Saturday, October 17, 2015

Hanging Up My Apron

The pastures have been gathered and the calves are weaned. Our pens are filled with bawling calves and the weather has finally taken a turn towards fall. My kitchen has been wiped clean of flour, my stove has been scoured, and I am hanging up my apron for a few days.


 I thought about running away to a quilt show in a town about 90 miles away, but I'm just too tuckered out.

Conversation after supper while we were clearing the dishes in the kitchen:
Me: I think there's a quilt show in Clovis this weekend.
DH: I'm not going.
Me: * Chuckling* I know, but if I were unable to drive, would you take me?
DH: Yes. *Brief pause with the beginnings of an eye twinkle* Because I know I don't have to.
Cue our laughter.
And a minute later, as he walks past me with his mug of ice cream, he piped up, "But if it was important to you, I would take you."

And that's reason 254 - I'm thinking of keeping him. :)

 He is helping the neighbors today and he'll probably be home about noon. Hopefully we'll be able to sneak in a nap and then make a circle to check cattle and waters.

Since he left just after 4 this morning, and I didn't have to feed anyone, my kitchen stayed dark and quiet and I slipped in behind my sewing machine. Lots of 4-patches are made:


 I am working on my Ginger Belle quilt - making hourglass blocks


 and beginning to put some blocks together.


I just finished listening to an audio book called The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I ran across it at the Johannesburg airport while browsing through the bookstore and the title intrigued me so I made a mental note to add it to my list. Here's Amazon's review


Amazon Best of the Month, April 2009: It's the beginning of a lazy summer in 1950 at the sleepy English village of Bishop's Lacey. Up at the great house of Buckshaw, aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce passes the time tinkering in the laboratory she's inherited from her deceased mother and an eccentric great uncle. When Flavia discovers a murdered stranger in the cucumber patch outside her bedroom window early one morning, she decides to leave aside her flasks and Bunsen burners to solve the crime herself, much to the chagrin of the local authorities. But who can blame her? What else does an eleven-year-old science prodigy have to do when left to her own devices? With her widowed father and two older sisters far too preoccupied with their own pursuits and passions—stamp collecting, adventure novels, and boys respectively—Flavia takes off on her trusty bicycle Gladys to catch a murderer. In Alan Bradley's critically acclaimed debut mystery, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, adult readers will be totally charmed by this fearless, funny, and unflappable kid sleuth. But don't be fooled: this carefully plotted detective novel (the first in a new series) features plenty of unexpected twists and turns and loads of tasty period detail. As the pages fly by, you'll be rooting for this curious combination of Harriet the Spy and Sherlock Holmes. Go ahead, take a bite. --Lauren Nemroff

It is written by a Canadian author and narrated by Jane Entwistle, whom I adored. I was utterly charmed by her accent as well as the author's ability to turn a phrase. It's a delightful book. I love mysteries but I just can't do the gory ones or books with awful language and this one has neither so it gets 2 thumbs up in my book.

There are enough leftovers that I won't have to cook this weekend and that just tickles me to pieces. I think I'm going to smell like bleach forever after washing mountains of dishes for days.

If anyone is looking for me, you can find me...correction, US...here:

                        

13 comments:

Shelly said...

Oh, enjoy your relaxing weekend -- you deserve it. What a sweet helper you have, there!

Connie said...

That is going to be a very pretty quilt and I love the fabric in your apron . . . sew cute :) Yep! That husband sounds like a keeper; isn't it wonderful to be married for years and still be sweethearts.
Have a lovely weekend.
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)

Janet O. said...

You deserve a break!
Does sound like hubby is a keeper. I know mine will drive to a far away quilt shop if I just say the word. I try not to take advantage of that--maybe just a couple of times a year. : )
Oh, those are scrumptious looking scrap blocks.
Love the sound of the book--I like mysteries, but not the gore or language found in so many these days, either.
Looks like you have a very helpful friend in the sewing room! *LOL*

Dar said...

Sounds like you needed some sewing time and that is the most adorable picture of your little helper with you too. Makes me miss my baby even more. Hope you got lots done before time to do chores again.

Judy said...

Your blocks look great! I love the little bowl you put them in. I love country items. My hubby took me to Joanns yesterday and helped me look for a fabric we couldn't find. So sweet of these men. Enjoy your sewing time and maybe a nap!

KaHolly said...

Great post! Glad you're finally able to take a well deserved break. (I'd keep him, too!). Loving you kitty companion and the picture. Has love written all over it.

Nancy said...

I'm so glad you're getting a little break, Karin. It's nice to be able to breathe a sigh of relief, slow the pace to a somewhat relaxing speed, and sew. Your quilt will be beautiful. I love all those little fabrics you're using. Thank you for the book recommendation. I've already reserved it at our local library.

Tired Teacher said...

Ginger Belle's scrappiness is going to make her even more gorgeous. I love those rich colors.

Enjoy your downtime, and soak up some of the bawling coming from the calves for me. I miss those sounds. ;o)

juliehallfeldhaus said...

I am out of leftovers so maybe we'll show up at your house for supper:)

Mary E. Stephens said...

I like your cotton apron. :-)

My husband will take me to quilt shows too if they're important to me, but he knows he's pretty safe also since I seldom really want to make the effort. :-) It's nice to know he would, though, isn't it? :-)

Thanks for the tip on the book. I might have to look that up and see about reading it. I can't stand the gory books or "language" either, which is why I end up reading mostly vintage "youth fiction" when it comes to mysteries.

Leftovers are so great. Sadly, I don't have any today, and I don't feel like driving into town to eat. Wonder what we'll end up having? Is ice cream good enough for dinner?

I like your sewing buddy. :-)

Pauline said...

So glad you're getting some "me" time. All the ranch activities fascinate me and I miss my small time helping on a working ranch. (M-6) Great people. Now I guess you're back to cooking for two. I find that a difficult adjustment. I like to cook large amounts and have great leftover, which translates to "no cooking tonight."

Judy said...

I love your fabrics! I sell some of my fabrics on ebay, so I can buy other fabrics!! Tomorrow, Monday I'm listing a cute line called "Bunkhouse" from Moda. It has yardage and 5 small charm packs. It will be listed under that name. I only mention this because it reminds me of you. Take care.

Doniene said...

Good for you!!!! Lovely blocks and what a delightful partner for the sewing room!!

Blessings and hugs!

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