Quilts I Hope to Work On In 2023

I'm an avid list maker and this is usually my first list of the New Year. As per every year, it's subject to change, but it gives me a good starting point. I wasn't able to finish everything on last year's list, so some of those are rolled over.

1. Plaid Tail Feathers - this one is a roll over from last year, but it's quilted and I hope to start working on the binding in the next few days.

2. HST Chaos - this one is still at Jackie's, but once I get it back, it's just a matter of binding

3. Black & Pink Spring Splash - this was on last year's list too. It needed a backing before I handed it over to Jackie and Sandy and I still need to do that.

4. Plus a Nine-Patch - This one is at Jackie's

5. Sweet Menagerie - This one is there as well.

6. Farmer's Market - This too, was on last year's list. I needed to make a backing for it and I did that so it too, is in line at Jackie's.

7. Winter Blues - Another roll-over from last year's list, but this has been my leader-ender project so it's moving forward slowly

8. Follow Your Heart - Another one from last year, but I've made some progress and all the hearts are cut out and have been pressed to the blocks - next up: stitching around them.

9. An I Spy Quilt for our Granddaughter - she's turning 2 this year and I'm aiming to have this one ready for her birthday so I had better get started

10. A commission quilt for a friend using the Branded Collection from Sweetwater

11. A requested blue & green quilt for our son and his family - I haven't settled on a pattern, but I'm thinking something along these lines

12. A  requested flannel quilt for our daughter and her family using these. These flannels are incredibly buttery-soft and after seeing the one I made last year, she asked for a similar one

13. On Deck - I just need to hand stitch the binding to the back on this one

14. Set Sail - (Same fabric - different quilt)This one needs binding as well

15. Scrap Basket - All of these blocks are finished so the next step is getting them stitched into a top

16. A Christmas quilt because my bin of Christmas fabrics won't close 

*I seem to finish about 12 quilts each year so if I finish all of these I'd be surprised, and that doesn't leave me much room for those new projects that catch my eye through the year, but this is just a framework for me. Things will get shuffled around because life happens, but working on quilts brings me joy and there will always be room for that!

The First Week in January

 If the first week of January is any indication of how quickly the year's going to pass, then I had better buckle up. I'm so very grateful to not be caught up in the rat race and life out here, for the most part, is very relaxed and laid back although we're busy and there is always something that needs to be done. 

On New Year's Day we filleted some quail, smoked them with jalapeno and bacon, and I made fried Okra, along with Texas Caviar for dinner. 

It took a full 2 days to take down all the Christmas decorations and pack them away. Now the house looks fresh and clean, yet somehow empty, but ready to herald in 2023 although DH heralded in the new year with a horse wreck. Not the preferred method. On the 2nd he went to doctor a sick calf and in the midst of the pursuit, going all out, loop in the air, the calf dodged. All of his weight was on the stirrups and his stirrup broke clean away. He said he's been meaning to get new stirrups, but hadn't found what he wanted. I am so very grateful that the Lord was watching over him and that he is not seriously hurt, although his back and core are incredibly sore. He said he doesn't bounce so good these days. He can't scoot into a pick up or get up from a chair or get out to open a gate or put his socks on. So I've been going with him on feed runs and tending to chores. He's a really good patient and never complains, however, he does not rest and relax well so he's still getting out

I've added to my collection of gray hair, but thank you Jesus for keeping him safe! I took him to town so he could pick up his new ranch rig on Wednesday:

It won't look like this for long as we made arrangements to have the flatbed installed. It's a 6 hour round trip, not including the installation time. so that will fill up another day.

Then, on Thursday, we drove 6 hours to see his brother and pick up DH's crates with his taxidermy from his trip to Tanzania last March. He'll drop those off at the taxidermist today.

 My eagle-eyed readers will notice and mention the heavy frost on the tailgate of the pick-up. I snapped this photo yesterday morning after the sun was up and it was 17°.

On Friday, we drove another hour and a half to attend the Dallas Safari Club Convention, and headed back to the ranch on Saturday. 

I don't know how big the convention center is, but my phone said I walked 13500 steps, and we only made it through the exhibits one time. I also found a great cutting/pressing table for a sewing room. LOL. I told DH that surely we could make something similar for less that $14,000. 😲

On Saturday we stopped in at Teskey's which is a Farm and Ranch Supply Super Store.

Anyone in the market for a saddle?

How about a cinch?

DH looked for gloves

And stirrups

I chuckled when I saw the receipt. Spelling seems to be a lost art these days unless I'm the one missing the boat and there is a new spelling for stirrup.

I was peopled out and pooped on Sunday, but filled in my annual calendar and worked on tax documentation while DH went out to put new stirrups on his saddle

And poof! A week disappeared. 

Quilt Roundup 2022

 At the end of each year I like to look back and take stock of the quilts I made. I often find myself thinking I haven't had any time to sew, but I did manage to finish 12 quilts so apparently I am finding time to sew sometime. However, although that seems like a lot of quilts, I didn't finish 12 quilts from start to finish. Seven of the quilts on this list just needed binding. Still, this helps me keep track and gives me an overview of what I DID manage to finish. If you click on the title of the quilt, it will take you back to the corresponding post.

1. Biscuits & Gravy Quilt

2. Jellystone

3. Wildflower Quilt

4. I Spy Quilt for Clayton

5. Baby Sails

6. Gingham Baby Quilt

7. Farmhouse Flannel Quilt

8. Scrap Dance Waltz

9. Bramble Patch

10. 2x4 Autumn 

11. Hill Country Spring 

12. Blue's Clue's Quilt

I loved every stitch!

Closing Out 2022

I thought I'd pop in here one more time before we close out the year. Seems as if I've done a lot of 'catch up' and 'hodge podge' posts this year because apparently I can't manage to find enough computer time to get things written down. 

I cooked all day on the 23rd - Loaded Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Butterhorns, Cranberry Sour Cream Pound Cake, Chocolate Pecan Caramels, and Gingerbread Cowboys. I added a ham and we packed it all up on the 24th and drove 2 hours to spend the day with my in-laws.

DH and I spent a quiet Christmas Day together feeding cows:

Christmas or not, cattle still need tending to so we made a 5 hour feed run together:

We had 14 water troughs delivered (which translates to 10 water troughs that need to be plumbed in - 4 are going to another ranch)

We had a fella come and pick up 2 retired ranch trucks and a flatbed

And we're finally getting some washed out/impassable ranch roads re-worked - this project will probably keep this equipment operator busy for a few months

Our girl and her fella drove in on the 26th - this is why I didn't want a console in our loveseat - LOL

Our girl was armed with clippers for a much needed haircut 

And she and I ran off for pedicures when we took DH into town to have the ranch truck rewired so he could add the feeder

A puzzle

And a fun Charcuterie Board were put together

Making memories around the table

Our girl has become a Sourdough aficionado and she gifted us a beautiful Chocolate Espresso and Cinnamon Raisin Loaf

That Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough may very well be the best bread ever baked in the history of the world

                                         

My sourdough has been sadly neglected in the fridge for a few months, but our girl was determined to revive it and revive it she did! I'll try to be a better Sourdough Steward from now on.

Lots of research ensued as Operation Wedding Plans were implemented:

We took them out to eat one evening to celebrate their engagement

And today we're celebrating a special Birthday! - Yes, he's a New Year's Eve Baby -

So incredibly grateful for life with this Birthday Boy! It's always 

 the best way to close out the year!