Monday, August 12, 2013

Caution!! Cheyenne zoo, Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival.


This is a kitchen magnet that my sister Sandy sent to me.  I love it, it describes me to a tee!  I told one of my friends that  I generate enough heat to incubate an entire clutch of guinea eggs, or enough power to light up the town of Nunn!  I need a surge protector!  But I guess you have to be a woman to understand this.  Well anyway, just had to share for a bit of humor today.........


Where is summer going to???We have been so busy this summer, with gardening, animals, family etc.  There does not seem to be enough hours of daylight for us to get everything done.
Both my ponds sprung leaks.  I decided to fill them in with dirt and have more flower garden space instead of purchasing new pond liners.  Where we live, due to the winds, I was always having to fish out debris out of the water, so I guess this will be a better use of the space.  Wait till next year when you see what they are planted with. Above is a butterfly bush from the zoo.  This will be an addition to my new garden area.

FAMILY OUTING
At the Cheyenne zoo in Colorado Springs Colorado.  The weather was beautiful, blue skies, 83degrees.  We were at 6900 ft in elevation which is almost 2000ft above what we are used to, so the old folks got tired out easily, since the zoo is on the side of a mountain and there was allot of up and down walking.  Colorado Springs view from the zoo.


  But we all had a great time.  Here are some pictures highlighting the event.
Katie and momma.
Lily.  And below, Lily holding a budgerigar.
Julie and Ryan.
Tera and Lily.
Mom and Dad below!                 Brady, Dennis and Tera above. 



THE BARNYARD
We acquired a little Red Pyle Bantam rooster to add to our flock.  I saw him when we were at the fair, my friend Sue and I.  Our old standard size rooster has 3 inch spurs, and knows how to use them.  He has started attacking me, the sheep and the goats, oh and just recently Dennis.  Jumps up and tries to spur us.  So it is time for him to move on.
Here is a picture of the little Banty.  You can see a standard size Americana hen behind the fence near him.  I had forgotten how small these little banty's are.
I am down to four goats again, as I placed all my kids from this year.  I have 1Katahdin  ewe lamb  to find a home for yet. 
 
SEWING ROOM
I finished my Grandmother's flower garden quilt, only took me about 6 years to do it.  It is all hand pieced and about 90% hand quilting and 10% machine quilted.  I am quite proud of this.  I saw one years ago at an antique market for $300, which was allot of money at the time, but was very worth it after all the work that I put into mine. 

Will start working on hand quilting a Dresdan Plate baby quilt next.  While at the quilt show last week, I visited the booth that makes quilts for children in need.  I think that I have found my calling.  I love quilting, and especially love making baby quilts.  They are the Colorado Chapter of Quilts for Kids.  Making quilts to comfort children in need,  children who are fighting a life battle with cancer, serious illnesses, or abusive situations.
My Dresdan Plate baby quilt.  It is shown here pinned, but ready to be quilted.


QUILT SHOW
I took a day for myself, which is few and far between these days, to go to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival.  Included were the 2013 winning entries of the Hoffman Fabric Challenge.  The quilts were phenomenal.  I have pictured only a few of my favorites, as I took 217 pictures while there. 
Seems like  quilts are more "works of art" these days, than for comfort or warmth.  All the quilts were either hand or machine quilted very heavily.

BOOK CLUB
These weren't from my book club, but a must read never the less if you like history, especially history of  American Indians.  My sister-in-law was reading this when I went to MN in June. Historical non-fiction.
  "Empire of The Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and The Rise and Fall of the Comanches" by S.C. Gwynne.
I could not put this down, and learned so much from reading it.  It is about Cynthia Ann Parker who was kidnapped by the Comanches when she was 9 years old,  became the wife of a chief and had three children, Quanah her oldest son, was the last Comanche chief.  She was captured by whites when she was 39 and returned to white society.  That they say was the greatest tragedy in her life, as she loved the Comanches and for the rest of her life, tried to escape and return back to them.

More later............................................................................................................