From the archives....

This was taken 4 years ago today...what a difference in the weather.  I can still remember how cold it was the day this was taken.  And here today I hung clothes on the line just in my shirt sleeves.

I only quilted the dark sides of a couple blocks today....had to do a little bit of housecleaning.  I am hoping to get back at it tomorrow and get a bit more done.   

But the weather is supposed to be up almost to 60º tomorrow so who knows what we might do.  In ways I think we should get out and enjoy it while we can.  I can think of several places I would like to go.

A quilt house in Tennessee

This was on our drive in Tennessee....I am pretty sure this was a house.  Another drive by.  One of these days I really want a quilt square on our house.
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We had errands to run this morning....I didn't set down to my quilt till late this evening.  And when I did I only quilted for an hour or two.  In that time I only quilted the dark half of three or four blocks.  And things were going good.  The quilting is a little closer than I like but it is quilting Roger liked.  So I am attempting to do it.

The bad thing in some ways is that the quilting is not going to show once it is done.   At least I don't think it is enough for anyone to really see unless they are seeing it in person.

Also makes me wonder how long it will take me to finish it....

Another kitty....

It seems no matter where I go, I run into kitties.  Today I had to run over to Lori's Pins & Needles...to get a different thread.  What I had was not the right color.  It stood out like a sore thumb.

Of course I ran through the strip pits on the way there...after all it is not really out of the way.  I did see an eagle but it was too far away to photograph.  The Northern Harriers were out on the way there, and as I came back home I again swung through the area.  Short-eared owls were out, even though it was still fairly early in the evening.  I put up a couple of their photos over at Time Stand Still.

Anyway, as I was going, I was just past the last big ponds when I spotted this fellow.  He was not interested in meeting me at all.  Barely paused long enough for me to snap this photo.  He looks healthy, too, but who knows what he would feel like if he could be examined up close and personal.
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It was bright and sunny today....I did not do much at all.  I did try to start on Roger's quilt.  It is going to take a while.  I had to rip out the first little bit of sewing I did.  I had a variegated color that goes from white to darker tan.  The white stood out like a sore thumb so ripped it out.  I would have ripped it out anyway cause it just was not good quilting.

I just felt so totally awkward...didn't know if I was ever going to feel capable of quilting it.  So, I checked what thread I had and didn't have any I liked.  I ran to Lori's and came home with two different threads and one of them is going to work fine.  I also gave myself a lecture....told myself to slow down and try to do it right.

I sat and cut a pattern for part of the quilting, then traced onto this real thing Golden Threads paper...did four of them for the center. Then I took my time...pinned the tracings to the quilt and quilted. I did get that center bit quilted, but that is only a drop in the bucket.  I now have to decide how to proceed.  But having the center done is a weight lifted.
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I have errands to run tomorrow, but hope I can get in some quilting time now that I have started.

Another day come and gone...

It was another cold and nippy day here in Indiana....I hung out clothes. They stayed out for 4 or 5 hours and were still really damp when I brought them in.  I would have left them out longer, but it got really overcast as if it could rain. Or snow. I guess some places have been seeing a few snow flurries tonight, but I have not been out to look. I am weary tonight...not sure why. So I will leave you with this song I found. Of course I think of Lorelei when I listen to the words!

Lorelei Claus and more

We had been out for a little drive today...I came home this evening and checked my email.  Found this Santa Claus waiting for me.  She had wanted her mama to make her a Santa Claus mask, so her mom obliged.
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We decided to go for a little drive today, which led to us going to Mansfield, Indiana.  We have our fishing gear with us almost all the time so headed there to throw our lines in the water.  I had no more than threw my line in when I seen a kitty down the way a little bit.  I stopped and went over by it to try to pet it.

It wanted to be petted but was afraid at the same time.  It would jut meow when I would talk to it.  I finally gave up.  While I was messing with it, Roger caught a couple stripers... so I quit and returned to fishing.  It was just cold enough, or maybe it was that I was not dressed warm enough, till I decided to quit soon and went back to look for the kitty again.

I could not see it anywhere, so returned to the car.  I sat there watching for it, and watching Roger fish...he decided to quit.  As he was putting his reel in behind me, I was trying to look back at him...and as I was doing that he saw the kitty cross the road again.  So off we go...we tried to sneak up to it, but it went back across the road.  Roger stayed back and I followed...her meowing and answering everything I said to her.

Finally, she let me pet her...oh, she just absolutely loved to be touched.  But she did not want to be held.

I picked her up twice...at least I think 'her' is the correct term.  Anyway, she would have none of it.  Oh, she didn't go wild or anything...just squirmed so much I didn't want to frighter her farther and let her go.

You can see a better pic of her over on my Time Stand Still blog.  If she had been willing to be held, I might have been the owner of a new kitty.   Her face is so much like my last Cougar's...and her little meow will haunt me for a while.  If I lived close, she would at least have food.  But I need another cat about like I need another hole in my head.  But if she were close, I would probably have her.  I just cannot resist a face like that.  And it is not just the markings and colorings...it is the look in the eyes.

BTW, those last photos were taken by my husband, not by me.  I forgot to change the watermark on them.

A Thanksgiving post after all...maybe

The girls are gone to have Thanksgiving with some of Jeremy's family, and then will come back here for us to have our meal later on.  I have been sitting looking on-line at rag rugs and the different ways to make them.  This led to looking at quilt blogs that I look at occasionally, but don't usually comment on.

One guy gave a list of what he was thankful for and encouraged us to think about at least one thing we are grateful for.

I think for me, first and foremost, I am grateful for my husband who encourages me and loves me in spite of myself, and thankful for our daughters who we are so proud of, and very, very grateful for Lorelei.  I think she makes all of our lives just little bit brighter.

I am so grateful for my old friends....there is just something about old friends that have known you all your life.  They know me better than anyone else...other than maybe Roger.

And talking of friends, there are the blog friends that share their lives and the places that they live.  Some have inspiring stories, others provide laughter and warmth, and others I feel are kindred spirits.  I want you to know I appreciate the effort you put into your blogs.
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I love that I came from a big family....there is just nothing like a bunch of brothers and sisters.
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Then there are the 'things' I am grateful for.  I am so grateful for a warm house...food to eat, and a place to lay my head at night.  And I want to add that it is a safe place.  I cannot imagine living in some of the war torn countries. 

I am so grateful for the internet--in so many ways.  E-mail, the ability to find out almost anything without leaving the comfort of my own home...listen to music...watch movies.

And so grateful for my digital cameras and my sewing machines.  That may sound sort of frivolous...but I am grateful for them....for probably 10-15 years I did not have a good sewing machine.  Let me tell you, that is something I am thankful for.  Even though I have had the good sewing machines for over 20 years, now, I can still recall the frustration of the one I had before these...

And I often wonder what I would have done if I could have had a digital camera when I was young.  For I have loved cameras and quilting since I was a kid...now I can take all the pictures I want and really don't give it much thought at all. 

This is an old house we passed on our one and only drive in Tennessee.  What a waste....another that you can just imagine the excitement when it was built.  Another one I wish that had the ability to tell its tales.  I cannot help but wonder how many children grew up within its walls.
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I am in a mood.  We watched The Dust Bowl on PBS....I really liked it.  There was one line in the very beginning of the first episode...I cannot recall the exact wording.  But it was saying something along the line that the farmers plowing up all the land was looking for easy money....whoever heard of farming being easy money?  Does that strike you almost as an oxymoron.  True, they were wanting to make money, but I just do not associate farming as easy money.
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This of course got me to thinking of our childhood...how every little bit of money was scraped together.  We raised 4 hogs almost every year that I remember.  And I do not remember once having ham to eat that we raised.  We sold them, but Neal thought we had eaten them, too.  So, I had my SIL ask my other brother...he is the authority that Neal and I usually go to for stuff like this.

Well, he said that we did have ham every now and then, but it would have been when I was too young to remember or before I was born.  So, I guess Neal and I are both right in one sense.

I could remember one person that always bought one of our hams, and he could name another that always bought one.  He also said there were several others that bought them.  And the reason we sold them was because we could get more for one ham than would be paid for a whole hog.  They were salt cured...I do not know how people fixed them.
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At one time we had a small strawberry patch and sold strawberries....I was pretty young and don't remember a lot about that.  Or maybe I don't remember much because we didn't have them long.  We also always raised extra green beans....sometimes some of my aunts bought them.  But others either dad or I would call around to the produce markets till we found someone that would buy them.

Another year we had a big patch of okra that we sold...sometimes to local people, sometimes to the produce markets.  I can't remember if we sold anything else that we raised...but any little bit extra was a help.  And anything we sold, we sold top quality. 

In addition to what we raised, we would pick blackberries...they grew wild down there.  I wonder now if someone had originally planted them and they spread here and there or were they there from the start.  I can remember a few favorite places that had them hanging down big, not in exactly a cluster, but like grapes.  Well, actually, I remember two places.  I remember reaching above my head to pick them...and them hanging down so big and dark....

And we hunted ginseng...I can remember when it went to $56 per pound.  We sure thought that was something.  I don't think we always found a pound per year...that is a lot of bunches of ginseng.  And we only hunted it a bit in our spare time for fun.  Now it brings hundreds of dollars...
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I need to get busy...Lorelei went home Sunday evening...I just cannot get into anything when she goes home.  So, slow to start blogging again.  In fact, this may be my only post till after Thanksgiving sometime.  Lo and her Mommy are coming back Thursday...her daddy has to work.  Not sure how long the two of them will stay...but looking forward to them being here.

Life don't get a lot better than this...

I met Sarah today at the halfway point...picked up Lorelei.  She has played around all evening.  Her Papaw went hunting, and when it was time for us to eat she got sad for just a minute...said she missed her Papaw.  Then she thought and said she miss her Mama, too.  And that is what she calls Sarah about half or two-thirds of the time...Mama.  Such a sweet word.  If she is mad/aggravated, it is done 'OH, Mom!'

Anyway, good to have her here for a day or two...makes life worth living. 

To tickle your funny bone....

I came across this...have seen them before but they made me laugh till I cried...whether any are true or not I can't say.   But I would bet money some, if not all are true....

Actual call center conversations!
Customer: 'I've been calling 700-1000 for two days and can't get through;
can you help?'
Operator: 'Where did you get that number, sir?'
Customer: 'It's on the door of your business.'
Operator: 'Sir, those are the hours that we are open.'

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Samsung Electronic
Caller: 'Can you give me the telephone number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, sir, I don't understand who you are talking about.'
Caller: 'On page 1, section 5, of the user guide it clearly states that
I need to unplug the fax machine from the AC wall socket and
telephone Jack before cleaning. Now, can you give me the
number for Jack?'
Operator: 'I think it means the telephone plug on the wall.'


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RAC Motoring Services
Caller: 'Does your European Breakdown Policy cover me when I am
traveling in Australia ?'
Operator: 'Does the policy name give you a clue?'


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Caller (enquiring about legal requirements while traveling in Europe )
'If I register my car in France , and then take it to England ,
do I have to change the steering wheel to the other side of the car?'


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Directory Enquiries
Caller: 'I'd like the number of the Argo Fish Bar, please'
Operator: 'I'm sorry, there's no listing. Are you sure that the spelling is correct?'
Caller: 'Well, it used to be called the Bargo Fish Bar but the 'B' fell off.'


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Then there was the caller who asked for a knitwear company in Woven.
Operator: 'Woven? Are you sure?'
Caller: 'Yes.. That's what it says on the label -- Woven in Scotland ...'


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On another occasion, a man making heavy breathing sounds from a phone box told a worried operator: 'I haven't got a pen, so I'm steaming up the window to write the number on.'


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Tech Support: 'I need you to right-click on the Open Desktop.'
Customer: 'OK..'
Tech Support: 'Did you get a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No.'
Tech Support: 'OK. Right-Click again. Do you see a pop-up menu?'
Customer: 'No.'
Tech Support: 'OK, sir. Can you tell me what you have done up until this point?'
Customer: 'Sure. You told me to write 'click' and I wrote 'click'.'


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Tech Support: 'OK. At the bottom left hand side of your screen, can
you see the 'OK' button displayed?'

Customer: 'Wow! How can you see my screen from there?'

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Caller: 'I deleted a file from my PC last week and I just realized that I need it.
So, if I turn my system clock back two weeks will I get my file back again?'


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This has to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the WordPerfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department..............
Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the WordPerfect organization for 'Termination without Cause.'

Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee.
(Now I know why they record these conversations!):

Operator: 'Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?'
Caller: 'Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect .'
Operator: 'What sort of trouble?'
Caller: 'Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.'
Operator: 'Went away?'
Caller: 'They disappeared'
Operator: 'Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?'
Caller: 'Nothing.'
Operator: 'Nothing??'
Caller: 'It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type.'
Operator: 'Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?'
Caller: 'How do I tell?'
Operator: 'Can you see the 'C: prompt' on the screen?'
Caller: 'What's a sea-prompt?'
Operator: 'Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?'
Caller: 'There isn't any cursor; I told you, it won't accept anything I type..'
Operator: 'Does your monitor have a power indicator?'
Caller: 'What's a monitor?'
Operator: 'It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV.
Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?'
Caller: 'I don't know.'
Operator: 'Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where
the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??'
Caller: 'Yes, I think so.'
Opera tor: 'Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's
plugged into the wall..
Caller: 'Yes, it is.'
Operator: 'When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that
there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one? '
Caller: 'No.'
Operator: 'Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and
find the other cable.'
Caller: 'Okay, here it is.'
Operator: 'Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into
the back of your computer..'
Caller: 'I can't reach.'
Operator: 'OK. Well, can you see if it is?'
Caller: 'No...'
Operator: 'Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?'
Caller: 'Well, it's not because I don't have the right angle -- it's because it's dark.'
Operator: 'Dark?'
Caller: 'Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is
coming in from the window.'
Operator: 'Well, turn on the office light then.'
Caller: 'I can't..'
Operator: 'No? Why not?'
Caller: 'Because there's a power failure.'
Operator: 'A power .... A power failure? Aha. Okay, we've got it
licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and
packing stuff that your computer came in?'
Caller: 'Well, yes, I keep them in the closet..'
Operator: 'Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it
up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to
the store you bought it from.'
Caller: 'Really? Is it that bad?'
Operator: 'Yes, I'm afraid it is.'
Caller: 'Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?'
Operator: 'Tell them you're too damned stupid to own a computer!'

Oranges & Sunshine

A bit back, Gill, That British Woman did a book review of Empty Cradles.  I immediately checked our libraries to see if either had the book.  In addition I checked Amazon...somewhere along the way I found there had been a movie made...Oranges & Sunshine.

I put it in our queue....but didn't think to put it to the top of the list till a few days later.  We just finished watching it, and I will say it is one that I will long remember.  Over 100,000 children were deported and sent all the way from the United Kingdom to Australia...some children were told that their moms were dead...and in the movie one mom had went back to get her child...she was told that her child was adopted into in wonderful home, when in fact she grew up in the home. 

The children were worked hard, and suffered abuse, after being promised sunshine every day and oranges to pick.

Margaret Humphreys was a social worker that uncovered the whole mess, and worked to bring families back together.   This was such a well done movie...I still want to read the book but really did enjoy seeing the movie.

Before you write the picture off as an error in judgement, just click it to expand the view.  It shows how the mountain/ridges are still casting a shadow down in the valley.  This is in Kentucky, on our way home last month.  Don't you wish we still had all that glorious color?
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I just cannot seem to get back into blogging...Lorelei was here for the weekend...though short on time.  They did not get here till late Saturday and had to leave Sunday before too late...but still wonderful to see her.  And she will be back this coming weekend.  I am not sure what day, but for a couple days at least.

I cannot say that I have accomplished much at all in my absence from blogging.  We did do a little Christmas shopping...and I got the binding made for a quilt.  Trying to decide whether to wait till after Lorelei's visit to start the quilting or to go ahead and start now.

Roger took the quilt I just finished and put it in the mail today...so Daughter should have by the weekend.  I hope.  She has been having such long days, not even sure how often she goes to get her mail these days.

I have got to get my list made for Thanksgiving dinner...got to make plans with Sarah.  We are considering getting some rotisserie chickens, since only Roger likes turkey.  We usually just have a ham, but with having ham Christmas, I wouldn't mind something different for Thanksgiving.  I don't know why I don't like turkey...I liked it okay as a kid and even up until after I had the girls.

Anyway, thought I would try to do a post or two before the toot comes to visit...but even with her coming to visit, I can find time to do little blogging.  I think.

Finished at last!!!!

 Just going to show random shots...they were all a little dark and I am not sure why.  I tried to adjust them.  So, just showing some of the better shots.  In the shots here of the front, the red is over-powering but in real life it has a nice balance.

 By the way below is the back of it....I always like having a back that is a little different.  Sort of feel like this is a two for one quilt.

These were all taken in the a.m. hours before washing.

I was really worried about the bleeding.....

 but threw it in the wash with Shout Color Catchers and all turned out well. 

It hung on the clothesline for an hour or two and was almost dry.  I just threw it in the dryer to finish it.  I will take pictures of it later and post one or two of them another day.

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The kids are coming so might not be blogging much.

Edited to add...just looked at the photos on Roger's computer and they look pretty much like the quilt looks.  So hope they look as good on yours.

Making progress....

The above is a quick snap, I think from I74 on the way home...directly out my side window.  I have 'sharpened' the image and tried to improve the contrast.  Still, not such a great photo but just had to show that quilt block.  I just love the way it looks on that old barn.
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I am not sure where the time has gone...I got so far along in the quilting of my little log cabin quilt, got detoured and found it hard to start quilting again.  I did a little bit yesterday or the day before...but could not settle to it.  But this evening I settled down and finished the quilting...now I have to get the binding on.  And it will be ready for show and tell and to send west to my daughter.  I sure hope she likes it.  And I think she will...if she don't actually like it she will like that I thought of her.
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It was overcast and cloudy all day long here....and noticed the street damp but did not see it actually rain at any time.  Was raining a little bit last night after dark.  I am still not complaining cause we still need the rain to make up for the lack of it this summer.

I leave with this little video...this cat is so much like our Bubbie.  Be sure and have your sound on till you can hear him.  

Someone had a birthday

I was surprised to get these....from my older daughter.  Believe me this photo does not do them justice.  The roses are more a peachy-pink color.  All the colors have a fall feel to them...they came Friday which was one reason they were such a surprise. (By the way,  both photos need to be clicked on to enjoy more.)  Anyway, they are gorgeous. 

 Then Sarah had us over Saturday and cooked dinner for us...she fixed this yummy dish called Melt in Your Mouth Chicken...and it did.  I am pretty sure this is the recipe she used...only she used chicken thighs.  Plus she got me a puzzle...and a big sack of sunflower seeds.

And I got to see Tootie.  You would never guess she had been sick if you could see the sparkle in her eyes.  She is still coughing but it does not slow her down.  Sarah said she had to wear this pink dress for us.  As usual, it is fun to wake up over there to her smiling face looking into mine.  I will wake up and there she is right at my side, sometimes her elbows resting on the bed, and she will say 'Mamaw, its time to get up now!'

Do you realize how long it had been since I had seen the fog rising to meet the day from my mountains???

I thought this song said it all....it first came out about the time I left Tennessee....so long ago.  I did not have plans to leave but would hear and the tears would just roll.  Be sure to watch all the way through for some beautiful scenery!