Christmas in August

This weekend I finished the nine-patch (one-a-day quilt-along) top. If you recall from a while back, I chose mine to be red and green - a Christmas quilt.

It's much larger than I imagined it would be ... 66x90 inches ... about twin-size. It's also much more appealing than I imagined - I really do like the red/green combination - and all the white!

I'm still deciding what to do about the back and quilting. To send to a long-arm quilter or attempt this myself?

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Sorry for the crummy photos - today I learned the hard way that hanging a quilt top on a clothesline, in the wind, is a sure way to severely fay the quilt's edges. All while not get any decent photos. Darn.

The life of a plum

June 8


July 9


July 29


August 19

I wouldn't have picked this little plum quite yet, as it's still rather hard, but today's storm knocked it off of the tree. I found it laying the the grass. In a few days it'll be just right. There are still about three plums holding on, in the tree, for a later harvest.

I can't wait for the first bite.

Turning a skirt into a clothespin bag

This summer we installed a retractable clothes line in our backyard. With every clothes line comes a need for clothespins and a laundry basket. I quickly discovered that loose clothespins in a laundry basket equals lost clothes pins (they fell out of the holes in the laundry basket and hid in the laundry).

I was in dire need of a container or bag to hold my clothespins.

I also happened to have a too small and mustard-stained skirt to dispose of.

Combine the two and viola.

Clothespin bag from old skirt!

I cut the skirt at the back seam so it was one long rectangular piece of fabric. I cut a rectangular shape along the bottom hem, keeping the hem intact (the turquoise and green ribbon). I sewed (right sides together) along the bottom and right side of bag. Then ironed flat. Done. Super fast and easy.

Now my clothes pins are tidy and happy (and very cute).

The bison roll

Last week Corey's family visited and we took a trip to Medora, ND. While there we drove through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. My favorite part of the park are the bison. There are many many bison in the park.

They sure roam wherever they please, that's for sure.


A particularly large male bison wandered away form the herd.

Then he sat down ... it was really an awkward motion. But he sure was pretty.

Then he rolled over ...

... and over, and over ...

He got so dusty and dirty. It was quite a sight.

Then he composed himself.

And got up ...

And walked away.

What a funny fellow.