Christmas 2023

 Look who came this Christmas! 

Our son had to work so he and his family were unable to come for Christmas, but we've been able to visit via video so that's the next best thing. 

When they took E to see Santa, she was apprehensive. I love this sweet shot Steph captured of E and her Daddy while they were waiting in line.

Escape! LOL

Mama and Daddy made it somewhat bearable.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, these two are already planning future shenanigans and adventures

Best gift under the tree!

We got in as much precious snuggle time as possible

Gram and Pap are smitten!

Adventure lies ahead!

                                                 

Our girl also spoiled us with homemade eggnog and Sourdough Raisin Bread

Precious cargo on board

Today I made another batch of Gingerbread Cowboys because we've got folks stopping in this week

Then one more night under the lights before Skeet and I pack it all away and ring in the New Year - but first a nap!

2023 Quilt Roundup

 I've always heard that time speeds up as you age so I've come to the conclusion that I am getting old. How else do I explain that this year just zoomed by? I always say I don't get to sew much, but my list of finishes this year says otherwise. However, most of these quilts began the year at Jackie's and only needed to be bound once they were quilted so my list is a bit deceiving. Still, a finish is a finish and they deserve a spot on the list. If you would like more information on any of the quilts, you can click on the Quilt name and it will take you to the corresponding post.

1. Plaid Tail Feathers - 83 x 92

2. Radiant Voyage - 64 x 64

3. Set Sail Baby Quilt - 48 x 53

4. On Deck Baby Quilt - 40 x 48

5. Spring House Quilt - 70x78

6. Plus a Nine-Patch - 72x77

7. Branded - 87x 96

8. You Make Me Smile - 74 x 82

9.  I Spy - 60 x 65

10. Farmers Market - 68 x 74

11. You're Just Ducky - 50 x 50

12. Triangle Bramble Patch - 44 x 54

 

Another 12-quilt-finish this year - that seems to be what works for me - I'll take it and I've enjoyed every stitch!

Cows for Christmas

 Unfortunately we couldn't fit them under the tree and ours aren't quite as cute as this fella, 

but nevertheless, we're grateful that, with God's help, we now have cows that belong to us. Yes, we still manage the ranch, but it was time to start investing in our future. Someone once asked if we'd been to Vegas and liked to gamble. We don't need to go to Vegas to gamble - every day in the cattle business is a gamble, but DH knows cows and God has opened doors, so with a lot of prayer we're moooving 😂forward.

Countdown to Christmas

Christmas will be low-key in the traditional sense this year. DH was on the road from the 5-9 and then again from the 14-21. I wanted to go with him, but needed to hold down the fort here. 

Then the very next morning we had to make a trip to Lubbock. Our attention has been focused elsewhere so I paired down Christmas. I did decorate in an attempt to make it feel like Christmas

I did put up a traditional tree, but last year, I saw this Horseshoe Tree at a craft fair in Artesia and I could not resist! 

And I asked family to chose a favorite treat in order to keep things simple. Jesus' Birthday Cake is a given

As are Whiskey Praline Pecans

Along with Gingerbread Cowboys

A family is coming today to buy a horse we are selling so I am off to the kitchen to fix dinner because feeding people is what I do. 😉Winter hasn't settled in yet here- in fact, we're still enjoying 50's and 60's for highs and I spent a couple of afternoons washing windows while DH was away. And believe it or not, I didn't sew a stitch while he was away...proof that my mind hasn't been running it's usual trajectory. LOL. 

But all is well and I'll back after Christmas - I'm working on getting a post together with finished quilts. Wishing ya'll a Blessed Christmas filled with all the things that bring you joy!

Bramble Patch Baby Quilt

 I haven't finished a quilt since September, but I picked up  this baby quilt from Jackie in October and it's finally finished - this is my last finish for the year.

Last year I made this quilt for our girl's maid of honor who was expecting her first baby:

It's hard to get a good picture of a soft, pastel quilt during the day in New Mexico, but these prints are precious

Before putting the leftovers away, I set about making a second quilt. I chose 60° triangles. I've made a few triangle quilts before and although some of you may cringe, they are very easy to piece. The secret is starch. Lots of starch. I use a 60° ruler and then it's just a matter of piecing straight rows and trimming the edges. I think I cut my triangles at 5 1/2".

Sandy quilted this sweet design called Billowy

 and it finishes at 44" x 54"

I backed it with this soft peachy-pink Minky  that is a great match for the colors in this line and it shows the pretty quilting better

 I framed it with a scrappy binding 

This line included 2 panels that were a part of the FQ bundle and I'm generally not a fan of panels, but these are pretty cute and with the addition of a pieced patchwork border, I think these will make a couple of sweet quilts. I'm sorry about the fold lines:

 There are enough leftovers for at least one more quilt, but I'm waiting for inspiration so for the time being, they'll hibernate in their designated bin, but this soft quilt is finally finished and ready for gifting

Stacking Up S'mores

 Whenever I can find the time, I sneak into my sewing room and work on my S'mores blocks. 

                                          

When I began, I didn't have a certain size in mind. The original quilt takes 113 blocks, but that only makes a 57" x 57" quilt and I'm having so much fun making these that I blew past that long ago. Now, I'm looking at a quilt that finishes at 85" x 92" and takes 288 blocks. I found this page that shows other size options when the pattern was published. I'll link to that here . I sewed everything I had cut originally and dove back into my stash for more:

I also have this Old Dirt Road quilt on my list (with a name like that - I HAD to have it! - I bought it years ago) 

and I pilfered a couple strips from that kit because I think these dark fabrics will be a great addition to the S'mores quilt

Currently I have 183 blocks. I've been in the mood for mindless sewing and I just want to move fabric under the needle and watch blocks pile up without engaging my brain because my brain is tired and if that continues, I'll be making a much bigger quilt. LOL.

This Year's NFR Quilt

 DH and I are not big TV watchers, but in early December you can bet we'll be tuned in to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) for 10 days. Now that the Cowboy Channel televises so many of the rodeos, it's easy to keep up with that world throughout the year. And during those 10 days, I like to have a quilt to bind. I am a slow binder, but this year I have two that I picked up from Jackie a few weeks ago

They are both larger quilts so I'm doubtful I'll even get one finished, but having quilts to bind is something I love. I'm almost finished binding this baby quilt...it's taken me 2 months to get here. 

That takes slow binding to the extreme, but I'll finish it tonight and then work on this one. This is one of the blue-green quilts I pieced earlier this year - I had so much fun pulling fabrics from my stash to make these blocks even though I didn't love piecing the top because of the diagonal setting, but I think it's going to be worth it!