quilting: western quilt

Remember I posted my resolutions for the year, and they were all variations of finishing up projects from last year? This cowboy quilt was on the list. Whew. Check that one off. It’s lap sized, or baby quilt sized. I picked out the variety of fabrics because I liked them, and kept the colors to

painting: a goat, and a bunny

I ordered a new batch of supplies (only one new color, a pink that I don’t like as well as my old pink), and included a couple packages of birch boards to paint on. I have to gesso the boards myself, but that’s fine and they dry quick. For some reason the gesso on wood

Is summer never going to start?

Big sigh about the weather. This seems like the longest spring ever. For you too? Yesterday was a tiny bit nicer (but oh so windy), and we went out for horse photos. I love the arch of this neck, it’s a winner, especially with all the great shadows. But this photo, while I love the

Reading: A Case of Need, by Michael Crichton writing as Jeffery Hudson (1968)

I don’t know Michael Crichton’s history or a complete list of what he’s written, but I’ve read a fair share of his post-1995 work. Finding an example of one of his first books, published when he was 26, was a pleasant surprise and an exercise in comparison. I found his writing voice changed very little

doings around home

Today there was an exciting thunderstorm, with lots of wind and rain. I never counted any lightning closer than two miles. The thunder did rattle the tchotchkes on the walls, though! Here is a photo of the clouds at five in the afternoon. The other day we had a meeting with the ladies for craft

food: pickled asparagus

The local farm stand has asparagus for $1.48 a pound, so it’s time to get pickling! Last year I wasn’t at all certain my asparagus had been pickled right, so I threw it out and later picked up a flier from the county extension booth at the fair. The lady at the booth hadn’t personally

food: making crystalized flowers

There was a small article in Victoria magazine this month about a company who makes crystalized flowers to put atop wedding cakes and for special celebrations like that, and since I am tentatively planning a garden party for the little kids before the big kids are out of school, I thought I would try my

Long time no post

I don’t think I’ve been apathetic about the blog, but the routine things around here are starting to seem pretty…routine. And not that interesting. And certainly not worth sharing photos. As if I even get out the camera in the first place. So this week I’ll see if I can make the routine seem a