Mopheads!

I saw these little bitty flowers out at the old strip pits the other day...they immediately reminded me of mop heads. At the most, each little flower was a half inch in diameter.
I haven't tried to identify them yet....maybe when I get time.
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I have been playing some with my Electric Quilt computer program...trying to think and design what I want to make next. I have got my machine all set and ready to sew if I could make up my mind. Sometimes it was easier when I didn't have so much to choose from.

Along the way, I have built up a significant stash of quilting material because I knew once Roger retired I wouldn't be going and spending so much on fabric. I still buy some along, or if I really need something I go get it. Usually I have a good supply of anything I need...I do buy good yellow fabric whenever I find one I really like because I continually run out of it. Almost any quilt I make has some yellow yellow in it.

It is so wet and rainy here in our area...I don't think it totally quit raining the entire day yesterday. And it is the same again this morn, though I think the rain is supposed to move on through by the end of the day, with days of typical fall weather following.

I was thinking as was waking up this morn about how unusual the weather is. I don't ever remember having as much cool weather by this time of the year when I worked at the orchard. There would be days I would start out with a jacket or one of Roger's heavy flannel shirts, but very seldom did they stay on past 10:00 a.m. This fall, there have been several days where I think I would have had to wear a jacket most or all of the day.

9th street Feed Mart

I had Roger drive by the feed store today to see what they had outside...I didn't have my camera with me at the time so went back later.
I went there a bit earlier than I had planned...the lighting could not have been too much worse.
The owner carries food for pets, straw, hay, and in the spring has flowers and seeds...
and in the fall she always has pumpkins. And the pumpkins always catch my eyes. I still would like to go back at a time when there is better lighting, but for now these will have to do.

For all you birders out there

I have been wishing I was good at working with metal...I have been wondering about making a few things. My husband could make them with hardly a thought...he is good at working with metal. And even though he doesn't do art stuff, he is good at it. He just prefers to make things that really serve a purpose...not that he doesn't like beauty.
He likes to make things that are really useful and really needed, not just things to look at. He can almost always look at something and make it....and a lot of times make it better.

I saw these along the sidewalk down in Nashville, and am thinking I will have him make me one or two, or else teach me how to make them. But I think it would be safer if he made them. Now he would make them for me if they weren't for suet, but he will like making them since they are for something other than just to look at.

Does anyone make their own suet? I know my mom did every now and then. I don't remember how she did it...for one thing it was maybe once a year. I don't think she had the beef fat available to do it more often. Being that I couldn't remember how she made it, I googled suet and find the info...if you are interested, here and here are a couple of places that have info on making suet. I am really thinking I might try making some. I hate throwing away the fat that comes on some of the beef I buy....so making suet would put it to good use.