The Last Day of June

Well, first of all, I did finally get this quilt finished. Phyllis got hers finished, too, so that makes a grand total of two we have ready to send to Quilts of Compassion.

Here, you can see the binding and the backing. I like it. It's terrible how these quilts keep trying to stay here.

And here's a peek at the backyard stuff.  We have had a lot of tomatoes. I've put up a few jars of salsa and as you can see, there are lots more that need to be canned. I've given tomatoes to most of our neighbors just because they are so good fresh!

Miss Ru is not out of the woods yet, but we do see improvement. She has been one very sick little girl. Long way to go yet before she's back to her usual beautiful self, but we believe she'll get there. She is still in hospital.

I do hope there are many good things where you are. If you look, there's almost always something to bring a smile to your face. I am incredibly thankful for God's goodness to us, even in the midst of not-so-fun things.

Hugs and kisses,

Hello

I got a little package of fabric from my sister in law recently. A small piece of this chicken fabric was included Isn't it perfect? It just makes me smile,

maybe because I am continually amused by the antics of our chickens. These girls discovered a cucumber hiding under all those leaves and proceeded to have a feast of it. If they can get to it - it's theirs!

I made an impossible pie the other day. This one is coconut.  Do you remember they were all the rage years ago?  What's not to like - you just mix everything together, pour it in a pie pan and bake. Supposedly it makes its own crust, and it does sort of, but it's not much of a crust. Anyway, it's still mighty good!  Here's the recipe if you want to try it:

IMPOSSIBLE COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

4 eggs

1/2 stick butter, melted

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup self-rising flour

2 cups milk

14 oz. shredded coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla

Beat eggs thoroughly in mixer. Add melted butter, sugar, flour and milk. Beat until well blended. Stir in coconut and vanilla. Pour into two 8-inch ungreased pie pans. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool and cut.

The original recipe did not call for that much coconut, but we like a lot, and it did not hurt it one little bit! Comfort food.

This little quilt has now had borders added to make it a reasonable size and it has been quilted since this picture was taken. I just need to get the binding sewn onto it. 

I've been absent from my blog for a bit. We've had some serious health issues with Miss Ru. She's not out of the woods yet, but she is improving daily. Thank God! He is so faithful. I cannot imagine having to live my life without the love and care of the Lord.

I hope you've had lots of good times since I last heard from you. I fully expect us all to have many more!

Hugs and kisses,

The Coins Quilt is Ready to Ship!

The coins quilt is finished and ready to send off on its trip across the sea.  I am really pleased with how this one finished. It seems to me a "happy" quilt. I like quilts that make me smile, and this one does!

I used a splotchy blue fleece print for backing. The colors on this one are just so intense. The quilting is just free-hand swirls, but it's effective with all the straight lines.

I know I'm just weird sometimes, but I even like looking at the back side of the quilt top before I put it all together. I like seeing order come of all the chaos that goes into creating one like this.

Another look, just because I like it.

And also, just because I like it - this shot really made me laugh - all three black and tan dogs with their heads stuck through the bushes looking at something on the other side of the fence, probably a cat!

I did get a little sewing done on this one, too, last night. Half of the blocks have their sashings and cornerstones. Before you know it, this one will be a real quilt, too. 

Happy, happy. I picked the first ripe tomato from our garden last night. Always a very good thing!

I hope there is lots happy in your world, too!

Hugs and kisses,

Checking In

I quilted the coins quilt last night/this morning and hopefully tonight I will get it bound. It will be traveling to the UK when it is done.

And here is a look at what is going on in the world outside at Muddle Land. Do you see all those green tomatoes? We had some fried green tomatoes yesterday for lunch. And yes, they were good! If you've never tried them, you just don't know what you're missing. I am continually grateful for the beauty and the bounty right here in our own yard.

Lady works SO hard with Mr. Muddling out in the yard. You can see she had to take a break. 

Enjoy your weekend and I do hope you have a wonderful time doing what makes you happy!

Hugs and kisses,

I Have a Confession to Make

Last week I showed you what was on my design wall. I can see pretty well where this one is going, and while I like it.........

I totally abandoned it, because I had an idea. I starting pulling lots of fabric strips - 1", 1 1/2", 2", and 2 1/2" - and sewing them together. I did not use a foundation, just sewed them together.

Soon, I had lots of strips sewn into rows, which I pressed and then cut into 6 inch strip sets.

Next I sashed them with 2 1/2" blue solid.

I had a lot of help from Bruno, of course. To tell the truth, Bruno is the only one usually who is still awake while I'm doing all this sewing. He is such a faithful friend!

Now, this quilt top has totally come together. I have the batting cut and the backing ready, so soon it will grow into a real quilt. Don't you love it when things just come together like that!!!

Can you tell that Miss Ru's Dinah is NOT impressed? She thinks sewing and dogs are vastly overrated!

We've had a good bit of rain lately. I am not complaining. We have been so short of rain for a while now, I am just glad everything is getting a good soaking. The growing things are growing, including weeds unfortunately. I was out in the garden tying up tomato plants this evening. No pictures, sorry. I'll try to post some later. 

I hope you're having a wonderful week. The world, even with all its problems, is still full of wonders and delights if we look for them. I'm looking!

Hugs and kisses,

One Finished, Another Started and Exciting News

My brother in law's quilt is totally finished and on its way to him in the mail.

Don't you love this Jinny Beyer print on the back? I used this same fabric for the binding.

This is what's playing around on one of my design walls right now. I think this one will go to the Quilts of Compassion drive for tornado survivors. My plan right now (if I have a plan) is that this will be a child sized quilt. I'm just making it up as I go along. Having fun. You know.

But here's the exciting news. I got my new issue of Quiltmaker magazine in the mail today. Of course, it's exciting to see a Bonnie Hunter quilt on the cover.

But what made me scream (and startle Mr. Muddling with whom I was chatting at the time) was seeing the quilt I made for my sister. I had emailed a picture, they ask for pictures of quilts we make using their patterns, and they actually published mine.  I am so excited, and yet so humbled at the same time to be included in a magazine with so many talented quilters. Wow. 

I am so thankful that I fell into this joy of making quilts. I have so many in my head trying to get out all the time, and it is so much fun! I am grateful to have something that I enjoy doing and that I can do right here in my own home. That they so often bless people is just the icing on the cake! I know that a lot of you know exactly what I mean.

We've been having a lot of rain here. The rain barrels are full and running over, but all the growing things outside are soaking it all up. These pictures were all taken on Sunday before the rains began. 

I hope there is good and exciting news in your world, too.

Hugs and kisses,

Airplanes!

A while back I bought this Go cutter airplane die. I knew that at some point I wanted to make a quilt for my sister's husband. He's been a flying instructor and an enthusiastic pilot for a long time. My sister has also been a flyer of airplanes!  I am so impressed with them both. They even owned their own plane for a time.

Recently, this good man has gone through some health struggles, but I'm happy to say he is doing very well now!  Glory to God!

I thought he might enjoy these little airplanes flying around on the quilt I made for him.

This is just the top, it is not quilted yet, but soon. I am so glad I went ahead and bought that airplane die, even though I was not ready to use it. It has been discontinued now.

I also used the Go 6 1/2" half square triangle die for the body of the quilt, and the triangle in a square (4" finished square) die for the border. I could have planned that border a bit better, but it's still looking pretty good to me.

And these little babies are some plums that were growing in our back yard. We had plum trees very similar to these in our back yard when we were children, so these bring back many good memories.

Isn't it funny how children growing up in the same family will go in such different directions?  I'm just thankful that we still love each other!

Summer has arrived and the air conditioner is working. Again, thank God! I do hope things are happy and interesting in your world, too!

Hugs and kisses,