C.O.W. Jumped Over the Fence

Can I just jump right back in here after my absence and be a C.O.W. for a minute?  (That's Cranky Old Woman, in case you're wondering.) There was just a story on the local news about whether cursive writing should be taught any more in schools.   Well, color me old fashioned and backwards, but nothing ticks me off worse than to see someone in high school, college or beyond struggle to write something a fourth grader should have mastered!!!  Are you impressed by a sharply dressed and coiffed executive who can't write their name legibly or put together an intelligent sentence?   Me neither.   Being computer literate and proficient is not enough.  This is not an either/or situation, people.  Success requires both "real" writing (as we used to call it in second grade) and computer savvy.  Don't even get me started on people who don't read beyond grade school level and think they're all educated.  Okay, the C.O.W. will jump back over the fence and go on about her business now. 

Hoping to have several of these blooms this year.

I'll be back shortly with much better vibes, I promise. 

Y'all take care. 

Our Winter Storm

We truly did have a winter storm.  It was nasty no matter how you looked at it.  We got freezing rain first, then sleet and then a tiny bit of snow. 

The birds and squirrels were feeding at a feverish rate, trying to take in enough calories to help keep them warm. 

The first thing I noticed when the temperatures started dropping was the formation of icicles on the bird feeders. 

They finished off the feeders in one day.  When I went outside the next morning to refill them, I crunched on the ice the whole while.   Our temps stayed below freezing from Tuesday until early on Thursday.   The ice in my yard didn't all melt until Friday.  I recall times like that while growing up here in northwest Florida, but this is the only time it has been like this in the past fifteen years.

Now, its just cloudy and dreary but quite warm - in the low 60's.  You can bet if it stays this way, our plants will start springing forth in the next couple of weeks.  It's a few weeks early, but if we don't get any more freezing spells, it'll be okay. 

No other exciting news to share at the moment.  Hope my northern friends stay warm and safe with all these storms coming through. 

Y'all take care. 

Yup. It's nasty outside.

Just looking out the window and noticing that the water drops on the leaves of the oak trees are turning to ice!!!!  Already noticed the icicles forming on the bird feeders from the drizzling rain.

Bummer.  I'll be back soon. 

Y'all take care. 

Mumblings

I'm struggling these days.  Posts whirl around in my head but somehow don't make it here.  

The trip home from Iowa was just like the trip up there--tiring and stressful trying to outrun a storm front containing nasty weather.  But, we were successful and even had time for a fun stop at Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Missouri.  

Carl Sandburg's Writing Room, Flat Rock, NC 

The time since then has been filled with various stuff. 

I've been working on a Friendship Braid quilt using shabby chic colors and its coming along.  No pictures of it yet, though. 

I'm trying to clean up my sewing studio so it doesn't look like a tornado hit it.  That's easier said than done since I've run out of storage space.  

I've noticed that there's a few new followers and I am so happy to see that.  Being the lax blogger that I am, I don't always acknowledge the folks I appreciate the most.  Anyway, thank you!! 

Y'all take care, and stay warm. 

Brrrrrrrr.........and Happy Birthday

We've traveled to the upper Midwest for two family birthdays and to spend Christmas with the kids.  

When you're accustomed to having just the two of you around the house, and then there's a whole passel of folks around making all kinds of noise, it can set the nerves a jangling!  Today was the party for the stepdaughter's 50th birthday.  Nobody here but family, but that was nine adults, one pre-teen, and two preschoolers.  You'd think that it was the little ones who would make the noise, but you'd be wrong.  It was the pre-teen that was the loudest.  

Everybody braved the cold and the modicum of snow to celebrate. 

The son in law braved the cold to blow off the driveway, all bundled up like the Michelin man. 

While it was very pretty outside this morning, the sun came out this afternoon and the snow sparkled with sunlight diamonds.  

There was fabulous barbecued ribs, smoked brisket and pulled pork from Woody's along with fixin's, and the son in law actually made a birthday cake from scratch. 

This has always been a card playing family, so after we all stuffed our faces, we broke out the cards for a game of Screw Your Neighbor.  I know, sounds off somehow, but its a fun card game for a bunch of people and it doesn't require any card playing savvy.  Even the 5 year old helped out. 

Don't know if I'll be back before Christmas or not, but let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May you, my friends, be blessed beyond measure. 

Y'all take care. 

I'm Jealous

I know I'm not supposed to be jealous and all, but how can a girl help it?   Two -- not just one, but two -- of the bloggers I follow have published books and they are both for sale right now, so here's a shameless plug for both of them.  I so admire the dedication and effort it took to make these books into reality. 


Leigh Tate from 5 Acres & A Dream has her first book out following the path she and her husband have taken in their goal to be self sustaining. 

And then, Suzanne McMinn from Chickens In The Road has written a book about her journey as a farmer.  

While I haven't read either of these books YET,  I've  been following their blogs for a long time.  I think its safe to say you should hie yourselves on over to visit them and to check out their wonderful accomplishments. 

Way to go, Girls!!! 

Y'all take care. 

Stitches and Stuff

Exciting stuff going on around here for sure.   Yeah.  Right.   The most excitement we've had is finding raccoon poop on the garden house porch.  Isn't that wonderful?    At first I wasn't sure what it was, so I did take pictures.  I'll spare you that treat, though.   We knew we had one visiting because they keep stealing the suet cakes from the feeder.  Somehow I've got to remedy that, or just break down and get another feeder that completely encloses the suet.  

I've finally finished hubby's quilt that I've been working on sporadically all summer.  Didn't get it done before his birthday, but only a few days after. 

He's happy with it, but I can't say that I'm happy with it.  Oh, the blocks came out good and the blue plaid flannel backing is nice, but that's about it.  I used invisible thread for the first time and I have decided its not for me.  Now, I hate that I used it on this one, but I'm not about to pick out all that quilting!   I machine stitched the binding and I'm not happy with how it turned out.  

I don't know if its the combination of the flannel and the machine stitching, or what, but the edges are a bit wavy and I hate that.  I'm even considering cutting off that outer border and rebinding it like I usually do.  Its plenty big to do that.   We'll see. 

My friend Dana rooted a couple of cuttings of salvia for me last year and brought them to me this spring.  I put the two of them out and they took off like crazy!!   Here's what the two plants look like right now. 

I have no idea what kind it is.  He got his cuttings from someone else, so he doesn't know either.  It's a true "passalong" plant.    I love this blood red color.  

We've had a couple of nights with below freezing temperatures and its still looking pretty good.  I put it in that location in hopes that the house would block some of the winds from it, and the trees nearby would help keep frost from settling on it.  So far, so good.   It blooms all winter for my friend. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We all have things to be grateful for, and its good to remember that. 

Y'all take care.