"Hard to believe but true" catagory

When we moved here there was an ancient Gravenstein apple tree. It was gray, gnarled, and the entire center of the trunk was rotting away.. There was a hole in the side and as far as you could reach up or down inside it was empty...

We figured that it was not long for this world and each year more and more of the trunk rotted away until there was only a thin shell up one side.....That was 30 years ago and every year it continues to bloom and every year we know it will be its last year.

Some years ago we propped it up with some old fence rails and keep the limbs trimmed to reduce the weight and amount of fruit.. Yes fruit!! It not only continues to bloom it bears apples every year... For me this tenacious old tree has become symbolic of our lives, our marriage, and our farm... It may even outlast us...

BTW this is my 600th post...should have planned a party!...

Molly and "her" Morris

Well I noticed that it has been a whole week since a puppy picture so I'll just slip one in of Molly and Morris in a quiet moment... We had been so apprehensive about Molly's acceptance of a puppy and felt the most we could have hoped for is a resigned acceptance... so we are continually amazed and delighted at her devotion to Morris ....

Plan for Diane's stumpwork block

Sometimes I do work with a rough idea or sketch and this stumpwork block of Diane's is a good example... When I'm working on cooperative block I like to pick up on what has gone before me... In this case Cobi did a lovely viney heart in the lower left with sweet peas... every single one is wired and beautiful. Cobi does the most exquisite work....every stitch and thread is perfection.

To continue with Cobi's vision I'm adding a vine also.... a trumpet vine with 3 small hummingbirds.. There is an awkward triangle on the upper left that I hope to incorporate into my design. To do this my vine will weave through Cobi's seam..... Cobi wired the flowers and did the leaves in satin stitch... I am going to do the same as I can't imagine wiring that many leaves... especially since I've never wired anything before... Please keep in mind that this is a VERY ROUGH sketch at this point but it does show what direction I'm traveling... This block took 29 days to get here from the Netherlands and this is a pretty ambitious plan so I doubt that I will have it ready by mail date...

Buttons and Lisa's block

These buttons are off to Susan E. today and hopefully one will find a place on her "Alice" block. I actually did these buttons 3 times... The first time there was too much imagry on them and the clock effect and numbers were lost. So I sanded them down and did them more simply and liked them....but I had used a permanent marker to do the numbers and when I sprayed the glaze the ink dissolved and it was a mess.

So the third time I tested all my sprays and all my markers. She had said she might do a "Dali"esque block and I thought maybe the black and white might be useful... If I were applying these I would couch them in gold cording and add something for the winder at the top.....

I made a start on Lisa encrusted DYOB and since she wanted a garden theme I started with a lace arbor... I have no plan for this block (except for a bunny somewhere in it) and will let it evolve as it goes.

This will be my "airport" block. I'm going out of town next week and it involves 3 planes both coming and going and many hours of waiting...several 2-3 hour and one 4 hour wait... When I use my frequent flyer miles they always give me the very worst connections..... So I expect to finish this block in airports..

Morning Mayhem with Morris

Morris's morning starts about 5:30am by nibbling on my ears.....even when I hide my head under the covers.... The living room is littered with bits of paper, bits of batting, thread, CQ trim, and doggie toys.... Of course doggie toys are his least favorite and CQ trim is "the most". He drags around a 1/2 yard of batting... hiding under it, rolling in it and tearing it apart.... He loves to chew on my slippers...when I am wearing them.....AND while I'm walking...

Then there is the little footstool.... He hides under it to jump out and attack Molly and any naked ankles passing by. He pulls it around by the fringe, turns it over to chew on the legs... and of course then pulls it around upside down by the fringe.

But by7am he is tuckered out and needs the first of his two morning naps... Do I love this puppy? ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!