I'm sick

I started having allergy problems in CT and now has turned into a full blown yuck-fest.  Sore throat, runny nose, headache, aching, tired, crabby, etc, etc.

Hope this ends soon.

Good Things About Coming Home

The mail --

Lots and lots of mail.  We received 4 rebates, $6, $50, $50 and $16.  Two were Verizon phone rebates. Sam wanted a new phone so I got one too, total out of pocket was about $40 for both (The $50 rebates). The $16 is Dan's for paper at Staples and the $6 was at Menards in the form of a check that you have to use there, which is fine will just roll it into another rebate.

Also received some great coupons from Pssst for Fiber One yogurt and Vocalpoint for the new Bounce Bar fabric softener.  Anybody want some, just leave me a note and I'll get them out.

This morning before working also sent out some rebates from shopping in CT. Rite-Aid spent $24.22 and will be getting back $16.49 and $6.99. Also went to Staples picked up a couple of items - spent $32.91 and will be getting back $28.99.  Also went to CVS but that trip got a little messed up as one of the ECB didn't print (Actually right now I can't find the receipt with the ECB on it, that's a problem).

The garden --

The other big thing with coming home is if you have a garden you know what I am going to say. The weeds grew like crazy while we were gone.  Apparently there were some pretty good storms as the beans are laying on the ground and everything looks a little beat up.  I did pick beans and got a strainer full and have 6 zucchini sitting on the counter. Last night for supper we had some beans (about 1/3rd) and six ears of sweetcorn. The sweetcorn needs a little more time.   We have huge tomatoes and are just waiting for them to ripen.  

This week is supposed to be cold yet again. We didn't hit the 70s until about noon and tonight is supposed to get down in the 50s.  Way to cold for August. We need about a week of really warm weather for the garden to finish up.  

The State of North Dakota is looking for about 200 gardeners in the state to test some new vegetables. Each gardener can test two and then fill out an evaluation form.  Sounds like fun and think I will do it.  These are Asian types of vegetables testing to see if they will thrive here.

Still unpacking so no pictures today. Will probably work some more tonight as we are a little behind.

We are back in ND

What a long, fun, exhausting trip. Will post pictures tomorrow. Had a great time with the children and grandchildren.  Next time we fly, 32 hours is too long of a drive (each way).  Got some knitting done in the car when the roads weren't totally tore up and rough, there is a lot of construction going on.  

Work is going to be wild for a while as one person is off for a week and another is having surgery on Wednesday so we will be short staffed. 

Don't know much else, unloading the car, cleaning up from supper, checking e-mail and going to bed.

Rib Fest and Road Trip

In North Dakota, about 1 hour from Watford we have the Enchanted Highway. It is just a road in the middle of no where with sculptures that different artists have produced. In keeping with ND as being one of the best bargains for vacations it is a fun day trip. You end up in a little town, which I can't remember the name, which has a really nice little restaurant with good home cooking.   It really is a beautiful drive and is kind of fun when you come around the corner and see one of these big sculptures.

Tonight Watford had Rib Fest. There was a smaller art and craft fair along with ribs, lots of ribs. Different businesses compete for 1st place, which includes bragging rights, a little cash and a trophy. Last year the hospital won, this year a new business in town won. Bought a beautiful purse and coin bag. Pictures tomorrow.

Today the background fabric for the table runner(s) was purchased, a dark green and a dark purple. Maybe I will have them done this weekend. The linoleum guy is supposed to come back tomorrow, we'll see if he shows up.

Quilting and gardening

Can you see him/her?  See what he/she is right next to? My beans.....but he/she is so cute, just a baby. Sam and I go out and talk to him/her every morning. There is no name (yet).  Dan already informed us we can't have another pet. 

Went to quilting tonight and had a great time. I need to go to our local store and purchase some dark green or dark purple fabric to use on my 9-patch table runner. I have backing fabric already from mom so will only need to purchase a small amount and was also given some hints on how to quilt it, so hopefully this weekend I will have a finished product.  I also took the apple core fabric and they were highly impressed (I think they just want me to keep sewing/quilting so went overboard) with my first curve. One of the quilters in the group is Kathy Johnson who works at a quilt store in Williston and also teaches a ton of classes.  She is doing a one woman show yet this summer and is organizing all her quilts which she estimates to be about 150.  Wow -- I think I will be excited if I even finish one.  She does fabulous work.

Picked some more yellow beans and another zucchini from the garden.  I'm not sure what happened to the green beans because all I am getting is yellow, which is fine because they are so good when they are fresh.

Today a gentleman laid linoleum in the kitchen. He is quite a character but does a fantastic job. Really likes to talk, said he would be done at 5 and left at about 7:30. He has to come back and put the refrigerator and stove back. He is also coming back on Saturday to tear apart the bathroom, lay subflooring and linoleum. Our bathroom is currently carpeted and is gross. After that we are going to sand the hardwood floors (I'm still trying to find someone I can hire) and are awaiting the new curtains. Then we are done.  I am not a good living in chaos but will be nice when it is done.

Garden/Sewing

This was my project from yesterday that I couldn't figure out how to download.  This past weekend Dan and I went to Bonanzaville in West Fargo. Bonanzaville by itself is really historically interesting but this past weekend they also had an Art Fair. There was knitting, nalbinding, quilting, felting, toothbrush rugs, tatting, weaving, and there was a lady making yo-yo's. Dan dropped me off and I stayed until I was done, had a great time. From one of the quilting shops I bought a charm pack of floral prints and a pack of apple cores for a table runner. I started with one apple core and didn't like my layout so will take that to quilting tomorrow and get the help of the professional quilters.  Did start the charm pack and decided to do 9 patches (the picture below).

Then I decided to do a disappearing 9 patch (picture below) which was kind of fun. This will also go to quilting to help me decided if I want to put in a strip between the half 9-patches and if so what kind of fabric. Any suggestions?

This is today's produce from the garden. We will have another zucchini tomorrow and have a bunch still growing.  We already had 1.5 zucchini in the refrigerator so I grated them, froze 5 bags for muffins this winter and made Zucchini Blueberry Muffins which are really good, used mostly whole wheat flour so a little healthier than normal. Yellow beans for supper tomorrow. We had leftovers for supper tonight.

The weather has been beautiful today, sunny in the mid 70s and tonight is cool again, in the low 60s and rained for a little while again. Tomorrow I will show you our new visitor.

Had my mammogram today so am done for the year with all testing and exams --yeah!!

Rain, Rain, keep it coming

A few knitting pictures per the request of mom.  

Dishcloth made of Sugar and Creme, fun little knit from the Dishcloth Knit-Along. The group knits two washcloths every month, one a pattern one a lace pattern. Last year I made a goal to knit every one and reached the goal. This year is more pick and choose.

The lousy picture blow is a pair of socks I made for Danielle's birthday. The paint on the floor is what we found when we pulled up the carpet this fall. We still need to refinish the floor. The sock is kind of lacy even though it is hard to see on the picture. The yarn was from Hobby Lobby and ends up being about $5 with a 40% off coupon.

It finally started to rain a little this evening which we need desperately. From the garden we have already had beans (yellow and green) and stir-fried zucchini. There are also many more zucchini which will be ready this week so will be able to freeze some shredded for muffins this winter. The tomatoes hopefully will be ready next week.

Today was a day off for me as we were very low on work so I volunteered to take it off.  This is what I accomplished. Okay the photo's didn't download, will try again tomorrow.