Hey!!! It's final above zero here, so I could get some semi decent pictures of Mitchell's denim quilt....3° actually feels warm! How crazy is that!

Here is the back...That would be Holden wearing his Wylie Coyote hat holding the quilt for me. =)

I put his initials on using frayed edge appliqué. Can you guess what gaming system he is obsessed with? That was his idea for me to put on the quilt. =) 

 He likes it and that makes this momma very happy....

Hey!!! It's final above zero here, so I could get some semi decent pictures of Mitchell's denim quilt....3° actually feels warm! How crazy is that!

Here is the back...That would be Holden wearing his Wylie Coyote hat holding the quilt for me. =)

I put his initials on using frayed edge appliqué. Can you guess what gaming system he is obsessed with? That was his idea for me to put on the quilt. =) 

 He likes it and that makes this momma very happy....

Mitchell has been waiting patiently for over a year for me to make him a quilt. I couldn't come up with how I wanted to make it, so I kept putting it off. The other day he told me he wanted his quilt to be heavy, like the denim rag quilt I made when I first started quilting. Mitchell has Sensory Processing Disorder, so the deep pressure of weight is calming for him. That gave me the idea on what I wanted to do and I went to town....

Las year I bought two fat quarter bundles of Fossil Fern fabric at Craftsy when they went on sale at a deep discount. Yay! 

Flying Geese anyone? =) I made them the super easy way using one seam. These went together super fast!! There are a lot of tutorials on how to make them on line, but the one I followed was the instructions from The Crafty Quilter. She also has a great chart for different sizes, as well. Yay for someone else doing the math for me!

Because I am using denim for this quilt, I made my seam allowances at ½ inch and pressed them open to minimize bulk. 

Since this last picture, I have made the quilt bigger and personalized it for Mitchell, but I will share after I get the quilting done. That starts today! 

Once thing about denim quilts, they are heavy and my shoulders were feeling it this morning. Ouch! Anything for my boy, right? =)

Mitchell has been waiting patiently for over a year for me to make him a quilt. I couldn't come up with how I wanted to make it, so I kept putting it off. The other day he told me he wanted his quilt to be heavy, like the denim rag quilt I made when I first started quilting. Mitchell has Sensory Processing Disorder, so the deep pressure of weight is calming for him. That gave me the idea on what I wanted to do and I went to town....

Las year I bought two fat quarter bundles of Fossil Fern fabric at Craftsy when they went on sale at a deep discount. Yay! 

Flying Geese anyone? =) I made them the super easy way using one seam. These went together super fast!! There are a lot of tutorials on how to make them on line, but the one I followed was the instructions from The Crafty Quilter. She also has a great chart for different sizes, as well. Yay for someone else doing the math for me!

Because I am using denim for this quilt, I made my seam allowances at ½ inch and pressed them open to minimize bulk. 

Since this last picture, I have made the quilt bigger and personalized it for Mitchell, but I will share after I get the quilting done. That starts today! 

Once thing about denim quilts, they are heavy and my shoulders were feeling it this morning. Ouch! Anything for my boy, right? =)

We had a birthday in our home today. 

Kind of a biggie...

Reagan is now 18. 

wow....

That's all I have to say about that...

Mathena (Russ' mom), Reagan, Haley (my only girl and my oldest), and Mitchell (the baby). Holden wasn't able to make it. 

Haley and her baby brother. 

My daddy and step mom. 

Funny story...

Russ' mom always makes the birthday cakes for the kids. This year she had a wee little problem. It seems she didn't get the oven rack in straight, thus we have a lopsided cake. =D

Adding to that little problem, she transposed two letters in Reagan's name. Did I mention that on the way to our house, a package fell on the cake? 

This is one birthday none of us will forget! =D

We had a birthday in our home today. 

Kind of a biggie...

Reagan is now 18. 

wow....

That's all I have to say about that...

Mathena (Russ' mom), Reagan, Haley (my only girl and my oldest), and Mitchell (the baby). Holden wasn't able to make it. 

Haley and her baby brother. 

My daddy and step mom. 

Funny story...

Russ' mom always makes the birthday cakes for the kids. This year she had a wee little problem. It seems she didn't get the oven rack in straight, thus we have a lopsided cake. =D

Adding to that little problem, she transposed two letters in Reagan's name. Did I mention that on the way to our house, a package fell on the cake? 

This is one birthday none of us will forget! =D

Friday: College tour for Reagan. He will be going to our local community college to get the core classes out of the way (and save money since he can live at home and the courses are cheaper) and then he will be transferring to a 4 year college. As for what college, that decision hasn't been made yet. 

See my hubby in the green shirt? He is 40 pounds lighter! No pics of me, but I am also about 20 pounds lighter! Whoop!! How are we doing it? The old fashioned way. We count calories and  make wise food choices. I write down every thing I put in my mouth. My favorite app for that is My Fitness Pal. 

This week Reagan's Mock Trial team is going to state. We will be going to cheer him and his team on. Can you tell he is playing the part of a professor? 

My Haley asked for some pillows for her couch. The fabric she chose from my stash just screamed modern quilting, so that what I did. This is one of the two I have gotten finished. I have two more to go. Orange has never been one of my favorite colors, but I am really loving it with this blue. 

Mitchell is on the farm for a few days. He is helping with the lambing. =) He loves the farm and was planning on spending all spring break there, but mock trial interferred. He is an alternate so he has to go. It will be a good experience for him, but I do feel bad about him missing time at the farm. There is always this summer, though. 

This is what I have gotten done with my Jilly fabric. The Dresden's are huge!! 20"! I had enough to make 3 plates, so the decision is to make a desk topper where I have my computer. Did I ever mention that I moved my computer and office up to my sewing room? Well, I did, so this will be where I can see and enjoy it often. I am thinking about adding another boarder so I can make the edges scalloped. 

I meant to crop out my feet in this picture....

And lastly, some sad news....Lucas and his mom have moved back to WI, so I won't get to see my little Mister very often. 

That's all I have to say about that...

Talk to you all soon!!

Friday: College tour for Reagan. He will be going to our local community college to get the core classes out of the way (and save money since he can live at home and the courses are cheaper) and then he will be transferring to a 4 year college. As for what college, that decision hasn't been made yet. 

See my hubby in the green shirt? He is 40 pounds lighter! No pics of me, but I am also about 20 pounds lighter! Whoop!! How are we doing it? The old fashioned way. We count calories and  make wise food choices. I write down every thing I put in my mouth. My favorite app for that is My Fitness Pal. 

This week Reagan's Mock Trial team is going to state. We will be going to cheer him and his team on. Can you tell he is playing the part of a professor? 

My Haley asked for some pillows for her couch. The fabric she chose from my stash just screamed modern quilting, so that what I did. This is one of the two I have gotten finished. I have two more to go. Orange has never been one of my favorite colors, but I am really loving it with this blue. 

Mitchell is on the farm for a few days. He is helping with the lambing. =) He loves the farm and was planning on spending all spring break there, but mock trial interferred. He is an alternate so he has to go. It will be a good experience for him, but I do feel bad about him missing time at the farm. There is always this summer, though. 

This is what I have gotten done with my Jilly fabric. The Dresden's are huge!! 20"! I had enough to make 3 plates, so the decision is to make a desk topper where I have my computer. Did I ever mention that I moved my computer and office up to my sewing room? Well, I did, so this will be where I can see and enjoy it often. I am thinking about adding another boarder so I can make the edges scalloped. 

I meant to crop out my feet in this picture....

And lastly, some sad news....Lucas and his mom have moved back to WI, so I won't get to see my little Mister very often. 

That's all I have to say about that...

Talk to you all soon!!

For the first time ever, this son of mine

will be going to public school. 

No, he is not excited, but he is ready. He joined the football team and is making friends before the school year begins. He is also getting his first taste of kids who are...Simply put....Not nice. 

This will be a very interesting year. 

For the first time ever, this son of mine

will be going to public school. 

No, he is not excited, but he is ready. He joined the football team and is making friends before the school year begins. He is also getting his first taste of kids who are...Simply put....Not nice. 

This will be a very interesting year. 

Me: Okay, Mitchell...It's time to learn how to cook.

Mitchell: I can cook! 

Me: Macaroni and cheese out of a box does not count!

Mitchell: Mom! I can make spaghetti! 

Me: Sauce out of a jar doesn't not count as cooking either.

Meatloaf, however, does count! Yummy!

Me: Okay, Mitchell...It's time to learn how to cook.

Mitchell: I can cook! 

Me: Macaroni and cheese out of a box does not count!

Mitchell: Mom! I can make spaghetti! 

Me: Sauce out of a jar doesn't not count as cooking either.

Meatloaf, however, does count! Yummy!

We were discussing what to have for dinner the following night. Mitchell was sharing his thoughts....

{Mitchell: I think next time for dinner we should have Italic. I love Italic. We can have Italic dressing on our salad and have Italic foods, like lasagna or spaghetti....}

It's funny when things like this come from a 5 year old, but I think it's hilarious when your child is 14! Yes, he knows I am sharing this with you all...

We were discussing what to have for dinner the following night. Mitchell was sharing his thoughts....

{Mitchell: I think next time for dinner we should have Italic. I love Italic. We can have Italic dressing on our salad and have Italic foods, like lasagna or spaghetti....}

It's funny when things like this come from a 5 year old, but I think it's hilarious when your child is 14! Yes, he knows I am sharing this with you all...

Or should I say, Farmer Man. Seriously. He grew up this week! 

The grand tour of the farm started with his favorite, the horses. He knows how to ride, saddle, and groom the horses. 

Tinker was Mitchell's horse. 

Sweet sheep...

Calling the cows so we can meet them...He named them all. 

Mitchell took turns giving Reagan, his dad and I a ride on the 4 wheeler. After his ride, Russ said he would rather be in the driving seat. LOL!

Snickers did his tricks for the yummy cheese Mitchell had for him. 

Not a great picture of the dog, but the look on the face of this son of mine makes my heart melt.

Mitchell with his new friends...Chris, Burdean and Dudley. I think he would go live with them and come home only for the weekends, even though he was woken up one morning by the sound of a sting of fire crackers going off under his bedroom window. Seriously. He didn't want to leave. Can't say that I blame him. Living and working on a farm is a perfect environment for a growing young man. I am thrilled he had this experience and I hope he has many more days on the farm with the Grabers. 

On the way home, I looked in the mirror and saw this...I guess they wore him out. 

Or should I say, Farmer Man. Seriously. He grew up this week! 

The grand tour of the farm started with his favorite, the horses. He knows how to ride, saddle, and groom the horses. 

Tinker was Mitchell's horse. 

Sweet sheep...

Calling the cows so we can meet them...He named them all. 

Mitchell took turns giving Reagan, his dad and I a ride on the 4 wheeler. After his ride, Russ said he would rather be in the driving seat. LOL!

Snickers did his tricks for the yummy cheese Mitchell had for him. 

Not a great picture of the dog, but the look on the face of this son of mine makes my heart melt.

Mitchell with his new friends...Chris, Burdean and Dudley. I think he would go live with them and come home only for the weekends, even though he was woken up one morning by the sound of a sting of fire crackers going off under his bedroom window. Seriously. He didn't want to leave. Can't say that I blame him. Living and working on a farm is a perfect environment for a growing young man. I am thrilled he had this experience and I hope he has many more days on the farm with the Grabers. 

On the way home, I looked in the mirror and saw this...I guess they wore him out. 

We sent him to the farm. Mitchell, that is. Actually, in his words, it's been more like camp. He has been riding a 4 wheeler, riding horses for the first time, taking care of the farm animals, helping with the combining, rock climbing, gathering eggs...All good fun for a city boy to experience. He didn't want to go at first, now he doesn't want to come home. ;-)

This is one of the many reasons why I love homeschooling. He may be missing a week of book learning, however the learning that is taking place this week will last a life time.

One of his goals this week is to make friends with the sheep. 

We sent him to the farm. Mitchell, that is. Actually, in his words, it's been more like camp. He has been riding a 4 wheeler, riding horses for the first time, taking care of the farm animals, helping with the combining, rock climbing, gathering eggs...All good fun for a city boy to experience. He didn't want to go at first, now he doesn't want to come home. ;-)

This is one of the many reasons why I love homeschooling. He may be missing a week of book learning, however the learning that is taking place this week will last a life time.

One of his goals this week is to make friends with the sheep. 

Mitchell saved his money from his de-tasseling job this summer to buy himself an iPod Touch. Today, his very own 4th generation iPod Touch arrived....It's amazing! 

Mitchell saved his money from his de-tasseling job this summer to buy himself an iPod Touch. Today, his very own 4th generation iPod Touch arrived....It's amazing!