Just call me Laura Ingalls Wilder!

Today was a very domestic day for me.

I felt like I was on Little House on the Prairie.

I harvested my garden.

This is half the carrots.

I don't know what a bushel looks like,

but I think I came close.

I know some friends in AZ who will be getting some of these. 

They say that tomatoes are fussy.  These guys will beg to differ. 

They survived over 45 days without water in my greenhouse.

I don't think they will last much longer though. 

They are sweet and make great 'pop in your mouth' treats.

I baked pumpkin zucchini bread (recipe to follow.)

The staging was suggested by my DH.

He is getting the hang of this blog thing.

A few (two) followers will recognize the placemat!

I hand quilted two quilts. 

The bow tie quilt will go to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

and is smaller than 9"x 11". 

The log cabin will go in a rough wood frame

 and then on the wall of our log cabin.

I am enamored with hand quilting again.

I don't know if it is the challenge of getting those little stitches to march consistently around the quilt

 or the texture they create.

I used a wool batt and it was like butter to needle.

I think I will hand quilt most of my small quilts from here on out

 (did you see the word-most!)

And here is the recipe I promised.

3 eggs, slightly beaten

2 c. sugar (I used just 1)

1 c. canned pumpkin

1 c. butter, melted (I used 1/2 c.)

1 Tbsp. vanilla

3 c. flour ( I love to use this 50/50 blend by Hodgson Mill)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice

1 c. shredded zucchini

1 c. chopped walnuts

Add the ingredients in the order listed. 

 Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. 

I had enough batter for 1 loaf and 6 muffins.

Another participant was added to the SAL list today-Lisa in PA.  I am anxious to see everyone's progress.  Post them on your blogs or send them to me and I will display them for you.

Everyone has had so much fun with this that I will do another. 

 Perhaps 4 1/2" finished blocks next time so I have more design options.

Any requests?

Even a Thistle is Beautiful!

 Colorado Thistle.

 I quickly pull these 'weeds' out of the lawn area, but I love to see the blooms on the other side of the fence.

I am experimenting with close-up photography and then manipulating the pictures using a program on the computer.  Looking for a great picture to use as a screen saver. This has possibilities.  After all, it is purple.  If only it had some orange in there as well.

Yesterday I worked myself silly in the yard.  The weather was perfect for gardening.  Scattered clouds and a light wind made my labors bearable.  I weeded over half of the garden and then used the wheelbarrow to push all these rocks up the hill. I'll throw some wildflower seed in before we leave and see what pops up next Spring. I hate to go to the gym, but I can work for hours doing labor like this. 

 And boy, do my legs and arms feel it today! 

"There is no substitute for hard work."

Thomas A. Edison

Last night we were blessed with a dramatic lightening display.

  I somehow captured a small strike, but don't ask me how. 

Just so you don't think I have forgotten my quilting, here are Linda from Australia's first two blocks.  Everyone likes the 'Paddle Wheel' block.  When it is made using templates, it is called 'Mississippi Queen.'

I did a little hand quilting last night, but have not even touched all the projects I brought with me.  Too many other distractions.  Today we will hike along the Piedra River. 

Our Perseverance Paid Off

Yesterday began as a total wash, but our perseverance paid off.  The rain pelted the window and the wipers battled fiercely so I could navigate my way to Durango.  But by the time we pulled into the WalMart parking lot to stock up on supplies, the clouds were beginning to part and the sun was peeking through.  We both agreed a great option was to dine at Sue and Ken's in old town and then head north towards Silverton.  I order the same thing every time I go--the open-faced meatloaf sandwich.  The meatloaf is a family recipe and is perched on their homemade bread. It is surrounded by smashed garlic potatoes and then smothered in a red wine reduction gravy and finally topped with very thin fried onion rings.  Not the healthiest, but certainly the tastiest comfort food on a grey day. 

My mouth is still watering at the thought of it.

After lunch, we were optimistic our plan for the day would be a good one. 

The tops of the mountains were still shrouded in clouds, but the sun seemed to be winning the battle. 

We were surprised to find that fall had come and gone in the high country and winter had left her calling card.

 However, there was still some color in the lower elevations.

Silverton was almost a ghost town.  People were scarce and many of the shops were closed for the season.  The colorful old buildings were still willing to show off their bright paint jobs for my camera. 

The ruggedly handsome mountain men in front of the coffee shop were all too willing to be photographed as long as I wouldn't put them up on facebook.  I didn't say I wouldn't blog about them! 

I made a slide show of all my pictures; but try as I may, could not load them here.  However,the following are my favorites and needed to stand on their own, instead of sharing the screen with another.

This was celebratory day for my DH.  The first day without his sling!

I hope you enjoy and I leave you with a thought for the day.

It's not a wash yet!

It's a rainy, soggy day, so I may not be able to deliver the fall foliage I promised.  Our spirits are not dampened though. We will still make our little road trip in hopes of a ray of sunshine here or there. There is great shopping in Silverton, so that is our goal.

Just a quick update on SAL participants.

Eri in Japan sent me this photo of her 12 blocks.  I guess I will get started on those setting instructions.

And Linda at Stray Stitches is to the halfway point.

And I have a confession.  I have been trying for those blog giveaways again. I have come to abhor the requirement that I have to become a follower, blog about it and write a separate comment for each action; but I can't stop myself.  I am guilty of using that ploy myself   Besides, I understand the giveaway hosts' motivation.  Blogs with large numbers of followers are receiving free GO cutters from Accuquilt as a marketing scheme.  And it is working.  We have to visit their website and choose which dies we want.  Genius!

So pardon the following transgression, but Alderwood Quilts is having a GO giveaway! Now it is your turn to go over and enter! And I will go enter my comment about this post.  Hope they don't read it!

My new friend in Australia, Linda C of Quilts in the Barn, has a wonderful fundraising exhibition for breast cancer coming soon. 

The ladies of the Secret Sewing Sisterhood made this quilt to auction to raise funds and it is stunning! With Linda's help, I plan to buy several raffle tickets. Wish me luck! 

This group of women does some amazing work.  I highly suggest you follow their blog for it is truly inspirational!

The rain is subsiding and DH is returning from the hardware store, so off I go.  Hopefully, tomorrow I will have that fall foliage to share.

Caution! Photos, and more photos...

I'm in Heaven!  We arrived in Pagosa Springs just around noon and headed to the Plaza Grill to dine al fresco. It was cool and crisp and so refreshing for two people who have been cooped up in air conditioned dwellings for the last month and a half.

Immediately after lunch, we headed to the cabin.  My heart was heavy as we approached.  I did not have high hopes for my garden.  Boy, was I surprised and elated.  Not only did my drought resistant flower  garden survive, but so did my pumpkins and some of my heirloom tomatoes. I have six, count 'em, six pumpkins!  My daughter and I will have so much fun carving them! 

I took my life into my own hands to get many of the pictures

 and here is why!

I am quite allergic to these little devils, but what a great picture.  I was trying to take the following picture when he buzzed in front of my lens.

The following pictures are of the drought tolerant garden I planted in the spring.

The Russian Sage is loving the obviously very warm, dry weather that must have occurred in Sept.  My Nine Bark and Aspens have crispy edges on their leaves.  What you can't see is all the weeds that are growing as well. Guess who will be down on her knees for the next week. 

We'll go on a little road trip to Ouray in the morning, so look for some fabulous fall foliage pictures coming your way. 

Hope you enjoy!

Everyone is making progress

Yesterday, Lin and Deb joined me to continue working on their versions of Autumn's Bounty.  Lin has her houses and over half of the turkey tracks done.  She started her baskets yesterday, so she will be ready to set them soon.  I love her rich fall color choices.

Deb is done with her houses also. 

She made one turkey track yesterday, even with jet lag.  She just returned from her sojourn in England.

I'll be calling the quilter I have selected to trust my Autumn's Bounty with today to make an appointment.  It was a hard decision to make to give up control over this one, but I know I can trust Carol.

Everyone is into houses these days.  After reading a blog yesterday morning, I found myself at Sue Spargo's website purchasing this pattern, Saffron Hill, and more of her hand-dyed woolens.

SAL participants are making progress on their blocks.  Here are Chi's latest additions.

And Rosie has 11 done.  You go, girl! 

And Anne-Mette has made her first block.

I posted the instructions for the LeMoyne Star block yesterday,and will post an alternative #13 block--Flock this am. Make sure you read the hint under Flock.  I think it would have looked better with all the fabrics being dark.  Make it in lieu of Kansas Troubles if you don't want to deal with the small HSTs.

I'll leave you with this cartoon I found out in blogland yesterday.

Hopefully, a few live outside of it as well!



Look out Dorothy...there's a storm coming!

 We have some beautiful sunsets here in the Sonoran Desert, but last night was exceptionally beautiful with the promise of a storm, and cooler temperatures, coming from the south.

I picked up a multicolored Kolanchoe last night at the market to simulate fall color in my home.  With all the designers in blogland posting beautiful scenes of the changing of the seasons, I just had to have some color for myself.  The whimsical witch was a birthday present from my Sis last year.

The designers are talking about gatherings today and it had me reminiscing about the Halloween party my parents gave for our neighborhood one year.

The cute blonde costumed as the 'not yet ripe' green pumpkin in the second row is my lil' sis.  I'm the terribly uncomfortable giant pumpkin on the left.  My parents made the costumes for us. It is a miracle I still love pumpkins.  That stem hood was miserable!

Back to quilting. 

I finished block #12 yesterday and briefly posted the instructions for the two half blocks.  I pieced all my blocks together and made the flying geese for the borders. I really like the way the setting frames the blocks.  But now I can put two whole blocks in, one at the top and one at the bottom of the middle rows and they will float in the outer border.  So back to the drawing board and the instructions for the half blocks went back in to drafts. 

I will make it available again for anyone wanting to set it this way or use Doreen's scrappy setting. 

I just didn't want to confuse anyone further until I have all the details worked out.

Needless to say, I will be using my seam ripper today more than my machine. 

And I will not be sewing all next week.

So you have plenty of time to catch up before I post the last patterns and settings.

And yes, now there will be 13 blocks in my quilt. 

I will post some easier patterns for additional blocks for those not wanting to make some of my more challenging blocks, hopefully before leaving.

Thanks for your patience!