Winter Days

Old man winter has made his way to Oklahoma again. It wasn't the pretty white snows that caused alot of problems but the thick ice that coated anything and everything and in return made for quite a huge power outage. The nearby town was completely dark for days and still there are a lot of homes without power. We were lucky enough to have ours restored late this afternoon but it is still flickering and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes out again.

Of course this lil' one thought nothing of it as he had his own personal flashlight and made sure he joined in all the activities.



Riding in his PaPa's old feed truck to take care of the little bottle calves was part of his chores!



He tried to offer them some hay but they aren't quite old enough for it just yet.




Bottles with warm milk now that hits just the right spot!



Feeding the birdies is also on the list.



Off in the distance are 3 deer grazing for a little something to eat.



The trees are encased in ice and they are a pretty sight at night although sunshine would be a great sight to see. It's been a bit on the bleak side here.





The cows are staying well fed with extra grain besides the bales of hay. Inside tonight I plan to enjoy the overhead lights and hook a little on a challenge rug. I sure don't know how those pioneer women did it so long ago in their sod homes with just an oil lamp. Makes you appreciate the modern conveniences that we take for granted today! Bless all those men who have worked non-stop restoring so many of us with power and are still working to restore those that are still without.

Hope your staying safe and warm tonight and being thankful for all the many blessing we have each day.

Happy Trails....Ginger

This Is Not Good....

This isn't good and it just keeps coming. I don't even like to go outside it sounds like shotguns going off with all the trees and limbs falling.

I managed to get some more birdseed scattered as the birds are still looking for some lil' treats.





Inside a lil' one keeps busy with a tootsie pop....





Happy Trails....Ginger

ICE SKATING...YIKES!

Well the weatherman got it right this time...Ice and then we are suppose to have snow with blizzard like conditions. So far the electricity is still on but they are predicting major power outages. The grocery store yesterday was crazy....lots of folks stocking up on batteries, sandwich supplies, and of course the cookie isle was about empty wouldn't you know it!

I'm at work today and within minutes everything is coated in ice. Danny is bringing home 2 bottle fed calves from his Mom and Dad's house so they don't have to get out in the bad weather to take care of them. So two lil' calves will have a nice warm place in our barn and when Sloan comes to visit he'll get to help with the feedings. We just make a cowboy out of him yet!

Hope your staying warm and safe in your neck of the woods!

Happy Trails....Ginger

You Drive I'll Sew!

Today we spent time traveling to an auction, birthday party, and did a little bit of shopping to pick up some supplies for work. As Danny drove I sewed up the Grandma Moses embroidery block into a mini quilt....I haven't made a miniature quilt in a long time so it was nice to have something quick, simple, and prim!

Once a month the group AAPG that I belong to has a online retreat encouraging those who can to work on projects. It is such fun seeing what everyone is working on...such great stitches, needle punches, quilts, hooked rugs, and oh so much more.

I began this lil' hooked mat and finished it up all but the binding today...it measures about 10 inches square so it went really fast.



This lil' cat pinkeep was my last accomplishment tonight...It was a pattern I found in the Mercantile Gathering Magazine by Sweet Liberty Homestead. It took maybe 20 minutes from start to finish. Think I'll have to make a few more of these as it was so quick and easy.



What will tommorrow bring...a round up of sorts at Mom and Dad's. Cows and calves will be herded into the pens for separating the bigger calves from the cows and the orchestra of sorts will begin. The bull will start his snorting, cows will be bellowing, calves will be bawling and the dogs will be howling and of course the guys will be barking orders. Added to the melody will be the sloshing of muddy boots slipping and sliding....call it all sweet harmony!

Happy Trails...Ginger

Isn't It True...

I stitched this lil' block up this morning and plan to make it into a mini quilt. It was a design by A Stitch In Time. Grandma Moses couldn't have said it better.



I had some leftover scraps of material so just to keep busy might as well do up a lil' kitty doodle as well. I could be working on the dreaded taxes but then again I'd much rather be stitching. Feel free to use the doodle below...




Happy Trails...Ginger

1800's Inspiration!

Last year I went to the Dallas Quilt Show and this is one of the treasures I came home with. It's a wonderful book filled with photos of rugs made dating back to the 1800's. Lots of inspiration lies within those pages....

Here's one I started and finished in a couple of evenings...it measures 13 x 16 inches and it will be just the right size to set on the gossip bench my dad made me when Danny and I married.



Sloan and I enjoyed the day finding some more inspiration with finger painting and making playdough hotdogs...of course the conversations he carries on are the most fun. He talks so well for a 2 year old that I sure have to laugh at some of the things he comes up with! He was telling me how good a boy his cousin Jaxson is and that he's a good boy, too. Of course I had to agree. I told him I was a girl and his response was No your not a girl your a "MoMo"....silly me!

Happy Trails.....Ginger

Hooking Rugs Can Be Addictive!

There is more to life on the farm than feeding cows and donkeys! There is the afternoons spent fishing, gardening, laundry, and yes hooking...rug hooking that is!

I've been known through the years to have an addiction for things...now there not bad things just stuff like tennis! Yes, played for years 3 to 4 days a week, quilting....lets just say I have enough quilt tops for the entire family plus the neighbors, needle punch and rug hooking...okay so I bought out the entire stock of dmc floss when the local Wal-Mart stores was clearing it out....lets just say I have tubs of floss and leave it at that!

Then let's just say a gal can never have enough wool or can she....



Maria of Star Rug Company sent me this wonderful pattern and it worked up in just a couple of evenings....Harvest Angel will make a perfect gift for someone on my list!



Still trying to use up the big ol' basket of scraps I made this scrappy heart and key rug....I don't think I even made a dent in the big ol' basket of wooly worms.



This lil' red house came out of the scrap basket, too....I've been making myself bind rugs. I must admit though I get several ready before I grab the needle and thread.

Well I'm off to find my hook or needle!

Happy Trails...Ginger

On The Job Training

I've had a lil' one with me at work this afternoon and he quickly gets bored staying in an office. I must admit I do too. So we just take a lil' walk over to feed the goats.



He sure isn't scared one lil' bit. He would like to get right in the pen with them but when they are eating horns seem to go flying in every direction for food.



He would rather be outside working with the "guys" so he has talked his PaPa into helping him for a little while...who can deny a face like that?

Empty Baskets?

I'm not the only one that empties baskets around here. I've been plugging away at the scraps of wool strips and within the last couple of days I've made a few chairpads and a small rug. Still there is enough scraps to make more.



Now more importantly a special lil' guy is always on the hunt for a special toy or two and he empties the basket more than once in a day....we have to be careful because there are frogs, lizards, dinosaurs, snakes, sharks, and even an elephant or two roaming around in my house. Thanks to Aunt Jenn and Uncle JJ we are being entertained with a kazoo, whistle, and a harmonica....





Slowly the Christmas gifts have been going home with this lil' one...wonder why his Dad forgot the kazoo????




Happy Trails....Ginger