Well, Hello Again

 

First of all, allow me to introduce Clementine. I met her one day when I was shopping and insisted she come home to live here at Muddle Manor. I think she will fit right in with us. (Maybe not Buddy. He is not at all impressed with her.)

 

 

Somehow, he doesn't look as if his intentions are all good.

 

 

Our son took this one home with him last week.

 

 

And our darling daughter in law took this one home for herself.  They had come over delivering some Mexican food for us all to share for lunch. Big happiness all around!

 

 

We still have lots of brilliant flowers in the back yard, but only because I do a lot of watering out there. The heat has been especially brutal this Summer, and we have had very little rain.

 

And would you look at this little guy! He was tiny. You just never know what you'll see if you go outside and look around at night!

 

 

I am working on this one for a friend and neighbor of ours. She and her husband are decorating their house in earth tones and that is what they wanted for their bedroom quilt. I was not very excited about that until I started pulling fabrics and cutting and putting them up on the design wall. Now, I really am liking it! Long way to go though. It is to be a queen size. That should keep me out of trouble for a while!

 

Now for the serious stuff.  My darling husband, Mr. Muddling has received a diagnosis that has hit us pretty hard. That is why I have been absent even longer than usual. We are working through things and believing our God to turn things around for our good. He is able!

 

I hope all is well in your world and that you are finding things that bring you joy!

 

Hugs and kisses and lots of love,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               

 

 

 

Here in the Land of Muddle

Lots of pretty flowers, tomatoes and cucumbers on the way, and if you look at the lower left photo, you will see that once again this year we have "Hairy Cluster Vines" cavorting among the cucumber vines. That name makes me laugh every time I say it. 

"hairy cluster vine"

My friend Kathleen sent me seeds of her moonflower vines and today one of the beautiful flowers opened!

Looking into the yard behind us last week, I spent way too much time trying to figure out how that bird was balancing on the tree. Eventually I figured out it is not a bird, it is a broken off branch.

On the design wall is my version of Bonnie Hunter's Blue Ridge Beauty from her book, Adventures with Leaders and Enders. I have always loved her creativity in using all the pieces! This one is one very simple block that is turned different directions to create the pattern. Hopefully I can get this one quilted soon.

Wishing for you the very best from our very generous God! He is always so good.

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine

 

Springtime in Muddle Land

 

Of course, we start with a quilt. I had just finished this flannel half hexie quilt when our son came over for a visit. He seemed to feel that it was just the thing he needed, so he took it home with him! I love that picture with the guitar and the quilt together. He is quite a talented guitarist.

 

 

SO many pretty things to see out in our back yard, and after a very long dry spell we are getting some nice rain today. So refreshing for the plants, and for us, too.

 

 

Julie at MyThreadBear life had such an interesting and inspiring post  (as she always does) about some egg pockets she had made. I followed the link on her blog to an Instagram post showing instructions, and decided I needed to make some! 

Mine are in a totally different direction from hers, but I like them a lot. I used 1930's reproduction fabrics that look so very happy. These little happy pockets will be going to some friends of mine tomorrow. As you may be able to figure out from the pics above, each little egg pocket holds an Easter hanging decoration (thank you, Amazon), a small rolled up napkin and a chocolate bunny or two. I am very pleased how they turned out. 

 

 

As you can see, there are a few chocolate bunnies hiding in the lower part of the blue glass egg on the dining room table. Just in case of emergency, you know.

 

I was so pleased to hear President Trump unashamedly call Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. He is mine, too!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

Making Things Work

 

Hi, there! I thought it was time to drop back in and show what I've been doing since my last posting.

 

I had some snowball blocks my friend Deb sent me, so I alternated them with 16 patch blocks to make a quilt top for the USO Lounge at our local airport. I gave the sixteen patches some extra movement by adding some half square triangles from a quilt I had made earlier to the upper right corner of most of them.

 

Here it is on the quilting machine and down to the last two rows. Suddenly there was a terrible noise. I shut the machine off and put it in time out. I think Mr. Muddling and I can get it back in working order again, I just haven't quite worked myself up to doing it yet. But. I will!

 

 

My friend Sandy needed another project to work on for the USO, so I put these blocks and strips up on the design wall for her to see, and she liked it. We took them all down and she took them home to complete. I think these fabrics all came from Deb, too!!! I have some really good friends!

 

Some of these rail fence blocks were leftover from the Hard Crackers quilt I showed in my last post. And a lot more I made and added to the mix. I plan to get these blocks sewn together later tonight.

 

 

Isn't this a gorgeous amaryllis? I cut it a couple of days ago, and there is another stalk from the same bulb about to burst into bloom now!

 

Behind the beautiful flowers are eight little pans ready to be filled with batter to make Everyday Fruitcake. It is made with dried fruit and not the syrupy sweet glazed fruit in regular fruitcake.  I took some of those completed little loaves to our ladies prayer group on Tuesday morning to share with my sweet friends.

 

 

The irises and roses are showing off in Ruthie's Garden and proving that Spring is truly here! (Don't look at all the weeds. I know it's bad. I'll get them cleaned out soon!)

 

Sorry, I don't have a fresh picture of my darling Buddy. He's been so busy all I have are blurry videos! Constant motion. But I do love him!

 

I hope you have lots of things in your world to give you joy. It is important, don't you think?

 

Enjoy your weekend and try to have lots of fun!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I Was Absent

 

I made three small quilts. This one, "Bethlehem is about 18 by 18 inches. It will live here and be displayed during the Christmas season. I saw it online and had to have it. 

 

This very colorful little cat is about the same size. It has gone to live with our friend Cass in upper New York state. She loves it!

 

 

This one is a bit larger and lives here as a utility quilt. It is made of 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch pieces sewn together to make 2 1/2 inch squares. I had a bag of that size and used them!

 

 

I said in this post that I wanted to enlarge a small quilt I had seen in The Big Book of Civil War Quilts. Well, I did! I figured out what I needed to make it a full size quilt.

 

 

Hard Crackers, biggie sized, is now hanging in our hallway.

 

 

And Miss Lady who was a Christmas gift from me to Mr. Muddling in 2012 has moved off and left us. I really hope it is true that all dogs go to heaven, because there are a lot of them I've love to see again. Lady loved Mr. Muddling and followed him everywhere she could. She was always such a good girl. We miss her. My husband especially has a big hole in his life right now. Good thing Buddy keeps him just aggravated enough to ease that pain!

 

 

Yes, this is my life. Flowers, chickens and Buddy and his toys! And of course, my darling Mr. Muddling! I love it all. The picture on the top left is a lantana plant I grew from seed sent me by my friend Deb. Thank you, Deb!!!

 

I hope all is well and happy in your world. As a neighbor of ours, long ago deceased used to say, "It's a great life if you don't weaken." He was a character! And a lot of life is just about as good as you decide it will be. 

 

Love and hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Us Do A Little Catch Up

 

This little darling boy, Buddy, is taking up a LOT of my time. Think 2 year old boy child into everything and everything goes to his mouth and you have a pretty clear picture of life with this new addition to Muddle Land! But I do so love him. And it's a good thing for him that I do!

 

I know that we are near the last of this year's gardening season, but it is just so beautiful right now you'd never think it will all be gone soon. So, I will enjoy it now!

Those are mustard greens in the upper right. I grow them for the chickens. They love them, and so do I! Mr. Muddling? - not at all. 

 

 

 

I recently finished this one for a lady at our church who suffered a major stroke.  She told me this bright yellow is her favorite color. I backed it with a soft flannel. I truly hope this bright colorful quilt will bring her joy and healing. 

 

 

I was intrigued with this small quilt I saw in Martingale's (Oh, how I miss them!) 

Big Book of Civil War Quilts. This one is a small quilt design by Carol Hopkins. It is called Hard Crackers! I love it. I'm going to try making a lap size quilt by making these blocks larger. We'll see how that goes.

 

 

In the meantime I've been working on this framed four patch + nine patch. 

 

 

This is my friend Terri, whose favorite color is purple. She looks happy with her new quilt, doesn't she!

What a sweet person she is.

 

I think this brings us up to speed together. I'm sorry I let myself get so far behind sometimes. I am really impressed with people like Wanda who blog every day. 

 

Until next time, I wish you the very best. I pray you are well and happy and that you are finding lots to do to help yourself and others!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally Fall

 

 

I have been more than ready for some cooler weather and it has finally arrived, along with some much needed rain! This Summer has seemed to me even more brutal than others. I have found it a challenge to make myself do things that need doing. But at last we have a break from the heat and the scorched earth, and for that I am very thankful! 

 

   

And here is the little guy who has been keeping me busy! The first four photos were taken in July. The bottom two this month. On the bottom left, you can see he is so proud of the banana leaf he brought in from the back yard! (And he is in Lady's bed!) Bottom right is in his crate with the new mattress cover/quilt I made just for him.

 

 

As you can see in these photos, it is really red, not pink as it looked in the other picture! I spent a LOT of time doodling with the quilt machine to make this crate mattress cover for young Buddy. I wanted to make something a bit more difficult for him to destroy. So far, so good!  

 

 

I made this one for a lady whose husband attends our church. I've never met her, but I was pretty sure she needed a quilt. It is colorful and happy.

 

 

This is the backing fabric by Tina Givens. Definitely a playful, happy quilt!

 

 

 

My friend Kathleen recently sent this beautiful stitchery she made. I immediately framed it, and now it sits right on my cutting board amid other treasures (including snacks)!

 

I hope it's happy where you are and that you having lots of fun. I am working on a tumbler quilt for a friend now. More on that later! Isn't it fun to have lots of fun projects to keep busy? I love it!

 

Hugs and kisses and love,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jungle Jubilee

 

I have a friend, Peggy, who is such a sweet lady. I just love her, and I decided to make a quilt for her. I know, big surprise! I asked her what was her favorite color in the whole wide world, and she said, "BLUE - all shades of blue".

 

 

I ordered some Kaffe Fassett fabric, and I knew I wanted to focus on that gorgeous banana tree print. 

 

Then I added some of the other KF fabrics, in blues of course. And then I thought of how much I also love the Tilda fabrics, especially the Jubilee line. There is so much to see and discover in each of them.

 

 

The Wallflower in blue and also the Sunday Brunch in blue had to be included.

 

 

I really love this quilt. And the royal blue flannel for a backing just finished it perfectly.

There are so many elements in this quilt that shouldn't maybe be together. I don't care. They are all playing together and having such a good time that I am sure she will enjoy it herself and have fun finding things to see with her grandchildren!

 

 

Meanwhile, here at Muddle Manor young Buddy number two is still wreaking havoc, playing 24-7 (with short times off for naps) and generally being a frustrating and adorable bundle of puppyhood. I love him. (The other inhabitants of the manor - not so much.) 

 

 

From a recent daily page of my Mary Engelbreit calendar. 

 

Life is such a mix of good, bad, terrible, wonderful, exciting, boring, inspirational and depressing. It's sort of up to each one of us to choose upon which we focus!

 

Hope you are having an absolutely terrific time in your spot on the earth!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Another One for the USO Lounge

 

But first, take a look at this gorgeous, brilliantly colored plumeria!  Isn't it beautiful! My next door neighbor gave it to me a couple of years ago, but this is the first time it has flowered. I am so excited to see it! 

 

Don't you love this backing fabric for my newest quilt for the USO Lounge at our Houston airport! From my friend Deb.

 

 

And here is the front. Very simple rail fence with a couple of nine patches in the middle. Fun quilt to make!

 

 

I read a really interesting article the other day in which a woman who is a food scientist made the case that a lot of the health decline in our country is directly traceable to the commercial milling of wheat grains starting in the 1920's. Freshly milled wheat grain spoils rather quickly because of the wheat bran and wheat germ which are both somewhat fatty, and therefore will spoil or go rancid relatively quickly. Commercial mills discovered they could profitably sell ground white flour that would not spoil IF they removed the bran and wheat germ first before milling or grinding the wheat berries into flour.  Of course this also removed the majority of the real food value from the bread made with that wheat!

 

 

So, I bought a grain mill, the one she recommended, and it worked perfectly, quickly and quietly!

I had ordered five pounds of the hard red wheat berries and I ground up all of that last night. This morning I got up early (Yes, this is a miracle!) and mixed and kneaded and waited for that to rise, cut it into three, formed into loaves and put in pans and waited for that to rise. Baked and deliciousness was enjoyed!! I also made some pimiento cheese which Mr. Muddling and I slathered on a couple of pieces of the bread. Heaven! 

I was really impressed with how easy it was. Needless to say, I've ordered more wheat berries!!!

 

It's always good to learn something new, and to go back and renew your mind to things you once enjoyed. I am so happy it turned out so well! 

 

I hope you are growing in the things you know and learning new ones! It's always good to learn and to do!

 

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine 

 

 

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