My First Quilt

It took me 3+ years, but I finished it. The piecing was done by machine, the quilting by hand.

I can see each mistake, but I'm happy with it. I already have ideas for two more where I am a little more creative. We'll see how long it takes me to start on those.

A Busy Labor Day Weekend!

Well, I think we are ready for winter. This weekend after freezing 40 quart bags of corn, we started making tomato sauce. I haven't transferred the sauce to freezer bags yet, but I'd guess we made about 6 galllons to add to the 6 gallons we already have. We already have plenty of green beans and diced tomatoes in the freezer. I didn't take pictures of the tomato process - but have posted pictures of what it took to do the corn.

10 dozen ears of corn and 10 dozen husks.

One turkey fryer and one husband good with a knife

Hot bath and cold bath. All this equals 40 qt bags of corn in the freezer

My Blackeyed Susans

I love, love, love these flowers. We had them at our 1st house on Arcadia, transplanted one to Tallmadge Road when we moved there, then by the time we moved to Johnnycake, we had enough to plant several. They are along my drive and here in front. They are gorgeous!

Perseverance

While sitting on the porch last week, I looked down to see a bug hauling a dead spider across the deck. At one point the bug set the spider down, walked on for a bit (I assume to check his bearings), then came back. It soon became apparent that the bug wanted to take the spider underneath. He tried just pulling him down, but that didn't work so good. The spider was pulled back out and the bug went below. I can only guess at what was happening - maybe he had to move his stuff around to make room for this new aquisition. There were many trips up and down, with several attempts to move that spider. Eventually he accomplished his task. Imagine - I have a whole world under my feet! And people wonder why I don't get bored!

Disking the Garden

Nothing says new life and hope for the future like planting seeds in the garden. You nurture them (okay, Chet does), pray for rain and before you know it you are up to your you know what in tomatoes. I even got to drive the tractor while Chet sprayed!

Women in History

What a fun night I had! I went to a program presented by a group called Women In History" from Lakewood Ohio. They do history re-enactments. Last night's program was about "Crazy Bet" Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Elizabeth Bowser from Richmond, Virginia. "Crazy Bet" was the daughter of a successful business man and Mary Elizabeth was one of their slaves. After her father died, "Crazy Bet" freed her slaves and Mary Elizabeth's family stayed in her employ. "Crazy Bet" became a spy for the Union and eventually recruited Mary Elizabeth - she "loaned" her to Mrs. Jefferson Davis (the wife of the president of the Confederacy.) In the Davis household Mary Elizabeth was able to get many of the Confederacy's plans. How did we not learn about this in school! It was really entertaining. The group is a non-profit and have around 90 characters they do - and yes they travel! If you are interested in more info, their web site is http://www.womeninhistoryohio.com/

Spring Time

As I was laying in bed this morning, I kept hearing a soft "knock knock" coming from somewhere. At first I thought maybe someone was at the door. I got up to look, and no, there wasn't anyone at the door. I made coffee, checked the computer, ate breakfast. I kept hearing this soft, "knock knock", "knock knock." There weren't any branches thumping against the windows. The back door wasn't ajar. I finally zeroed in on the guest bedroom, and low and behold, someone did want in!

The Eternal Question

I help teach 6th grade CCD, which in our diocese studies the Bible. As such, we talk about alot of people who have had great tragedy in their lives. The question comes up over and over about why God allows evil, why He doesn't feed the hungry, why He doesn't make us all do good. The easy answers are that we have Free Will and that God works through us. Though the answers are easy to say, they are not so easy to understand. In Bible study we are reading the Acts of the Apostles and last night we read about the conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Paul). One of our discussion questions was "Why does God sometimes use periods of darkness to bring a person into a different and better period of life?" In our group we have a women who has been a widow for many years, another who was widowed this past year, a man who is struggling with raising an autistic child and another women who was struck with MS in her first year of med school. As I was listening to their stories I was struck by the image of a metal worker of old fashioning a sword. They would heat the metal, work it, and then cool it. This process would be repeated over and over. Each time the metal was heated and cooled, it became stronger, more resilient. Each time it was worked, it became finer, sharper. And I thought, that is what bad times do to us.

Full Moon

Okay, it doesn't look as pretty as it did in person, but this is the moon peeking through the trees.

February Thaw

I don't know why, but since we have moved here I have seen more beautiful sunrises and sunsets and if I have my camera, I can't help taking a picture. This is the sun setting out back over the melting snow.

More images of Winter

They're flying south, shouldn't they be flying north by now?

Little bird feet in the snow

Images of winter

It might be kind of hard to tell what you are looking at, but this is from the deer digging up our yard looking for something to eat. Chet put hay out for them, but they apparently would rather dig. It's not that they don't like hay. I've seen them at the neighbor's getting into the hay he has stored for his cows. It must be that whole illicit pleasures thing, though I didn't know it applied to deer.

To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under the sun.

A time to be born and a time to die;

a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

a time to kill and a time to heal ...

a time to weep and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn and a time to dance ...

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to lose and a time to seek;

a time to rend and a time to sew;

a time to keep silent and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Don't wish your life away,

But enjoy whatver today brings

This season will soon be a memory

And a new one will begin

Inauguration Day 2009

Today is an historic day and not just because we have our first black president. All inaugurations are historic. We should be proud our system of government. Yes, mistakes are made and there are things we disagree with. BUT, our candidates campaign, we vote and we have a new leader. All should wish our new president well because if he succeeds, we succeed. Whether we voted for him or not (I didn't) we should treat him and the office with respect. I believe that most politicians are trying to do what they think best for our country. It's okay to disagree - there is just a way to do it. I fervently pray that God grants President Obama wisdom, courage and kindness.

Winter Wonderland

We've had about 10 inches of snow fall since last night. People complain - but I love it. This is the first real snow we've had all year. 75% of the battle in learning to love it is attitude. If you keep telling yourself that you are going to hate it - you will! (that is true about most things.) The other 25% is just getting out. If you keep yourself all cooped up of course when you go out you are going to freeze(and learn to hate winter in the process). You do have to dress for it. When I have on my hat, boots, gators (one of the best gifts I've ever gotten) and scarf I stay plenty warm and I see things I would miss from inside. And of course, my extra warm Big Bear Socks!

The best things in life might not always be free - but they are often cheap. I love watching the birds. See the Blue Jay on the feeder? He and his buddies have been real hogs this year. I've filled that feeder twice today already.

We have

woodpeckers come to the feeders, too. Nature is the original recyler. Here a dead tree stump provides a home for bugs, which in turn provdes food for the woodpeckers

Go out and Play!

Molly knows how to enjoy the season!

My Favorite Card This Yead

It may not be lions laying down with lambs, but I love it!

Happy New Year!

Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles-

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.

I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...

The fastest line at the grocery store.

A good sing along song on the radio.

Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-

little bite-size pieces of perfection

that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you,

holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person,

an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them,

but then an entire life to forget them.

Wishing you the very best for 2009!!