Wednesday Hodgepodge

I know this isn't real quilty related, but thought this would be fun and a way to keep me blogging when I get in a rutt!.....anyway, I'm going to try it. It's from Joyce if you'd like to participate.


1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?


I'm always up for an adventure..but I get horribly sick in a boat...and I'm sure their supply of Dramamine was a little short. I might would've waited for the first airplane to take me over. I could've survived living in the woods but getting there might be a little rough for me.


2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?



My Dad had a small little boat when I was in Jr.High and I loved to go fishing with him on the local farm ponds. I CANNOT swim, so looking into the water and not knowing what's down there gives me the shivers. I've watched JAWS too many times. We did go fishing in Corpus Christi once in the bay. I about puked my guts out but had a lot of white bass to eat.


3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you're single what are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?



My Mom was big on traditions...I was raised Lutheran...enough said??! Advent wreath, church rituals still ring in my brain. We always have Mom's Cranberry relish (made w/apples) and we always go to Christmas Eve services. DH didn't bring any traditions with him....he told me to make up my own for the boys.


4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?



I'm going to sound stupid, but "dinner" is our NOON meal! If you're asking about SUPPER..during summer it's whenever the work gets done and we all get in the house--usually about 8pm. During the winter, it's when the sun goes down and it's too dark and cold to work outside. I HAVE to make a custard pie...it's not a side dish, but it's always expected to be there. This year there's going to be 11....I think.


5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher?



I tried to put out a fire in the swather. I had to call the fire department as my extinguisher was out of date.



6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.



I turned down a job offer that I thought would be the answer to my prayers only to find out that it would not of been so wonderful.


7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried...which one's your favorite?



We love potatoes and I cook them regularly. We probably eat more fried potatoes (steamed in a skilled with olive oil or butter) than any of the other choices. Right now, we're eating sweet potatoes cooked that way and love them.


8.Last thoughts---I have no immediate family of my own that we celebrate holidays with (other than the boys) so I've entertained DH's family for many-many years. Between me and my SIL, we're the only two who have enough dishes and room for everybody. Sometimes I think it would be SO nice live in another country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving!

Not dead...yet.

I am starting to get emails wanting to know if I'm still alive. I'm not dead....yet. We had a busy (read between the lines as horrible!) summer and it's just now starting to slow down.

There was finally a frost yesterday, so maybe the allergies will die down with the weeds. We had a rain last week and it washed some of the dust away and is helping the wheat to finally come up. It was so hot and dry this summer.

The wheat was harvested and replanted, the soybeans were harvested, and we're still working on milo. Cattle and calves have been worked for the fall and calves will be weaned (we're late in doing it) soon. No hurry on the calves because we don't have a lot of wheat pasture anyway (because of the lack of rain). Unless you're farm related, and the fact that I don't have a bunch of pictures I probably lost you!

Sewing...I've done some but not a whole lot. I do have a new TOY...but I'll come back with pictures later. HINT: it took some MAJOR re-arranging in my sewing room to move it in.

On a personal matter, I had foot/ankle surgery for a year-old injury 6 weeks ago. FOUR (count them 1-2-3-4) week on crutches was not fun. I'm too old for that, but hopefully two weeks with this real stylish boot will help me get back on track. I've got to learn NOT to step off the combine crooked (will somebody remind me of that next harvest?).

Grandchildren: Aren't they great? The last post I made was of Miss Rachel and she looks so tiny. Blogger won't let me move the picture down here, but you can see how she's grown. She'll be two the end of November. She's worn glasses for about 3 months and we can definitely see a difference in her development. We get asked all the time "how come", and Janice says it's because she inherited her eyes from her blind Grandmother! Genetics or from being a premie, it doesn't matter but people have to ask!

Hopefully more later....

Lil Cowgirl

Wearing Pa-Pa's hat and Ma-Ma's boots!

Cowboy Quilt Finished

I started this quilt during a power outtage we had earlier this year and I finally got it quilted, bound and gave away. It only needs a label.






It's a BQ quilt and was quite easy to put together. I was real happy the way it turned out.



Does anybody else have their quilt-holders stand on the back of a pickup? I had to make sure their hands were clean 'cause they had been working on the combine!





The cowboy panto has cowboys, boots, horses, hats and lasso's in it. I was real happy how it turned out. The backing is black, but out in the sun it looks washed out.

Here's an upclose picture of the front, if you'd like to see more of the cowboy fabrics. I've been collecting these for awhile and probably have enough fabrics left to make two more of these.

Sundog in the Western Sky

It may be an old folklore (old wivestale?), but when a small rainbow in the western sky appears, you can predict that the weather is going to change in three days. Something I learned living on the farm...from both my parents and grandparents....and it typically is correct.
Kinda like the color of the fuzzy wooley-worms in the fall...but it's too hot to think about anything with a fur coat on right now.

Strait Concert

I was honored with a guest ticket to go see George Strait and Reba. (these pictures have been hiding on my computer) There were four of us that went....real nice girls weekend out. Two of us sat about 5 rows up on the side, and the other two sat 5 rows from the stage. Luckily, the other two were Reba fans and the gal I was with wanted to see King George.

Yep...he sang right to us! So much fun.

Harvest Lunchtime

If everything goes just right, we would stop and have a little pow-wow for lunch.
(somebody better notice the double knit really-ugly quilt. It was made by my Grandma Unruh back in 1973 or 74. They NEVER wear out)

Rachel sees ORANGE and hands it to Grandma for her to peel. Do you think she's seen Ma-Ma bite into one before?!


What else do you have in this box to eat? I'm still hungry. Troy is good at making me giggle!

It's hard to walk out on this un-even ground.

Thank goodness my Daddy picks me up. He sure gets me dirty.

Wait! Daddy left without me! I want to go ride on the combine. It's MY turn!

I don't want Troy...I want to ride in the noisey combine.

This isn't the right way..the combine is back there!
Why are we setting here? I'm done eating.



Okay..give me your hat. It's almost as dirty as Daddy's.

What's in it?




You can have it back and I'll even help get it back on your head.

Now...can we go find Daddy?

More of Summer Harvest

Bright summer sun was very hot and most of the days were cloud-filled, but didn't give us any rain until the grain was all brought in.

Terraces make curves in the rolling plains.

We always had fun during suppertime. Rachel can make anyone smile.

I keep telling them I need a 4-door pickup, but they remind me that my 32mpg Malibu can haul supper in the trunk..and feed sacks too.

No, this picture isn't blurry...it's dirt in the air. The auger goes out and the tractor driver knows to come up beside the combine to get a load of grain. Most of the time this is done without stopping. (but not if I'm driving the tractor!)

Father and son work pretty good together. Even tho son looks more like Mom!
Then the wheat goes into one of the trucks.

Troy scooping to make room for a little more.It then gets tarped for the ride to town.

We usually have a girlfriend to come out and help....I use that term loosely.

Unloading on the go.

Summer Harvest

Harvest this year was the fastest that I've ever seen. We started on a Friday and in 9 days were finished...no rain and no major breakdowns.

This was the last year with the old (MY) combine. We have been wanting to get another newer one and the second day it was advertised...it sold. This is also our new-to-us truck. Of course Troy is the only one who gets to drive it.

There's always somebody who wants to ride in the combine! Before we know it, she'll probably be driving it.


Grain production was actually pretty good this year. The price has been going up, so maybe we can get a decent price for it this year too.

Anybody want a windtower in THEIR backyard?

I have about a kazillion pictures to upload...so more posts to come.