Another Quilt and Gratitude

The quilt that I made for Cael was pretty simple.  Not pieced, but just a large piece of fabric (Iowa Hawkeye, of course!) trimmed with black flannel and black flannel backing.  It also is tied.  And, the very goofy Cael wanted to make a face for the camera!

Gratitude--I am grateful for indoor plumbing!  I can't imagine having to use a chamber pot in the night, or going out in the cold to the outhouse.  I am glad I don't have to sit on the bare wood with flies swarming around.  The most I've ever had to use an outhouse was at my grandparents' cabin (there was indoor plumbing, but when we were wet we had to use the outhouse) and when we were camping at various places.  As a kid it didn't really bother me too much.  But as an adult it certainly did!  And the pleasure of turning the knob and having hot water run out at my pleasure, well that is sure something I am grateful for.  Thank you God, for indoor plumbing!

"Ladybug" Quilt

I made each of Trilby's boys a quilt for Christmas, which I don't think I've shown before.  I was under pressure to get it done and forgot to take pictures.  Nate calls his the Ladybug Quilt.  The fabric doesn't really have ladybugs on it, but they do kind of look like them......if you think ladybugs are blue, red, green, or orange!

I couldn't get him to give it up, so he's peeking out the top!

I used flannel and tied this one.  It is very cuddly!

Gratitude--I am VERY grateful for my senses.  Our senses help keep us safe--something I think we forget about.  I have an excellent sense of smell.  It's too good sometimes, and I smell lots of things I wish I couldn't smell, but I'm glad I can!  And then there's taste. Taste and smell work together so well.  Obviously my sense of taste is in good working condition.  I'll blame my weight on that!  My eyes aren't great and I fear losing my sight someday.  It is certainly something I can't imagine doing without.  I'm grateful for the sight I do have.   I don't know how I would do my job without my sense of hearing.  I know people do, but I'm glad I don't have to.  I'm glad I can hear the voices of those I love.  And then there's touch.  I'm grateful I can feel the hugs of my grandsons, the student's hand holding mine, and the kisses from my husband.  Thank you God, for my senses.

Cheesy Vegetable Soup

Once again I am joining Colleen's Recipe Swap.  Check out all of the yumminess at And Baby Makes Five.

Cheesy Vegetable Soup(OR- Cheese & Meatball Soup-which is what it was named to start with)

2 c. water                                           1 c. corn

1 c. chopped potatoes                        1 c. chopped celery

1/2 c. sliced carrots                            1/2 c. chopped onions

2 c. beef bullion                                 1/2 t. Tobasco Sauce

1 16oz. jar Cheese Whiz

1 lb. browned hamburger ---(This is what I use 'cause I'm lazy!)   

OR

(This is what the recipe calls for.)

Meatballs----1 lb. hamburger

                     1/2 c. oatmeal

                     1 egg

                     salt

                     1/2 tsp. Tobasco Sauce

Place browned hamburger OR uncooked meatballs along with all other ingredients except Cheese Whiz into large pan.  Boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 2 hours.  (I put mine in the crockpot.)

Add Cheese Whiz just before serving.

I've been doing some sewing, but haven't taken any photos.  I ran out of one fabric to finish a gift.  I had to order more because my local Joann's was out.  It cost more to send it than the fabric cost to purchase, but what else could I do??  I'm working on a baby quilt too.  Hopefully I'll have some finishes to share after this weekend.

Gratitudes---I am grateful for books.  I love books and can't imagine life without them.  I have many books--antique books, fiction, non-fiction, reference.  I even have a set of the Dick and Jane Books that I learned to read from.  Books can teach you things like how to cook, sew, build; they can give you guidance; they can give you information; they can give you a great escape.  I know that the Kindle is getting to be very popular, but I don't imagine ever owning one.  There's nothing better than being the first one to crack open a new book!  

Wednesday Gratitude

Gratitudes--I am grateful for flowers.  Flowers have long been a symbol--different flowers for different meanings.  We give flowers at happy and sad times, to celebrate love and loss, to say "I'm sorry.", "I Love You.", or maybe just "Have a Nice Day."  We plant flowers in beds, in pots, in hanging baskets, in almost anything we can, to beautify our surroundings.  Flowers peaking out of the dirt after a cold winter are a sure sign that spring certainly will be here soon.  I am always excited to see the first of the stems popping out!  And we have some already.   We could use a few flowers outside right now.  It's muddy and ugly since the snow is almost gone and it's been raining.   Thank you God, for the beautiful flowers!

Gratitudes

Gratitudes---I am grateful for food!  Yes, I'm sure you're thinking, "Duh, looks like it!"  But, I am grateful for the abundance of food and choices we have in the United States.  I know as we read about other countries and their lack of food or their lack of money to even buy food, I take ours for granted.  For the most part we have good quality food.  Now, if I could just learn to only eat the healthy stuff!  Thank you God for never really knowing hunger.

Weekend Busyness!

Yes, it is tax time at our house.  I spent Saturday going through bills, receipts, and stuff.  YUCK!  We're thinking about doing our own taxes this year.  And  we're really not in much of a hurry since we had to pay last year.  If we have to pay again, they're not getting it until the last minute!

Bud worked on his car and played with his cattle, including his newest little heifer.

Saturday evening we stayed home watched "Couple's Retreat" (which was okay) because Bud is fighting a cold/virus.

Sunday I played with this:

It is nice soft flannel, but I ran out of one print, so I have to wait and finish my project when I get more.  I don't know how that happened except that the lady cutting it must have shorted me a yard.  I got the same amount of four of the prints, and yet this was the only one I ran out of.

I did make several of these tactile quits or tag quilts.

I first saw these when Tasha showed me some that she was making.  I personally thought she was nuts!  But, Chance, our 6 month old grandson, LOVES his!  

The ribbons are different sizes and textures which he loves to chew/suck on!  I finished the edges with a fancy little stitch.

Have you heard of these little quilts?

Gratutides--I am grateful for country life.  It isn't that I really want to live in the country, but I have gotten used to it.  I know that Bud would not be happy in town.  He enjoys looking out the window and seeing deer by the fence line and running across the property, seeing the turkeys across the fence, and the pheasants flying in the pasture.  I think he even enjoys the challenges that the ground hogs and voles present to him.  Many times he has come running into the house for his gun to "get" the critters who elude him.  Because he is happy in the country I am happy in the country.

Gratitudes

Wow, I have really been a slacker haven't I?  We spent Sunday and most of Monday at the hospital in between a doctor's appointment for Bud on Monday.  Dale got to go home to recuperate, and Mom went with them.  Tuesday was a busy day with tutoring and literacy night after school, so I didn't get home until 8:30.  Last night I had class after school and Piecemaker's Quilting Club after that, so again it was 8:30.  I just can't keep up with these long days!  Right now I'm sitting in the hospital with Bud while he has some medical tests done.

Gratitudes--I am so grateful for transportation and especially for having my own transportation at my disposal.  After my recent trips to New York, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., I know that I am thrilled to have had an airplane to get us there and then cabs, trains, and busses to move us around the city.  We are so lucky to be able to travel to places far away in such a timely fashion.  But I am also glad that I don't depend on cabs, trains, and busses on a daily basis.  In talking so several different people on our travels, it is amazing the amount of time people spend to travel to and from work in the cities.  As I drive to and from school each day I am reminded of our previous modes of transportation and I am sooo glad we have evolved!  You see we live in an area heavily populated with Amish.  Many of our main roads have wide shoulders to accommodate their buggies.  I can't imagine using the horse and buggy, especially during the winter we've had.  And I'm sure, in fact, I know, I don't have the patience for the slow travel.  Thank you God, for the modes of transportation that we currently have!