Who Knew?

 

It's amazing what I miss when I walk and read!

Several of these white iris had bloomed and turned to seed before I saw this one.

This giant thistle had been forming for quite some time before it blossomed.

I never noticed how this cedar tree's shape had been altered as it grew around the fence.

Duane walking with me today really opened my eyes!

Louise and Duane

Ready To Use

Two stacks of t-shirts are now two quilts.

 No more work for me for a while!

Louise (and Duane)

Almost Done

 I'm almost finished with my last two projects--tshirt quilts for a mother and daughter.  Yesterday I finished one when I pinned and sewed the border.

Today I assembled the second quilt by laying the backing, middle batting and top together and pinning, then sewing .  I also pinned two sides, ready for sewing tomorrow.

Done tomorrow!  Yay!

Louise (and Duane)

16 Already!

 

Granddaughter Allie is the second of our 14 grandchildren to turn 16.  Since she was on vacation on her birthday, she chose today to be treated to her birthday dinner at a restaurant of her choice.

For two hours we enjoyed good food and an excellent visit. 

Back home Allie found room for ice cream.  She helped her brother Luke (right) and his friend Ryder finish off the carton. 

Happy Birthday, Allie!

Louise and Duane

Spring Vegetable Soup

Start with spring thunderstorms.  Heat the water with lightning, and stir it with thunder. 

Add some fresh green grass and leaves, and season liberally with pollen.

For color and extra flavor add purple, red, orange, white, yellow wildflowers.

Best served fresh on a cloudless sunny day after the storms have moved on.

Yum!

Louise and Duane

      

Working Again

After taking the day off yesterday, I assembled my 40 t-shirt blocks into two small quilts for a mom and daughter.  

Mom's

daughter's

Eeny, meeny, which should I complete first?

Louise (and Duane) 

Unusual Day

On chore day, after we put away laundry and groceries, Duane usually plays pickleball, but not today.  He went walking with me.  It was interesting for me to walk and talk instead of reading.

  After my walk I usually get some work done on my latest project.  Today, instead of sewing t-shirt blocks together, I sat in my chair and played with tv and pencil puzzles.

After pickleball, Duane usually hammers some leather.  Today his latest projects, 6 large lighter cases,

were finished and ready for mailing.  Instead he sat in his chair and did computer stuff while listening to tv.

Tomorrow is soon enough to get busy again.

Louise and Duane

 

Odyssey

Covid vaccine second time around:  in line at 9:20 (a little early, but who's counting)  

paper check

marked for two people receiving the vaccine

funneled into the next available lane

next in line

pull up and wait 15 minutes (until 10:05)

Home again, home again, jiggety jog!

Louise and Duane

Ahh! Spring!!

Yellow wildflowers in the green grass

new leaves

tree blossoms

mayflowers starting to bloom

Lovin' it all!!

Louise and Duane

 

Catching Up

After our overnight trip to Whitewright to visit son Jr and family, we caught up with the family in Kilgore to hear about their recent snow skiing vacation.

Son Jeremy and granddaughter Allie met us for breakfast at Denny's while daughter-in-law Jennifer and grandson Luke slept in.  We went to their house to collect our mail and found Luke wandering around the kitchen looking for chow.  After a bit more chat, we headed home.

When we were in Whitewright, I collected fabric for two more t-shirt quilts, but decided to put off  starting that project and goof off the rest of the day.  Duane decided to finish out the day by completing a couple of projects.  

He put the closures (that he bought yesterday) on his bike what-not bag  

and attached it to the windshield.

He finished a lighter holder he'd been working on.  This one is for our bass-fisherman neighbor who took him to get propane during the freeze.  

He's really getting good at that leather pounding!

Monday we both get busy.

Louise and Duane

Saturday Morning

 

After going to bed very late last night, everyone was up early to be in time for Emma and Ava's next contest--a barrel racing.  

While we waited for their turns, Alyssa,

Coy

and Will found their own interesting things to do.

We talked to the girls while they waited (Ava on the left, Emma on right),

After their runs

we left to run some errands in the Dallas area before heading home.

Glad to be home again,

Louise and Duane

Friday Night

Last night we drove 2 hours to Whitewright, Tx to visit son Jr, daughter-in-law Brandey, and grandkids Emma, Ava, Alyssa, Coy, and Will.  We arrived at their house in time for a short visit.  The last time we were there, the barn was two open rooms.  This time we found new stalls in the barn,

and gym equipment installed in the other room.

Inside, we had a few minutes to visit with Emma and Ava before they had to get ready for their rodeo.

Duane gave them their new spur straps that he made for their early (June) birthday presents, then Sr. and Jr. them and their horses to their event.

Brandey had some work to do before the rest of us went.  I kept Coy 

and Alyssa entertained.  They love to sort through my polished rocks for personal treasures.

While Jr stayed with the girls as they prepared for and competed in their events, Gramps, Brandey, and I kept track of the younger kids.

 

We all stopped goofing off to watch the girls compete in several events.  Two involved tied goats:  running a measured distance to pull a ribbon from the goat's tail, and running to the goat, picking it up, laying it down on it's side, and tying three legs.

They also ran poles, and (below) barrels.

There were a lot of competiters.  By the time the girls finished, it was after midnight.  Coy was sprawled under a blanket on the bleacher seat, Will was comfy on Brandey's lap, and Alyssa was curled up in my lap.  

Good thing we planned to stay the night.

Louise and Duane