Hallelujah

It's been a while, I know - I just have to wait for something that gets me inspired to write, and that is what happened this morning.
If you will notice, at the right of your screen, I've posted Scotty McCreery's Christmas song - if you stop and take a listen, I feel it might inspire you too!  If nothing else, the old photos are a delight and bring back such memories!
So, here we are, once again, preparing for, and anticipating the "Holiday Season" - whatever your particular holiday might be.  If you are anything like me, you've got lots going on, lots in your head and lots for your hands to do!
Since it's been a while, let's start my catch-up with October...
dear hubby gifted me with an awesome couple  of days in Lancaster - and there isn't a prettier time to go than when the trees are in their autumn glory.  Not to mention the fabric is ripe for the pickin'!  ha ha!

 
 We had such a good time - eating, meeting great folks, taking walks, eating, shopping for fabric, eating - oh, wait, am I repeating myself?  Well, when it comes to Amish country, one of the drawing points is the food!

Some of the fabric haul!  We picked up some clearance fabrics to cut up and donate to Love Apple Charity quilts - those three at the front made up really interesting 2.5" squares! Below is a top I made up for the group - looking closely you can see some of those "cheater's panels" cut up.  Once the top was complete, I donated the remainder of the fabric for them to use as they wish.

Little sister living the Pirate moment!

Mom - don't ever remember having her kind of energy - and certainly not her creativity!

Darling Birthday Boy

 Next up was Grandson Ian's 5th birthday.  His frighteningly creative and energetic mom had come up with the most amazing Pirate themed party.
Then we're on to Halloween.  Having been inspired by friends who are making little wall hangings for each holiday, I came up with my first.

 Went to another quilter's yard sale and came away with fabulous deals - including some already made items I'll find fun to work with!

 Lar and I walked over to check out our garden site - it happened to be the day the Township was mowing.  Sure does look different....but next Spring we'll be ready to do our part in getting the growing going.

 Next up - setting my Aunt Martha's roses....this won't be the next quilt in the frame - but it will be ready.

 

 Our quilt guild had a Fall and then a Thanksgiving pot holder swap at the last two meetings.  Above you can see the two candle bowls I made on the left.  In exchange I received that strange sock-figure to the right - green stripped and weird!

 Second row from the right, second down is the potholder I made.  I received the round one on the left - very pretty, tho' only decorative.  
Next up, a visit from sister and her husband....we took them to the Barclay Farmstead for Holiday House.  I always find it an infusion of holiday spirit and I think they enjoyed it too.

 Carol and I each made a Thanksgiving wall hanging - Turkeys!
 Carol brought her most recent quilt tops to show us...the first one was made up of Aunt Martha's squares I gave her.

 I wanted to keep up with my plan for a hanging for each and every holiday - so obviously, Santa was next.

 Made one for Amy and Pat, too!

And now, getting ready for the December meeting of Love Apples, the Charity Quilt Luncheon and various Christmas things.  Needed a Holiday ornament for the swap for Tuesday evening, I first tried this clear glass ball filled with over 100 scraps of 3o's era fabric, various buttons and papers ...not sure of this one - so found a You Tube video click here which taught me to make the one below.  Really love this one and plan to make more for us!  Just need a 3" styrofoam ball, some 2.5 " squares of pretty fabric and some silk pins.  It was fun to make and I love the finished product!  Do you?

 We took a quick ride to JoAnn Fabrics to get some lovely Holiday/Winter themed fabric to take part in the fat quarter swap....

and a sale tee shirt to decorate for the meeting and/or the holiday luncheon the next day. I worked out the design I wanted to do for the front - LAQ for Love Apple Quilters, cut it all out, laid it out with iron on fusible web...and then, as usual, my rushing caused me to go awry! 

 Once the front was nicely ironed, I picked up the shirt....a what to my wondering eyes should appear....
a mass of glue stuck all down the back!  I'd inadvertently  ironed it over a big piece of the webbing!  What to do?!  So I cut out more fabric, ironed it onto wherever the glue had been, added a phrase - and yeah, yeah, "I meant to do that!"  (not a bad save, huh?)
I tried some paper piecing for a snow man block but I realize it's been too long...I've really forgotten how to actually do this and am glad I've hooked up with my muse
because she also has a video for that!

  And finally!  Want to share these items that I am in love with.  First, see the Magnet-ficent...the best thing since - I don't know what!  Attached to the wall with Command damage free hangers, it contains very strong magnets.  One places metal containing bars such as old fashioned curtain rods into the placket in the back and the quilt snaps snugly to the wall.  Want to make a change - you just pull the stretchy stuff down and the whole thing comes away - no holes, no damage to the wall!  I find it very convenient and very secure for these little wall quilts I've been making.
Meanwhile - I came up with another use for these hooks - applied to the window sill, they hold  window candles securely - a marriage saver for sure, since I am constantly knocking them off and breaking the bulbs.  This one is for you, Lar! 

 Off now to finish up a little wall hanging I will give my sister for Christmas, it's called "Sister's Choice" and I'm hand quilting it, tho' that was a really bad choice - two of the fabrics are "horrible" to get the needle through!  Never been one to do anything the easy way!
Until later - Hallelujah - it's Christmas time again! 

Down on the Farm(stead)

Signed up recently to volunteer time in the "quilt room" at the Barclay Farmstead.  See by clicking HERE
I'll be quilting on an old quilt donated to the historic home with two goals intended - getting that quilt quilted, and providing education to the elementary school children touring the farmstead.
During the tour to "my" room, kids get to see me in action, but they also get to put their hand at quilting - the Barclay Friends always have a quilt on a frame with threaded needles available for the kids to use.  Once done, the kids' quilts get bound and hung, on a rotating basis throughout the farm house.  
I've always found boys (and their grown-up versions!) very appreciative of sewing and quilting...and the kids touring at the Farmstead are no different!  During one tour, recently, a young man attending with his class of special needs kids had to be convinced to move on to the rest of the tour!  He was kneeling and intent on his stitches.  I would have liked to hug him!

The elderly quilt on which I've been working.

One of the completed Kids' Quilts

View from where I sit, quilting.

Another look at the antique quilt being quilted.

 As a member of Love Apple Quilters, I'm happy to be providing an example to the kids of the art of quilting.  And I love even more, seeing the interest kids show in it.  I've had several of them turn to me, as they leave, and thank me for being there!
But, of course, there's always a twist....as one group was being toured through another room, several of the boys saw me in the quilt room and showed excitement at getting into what they called (in whispers to each other) "the sewing room."  When they departed the other room, the tour guide said, "now we'll go downstairs and out side."  The boys asked, "aren't we going in there?"  And her reply?
"Oh, no, that's just the quilt room."
And off they went.
Ummm, huh? 

Animated August

Wow!  August has been stimulating, arousing, annoying, bracing, breath-taking, engaging, hectic, busy, nutty and wild!  Thus, I don't get frequent blogging done. 
We had Carol and Jessica's visits.

JESSICA'S FIRST NIGHT HERE, UNCLE LAR'S FAMILY VISITED AND JESSICA GAVE JULIA HER BELATED BIRTHDAY SHIRT- MATCHING - TO JULIA'S DELIGHT!

NANNY AND JESSICA MADE PICKLES

WE WENT TO LANCASTER - SHOPPED, AND OF COURSE, ATE!

DURING OUR VISIT TO LANCASTER WE ENJOYED A STOP AT HISTORIC POOLE FORGE - SOME PRETTY PHOTO OPS

ON THE WAY HOME WE DETOURED TO POP POP'S GARDEN FOR A QUICK STOP AND TO LOOK FOR DEER - CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?  NONE SHOWED!!!

COLLARDS - ONE OF OUR NEW FAVS

DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD LOTS OF RAIN DURING JESSICA'S STAY, WE DID GET A POOL DAY

JESSICA AND JULIA ENJOYED A FISHING TRIP WITH POP POP AND LARRY ON LARRY'S BOAT - OCEAN CITY NJ

CAPTAIN LARRY

HISTORIC BARCLAY FARMSTEAD HELD THEIR ANNUAL HARVEST DINNER - EVERYONE HAVING A GARDEN PATCH AT THE FARMSTEAD IS INVITED TO PREPARE AND BRING SOMETHING FROM THEIR GARDEN.  WE TOOK ZUCCHINI PICKLES AND A ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE - DO I NEED TELL YOU WHAT WE HAD A LOT OF IN OUR PATCH?  :)

COUSINS AND STEVE!

JESSICA GIVING MADELYN HER BIRTHDAY PRESENT - ADORABLE LITTLE OUTFIT AND HANDMADE HEADBAND TO MATCH.

JESSICA AND IAN HAVING SOME ONE ON ONE TIME - REALLY SWEET!

STOP AT SPRINGDALE FARM - LAST WORKING FARM IN OUR TOWN

LOVELY LITTLE PETUNIAS IN AN ONION PATCH!

WE TOOK JESSICA AND JULIA TO THE COUNTY FAIR IN BUCK CO. PA

SAT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL FOR THE DAIRY COW JUDGING

JULES GOT IN A PONY RIDE

AND THE GIRLS WENT ON SEVERAL RIDES TOGETHER

VIEW FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL - WE THREE GIRLS WENT UP TOGETHER

AND THEN THERE'S THE "TRADITIONAL" RIDE THAT NANNY/MOM MOM (WE'RE THINKING OF MAKING IT NAMOM) HAS THE PLEASURE OF GOING ON WITH JESSICA.  IT'S NOT SO MUCH A "RIDE" PER SE - MORE LIKE A TORTURE CHAMBER!  BUT IT IS FUN TO HAVE THIS TRADITION WITH OUR SWEET GRANDDAUGHTER.  NEXT YEAR?  WELL, WE'LL SEE!

OUR GIRLS GOT ARRESTED - OR, NO, IT WAS THAT THEY ARE ARRESTING!

AMAZING 4H FASHI0N SHOW

VISITED WITH UNCLE DAN AFTER THE FAIR

WAS NICE THAT JESSICA GOT TO SEE HER COUSINS AIDAN, BRYNN AND MOLLY

UNCLE PAT VISITED WITH IAN AND MADELYN AND THEY ALL WENT TO THE LOCAL PLAYGROUND TO GET IN SOME FRESH AIR - RARE DURING THIS STORMY, RAINY WEEK!

AUNT COLLEEN AND UNCLE LARRY GOT JESSICA THIS SHIRT AS A REMINDER OF HER WEEK IN NJ

So, then we drove Jessica home - again, horrifying storms with rain that made it almost impossible to see at times.  We had a great visit with Mike, Tina and Jessica at their home - and next day, home again.  A couple of days later we decided to get down to the shore for a bit - went to see son Larry and his family, enjoying their week vacation.

HIT THE BOARDS WITH LARRY 4 AND JULIA

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOWN TO SEE THIS KIND OF SCENE - WE USUALLY GO OFF SEASON.  IT WAS A LOVELY SIGHT TO SEE!

MACK AND MANCO'S - A GOTTA DO!

SOME SKEE BALL TO TOP IT ALL OFF

We had an earth quake.

We are on the precipice of a hurricane.

Lar and I spent a couple of hours in the morning gathering up any and all objects that Irene could use as missiles and storing same in the garage or in the shed.  Our garage resembles one's local garden center!  Then the two younger Lars arrived and they helped to get the chore of safeguarding the yard complete.  I don't think we could have done it alone!  As it is, we both have full-fledged back aches.

Yesterday we bought up corn for me to can corn relish today and strawberries for strawberry jam.  Now I am sitting and waiting for my back to ease up so I can make one or the other.

I have piled up candles, stockpiled large containers of fresh water, and I've charged my little radio thing-y and that should do it as far as emergency needs.  We have a first aid kit, bags of ice to keep the refrigerator cold and I've taken pictures of each room for insurance purposes - God-willing, we won't need those.
So hang on folks.....it might be an interesting ride!
It's morning now, 8:20 AM - so far our backyard is typically flooded - not much more than the worst we've seen.  The trees are blowing about in the wind and that might be yet the scariest part of this storm - being shallow rooted, they could still pose a threat.

Last night I did get some corn relish canned - 3 pints and one left over for Larry - we had some with our dinner.  It was really good.  Then I baked some lemon bars which were very sweet - and as it turned out - very very hot so I burned the roof of my mouth!  So much for quick tastes!

Today we are forcast to have continuing rain and winds until about 4 or later.  Roads are closed and we are in.

Final entry for today:  we have really been blessed - no water, and while our trees have shed the odd smallish branch or two, no wind damage as yet, our kids have apparently weathered the storm as well.  Plus, I got one batch of strawberry jam done, they all popped and pretty much all is right with the world.