Gardening, like farming, is a gamble most times. There are years where you have the right temperature, rainfall and fewer pests, and then there are the years of failure. The goal is to spend the least amount of dollars for the highest yield (meaning fullest amount of produce). So when you have a good year, you scramble to make the most of what you have obtained and put it back for the coming months.
Frugal and Not-so Frugal spending
So to keep with the thrifty ways of my upbringing, I kept my dollar from traveling too far this weekend. I had a bumper crop of bell peppers this year to reserve for future use. The cold temps we had last week required I pick some before they were mature.That’s the beauty of a bell pepper–they taste good whether they’ve finished ripening or not.
Various varieties of sweet peppers.
I mean look at these bohemoth peppers! They’re supposed to be 9 to 12 inches and red or yellow. But trust me, they are good as is.
Filling up a plate
Some sliced, some diced
These will be kept in the freezer until I need to add them to our favorite dishes. Between frozen tomatoes and frozen peppers, I’m pretty happy about the prospect of garden fresh meals in winter.
Prepping last night
Air frying the kabobs
We forgot the mushrooms but don’t worry, tonight we’ll make up for it.
I wonder what deliciousness my grandma would have created with an air fryer? Maybe a topic for future Inez’s Clippings??
Still have a little collection left from Dwight, Kansas. Before I get started, just thought I’d share that this little town is on the old Rock Island railroad line. This rail ran just south of Sedalia, Missouri, my town back in the day as well. And so, for a little fun, I’m sharing Johnny Cash’s tribute song for the rail line before we get into the photos.
Did you know Johnny Cash could play a banjo too??? Of course I would know 🙂
East Side
West Side
Some boarded up doors for what used to be the entrance to a native stone building. The signage reads that it is or once was a heating and cooling business.
Hot Iron Bar at one time according to the sign
Not a stone building but the style is symbolic of those days gone by.
Full view includes 2 doors
Being an old bank left us wondering if there was a cool old vault inside. Now that would have taken this one to the next level.
Last weekend I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by Andrea R Huelsenbeck over at ARtisticLicense. I just want to extend my humble thanks for the shout out and if you have the opportunity, check out her blog! I’ve followed her for quite some time and I believe we first met during an A to Z Challenge — testament to the great friendships formed during blog challenges. I highly recommend participation in these blog events. You never know how much of a connection you will have with another. Here’s the link to check it out: https://arhtisticlicense.com/2019/10/12/an-interview-with-quilter-stephanie-finnell/
For a town smaller than my hometown, population 272, I sure came out with a heap of photos. Dwight, Kansas did not disappoint. Besides the quilt blocks we found, there was this wonderful find. (By the way, there won’t be a quilt block in this round of Thursday Doors)
Free or Exchanged food pantry
I zoomed in on the details next.
Good citizenship
No matter where you live, there are people suffering hard times. It’s a good feeling to know that help is available to those who may feel embarrassed in asking. For those with more than they need, giving is a good example to show your children.
Big changes came this week in our weather. And boy were we ready! The children couldn’t get enough of the outdoors. I am right there with ’em!
Jacket weather at last!
I even found an appropriate clipping from grandma and I’d bet she loved this time of year just as much.
It wasn’t unexpected this year but much anticipated.
In the past, I have had several Persimmon Reports. The first in 2011, followed by 2012, 2013, and after skipping a few years, I resumed after enough requests from family and friends in 2017 and last year. There’s only so much you can say about winter predictions with a persimmon so I’ll keep it simple. Remember this is not scientific.
Fork = Mild winter
Knife = Cold Cutting Temps
Spoon = Lots of moisture whether it’s rain or snow, you’ll be getting your fair share.
Drum roll………. For the Winter of 2019-2020 ……….
The Fruit
First Find is a SPooN!
For a total of 3 Spoons
With the exception of the dud seed in that last pic, you can expect much moisture this coming winter. I do hear your groans and I apologize profusely. Grab your shovels and snowblowers or have that extra cash handy to pay the neighbors kids to shovel for you.
For me, it means I will have to be pretty creative in helping children expell all their wiggles. Prayers as well as suggestions are welcome and appreciated!
Speaking of creativity, I was gifted a cute lil’ pumpkin this last week as well as a bounty from a neighbors community garden.
Season’s first pumpkin! Thank you Jenny!!
Thank you neighbor!!
There were enough beans to share with my mother! And I did snap them ahead for her ’cause that’s what you do for you mom.
Leaving you this Sunday with a photo of the Katy Trail. May your week ahead bring you much sunshine and wonderful autumn days!
Happy Friday! This Thursday Doors I’m sharing a couple churches in Dwight, Kansas where we found yet more quilt blocks. I won’t elaborate it in too many words being a day late to enter my post. Unexpected drive yesterday to the hospital with the hubster put things in a slight disarray–but happy to say I think we’re getting back on course around here.
The sign reads just ‘Trailside’
Double blue doors and another side storm door. Appears additions were made at intervals and I have to wonder if it was always a church. No I couldn’t find information on this one at all.
Wooden & Glass double doors
And apparently we neglected to get a sign photo of this one completely.
Star with 4-patch center & pinwheels on the corners
Flower block and a Cross Variation. Seems pretty appropriate.
Word association will be my attempt to meld a post with this week’s clipping. I struggled with this one but I loved the clipping enough to work with it. Maybe you’ll appreciate the humor and maybe not. Living rural will give you an edge for sure so, city slickers, just know that running over a cow is not an option. Enough said I think.
My ‘herd‘ of projects is becoming a bit excessive so maybe if I share some, or plans for some, I’ll get more finished just for accountability’s sake. I can hope at least.
I’ll begin with the quilt that should be finished by now—if we had a little cooler weather it would have helped. Hand quilting is so much more appealing when it’s going to keep your lap warm. At least all that’s left is this small section and the binding.
Hope to finish this tonight!
Western Wedding Ring (lap-size)
This one is actually finished thank goodness! Called Mini Sunbonnet Sue Months of the Year. I did not piece this quilt. My dear hubby found it on eBay for a steal. All I had to do was finish the hand quilting portion. And here is where I’m going to insert an explanation for those who don’t quite understand. There is a difference in construction definitions when I say (or a quilter says) they ‘Hand Quilt’. This refers to the stitching you see all over a quilt. When someone says they “Hand Piece”, it means they have sewn all the portions of the quilt by hand, not on machine. I Don’t “Hand Piece”. lol I’m way too busy for that. Hand quilting is my thing and I like the way it looks with hand stitching rather than machine stitching over the top of a quilt.
Finished!
Copied the pattern in case I want to applique another.
And on Friday my dear youngest daughter informed me we needed a baby quilt done by Saturday at 1 pm. There was only one way that would happen and she agreed to participate and assist. Thank you Kirsten and glad you got a lesson in this form of quilt assemblage.
The ties
Self binded quilt before ironing.
Daughter trimming up
Machine stitching the self-binding.
And something I’m preparing to do is use up some spare quilt blocks in a fun way. Mini quilts are my latest endeavor and much more do-able in a short amount of time. They will mostly be machine quilted for those who are wondering. I simply have too much to do to hold onto all these forever.
Vintage blocks from auctions, gimme’s from mother & aunts, as well as my own creations.
The one I’m keeping for display for myself is this one. Funny how I got a memory of it come up today on FaceBook.
mini quilt and stand for displaying
1 year ago today
So I’m a little behind on stuff as you can see. Had a set of custom bowl cozies picked up this morning and yes I do take some orders. Within reason.
Arizona Diamondback Fans
And last for this round up but definitely not the only project going on is this quilt that hubby (again) found on eBay. Lots of quilters make tops but never get them completed. This is where I’ve found a niche and I’m gladly taking time to Hand Quilt this one. It is also hand pieced and my admiration goes out to the lady who created it. You only get a peek though 😉
Calling it ‘Precious Moments’ for the fabric used throughout.
I’m a bit long-winded this Monday as you can see. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!
The Kansas Quilt Trail (KQT) meanders through Dwight, Kansas and I have a quilt block close to my heart this week. I don’t know how many of you know of or have a history with 4-H, but it is the focus for this week’s block find.
But before we discovered the little quiet town of Dwight, we passed more farmland with barns and farm houses aplenty. Here’s one set of pics I hope gives you an idea of the scenery we drove by.
Kansas Farm/No quilt
I’d put one right there above those doors.
Dwight is definitely Rural America and I say that with great fondness! I had Ron driving around here quite a bit. Thankfully we weren’t stopped and questioned with all the photos I took. But it was clearly an old railroad town and understandably so with the grain elevators next to the tracks.
Old school house with grain elevator in background.
The last set of photos is an old Masonic Lodge which I looked up and it appears to have folded in the last few years. Lodge AF & AM No.374 was not on the roster of Kansas lodges. I do believe it may house a 4-H club though with the significant quilt block on the front to give me the huge clue. As a past 4-H’er and 4-H project leader of crochet, sewing, early childhood and cooking, I’m always thrilled to see the clubs alive and well! I hope you’ll encourage anyone interested if you have the opportunity. Great memories made there!
This little clipping reminds me of the time I was letting a table of preschoolers use scissors. The plan was to ‘feed the monster’, a shoe box decorated with a monster face with an opening for his mouth in which the children were to put paper ‘cuttings’ into his mouth. Cutting with scissors is such a huge developmental milestone and it is not something that comes naturally.
But for one little boy(we’ll call him Abe), cutting was his strength. Abe was so into the activity that he started growling to the monster. Happy to encourage his imagination, I went along with it as did the other children around the table. After all, our scissors were safety scissors so not worried about them cutting their clothing and we had much prior discussion on never cutting hair. Much to my surprise, Abe reached across the table and snipped the finger of one of the little girls, creating instant screaming and panic. He had succeeded in snipping her finger enough to warrant a phone call to the parents as I wasn’t quite sure amid the bloodshed and extreme tears whether it needed stitches or not. All ended well. Thank heavens mom was a nurse.
These days, we feed the monster with torn paper.
Sharing some of my week in photos to finish off this week’s Inez’s Clippings. Have a wonderful first week of autumn!!
Addition
Just as I was about to hit Publish on Monday morning, I got a phone call from mother. My uncle had passed overnight. Only son, brother, bachelor, uncle, cousin and Vietnam Vet to the Hunter clan. Before we lay him to rest this morning, I found an additional clipping in the Inez stash and I wanted to share it. I visualize her and her loving personality with her only son as I read it. I have posted about Neal before here. Rest in Peace Uncle Neal!
We drove a significant amount of miles covering the Kansas Quilt Trail, so the story continues this week.
Some Condensed History
Keeping it condensed because that’s my delivery style, but I plan on giving you a zoomed-in photo or 2 to see what the kiosk above had to say.
Wabaunsee County Museum
Ghost Town Location
19th Century -Schepp Barn extensively restored
I am back-tracking a bit with the museum photo above, but we’re still in Wabaunsee County so it’ll work out fine. The ghost town of Volland was off our planned route but I’d like to go back and see it in person someday. All pics included in the ‘doors’ category naturally.
Barn with “Curved Windmill” Quilt Block. I could have cropped more sky away but I like the wide open feel.
It has been such a wet spring, the farmers haven’t had any trouble at all getting an early hay crop. Some are predicting a very cold winter…. I’ll have my persimmon report in a few days. Hope you check back for the results.
A variation of the Pinwheel Quilt BlockSunburst Variation. So Kansas-appropriate!An Arrow Crown variety to the left and a Square in a Square to the right.
Geometric Pattern
A Rainbow Star block I believe
I thought it a good omen to find District #1 first.
