Under the Needle : July

 How is it already the end of July?! We don't live a crazy busy life, but our days are full and every time I turn around, another week...month...year ìs in the rearview mirror.

If I didn't write this little blog, I'd look back and wonder what we did with our days. 

But I figure every time I step into my sewing room, I'm making progress on something. This month I  surprised myself and finished piecing all the blocks (64) for my America 250 quilt and am ready to get it into a top. I love everything about it.

Focusing on that filled up most of my sewing time in July, but I still really need to have a couple of masculine quilts on hand so these pieces were called into action 

I cut everything, pieced it into a top and made the binding, but I still need to press it and make a backing, and binding.

This is currently on my cutting table.

And as we close out the month, I'm binding my Terrifically Tilda quilt

I've been pretty good about finishing 2 quilts most months and I put the last stitch into my Tropical Twist quilt this month

And I finished clipping all the fringe on my First Ride Western Rag Quilt, giving us a cozy finish to enjoy on crisp mountain mornings.

Log Cabin Cowboy Quilt I Did Not Make

 My sister-in-law was up at my in-laws' recently and my MIL was agreeable to parting with a few quilting related items. Once my MIL began to get irritated, they stopped, but she said she wanted me to have this quilt top. I am honored. She doesn't remember making it, but she absolutely did. At 102"x 118", it is huge. 

I need to hunt for a backing, but It's just a hodge podge of so many old western prints combined into one fabulous scrappy quilt! 

We're thinking she made it about 20 years ago so the fabrics are probably 20-50 years old or whenever western fabrics were first produced.

 I don't know if low-volume prints were a thing back then, but she found some great ones to include 

She hand quilted every single quilt she ever made and part of me is considering doing the same with this one. Is that the crazy part talking or should I have it machine quilted?

I could use your input. My SIL is a quilter and she thinks it's crazy to hand quilt it. 

I'm on the fence....and of course it's barbed wire so I'd like to pick a side because it's a tad prickly up here. 😂

Pulled Pork

 We never ate much pork. Managing ranches and raising cattle, meant we always had deep freezes full of beef so in lieu of pulled pork, we'd shred brisket or roast and add barbecue sauce, but the last few years we've mixed in more pork and chicken. Fish was always available because our dirt tanks were full of fish and we liked to fish.

But last week, I picked up a pork butt and made pulled pork. I served it over baked potatoes. When I visited our girl a few weeks ago, she served it this way and I loved it.

I made a rub, coated the pork, wrapped it in plastic wrap, and left it in the fridge overnight.

Then I just put it in a baking pan and cooked it on 300 for 7 hours...it pulled so easily.

I used THIS recipe. The boys and little E loved it so I've added it to my tried and true recipe book because it'll be on the menu as a summer repeat from now on.

Pulled Pork Rub

1/4 C brown sugar

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbsp paprika

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 tsp cayenne

1 bone-in pork butt

3-4 onions, halved

1 bottle good barbecue sauce

*Mix up all the spices in a small bowl and rub all over pork butt. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refigerate overnight. Place halved onions in bottom of baking pan. Place pork butt on top. Cover with foil. Bake 6-7 hours at 300. 

I've tried the pulled pork with the Dr. Pepper in the past, but we liked this better and I never have Dr. Pepper in the house anyway.

Despite the cayenne in the rub, this isn't spicy at all, so knowing my bunch, they all added pickled jalapenos or pico. 🤗

Tuesday Treasures

 Ever since we moved here, fencing our property has been on the short list. There is a fence, but it's not on the property line and the one in place isn't in the best shape.

Building 2 miles of fence in rugged terrain is a huge undertaking and I'm shaking my head that DH is taking this on at 62. 

Thankfully, our son is able to help, but they both come in with shirts and jeans and hats sweated straight through and they haven't even started on the fence.

We've put in some corner posts and H-braces, but mostly they've been clearing trees and brush, which is what they worked on Tuesday

Little E was eager to supervise. 😉

Buggy rides always lead to adventure

And adventure always leads to tired legs

The 3 Musketeers

I'm certain a nugget of wisdom was being shared in this shot.

She made another treasure map and this time it lead to the discovery of a fairy house

And it's always fun to hunt for treasure in the garden

Today she munched on tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and carrots

To quote our little treasure, "These are the best days EVER!"