Posted on January 9, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
I am trying not to get too excited about snow, but I can't help myself. I love snow.
This is what we got on Tuesday morning. And on Wednesday morning we got 17 degrees. The forecast is for 3-7 inches of snow on Friday. MY fingers are crossed. I hope we get that and more.
One of my sisters (the crazy one) is in Montana for 10 days. She loves the snow too, but I bet she is enjoying it from the living room beside the fireplace. Maybe she's not that crazy, just more adventurous than we are.
HAPPY WINTER!!!
Posted on January 7, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
How about this for a SCRAP quilt? The heart blocks are totally out of scraps from other projects, and the interlocking blocks are from some great yardage I acquired from a quilter friend.
This is just the quilt top, less the border, but I thought you might like to see what we do for fun when it's too cold and windy to go out.
I AM HAPPY!!!
Posted on January 5, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
I finally put together my log cabin blocks, and sewed on the border. This is my favorite arrangement of these blocks. There are 16 log cabin blocks: each one has 8 light strips and 8 dark strips. There are probably hundreds of different ways to put them together. Here are a couple others for you to see, while I was still in the interviewing process.
See each individual block?
Another interesting arrangement.
Last one. The blue is a little too prominent for me. I like the dark fabrics better.
I hope you liked seeing my thinking process. Quilting is so much fun. Next time I will share the sewing part. Now that winter is here, I hope you will share some of your projects with me.
HAPPY QUILTING!!!
Posted on January 4, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
My friend gave me this box; she said when she saw it, it made her think of me. I am totally flattered.
HAPPY JANUARY!!!
Posted on January 3, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
OK, maybe I am groping for bloggery subjects, but I thought you might like to see the very cool pan we use to cook our cornbread. It only holds one-half the recipe, but it works great!! Each piece is the right size for a serving, and the edges are crispy all the way around. We love this cast iron pan; I think it came from the thrift store.
You can find the recipe for Janet's Cornbread in the recipe section. Just look under breads.
HAPPY COOKING!!!
Posted on January 2, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
It's winter, and the leaves are gone, but you still know this vine. Now the question is this: do you touch it?
I wouldn't, because it's poison ivy!!! Easy to identify, even in winter: hairy roots clinging tightly to the tree bark.
Our weather has been so nice lately, and it's tempting to get outside and do a little clean up around the yard. Just pay attention to vines, and if they are hairy like this, stay away. A bad case of dermatitis would not be a happy way to start out the new year.
HAPPY GARDENING!!!
Posted on January 1, 2025 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
This was our last sunset of 2024. Today dawned a whole new year, giving us another chance to make a fresh start.
We spent yesterday cleaning, washing, and getting ready for a new year. And today we will cook black-eyed peas and cornbread for good luck in the new year. Although if we were any more fortunate we wouldn't be able to stand ourselves.
I hope this New Year will be full of love and everything good for all of us!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Posted on December 31, 2024 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
My friend Roxanne makes these beautiful arrangements using greens and Christmas ornaments. Every year they are different, each one more fantastic than the last.
I am so glad I am on her nice list. I love these.
HAPPY END OF DECEMBER!!!
Posted on December 29, 2024 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
I noticed that some of the Bradford Pears have lots of pears on them. Yes, these are the fruits of Bradford Pears. Each one is about the size of an olive, with rough skin and a light brown color.
Here's the funny part: they are edible, but taste terrible. Sorta like crabapples, in that you CAN eat them, but probably don't want to. They won't kill you, but they don't taste good. I tasted one once, and that was enough for me.
After a frost, the fruits get soft, and the birds eat them. Then they disperse the seeds and new little trees grow everywhere. Look up the next time you're out for a walk and notice how abundant they are.
HAPPY GARDENING!!!
Posted on December 28, 2024 8:00 AM by Gerry Trout
I dug out all the leeks and replanted some of them back in October. They looked kinda sad for a while, especially with no rain. But they have perked up and are looking good.
I should probably cover them with more straw or leaves to protect them over the winter. Because I love it when they bloom in late spring. I will let you know when that happens: it is wonderful.
HAPPY WINTER GARDENING!!!