The Smell of Contentment

   While we were driving around last night trying to find a road that no longer had a highway sign, we passed a number of fields where the farmers had cut the hay.  Even with the windows closed, you could still smell the wonderful aroma of freshly mown crops.
   I know next to nothing about haying; when you plant, cut etc. but I do appreciate the work that is involved.  My husband's sister and brother-in-law have a small, family owned farm and the work seems endless but so is the reward.  Despite the problems with weather, ever rising costs and other problems, I know that neither of them would chose a different life.  When the grandchildren come out to see the newly born calves or baby chicks, the expression on their faces make it all worthwhile.
 Our own little plot of land can't remotely be referred to as a farm but we too get a lot of satisfaction from our fresh laid eggs, home grown fruits and vegetable and the knowledge that our food is pesticide and chemical free.
   The day may come when the family farm no long exists.  It seems that goverments prefer the mega operations where the animals never see the sun and the produce no longer has any nutrients.  Until then, stop at farmer's markets or farm gate stands and enjoy the way food is supposed to taste.
Blessings,

A Nice Visit

We had a lovely visit with my sister and her family yesterday.  The younger relatives grow and change so quickly that it is hard to keep up.  Our one nephew, who will soon be starting university, is over 6 feet tall and doesn't seem to be stopping yet.
The Haliburton area is one of Ontario's beauty spots and the drive to and from took us past a continuous view of lakes and small, lily pad covered ponds. We were quit tired when we got home as it is a long trip but was certainly worthwhile and enjoyable.
Today,  we got outside early in the morning to do some work.  I pulled weeds and my husband worked on the addition.  We have final approval now so he is going to be able to start the serious work.  We just have one more step.  The inspector has to come over and see the foundation.  I am quite anxious to see the floor done and the walls go up.  Once the roof is on we can take our time with the rest of the work. (I say 'we' but really my part is very minimal.) I am so proud of my husband for being able to do all this.  It is going to add a lot to our home and he is saving us a bundle of money by doing the work himself.
Blessings,

My Applique

Vintage Tiles Revisited-Block of the Month

This is the first block I have completed from this series.  I think this is actually block # 3.  It looked as though it might be the easiest of the ones I had and I was right.  I am still very much a neophyte appliquer and I was able to complete this without any problem.  I used batiks for the applique fabric.  The background is actually darker than it appears in the photo.  I am now back at doing a block from the Baltimore Album set as well as working on a pattern I designed, a wedding quilt and probably a few other projects as well.
Tomorrow, we will be visiting my sister at her cottage.  I have been thinking of a knitted bag pattern so will take the materials for that to work on when it is my husbands turn to drive.
Blessings,

Nature's Down Side

A raccoon family got into our hen house last night.  We knew they were around but, other than eating some vegtables, they weren't creating a problem.  However, they have now killed two of our chickens; our only white and a lovely red.  Momma raccoon got away with the white hen but the two young were trapped in the coop.  My husband had to take care of them and then repair the window. 
We have tried to leave everything as natural as possible here in our corner of the world.  We have cleared only enough of the property to put up the house  and area for the vehcles and gardens.  The pond, wetland and the rest of the bush has been left as is.  Consequently, we do have some endangered species living here.  However, there are times like this when we have to act like human beings and show our strength. Neither of us enjoy it.
On a  happier note,  my sister arrives from England today and we will be going to see her on Wednesday.  Her family; husband, two children and their families, will all be at a cottage they've rented so it will be nice to have a get together.
Hope you all have a great weekend and are staying cool.  Four more months until winter.  Yahoo!
Blessings,

Four Years and Counting.

There has been a number of new followers signed up recently so I would like to welcome you.  I started this blog when my husband and I moved here to the backwoods from the city of Edmonton.  In it I chronicle some of the differences between the two homes, our daily activities and my love of quilting. 
We have lived here for just past four years now-a time span that seems almost unbelievable, and each day is still a blessing.  We continue to uncover treasures in the maple bush and even around the house.  My husband just popped in to say that there are some different wildflowers blooming near the composter.
A recent, and unwelcome, addition to the property is a raccoon.  We haven't seen it but it's presence has been felt in a demolished bird feeder, a hole in the chicken's run and the disappearance of some of our vegetables.  We hope he/she gets discouraged and moves on to plumper pastures.
The heat wave is continuing here and I am planning to go to Huntsville to do some shopping after I take advantage of the cooler morning to do housework.  However, I am also waiting for my doctor to phone a prescription to the pharmacy so may have to wait until tomorrow.
While I try and decide, I am going to take my cup of tea outside and look at those flowers.
Blessings,

I'm Late, I'm Late

We have had another scorcher of a day and tomorrow is supposed to be worse.  Fortunately, unlike much of the rest of the province (and continent) we aren't getting the humidity.  All our company has come and gone.  It was nice to have these dear frinds visit.  I got one of the ladies interested in applique so am doing my bit to continue the spread of the quilting virus.
I want to cut some fabric for placemats tonight.  It has cooled down enough that working in the studio is doable.  These placemats are for the community yard sale that I think I already mentioned.
I am making good progress on one of the Vintage Tiles Revisited applique blocks and am pleased with how it is turning out.  A free pattern from Robert Kaufman was mentioned on an online group and I have downloaded it and added it to my already overflowing applique 'to do' file.  I wonder if other arts have this problem.  Do painters, woodworkers, cooks etc also have more ideas than time?  I sometimes feel like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland:  I'm Late, I'm Late, I have too many quilts to make.
Blessings,

Company

I hope everyone had a good Canada Day weekend.  This, for those of you who don't live in this country, is the anniversary of Canada's founding and we were 145 this year-very young by European standards.
We didn't do anything special other than a barbecue.  The weather was good so it was nice to just sit outside and enjoy it.
We have company for a few days.  A cear couple from Edmonton is here on family business and is visiting with us as well.  It is now to be able to catch up on news and show off our rural home.  they have been here once before but it was in the winter.
My entries today and tomorrow will be short so we can get out and do some touring.  I also want to get my friend started on some hand applique so she will have something to do while waiting for appointments, meetings, and all the other things which keep us spinning our wheels throughout the day.
Blessings,