Country Charmer~It's Not All About The Birdies!

Spring is creeping up on us...slowly.  My daffy-dills are up but not quite blooming yet.  The Forsythia twig we planted last spring has popped a few little yellow specks of sunshine open & I found a little carpet of purple violets in the grass by the ditch this morning.
March has been as disruptive to my sewing schedule as February was all about sewing!  I've been filling in at work a lot this month, during which we've had the countdown to our bosses retirement.  Boy did that countdown go fast!!!  I've had some girls days out with a couple of my girls...new haircuts and new clothes & planning our wardrobes for the wedding in June.  Then there was that all important time spent with our Grandson last weekend.  We got to keep him for 2 nights and it was a great opportunity for PaPa to experience a trip to the Zoo!  It's interesting keeping up with a busy 3 year old, definately a marathon in seeing who can wear who out first!  You win some, you lose some!
Oh Yeah!  I also took my eyeballs (both of 'em) in for an appointment finally and have spent this weekend becoming accustomed to new glasses.  We'll see how they do at work tomorrow morning!

Soooooo...besides having the top and back to our bosses retirement quilt completely set together and ready to go to the quilter, I have made some progress on Country Charmer...and that's the only sewing that's happened this month!

My pizza box is still in use, as prescribed, I completed all the corner blocks in March which keeps me on target with the goal of completing Step 2, Section B.  Thank you, Lesley, The Cuddle Quilter for creating this schedule that has helped to keep me on track. 

 

But now I've gotten a bit ahead of myself.  Not nearly as advanced as some of you other Country Charmer Compatriots though!  I started constructing blocks and couldn't stop...kinda like eating potato chips or Reeses Peanut Butter Easter Eggs!

So here's what's hopped up on the design wall so far!

I can hear you..."So Far????? I'm counting 20 blocks...20's what the pattern calls for...right???"

Yep...I got a little carried away and cut out not 20...but 25 blocks...so...I'm either going to have a little bit larger quilt...or a quilt and a wallhanging...or pillows...or...who knows...at least I have options if somethings really not working when I get to the final layout stage.

I guess we'll all be surprised at the end!

There are a few in need of a bit of reverse sewing that I'll go back to fix later.

Here are some selected close-ups from the group...

I have the little birdie print in both cream & green backgrounds and used some of each.

There wasn't enough of the black leaf swirl left in my stash to get all the little squares from so I interjected the star print in the center of each corner block.

 

I love this viney heart and daisy print.  I bought it at a little Northern Idaho shop while visiting our daughter at Wazoo & returned the next trip and bought more...yes it was on purpose...not one of my memory lapses.

 

This little crow print has been in my stash for an eternity.  I love it and it was fun to do the fussy cutting.

 

I think the varying movement, or lack thereof, in these prints makes this block fun...and notice that little birdie has an adorable checkerboard wing to go with the green and black checkerboard star.

Yep...I planned that...it was all me!

(Hmm...my shoulder is starting to ache...gotta quit that back patting thing!)

 

And here is a little plaidy-checkery thing I chose cuz it's cute and I was afraid our fearless leader, Lynn would put her hands on her hips and start tapping her foot at me if I didn't include something in the plaidish family somewhere!  And yes...I was fussy cutting flowers again! 

Now ya'll know why it took me so long to cut these blocks out!

Now finally...as I stated in my header...its not all about the birdies!

It's also about the Punkin's!  I love my Punkin's!

I'm really fond of this block...the black just makes this one POP!!!

 

This one isn't popping so much...due to the center star...but I still like it and I'm not really sure it's worth it to rip it out and replace the pale rust. 

I think I'll call this one "Public Speaking"...

'cuz it's all about "teaching the butterflies in your stomach to fly in formation".

 

Thanks so much to our Lynn, at Sew'n Wild Oaks for inviting me to play along with you all on this Quilt Along!

I'm enjoying it immensely and look forward to seeing everyones progress each month and reading your comments and emails!  (And leaving goofy notes for some of you here & there!)

 

So There Ya Go!  I'm gonna flit on outta here and see what the rest of you have posted!

 

Wishing You All A Happy Easter!!!

  

Nancie Anne

 

 

 

 

St. Patty's Birthday

Happy Birthday to Our Eldest Daughter, my Katie Baby.  No matter how old they are, or the vastness of their accomplishment...when it comes down to it, they still are and always be our babies!  Right?  Times change...life goes on...
Her dear old 4-H Llama, Penzance, turns 18 tomorrow, and still pads around our pasture...now retired from showmanship and obstacle course competitions and backpacking trips in these Idaho Mountains, but still active and still with those intelligent long lashed brown eyes that see everything & that permanent smile on his wonderfully curious face.  Two of a kind they were.  A completely symbiotic relationship.  Watching them glide with ease from obstacle to obstacle with such poise and grace always left a lump in my throat.  They made it look easy...it was magical and as beautifully choreographed & graceful as anything I've ever seen on a dance floor.

I always have said that I should have know that this child would be born on St. Patricks Day...cuz I was GREEN the entire 9 months!

My blonde green eyed girl loves all things Irish.  Shamrocks, Belleek, Celtic Knots & Claddaughs.  She lovingly nurtures the shamrock given to her by her Dad one birthday...it has survived 4 years of Northern winters and Vet School...a year of Internship and this past year and a half of being consumed with being in love, becoming engaged and planning her wedding.  No surprise.  The honeymoon will take place in Ireland.

In a few days she'll be receiving a small box containing this...

we saw this delicate little crystal shamrock & trinity knot tiara while visiting her at school a couple of years ago...and I promised then...when she found that special someone it would be hers.

Our little girl is going to be a beautiful bride.

 

Yes...it's a sentimental Mom Day,

 

Nancie Anne

Happy St Patty's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy St Patty's Day!

Corned Beef N' Cabbage Rolls

8 Large Cabbage Leaves

1/2 Lb. Corned Beef

1/4 Swiss Cheese

1/2 Cup Sour Cream

1/4 Cup Parsley

2T Butter or Margarine

1/2 Cup BBQ Sauce

1/2 Cup Water

Cook Cabbage in boiling SALTED water about 5 minutes, or until tender.

Meanwhile grind corned beef & swiss cheese in food processor.

Blend in sour cream and parsley

Drain cabbage and cut out any larger stemmy spines about an inch or so.

I use kitchen shears and just remove a v shape from the base of each leaf. This aids in your ability to roll & tuck each leaf.

Spoon approx 5 T of meat mixture into center of each leaf. Roll each leaf tucking the ends in and secure with a toothpick.

Heat butter in a skillet, add stuffed cabbage and brown about 3 minutes on each side

Add BBQ sauce and water mixture, cover and simmer 30 minutes.

To serve, arrange rolls on a platter and spoon sauce over them.

Katie's Taters

Rinse and cube potatoes

cut into chunks and boil about 15 minutes

Meanwhile, Nuke a cube of butter, parsley flakes and seasoning salt til butter is melted.

Put drained potatoes in baking dish and coat with butter mixture.

Bake at 350 til edges crisp a little.

I sometimes turn the broiler on to add a little finish.

Add something orange or yellow like baked carrots or a nice squash and a loaf of Irish Soda Bread and you've got a really fun St. Pattys Day Meal!

 

From The Mother of One Very Tall Leprechaun!

 

Nancie O'Anne

Tag Team Quilt...Slam Dunk!

So...Quilting Partner in Crime & I spent two days this weekend Tag Team Quilting!  I ironed & cut and passed off organized bits and pieces while she sewed pressed and trimmed. 
I briefly mentioned in a previous post that our boss has announced her retirement...effective the end of March.  This does not allow a lot of time to repeat that something special heirloom dresdan quilt with miles of hand embroidered buttonhole stitch that we pulled off a couple of years ago for another friend who retired .  However, Boss Lady is an old 4-H/FFA Mom, whose girls showed Suffolk Sheep & she has a deeply personal faith.  She will love what we are doing for her.  Nancy Halvorsen to the rescue!

We Made A Man!

Our Hearts Belong To The Black Sheep!

A Bit Of Buggy Barn Creamery Neutral Makes Great Wool!

Irish I Wuzza Sheep!

Whirls & Swirls of Wool!

Stripey Wool On The Horizontal to Deal with That Pesky Center Seam

Some Sheep Count Stars In Their Sleep!

Another of the 40 Shades of Green in Ireland Sheepie!

 

On The Design Wall...They have since been sewn together.

VIP (Very Important Puppy) Supervisor, Nitro!

Puppy?  Small Horse is more like it!  This is one tall Lab let me tell ya'!

(I'm his favorite Aunt & Babysitter!)

He's usually snoring with his head on a pillow...we bore him!

 

The back for this quilt is going to be something special too!  Stay Tuned!

 

Spring Is About Sprung...Time for Lambs!

 

Nancie Anne



Wild & Crazy Guys! Finish!

Yep...Akroyd & Martin together again last night on SNL!  Not to mention The Three Amigos!  Some funny flashbacks...albeit not as young as they used to be...but none of us are! 
It was a blast from the past for sure!

But actually the real Wild and Crazy I'm referring to is the quilt for the, as yet, still gestating little Grandson of one of our co-workers!  It's all done and I thought I'd show you some pictures.  We'll give it to "Gramma" tomorrow.

Cute Quilting

Snuggly Minkee Giraffe Print Backing

and TaDa!

 

Rooooooaaaaaaaaar!

 

Nancie Anne