Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Country Living is Great when everything works

Right now, this is the view that I have from our kitchen window.  This magnificent apple or cherry tree, I've never figured out quite what it is, it drops very small cherry like apples on the ground which our Meg, our newest pup, loves to eat.  It's in full bloom today, it doesn't last long and it's branches are drooping under the weight of fierce thunder storms that tore through our area, wave after wave, from noon onwards to suppertime tonight.  And our well pump has been hit once again by lightening.  No water.  Great living in the country, I can wax poetic about it 99% of the time but when you can't flush to loo or scrub your teeth or wash your hands with water from the tap, I get a little uptight and antsy.  DH has just gone out to the swimming pool to collect a pail of water for flushing the toilet should it be required overnight and our plumber will be coming at 8 tomorrow morning.  Thank heavens this has happened in-between Bed&Breakfast guests.  Our last night's guests left this morning and the next lot arrive on Friday afternoon, a full house of women friends here to enjoy a peaceful week-end retreat.  Thank heavens for our wonderful service people who never fail to come as quickly as they can given that we do run this B&B.  I've already had one week-end of being out of power with a house full of alpaca breeders here a month ago.  They all live on farms and understood...it's part of country living on a well when the power goes out...no water.  No complaints, I wouldn't trade living here for the city in a heartbeat.  I'm so thankful to have this wonderful experience of country living and the one thing about the privacy here, is that if you have to go behind a bush, no-one is going to see you...
Rosey in the country in springtime

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Time to check in!

Got to thinking about the Chat Page as I met up with Sandi Irish at Portland's Spring Quilt Market
on Friday. She was working at the Blank Fabrics booth & had many of her great quilts and patterns
on display.  It was wonderful to see her and to see her work up close!  didn't have much time as I was
on someone else's dime so to speak.  I got to tag along with my GF who has a cottage business, this is a wholesalers event.
There is nothing else like Quilt Market, wow, unbelievable. We belong to the most amazing group
as quilters. It was so enjoyable.
We also attended a lecture and trunk show by Jenny Doan from the Missouri Strar Quilt Co. She is the neatest lady & her story is amazing.  She is the queen of YouTubes and precuts, I loved her presentation. Don't miss her if you ever get the chance.
Easy Peezy is the name of the game for me these days regarding quilting. I have sooooooo much fabric to work with. This picture is my room after a huge cleaning project after my floor got saturated for the 2nd winter in a row :(  :(    :(    I donated tons of fabric but still have an overwhelming amount.
The quilt is an example of trying to use up stash, it's from  the book "Bundles of Fun" , 12-step Program is the pattern name & it's soooooo much fun and sooooooo easy! I'm working on another today.  It takes 12 FQ's. 
Otherwise, still working (like crazy), sewing, when I can, with my peeps, when I can, so I'll never
stop. What will quit 1st me or my 35 yr old Bernina?????
PS: goggle Sandi's (Irish) quilts, she has great patterns and is so talented!  GO Sandi!
I can't seem to bring up archives so I hope everyone is well. Mary Jo, so sorry that your husband still
struggles, bless his heart.                          Love, Jill

From Mary Jo via Rosey's posting service....................

We've been home for 2 weeks, did 1206 miles in 3 days. The trip went well but for one incident in Utah when DH's legs gave out. 3 burley college students lifted him up before he hit the pavement and put him into the van. So thankful for that! He will use a walker if feeling weak but hates it. He might start off ok, then collapse a bit later. He refuses a scooter or wheelchair believing that he would not get out of it. The physical therapist agrees and is working with him to strengthen his legs. Neurological problems are the cause,tiny strokes.




Priorities change. I called the cleaner for help inside as I'd rather work outside. Have never done that before. 5 months away allows lots of dust to pile up. The fridge/freezer gave out so it was repaired after a good scrubbing. Tossed all that was inside. Got the place in order but for the quilt rooms in transition. Will take awhile to move all upstairs and set it up to function. Have annuals in the front bed and the veggies planted in pots in back. Did 3 baskets and 3 pots in front all in pink, blue and lavender. Used limeplants for the background, so nice to have a variety to choose from.



Both sons will come in next week. Tonight one is flying back from teaching in N. Alaska for the winter. He will bring our DGD Molly, a new graduate in industrial engineering. His wife chose to work another week to set all in place for her new job next year. She will work in the 15 villages in the district, flying in to each. One is Little Diamede, across from Siberia. It is on a cliff and she will helicopter to get there. She will pack a cooler as there are no restaurants. Will sleep in classrooms in her sleeping bag. Some of these places don't even have running water. She is excited.



Son #2 is bringing his teenage boys and will bark 3 of the beds. He did 2 last fall. They will attend a wedding on Saturday; glad it is a long weekend. DIL is in charge of the flowers and will be busy there. I'm making strawberry jam tonight and will bake their favorite bread next week. Along with making the favorite cookies and pastas... Good that I'm non gluten and not tempted by such.



No quilting but for facing a desert quilt. Will put the borders on a king sized one for our oldest DGS and his bride, then let the long arm artist work her magic



Blessings,

MaryJo