Christmas Inspiration

Even Mother Nature

is in the mood for Christmas.

She's already decorating.

This was last night looking out our back door.

And this morning out our front door.

It's all dressed in white at a whopping 9 degrees.

I usually don't start decorating until about the middle of December.

That's plenty of time to enjoy it.

The decorations aren't what it's all about.

If you want to feel really fortunate,

you might read 'Foxfire Christmas.'

(I borrowed it from the library.)

I won't ruin it for you,

but it is amazing how ungrateful we are for so much,

myself included.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

A Family Activity ~ Bird Feeder

About a year ago,

I posted that around Thanksgiving

we make a treat for the birds.

You can see that post here.

This year, the feathered little tweeties

get peanut-butter seed cones.

This can be a bit messy so be prepared.

The supply list is rather simple:

pine cones

peanut butter

bird seed

jute twine

and scissors, spoon, butter-knife, and bowl.

In case you are unaware,

pine cones close in the cold and open in the heat.

I only mention that, because

I have met so many people who don't know it.

If your pine cones are closed,

bring them in and set them by the stove

or even in the oven on a cookie sheet lined with foil.

Your first step is to tie a string of jute

(about 18 inches long) onto the top point of the pine cone.

Then use a butter knife to put peanut butter

in all the little crevices.

(I did notice I missed a spot or two when I took the picture so had to fill them in.)

Next, set the covered pine cone in a tray of bird seed.

 Use a spoon to cover it with seed.

Also, tip it on it's side and make sure there is seed

covering all the peanut butter.

Now it is ready to be hung in a tree 

for our feathered friends.

I have done this as a children's church activity,

and it went very well.

If you do so,

you might want to take plastic sandwich bags

so the children can take them home.

If you make them at home,

you can take them directly out and hang them in a tree.

Warning: try not to hang them next to where

the cats can easily get to them.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches.

November

For some strange reason,

I was under the impression that November would slow down.

We just received our first snow

which was also our first frost.

(Out our back door)

Well, God certainly does have a sense of humor.

I am the only one in the family - 

including brother, bro-in-law, etc. who drew an elk tag.

Oh yes, me who does not like the cold drew a spike only tag.

That means last Sat. and Mon. (had a commitment Sun.)

So Saturday~

woke at 4:30 AM - not unusual around here,

drove up the road to where we would park,

hike up hill 2000 vertical feet,

look around at absence of elk,

sit on watch while being wind blown by frigid wind,

eat cold beef stick for 'lunch,'

decide there were no elk,

walk around ridges for a bit,

hike (descend) 2000 vertical feet,

get home about dark,

still need to eat so fix dinner,

shower then crash.

Monday~

repeat, but now there is snow to hike through,

saw a few elk - cows and branch bulls.

There was a spike, but he treed-up and 

I could neither get him out nor get a clean shot.

This weekend~

now with snow down here where it's "warmer,"

we will repeat last Sat. and Mon.

My only consolation is that God is getting a good chuckle:)

If you are so inclined,

maybe say a little prayer that I get one first thing in the morning.

Then we have all day to quarter and pack it out.

Hopefully, next week, I will get back with the program

and be able to spend a little more time

actually in the house where it's warm.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Washing State Quilt Show

In the last post, I mentioned that 

we went to the Washington State Quilt Show

in Spokane ~ now a couple weeks ago.

Before we hop into details and pictures,

I have to say, "This was probably one of it not the

nicest quilt show I have attended."

There were quilt police

so that food and drink were kept completely out of the areas

where quilts and vendors were.

There were volunteers with cotton gloves to answer questions

and show the backs of quilts

if one desired to see them.

In all it was said that there were about 500 volunteers.

The quilts were displayed nicely and by category

which aided in viewers choice voting.  

That was just the quilts.

I haven't even made it to the vendors yet.

They were wonderful as well.

It took us the better part of a day just to make it 

around to see all of them.

I didn't get too out of control.

I did find a couple pieces of fabric 

to go with some I already had so I can

get going on a project.

My weakness is books~

These two in particular. 

"When the Cold Wind Blows" and "Autumn Splendor."

Both include lots of hand stitching of course.
And on that note, I will admit to being fully biased.
I prefer hand-stitching over machine-stitching.

This was my favorite in the whole show.

It wasn't a ribbon winner, but it had 'something.'

Those little yoyos were about 1/4"-3/8".

These shaped yoyos were maybe 1/2".

The artistry of this one was fabulous.

An obvious ribbon winner.

 Sorry this is a little out of focus.
The quilt was up high for me as I am a bit vertically challenged.

Then a couple of old tops that I just liked.

I love the secondary 4-leaf clover that this pattern made.
Below, a true make-do top. 
Can you see where they pieced within the strips
to make them long enough?

If you are in the Pacific Northwest next October,
I would strongly suggest visiting this quilt show.

It's amazing how the standards and quality of a show
or event of any sort seems to resonate
and be both seen and felt throughout.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches