Strawberries!

We are currently taking a strawberry break. But for 3 weeks this is what I did each night after work. The blossoms are back!

My husband would pick berries at my mothers during the day, and I would clean them in the evening. We had shortcake, smoothies, and ice cream and berries.


They are much better when they are fresh.



But on the weekends we made jam for the winter.



Ok some for now - you cant let those partial jars go to waste!

4Patch Swap off to TX

This is what the table looked like when I was collecting 200 4Patchs to swap with Bingo Bonnie. And this is good compared to what the family room looked like while I was putting them together.


It felt so good to have them in the mail to Bonnie in TX. But now I think I want to do it again in the fall. (maybe only 100 - I'll let you know)

Kitchen Organization!

I really wish I would have taken before pics.....


I did go shopping for this project. I bought a few of the jar above and Ball reusable lids for canning jars.

I'm loving this. I have alread used up some pasta. Then when I open a new 1lb package and make a side - I fill up the empty jar. I am going thru some of the lower cabnets now.

It may take awhile thou. I'm not sure I want canning jars in the lower cabnets.

Another new toy

I finally found a featherweight in good condition that I can afford. When I sent my daughter a pic her reply was: "Are you done for awhile now?" She seems to beleive 3 antique machines in 9 months is a little much. I dont know what she's talking about!

I really wanted to pay alittle less, but then again I never thought I would be able to afford something in this condition!

The decals look like they are brand new! I think there are only 3 or 4 little scratches. And the case has small dings on 2 coroners.


So the next question is: Do I want to use it? Or should I save it and try to find one that is truly used?

Then I could use that one??


I think John will loose it if I suggest getting another one.

And what do you think Jacki response would be????

Maybe I should wait. maybe......

UFO's

What to do next?? I now know how I get so many UFO's. I have 180 of 200 4-patchs due for a swap. Some need to be squared up. Then I need to restack them into 20 stacks of 10 unique patches (sets) and get them in the mail. I have another swap waiting - just some candy bar 3.5x6.5 blocks. Also, I should be quilting Jacki's queen size beast or binding a Smoky Mt Quilt "just cauze". BUT....

I was just woundering the web and found a GREAT Quilt. Jo's Mavick Star Quilt. I want to start this or maybe not.
I have these Scrappy Jacbos Ladder squares. Look what some muslin and recycled shirts can become! The are NOT very square, the seam allowances are all over the place. These were the first things I sewed with my new 201.

I am going to count on the fact that the muslin is not prewashed and after quilting it should shrink and bunching will hide the flaws. We shall see!


But I'm one square short!!!! I'm thinking something totally different. A bright purple strip or maybe a multi bright strip. Got to go looking....


I think I'm going to put this together and try to free hand a feather or fan quilting.

MN Gardening...

OK I know they are newlyweds and Jacki is busy at school. But these chives have been in this tote since LAST summer!!

I just want to know how they survived the Minnasota Winter??!??!


In the spirit of full disclosure, here is Jacki's front flower bed.

She does watch the budget. All of these came from an IL flower bed. I did need to split many plants. And not one to let anything go to waste.....

Ta Daaaaaa!