Quilts - n' - Horses

Christmas, Little Dudes Style

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:26:00 +0000

Last week was our last week of Little Dudes for 2009. Every year we have a Christmas party for the kids and let them pretty much each as much junk food as they can possibly consume and play random games. Nothing really set in stone other than lots and lots of sweets to hype them up and send them home!

These are their Angels.. it's hard to tel from this picture. They all painted and decorated them just how they wanted to! I highly recommend doing it with your kids!

During the Fall session I set out to make ornaments with the kids. My mom sent me a box of old ornaments a couple of months ago and in it was a soda can angel that I had made in the 6th grade during Art class. I like stuff like that and figured it would lots of fun for them. I never EVER expected the amount of fun they could possibly have with the wing making. It's so simple and I think we will be using it for something else in the Spring. All we did was take two pieces of wax, used scissors to shave crayon so that the wax was flaky on the wax paper. Then lay the second piece of wax paper over it and touch a warm iron to it. It melts the crayon and makes a small stained glass looking thing. I just cut out little wings and we glued them on.

Half of the kids had never seen a candy cane reindeer, so I was glad I made them. It was like a whole herd of deer man! I also made rice krispie treat houses. It was a kit, so don't go thinking I did it ALL on my own. The kit came with the house mold and then i decorated them with the candy and icing it came with. I'm not a huge fan of rice krispie treats, but aren't kids??! It was much better than a gingerbread house and much more edible! Although Im still trying to talk Brian into making a ginerbread house with me.. outcome isn't looking so hot on that one.

Spring Little Dudes starts in January and I've got a whole host of ideas and projects. It's mainly a chance for me to play craft time!!

Mermaids, Fish & Seahorses.. OH MY!

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Several weeks back, I explained how a good friend of mine was having her first baby. I of course volunteered to make the crib bedding. The process was daunting and I am very happy with how it turned out. You see, it would have been completed in a week or two IF I had absolutely nothing else to do, which would be wonderful.

I really hope she likes it and baby Lily doesn't completely abandon her new room because she's not too keen on the mermaid underwater non-traditional adventure. Since we in no way have a crib in our house, due to the fact of 1. we don't have nor do we expect a baby anytime soon and 2. our house wouldn't be big enough for one even if we did... I can't lay it all out in the crib as it should sit. Therefor.... I improvised and used my sewing table.. you get the idea. right?! The set is not so girly what so ever. They wanted something different and modern.. there.you.go!! Lots of blush, golds, oranges, mermaids, fish, and seahorses!

In total when it is all said and done, there is a quilt, bumpers, crib skirt, diaper stacker, & mini pillow.. like she will need it anytime soon. It was fun. I just wish it wouldn't have taken me so long. Making it is one thing.. shipping is a totally different story.

Helga

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:36:00 +0000

I love this, for so many reasons....

1.She's going to be that sister who beats up her brother.
2.That look in her eye is only one an Auntie can love! She's trouble people.
3.And I'm sure she will continue to do this and threaten to fart on him until he gives up whatever it is he may be hording at the moment.

No, her name isn't Helga.. but with a photo and face like that maybe it should be

I hiked

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

There is no actual proof, as in a photo of me doing so.. but I did.. I hiked. And let me tell you something, going up... sucks! I prefer the hike down thankyouverymuch.

There is no actual proof, as in a photo of me doing so.. but I did.. I hiked. And let me tell you something, going up... sucks! I prefer the hike down thankyouverymuch.

We went to Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia on Saturday. It was a much needed day off from everything. He did take me to a quilt store in Abingdon, VA though, so that earned points. I decided that I am not a hiker, nor was I meant to be one. Let's just say the elevation made me feel awfully tipsy and since the park had managed to turn off ALL of its water for the season... we were so thirsty. I mean this could have been straight out of a bad movie. If it wasn't for the wild ponies, I would have called it a bust... No I'm kidding. It was fun, I just don't want to do it every weekend.

Oh, this is basically Christmas Tree country.. those tiny little lego looking pine trees are actually full size trees, we were far away. I think if the Horse farm business ever goes south, we'll move over to Virginia and become tree farmers.

Gobble Til You Wobble

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I did it. I am the Auntie who makes the niece and nephew holiday themed outfits. This of course, was my first attempt. And as sad as they my be, I'm impressed with myself, not gonna lie. I do admit that poor little girl turkey looks a little sickly and little boy turkey has a slight lean. So what, let's just say one of his legs is longer than the other. But as a first attempt, not bad?

Those poor twerps never saw it coming. So, Matthew & Leslie, if you're reading this, please at least take a picture of them wearing these.. and then you can discard however you feel necessary. Christmas is coming and they will be so totally better! Humor me!

I was told to add them to my shop. Uh, I don't know about that. they are a little in the developmental stage, or whatever you want to call it. I'll do it if at least 2 people think I should. Not a huge jump seeing as how there is like a total of 5 people who read this. Well 5 that I know of anyway.

A not so b-day surprise

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:32:00 +0000

This is going to a friend of mine for her birthday, which of course is tomorrow. Go on, ask me when I mailed it.. I know you want to! I mailed it this morning, ok! Whatever!

I picked out the fabric from Amy Butler's new line called Love because she really likes that red/wine color. I saw it and thought it was nice, but after the bag was done.. I REALLY like it. I'm considering putting it in my shop, what do you think? (ignore the fact that the whole shop is lacking in, well everything. if certain friends would ease up on the baby producing I would have time :)

I didn't use a pattern for this bag. I sort-of winged it really. the only thing I don't really love is the strap length, that could be a do over. I'm thinking about going back to Tennessee Quilts on Saturday to get something else from this line. It of course is navy blue, which everything I own seams to follow in that color. I've decided to make myself a much larger version of this for the gym.

Ya, that's right, you heard me. I'm making myself something!! Oh, and we're joining a gym. It's more of a way for us to get away from the farm and so something together. AND because frankly I NEED to go. I think my most favorite part is the fact that the place has a hot tub.. well worth the $40/month just for that alone. When you live with a teeny tiny shower stall and no tub, you'll remember this comment.

Mermaid Escapade

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:11:00 +0000

This is the finished Mermaid quilt. I think (hope) Bethany liked it. I managed to cart it back to TN with me since I was still working on Lily's bedding and she had more than enough to attempt to fly home with.

Brian, he's quite the model, no?!

The back of it is my favorite. You really can't see the actually quilting on here, but the waves on the fabric and the quilting really look good together. I'll say it.. I impressed myself!

This is one of the 6 bumpers for her bedding. They turned out really good and were surprisingly easy. Now on to the finishing the crib skirt. I've got a fear of not finishing it soon enough and Bethany going into labor early. Although she isn't due until late January.. I'm still worried! The kid needs bedding to come home to!

A Couple of THINGS

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

Raise your hand if your twin niece and nephew are cuter than this... Ya, I didn't think so!!!
The twerps in their Halloween costumes. If you have no clue what they belong to, you were deprived as a child and should really look up some Seuss.

Fall's Here!

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:08:00 +0000

I made it home from Texas Sunday night. As in last Sunday night. A week ago. I'm way late on posting pics. BUT, it was obvious that Fall decided to grace us with its presence... This is what it looked like Monday morning before work. I swear I was only gone 4 days and everything was green then. Amazingly we had 40mph winds yesterday morning so all the orange ad yellow leaves are now on he ground and things are starting to look like the depressive state of the year.. boo!

When I was in Texas, I had to thing to accomplish... help decorate for the reception and throw Bethany a baby shower. B & her hubby were married 2 years ago and instead of having a big wedding they went to the JP because Jeremy was in the Navy. So, last weekend was the make-up for the reception... AND since she is nearly 7 months prego... we also had a shower! A baby shower at one of our old favorite Mexican Food restaurants where we all went to college! Well worth the wait, I tell ya!

Imagine constructing a diaper cake.. now imagine doing it in a hotel room in 1 hour. It's not all that complicated, I've made them before.. but this one.. it's definitely my favorite one so far! I bought the little sea life wooden cut outs before I left for Texas and drug my paints, hot glue gun, spare ribbon, raffia ribbon and whatever else I could cram in my suitcase for that extra $20 fee for baggage I was going to incur. Everything else I bought at Target in Huntsville. Which, if you've never been to Huntsville, ignore this comment.. BUT, read my lips, Huntsville has a TARGET people!! I was there for 4 years and we drive 30 miles to go to Target, I graduate and move away and BAM.. ginormous TARGET! Whatever, it's not like I'm bitter about it or anything.

The rest are just photos from the weekend, mainly the decorating we did and all my old friends.

Bethany.. nearly 7 months pregnant!!

the girl wanted carved pumpkins, so that's what she got!! I now have some flesh eating disease on my carving hand.. Brian says it's from the pumpkin slime.. we'll see if I loose a limb

CAKE, I love CAKE!

Here is a blurry pic of me attempting to cut the cake.. with no real instructions from the cake lady on how to cut such an odd shape deal. I made it work and people were pleased to have larger pieces that they probably should have.. WHATEVER!

Finally, at 3am Sunday morning after a very long weekend of decorating.. Some of us decided that the popcorn balls that were leftover needed some sort of farewell... into the Trinity River! By the way, don't judge me because I have sweatpants on under my dress from the reception.. it was cold, 3am and frankly I didn't really care. I am however, not a master golfer and will never have the chance to do this again!

Texas was wonderful, even though I ended up with a dinged rental car the very time I ever rented a car. I never thought I'd admit to missing Huntsville, TX.. but I did and still do. It was lots of fun and we're all thinking about doing againg in a few years.

Sneak Peek

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:50:00 +0000

The 'Cowboy' quilt is on its way to its new home way down in South Texas! As always, it took longer than I expected. But really, did any of you honestly think it would happen in the short time frame I manage to give things. I'm not very realistic in the amount of time I give myself to complete projects for other people whether for sale or gifts. (See the Mermaid expedition below...) I did a little more in the quilting of this one than I have previously done with MY machine. I've used mom's to make all kinds of designs, but not mine. I was nervous! I think it turned out alright, better than I thought. You can't really tell from the photos but, there are stars in the corners of the sashing along with long loopy swirls. I stippled each block and the outer border.

As for the Mermaid expedition... I started it on Sunday afternoon and woke up this morning around 5:00 to finish piecing the back and throw it on the Wanda, the quilt frame. I did a wavy line, kind of like water/ocean. It looks pretty cool and I think will make the back look even better. (finished photos to come after the baby shower Friday and after I get home on Sunday..)

Monday would have been a great time to work on it, but my Mondays are occupied by 12- 15 screaming kids on the farm.. so scratch that idea. We usually aren't done with everything until 8, then we go and eat dinner with Jim & Sharon.. so you're looking at 9:30.. but last night was even longer.. anyway it's a long story... So I was up early this morning all because this quilt has to be ready to go come Thursday morning @ 5:00 am. The binding can wait, I can do that on the plane. As long as it's ready by Friday, I'm ok.

So, this evening will consist of:

-finishing the Mermaids
-making a set of burpies to match
-sorting laundry to wash
and
-searching for work...

Because come tomorrow, I've got to pack and well let's face it... it will never go as smoothly as I would hope.

Teamwork

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:31:00 +0000

It's been a while since you have been able to see what these two are up to. Well, I'm no better since I live 5 zillion miles away from them, I have to make do with the pictures their momma posts elsewhere.

They are, from what I understand very happy little twerps. Which is good, because they are trouble with a capital T and have managed to learn the art of crawling. Well, boy twerp has anyway. I think girl twerp gets up on all fours and it looks like she's playing Twister. But, when it comes to trouble, this is what I picture. Actually I see this photo and think TEAMWORK!

It's obvious who started the whole thing, right!? Walker Texas Ranger over there is the instigator. Those poor twerps are just the workings of this operation, Walker is the brains. He knows there is food in there and since they are human, they should be able to open it for him. This should be one of those inspirational posters you can buy, and have it titled TEAMWORK!

As for Uncle Fester, he's nice and warm with his new jacket. Doesn't he look like a creepy little man?? Either way, there will be no need for that jacket come Christmas when we all get to go to Texas! A full 5 days of Auntie lovin! These kids are so screwed!

I'm seriously considering getting over my fear of applique and making them each x-mas onesies. Like little reindeer or snowflakes.. who knows. I mean what else are Aunties for other than to make them things holiday related and then force them to wear them for my enjoyment?! Exactly!

Cowboys & Mermaids

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Two days before our wedding I was informed by my good friend from college was pregnant. She of course was worried I'd be upset that she told me right before the wedding. Seriously, who cares about the wedding, you're having a baby!! I was excited to say the least! Of course I immediately assumed it was a girl from day one, and what do ya know.. it is! Lily Kay will be here sometime in January and how on earth would I let her come into this world without a quilt from her Aunt T!

Bethany and Jeremy live in Florida and decided they wanted a beach theme for their daughter, well guess who's making the bedding?! That's right, me! So, we went with Mermaids and other usual underwater creatures. But not your typical beach theme. The quilt will of course come first because I have to take it with me to Texas in a week for her shower/reception. It's complicated situation, so you won't see the actual quilt until I get back.

This quilt will belong to Cavan, as long as his mommy approves of it. I went ahead and made it after Tracye requested a quilt from some of the fabrics I made burpies out of last month. Here's the problem, I didn't have much of the cow print and knew what little I had of the blue was going to be pieced for the back. Anyway, I used other prints form the same fabric line and this is what I came up with.

It's very busy with all the cowprint on the front, BUT I really like it!! And I hope to God she does too! It was pretty windy yesterday when I was taking these pictures and it wouldn't stay still on the line. As you can see, Shiner decided to grace the photo with his presence... thanks Shiner!

The quilt is in the process of being quilted as we speak. Well not really since I'm obviously typing this, but you get the idea. I know I said I'd have it in the maid today, but really if anyone knows me... it never works like that. There is always SOMETHING that ruins my plans. But, either way TRACYE, I hope you like it cause it's going to be a heck of a do-over!! ;)

Parents, Projects & a 25th Birthday

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:41:00 +0000

It's been a long 2 weeks. I obviously haven't posted anything recently. That's because things have been a little crazy to say the least. My parents came to visit, which was a first for them, I've been working on several projects, and I 'celebrated' my 25th bday yesterday.

Mom & Dad were were here for a long weekend about two weeks ago. They got to see the farm and of course dad tried out the scooter. No pictures to prove it, but believe me.. it was hilarious. Brian & I took them to Boone, NC one day and these are a few of the pics we took. Nothing too special except for the fact that dad wanted pictures, but didn't want to get out of the car to be in any of them.. hence the photo of him with his head out the window.

These are taken at a lookout of Watauga Lake in TN, about 20 miles from our house

We spent a few hours trolling around the Bristol Motor Speedway. Dad has always loved NASCAR, but I don't think he could ever enjoy being at a race. It's hot, overcrowded, drunken rednecks... and Im sure it's a boatload of fun. When the race comes to town here, every spring and fall... it's best to either leave town or don't leave your house.

After browsing the gift shop, dad couldn't find matching #49 Jimmy Johnson onesies for the twins, so he settled on #49 socks and something else, I'm not sure. In the world of NASCAR... you have your favorite driver and you hate everyone else. Especially little Jeffy Gordon.. as Dad calls him.

I guess they had a good trip. they didn't seem to say anything too bad about it here. Brian did everything he could to make them want to move here, which cracks me up. Dad was taking bids from us and my brother and his wife, who live in Colorado, to see who could offer the best deal. I don't think it's likely we will win that seeing as how they have babies and the scenery is much different there. On a side note, a friend of Mom's let them borrow his GPS.. which I might add is HILARIOUS!!! The fact that the machine tells them where EVERY antique/junk store is between here and Texas.. can only spell disaster... or a very long drive. In the time it took them to get here, Brian and I could have driven there and back!!

Do you see this? This took me entirely too long to complete. i had so many complications and frustrations.. But, it was finally mailed out this week and Mandy, I hope she likes it.

Diaper bag, 2 sets of car seat strap covers, 4 burp cloths, and a mini quilt.
(Duke kept following me around and wouldn't get out of my pictures)

This quilt is to be raffled off to support our nonprofit here at the farm - The Little Dudes Ranch Project.

Tickets will be $5 and the raffle will go from Saturday 9/26-Saturday 10/3. My goal is not to make a fortune, but to raise enough to where it's something I can do every year at Horse Days.

The color of it doesn't stand out in the pics. This is what it looked like two nights ago, it's currently being quilted and Im hoping will be complete for tomorrow, when the raffle begins. It's going to be a nice sized lap quilt and is done in Pashmina by Moda. If and when it's complete, there will be more pictures to share. Hopefully that is tonight.

On a LAST side note, I had my 25th bday yesterday... one in which went so very wrong. Nothing was right all day, even the day before was bad. Brian called me just before 5:00 yesterday at work to tell me he needed me to take him to the hospital as soon as I got home. Well, if it'sbad enough for him to call and ask me to do that, then I knew it was bad. I immediately left work and rushed home, only to find him curled up on the bench outside looking like CRAP. He could barely walk and complained of a head ache. After all was said and done the ER doc released him last night saying it was a severe migrane. they pumped a lot of stuff in him and I'm not convinced it was a migrane. I have my doubts and still think this all has something to do with a head injury while he was deployed to Iraq... He's home now, and should be resting.. I say should.

If you have read this far, that means you are now caught up in the last two weeks...

The End

Early Morning

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:20:00 +0000

We had an early morning, this morning. Earlier than normal anyway. Since it's a 3 day weekend for us, Brian decided he wanted to hunt everyday. But, when you have no other place to go at 7 am than you're back pasture, this is what you get.

The dove's however, must have got the memo that Saturday is included in the holiday weekend, so they took the morning off.

Even Duke felt it was a little bit early for all this nonsense.

Total count: 1 bird, but he is off to show them who's boss, just not at our farm anyway.

I've managed to add 2 news set of burp cloths to the shop, and am planning n cleaning/throwing away anything and everything that I consider junk in this house!! Oh thank you long weekend!

Off to a great start...

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:19:00 +0000

So this is about how my day started off.. Well minus the total look of disgust from whatever that is they have in their mouth... Mine was because it was raining and all I really wanted to do was stay in bed. But it's now 7:15 and I'm awake... on a Saturday.

I don't know what it is, but it sure isn't good

A day when I've planned to work on my new Juki to figure out what the heck is wrong with it. Because now I'm pretty angry at it. It won't stitch longer than 15 seconds without breaking thread and I've tried everything.. changing needles, a million different ones and changing thread... adjusting tension. I seriously have no idea.

This is actually how I feel about my machine at the moment..

But hopefully it will get better. Kinda like this! See how happy she is now. It amazes me how big they are now. Pretty much sitting up on their own, probably with a little help. But I'll say on their own.

But then again maybe I should just go back to bed and forget the day even started. I mean technically the sun hasn't shown itself and if I close my eyes who would know the difference anyway.

Even Walker looks a little hesitant about waking up. That dog is Walker, as in Walker Texas Ranger. He's not mine... I promise!!

Now I'm off to Ellipticize, as Brian refers to it. Maybe after that I can find something else to occupy my time so I don't have to look at that dumb machine.
p.s. - you two twerps are the reason I'm cleaning out my bank account. But it's ok, one day you'll have to support your Auntie because she spent all her cash on plane tickets. You're taunting me here.

He feels the need....

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:03:00 +0000

The need for speed!!

Yes, that's right... he's got a moped. A bright, shiny, red moped. One in which he took out on his first real ride this morning to a doctors appointment at the VA. Now, it's not that far, but hey it's a long haul for something that barely makes it to 35 downhill.

He of course loved it and said while on his way to the VA he was worried he'd look like a idiot on a moped. To his surprise, he wasn't the only one there.

And today, I may have slightly, only for a second questioned why on earth I married this goon... But then again, how would I get awesome pictures to blackmail him with for the rest of his life!!!

AND, it gets 100 mpg... so that's like a total of $3.66 to fill that baby up.. oh help him! He figured it's about $90 for a years worth of gas. I'm just sad it's not pink like we previous expected.

The helmet was a bit snug, even for his little head.

What a NERD!

It's like watching a train wreck, it's hard not to stare

The Nature of our Funny Farm

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Over the last year or so, I've noticed that the farm where we live consists of animals who may otherwise have an identity crisis. It's something we honestly haven't tried to fix, because it's pretty funny to watch sometimes. Our beagle seems to think he is to be friends with every creature on the farm... and we have a lot of creatures. I caught him napping with Ollie (Oliver) one of our new little kittens. Before I could take the picture, Ollie hopped up and acted like he wasn't doing anything wrong.

The same goes for these two. They don't really have names. I just call the white one Chubs and the black one Licorice. They belong to the girl who rents from us and she decided to set them free.. on a farm where dogs play and cats roam.. she set them free. They've been out of their cages for nearly 3 weeks now and still no casualties to report. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Duke like to play with them and roll them all around the pavement. It really upsets Brian because he's a Beagle and to him, he should be a rabbit dog... not so much.

They look pretty small here, but believe me they are about the size of Duke.

Last night as I was on the phone with my dad I looked up in a tree and found this little guy. I say little, but really he extended out about 6 inches and was a good inch in diameter. It was pretty neat to watch and wished there was some way to keep it so I could ship him to Texas as a birthday present for Zac!
I resisted, Kelly... you're welcome. Mom said it was a tomato worm, so did dad. But, I of course used my Googling powers and found out it should one day turn into a Cecropia Moth. Go on, Google it. They are really pretty.

As for quilts/ projects, I've been pretty busy with a couple. Hoping to have them ready by the end of the weekend.. and some photos.

Vacation

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:21:00 +0000

We are leaving for a mini vacation to Pigeon Forge and Nashville as soon as I can get everything together. The water park at Dollywood might be a little chilly, but Brian says we are going anyway... he's determined. Oh and his favorite, the Dixie Stampede.

So, Im sure I will have lots of pictures when I get back because of our new awesome camera!

BUT, poor Duke has to stay home with the babysitter... and do this all weekend without us.

Don't worry, no cats were harmed in the making of cheap entertainment.. only a beagle with a wild side.

Be back on Tuesday! I'm sure he will survive the long weekend. Hopefully he won't try anything sneaky, like running away while we're gone.

Twerps

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:17:00 +0000

The thinker and the clown

Such love for his seester

I don't have anything to say really, except that I've got projects coming.. soon.. hopefully.. if I can get my butt in gear. But until then, feel free to drool over these two. I do!

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:47:00 +0000

These are the makings of four new quilts. One will definitely belong to my friend Kelly as her personal quilt, the blue and red Zippity Doo Dah. The pinks, greens and yellows in the middle from the Darla Collection just might go to her as well.. that's as long as that baby she's having is a girl!! The aquas, reds, and whites will more thank likely go to my other friend Bethany, who is also pregnant.. and of course who knows what it is yet. As for the the fourth one, who knows.

See mom, It's working!! took me long enough, but it's working! This should come in handy once the fabric above are actual quilt tops.

This was taken somewhere near Crossville, TN last weekend when we went to Brian's parent's. It's hard to make out, but the gas station was called the Liberty Market and on the awning it said AMERICAN OWNED AND OPERATED. Naturally Brian chose to get his gas there, rather than the Quik-E-Mart across the road. He's planning on buying into the franchise I think.

We were given a new camera as a wedding present this past weekend. Thanks to Brian's parents, we now have a really really nice new Canon Rebel SLR. It's just going to take a while to figure out how to use this bad boy.. until then you get to watch things like this...

Show & Tell

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:22:00 +0000

I've had several weeks lately of being in a funk. I realized it was mainly to do with the whole mess our photographer from our wedding left us in. I say mainly, but not all. We received our wedding 'album' if you could even call it that about 2 weeks ago. At which time I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Here are a few photos of what she felt was worthy of the $ we paid her for her services.. let me remind you she is a 'p.r.o.f.e.s.s.i.o.n.a.l' or so her website states. There is nothing special about the photos, nor do they capture anything different than the things we already saw that day. In a nutshell, it stinks and it's basically a Walmart album with some pictures someone just threw in there....

I finally decided to call her and let her know just how unhappy we were, but nothing we could have said would have made any difference. I mainly wanted to know why she felt it was necessary to choose OUR wedding photos for OUR wedding album and not allow us to see all the photos she took.

Her answer was simple, at which point I knew the conversation ends here..."Well I didn't want to let you look at them to choose because it takes people so long to pick the ones they want. I just assumed you would like what I chose and I didn't want to have to owe anyone anything." These are exact words people.. All I can say is of course you OWE us and you know what happens when you ASSume things.. Not to mention having to turn your wedding album every time you want to look at the vertical ones, just screams CLASSY!

I'm done with it now, I feel better. You can all go back to what it is you were doing before I broke out in my long winded speech.

The book came with a huge stain on the cover and Brian said we should use the lines between the pictures like a year book... just have everyone sign next to there name and write us a note. He such a thinker, boy do I love him!

Mondays

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Aren't they just GREAT...

This is kind of how I feel after a long weekend of monkeying (yes this is a technical term) with my new Juki. It's so aggravating, really. I may even skip supper with Jim tonight to take the whole contraption apart.

Curtains & Post Holes

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:47:00 +0000

See.. I did finish the shower curtain! nothing fancy, just one that is sized to fit our shower stall. I picked out the fabric back in March. I'm considering going back and getting some more for curtains in our living room. Although, that might totally be weird. Please don't mind the green paint, it's not my particular favorite. I'd like to paint it yellow, like a golden yellow... or something like that. But seriously, it probably won't happen!!

I've been wanting matching curtains on all the windows in my kitchen since we moved in. I finally broke down and made this over a year later. I really like them and am somewhat impressed with my curtain making skills! Please don't mind my rooster clock, it never works when it's supposed to. Probably because it came from the dollar store.

and the post hole diggers. See they love it! Well I know Andrea does anyway. In Andrea's words, "4ft deep and 3ft deep are really the same, right?" This is them putting posts in for what will be the new shed for the horses to get out of the weather. I'm sure they will be appreciative, but then again we'll never really know that for sure.

Ask

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:32:00 +0000

and you shall receive..

Got home yesterday afternoon. Walked to the barnlot only to find Brian and his buddy Jake locked in the feed room with a BB Gun 'exterminating' mice. Seriously, it was like watching two of the most redneck guys you've ever seen. "Oh, there's one, quick he's gonna run" Before MY Daisy Red Ryder could even be pumped, it would be gone. I don't think any mice were even harmed. We keep our feed in big metal trash cans so the little critters can't get into it, and yet this is what they do down there while waiting for lessons to end. I think it's the highlight of his day honestly.

Back to the asking and receiving part.. I found our camera!! ya, it was on the coffee table.. with all the other things I couldn't find in the last 4 weeks. I'm pretty sure I will be cleaning it off tomorrow in my weekly Saturday morning cleaning adventures. Now, when I say 'cleaning adventures', it is by no means enjoyable for me. But have realized that if I don't at least pick up things, sweep and wipe down all the counters (which we only really have 2), then everything really just gets out of hand. BUT, I promise to take pictures of a few things I've been meaning to share and post them by tomorrow... sometime.

Oh, and work with my new quilt frame and machine. I've named it Thelma, i figured since I will be spending so much time with it, it needed a name. Just makes me feel better when I decide to shout obsenities at it.. makes it more personal. So Thelma and I will be appologixing to each other and starting over since we didn't get along last weekend while trying to roll fabric on the leaders for the first time. I'm sorry Thelma.

And, I am going to force myself to spend a couple hours with Shiner. I mean I want to, and I need to, but there is so little time after I get home from work during the week. I'm going to the farm store during lunch today to get him a new halter. He broke his last one, thanks to Brian's training session. Will show you pictures of him too! He's so big and has filled out so well!!

Also, if you ask for pictures of your niece and nephew who coincidentally are moving to Colorado today.. You get them! Matthew, if you're reading this.. Thanks Bubba!!

Thing 1 & Thing 2

Baby Tag-Team Wrestling, minus the tagging

Babies look good on ya bubba, who'd of guessed!

Lack of Photos

te_anders@hotmail.com (Tracy) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:42:00 +0000

This past weekend I managed to completely finish the new shower curtain I planned for our bathroom. I would have a picture of the finished product, but you see... I can't find the camera. It's probably somewhere between here and Texas. The last place I saw it was Lake Charles, Louisiana. Some housekeeper at the Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino is probably taking pictures as we speak with it. and viewing all of our random ones from our wedding trip. Either way, I can't show you anything I've been working on, completed, or whatever. We are however in the process of buying a new camera, a spiffy new Nikon (or Canon) SLR.

But, back to the shower curtain. I picked the fabric out about 3 months ago, with the intentions of making a shower curtain to fit our tiny shower stall. It only took until late June to start/finish it. I will say this, I learned something new while making it. I learned to make a button hole.. holy crap. That's right, I'd never done one until Sunday and well it was so easy, I'm embarrassed. I'm pretty impressed that I was able to completely make the whole thing without one single hiccup!! So, when I can either locate my camera, or the new one finds its way to our house.. I will show it to you. Along with the set of curtains i made for the window over the sink in the kitchen. Oh, and the red, aqua, and white fabric I ordered to make this as well as the Darla fabric I ordered too.

I don't have any new pics of the twins.. because my brother hasn't sent me any.. go figure! Read it bubba, I need pictures.. I'm seriously dieing over here because you won't send me any. I guess I can forgive you because you are moving to Fort Carson, CO tomorrow.. but still. Help your seester out! I miss those little twerps, and your not so bad yourself.