Concerts to Quilts

This coming weekend is The Stichin' Chicks spring quilt retreat.  Alicia helped me get the barn set up yesterday afternoon.  There's still a little bit to do, but we're close.  Friday afternoon at 2pm the fun and frivolity begins!

The weather forecast is for nasty weather, perfect for staying huddled up in the barn and getting lots of sewing and stitching done. 

Here's what the empty barn looks like, before we fill it up with sewing machines, knitting needles, finished projects, wine and tasty snacks!

The almost empty barn. 

I don't know where all the insects come from, or how they manage to infiltrate the barn when it is so cold, but here they are.  Also pictured here is my birthday present from last year, which I love!  

When I was mopping the floor I looked up and noticed the setting sun reflecting off the windmill blades.  

This old sewing machine was a barn gift from a friend.  It's a perfect accent to quilt retreat weekends.

My mom made this flag several years ago.  We hung it in the barn for a recital and have never taken it down.  It's perfect.

The barn quilt is hung ever retreat in the entry way.

Louise gave me this rooster a few years ago.  He has found a permanent place in the barn.

Beth made Aunt Esther for a family reunion long, long ago.  She too has found a permanent home in the barn, greeting all who enter.  

Finished Projects

I have had a winter of indulgence.  I've allowed myself to work on lots of different projects, almost to the point of obsession!  Time for farm and garden work is drawing near however, and I know my life of leisure will soon come to an end.  I am trying to squeeze one more quilt in before the ground thaws and the temperatures rise.  The race is on....

I made this for my mom for her birthday.  It was a kit that she bought several years ago but hadn't gotten around to working.  It's wool, so of course I was happy to play with it!

I made this for my friend Claudia.  She bought the kit this fall, and I just loved it!  I brought it home to copy the pattern and decided I might as well put it together for her.  Again.....wool.  

This is the fall quilt for our bed. It has been a two winter project.  I'm very pleased with how it all came together.  I delivered it to Kathy Woods last week for her to quilt.  

This cute little Christmas ABC was my "carry project" for quite awhile.  A carry project is one that you carry with you every where you go, so that you always have something to work on while waiting in doctor offices, or riding in the car or.....

A person should never be with out a carry project, so once I finished the ABC I put this one together.  It finished much quicker than the ABC.  I used an old pillow case that was Ron's Aunt Helen's, coffee dyed it and then stitched.  I'm not exactly sure what I will do with either one of these.  

This is the wool quilt that I made for David and Roni.  I absolutely love making these.  Piecing them goes fast, which is kind of fun, but the best part of these wool quilts is the hand stitching that acts as the quilting.  

I'm not sure what it is about this that I love so much.  

Here's a closer look at the hand stitching.  

This is the chenille and flannel quilt that I finally finished. 

I'm very pleased with how it turned out, which is a huge relief because I was not happy with it as I was working.

We've had super cold temperatures the last five or six days.  Lows in the single digits and highs in the low 20's.  The ground is frozen solid again so perhaps I will have a few more weeks of scratching my sewing itch!  What a fun winter I've had......

Rolinco Road Test Kitchen

I spent ALL day in the kitchen today.  I really shouldn't have.  I am trying to decide what to take to the FFA alumni dessert auction next weekend.  I tried a couple recipes new recipes and only one gets to stay in the keep pile.  I made two different recipes of Ding Dongs.  One was good, the other goes to the chickens!  But, even the good one takes way too much time for my baking patience.

Cutting out the rounds after baking the cake.  There was more than one that didn't cut nicely.  

Cut out ding dongs, waiting to be filled and "ganached"!  

I also tried two different fillings.  This was the 7 minute frosting filling.  Good, but very sweet.  

This is the marshmallow cream based filling.  It was also very sweet but a good balance to the dark chocolate.

The keeper is Peppermint Patties.  The recipe says they are best out of the freezer and I'm sure that is true.  They may go to the auction, they may not make it that long! 

Peppermint Patties ready to go in to the fridge and then the freezer once the ganache has set.  

Earlier in the week I made some cherry pie galettes.  Tried a new pastry tart recipe which will also go on the keep list.  The rustic pies were good, but not very pretty, so I'm afraid they wouldn't bring much at auction.

A plate of experiments.  The taller ding dongs are the fail.  The chickens will enjoy them I'm sure!  The rest are keepers, though I don't anticipate making ding dongs again any time soon.

As I was trying these new things, and getting increasingly more frustrated as the hours ticked away, I wondered why I was doing this.  I should just make Uncle Dean's Everyday cookies.  They are everyone's favorite, I can knock them out in no time, and I know they won't fail like the Ding Dongs.......live and learn I suppose!

White Valentine's Day

Yesterday morning we woke up to winter white snowfall for our Valentine Day.  Nothing red or pink about this day outside!  It was gorgeous, and the sun came out to play in the afternoon, making for perfect walking weather with the terriers on Rolinco Road.

It snowed overnight and most of the morning.

The snowfall went from fine flakes to big fat fluffy flakes by late morning.  The fat fluffy flakes are my favorite!

A lone set of tracks on Rolinco road prove that Alicia was able to get to work this morning!

Charlie investigating something in the field.

These two terriers love their off leash walks on Rolinco Road.

More than once, they stop and fuss with each other.

They make a terrible racket.

Barking and growling until Baxter finally runs off and then Charlie follows.

Charlie loves the snow and was thrilled to run through the pasture making tracks.

He's like a skier in fresh powder!

Snow dog!

Girls Weekend

This past weekend was Girls Weekend in New Jersey!  David and his dad had a similar weekend in Vail Colorado, skiing with some male friends that they called "Dads and Lads".  Roni came up with the idea to have a fun weekend ourselves, gathering at David's parents house in New Jersey.  Now, this is way out of my box, and Roni knew this, but asked anyway, and to her surprise, and mine, I said yes!

So, Jean and Roni Jo and I had a super fun girls weekend.  We went to museums in New York City, and Newark, NJ.  A couple long walks with Rosie the dog (good thing Rosie is a girl too so she could join us!), watched the Olympics, worked a jigsaw puzzle, had lovely visits with long time friends of Jean whom I am quickly becoming attached to as well, and lunch one day at the famous Millburn Deli.

I got kind of caught up in the fun of the weekend, and didn't take as many photos as I intended and probably should have, but following will be a smattering of images from a few of our activities.

This is an example of creative marketing.  The train station in Shorthills doubles as a bar and restaurant in the evenings, called Box Car  It was so cute!

This is not my first time on the NYC subway, but it's an experience nonetheless.

A subway musician entertaining busy travelers.

This is the building where John Lennon of the Beatles lived.  It continues to be a tourist draw.

Walking along Central Park Ave. West.  It was a cold day, but lovely to be outside.

The iconic horse drawn carriage ride through Central Park.  

Jean and Ellen with Central Park and NYC in the background.

We popped in to the Museum of Natural History for a brief tour.  It currently houses the largest know dinosaur called "Titanosaurs"!  Roni Jo and Alicia went  through a huge dinosaur phase when they were young.  They would have flipped over backwards at the displays in this museum!

The view of Central Park from Peter and Ellen's apartment.  I can only imagine how beautiful this is in the spring summer and fall.  Winter has it's own kind of beauty as well.

Saturday morning, in the pouring rain, we ventured in to Newark to this wonderful museum that housed a permanent art collection as well as the home of the Ballentine's that has been beautifully preserved.  It's so interesting to glimpse in to the past through the thoughtful preservation of artifacts.

The Ballentine dining room was historically preserved.  But, there was a modern display as well, from an artist who did this staging of fabric on headless mannequins.  It was an interesting juxtaposition of past and present.

Another, yet more traditionally staged room in the Ballentine mansion.

Leaving the museum was this clever statue which at first glance looked like someone sitting on a chair, contemplating life.

As you walked past, you noticed that the sculpture is all shoes!  So cool!

Monday morning, before I was due to fly back west, Jean and Rosie and I went for a walk in the woods.  Again, winter beauty, with the promise of more to come with spring, summer and fall!

Rosie loves her walks in the woods.  She's such a beautiful dog.

And lunch at the Millburn Deli which David has been telling me about for several years.  There is a reason it's a local favorite!!!

I need a little practice with taking selfies, so just kind of ignore how goofy this photo is!

Meanwhile, back at the farm, lots is happening.  We're gearing up for spring work.  I am so grateful that I was able to take a few days to spend with Roni Jo and Jean.  It was a real treat!