Aunt Ruthie's Influence

Who hasn't joined the Sugar Pie Farmhouse Forum yet?

Ya better run right over and check it out!

Lots of good ideas and information about

everything!

From kids to tomatoes.

Ruth Ann posted a blog post about her chalkboards

and the special chalkboard ink markers she uses.

Well, I was wanting to do something with my pantry door.

My first thought was a red screen door.

But I'd have to keep the pantry neat and tidy all the time.

And I KNOW that wouldn't happen.

So, I taped around the area I wanted to paint.

Caution, the chalkboard paint in the can is very-very thin.

I applied 5 layers directly on the door.

Then hubby painted and cut the molding strips

to frame it out.

I had to do something this week to keep my mind off my troubles!

I think I will put my Chocolate Chip Cookie

recipe on it for now.

I can always wipe it off and start again.

I did do a practice piece and the markers

are so smooth and easy to work with.

I purchased my markers at Michaels

with my half off JoAnn's coupon.

Do these canisters look familiar?

I found this red glass cutting board at the

Lange Outlet store last winter.

Perfect with my red tops!

Here's a few of my new cookbooks.

Two of the books are from my high school girlfriend Shirley.

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen &

Susan Branch's Girlfriends Forever

signed and autographed!

Plus my favorite The Apron Book.

Oh, and don't forget

Old Time Farmhouse Cooking and

The Lost Art of Pie Making.

Here's were my sweet little red & white apron hangs.
Strictly for looks (it doesn't fit).


Well, this will be my last post for a week or so.
Tomorrow is the BIG day.
Just waiting for the hospital to call with the time.

(Hospital called, have to be there at 5:45 a.m.)
The laundry is done and my bag is packed.
Threw in a few magazines just in case and my MP3 player.



I want to thank everyone who is praying for me and my family.
The messages of support that you sent mean so much to us.
My husband "doesn't get" this blog thing
and was truly amazed at all the emails I've received.



Here is the prayer that sweet sweet Polly from Counting Your Blessings sent:


Oh Father, hold her in your hands.
Allow your Spirit to fill her with comfort and calm.
We know that you love her and her family.
We know that your plan for her life is for good and for a future (Jer 29:11).
Allow her to rest this week and gain strength.
Give her health and joy and more of you! In your name we ask.
~Amen~


I've printed if off and read it every time fear starts to creep in my heart.
God Bless.

I Need Your Prayers......

I had a heart attack!

Hard to believe.

Last Saturday I awoke around 4 a.m.

to a feeling of pressure in the middle of my chest.

Like someone was holding a 10 lb weight on me.

Indigestion from the previous night's dinner I thought.

I got up, took some medicine, and tried to go back to sleep.

Didn't work.

By mid morning my left arm felt "weird".

No shooting pains. No sweats. No nausea.

In fact, I went into my studio and loaded a quilt!

But, by 10 or so I "just knew" something wasn't right.

Mike said enough was enough and off we went.

I told the ER Doc that I was sure it was something I ate.

And he said he was sure it wasn't.

They ran some tests and decided to admit me.

My enzyme levels were up and that wasn't good.

First thing Monday morning they performed a

diagnostic catherzation.

After which they decided I need open heart by pass surgery.

How scary does that sound?

I'm petrified!

My Uncle came and took Aunt Polly back to Michigan for a few months.

Time for me to recover.

I'm suppose to stay stress free, and rest.

Right.

I have the best customers in the world!

I called and spoke with a few and they are

so understanding about the delay.

My quilting "sista's" are just a phone call away if I need help.

My sister, Robin, will be coming to visit

and I'll get to be the "bossy"older sister AGAIN...

just like the good old days.

My 2 sons and their families are coming to spend the today.

I need some Grandma kisses!

So please, please, add me and my family to your prayer list and

Keep me in your thoughts on Thursday.

Oh my, oh my, we just finished dinner.

Leftovers.

And it was as delicious the second time around as the first.

I'm sure you've all been to visit Ruthann at

Warm Pie, Happy Home.

I made her

“Hillbilly Spaghetti Pie!”

and it was a BIG hit!

I even baked cornbread.

After all, what could be more "hillbilly"?

Ruthann has an incredible new site called

Sugar Pie Farmhouse.

Head on over and say Howdy

and join the "sisterhood"!

I've been redecorating my blog.

Notice my new navagation bar on top?

And the cute little sewing machine by my

web address in your browser bar?

All installed by Joanna at

Southern Girl Blog Designs

Hurry on over.

She's having a Spring Special!

I didn't have the heart to take weather pictures for you today.

It's the same old story.

Cold, snowy & windy.

So much for my Easter bonnet.

More like a stocking cap.

Isn't this cherry quilt just so darn cute?

So summery looking.

Lucky it's heading West.

To warmer weather.

Stay safe and warm.
Talk to ya again soon.

What is the saying about March weather....

In like a lamb

(picture taken first week in March)

Out like a lion
(taken this morning)

I just have one word for the weather Gods.....

Enough Already!

(Okay, two words).

I've been very busy working on customer quilts.

I just can't seem to catch up.

I want to thank "my ladies" for being so understanding.

Things are looking up.

I have extra help with Aunt Polly 2 days a week now.

Two whole days to quilt uninterrupted.

Here's a little Quilt Show for you.

Chris entered her Red, White & Blue.

into the Sun Prairie Quilt Show.

"My patriotic quilt "Old Glory" got an honorable mention at the show.
I know there were at least 35 quilts

in the long arm category so that was great.
Thank you for doing such a good job". Chris
Congradulations Chris!

And here is Jan's machine embroidery quilt.
Isn't it beautiful?

Detail of the center motif.

And doesn't Sue's quilt look like summer?
I love the colors.

And check out her "piping hot" circles.

Wait to you see the darling
Cherries with ric-rack top I'm quilting now.
Yes Sharon, it's yours!

Our 2 youngest grandbabies came to visit on Friday.
It was such a joy to cuddle and play with them.

My DDIL is such a sweetie to drive down for the day.

Plus she brought my favorite.......

peanut butter/chocolate cheesecake

from the Cheesecake Factory!

Our 3 oldest babies are coming Easter weekend to visit.
I will have to bribe them
to have their pictures taken.
They're at that age you know.
Can't wait to have a "Grandma" weekend.

May you have a warm and safe week ahead.

Top o' the morning!
**************************************

Doesn't this picture make you wanta sit down and cut into that pie?

This is the photo on the back cover of.....

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen!

It is such a beautiful book.
Not only wonderful recipes, but personal stories, tips, crafty projects.

Makes me want to put on my apron!

This was a birthday gift from my highschool friend, Shirley.

Yep, high school.

High school.....a million years ago.

Though we lived thousands of miles apart,

much of our adult lives, we have "kept in touch".

Sometimes it was months, even years, between our calls and visits.

But each time the phone rang and we started to chat

it was like no time had passed.

We have been thru boyfriends, breakups, weddings, husbands,

divorces, parents dying, child raising, and now the best part

grandbabies.

This isn't the most flattering picture of either of us.

But it was the only one I could find without

tearing thru old boxes.

I'm sure Shirley, on the right, is giving me some great advice.

I love ya girlfriend!

And thanks for the surprise package!

You also receive a one year subscription to Country Living magazine.

FREE!

Be sure and check it out!

Oh, it's that time of year again...

TAX SEASON!

I know I'm not the only one that feels this way.

While that's not me in the photo

(iStock image)

it's exactly how I feel.

Exhausted.

I finished 2 of the free BOM stitchery patterns from

Gail Pan designs.

She posted the third in the series, "Joy" this week.

Be sure and check it out.

A quick and easy project to stitch while watching

Dr. Mc Dreamy.

I've made some progress on my Dad's Christmas quilt.

Yep, I said Christmas.

Better late than never, right?

It's the Boxed Blessings pattern

from Ingrid Barlow.

I had a ton of black and white fat quarters in my stash

I wanted to use up.

Now I just need to get them off my design wall and

stitched together.

Love how the red pops.

Manly, yes?

Wow, have you missed me??

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I’ve checked in.
Lordy, the time just flew by.

First off, my Aunt Polly is the same.
She spent a few days in the hospital,
giving Hubby & I a short, but much needed, break.
Thank You for your prayers.

I had a birthday in February.
Hard to believe I turned sixty. Yep, the big 6-0.
I can remember celebrating my Mom’s sixtieth birthday
and thinking how OLD that was.

Not now!
I’m sticking with Oprah…….
60 is the new 40 or was that 50?

Then, not long after that, my computer crashed.
Fried.

We had to replace our old Windows XP

with a new computer running Vista.
What a pain!

Are you aware that you can’t buy a new computer with Windows XP?
Your forced to use Vista.
Of course, most of my outdated software didn’t

want to play nice with Vista.

A big head ache, to say the least.

(Listen to me whin like an old lady)

And then to recover your backed up data…….
my taxes will be a little late Mr. President.

But on the bright side of February
I was able to finish the antique quilt I bought in Iowa last spring.
A very scrappy Steps to the Altar.
(Irish chain in my book).
The variety of fabrics is amazing.
A true 1930’s, hand stitched, quilt.
It measured 76” x 78”, that’s 5,928 one inch squares.
Almost 6,000 hand stitched pieces!

Unbelievable.
I wonder how many hours it took Mame to piece this?
After hand stitching the binding down,

I soaked it in Oxy Clean for a few hours.
Man, you should have seen the water!
D-I-R-I-T-Y!
Then I washed it again with Oxy Clean and detergent

and it came out so nice.
I used muslin for the backing and binding.

After drying, on low, in the dryer, it came out all wrinkled and soft.

Just like it had been around for years.

Before Quilting

AFTER

Notice the cheddar orange and green?
Soooo....1930's!

Each square measures 1 inch!

Wouldn't "Mame O'Neal" be thrilled to see her quilt finally finished
70 something years later.


SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

In yesterdays mail, came the latest issue of Country Woman magazine.
As I was soaking up all the pretty pictures and great recipes
I noticed a familiar looking quilt.
It took me a minute to realized that it was MY quilt!
Yep, my 1930’s Reproduction Butterfly Quilt is on page 46!!!!
Not a big picture mind you, but it’s there.
In print. With my name and city.
I’m disappointed you can’t see the quilting in the white areas.
It’s really what makes the quilt special.
Oh well…



I promise not to stay away so long. I miss all my blogging buds.
Will Spring and the grilling season ever get here??

It's been awhile I know.

I've missed you, my sweet blogging friends,

and appreciate all the emails of concern.

I must say, if January is any indication of

whats to come the rest of the year......I'll pass.

My heart goes out to anyone caring for an elderly relative.

I completely understand your weariness.

And I have a new found respect for those

who have chosen a career of caring for the elderly.

Your definitely angels.
.

We were able to get away for the day to attend

the baptism of our sweet baby girl, Brenna.

Thanks to my friend, Ellie, who came

and spent the day with Aunt Polly.

As you can see from the pictures below

Brenna enjoyed every minute of the attention.

Smiling sweetly for the Priest.

Aiden is the proud big brother.

Reis, holding Brenna, with cousins Dylan & Dusty.

This is my favorite flannel scrappy quilt.
So necessary on these below zero days.

Stay warm and I hope to get back to blogging soon.