Meanderings along Lizard Creek

excuse the mess

2012-01-03T15:03:00.002-06:00

working on redesigning my blog--so excuse the messyness!!

Just checking....

2011-12-29T14:41:00.002-06:00

It's been a few years since I posted here--but let's see if I can remember....ok after resizing it works great!!

May 26-2009 Josh's Graduation!!

2009-07-17T15:24:00.004-05:00

Yep--it's been 13 years since I sent my little boy with a broken arm to his first day of Kindergarten at Rock Valley Christian School--and now look at him--he's taller than his Dad!!

And what a handsome man he has turned out to be!!

Ashely and Tyler made it to Western for the ceremony in the nick of time--but from Sioux Falls to Hull can take longer than you think!! Especially if you get a flat tire on the way!!

One of those days....

2009-07-17T15:18:00.002-05:00

Ever just have one of those days?!?!?! Yeah just had the carpets cleaned and everything!! Nothing to do but clean it up and move on!!!

Ashley's exciting news....

2009-04-14T21:45:00.007-05:00

Now for some exciting and current news!!! Ashley has told me that she thinks that she doesn't exist in this family anymore because I never put her on my blog!! I tell her that's because she doesn't live here and I don't get any pictures of her. So for those of you wondering--she is a full-time 3rd year college student majoring in Interior Design, working a 40 hour week at Perkins and another part time job--plus try to have a social life. Apparently she inherited her father's love of work. We are proud of her that she is setting goals and working hard to attain them--and just generally in life.

So she has been dating Tyler since right after high school--they fit each other nicely--she can be wound as tight as a rubber band--and he can just chill really easy like--so they should make a nice fit!!!..plus he is quite the romantic...had this whole thing planned nice for the proposal. There is a gravel pit nearby that they always go riding 4-wheelers and he had one of their friends hiding in a trench under a tree right where she could photograph the whole thing!!! He pretended that his quad broke down and Ashley had to go get help--when she rounded the corner she read the words spray painted on the sand pile. So neat--and Abbie got it all on film for them.

These are just a few of the 400 pictures that she took--I would say that you could actually make a movie with them all. They are thinking about sometime next spring after Ashley graduates from college. Welcome to the family Ty!! Love you guys lots!!!

"Someone has once defined love as "friendship that has caught fire."" --Bill Hybels

"This is my lover, this is my friend." Song of Songs 5 : 16

Soft and Sweet

2009-04-12T16:56:00.005-05:00

Wow is High Speed Internet fun--all these post in just a couple hours!!! I think I will try keep it a little more updated now--didn't know it would be this much faster than dial-up!!

Anyway this is another sweet little quilt...

I put an allover "Curly Q" in the center and a custom job on the borderswith a double soft wave, hooked feathers, and ribbon piano keys. Was fun to come up with designs to compliment the softness of the fabrics in this quilt. The colors are a little closer to the photo below.

More stuff to store...

2009-04-12T16:49:00.003-05:00

...when you have children you should think about the stuff that they will accumulate before they decide to venture out into the world and live life on their own. Josh took WoodsII this fall and this was his final project. While I agree it is a great versatile piece--it still has to be stored somewhere. This is something that is is his room now though--except for one piece that works well as an end table by the couch.

He did a great job on this and can't wait to have his own place someday so that he can use it!!

Happy Love Day!!

2009-04-12T16:44:00.003-05:00

This was a fun customer quilt I worked on in February!! The block pattern is called Bear's Paw--and the coloring and position of the chocolate brown squares looked like candy chocolates in a box--so I called it "Paws Off My Chocolates" while I was quilting it. Cute little quilt!!!

Relax, Refresh, Retreat!!!

2009-04-12T16:01:00.004-05:00

For the last 4 years, Lois and I have treated ourselves to a 3-day get away!! The last couple years it has been at Cedar Shores Resort in Chamberlain, SD.

Nothing but sewing, laughing, and eating food somebody else made for us!!!

We come with all our projects ready to go. Set and organize our space. Plug in our machines. Then sew until our eyes get blurry or we run out of projects--whichever one comes first!!!

We each made up a crown from the pattern we bought at the Des Moines AQS show. The pattern is from http://www.detailsbydiane.com/ We actually would put it on when we woke up in the morning and not take it off until we went to bed. Got a few strange looks through the hallways in the resort--especially when we walked past the Budweiser convention--but we persisted in proclaiming that we felt like queens for the weekend!!!

THE IGLOO...

2009-04-12T15:34:00.002-05:00

This past fall--after football was finished, Josh and his friends had to find some other activity to fill their time with--they decided to build an ice shack--not just any shack--but one large enough for 7-8 people!!

So for several weeks they would meet in K & O in Hull to build this thing--they each brought scrounged items from home and pooled about $20 each for insulation and came up with a great finished product.

The first Saturday after it was finished, some of the builders pulled it out to Lake Pahoja and used it for 1 hour--with no fishing sucess--they put out the fire in the wood stove they built and went home. Sunday morning in church someone told Chad that his ice shack was a burned up pile of rubble...
...this wood stove they built--possibly the culprit?!?! When Josh and 2 other guys arrived at the scene--there was little left but the steel. He was quite upset for a while--as he never even got to use it..but there is always the possibilty of building something else with those guys.

Wishing for Spring...

2009-04-12T15:24:00.004-05:00

Just a fun little quilt with colors that make Spring feel too far away......and the back--I put a design called "Wonky Feathers" on this one--just a whimsical and fresh feel. Enjoy!!!

Man tools..in the kitchen??

2009-04-12T15:08:00.007-05:00

Over Christmas break--Josh hadn't secured an afterschool job yet--he has since started at the new Bomgaar's in Rock Valley and is totally enjoying the retail experience that he is getting.

Ok--back to the subject Terri. I was busy in the studio and Josh thought he needed Monster Cookies--don't know where that thought came from because that is one cookie that I don't think I ever made--maybe why he wanted them--so I found him the recipe--and left him to do the rest. When I came to check on him...this is what I found on the counter!!! Who would have thought about using a pocket utility knife to open your packages--certainly not me--I think a kitchen scissors is the appropriate tool for that job--but apparently not when a man is working in the kitchen.
The cookies turned out delicious and the Sunday night gang that comes over thought they were delicious!!

Dave the Deer and Josh's 18th birthday!!

2009-04-12T14:42:00.006-05:00

Well--since I was informed by several people that I haven't updated you all on my life for a while--thought I would start where I left off--and go from there...opening deer season was on Josh's 18th birthday--so before he left at 4:30 in the morning to go sit in a tree stand I told him if he got a buck we would mount the antlers for his birthday gift. He told me it was some kind of skull mounting--not really sure what it was--but the price was reasonable--so that became the plan...

...so he got his wish--only one of the 3 bucks that they saw that day--so he was pretty pumped about it all. He then brought the head to Bakker Taxidermy in Doon to get mounted and the meat to Hudson Locker to get made into jerky and pepper sticks--which he has picked up and says is delicious!!

Now fast forward to last week--when he came home with the finished mounted skull--and he decides that if he puts it up in his room where I thought it was going to go--that no one would see it--so after a "Please Mom"--it now has a place of residence in our one and only family room.

So I stood in the entrance into the room and Loren held the head up in several places until we found the corner that felt right--not really hidden--but also not right in your face.

So since I now have added dead wildlife to my decor and family--he needs a name--and Dave it is--Dave the dearly departed deer!! Josh isn't too sure about me nameing his deer--but he is greatly appreciative of the placement for him--and is already contemplateing where....the pheasant will go!!! We will have to see about that!!!

Annual Cookie and Craft Day!!

2008-12-07T14:20:00.013-06:00

When this tradition started--there was my 2 kids and my sister's 2 kids---well put a few more years into that and now there are 12 grandkids total--with 8 of them eight years old and under!!! Talk about a full house--they put the x-box in my bedroom...

...there were dolls in the laundry room--play ones..and real ones...!!

...and the rest of various assorted toys and kids in the family room...The noise level this year was considerably acceptable--several years ago, I think it broke the sound barrier!! Actually the weather was quite warm--so we tied Roxy to the pole and let them play outside for much of the afternoon.

Several different kinds of cookies and candies were made...Whoops--that picture is a little dark--and the counters are actually quite clean--imagine 5 cooks in that little space--but it sure is fun!!

Grandma had a few crafts for the little kids--and Ashley-- to do--they decorated a small paper machie tree with glitter and sequins--they did this one in the garage!! Then strung tri-beads into a candy cane shape. Have to keep the minds creative and always learning.

Notice in the first picture--Trevor was on the floor using all the beads the girls dropped!!

Then comes the craft time of the day--I usually like to keep it a secret--and my sister's are always excited to see what it will be--we have made beaded bracelet's, beaded bookmarks, a felted wool journal cover--and this year--with all the "green" hype--we made a reusable grocery tote.

I had three sewing machines set up--and the pattern pieces all cut to size already--so all Ashley and I had to do--was teach the step by step sewing. Mom and Stacy were very comfortable with the sewing process--but Janel only sews once a year!!

Everybody was intent on finishing the task at hand before the men came for supper...

..which we did--the guys are usually late anyway--some game goes into overtime--and they have to finish watching before they can come.

What a great memory making event!! There were your standard little tifs and misunderstandings--between children and adults!!--but we are all a family--with the same parents--now raising our own children to make their place in God's world.

It only took Loren and I 2 hours and the house was back to normal and you couldn't even tell that there was 25 people in our little house on the farm!! Memories only happen when you take the time to make them happen!!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13 : 34 - 35

Vintage tablecloth gifts...

2008-12-07T13:52:00.005-06:00

This summer Ashley and I were on an inspiration shopping trip--you know the kind where you don't really go out to buy anything in particular--mostly because you hadn't been out in the world for a while, so you don't even know what is in style anymore?!? So we were just browsing through Hobby Lobby--great store for inspirations--and found a book all about aprons--I had seen it in magazines--but never in person--and somehow it found the way into my cart!! There is a section on the history of aprons, section of pictures, and then a section of patterns. What a book to get the wheels turning in my mind!!!

So I have had this tablecloth hanging out in my cupboard since I bought it on a garage sale--but I didn't like to use it because it has a seam down the middle and doesn't really lay nice on the table--

...so I decided to turn it into 6 aprons!! One for each of my sisters, with one for me and Ashley!!

Next to find the perfect fabric for the ties--went looking online--as didn't have time to go to Sioux Falls--and besides--a trip to town usually means spending more money than probaly should!!! Found an online quilt shop-- http://www.desperatequilters.com/ --I have done some quilting for her, so thought I would check out what she had--turns out there is a new fabric line out by Anna Griffen that matches these vintage colors perfectly. She was totally amazed when I showed her the tablecloth and how great of a match it was!!So being the procrastinator that I am--although actually I thought I was a few days ahead of schedule--on the Saturday before Thanksgiving--I made up these adorable aprons!!

What a hit they were at our annual day after Thanksgiving cookie and craft day!!

Farva's Pheasant Nuggets...

2008-11-27T17:35:00.006-06:00

So what is a Mom to do with a son and friends who love to hunt--I can't just let them shoot things just for the fun of it--so I guess I will have to cook the game for them. I remember hearing stories of my Uncle John riding with his gun in the combine and bringing home the birds for supper--and have a vivid picture in my mind of a dead bird laying in our front porch--I don't remember eating it--but I was a VERY picky eater as a child--but I digress from my story.

When Josh started to hunt, I told myself that I would learn to COOK the birds for him--I didn't say eat--but I will cook anything he brings home for me--as long as he cleans them and all I have to do is cook it for them to eat.

This weekend his buddies and him had an awesome day of hunting and brought home their limit of birds--so a feast was to be held on Sunday night after church. One cool thing about their hunt is that Josh's free dog is turning out to be a good hunter--and not just all the moles that she kills for me--but points out pheasants for the boys--not bad for a freebie dog!! Now if we could just get her to stop jumping!!

Here is the finished product of all their hard work!!!

Golden brown, delicious--they tell me--pheasant nuggets!!!

...and just like The Field of Dreams....if you cook it--They will come!!! Sometimes there might be a girl or two--but usually just a bunch of guys--eating whatever I put out for them!! Great memories and lots of fun!!

So here it is--Farva's Pheasant Nuggets

6 breasts cut up in nugget size pieces

Soak these for 3-6 hours in a mixture of:

1 cup milk

2 T vinegar

1 egg

garlic powder--to taste

Drain meat and discard marinade. Then shake nuggets in a mixture of:

1 cup flour

1 cup bread crumbs

1 -2 tsp dry thyme

1 tsp. baking powder

seasoned salt and Old Bay seasoning to taste

Then fry in a pan with about 1/2 inch oil. Fry each side about 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a paper towel to drain.

Serves several hungry boys!!

Enjoy!!

Magical Meandering Hooks??

2008-11-12T22:22:00.005-06:00

When Lois and I were at Des Moines we both purchased a design book by Sally Terry--Hooked on Feathers. Neat concept--make feathers without backtracking. So next up on the list in the studio was Lois' "Three's A Crowd"--and she lets me try new things on her quilts--so I did the Magical Meander concept by Suzanne Early with Hooked Feathers.

First you draw a large meander over the quilt and then come back and put the feathers off the spine--I really like doing this and it gives great texture to the piece at an allover price.Come to think of it--I made a quilt like this too--we both took a pattern testing class by Ingrid Barlow...and I put a Magical Meander on mine too.It is now on Ashley's bed in her apartment--she loves it!!

Adorable Quilt Week...

2008-11-12T22:06:00.007-06:00

So a couple weeks back--It was adorable quilt week at the Lizard Creek studio!!!! First I did the Smore's snowmen--pic on previous post.

Then this bright and sassy ladybug one...

I put meandering in the green areas and pebbleing in yellow around lady bugs. With a feather and curl vine in outer borders.

And if that isn't enough cuteness--how about this back?!?

Next up on the list...Snowmen snuggling under a quilt!!!

What acute concept--keeping snowmen warm!!! Put holly and ribbon curl in outer border. Some continuous curves in the "quilt" Outlining around the snowmen with meandering and stars in the background. Just might have to try something like this someday!!!

It's going to be hard to top this adorable week in the studio!!!

Post season play

2008-11-12T21:59:00.003-06:00

Yeah--it's been a while--and since I didn't write about winning the playoff game--I am sure that you guessed that we lost the game against Okoboji. It was a clear, crisp, cool night for a post season game and the air was optomistic--but in the end they had more touchdowns than we did--of course right now I can't remember the score.

But I know that Josh went out a couple times!! Any way--come next fall when Friday nights come around--I just might have to go to a few more Wolfpack games.

Playoff bound!

2008-10-27T20:11:00.001-05:00

So--the playoff game will be 7pm, Wednesday night, at Okoboji. Josh says that they are an evenly balanced team--but pray that we give them a good game. And may the best team win.

Too cute!!!

2008-10-27T20:01:00.005-05:00

Just finished quilting this adorable "Smore's" quilt. Apparently this is a new colorway for Christmas. I have seen pink and purple snowmen last year too. Just had to share the cute fabrics!!!

The snowman needs a face yet--but so cute. I put a windy type swirl meander on this one.

Enjoy!!!

Last game of regular season...

2008-10-24T22:36:00.009-05:00

Here I am, sitting up waiting for Josh to come home, writing my final Friday night football update. The night started out full of anticipation. We are facing our fellow school rival--Unity Christian. They have already secured a playoff spot with home field advantage--but they are meeting us on our homefield for the last game of the season, and they had better come ready.

To begin the night's activities the Senior players and their parents were recognized. 15 boys who put their heart and soul into learning the game. And the parents who put up with the sweaty, smelly and dirty clothes that came home with the players!! But it was all worth it!!! What a growing experience this has been. Make a goal. Practice hard. Persevere. Move forward. Hold your head up high!!!The team verse for the year--Matthew 23 : 12--"For whoever exhalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exhalted." Learning to not think of yourself and your desires but to put others in front of yourself for the betterment of everyone. What better way to learn about having a servant heart--than being part of a football team.

On to the game--the boys--and the fans came ready to play. The night air was cold and crisp with the hints of moisture that was to come in the second half. After 2 quarters of intense play, Unity was up by 6. We stayed right in the game keeping them to many 3 and outs!! Our defense really stepped up and played their game.

We had several times in the 10 and goal but just couldn't connect on another touchdown. After a very hard fought and well played game Unity came out on top 26 to 6.

There has been some reorganization in how many teams make the playoffs--and there is a possiblity that we might make it--more on that when I find out!!!

As a parent, I like the fact that we play a fellow Christian school for the final game of the season. We are each playing for our school--but ultimately for the same Lord. What a blessing and privilege it was to see the all the boys and coaches take a knee at center field and give the glory to the Lord.

And if that wasn't enough for a football mom--the Senior boys had yet to do the tradition full field walk. They start under the goal posts and walk the entire field holding hands. The last time on the home field as a Wolfpack football team. The last time in the home bleachers as a Wolfpack player parent. It has been a terrific ride and I am going to miss it!!! Now these boy's job is to learn how to apply these skills of goal setting and perseverance to life!! Walk tall and hold your heads high--you have earned it and we are proud of you!!!

"Whatever you do, work at is with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord you are serving. Colossians 3 : 23,24

COLD Friday night football

2008-10-19T15:51:00.005-05:00

So you know the cold is coming...at least it waited until our second to last game of the season. I was over prepared with clothing to take along--as it acutally wasn't as cold sitting at the game as it felt on our yard.

Well tonight the team came out ready to play some football!!! We were the visiting team to Sioux Center. They have a new coach, and a worse record than ours--but are improving.

It was an exciting evening with some big plays on both sides--but we came out on the winning side of the score board.!!!!

So next week we meet Unity at home--that should be interesting--and after that--we will have to see what happens next week!!!

Wow--was this a football game???

2008-10-19T15:37:00.003-05:00

...because if it was--apparently our players didn't know that was why I came home from Des Moines at 1am the morning of the game. We expected this to be a good competitve game. But once again--we didn't have a regular day of school today. It was our service day--where each small group does some kind of community service project. And when they are finished, the day is over--so of course no one is on the normal school routine schedule. But still not an excuse--just the way it is. We got beat in every sense of the word. 35 to 0!!! and to the Nighthawks!!
Too bad for Mom and Stacy--Josh didn't even get on the field!! No points scored--so the extra point team wasn't needed!!

Quilt Overload...Des Moines 2008

2008-10-19T11:37:00.011-05:00

Ok---so life has been on a total whirlwind since returning from Des Moines--so I will tell a little about the quilt show first. I picked up Lois at 7am on Wednesday and we drove right to the HyVee convention center. It actually is a very easy drive--all 4 lane roads after LeMars.

Entering through the archway into a mass of vendors--was just a little overwhelming--and with so much to see--it was tough trying to decide what "needed" to come home with me!!! I purchased mostly products for Lizard Creek Quilting--some new rulers, a few pattern books, and lots of new threads. I actually used something from all three things already!! Will post something with the Glitter thread soon.

It took us all of the first day to get through 3/4 of the vendors. In the evening of the first day we took a small piecing class using a new ruler to make flying geese. Worked really slick--with no fabric waste.I felt the hardest part of the class was using a sewing machine that you are not used to operating. I had a few issues with it--but I am sure it was just operator error. We even found our motel with no problem in the dark--and no mapquest directions!!

Up and out early on Thursday morning after a really nice continental breakfast. We dropped some change at the rest of the vendors--I think it must be easier to spend money the second day!!! Then off to look at all the quilts. There were some amazing designs. I bought the book for this technique--and added another thing to my 'want to do someday" list.

I of course was looking at all the actual quilting--and have definitly set some new goals for myself...to always try the hardest thing that I can do. And then do it well!!! And to always look past the piecing design--to find where the quilting can be and then make it sing.

OH yeah--the other thing is--when at a national quilt show--to set the resolution on the camera to the highest setting so that you can study the quilts better when you get home. I forgot--and took all my pictures on low resolution--so when I try to zoom in all I get is pixels and not the quilting lines I wanted to see!! Live and learn for next time!!!

We ended the evening by going to a lecture with Elanor Burns. What a hoot she is--just as down to earth as her show is. Most of her lecture is a show and tell that the audience brings up on stage with her and she just kinda ad libs about each quilt. Usually something funny. Turns out that her and Lois have the same birthday.

All in all it was a great time, reconnecting with a friend, energizing some creativity, and challenging myself to improve on my skills.

October Harvest Time

2008-10-05T15:41:00.011-05:00

So hasn't this past week of weather been just absolutely gorgeous??? This is the reason I love where I live!! I LOVE the change of seasons. I don't know if I could live someplace where the weather never changes, the extreme changes I sometimes don't appreciate--but the anticipation of what each new season will bring is always exciting to me.

We haven't even had a killing frost yet--so some of the plants that like cooler weather are thriving again, and the ones that didn't make the summer where replaced with the never dying variety from Loopy's!!

We finished the bean harvest yesterday--and even early enough that the loads could be hauled to town. So all our crop is safely in storage!! This is the new to us wagon that Loren and Leon bought this summer. Loren was hauling honey this week so Dad had to do all the bean hauling and wagon moving--and he kept up with Leon extremely well. He went to bed exhausted--but up every day and always coming to the studio to tell me--"Isn't it a great day to be alive?!?"

We have only had a couple of these yet this year, most of them real close by so not a problem. Only once did Dad have the wheel come off and go rolling down the road in front of him down the hill on the way to Doon!! We have to pick up a few new rims in Sioux Falls when we sell hogs tomorrow!! Just in case.

I have been busy with hog work this week--one 3:30AM to load 2 semi's and another couple times to help Loren. Else the quilting has been picking up steam again!! Here are pics of some that I did this week.

This one was made by my Mom's oldest sister for her Granddaughter's wedding--so I thought it needed a little something more heirloom than just an allover design. And boy did Glenda love it when she came to pick it up!!

Next is a 9-patch pizzaz from Ginny. The design was made to look like the fields of Iowa to her when she was on several trips in the air this summer. So we chose an allover design of random contempory baptist fans combined with some row type lines to resemble all the differnent land and field types.

It was an appropriate quilt to work on yesterday--with the window open in the studio, listening to the combine in the field behind the grove, smelling the diesel of the tractor as it pulled the wagons over the yard, and just the wonderful weather of the day!!
Sometimes it is just a really good week--and don't we all wish we had the life of a dog on those weeks...

...the life of laying in the shade of a tree, with the leaves falling all around, watching your people scurry around doing their things, and just watching them.

Any ways, that has been my life this week. And it was good!!

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. " Psalm 24 : 1

It was our turn tonight...

2008-10-03T22:38:00.004-05:00

...to play Central Lion...all teams in the district must take their turn in playing the Lions. So far this year none of them have come away victorious.

And no matter how much game tape is watched and how much the Coach tells the boys that they are "beatable"...we came away with the same results as the rest of the Central Lion opponents this year. We lost. We scored twice--but they scored more.

Hard to get a good photo with a smaller camera and players way on other side of the field--but here we are just about to make the second score!!! Go 59!!

Looks good enough to eat...

2008-09-29T20:47:00.004-05:00

Couldn't resist picking up the pattern for this cute little cupcake!!! And it was as easy to make as it is cute to look at!!! The pattern put a flower on top--but I wanted it to look more like a bakery treat--hence the whipped cream with a cherry on top!!They were meant to be pincushions--but I made them just because I hadn't done any kind of cutesy crafting for a while!! I just put a cotton fill in the top with sand in bottom to hold them up--but they turned out so nice that I just might do a few later with all sand in for a real pincushion.Enjoy the calorie free treats!!!

Wolfpack vs. Indians...

2008-09-29T20:24:00.005-05:00

Hey--didn't we get rid of the Indian mascot name because it was disrespectful?!? I guess Spirit Lake didn't get that memo...Anyway I am writing this a little late as I was a little low on sleep this weekend--and now feel caught up enough to make some sense of what I am writing!!!

So back to Friday night's game--once again a gorgeous evening to sit in the stands!! Never even needed to put on a sweatshirt---but Josh came home with at least 20 mosquito bites--not even kidding!!

There was a delicious tailgate supper of pork chop on a stick. The bleachers were full of people. And the boys were ready to play some football. And they treated the fans to a nicely played game--even though the stands were full of people--on a 3rd and short--it was only the parents who stood and made some noise for the defense to dig in!! I guess every one else is at the game just for something to do on a Friday night.
The extra point team was on the field several times this evening--and because of a mixup in how they lined up--it took 3 tries to make 1 point!!! Good thing Adam made all three attempts!!

And after 4 quarters of play--the Wolfpack had made some school history...the first Homecoming Football win!!! and first time for 2 district wins!!! Let's keep this up!!!

Go Pack!!!!

Homecoming 2008

2008-09-29T20:10:00.006-05:00

So Ashley came home for Western's homecoming and since Josh had to be part of the Mr. Spirit at the pep rally, we decided to go to school to check it out. Well apparently school doesn't pay close attention to the time it gives for events--becauses we were there at 2:30--when they said it was going to start--and he had already done his thing!!! So we missed it.Josh and Colton were the football representatives--but one of the cross country boys was the winner. He was all dressed in a crazy get-up--and the football boys were just there as football players.
Here is the senior players being thanked by Coach Kooima for putting forth some excellent leadership skills so far in the season. After another skit with the players and some rousing cheers by the cheerleaders, the rally ended with a prayer for safety for all the players involved in the evening's game.

Looks like a Wolfpack win!!!

2008-09-19T22:55:00.005-05:00

So, the game tonight was at Sheldon--for their homecoming. Since the football program started at Western it seems as if we have been the team of choice for schools to pick for their homecoming opponent!! But tonight, schools may have to think again on that. Our team came out ready to play some football tonight. Sheldon scored first with a quick little run, but missed the extra point. Several plays later we answered with a nice little run into the end zone--but we made the extra point--could be because the line gave the kicker enough time--and held their man?!?! Anyway--the rest of the game was some hard fought defensive playing and it came down to the last 45 seconds when we stopped them at their 5 yard line!! Or at least that is what I think it was--I was so excited I could be a little off with my stats.
And that is what a pumped up football team looks like after beating one of the school's largest rival on their home field at their homecoming!!! The final tally for the game was Wolfpack 7 and Orabs 6. Way to play boys!!!

Getting a head start on Christmas

2008-09-18T09:04:00.004-05:00

This is one of my latest customer quilts--and what a neat one to get in the Holiday spirit!!!

A sharp looking Irish Chain with fussy cut various red birds in the centers. I did a nice framing design around the birds.

with the chains I put some straight lines and various curls. In the borders I put a feather and curl .
The color came out a little funny on this picture--but you can see the details nice. She chose a nice golden thread color for the quilting. This quilt is sure to start the Christmas Season off on a good start.

Look who's a Wolfpack tonight!!!

2008-09-12T22:46:00.006-05:00

Another gorgeous Friday night under the lights!! First district game and you would think that the team would come out ready to play...well a team did, but it wasn't the Wolfpack. After playing their hearts out last Friday, I guess there was nothing left for this week, because I am sure that it wasn't the same team that I have watched the last two weeks. Sibley-Ocheydan came the right week and they got their first win of the season. Let's hope that the team pulls it together soon.

There were some new "water-people" at the game tonight.

It seems that the usual little boys that have the job were at a Cadet Campout and forgot to get their replacements--so some young girls were recruited for the job. Great job Melissa--you make a cute Wolfpack!!!

Lone Star

2008-09-07T23:01:00.006-05:00

Here is a customer quilt I did recently. I have always wanted to try one of these myself, so it was fun to quilt one.
She used a product called Quilt Smart to sew the Lone Star and it kept all the diamonds in line. It quilted through with no problems. This one was a fun challenge for my brain.
This was the pillow tuck area. And now that I look through my pictures--I find no shot of the whole quilt--but trust me it was nice.

Only 30 more days until Des Moines...

2008-09-07T22:20:00.003-05:00

I can hardly wait---until Lois and I head down to a national quilt show in Des Moines!! We are taking a piecing class and going to a lecture by Eleanor Burns!!

These are my fabric choices for the class....

It probaly won't actually get finished until the retreat next January--but I am in a Civil War reproduction mood--so some of my next projects will be from that stash of fabrics.

Friday Night Sunset

2008-09-07T22:05:00.003-05:00

What a beautiful night for a football game. The day had been rainy and drizzily but by evening and the time it took to get down to Sergant Bluff, the night had become gorgeous.

The game was a well fought battle with us ahead by 4 late in the fourth quarter--but the players seemed tired from the fight and just couldn't hang on. So there is always next week!!!

Feed the Hungry...

2008-09-04T20:44:00.005-05:00

So what does it take to keep the Varsity football team from going hungry??? Five Moms and three tables of food.

Every Thursday night after practice, the cafeteria becomes a mass of sweaty teenage boys, hungry for some Mom-cooked food and we delivered it tonight.

The quanity of food that these famished young men can put away is astonishing...so here is the rundown of the menu tonight.

10 dozen grilled pork loin buns, 8--9X13 pans of Cheesy potatoes, 2 large Oreo cookie salads, 2 large Taco salads, 5 cookie sheets of bars, 6 gallons of white milk and 4 gallons of chocolate milk. And it all was consumed by 65 players and coaches in just 20 minutes!!

After finishing the two plates each of food, they all thanked us sincerely and left prepared to play hard in tomorrow night's game!!

The start of a new season....

2008-08-29T22:57:00.005-05:00

What a beautiful night for football--except for all the bugs!! The weather was gorgeous, and the tailgate supper had the most delicious brats. Then the guys came out on the field ready to show their stuff!! and at the end of 4 quarters....

We have our first win-- Wolfpack 31 and South O'Brien 0--let's see if we can keep it up for the rest of the season!!

The last first day of school....

2008-08-27T11:35:00.004-05:00

Isn't this one extremely, deliriously, completely estactic looking young man---you would think that he would be...being this is the very last time that I will make him take a "first day of school" photo!!! Yeah well...he didn't even want to start and I won't tell you what he said when he came home--only that it was not pleasant!! I just keep telling him that each day finished is one more closer to graduation--which when a senior in high school is everything!! I will save this and ask him next year at this time if he still has the same attitude. Right now there are no major life decisions to be made, and Mom always has food ready...someday this will be the day he wished he had back...but then again maybe not. We will just have to wait and see.

Great Summer Day

2008-08-17T14:52:00.008-05:00

Well, Loren came up with a brilliant plan that we should advertise with a float for the Rally in the Valley parade. It took a bit of convincing--but I went along with it. Together we came up with a plan and then he built it for me--I think he did a great job. And yes--the college futon has changed it color again!!!

We wanted to have Josh drive the Honda--but he would have no part of this parade thing!! So we had Chris and Tanner do it--Jennifer's family from Texas.

We were going to wear wooden walking sign boards with a real quilt on the front--but they were hard to walk in and really very unbecoming--in other words--ugly!! So we went with some "custom" made t-shirts instead--the back of mine read--I'm the Quilter!!

I told you--this was Loren's idea--and he was having a great time with it!!! The parade turned out to be a nice day--but no clouds--so the people were all crowed into the shaded areas on the sides of the streets--my side had more shade--and since I sometimes find it hard to do two things at the same time--walking and throwing candy--I think that I slowed down the parade some--as the float in front of us--was a block ahead of us. Oh well---that gave the people plenty of time to take down my phone number and web address, and me plenty of time to throw out buckets of candy.
We will see if this works as an advertising plan--and if not--we have paid back to others for all the candy that our kids have taken in from the parades that they went to!! Will try and post some photos that Jeremy took when I get them from him. They had a nice day too--Brendan's BB team took first place and Maren took second place in the 6 y/o pedal tractor pull.

Welcome

2008-07-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

Meander the banks of Lizard Creek with me and along the way we can share whats happening in life...come on...let's start the journey!!!