jingerbread ranch has moved to Nevada...

Surprise! Here it is 16 months since my last post. Forgive me, (father, for I have sinned...just couldn't resist), but a lot has happened in my life these past months, and it has been very hard for me to get back into the normal daily routine that my life was before the night of August 28, 2012. A horrible fire swept through our mountain community and decimated 14 homes and 20 outbuildings. Our home was the second to go up in flames. My s/o and I barely got out...we could see the fire as we drove up our driveway. No one came to tell us to evacuate, we knew we were in trouble. We packed a few meager possessions (we WERE coming back to a whole house), and away we went, following the other evacuees off the mountain.There is a longer version to this story, so I will leave most of it out, as it would take days to tell it. The shorter version is...we lost our beautiful log home of 17 years, 22 acres of trees, and all our possessions except was what in our duffle bags. Nothing we could do...fire is an unmerciful beast, and all you can do is get out of its way...
   Fast forward to today...November 16, 2013...we decided not to rebuild in Montana, and headed for our "snowbird" state of Nevada to rebuild. Making new memories in our single-story 3BR,2Bath home. It isn't 22 acres, but we've lucked out with some very nice neighbors, and life goes on.

   Not going to try and catch you (or me) up on this past year-and-a-half, but rather start from today and go forward. This is the first time I've felt that I could put words down as my grief for us and others who have lost has been great. I thank God every day for his love, and the kindness of friends and family who have touched us with their compassion and sympathy. Also, those who shared their material possessions with us, homes, money, gifts, etc., in our time of need. You know who you are, and I am grateful.

Anyway, this has gone on long enough. Today is a new day, and my normal routine is somewhat like my other...only I'm doing it in the desert! It is still hot here, gardening season is just starting, and I am planting! Vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There is no grass here, so everything is done in raised beds. I have a 25 x 4.5 foot organic garden, and a smaller flower/herb garden. This is my first season here so everything is pretty much experimental from this point. I hope to write about my gardening adventures as well as other new projects/hobbies I have taken up(and the old ones). So...tomorrow is another day for another story...

    

I missed June...now here's July...

At the end of April I purchased a plane ticket to go visit my home state of Ohio. My mother, older brother, daughter, grandson (1 of 3), cousins and various other relatives are still there, and I try to get home as much as possible. This time 2 years have passed. I'm leaving on the 18th of this month, and am almost ready to go. I'll be staying a month, and will be staying mostly with my daughter, who is my only child. Classmates and I have made plans to try and get together...hope I can see all of them!

As for sewing...I still haven't finished my 2 wall hangings I started...they are in the same stage as when I wrote last. However, I have started a new project...which is very typical of me...so now I have 2 more UFOs to add to the pile. I swear I'm going to finish those wallhangings when I get home! I've also managed to sew some more HSTs to add to the Birthday Depression Blocks I received. All has not been in vain.

My new project is called the Sunny Lanes Quilt Saga. I found a quilt online made by a quilter on one of my much visited quilting sites, and fell in love with it.  The block is called Sunny Lanes and can be found on http://www.quilterscache.com/. It is a site by Marcia Hohn, and she offers a gazillion and one free quilt blocks for the making. I've got one made, and lots more cut out to be sewn. It's a scrappy quilt, and I love scrappies! Lots of four-patches to be made from 2-inch squares, and I have been saving those forever! Kind of like a fabric history of my stash.  Here's the block.....



I decided to iron most of the seams open to make the block lay flatter. Right now, I've put everything on hold, and will start sewing the blocks together when I get home next month. Feels good to have this much done. I will post a picture of the quilt tomorrow that was made by the other quilter. This has gotten too long already!!!

Long week @ jingerbread ranch.....

Seems like all we did last week was run to town every day! We live right in-between two towns and they are 17+ miles each way. Three yearly check-ups for my sig/other plus follow-ups on some added testing. Everything came out ok, just needed to add more of a couple supplements he's already taking.

Needless to say, I got zero sewing done! The wallhanging I'm quilting on is still under the needle. I've spent my free moments the last few days going through books and magazines picking out a scrappy quilt to make. I've got to do something with all these scraps! Well, I managed to find more than a few patterns, so now I need to choose one...maybe I can work on more than one at a time...most contain four or nine-patches, and I could just sit and feed them through the machine all day...hmmmm...maybe...

BUT...I've still got my two wallhangings to finish first!The one with the pink posies is still hanging on my design wall, and the one under the needle ain't getting done while I'm sitting here! I've got most of the SID done, next will be the fancy work, which means simple fancy work for me. Maybe just some curliques around the border...hmmmm...maybe...

Wednesday @ jingerbread ranch

A new month...May...it conjures up for me the budding trees, tulips breaking ground, my asparagus peeking up to see if there are any bunnies ready to snip their heads off, and our mountain bluebirds searching for the perfect box to make their nests. What I didn't expect this morning was 30* temps and SNOW!!! But, yes, there it was...of course, by noon the sun had come out and melted it. Actually we usually have cold weather up until June 15th, hence the short growing season up here in the mountains. I start my seeds indoors to give them a head start, and plant them after the 15th. Everything always tastes better when you plant, grow and harvest it with your own hands.

I belong to a fabulous online quilting group, and this winter we decided to make Birthday Blocks for one another. Ten ladies from the group signed up, and we were off! We each picked a favorite block, decided they were to be scrappy, and waited for our birth month to roll around. Mine's in February, and the "depression block" was my choice. Oh, how I eagerly awaited for all my "presents" to come in the mail!!! All nine blocks (I'm the 10th) were beautiful! some of the ladies sent extra fabric, leftover half square triangles, and one sent a smaller version of my block which I've decided to make a label from it for the back of whatever I make from them. I probably will make more of the block to make at least a twin-sized quilt, but I thought I would show you what the ladies sent... 

Monday @ jingerbread ranch

Well, I think this is a first! Two days of posting in the same month! I know sometimes it only takes a minute to post, but to find that minute sometimes seems impossible. This morning we got up early and headed into town for an early dr. appt., went to breakfast, stopped to visit some close friends, hardware store for a part, post office, feed store, and then home! Whew! I'm ready for my nap!
I did do some sewing yesterday, and am proud of myself for getting this far. I'm not a fan of borders, and this project had FOUR!!! It did turn out nice. This wallhanging is a pattern from Nancy Mahoney, and was featured in the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine March/April 2006 issue. I've had the fabric that long! Told you I was way behind in my UFO's!!! Anyway, I just fell in love with it, and wanted to do something with 30's fabrics, so here it is...

I still need to make a backing for it...I'm using up the leftover yardage from the front and white muslin.

Well, I finally got brave enough to go to my blog...7 months(!!) have gone by since my last post!!! Thank you Wilma, from Wilma's World for not kicking me off your blog list...I'm hopeful I can move up from the bottom!
I'm not going to try to play catch up for the last 7 months as I try not to live or dwell in the past. I thought spring had arrived here in the mountains, but I woke up on Thursday to 1.5 inches of snow...how pretty!! Of course, it's melted now, but the cold temps have lingered.
I've been trying to start finishing up some older projects that I put together last year. I've got one down to the binding, and one hanging here on my design wall to layer. A lot of these will be guinea pigs for practicing my free-motion quilting...nothing fancy...I'm still trying to get meandering down! Most are scrap quilts, and the better ones I will take my time marking and sewing S-L-O-W-L-Y. Practice makes almost perfect in my quilting world!

The End of September

Wow! Where has this month gone to? I've been sewing a little bit every day, but have nothing completed to show you. Just finished up a wall hanging for Halloween which means I got the top done. Hopefully, tomorrow I will put batting and backing on.
Woke up this morning to a gorgeous sunrise...so gorgeous I put it on my header. We've gotten a reprieve from winter. All next week is supposed to be in the 70-80's. I'm not complaining! The garden is almost empty of flowers, the rhubarb is spent, and the asparagus has gone to seed. The birds are enjoying the new birdbath we purchased for them. They are such a delight to watch!! Better than TV.

August Mountains

I changed my header picture today. I'm still trying to get my page the way I want it, but every time I edit, the "gadget" ends up in the wrong place! I've always thought I was somewhat computer savvy, but I'm beginning to wonder.

The mountains really are beautiful this time of year, and yes, dear reader, there is still some snow on the mountains here in Montana. My mountains (as I like to call them) in the picture, are a bit hazy from wildfires happening somewhere in the state, and whatever smoke has snuck over from the Idaho fires in recent days. Fortunately for us, we haven't experienced any fires close by.

It's been a lazy day here at jingerbread ranch...hot in the 80's...we have just two fawns left that come around with their momma, and they are fun to watch as they are coming of age. Still spotty, but they will lose them come September and colder weather. Then the cycle begins again with rutting season.

It's already August at jingerbread ranch...

Summer has gone by too fast for me. I've been doing some website work for a friend who owns a quilt shop, and it seems I've spent all my time putting her inventory online. It's looking pretty good, but now I'm going to attempt to get the shop on Facebook, Twitter, AND start a Blog for the business!!! Can't even keep up with my own! I'm doing better on FB as I've made it my Homepage so it's the first thing I see when I boot up. Can't ignore all those posts! So I spend as little time there so I can get to my emails. Now, if only I could figure out how to have FOUR homepages...lol!

My S/O and I will be making a trip to Yellowstone on Monday. It's an exciting time for us...going back to the scene of the crime...we were both working in the park for Hamilton Stores for the summer, our eyes met...and the rest is history. For the last 17 years we have made a yearly trek to YNP, not just for the memories, but the beauty of the park never gets boring for us. We haven't tired of the hiking, food, sites, animals, you name it, we love it all!! Monday can't come fast enough for me!

As for the quilting and sewing part of my life, I've accomplished a lot more than I thought I would. Decided to put everything away that was lying about and get just one project out at a time. If I only get all the blocks finished so that all that is left is for me to sew them into a top, then I'm happy with myself. It has worked for me so far. Have finished up the 48 blocks I need for a Kim Diehl quilt, 25- 12.5" star blocks for a Glenna Hailey quilt, caught up on my BOM that I sponsored for my small group of quilting friends here in MT, finished and sent off various blocks for my online quilting group, and I am presently working on a panel quilt for our living room wall. They're still considered UFO's, but I'm further along with them than I thought I ever would be. I still have a cupboard full of this and that, but eventually, I'll git 'er done!

Will leave you for now...here's a picture of the Bear Panel I'm working on ...

Getting Back Into The Swing Of Things

I've really been remiss in keeping my word about this blog. Although life goes on if I don't post everyday, I still feel as though something has been left out, and think maybe I should say it aloud on my blog.
I have been doing quite alot these last few months...sewing, traveling, working on a friend's website, and the everyday things it takes to keep a household running. Winter took its toll on us as we had decided to stay home for the winter instead of traveling to our "snowbird" spot this past year. According to Montana "natives" it was one of the worst winters in 15-20 years. Of course, every "native" had a different opionion of the word "worst". Our driveway was impossible to get out of so we went to live with friends in town for a couple of weeks, but got so homesick we had to come home no matter what. Our good neighbors let us park at their place for the duration, but walking up and down that driveway got to be pretty old fast. Soooo...we took a 10-day vacation to CA. It was chilly there, but NO SNOW!!! Had a good time with all of DH's relatives, and confirmed my DH's reasoning for not wanting to go back to live in CA!
Anyway, we lived through it, and I changed my header picture to today's weather...it was 32 degrees this morning, but NO SNOW!!! We have missed spring entirely, and are awaiting the short summer. Still, we will plant nothing in the garden until after the 15th of this month, Hence, our short growing season.
This summer should be a busy one for us as we have several trips planned, I go for my first colonoscopy, and a big trip to Ohio in September for me to visit my daughter, grandson, brother, mother, other relatives, and most importantly, a quilting retreat with all my new friends from an online quilting group that I joined last year. Things are looking up here at jingerbread ranch!!
Chat soon!

Lazy Day...

Yesterday my DH started at noon to plow the driveway. Some 4+ hours later he was done! I went to help and spent over an hour just shoveling. We have about a foot of accumulated snow at jingerbread ranch, and I think most of it was on the driveway! I used muscles I never knew existed as the most workout I get everyday is my five toes pushing down the presser foot! That's sad...not the idea that I'm sewing, but the fact that I'm so sedentary.
Anywhoo...not much done today...picked out some fabrics for a couple of pincushions I want to make for a friend, and spent the rest of the day at the computer. We did get out to get the mail. Now that may not seem like a big deal to you city folks whose mailbox is at the end of your driveway, but to us here in the mountains it is a big deal. Our mailbox is 2.8 miles from our home! So we were glad to get out if only to get the mail.
Hopefully, I'll have something to show for my efforts tomorrow...

I'm Taking a Snow Day...

It has been snowing most of the day here at jingerbread ranch. DH has just come in from plowing the driveway and removing 6-8 inches of snow. We are 6000+ feet up in the mountains, and it is supposed to snow all night. We may be able to dig out by April...lol!

I've been catching up on some reading today, just generally goofing off, and trying to get a hand on this blog. My goal of writing here everyday has gone to the dogs, but I am not one to live in the past so today will be another start on my goal. I'm trying to master putting pictures on here, but haven't been very successful. With a bit of tutoring from my fellow blogger and friend, Wilmanc.blogspot.com, hopefully I can succeed this time!

I am a collector of things Mary Engelbreit. My DH remodeled (he didn't do the remodeling, but paid for it to be done) my sewing room for me in July, and one of the new additions to the room was a bench with a drawer in it. I decided to cover the pad with ME fabric, and make up a few of the many pillow panels in my collection to put on the bench. Well, last week I finally got the bug and sewed up four pillows, and covered the bench. I also hung a ME picture that was a gift from my friend, Lynn. She is a fantastic Mosaic artist, and all-around shabby chic person so we try to keep each other supplied with "objects of our obsessions". I'm going to leave you with a picture, and hope to be here again tomorrow...

Well, it didn't work so I'm going to leave as is...the cupboard beside the bench is my stash (or most of it).

Heat Wave

Been up in the high thirties these last couple of days. Some of the accumulated snow is melting, and just in time for the predicted big storms coming our way tomorrow and on through the weekend.

Work was slow yesterday at the consignment shop. If my friend, Lynn, hadn't stopped in I would not have seen anybody!!! Very, very slow! I did get a lot of magazines read and some pictures of the shop taken so I can post them here. I need to get permission from the owner first, then I'll post. Want to do things right!

So, I will leave you with a picture of one of our fawns sunning himself. The deer come visit us daily, and lay out on the lawn. They feel perfectly secure here as they know we are not hunters.

Evening at jingerbread ranch

I changed my template on the header, and it seemed to have centered my blog name. Thanks for the help, Wilma and Patty. Just learning the ropes here, and hope to add a lot more to my blog page as I go along.
Tomorrow I will be working at the Chic Shack. It is a small consignment shop in Whitehall that features some pretty talented ladies. The owner gave me about 50+ pounds of fabric and scraps so I told her I would put in a few days of work for her. I love going there, and can spend hours just looking at the items the ladies have crafted. The owner makes aprons (hence the scraps), and other small fabric items. Some of the other products are: pottery, rugs, totes and purses, candles, home decor items, re-purposed household items, mosaics, magnet cards, antiques, furniture, and its all packed into a 3 room cottage! Very well organized I might add. The owners DIL who is also a consignor does all the arranging, and is very good at it! I will take some pictures tomorrow and show you what I'm talking about.
Going to make it an early night....

QUIET DAY

Another quiet day here at the ranch...I put up a picture for my "only"(lol) quilter friend, Wilma, and will add some as I go along. The picture is of our meadow last week when we had a snowstorm. It's still cold here...in the 20's, but no new snow has fallen the last few days.
I spent most of my day just shuffling things around in my new sewing room as I just threw things in drawers and cupboards when we finished it in July. There are still a few things that need to be done...switchplates to be switched out to white, moldings and floor boards to be painted, and a foam pillow to be covered for my bench seat. I'm having a darn good time in my room!!! I'll post some pictures later, Wilma, although you've already seen them! lol. Patty and Roma, too! Ah, my faithful followers!

Another day......

New Year's Day 1-1-11

Ahhhh...just a quiet day at home with DH...him watching TV, and me down in my "studio" sewing and catching up on emails. I've been working on some UFO's from last year (and the years before!). A quilting friend and I have challenged each other to do at least one UFO a month for 2011. She called to tell me what she was working on, so at least we were on the same page today. I will be able to put on my binding tomorrow, and ,hopefully, cross that one off my list. It is a smaller project, but will be done nonetheless. I have larger tops finished, but have to wait for the money to be there to be able to take them to the quilter.

One Last Post For 2010

It is -7* here at jingerbread ranch, but we are mighty warm in the cabin! Had a few inches of snow on Wednesday, and now the freezing temps. My thoughts and prayers are with the people in the midwest who are experiencing the tornadoes and snowstorms.
Went to JoAnn's today to use my last 40% + 10% off entire order coupons for 2010! Was running low on muslin so bought the rest of a bolt of Kona Bleached. Also purchased 2 yards of black Kona for a project. Love that store!!!

Sending all of you wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Blessed New Year!!!

Happy New Year !!!

Ok, the new year is just around the corner, and I've only posted a few times in 2010! I guess I should make a resolution to add to my blog everyday, but then I'd be committing myself! Truly, I will put forth the effort to write something everyday in hopes of at least having a record of what I'm doing with all my time. I love reading everyone else's blogs and visit them quit frequently...so what's keeping me from not visiting my own blog??!!
Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to spend some time trying to dress this place up with a few pictures and whatnot. Seems everyone else is so far ahead of me, and, maybe that is what puts me off. Soooo....fellow bloggers, prepare for a barrage of questions from this newbie for help with my blog!
More tomorrow...

Silly Me!!! I put my post on the comment space!!

Whew!! It has been a long time since I've been on here! Anyway, read my post on the comment part of the blog, and I promise I'll get it right the next time!!

Snowy March at jingerbread ranchMT

March is going out like a lion here in the mountains. Lots of snow, and 16 degrees @ 7AM this morning! The best remedy for that is a cup of hot tea, and a day in my jammies! I love jammie days...knowing no one will dare try to come down the driveway in this weather! Our driveway is usually the last one to have the snow melt because it is so shaded with trees, and it's about a 6-7% incline. If you're not careful coming down you'll end up in the meadow!
Enough about the weather...today I'm going to attempt to organize my quilting projects according to priority. Good Luck with that! I have a lot of UFO's that need just a little bit of attention to be finished so I can post a picture here on my blog, so that's my goal.
I'll update on the progress tomorrow...