Fall quilting

It's been an interesting and busy Fall.  I finally completed the Halloween quilt and presented it to daughter and son-in-law when they arrived for Thanksgiving.  This was truly a time for thankfulness, because they got to visit with her Grandma, we were able to spend bonding time chopping, prepping and cooking in the kitchen, and we enjoyed a day at the new firepit, burning up old brush, and roasting marshmallows to make S'mores.  Found out our Milan does not like her marshmallows roasted, only fresh!  Best of all, the quilt was taken safely out to California to warm them up in future Falls.

Milan and Friend

Milan and Violet bird watching together...

Milan--Mom and Dad ordered something called a ramp just for me.  It's in a box, and Dad has to put it together. It has something to do with going in and out of the van.  I hope that doesn't mean I have to go on errands.  Still haven't figured that one out completely but I know some of the stuff that leaves on errands, never comes back.I wish they'd take that snooty cat Violet on an errand.  Mom is going to book club tonight.  She has a lot of books but why do they need a club for them?  She reads them here.  Do they take their books and show them to each other?  Is it a contest to see who has the most?  I think I will eavesdrop to find out more about these odd goings-on.  Humans are such a strange bunch. I really can't complain much. I get two scoops of that ice cream they call sherbet every night.  Except one night I only got one scoop.  They must think I'm stupid and can't count.  I tried glaring to get my point across but that didn't work.  I'm not sure if I was being punished or if Mom is the one who can't count so well.  At least I got my two cookies at bedtime, so I forgave her.  I hope it doesn't happen again.  Violet got her treat and sat there laughing at me.  She can be nice sometimes, but the rest of the time she is just pure evil cat.

Violet--I got an extra good supper treat the other night--tuna!  And not just the tuna juice poured on my kibble.  As if I actually believe it's the real thing. Ha!  The juice is better than nothing but I just live for those tuna tidbits!  And there was Milan, sitting there pouting because she only got one scoop of sherbet, which that dumb dog thinks is ice cream.  I laughed at her.  She is probably getting too fat. Tee hee.  They'll have her on that treadmill one of these days, if she keeps eating sherbet and cookies every night.  Mom is making something for a baby.  Not quite sure what that is but I think it's a very short human that cries a lot.  If I'm right, I hope WE don't get one.  I have heard they do horrible things like pulling on tails and ears.  Mom said Dad had to get a gift bag so I am pretty sure the baby isn't coming here. What a relief!

                                                                                                               TN

And Fall beadings

Got into a creative mood in the beading room, and tried something different. The first necklace/earring set is done with copper wire and antique gold findings. The second one exposes black-colored beading wire. Borrowed a new book on beading from the library, which shows that you can do all kinds of things with colored flexible beading wire, including knitting with it. Well, I declined to do the knitting part, but I had some .029 thickness black coated flexible wiring stashed back, trying to figure out why I ever ordered it. So NOW I can use it creatively.  And the focal on the upper set takes a piece of copper wiring from the basement stash of hubby's house wiring--he stripped the rest off for me to use the copper part.  The top set is malachite.  Had the cab in my jewelry box, saved back from an old bracelet setting, and reused it for the focal.  Aventurine beads make up the inside strand, malachite rondelles the outer strand anchoring the focal.

Fall quilting

Every Fall I volunteer at a quilt auction, narrating the quilts to attract bidding. I drool over them all, thinking, I could bid on this one or that one and hang it in my house, but never successfully entering the final bid on any of the beautiful creations of the quilters.  So when I saw this quilt in a quilting magazine, I fell in love with it, telling myself I CAN DO THIS!!  The fabric arrived, all shimmery blues and sparkly gold enhanced cottons, and I set to work, thinking I CAN DO THIS.  Ummmhum.

I did learn something about quilting with satins. They shrink a bit when you steam a stabilizer on the back of the fabric.  Didn't know that, but learned it when I set the center satin square.  So I had to recut more satin squares to make sure I wasn't messing up the whole thing.  Relearned a bunch of geometry from sophomore year in high school too. This pattern was a bit tricky, it was supposed to be for "beginners".  Well, as a baby quilter I did a lot of growing up during the construction.  I learned how to do cross-hatching quilting, flower petal quilting (sort of free-handed using a plastic lid as a template), and really used my walking foot.  Stitch in the ditch was nothing , compared to the rest of the work.

So here it is, done and up on the wall. And when the quilt auction comes I will be thrilled once more to introduce those fantastic quilts, and talk up the bids, but I will also be happy to have mine already decorating our home.

And if you want to come to the quilt auction, it is part of the Apple Festival at the Raytown First Baptist Church, Saturday, September 8, 9-2 pm.  All proceeds go to benefit the Missouri Baptist Children's Home.

More from Milan

     Well, I've been at this house for awhile now, and I've decided since I like it here so much I'm going to call the female "Mom" and the male "Dad".  My real parents let the other humans give me away so how good were they?  Today Mom said she was putting my thoughts on something she called a blog.  Well, it's about time they recognized who the brains of this organization are.  I'd do it myself but I can't operate the box they poke at all the time.  I can turn it on and off, which they don't know, but my paws are too big to push the letters.   Mom said her friend is on a vacation.  Is that like an errand?  It seems like it lasts longer than an errand.  Humans are strange creatures.

                                                                                                                   ---TN

More from Milan

      Good grief!  The female human is on some sort of a machine that she walks on!  Does she not know she can do that outisde?  I do it all the time, even run, which I have never seen HER do.  The male human isn't quite as sharp as the female on some things.   He is apparently real good with some boxes they call computers, but he left Mama Cat's food bowl outside and he is nowhere to be found.  Bet he is back with his boxes.

      Hee, hee, we'll see how that cat likes it when this dog outsmarts her.  A little scratch, scratch at the door and the man lets me out.  A few quick slurps and down goes Mama Cat's kitty chow.  My way of getting back at her for that evil swipe she took at me the other day.  This place is great!

     Oh, oh, the woman is giving me the stink eye.  She knows I ate the kitty chow, but guess what, she is mad at the man for leaving it out for me to eat.  I do not get the blame! They think I'm just a dumb dog who thinks any food laying around is mine.  I'll just plaly along and see what else I can scam them into feeding me.

     I should nap now. The cats are out of sight and the humans are leaving for errands.  I wish I could figure out what that is.  Every time they leave for errands they are gone for different amounts of time and come back with different things or take things they don't bring back.  If they ever want to take me on an errand, I think I'm going to hide.  Oh well, it's time to hit the sofa for my nap while they are gone.  They think I don't get up on there anymore!  Tee hee.

                                                                                                                               ---TN

Today's Milan moments

      I think the humans have hidden my favorite squeaky toy.  I just had it yesterday when I was chasing that uppity cat, Violet.  Violet thinks she is smarter than me, but she's not.  Hey, maybe SHE hid it. Oh good, I have the humans well trained. They obviously didn't hide my toy because they are now looking under all the furniture.  I may as well stretch out until they find it.  That will give me time to plot my revenge on that sneaky Violet....
      Well, it's about time! They have found my toy! I'll have to reward them by letting them pet me now. Oh great, now we have to go outside. Do they know I have a fur coat on?  It's too hot to go out there, but someone has to watch these two to make sure they make it back inside without harming themselves. Guess that means me!
      Oh oh, the garden hose! Oh, that's ok, the female says she is watering the flowers.  What a waste of time!  But at least they aren't washing ME again.  I hate that.  Now they are discussing something called "Puddle Jumper Days".  What's the big deal about jumping puddles?  And why would you want to?  It's so much more refreshing to jump right in them.  These humans get stranger and stranger.  Oh well, the food here is good, and they give me lots of tummy rubs.  So I think I'll keep them. Just have to lose that cat...

TN

Milan the Wonder Dog

We adopted a rescue dog back in January, from a farm in northern Missouri.  Her name is Milan and she has been so full of antics and events since we got her that we are either moved to laughter or tears any day of the week. I have been telling a friend of mine about Milan's daily adventures, and she has come up with an idea--as in, why not start posting these stories?  So she contributed her creative genius to start sharing the Life of Milan The Wonder Dog.

Episode 1:
I tricked my humans again today.  For some reason they don't seem to like the delicious smell of creek mud, which is heavenly!  I run down there when they aren't watching, take my wonderfully relaxing mud bath, chase a few frogs, and as soon as I return home to make sure my humans are still okay, they gang up on me.  The next thing I know they are washing me again.  And beyond humiliation, in a baby bath tub! I am NOT A BABY!

I have to admit, they do provide great food or I just would not put up with this nonsense.  They are pretty good for humans, all things considering.  The female cooks yummy things and gives me lots of treats, and lots of tummy rubs, which make me feel good all over.  The male sleeps a lot (they call this "nap time", gets into a big scary machine that brought me here, and does something he calls "errands".  Then he sits down in front of another machine he calls "No, Milan, let me type now".  But he also pets me a lot, gives me more tummy rubs, talks a lot to me, throws my squeaky toy, and when the female isn't looking, he shares chips from his lunch.  I like it here even if my humans still think they are in charge. Ha, ha, they are gullible but lovable. Now if I could only get that cat to run away from home...


Stay tuned for the next installment from the Teapot Nut.

June's flowers

We have many things in bloom this year, but most are in pots, owing to the fact that "Big Foot" Milan does a daily survey of all natural wonders around her.  Mrs. Wren has taken up nesting in our yellow petunia pot, hanging in front of the fireplace, so I guess pots are an improvement.  She scolds and scolds when Mr. Lucky, our outside kitty, hangs around by the door, hoping for his treats.

A "good" Tick Year

About a month and a half ago, I found a little "seed" tick buried in my leg, down where the outdoor kitties rub against me. So I took myself to the doctor, after I dug and dug and just could not get the thing all the way out. There was a huge red circle developing around it, and I thought, hmmm, this is way more serious than I thought it was.  Anyway, got the tick dug out professionaly, had a blood test, and yes it was a tick-borne bacterial infection, got on Doxycycline, the only antibiotic prescribed for Lyme disease, and had the 21 day doses.  This past week our pup Milan got the same thing, had to go to the vet for an overnight stay, had the blood work drawn, got her diagnosis, and now we get to fight the battle of the pills.  She remembered that last time I lured her into taking some pills, the peanut butter on the finger turned out to have a hidden prize.  So she rejected the first two times, and had to be tricked into eating it mixed in with her regular food.  Ran into a friend who works at a veterinary clinic and she suggested hot dog pieces. It worked!  Milan knew she was being tricked but just could not resist that old hot dog. Let's hope it continues to work for the next 19 days.

Oh yes, I did apply a fresh dose of Frontline as soon as we got home from the vet's, taking no chances this time.  Our neighbor farmer said this year was a good mushroom year, and an especially good tick year. He should know, his farm dogs are out in the field daily too.

More May flowers

 Since I think I finally figured out how to correctly rotate pictures with this blogger, I had to include some more iris pictures hubby had captured.  This time you don't have to turn your head sideways to view them.

May crafting

Been a little busy inside the house too, getting some jewelry done and then working on another American Girl doll outfit.  Hope the grandniece likes it. I also made a matching apron for her to wear with her doll.

The jewelry is made with rainbow agates, and carved butterflies, some coral, and Swarovski crystals of course--had to add some bling.

April showers bring May flowers!

Yes, now it is May, and our gardens are going gang-busters!  We had a cold, not cool, cold mind you, April, and the rains came right at the end, bringing us into a stormy May, with heat building into steaminess.  Which makes it easy on transplanting and pulling those weeds, but then one has to water regularly because in one day's time (today for example) the newly transplanted baby plants are suddenly laying on their sides in the dirt, panting for water.  Yes I mulch. But I obviously have to renew it.  I have even mulched pots out on the patio in the summertime.   We have our very first green pepper on the bush, tomatoes are budding forth blooms, lettuces are fantastic, been eating on them, and spinach and swiss chard are finally coming on.  Peas are getting ready to bloom, potato plants are huge, and we got squash plants last night at the Powell Gardens annual plant sale, so we are hopeful there too.  Our son weed-whacked around the garden, and surprised a rat snake taking care of business.  Of course he left it alone, they are good for our garden.  Just have to remind myself, when I go into the vegetable garden, be careful where I put my fingers.

Our roses and irises and peonies are looking better than ever this spring. I have set out the hummingbird feeders, and the first ones came within 5 minutes of my hanging the feeders.  Hubby got two courses of stone today,to begin our fire pit construction, and I still have shade plants to transplant into pots for the screened porch.  This year's flower gardens are going to be hanging baskets, plants on pedestals and in giant pots, and maybe a few marigolds and angelinas sprinkled around, because our new pup LOVES stomping through the flowerbeds (of course they are made just for her entertainment).  She has narrowly missed two double marigolds--so far being the operative word here.

Adieu armoire!

Finally got rid of the old armoire. It was adopted out to a lady who also quilts, and who wanted it in her basement sewing area.  Her husband came with help to move it out of our sunroom, and I later learned the story of what happened when they got it home.  She said he insisted on its going into their bedroom. This thing is a piece of furniture turned MONSTER!  I  kid you not.  After dismantling the door frame, through which the armoire still did not fit, he dismantled the window frames, once more scoring zero on squeeze room.  So she finally got it down to the basement where she had planned it to be parked.  All I can say is, we are breathing sighs of relief to see it moved onwards to a new home.  Some things are just like that.

Easter weekend

Saturday it rained, so we did a little rearranging of our family room to create more space. I served Easter dinner, which was a motivation for our kids to help us move that furniture.

We did have a huge rustic Baltic fir armoire, bought at an antique store in Lexington years ago, which served the purpose of our media cabinet. But it took up too much room. So we asked for help from our kitchen cabinet carpenter, who created some cabinet door frames for a three drawer gentlemen's dresser (the kind with the little glove drawers on top) on brass casters, probably from the 1920's or 30's, bought at a friend's garage sale. Hubby got aluminum gridwork, finished in a brass color, and inserted cut-outs from this metal, making a screen for each cabinet door, which not only allows air-flow for all the electronics, it also allows us to push our remote buttons with success. We have way more room to move around, and I am trying to decide whether or not to look for a love seat, or a nice lounge chair with ottoman. Either one will be my comfort zone while watching tv. The armoire sits in the sunroom now, awaiting its transformation into a garden center/tv enclosure for the exercise times.

One thing I did learn over the last few weeks--everyone wants to unload their entertainment armoires! When I first listed ours on Craigs List, there were only 18 others listed for sale. In a matter of two weeks time, the number grew to well over 240! Obviously everyone else was also sick of the big things taking up too much space in their houses. Hubby was actually talking about putting it on our brushpile when we burned it, but I talked him out of it, for the moment.

Easter gifties

Had to try out the little birdie pattern I found on Pinterest the other day, so made up a few for some young sweeties in CA; the older sweeties out there got the swag.

Finally finished 4 placemats that match the quilted table runner I made last summer, just in time for our Easter lunch. Next project--putting new canvas seats and backs on our redwood deck chairs. I think the serger will have to help me here!

So far I have all the flowerbeds weeded of dandelions, baby elm trees and poison ivy. Now we just have to start mowing and trimming. Ahh the joys of spring!

Signs of Spring

The first crocus blooms...guarded by Mr. Lucky.

More beading projects for the Spring Youth Auction at our church...

And new baby stuff for a Spring Arrival...

Spring is in the air!

Every spring we grab at the chance to drink in the colors and fragrances of spring before it really arrives, at the Flower, Lawn & Garden Show in downtown KC. This year it was as beautiful as usual, and we even wandered to the opposite hall to see the home improvement booths. Since we now have a pup, who seems to have the wanderlust, we made it a point to talk to the dog training guys, and got some ideas which we are putting into practice, but which Milan seems to think are even more hilarious than chasing the geese/chicken/ducks/cats around. We shall see. So far the game score is: People ZERO Milan About a Million and a Half.

But at least we saw some gorgeous orchids again, and viewed the raptor rescue display, which is pretty neat to see because we have all those birds out here in the country, but close up and personal, they are truly magnificent.

Milan really enjoys running in our creek, and getting all wet and muddy every day. After viewing all the stone and water structures at the show, maybe I can convince hubby to build a rock-lined pond and waterfall big enough to suit our pup's needs (haha).

New puppy

We lost our Belgian Sheepdog Molly back in September, from severe hip issues in her old age. She lived a long and happy life out here in the country. And this past winter we missed having a dog as a pet in our house. It was too quiet. The cats were entertaining but we just missed having a dog. So one day a few weeks ago I was cruising Craig's List for pet adoption, and chanced on a half border collie/half Australian sheepdog mix, which looked exactly like Perky, our kids' grandparents' dog. So I emailed her, we traveled for several hours way up to the northern border of MO/Iowa, and found a farm dog, 8 months old, who was used to running after the cattle on the farm. We brought her back, an eventful trip, considering she was not used to car riding (luckily we had a drop cloth and old rug in the back of the minivan), and she came home to our house and cats. Violet was happy to see another dog, but our older cat continues to give her great disgusted looks. ALL the time! Milan is our pup's name, named after the town near that cattle farm. You pronounce it MY-lan, not the usual Italian pronunciation, but typical for Missouri--ask any Missourian how we pronounce New Madrid???

Anyway, Milan went into heat right away when we got her home, so out to the vet for her first surgical experience. She did great, came home with a cone, which just mortified the poor girl beyond belief, so we took it off and reminded her about not chewing on her stitches. Pointing at the cone on the counter seemed to send the message, because she quit. She is getting her shots series all caught up, and having a great time herding our cats, herding the neighbor cats back home, herding the ducks, geese and chickens back to their house too. This is truly a country girl, with a sense of humor and a big smile on her doggy face.

Winter crafting

Every January, I get stricken by the "love-bug", wanting to craft Valentiney stuff, in lots of reds, with hearts. So started in small scale, and sewed up some American Girl-ish stuff for the grandnieces' dolls, and it started a sewing trend. I had not been at that machine for a month and a half, and it was like returning to an old friend, just sort of picking up the friendship where we had last let it lay.

Then I tackled a recycle project, turning a sweatshirt into a jacket, cutting it down the front, removing the stretchy bands, and sewing quilt borders on instead, then doing some quilted applique on front and back. This is a birthday present for Mom, which I plan on sending out this week. Hope she likes it enough to wear while walking along the beach in San Diego.