Saturday Thoughts

I left home on Thursday afternoon a bit late but made it to the BR guild meeting. I think that soon I will have to become a once-in-a-while member b/c life keeps getting in the way of me leaving at a reasonable time to arrive on time. 


For example: the plan for this trip was for Pape,DH, to drive me there Thursday afternoon in camper. Well, DGS PJ was in the hospital and Pape was needed to give mom a break. So plans changed! 


Next plan, Pape would go to hospital after we looked at farm and then come back to watch DGS & DGD after school until DD#3 picked them up. Well, he was stuck at hospital so I stayed to wait for them and then would drive self to meeting. 


Well, DD#3 forgot she was to pick kids up...thank goodness I stayed until she came about 1 hour late. This meant that I was late too b/c I got there just as meeting started. 


Something happens every meeting date just about so I decided that 109 miles is a bit much to travel for a guild meeting every month when I am in 2 within 34 miles. I joined that guild b/c it was half way between my DD#1's house and mine so we could both attend. Now we meet when she comes to work once a week in our area. We have "lunch" at the BQ Quilt Shop and then share potatoes with DD#4 at work. We also share techniques we are experimenting with there. 


I spent the night Friday at DD#1's house so that I could bring DGS to Lafayette. DD was taking her husband to some big car race for their anniversary and he will be letting her come to Houston. The trip back was long! I don't drive fast so it seemed longer than ever. But DGS was delivered properly. I will pick him up in camper if life doesn't get in the way again on Sunday and drive back to DD#1's house so he can go to school Monday.


In the meantime, I will sew, go to graveyard and clean, put new flowers, go to farm and see what can be done now. Make a list of tools that we need to work: Hammer and nails are a must as is a chain saw and a sickle ( long knife on a longer handle.) I also need to start calling people about limestone for the driveway so camper won't get stuck in soft dirt. 


Next Friday is H day. We are going to the International Quilt Festival in Houston. I am so excited. Just 6 more nights to wait and then off we go. 
Well, I am off to sew until Pape wakes up completely. That man can sleep all morning and stays up all night. Lator, Gators!

Clearing the Farm with pictures

Somewhere in there is a barn

Perfect for a bbq

Ah there is the barn

Side of barn-lots of work ahead.

Lots of rye grass seed needed

     We went to the farm to fine tune the clearing. Pape gets his double driveway if at all possible. The pecan tree stays safe from the bonfire. The area for the RV is cleared mostly. There are two big tractor tires to fill with dirt for Spirit's flowers and a tree for the swing.
    We will have to do quite a bit by hand but it is looking 1000% better than on Wednesday morning. My barn doesn't look like much but it will! All it needs is cleaning and a few repairs since it is all old cypress. The upstairs loft will eventually get electricity and be perfect for a studio. Downstairs will hold a whirlpool, sauna, and outdoor kitchen. It may take years but one day it will happen!
     Saturday & Sunday I plan on working at the farm raking, cutting bush, and spreading a mixture of rye grass & Bermuda grass seed. Hopefully a few grandkids and daughters will show up to help. 
Thursday Wonderings

outside my window...cool morning breezes with 80 degrees in sun
i am thinking...where will I get the money & help to complete this project. I think I have paid forward enough to get some help.
i am thankful for...daughters, husband, and grandchildren
i am wearing...sweatshirt and sweatpants and tennis (my favorite attire)
i am remembering...my brother Roy's big bear hugs and my Aunt Ruthie.
i am listening to...zydeco 
i am going...to a guild meeting in BR and then to BFE to stay with DD.
i am currently reading...blogs
i am hoping...to have a bonfire for Christmas on the farm and that the land in New Iberia sells so I can clear more of my farm with my own tractor.
i am looking forward to...International Quilt Festival in Houston with my oldest DD on Friday next week.
one of my favorite things...sitting under a big oak tree on a cool morning with a big cup of coffee and a homemade quilt. Heaven!

Well, lator gators. Have a great weekend.

Clearing the Farm

I am so excited that I don't know what to do with myself. Last year, I promised my Sammie (oldest natural granddaughter) that she could have her 16th birthday party at the farm. I was so disappointed when we couldn't get the man to come to clear the land. So her 17th birthday party was our goal this year, but that didn't happen either. Then she and I decided that she would have a Halloween Bash at the farm b/c Mr. Brooks Sr. said he would be there before Oct. 9th, but time was passing too fast so she made arrangements to have it else where. I felt so bad that I couldn't keep my promise 3 times b/c I believe that if you promise then you deliver and I didn't. My heart hurt so much!


But at noon this afternoon, I met with Mr. Brooks jr. the son of the gentleman I have been trying to get to clear my farm for 3 years and we agreed on a price. At 4pm, he called me to tell me that he had started the clearing. How's that for speed? So Pape, Spirit, Chris, and I put off homework duty and drove to the farm. 


Now for 3 years, I have not been able to see the barn or drive on the property. I was very pleasantly excited to be able to drive right up to the barn. In 2 hours, he had cleared over 3 acres of land. It still needs work but it is almost clear of chicken trees and briers.


Chris got excited b/c he knows first we clear and then he rides the 4-wheelers. He also found the second story of the barn and wanted to explore. Spirit got excited because it was dirt and she could plant flowers. I told her we couldn't eat flowers but she still wants to plant some. I will have to find out which ones are edible for salads.


Pape got excited and showed me two big trees which will provide shade for a bbq and a pecan tree. All he could talk about was the work we were going to do on the barn and the fact that we needed to go get a good chainsaw and a nice size tractor. He even started talking about leaving this house to live on the farm most of the time. Oh, how I would love that!


He decided he wants the old driveway grated down and the new one put in. That way he can have a circular driveway he has always wanted. He told Spirit she could plant flowers all around it.


Now I have to find the funds to get gravel and have more cleared. I think that I will be on a slim budget for sewing. My stash will be really on a diet but my dream of living on the farm again will be coming true if only for camping. But one day in the not too distant future, I plan on having a small house on that property hidden behind the barn. Pape doesn't want too much cleared near the road so the property remains semiprivate. It will be rather like my eldest daughter's home: You look at the drive way and think all it is is woods and then turn a corner in the driveway to see the house and yard. Our spot will be behind the barn so that it is shielded from spying eyes. I mean why live in the country if you like neighbors.


Tomorrow we are going to help work on the second driveway to the barn and I will let Pape work his magic to get more work done at a better price. This project will take time but it is like eating an elephant - one small bite and chew and chew and chew. How do you clear 40 acres of chicken trees and biers? One tree at a time. We have started!

I will take pictures to show how much magic this man worked. 
Lator Gators! I hope your Wednesday was as pleasant for you as mine was for me! Have a good rest of the week and a great week-end.

Wednesday Wonderings

outside my window...branches swaying in the breeze with sprinkles of rain drops
i am thinking...God provides if you just believe.
i am thankful for...health.
i am wearing...sandles and short sleeve shirt
i am remembering...how my farm looked before hurricane LILLY
i am listening to...zydeco in my sewing room
i am going...soon have a road to the back of my barn.
i am currently reading...blogs
i am hoping...Mr. Brooks jr. has enough cleared to show Sammie on Halloween
i am looking forward to...International Quilt Festival in Houston
one of my favorite things...those Anita's Arrowhead blocks...so easy to make.


My grandson, PJ, is in the hospital with pneumonia from exposure to all the black mold in his mother's house. Long story that makes me angry so I won't go into it.  DH is at hospital now so mom can take bath etc and get DGS's school work. I fear lots of problems from this that will cost my DH money he does not have.


But for happier news! The son of the man I have been bugging to bulldoze my farm has contacted me. We went to the farm and he gave me a price to start project that was within my budget so he will start as soon as he can get his equipment to the farm. WHOO HOO!!! Only problem is that once we have access to the farm, I probably will be spending every moment I can there cleaning and cutting down chicken trees (evasive Chinese popcorn trees - called chicken trees because only thing they are good for is a roost for the chickens to rest.) I have 40 acres to clear. How do you clear 40 acres? One tree at a time!!! LOL.
More good news - DD#2 got me some embroidery work for teacher shirts. She made me laugh. Teacher wanted to know if I would do 6 for $39 with the designs she picked and her name. I had to laugh b/c the designs she picked were very colorful. 
DH cut the bookcase to fit in studio closet. Only problem is that only one will fit in space I have. I decided that the other one could be placed near door with UFO's on it until I get to the other closet and I would put the embellishment bins in the closet b/c it fits the space.  That big box of pictures will have to come out of the closet and go somewhere else.
Well, I am off to work on Saints Stars and other projects. 

Design Wall week 42

My design wall is still the same - dresden plates. It will be up there until I finish Saint Stars which is very slow going. 
But I do have an addition - Anita's Arrowhead blocks size 14 inches made from scraps.I just love the technique and the outcome.




Well, back to working on Saint Stars.

Finally row 1 has been added to center

Lator Gators. Have a blessed week! See you all at the International Quilt Festival in Houston.
Wow! I posted on the first try. Whew!

Stash Report Week 42

Well, they say that 3 is the charm. One day I will post and get it right on the first try but not today. LOL
Lots of sewing but nothing to show for it yet...one day I will be finished with Saint Stars & my Dresden plate but not yet.  I did sew on Anita's Arrowheads from the newest Quilt Makers Magazine. I just love how easy it is. I made slight changes in the blocks and started with 12 inch blocks instead of 8 inch and came out with 14 inch instead of 9. I like the bigger block. I received three packages in the mail this week. One from Rachel with some sweet 5" squares and one from Laura with doll patterns and the third from Charlotte Angotti with the backing for my workshop quilt. Such fun mail!
Stash Report:
Added this week:  4.5 yards
Added YTD: -170
Used this week: .38 (4 12 inch squares)
Used YTD: 103.63
Net Stash Reduced/ Enhanced: - 66.37 yards


Lator, Garots. Have a great stash busting week.