather to get you good and woken up early in the morning--- Yuck!! But that’s what I’ll be doing in about 10 minutes.

It should be quiet today with deer hunting/firearm season in full swing. It sleeted some yesterday evening but Ransom and I got our last run in for two weeks until the season closes.

Here is the next Primitive garden block.
They call it the sap bucket. If I counted correctly it’s 42 pieces of appliqué. Lots better that the 102 of the watering can. I love the colors.

Chelsey’s heading downstate to the semi-final high school football game. This one is an overnighter, so Don and I have a weekend to ourselves again. He’s on call, but still I should get lots done.


Gratitudes:
My new icemaker—the other one died…
Lavender & vanilla fabric softener
Cheetos

Check if off ---- another Primitive Garden Block completed. I was ready for “burnout” to kick in, but before this block was ironed or squared up, and I went down in my sewing basket deciding which block to start on next. Tomorrow I’ll have a photo of it. I do think every block should be as easy as this one. The next block has 42 pieces—if I counted correctly.

The weather for the past 3 days has been in the Mid 50’s every day. Winters are so long we’ll take every day of this we can get. The 15th is opening day of shotgun deer season. That means Ransom and I have to tuck away for two weeks. It’s not safe to be in the woods. I almost hit a Buck on the way to work yesterday, so there should be a bumper crop.

Friday night Don and I went to see American Gangster. We stopped for ‘Takeout’ on the way home and as we headed up our road, there was a huge Black Bear strolling down the middle of the road. He moved over to let us by—Wish I had my camera… it was a sight.

I won’t be quilting again until Thursday. I’ve got work on my Sunday Class tonight to do and Church tomorrow night. I’ve got to get our turkey for Thanksgiving this week. Don laughs at Chelsey. No one is really crazy about turkey, so I suggested Chicken or Ham. But Chelsey declared that we WOULD have turkey… doesn’t matter if we like it or not. It’s what you do on Thanksgiving…” Don laughed. “Mel, she’s just like you….”

I’m OK with that…




Gratitudes:
Emailing Friends
Talking with Eric
Apples for snack

If I can make it through the day I’m looking at the weekend… at last. Wednesday I drove 9 hours (4.5 each way) to pick up Chelsey from her leadership conference. Pretty proud of myself. I’ve never driven that far or that long. Yeah, I know, I’ve led a sheltered life. Chelsey and I laughed and relived her week all the way home. I knew I was pretty far north when I started picking up Canadian radio stations…When then said the High temp for tomorrow was between 2 and 3 and the low was –1…I stopped and thought---I didn’t know it was supposed to get that cold, and then it clicked…Celsius… yeah, I know… more of that really sheltered life thing….

I was beat last night. I would have done some handwork, but didn’t have anything ready to go. So that’s what I did. I knew I had no business being behind my sewing machine, so I traced, cut out, and ironed my next BOM piece. I even stabilized the background with interfacing and sewed on the muslin strips for extra room. So next time “I’m tired”, I’ll have entertainment.

This isn’t a gift to me--- this is a 9-1-1 gift that I felt a mandatory obligation to ship out earlier this week. I sent this to a friend who has never read one of Jennifer Chiaverini’s books. She said she’s not even much of a reader. But I guess I’m no different than a drug pusher… because I intend on getting her hooked. She’s crazy about quilting and loves fabric more than I (if that’s possible). She’s going love the books, I just know it…

On Wednesday when I was headed to get Chelsey---she started panicking that I wouldn’t get there on time. Don was supposed to pick her up, but work was too demanding. So, I left and hour earlier that I felt I needed to “just to make sure”. Of course, I got there, an Hour too soon. I called Don to let him know I made it (cell phones are wonderful), He says, “You’ve got time to go to a quilt shop--- did you get one picked out?” I had been so wired about the distance—I hadn’t even thought about fun. “No, I didn’t have time…” so Don comes to the rescue… “ I’ll Google it…” So from his desk, he finds me a shop and tells me how to get there… What a guy. I’m going to remember this… At least for the next 3 or 4 times he aggravates me---he gets a get out of jail free pass--- you can’t be mad at a guy who would do that for you….

I went to the Quilted Moose, It was a small shop, but the lady was incredibly friendly. And I even stumbled across a Joann’s Fabric store too. Here are my souvenirs from the trip.



Is it fate--- just maybe….After a tough day at work yesterday, I headed to the grocery store. With the time change, it’s getting dark really early and I wanted to get home to run Ransom. Of course… I had to practically park in the next county--- everyone needed groceries the same time I did. But because of that, I had to walk right by our local bookstore and I got the last copy of this….

I could have got it cheaper on-line, I know, but somehow it made the long lines at the grocery store a little easier. It was destiny. I was meant to have this book.

I think I’m looking toward a great weekend…a road trip, some quilting and a good book….

It’s a good morning. We’re having a frightful windstorm, but it could be worse. They were forecasting 6-8 inches of heavy snow. So in the grand scheme of things, I think we lucked out. When I got home from work yesterday, Ransom and I made a dash around the yards and threw out the remaining geraniums, pulled up the garden spikes and brought my scarecrow in. We held onto summer as long as possible. We’re now officially tucked in for winter.

I've made a friend. She doesn't have a web journal, but contacted me through mine. We've been swapping quilting stories and photos back and forth. Last Wednesday Don brought this package of goodies in from the mail box. It was wrapped in brown paper with fabric leaves ironed on it. I wish I had taken a photo of the box. I was just so excited, I was like a little kid and forgot to. There was a bag of buttons-- I have a thing for tree buttons, three fat quarters. Note paper, a small journal, a quilt pattern and this darling scarecrow that is on my television right now. For all the good, bad, and ugly on the internet, I'd never have met her without it.



These postcards are going in the mail today. I take no credit for originality. There are so many cute designs out there on everyone's journals. I'm sure I was inspired by others. You see a darling design, you just want to build on it.With a postcard, you just want to share it with someone else. I
think I started out with nine. I worked on them last week on an old machine. I was tired before I started. There was poor lighting where I worked. I brought them upstairs and looked at them--- a total mess. The margins were incredibly off; the zigzag stitch was skipping points… I literally chunked them in the trash and went to bed. I have so little time to sew--- the projects could at least cooperate and turn out decently!!! After a good night’s rest, my old faithful seam ripper and I regrouped. I lost a couple. I added binding to one that’s already been mailed, but I’m satisfied with the results.

I’m marching onto another Primitive garden block.
This one is 6 ½” by 8”. I hoping it’s pretty easy. I love the seed packet.

I’m working four hours tomorrow and heading to Sault Ste. Marie to pick up Chelsey. It’s over four hours of driving time but I have my new Eagles CD to keep me company.

Don joked with me last night about wanting a free weekend. I told him we had one last weekend. He laughed and said, “No Mel, I ‘quilted’ all weekend. I picked up sewing machines. I put together quilting frames. I stretched quilts for quilting. I don’t think I had a free weekend.”

My response…”Didn’t you have Fun!!!!”

Last Friday was a holiday--- 29 years since the first date with my husband…..And it landed on a Friday night just like the first time. I have had a few “first dates”, but can’t remember the details…but I remember every single detail with him….I guess that’s how you know if he’s “the one”.

We went to pick up my sewing machine that went in the shop for 4 months….it’s like the return of a long lost son. And it purrs like a kitten. Don also bought me this Grace frame.
I’m totally enchanted with it. We talked about it, and it’s a first step into the world of long arm quilting without the huge expense. I can practice, have fun, get my kids through college etc. The biggest struggle I had with machine quilting is the tucks in the back from the quilt not being stretched well enough. Problem solved. I’m basically a weekend quilter, Maybe 2 or 3 big projects a year, so I’m excited about the new toy. And you should see the feathers I’m whipping out on my practice quilt. Eric called this weekend and gave me sass…”Gee mom, I don’t think Aunt Bee had one of those…. I think I maybe could even quilt with that thing….”

Don put the contraption together; I studied the book. I just kind of looked at it for about 24 hours. And Don asked “You don’t like it???” I loved it. I was just scared to death of it. And that’s the way it always is….. even good changes and new things are tough for me. But thanks to his nudging… I’ve been meandering and playing with pantograms all afternoon…after the Packer game, of course.

I still have to press my Primitive Garden block,
but here’s the latest completion. I have 3 blocks to go. The little purple flowers had tiny petals on them. It was just way too tedious for me. I want to relax and enjoy this so I made the executive decision to turn them into primitive "circle flowers" and I think they look just fine. I received the first border in the mail last week. It’s appliqué also. I’m thinking about making it just solid and omitting it. There’s patchwork throughout the center that will connect the blocks, so I don’t think it will even look like “it’s missing something”. But the jury is still out on that decision….

Chelsey is downstate teaching a Leadership workshop. So we’ve been without kids for 3 days with 3 to go…Even Don says…. This is kinda nice….

I’m behind in posting--- why? I’ve been busy living I guess…. It doesn’t mean I haven’t stitched, just means I haven’t slowed down long enough to collect my thoughts.

Photo opts first----Here’s a Cat, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and Little Red Riding Hood…aka Hannah Chelsey, Courtney, and Jordan. I made Chelsey’s Peter Pan costume. I finished it Monday night, with a day to spare. They ‘trick or treated’ last night, but instead of collecting candy, they collected canned goods as a food drive for Feed the Children in Michigan. I was amazed at the number of kids that came out for the drive and even more amazed at the amount the community gave. Many times, it’s hard to scrape up money, but everyone has extra canned goods they are willing to part with. I’ll post the total figures when we get them.

Eric was home over the weekend---We cooked and spoiled him for two days and he’s back at school until Thanksgiving. I thought he looked tired and thin, I fattened him up while I could and he slept till almost ten everyday he was home.

Finished another Block on the Primitive Garden… It will be on my next post. I’ve made eight Postcards to go out this week.

Hallelujah moment—My sewing machine is fixed. Don and I are picking it up this weekend—hopefully.
I better head off to work---I can’t believe it’s now November…

OK—I wanted to chat—no new quilting going on so I dug deep for something to talk about. Sorry about the poor photos. They were taken last night amidst cooking supper and sprinkles of rain.

Everything has a story. I made these two shirts about five years ago. They are Caboodles patterns, but for the life of me I can’t tell you the name.
They have been passed down to a couple of ladies that deserved the patterns and wouldn’t have gotten them any other way.

First of all – The shirts… I found them—of all places the grocery store. I saw them on a rack, the price was right-- something like $3.50-- so I bought them. I told myself they would probably disintegrate the first time I washed them, so before I sewed on them I washed them five times to see if they would make it.

Vanity--- since having kids 19 years ago… I never tuck anything in. Paranoia maybe, but I just don’t. These shirts are XXXL size 54. They are huge. Each one comes to my knees and I'm 5'6". You can see the sleeves stay rolled up. I love them because they are huge. The first shirt has 3 scarecrows.
I took pieces of the pattern and appliquéd on the pocket
and put a crow on the back.
In the fall we pretty inseparable.
For December, I have the little boy with the Christmas tree.
I wanted to show the collar. No pattern was needed. I just traced the outline of the collar onto newspaper, cut it a little smaller on the bias of the fabric so it would curve nicely. I fused it on and zigzag stitched around the edges. I made it match the buttonholes for the button down part of the shirt.
I’ve even seen cuffs done the same way, but since I roll the sleeves I didn’t bother.

Oh yeah--- It’s a man’s shirt--- I thought it may be a fun idea for a gift for someone or for yourself as a Saturday “Cheer Up”…



Gratitudes:
Good Doctor’s Visit
Smoked Beef Brisket for supper
Ritz Crackers

It’s Monday--- the attitude is in check and I’m ready to tackle the week. Lots of good rest this weekend. The weather was even in the upper 60’s so Ransom and I got out a lot. My geraniums are even budding out again; it’s been so warm. The high today is only in the 40’s so the flowers may be short lived.

I pulled out the winter clothes and put the summer ones away. Don and I—well mostly Don--- finished painting my new fabric cabinet. I’ll have to post a picture soon. Saturday night I was lucky enough to host a group of teenagers for pumpkin carving. Good kids and lots of fun.
We built a bonfire and roasted marshmallows. I think Ransom got as many as the kids. Chelsey had her last regular season football game for cheering. I think this is the first time since her senior year began that something tugged at my heart, “Gosh--- this is it…” No more cheerleading, no more pumpkin carving… But she promised she’d come home from school next year and carve a pumpkin--- I’m holding her to it.

Chelsey needs a Halloween costume this year, so I got the fabric for it this weekend. Pictures will come soon.

Thanks for Marcie--- I’ve an autograph copy of her new pattern.
I have to give my self “the talk”, because I want to start cutting fabric for this right now. Her instructions are great, detailed, and easy to follow. If you don’t have this one, contact her and get it soon. I’m using it as motivation to complete things I’m working on now, so that I can start it.

What I’m reading---
It’s an “Upper”. I worried that it would be a Day in the life of a wife of a football player, or just basically “not good”. But I recommend this to everyone. She shows a lot of courage in this book. She's incredibly strong. I read this and sit back... where does her strength come from? She lets people know that her faith really got her through it all. She went through something really tough and went through it right in front of the media. One of those things you think-- "This can't happen to me.." But--- it can. Breast Cancer is the real thing.

Gratitudes-
Porch Swinging weather still around
Pumpkins
Five kids in my Sunday School Class yesterday.

The weekend is almost at a close. I’m just not ready. It’s going to take every ounce of determination to get back into the work week.
We had friends over for supper Saturday night. Lots of fun. Chelsey had an away ball game in Gladstone so we shivered and shook but sat through it. It was her last away game in regular season….
The best part of Friday was presents in the mail.
I’ve made a quilting friend who doesn’t have a web journal. She sent me this package of gifts. I’m ready for Spring--- these are flower seeds for hollyhocks and sunflowers. I can’t wait. She pays attention to detail… knows I love green AND plaids. These turned into napkins for my dinner on Saturday night. Someone’s blog had this pattern made up in Amy Butler fabric. I just loved it--- No zippers and it looked pretty forgiving… but at $16.95 it wasn’t worth the gamble. Her fabric store ran a special for patterns $0.99 and she picked it up for me…..again spring has got to get here (boy I’ve got a long wait) . We’ve got a lot in common and can relate to lots of the same things. The internet makes the world a smaller place…..

I got home from work yesterday. I had parent teacher conferences for two hours after that. All good reports. I had asked co-workers, “Are you headed over to the school for the “annual” event?” A few said yes but the majority said their kid was doing fine they weren’t going. My response was. If your kid is doing fine then go anyway. You’ve earned that “pat on the back” plus that teacher could most definitely use one too. Anyway, One down… I have one more set of conferences before Chels graduates.

Got home—another rumble with Chelsey--- we’re having way too many of these. Don says we’re too much alike…. So I headed off to church-- figured I needed it…

OK… This is the last pumpkin picture… but it’s an important one. We only have three women working where I work. Last Friday, our accounting girl had to have some emergency surgery. Nothing life threatening, but still, she didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. The office sent her flowers. She has family taking care of her kids. I wanted to do something—but what? I was out of town when we was in the hospital and now that she’s home, I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable worrying about her house with a visit there. So I decided..... she needs a pumpkin. Everyone smiles when they see a pumpkin. I stopped by the grocery store on the way to church and picked up this pumpkin. I just finished the fabric card… on the other side I wrote..” If an apple a day…makes you well… think of the AMAZING things a pumpkin must do!! Get well quick…” I attached it with fun ribbon (She’s a ribbon freak) and included a magazine. And on my way to work I’m going to leave it on her front doorstep for her to find.

Pumpkins are cheap… they’re only around for a short season….
Pick up one to share with someone before the season’s over--- Smiles---Money back guaranteed…



Gratitudes:
Don’s patience with Mother/Daughter Squabbles
My favorite Coffee Mug
Warm sweaters on cool days

Ok—it’s a given. I should be quilting instead of writing about it, but I felt like chatting. I had the best weekend. Don and I drove to Chicago for the weekend. We met Eric and a friend down there. We went to see “Wicked”, walked the streets of Chicago with Starbucks in our hands. Don got the tickets about 4 months ago. About Thursday I started panicking. Working all week. A long trip and back to work on Monday. I was going to be behind at home and exhausted at work. Totally not true. We had so much fun. It was good seeing Eric. The last time I went to Chicago I worried about my 6 and 8 year old. I didn’t want to lose them; you wanted them to be entertained. Lord knows, you didn’t want them breaking anything. You always wonder what life is going to be like “after kids”… it’s going to be fine. We divided up in Chicago. Don & I and met back up at different times with Eric. Don and I had the best time. I felt so free. We even talked about what we’re going to do ‘next year’…. I can’t wait…..
I appliquéd on the trip while Don drove. Offered to drive--- Don laughed. It wasn’t the easiest to do, but the time was going to pass anyway, so it might as well pass with a needle in my hands. Here’s where I’m at…. I basted muslin strips around the edges to give my hoop a little more room to work with.

It’s really been warm. But a serious cold front is coming through tonight--- supposedly dropping the temperatures 30 degrees. I took Ransom out running after work and we got caught in a rain shower. You’re walking and you’re a mile away from home and the rain comes from nowhere… trust me I got the cardio in --- I walked pretty fast to get back home….
Gratitudes:
1. Safe travel and a great weekend for everyone
2. Off to quilt in two seconds
3. Starbucks Venti Vanilla Latte extra Hot.

I’ve got a six-foot propeller waiting to be shipped at the office, but I wanted to take a second and type a few lines. We had a quiet night last night. I packaged up some quilt fabric and a pattern for a friend, caught up on some emails. Chelsey had her class and Don played a video game with Eric on-line 300+ miles away. I could hear them laughing and it did my heart good. I quilted on my primitive garden some, maybe a picture by the end of the week.

Here’s a picture of my apple stacker.
It holds pumpkins gourds from my garden in the fall. It’s sitting on my breakfast table on top of a Thimbleberries club quilt. The leaves are from the front yard Ransom and I picked up last night. I ironed them between sheets of waxed paper and the colors stay like that forever. The stackers holds red apples at Christmas, Birds nests in the spring, Granny smith apples in the summer.

I could use another cup of coffee, but I better be on my way.
Until tomorrow---

Her Dad had had about 4 hours of sleep…. Friday night she had a game in a town an hour and a half away.


“ Don, just stay home, I can do this one solo. We’ll hit the craft store, grab a bite to eat and go to the game. The weather is good… piece of cake.”

“Ok – you’re forgetting the camera.”

“If I’m going alone, I’m not doing the camera thing, she can make it a week without pictures…”

“Hang on… I’m getting a jacket, I’ll sleep in the backseat on the way down…”

Yep, this was the exact conversation that took place Friday night. And that’s her dad. He photographs every game she cheers at. We sat in the front row of the bleachers. After the game, Chelsey even said, “Mom, my friends were asking why Dad was smiling and laughing…. I told them… He was watching me…”



Enough said, that pretty much sums up Friday night.

The weather was splendid all weekend---Middle to upper 60’s. I tackled the inside of the house on Saturday, Don worked outside and Chelsey worked at her job. I got my Sunday school lesson finished. How do you teach four year olds about Faith – believing in something you can’t see…? I’d like to take credit for the idea, but I got it from Tracey… We filled the pouches with flower bulbs and talked about how they don’t look like flowers and after we bury them we can’t see them, but if we have faith in the spring they come up as flowers.
You can’t see God, but you know he’s there. They had fun picking out the bulbs and making the tags. Kind of cool. Chelsey says – “Mom, they’ll never get it…” Maybe not, but maybe there will be a small message there for their parents, you never know.


Other than one chance of a freeze that didn’t happen, our fall has been just beautiful. I guess the only perk in planting your garden surrounded by trees, is that they kinda protect it. Many years, I never get full size ripened tomatoes because of the weather. There have many years, I just plant the cherry tomatoes, because at least they will turn red on the vine.
Look at the harvest this year…..

I’m going to be late for work….more later---


Gratitudes:
1. Eric’s safe travel with friends this weekend
2. A friend’s quote: “The reason we love dogs is because they don’t talk..” I must have thought about that several times this weekend when I wanted to complain---- and then I decided not to.
3. Quilting Friends, sharing the quilts they made with their own hands….