CHRISTMAS

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had a wonderful time but ate way too much. Wish we had a little snow.
Phone calls from loved ones made the day. Would have loved to hear from our niece and nephew, but I guess they were busy.
Anyway I hope everyone has a great week and are thinking about their New Year's resolutions.
Blessings ~ Janet

TRUE

AMEN

A GREAT SALE

Don't miss out on this great sale. 
30% off storewide on regular priced merchandise.

FRIENDS

I treasure my friends very much. 

Hope you all are having a great weekend.

GIRLFRIEND'S GATHERING

Well tonight was wonderful. Filled with good food and good friends. Laughing and enjoying each others company while we sat and talked.  The smell of Christmas greenery filled the air and the flicker of candle light made for a cozy setting. What a great way to spend an evening with great Quilting friends. Here are a couple of pictures of the Appetizers before dinner.

A BAD FLARE UP

This has been a really bad week. Some of you know that I have bad hips and for the most part, they are ok. I usually walk my dogs back to the bush each day and they don't usually bother me.....BUT every now and then they flare up. This week has been really bad. I have been able to sleep in bed for about 4 hours on my back, but then I have to come downstairs and sleep sitting up on the couch for the rest of the night. Last night I couldn't even walk without being in such pain. I cannot take pain medication, so I just have to put up with it. Hopefully it will be a little better by the weekend. The cause we figure is riding horses too much for too many years. I do know of other people who have this from riding. My neighbour had to have both of his hips replaced from operating his backhoe for years. This damp rainy weather does not help either. Hoping for some sun and colder weather.

Hope you are all ready for Christmas.

~Janet

THE VIEW FROM MY SEWING ROOM

I took a couple of pictures of my girls roaming around the yard. It is a view from my sewing room. Been busy today putting in 2 loads of firewood, cleaning windows, vacuuming, and the list goes on. Getting ready for a "Girlfriends" gathering this week at my house. I don't know if I will ever get caught up. I am inviting some of my special friends over for an evening and dinner.

I hope you all had a great weekend.

~Janet

The girls enjoyed a day out.

THE LAST PUMPKIN

Today was so mild I did some final clean up in the yard. I cut open this pumpkin and the chickens and cats were going crazy over it. 
I am sure it will be all gone in a couple of hours.
I hope everyone is having a great Sunday.
~Janet

SNOW

Last night we got our first significant snowfall. There were only three hens that decided to come out and check out the snow. A rooster also came out, but ran off when he saw my iPad.

I really do love this snow.

~Janet

A SAD TIME

Last night my beloved cat Kenya passed away. I have been nursing her for weeks. She had a liver disease and my Vet told me it was a 50/50 chance whether she would make it. I guess it was not meant to be. I brought her home on the plane 3,000 miles after my father passed away 2 and a half years ago. I made a promise to him I would look after her if anything were to happen to him.

Kenya was not a cuddle cat by any means, but she would sit on the arm of the sofa and love me to rub her head. If I stopped, she would put her paw on me as if to say........more please. I am sure she knew she was truly loved and I will miss her deeply. She is now buried on our farm.

This is a picture of her shortly after she came home to live with us.

~Janet

AN OPEN HOUSE

You'll want to check out this Open House. I just took some of my signs over to be sold there tomorrow. It is looking a lot like Christmas over there. Lots of goodies. They are having hot cider and chilli for the customers. You'll taste how good their beef is and you can purchase some right there. Their freezers are full with roasts, chickens. sausages, ground beef and much more. Several vendors will be there too. Scentsy, Jockey, just to name a few. Lots of handmade wreaths are for sale as well as Christmas ornaments.

AN AIRIAL VIEW

Last night my DH went up in his plane and took a couple of pictures of our farm. You probably can't see me, but I am sitting on the hay wagon in the second picture and Kit is nearby, just a speck of white is all you can see. In the first picture, you can see the two black horses out in the pasture.

Yesterday I was busy painting the bedroom closet and hopefully will finish it today. The weather has been so gorgeous here, it is nice to have the windows open. I have to get busy on Christmas orders soon.

I hope you all have a great weekend...........enjoy the last of these beautiful fall colors before the wind blows them all off the trees.

~Janet

A view of our farm.
On the left you can see the horses in the pasture.

MORE WOOD

You are all probably getting tired of hearing about my firewood etc, but that seems to be the only thing going on right at the moment. Have to take advantage of the good weather we are having to get it all done. DH and I split this load this morning back at the bush and will be going back to do another one later.

Wood that we split this morning.

One of our sweet cats.

BUSY AS A BEE

It's that time of year again. Raking leaves, putting in firewood, and cleaning up. I can't believe how gorgeous this autumn has been. The colors have been fabulous. I had a great trip to Saskatchewan last weekend to judge an Appaloosa Futurity. It was a wonderful show and an honour to judge. Had a great time. Got off the plane just in time to put a turkey in the oven and make a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for my DH and I. Many things to be thankful for, my family, my wonderful husband, my treasured friends, my job that I love and all my critters. Spent last night putting away firewood.

Put away 5 cords of firewood last night.

Kit was enjoying playing in the leaves.

A SWEET GIFT FROM A DEAR FRIEND

Last week I had lunch with my dear friend Marg before I flew out to Saskatchewan to judge a 2 day Appaloosa Futurity. She gave me this sweet Pumpkin needle punch that she hand made for me. I just love it so much and will treasure it forever. Thanks so much Marg.

BEDROOM FLOOR

I took on a huge challenge and decided to rip out the carpet, take up the sub floor and re-finish the old wood floors in our bedroom. It was a gruelling task. The subfloor was chipboard and was nailed down every 4 inches, so it came up inch by inch. I think it took a total of 4 days to take it all up. Next was renting the big floor sander which weighed 100 lbs. It was an interesting challenge dragging that upstairs. It took the day to do the sanding, but it looked good. Now I have stained it, and have 2 coats of Varathane on it. I have to put on a couple more coats, re-do the baseboard and paint. I sure hope I have this done by November some time. My husband has been sleeping in the spare room and I have been sleeping on the couch. It sure will be nice when it is finished. Well worth the work. I have done all of this by myself. I wouldn't let my husband touch anything because he has an injured shoulder. It has been a great experience, one I would NEVER do again. Here are few pictures.

~Janet

This is how the sub floor came up...in pieces.

Sanding

Stained and one coat of Varathane

A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

I just got finished designing this poster for my friend's Christmas Open House. Hope you can attend.
Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend.
~Janet

VERY TRUE

A BUSY DAY

A busy day today. Yesterday my husband injured his shoulder, so I am doing some hammering and sawing. I told him if he told me what to do, I would do the work and that I did. Here are some pictures of me working on our workshop.

Of course Kit is supervising the project.

After the Tyvec is stapled on

A MARATHON WEEKEND

I am sure glad this past weekend is over. On Thursday I traveled to Ottawa, an 8 hour drive, stayed overnight, then judged a horse show on Friday. After the show was over, had an 8 hour drive home that night. Arrived home at 10:30 pm. Up and out of the house early again the next morning to go and judge another show. When I arrived home that night, my husband and I baled straw then put it up into the barn. Went to bed and got up early again the next morning and out of the house at 7 am to drive 2 and a half hours to judge another horse show. Judged the show then headed home. Got home, had supper and  then my husband and I baled hay and put that up into the barn. Needless to say...........I can't believe I actually accomplished this at my age. I stopped on the way home yesterday and had a nice visit with a dear friend of mine too. Actually, it was quite a nice weekend despite all of the traveling.

I hope everyone has a great week.

~Janet

HOMEGROWN BEEF AND CHICKEN

If you are local and looking to buy some homegrown beef and chicken directly from the farmer, check out their site. They have a Country Store you can visit and pick up some beef, chicken, eggs, maple syrup and some hand crafted items.

http://bloomersfarm.blogspot.ca

TRUER WORDS NEVER WERE SPOKEN

HAPPY CANADA DAY

ANTIQUE SHOW

My friend Marie is having an antique show in Ohio. I really enjoyed doing the site for this show. Some great vendors with some great antiques.
Hope will check it out.
http://backtoourrootsohio.blogspot.ca
We are having some wicked storms this week. Stay safe everyone.
Blessings
~Janet

PLANTING THE GARDEN

It has been a busy few days. On Saturday morning I flew out to British Columbia, got picked up at the Airport and driven to a horse show and started judging. Judged all the next day (Sunday), then travelled all night long and part of Monday morning to get home. Three airplanes to get home and two to get out there. It was a whirlwind weekend. I think I have finally caught up on my sleep so today I got all of my vegetable garden planted. Peas, carrots, sweet corn, squash, yellow beans, kale, swiss chard, cabbage, pumpkins and lettuce and I still have to get some pepper and tomato plants to put in. Maybe tomorrow. Hopefully we'll get some rain tomorrow to water everything. I can't wait to eat fresh vegetables from the garden. Last week I got the cabin stained and it looks great. I hope everyone is having a great week.

~Janet

NEW SITE FOR QUILTERS

I have created a new site for quilters to find links to Quilt shops, Quilts Shows, Long Arm quilting services, Quilt Guilds and other upcoming events in Ontario, Canada. Bookmark it or add it to your favorites so you can find the information with the click of a mouse. If you would like your Quilt Shop or Guild, or Long Arm services added, please email me.

http://ontarioquiltersconnection.blogspot.ca

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

KIT

Here is a great picture of Kit, my Jack Russell. My husband took this picture of her this morning as she was looking out the window as the sun was rising. She probably had her eye on a bird. Doesn't she look noble? She is a proper mummy's girl. She was sitting beside me on the couch when the picture was taken.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Janet

Kit

KIT AND I

Kit and I tried taking our first "Selfie"............... I am thinking we need some more practice. Kit was quite camera shy.

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL

Yesterday I received this lovely pin from the American Paint Horse Association. I have been an APHA judge for 10 years now and this is quite an honor to receive this. Being an equestrian judge is just one of the hats I wear. I have been an Equestrian judge for 23 years, judging for 6 different associations. I am also a graphic design artist and a handmade crafter. I also work part time in a great Quilt shop. I love working in sales, helping our customers select fabrics for quilts they would like to make.
I sure hope the weather is getting a little nicer where you live. Slowly but surely it is starting to look like spring here. Have a great weekend everyone.

~Janet

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

I've been very busy all winter making blocks for a new queen size quilt for our bed. There are 168 blocks to go into the quilt and each block has 10 squares. So doing the math, there is 1,680 squares. Scraps of blues and creams were used.

Now to sew these blocks into rows and then sew the rows together. Quilt it and bind it!

Here is picture of one of the blocks and the huge pile of the 168 blocks. I thought I would never get these all done.

~Janet

One of the blocks

These are the 168 blocks all stacked in a pile

ANOTHER GREAT SHOW

Another great show is coming this fall.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

CATS

LONG ARM QUILTING

If you are need of a great Long Arm Quilter, please check out "The Electric Quilter". She has won awards of excellence for her quilting. 

~Janet

I have included some photos of Diane's beautiful quilting.

A BUSY TIME

Usually the winter is a slow time, but this winter has been busier than ever. I have been working hard trying to get a quilt done for our bed and also trying to get one made for our Guild's Quilt show this year in April. Who doesn't need a little stress?

Speaking of stress, my friend Donna has just had a little stress lifted off of her. Her husband just got a job as a Canada Customs officer at the Bluewater Bridge crossing at Sarnia, Ontario. Congrats!

I have posted this flyer of our Quilt show, so if you get a chance to attend, you won't be disappointed. There is lots going on. Some great quilts for viewing, some great vendors, a boutique, and a tea room.

I hope everyone is having a great week.
~Janet