Woman Quilt

I can't resist laying out a block or two in the mornings.  Remember, I said I never should have started this project.  It was a big mistake, because I really really want to be working on it, instead of doing all the things that really need to be done before harvest starts!

This is one block.  The finished block is 16" x 16".  

I'm a little to obsessive to go total random.  That is, I can't just grab from my stacks of fabric and hope the colors work.  What if there were two of the same together?  So I'm laying it all out first, which gets to be a little bit of a mess.

Here it is all laid out.  

It's kind of hard to tell what the final product is going to look like from these photos, but I think I really like it!  Here's the worst thing about starting this......it will have to sit there on the floor for at least a month!  Although, it gives me time to look at it now and again, to determine if it's right.

Harvest 2018

Yesterday we started harvest!  We had what we are called a "soft start".  We have a couple new folks on our team so we wanted to give them a chance to get acquainted with our operation.

New to our crew this year is our long time friend Dennis Birge and cousin Erich Hein.  Dennis drove combine during harvest 45 years ago but things have changed a bit since then!  It was like riding a bike for Dennis!  Once he got behind the wheel and got accustomed to the climate controlled cab and satellite guidance he settled right in.

Here are a few photos of yesterday's start.

Reynald opening the field.

All indicators are pointing to a bumper crop.

Dennis and his combine!  He sure looks like a farmer!!

We always take a small sample in to the grain elevator at Tokio to make sure it is dry enough to start.   It was!

Dennis, Reynald and Alicia.  A happy crew!

More photos to follow during the days to come as harvest rolls along!  Erich joined us today, but we were so busy hauling grain that I didn't get a chance to take a photo.  We're not complaining about being busy.  It means there are lots of bushels to haul to the storage elevator! 

It's beginning to look a lot like harvest

We are in pre-harvest mode.  Reynald and Alicia have been working on getting the equipment ready.  I have been working on harvest food, putting muffins, cookies, banana bread, and sandwich meat in the freezer.

All three of us have been sitting on the tractor, running the rod weeders.  Alicia finished her fields yesterday, I will finish mine today and Reynald will finish his tomorrow.

We are planning a soft start on Monday the 23rd, with full speed ahead anticipated on Wednesday.

Faithful Raymond full of fuel and to all our relief, new brakes!!!

Green Gator towing the air compressor. hooked up and ready to go.

Alicia's Arthur and the bank out wagon.  I've never know why it is called a bank out wagon?

Both combines are serviced, checked over once and twice and certified ready for service.

Starbuck and Double Shot, likewise serviced, tire pressure checked and ready to haul grain, hopefully lots of grain!

Combine, trucks and the Rolinco Road Resort in the background.

I shouldn't have done it.......

.....but I did!  I started a new quilt, albeit with fabric from my stash, but a new project nonetheless.  For several years I have been wanting to make a wool quilt for myself.  I have been collecting wool fabric with this project in mind.  Mom has given me some lovely pieces that she purchased many years ago with the intent of making garments.  Some pieces are from thrift store finds, some are cut from wool suit pants that belonged to Uncle Dean and to Reynald.

I searched Pinterest for a block pattern and found one that I really liked.  Reynald helped me lay the block pattern out and choose fabric colors that he felt would coordinate.  Yesterday I started cutting and finished this afternoon, when I retreated to the cool basement after working outside in the hot summer sun for a couple hours.  

I won't get a chance to start sewing until this fall but when I get a few minutes to build a block or two I will be ready to go.  I'm so anxious to see if this turns out the way I have it pictured in my head.   

I wanted to make sure this block was going to work, so I drew it out on graph paper and then Reynald laid it out.  I like it at least at this stage!

Two of the three bins of wool fabric from which to choose. 

Some of the bigger pieces of wool, waiting to be cut.

Cutting!

Less than half finished.  

I made labels for the stacks of cut fabric so that I could keep track.

Once the blocks are pieced together, I will do hand stitching on the seams to quilt.  I'm thinking about doing different stitches, similar to a crazy quilt.  I have a couple months to contemplate.  Next project is harvest!!!!

New Year's Day prep work

 This week we are working on getting our drills ready for fall seeding.  This is the set the Reynald and Alicia rebuilt this winter in the shop.  We would like to get this project finished up this week.  Next week is pre-harvest panic, putting the finishing touch on all equipment and spending a couple days on the tractor, running the rod weeder over all our summer fallow ground.

Alicia and I are replacing all the towers that hold the hoses that deliver the seed to the drill boot.  The boot "drills" in to the ground to places the seed at a depth that we determine.  We are also replacing the white hoses which were part of the original rebuild over 20 years ago.

This is an old style tower that we will replace.  Also a couple white hoses.

We won't replace this big hose, but it needs to come off the old tower and then put back on to the new one.  It was quite warm yesterday, making hose removal and re-install much easier.  Good for hoses, but a little more tiring for humans.

Alicia is pulling out the hoses from the tower.

Cutting new hose to replace the white.

Our little angel with a black hose halo!

This is the receiving bracket at the top of the boot.

New hose installed.

And this is a completed new tower!

The packer wheels were re-built this winter by Barnes Fabricating in Waterville WA.  We also bought new straw pickers from Barnes.   Both need to be put on to the drill frames.

Here's faithful Kenny who is on his last leg of Rolinco farm life.  Something is dreadfully wrong with his engine, but he is limping along to help with projects we simply can't do without him.  

This is all I can see from the driver's seat of Kenny.  Hand signals help, and loud hoops and hollering!

Straw pickers rolled almost in to place.  

Next lifted and bolted on to the drill frame, which is not an easy task.

Packer wheels ready to roll in to place, which is an even more difficult task.  

And this is what the drill produces!  Though not yet in the bin, our crop looks fantastic.  Just a couple more weeks and we will know for sure the fruits of our labor.

An ocean of wheat and a huge blue sky.  

Front Porch Sittin'

As you well know, our favorite part of summer is sitting on the porch with a glass of wine or a good beer, after a long day of work, watching the sun set.

Independence Day Celebration

We had a wonderful Independence Day celebration on Wednesday.  Del and Eva were able to come to the farm, Chemyn, Louise and David, Les, my mom and Alicia all joined us.  We had lunch, watched Chemyn's travel log of her trip this spring to Italy and then had dinner.  There was a little visiting thrown in for good measure!  Del, Eva, Chemyn, Louise and David all spent the night at the Rolinco Road Resort.  In the morning we had yet another terrific meal, and then we all had to get back to the reality of our lives.  Looking at these photos, and remembering out time together, make me smile.

Les made these fire cracker place cards a few years ago.  I love them so much I keep using them, year after year.

Louise made this salad from fresh ingredients purchased at the Farmer's Market in Spokane. 

A picnic table is completed with deviled eggs.....

and cold fried chicken.

Red, white and blue flowers from the yard.

Les purchased several loaves of bread from a new bakery in Spokane called Culture Breads.  It's worth stopping in if you are in Spokane.

I sliced and Les marked each variety so that we could tasted test all the loaves. 

Sweet cherries from our tree.

Chemyn's first attempt at macaron.  She needs to keep baking these!

Our happy crew!

Another one of Chemyn''s creations.  A lime curd tart with raspberries, blueberries and piped meringue.  

After dinner, Louise rearranged the flowers for a slightly different look for our breakfast table.

Scrambled farm fresh eggs with sundried tomato and feta cheese, a plate of fruit from the Spokane Farmer's Market and a basket of cherries from the Rolinco Road Farmer's Market!

Yogurt made by Alicia to accompany the fruit.

And Eva baked this raspberry tart that was amazing!

And breakfast always includes Eva's quick breads.  This morning we had a sample of date nut and banana chocolate.  

One thing about this crew, we know how to cook and bake, we know how to eat, we know how to talk and we know how to laugh!