Pets and Family it's the best

Bruno was in Heaven. David was trying to order the new plants in the post but Bruno kept jumping in and snapping at the water so David decided it was time to play. 

But Sadie didn't want to play in the water. She was hiding behind David and the hose. LOL 

A few months ago I found a new quilt shop in the country by accident. The address is Bryan but it is just outside of Hearne. It's called The Railroad Cotton Exchange. Tina and Christine are the owners and they are super nice and helpful. They are now open every Friday and Saturday from 10-3. I might have left some money with the shop and saved some fabric. I bought some Riley Blake fabric. I couldn't leave it all at the shop. And I couldn't leave without getting the green and blue coordinating fabrics. It's sew darn cute. We'll see what I make out of it.

Pamela asked if we'd join her, Kaleb and the boys at 36 North Winery on Sunday 8/17. And we did. The winery has a large outside area with a swing set and fort for the boys and a shaded patio for the adults. If you do a tasting they'll par it with a small bite of a dessert for just a couple dollars more. And those desserts are tasty. 

 It's family friendly. We had a glass of wine and the boys played in between snacks and juice. Best part was the fun we had even if it was a tad warm out.  And the boys each had a sweet treat. One got a cupcake and one had a cookie. 

The boys had some rosy cheeks after playing outside.

  

It was getting time to leave so Pamela and I headed inside to cool off and use the ladies room. Eventually Braxton and Killian joined me on the couch so we could take a picture. They were telling Pamela and I about learning Spanish at school. Braxton was cracking us up because we threw a few simple phrases at them and Braxton made up his own words when he tried to repeat what we said in Spanish.

David and Kaleb joined us inside eventually. Braxton was watching Gpa messing with his phone.  Pamela tried to get a picture with Kaleb. LOL

But I got one with him and he smiled. He was in trouble with Pamela now.

And I captured one of David and I before we drove off.

Enough for now.

Until next blog...Being part of a family means smiling for photos. ~Harry Morgan

Landscape enhancement, Reading and Family

 David got this burst of inspiration and energy and started adding to our landscape. It's looking great. It always does. He started of course by weeding and then added some plants to the pots on the front porch steps and hanging baskets. The hanging baskets have purslane and blue daze. While planting the hummingbirds were fighting over the feeders.

On Wednesday 8/6 I had PT in Bryan so David drove down with me to run errands while I had fun. PT is for my rotator cuffs on the left and right. Apparently they're inflamed and that's what is causing pain in my biceps. 

Once I was done we ran by Pamela's house to drop off a book and her box seat window cushion Donna Lynn made for us. She had to show me how. I threw on the box window seat and put her pillows on it along with a book I left for her to read.  If you read my last post you saw this same picture. It looks complete now. She only had to wait a few years for me to get it made.  Oops.

From here we went to find food. Our choice was Bubba's 33. So So good. Fast service and friendly.

David got a blue cheese burger and I got a Monte Cristo. The fries were crispy and my Monte Cristo was crispy and not greasy.

 

After getting our tummies full (I did bring home 1/2 my sandwich and tots) we went to Lowes, Home Depot, Farm Patch and Producers looking for more plants to put in the flower beds. David is on a mission. Oh Lordy help me.  JK

In the first picture the pots to the left are Turks caps that he's putting under the Vitex tree. The 3 plants closest to the plow are called mystic spires salvia the 5 plants are yellow and white lantana.

  

This butterfly had a photo shoot while hanging out in the sunflower & Zinnia flower bed. LOL.

  

I was out front with David and was dead heading some of the roses until I reached over to this rose bush. OH Shit! Sorry not sorry! And if you can't tell those are yellow jackets! They have built a nest in my rose bush. Not my friend at all. That doesn't even count the copperhead that came slithering across our front step as David was coming towards. Country life I tell you is not for sissy's.

On a nicer note ... David just planted this big ole hibiscus and another on the other side of sidewalk entry. They're supposed to die back in the winter but come back in the spring. We shall see, but isn't the bloom pretty and big.

Nothing is blooming right now so it's a lot of green but there is lots of color when it does bloom.

As I was putting things in the trash can this big ole guy jumped out at me. He was as big as my hand and his eyes were huge. He needs to get busy and eat more bugs. LOL

Saturday 8/9 David and I ran to Bryan and had dinner with Kaleb, Pamela and the boys. We went to the Anchor Bar & Grill. Good food. I couldn't catch the games between Killian and Kaleb with them next to me but I heard that Killian won more games than his Dad. LOL Braxton had Gpa cornered and playing Tic Tac Toe. Their games were close.

 Good food and fun were had by all.

Thursday 8/14 -- Thank goodness for Pam B. from our G3 Bookclub or we wouldn't have a picture from our Swiped by L.M Chilton discussion at Joe's Italian Restaurant in Rockdale.  When she stood up to snap a few I said we need to get a group picture but did we? Noooo. 

We were pulling out of the parking lot and I said Damn it Kelli I didn't get a group picture. We got a lot discussed. The book wasn't bad by no
means but we rated it between a 4-5. The plot was a lot like The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden but not quite as intense but it did give us a twist at the end. This book will make you think twice about using on line dating apps but then it wasn't really the dating apps fault.  You'll have to read figure it out. The main character Gwen was annoying but you'll just have to keep reading.

Well that's it for now.

Until next blog...~ Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.

Part 2 of Quilt Retreat Activities and More

 Have you been anxiously waiting on part 2 of the retreat? LOL probably not so much but here it is.

Judy worked hard on completing her quilt top. It had many pieces to put together like a puzzle. It came out really pretty.

Debra did a lot of ripping and cutting fabric in her corner of the craft room. She got the smaller pieces put together.

We had a visitor show up at the door and before we knew it he came in with the girls who went on a walk. He's apparently the neighborhood stray that everyone around the retreat venue has been feeding him. What we couldn't figure out is, if he's a stray why did he have a collar and tags on. The next morning when Debra went for her run/walk a neighbor told her that he got Scrappy (we named him) vaccinated and put a collar on. And for now he's doing what he can for Scrappy until someone claims him.. But that was 6 months ago.

Scrappy appears to be part border collie and husky. Super friendly.   And adorable. 

If I didn't already have 2 - 78# lap dogs I would have asked David if I could bring him home but 2 big babies are enough.  

Jane was making more book bags. They're too cute.  Each one had a theme and a story book to go in the front pocket to match. Great job!

I think this was a quilt top Vicki was putting together. Love the colors.

Elly shared a picture of her finished quilt from retreat. Gotta love a blue quilt. 

Jane shared her finished quilt after picking it up from Donna Lynn.   The fabric was adorable and the Easter Egg quilting theme made all come together.

And Valerie shared a picture of her finished top of the Lady of Guadalupe.  Very nice!

 

Of course after this completion I had to take to Pamela's and put it in the box window seat.

 I found her pillows and tossed them on it and I just happened to bring a book down to her to read and tossed it on there. Fit great.

 Just me and Donna Lynn being silly and then Elly and her daughter Valerie. Loved having her join us. 

 One of the rooms at retreat is the Cow and one is the Truck. I may have borrow her decorating ideas for my Vintage room at home that has one of the same pictures Christi (owner) has. And I love the highland cow on the couch. 

 Such a fun retreat with these ladies!

Monday (8/4) It was bee time. Would you look at all the variations of poppies the ladies are making to send to Camp Mystic in Kerrville to make quilts for each of the campers beds when they re-open.

 

 Got a picture of Carolyn sewing her binding on. She makes some of the prettiest scrappy quilts. 

 Connie is adding sashing to her bargello top. She got it finished before we left.

Thursday 8/14 Our neighbor Garrett came down to help David tag the cows. Meet Butch. I had to give him a masculine name to grow into.  That tag makes me think of the hairs bows I see the Mom's putting their babies hair that are bigger than them. And this ear tag is definitely bigger than Butch. He's so darn cute.

The harsh reality of farm life and animals, things happen and they die. My friend Sandy warned me. This little momma to be didn't survive birthing. We kept watching her but nothing. We didn't see her all day and went looking for her and found her in the tall crepe myrtles in the pasture. She was our first Dexter cow to have birthing difficulties. We failed her. I sure hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon. We have at least one other cow pregnant.

Just wanted to say thanks to this annoymous commenter on "Sew Many things... Book club, Family Fun and Quilt retreat overload for following and the sweet comment

Great projects! There’s so much fun and fellowship at retreats!

On that note I'll stop for now.

Until next blog post...Life isn't fair, but it's still good