Sunday before the Sunday before Christmas!

Well, I'm still singing the song that doesn't end and so is Nathan.  Funny how those catchy tunes stick with you.  I heard on the radio (ok, it was John Tesh) that it happens because you don't finish listening to the song. They say if you go back and finish the whole song it will go away.  I'll have to watch Lamb Chop this week I guess.  The only problem is, it's the song that never ends.  How exactly do I hear the whole song?   LOL

My sister is here to celebrate with me this weekend, I graduated yesterday with a BSM-HR degree, who-hoo.  It was fun!  I didn't pass out or fall off the stage or do anything embarrassing.  I might have been the only grandma graduating though.  It looked that way.  My husband was sure dressed to impress- he's been buying himself good looking clothes these days.  Who knew he had that in him?  He has been shopping for himself and getting the best looking stuff.  He's on a wool kick right now and he has tweed jackets and sweaters in many colors now.  Not many years ago he'd buy clothing and I always compared his purchases to Starsky and Hutch from the 70's.    He's getting better with age!

Now I get to decide if I want to pursue an MBA.  It's tempting since I have the whole study thing down now and my study partner from the last degree has decided to do it.  I'll think about it through Christmas.  I have a few new cross stitch designs in the works and some quilt patterns underway.  The new year starts in 2 weeks.  Life just goes too fast for me.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the young victims in Connecticut on Friday.  Also the families of the heroic teachers who were killed, everyone in the school who was safe and the first responders who were traumatized.  The local community will never be the same.  Such a heartbreaking tragedy. 

Another Sunday Post

 Most of my Christmas shopping was done online.. Amazon.  You gotta love it.  I got Amazon Prime (thanks to my BFF Barb) and my shipping is all free for a year.  Really saves a lot of aggravation in lines at the store and not finding what you want.... blah, blah, blah.    I do a lot of shopping in the middle of the night, when I can't sleep and  I get up early.  It's my quiet time I share with my favorite coffee cup and a pot of coffee.  I've got the dog trained too, I take her out(all bundled in a robe), then she goes right back to bed. I always have to go out in the middle of the night with her- she's 11 pounds and there are coyotes lurking out there.  She'd be just a morsel.  Anyway, it's always good to get up early.... I love it.

I had my grandsons Nathan and Patrick spend the night with us last night and they wanted to watch some Lamb Chop shows I had on the DVR since their mother watched it growing up and sang them the ending song. 4 year old Nathan can now sing it.....it goes:

this is the song that doesn't end...

yes it goes on and on my friend....

some people started singing it not knowing what it was...

and they'll continue singing it forever just because... 

this is the song that doesn't end........

I must admit it is the song that doesn't end, as it goes on forever and ever. It's still stuck in my mind.

Anybody remember it?

New Fabrics!

Benartex showed my latest fabric called Snowfolk at the Quilt market in Houston.  It will be available for sale next spring.  Here are some of the coordinates that go with it.....

and here are a few more.....

I like the way it turned out and can't wait to get some of it to start sewing!

I am done with class finally and trying to decide if I want to go on towards an MBA.  Meanwhile I am trying to spend my time designing.

Post Election

The election is over finally!  No More Calls!  No more television ads!  It's hard to believe it was only a few months as it seemed to go on forever.  Maybe life will get back to normal now.    On to the holidays, I say!  Thanksgiving will be here two weeks from tomorrow.  It just seems so early this year.  I have not had a chance to even think about pies or pumpkin roll but I guess I better do it soon. 

Anybody have a favorite recipe to share?

I have one last class and it's a biggie!  I have a big presentation to do and I'm done.  It has been fun and I really enjoyed it and this late stage in my life, although sometimes I think it actually shortened my life!  These college kids just don't know how good they have it compared to the 70's!

My 5 year old granddaughter broke her ar last week and had to have surgery.  The surgeon talked to her  before surgery to break the ice with her.  He asked her if she smoke or drank?  Without missing a beat, she said, well, I don't smoke but I drink!  It was so funny!  Her expression was priceless! Kids say the darndest things!

Thursday Midweek & Website Updates

      The television reports of hurricane Sandy are just terrible.  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the east,  My BFF Barb in Connecticut lost power and phone for a couple days but otherwise came out OK.
     I missed quilt market last weekend and I know my friends at Benartex (along with all of the other companies in new York City) can not get back to work yet due to the airport/ subway/ flooding issues.  I'm not even sure they were able to escape Houston yet.   My thoughts are especially with them this week.
     It's beautiful autumn weather here and just makes me want to be outside doing something.  It will be snowing before we know it and I hate to waste these kinds of days.  On the other hand, my allergies are suffering today from my outdoor exposure yesterday.  So, go outside today, sneeze and blow tomorrow, or stay in and just watch it all?  Tough choices.
     Yesterday, I went up to the Amish community to see my friend Anna.  Anna's husband passed away a few weeks ago and I wanted to spend some time with her but since she has no phone, it's kind of hard to get word to her when I'm coming.  I took DIL Kristi and my two grandsons, Nathan and Patrick.  Unfortunately Anna was traveling for the week and we didn't get to see her but we did some fun shopping at a few of the Amish stores. 
     The Amish stores are great- no overhead so the prices are just unreal. Here's an example: I got three stainless mini loaf pans for $2 each, just to make cranberry bread and cinnamon bread for the holidays.  It makes a nice gift- just wrap it in clear plastic wrap and tie a plaid bow around it.  Beautiful as a hostess gift for those parties you attend!
     They have Crayola brand 24 crayolas for $1, coloring books for $1.  I got two more stainless kitchen knives for $2.30 each.  I've had others from there for years and never sharpened them.  They have such fun things to look at too.  The sell thread but only Amish colors- no reds, pinks, etc.  They sell fabrics but only solid colors- but every shade imaginable of those solid colors....  very pretty!
I didn't take the camera but the fields are in shocks now..... here's a picture from the web.

     As they cut the corn stalks, they stack them for drying in rows and it's looks so neat in the fields.  They also do that with oats which are noticeably shorter in the fields.  Fall is such a beautiful time to drive through the Amish community.
     I updated the website at www.prairiegrovepeddler.com and added fabric selections from the Cat line on the Home page http://prairiegrovepeddler.com/Other.html   I have a small amount of the fabric to sell  and added a few more things.  I am just about out of the fall and winter fabrics now.  What is left is on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/prairiegrovepeddler
I will add some quilts and runners for sale later this week.

Sundays Are For Winners!

 It's a beautiful Sunday in mid-Missouri and I almost feel guilty for such a nice day.  We had a good frost on the pumpkins this morning but the tomatoes are still alive and may last a little longer.  My counter is full of ripe, orange and green tomatoes- looks like a great week for more salsa.  I have been making a lot of salsa lately, mostly bean salsa and seafood salsa.  

My heart is heavy for those on the east coast, especially my BFF Barb in Connecticut.  She has all of her outside stuff packed away safely and they are well stocked on essentials already, anticipating the power outage.  I hope the storm downgrades soon and doesn't cause as much damage as they predict.   

I decided not to go to Quilt market at all this time with so much school work in front of me so here I am, at home on my anniversary for the first time in 18 years.  Imagine that!  I always joke that it is the reason we've been married so long- 34 years!
Quilt market was this weekend and I must say I am thinking about it, wondering about all of the new goodies being shown down there, including my latest fabric line.  I'm also wondering about everyone trying to go home tomorrow evening and Tuesday during the east coast storm.   

I will miss the restaurants in Houston this time!  The recipe above is one of my favorites at Goode Co. Seafood off Kirby!  Here's a great recipe- 

Seafood Salsa (like the Campechana at Goode Co. Seafood in Houston)

1/3cup olive oil
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chile sauce
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup Clamato juice 
 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add:
1/2 cup tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1/4 cup white onion, diced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped jalepeno pepper
1/4 cup green olives, chopped
1/2 pound shrimp, boiled, peeled and chopped
1/2 pound crab meat, chopped


Mix sauce ingredients well and set aside.
Mix vegetables and combine with sauce mixture. Delicately fold in the seafood mix.
There are more yummy recipes on my Pinterest page titled Yummy Stuff!  

Well, we had so many entries this past week that I decided to pick two winners for the fabric bundles.  It's my fabric, after all!  Winners are:

Diane in NH  and Mona in CO

Congratulations ladies!  I'll be sending you bundles this week.

A Day Late & a Dollar Short...

"A day late and a dollar short" - That's how my wise old dad used to always say it anyway, seems like I am behind no matter what I spend my time on.  I think it's the custom of the times as there's just so much to do and I for one spend a lot of time on my computer.  Wasting time?  nah!  Surely email is not a waste of time, is it?

I've been up for two and a half hours and I'm still reading emails.  I tend to "piddle" as my dad would say.  No, that's not what you think- piddle means to waste time doing insignificant things.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary says it is  to dawdle or putter.  OK, it also lists the "other" meaning but that's not how I wasted my time this morning.  Another dictionary said it is to spend time aimlessly or "diddle"-  that's it!  I guess I aimlessly diddle my way through the computer at times.

There's just so much to do these days, first you check you personal email.  You never know who might send you one after all.  Then, there's the business email.  You know, the one where those orders come from.  Pretty important stuff.  Answering the ones that need it is another time issue.

Then there's Facebook.  You have to run down through Facebook to see everyone's pictures that they posted since you looked the last time.  It's a weekend and there's always parties and grand kids to check out.  You can spend a lot of time on there.  After that, it's Pinterest- you never know what recipe has been added and you might miss it if you don't keep up.  And Blogs- I seldom get time anymore but they are ready and waiting for me when I can read them.  Twitter is a whole other issue.  Who has time for it all?

I keep little notes laying on my desk of things to check out next time I'm logged on.  My desk is full of them.  All day long, oh yes, I need to search "that" the next time I'm on.  You can search anything you need these days, including the correct definition of piddle. 

I usually have my shopping list on my desk also and when I get those coupons- and I always get them- I am ready for a quick purchase.  After all, someone has to keep the economy going, right?  Anybody shop Staples?  They just sent, by email,  a $20 off a $50 purchase.  You can't pass that one up!  Penney's used to have great coupons but they have failed recently in my book.  See below.

I need to find a way to reduce my computer piddle or diddle time and get more done. The internet is great but it's suppose to save us time.  The time I save is in turn spent on the internet.  Somehow that just doesn't work out in my favor.  Anybody else?

On to better things- we have a winner this week (week 2 of fall fabric bundles) and it's

 Trish from Canada!  

Congratulations Trish- you are the winner!  I'll be emailing you about sending it so you hopefully don't have to pay a tax on it.

Next week:  the final FALL FABRIC BUNDLE

 A half yard cut of each of these fall leaves fabrics...

1.  Email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by Saturday Oct 27 midnight.
2.  Put "FINAL FALL" in the subject line
3.  Include your name and mailing address in the body.

As for J C Penney's... I always loved Penney's.  I was the best customer it had but lately- it is horrible.  I went there last week to shop and they have rearranged the store, again.  The bath and bed department is missing half of its stock.  There were 2 checkout stations per floor.  These are HUGE floors.  One was for the entire home section and the other was for the entire clothes, kids, lingerie and shoes.  The only good thing was that no one was in the store so there was no wait.  I guess others are confused by it all also. 
When I finally found the house shoes on a different floor, they no longer carried normal brands like Dearfoams to my horror and what they did have, was bright and animal-ish, more for teens.  I searched and searched and only found one nightgown in my size, (and I bought it) everything was geared to the younger crowd, the things girls wear at a pajama party or too old for me... my first thought was, "am I in the right department?", but yep, I was- there was no other.  I have to say I am looking for a new alternative.  Maybe it's online (think piddle here), maybe somewhere else but until Penney's snaps out of this new way of doing business, I'm not going back.

OK, off for more coffee!

One More Sunday Post- Pumpkin Contest Winners

Remember the pumpkin contest?  OK, so I 'm a little behind in announcing the winners......and the winners are........

There were two categories- Best Pumpkins and Clever Finishing.

 This was submitted by Vicki in MN.  She used a mottled orange felt and she stated that the small 6x14 dimension was perfect to sit on this bed spring! She added moss and orange sprigs to the spring, pumpkin stem is a cinnamon stick and then some silk fall leaves.  Clever!

This was finished by Linda in IL.  I think Linda owns every pattern I have ever designed!  She did a great job on these little guys.  I think both of these pictures  fit into both categories, don't you? 

Great job ladies!  I'll be sending you both  bundles on the Rustling Leaves fabrics 

and thank you for sharing with us.

Today's Fall Fabric Winner

I got up early to choose a winner this morning!  It was a short contest for sure but I actually had a lot of entries regardless.  This is a bundle of my Rustling leaves fabric from Benartex.  I will have another drawing next weekend for a different bundle from the same line, we'll call it Part 2.

Today's winner: Lola from VA.

Congratulations Lola!  I'll be sending you a bundle of fabric this week.

Thank you all for such sweet emails and I wish I could answer them all.  I do love school and when I'm done (yes, in 4 more weeks) there will be a void in my life for sure but I have already talked myself out of continuing for an MBA.  I think I will enjoy some reading again in my spare time.  That's what is really missing- spare time!  I have a huge stack of books just waiting and a little Toto girl (my Yorkie) waiting to snuggle while I read.  Sounds like a great combination, don't you think!

We have been doggie sitting for my son's Boston Terrier this weekend and I think we are ready for another puppy!  It's hard sharing Toto with my son- we fight over her!  It might be time to consider a new addition.

Quilts have been on a back burner for 2 years and I admit I need to step up.  Cross Stitch has suffered also.  I have a ton of ideas just waiting to get out.  I think I'll have plenty to do to fill the void after a bit of down time.  

Meanwhile, I have been listing fabrics, a little at a time,  on eBay for several months and I love the feeling of cleaning out and letting go.  I have so many plastic tubs full of craft supplies and older fabrics that I will probably never ever use again.  If you haven't looked at eBay for fabric- you should.  What bargains!  Last week I sold sold some fall/ acorn/ and Moda pieces- about 2 yards total for $1.25.  It's a deal and there's a LOT of auctions on there.

Next week-  A new bundle of fall fabric from Benartex:

1.  Email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by midnight Saturday night, Oct 20.

2.  Put "Part 2" in the subject line. 

3.  Include your name and address in the body of the email- if you don't- I can't choose you. Them's the Rules!

 I promise not to share this important information- it just makes it easier for me to send you your goodies without having to track you down later.  I'm impatient- I like to move things out fast!

The fabric is another group from the Rustling leaves line.  There is one more group we'll have for the week of Oct 21.  

Someone will win- will it be you?

It's Fall Y'All!

Seems like I'm getting farther and farther behind in my blogging and I can't believe it is October already!  I have about 4 weeks left in school and it's crunch time between homework and papers I am just beat.  I'm still at 4.0 GPA, and I have a huge final capstone paper (about Starbucks) due next week which I finally got it done.  It's 65 pages.  It has literally taken me about 2 months between all of the research, writing, editing and graphics- presentation is everything!  I am done and breathing a sigh of relief. 

Now I have to do a 45 minute presentation for the paper to give in my final class.  I have done many powerpoint presentations but this one needs to be a PREZI - something I have never done.  I'm up for the challenge though and plan to tackle it this week.

Quilt Market is in 2 weeks and I have not found any time to design at all. This college stuff really takes up the time.  I am planning to go to market but must finish all of my school work before hand as I have my final class when I return.  I haven't slept much in the last few months and hope to have a breather when I get done.

I think it's time for a drawing for a bundle of fall Rustling Leaves fabric and I'm so sorry I am delayed! 
How about this-
Email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by midnight this Saturday, Oct 13 - put FALL in the subject.
Include your name and mailing address in the body and I'll choose a winner this Sunday.

Beautiful Sunday Morning

Fall is almost here and you can tell with the cooler temps we are having that it is going to go fast, I'm afraid. We are past the hot weather, dead grass phase and into the green growing grass, cloudy, rain and cool night phase. It's great! Even with all of the mowing- I'll take it.

I watched my granddaughters last night and enjoyed a little quiet time snuggling with 5 year old Grace on the couch after 7 month old Lily fell asleep in my arms. Such a joy having grand kids- they are so precious!

I finished my last class- Financial Management- with an A and I'm totally shocked since it was a really hard class. I rejoice though! I don't ever want to be a Financial Manager but learning about the stock market was really interesting. I have one more class to graduate and then I hope to be back to designing patterns full time. It's been a long road for this grandma the last two years. When I started school I had no idea I could keep up, much less get straights A's. I can tell you it is much easier to go to school as an adult- a friend named Michael once told me that college was wasted on the young. They don't have the direction and focus coming out of high school that adults have later on. I thought about an MBA but I am happy to be finished I think. I am tired of being so busy!

I have cross stitch ideas on my mind and can't wait to get the in charts so they can be stitched. I have some quilt ideas in mind and can't wait to get started. My next fabric lines will debut this fall in Houston- to be sold next year so patterns will follow after Christmas.

By the way, I go on Pinterest all the time and I've found the best recipes and home ideas. If you haven't joined- you should! I've made a lot of the soups I got on there and haven't found one bad recipe yet- they are great! There's a link on the right to follow me.

Fall is Just Around the Corner!

I've been so busy with my recent class and totally ignored my other job! I just finished Financial Management and by far, my hardest class. I'm so glad it is over. I hope for a A but at this point, will be really happy with a B!
One more subject - Managerial Policies- and I'm done. What a ride it has been! I now know I am OCD, I know how to write excellent papers, do research online, I know the stock market up and down, the time value of money, I can type with my thumbs- some call it texting, har har, and meet other college students at Starbucks. I guess I've finally grown up but when did that happen?
Next month at Quilt Market, I have a new line of fabric coming out but the fabric won't be in soon enough to make quilts so I have no new patterns for the show. I plan to go and hang out but will not have a booth this time. My last Capstone presentation is the week after Quilt Market and I anticipate having enough to do about that time.
We lost a 20 year old spruce to the drought this year. It's completely gone now. Sad. The cardinals will miss it this winter. We did get 6" of rain last week so everything is finally greening up after 3 months of no rain. It's a shame that it came too late for a lot of local trees and bushes.

August Heat

The summer is going by way to fast for me and I can hardly believe August is half over already! Local schools start here this week and it just seems too early for me! When I was a kid, school started in September, right after Labor Day. I am busy with my own school work and will be really happy when I finish my current class- Financial Management. It's the hardest class I've had to date, I can say that, and I don't like it very much. Besides the papers and summaries to write, there are quizzes to study for each week. I just had the mid-term test last night. There's also presentations and group work so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed! This too shall pass.... I know. I have four more weeks of it.

Pumpkin contest is underway, I have a few photographs already. Send your pictures to pgpeddler@aol.com and we'll vote on them.

I have recently listed more finished fall quilts and runners on my Etsy site. The link is on my home page at www.prairiegrovepeddler.com I am listing more fabric bundles and other goodies on eBay next week. If you are in the market for supplies or gifts, take a peek. I'll post a link when I get them on there. It's cleaning time! Out with the old to make room for the new!

Pumpkin Contest

It's HOT! and getting hotter so it's time to start thinking about fall. I am thinking about a contest of sorts with pumpkins. Fabric pumpkins.

Rules:

Make 1 or more fabric pumpkins using the directions below out of fabric, wool, felt or batting(painted).

Finish them any way you like, using cinnamon sticks, grapevine, moss, real leaves, whatever.

They can be aged or even spray painted! Lets see how creative you can be.

Take a picture and send them to me in an email at PGPeddler@aol.com with your name and mailing address included, just in case you win!

I'll post pictures in September for everyone to vote on so start soon.

Winning areas are Best Pumpkins and Clever Finishing.

The winner (s) will receive a bundle of my new fall fabric. I know everyone is busy so if I get no entries, I'll do a drawing for the fabric anyway!

I'll repeat the directions again for them below.

1. Cut a rectangle from batting, say 9" x 18" wide. Too big? try 6" x 14".

2. Fold in half and sew the two short ends together, one seam in the back.

3. Hand-gather one open end with string, floss, pearl cotton or linen thread, pull tight and knot several times.

4. Turn inside out and stuff with poly-fil until firm, but not too firm.

5. Hand-gather the top and knot several times.

6. Using a long doll needle ( say 8") and a long piece of the thread you used in #3, go in and out from the center top to the center bottom to pull the center in tight. Knot again.

7. Then proceed to go top to bottom around the outside of the pumpkin to create the veins, pulling tight each time.

8. Knot the thread each time on the center top which will be covered by the stem later.

9. Mix orange paint with water, coffee or tea and slop it on using your hands (pre-manicure not post). It washes off your hands eventually and I would remove your rings first!

*** Using coffee or tea makes the colors separate once dried and gives a wonderful aged look.

Make different sized pumpkins from cotton batting, muslin, or chenille and paint each one a different shade of orange. Mix colors- it's fun!My husband went int the woods and cut old knarly grapevine for me to use as stems. He cut them about 2"-3" and I hot glued them to the center top, covering the knots.It makes a wonderful fall decoration and costs so little for so many, a small package of batting, a bottle of paint, some stuffing.

Mid-Week Ramblings!

The heat wave finally broke after 11 days. Today will be in the 90's which is much better than over 100! No rain in sight though, Mid-Missouri just keeps missing it. We have corn (somehow) and tomatoes now so all is well with the world. My motto for today...

So I need more company to keep my house clean I guess!

My Yorkie Toto got fleas when we boarded her while on vacation. We had used Frontline only to discover that it wasn't working. Needless to say, we had to fumigate the house and the dog. Poor little girl, she turned into a flea magnate everywhere she went! So much excitement at our house!

My son returns from the Army Reserve training this week after 6 months away. His wife and two boys are overwhelmed with joy at the fact that he's coming home. We discouraged him after high school, opting for college instead. I guess he never got it out of his system and joined anyway. We look forward to the homecoming this week.

I have been listing lots of fabric on eBay and selling it all. Such a good feeling to finally be cleaning house. I've sold all of my civil war fabrics and hand-dyed cottons. Most is what's left of my retail shows since I don't plan to do any more of them. I'm getting too old to be carting fabric and patterns in and out for set-up. My shoulder's are abused from years of pulling carts!

I've been reading blogs a lot and I always find some interesting things to read. I have been posting them on my Pinterest boards. If you are on Pinterest, check out my boards called Great Ideas and For the Home. Both have some good stuff on there. My username is prairiegrovegrl and I'm listed under Cheryl Haynes. If you need an invite to join, email me at pgpeddler@aol.com and I'll add you. www.pinterest.com.

Happy Independence Day!

It's HOT! Day 6 of 100 degree temps officially. My car says we've had a lot more of them than 6! It's pretty unusual for us to have a lot of days this hot, especially in a row. We finally got our first vine ripened tomato and we are fighting over it. There's plenty more to come but that first one is a gem. I've got watermelon chillin', steaks and chicken ready to be b-b-q'ed today. We've got a big ole' birthday cake for Austin who just turned 18 last week.

I'm going to sit back and read today. I finished the Hunger Games Trilogy and enjoyed it. My 13 year old granddaughter Madi just read Divergent and Insurgent and loved them so I thought I might tackle those soon. I also got Ice Within the Soul by my high school classmate Shawn McKelvie. I think it will be next.

I have been selling off fabric on eBay, just right and left. It's a good feeling to let go. I don't plan to do retail shows anymore with my bad shoulder so I decided it's time to remove all retail sale items from the premises.

Here's a link if you wanna see..... Craftrgrl eBay

I still have books and notions to list also. My fabrics are almost all gone.

I guess it's the lazy dog days of summer now. Other than Accounting class, I am slowing down too with the heat. Reading in the A/C seems to sound better all of the time.

I hope you all have a great holiday today with family and friends.

I've Been A Very Busy Girl

I spent the weekend cutting my new fabric lines, folding it, photographing it and listing it all on my website. It has come to my attention that Benartex is out of most of the Wintersong line at this time so I got some up there to fill the void, so to speak. I don't have much but it's something.

Take a look~~
http://www.prairiegrovepeddler.com/Other.html

I have a few panels from the Wintersong and Rustling leaves lines also for sale on there. I have been cleaning and organizing, with all of the heat going on, what's a girl to do anyway? Tomorrow will be 97, followed by 102 on Thursday, 101 on Friday. Yep, it's summer in Mid-Missouri.
On the bright side, our corn is tasseling, our tomatoes are growing big but not quite ripe yet, zucchini and cucumbers are being eaten, and our watermelons are as big as a grapefruit. All is well with the world I guess. We even have peaches on our little peach tree.
We have a fishing trip planned soon and a little r and r. Time for a good book.

Anybody reading something I need to know about? I'm looking for my next read.

Another Hot Weekend

I assume everyone got their Bee patterns already, in fact, I think most of you have emailed me a thank you. The eight overseas packages just went out Monday so they are on their way.

I have been laying low this week, pampering my knee. I twisted it last week and it is popping and grinding with every move. I know, that doesn't sound good to me either. I saw my orthopaedic doctor and I have a brace to wear for 4-6 months! I think the brace bothers me more now!

There was the most beautiful waxing crescent moon last night. The weather in mid Missouri has been extreme- no rain and high temperatures. We were tempted with a wonderful storm yesterday and it was a county away, then it dissipated! Completely! That's just wrong!

The Bees are a Comin'....

I just had to update that giveaway from 2 weeks ago and there seems to be some confusion to the winners and there are a LOT of them. That free pattern you got in the mail was suppose to come to you.....REALLY! It's funny how many didn't know they were getting it and called or emailed me this week to tell me I made a mistake!

It was in the BLOG!

I just finished addressing the last of those envelopes , btw, and the overseas ones will go to the post office on Monday. There were quite a few and I don't want to guess on the postage for all of them! SOOO..... if you didn't get your free "What's All The Buzz?" pattern yet, it's still coming!

It's not a mistake! Really!

A Rainy Day in June

My garden is so happy today- it's pouring rain outside. We haven't had rain at my house in over 3 weeks and there are cracks in the ground already. This time last year Missouri was getting flooded. What a difference a year makes huh?
I woke to thunder and it was pouring! Who-hoo! No watering the garden today.
I forgot to Blog yesterday- I know, I'm getting old. There was so much other stuff going on and I just forgot. We did draw 2 names though- for the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazines.

The winners are:
Eileen from Houston, TX and Velda from Bridgeton, MO. Congratulations ladies!

I wish I had a bunch to give out. I am cutting the fall and Wintersong fabrics this week. Next week we'll do a drawing for a sample bundle so stay tuned.

Is anyone doing anything special this summer? We go on a fishing trip each summer but I haven't thought past that. My grandbabies will all be there this year so I am looking forward to that. I just kept my grandsons this weekend and out of the mouths of babes- my 4 year old grandson Nathan and family went to SC to visit their daddy in the Army recently. He is doing basic training for the Army Reserves for 6 months.

Nathan was so sad to leave his daddy there when they came home. Nathan told me "the only way the Army would let his daddy come home" was if Nathan leaves him there. He said then the Army would get done with him. He was so sad when he talked about him but it was so cute the way he said it! Kirk comes home in about 5 weeks.

Gold Fabrics, Bees & Winners

What a lazy week! I didn't get much at all done and I have no excuses except for the weather. I can blame it on the weather! When it's hot, I don't feel like working. When it's cool and breezy like the last few days- I want to play even more. I guess it's that summer thing- you know, when the kids are out of school and everyone seems to get into vacation mode.

The windows are open- the cool breeze is coming in and it feels so nice this morning. The only thing I have to contend with is, well, that I'm sneezing. Ah-choo. It is allergy season. By the way, I am doing the allergy drops from my ENT and I can honestly say they seem to be working already. I started about 4 months ago and my allergies aren't nearly ad bad as they were. The drops are so much easier than shots. First of all, I do them at home and only go in every 3-4 months so none of those weekly co-pays. Secondly- it's painless! They say after 2 years of drops that my allergy symptoms will be virtually gone. Check with your local ENT if you suffer.

Drum-roll please- The winner of the gold fabric bundle from Benartex and What's All the Buzz? pattern is Lisa from Maryland. Congratulations Lisa!

I have to say I am never good at picking winners, in fact, I want everyone to be a winner but unfortunately I only have one gold bundle of fabric. When the fabric finally comes in, I'll do another drawing for several bundles. It should be shipped in a month or so. For now- I appreciate everyone who entered and I want to send you all a free What's All The Buzz? pattern. If you entered and put your address in the email, I'll send you a free pattern this week. Thank you for following my Blog. Some of you have been with me since the start.

If you haven't seen the last post about pumpkins- check it out. I give instructions for pumpkins made with cotton quilt batting. Just a head up- later this summer, probably starting later in July or early August, we will have a special for the pumpkins and here's how it will go:

Make some pumpkins using the method I described with fabric, felt, batting, whatever and finish them any way you want, with sticks, grapevine or even cinnamon sticks.
Send pictures to me at pgpeddler@aol.com with your name and address.
I will post the pictures with first names on the Blog on a regular basis and let everyone vote on the best look, most creative, and so on. Winner(s) will get a big bundle of my fall fabrics. Does that sound fun? Start making those pumpkins soon. I'll re-post the instructions at a later date.

Congratulations-you're all winners this week! Just be patient with me- there's a LOT of envelopes to address. I'll do some each day so give it a week or so to get them.

THIS NEXT WEEK- we'll have a drawing for two (2) of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 5.


To enter:
Email me at PGPeddler@aol.com by Saturday, June 9 at midnight, with 100 in the subject line.
Put your name and address in the body of the email.

UPDATE: I corrected the email address- sorry about that! Also- the allergy drops go under the tongue... EASY!