Thankful...

 I am thankful for my family...

I am Thankful for leftovers in a turkey pot pie...

I am thankful that I am caught up quilting and have the front and back of one graduation quilt done.

I am thankful to be married to a wonderful man who helps me light up a random tree on our road to spread holiday cheer.

Sorry for the poor quality.  I'm not much of a film editor.

The movie had it right, it's a Wonderful Life.

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

verse same as the first...

I spent this weekend exactly the same as last weekend, quilting and butchering.  I did have a pleasant surprise.  I have a good friend who is a phenomenal quilter.  I asked her to keep her eyes open for some fabric I passed on about three years ago.  Something I regretted.  Well, I found out my friend is a top notch investigator.  She not only found the fabric, but got some for me.  I am blessed, I don't know what I did to deserve such a good friend.

I spent Saturday hunting.  It was a fabulous morning.  Yes, it was -1 when I went out out.  No, I didn't see a deer.  I did listen to the ducks and geese as they headed south for the winter.  I watched the sun rise.  The frost rained on me like snow when the sun came up.  The was a monstrous golden eagle in one of the trees next to me.  Some people think hunting is about killing.  It is really about the experience.  I didn't get anything, but I loved every minute.

I tried to capture the experience, but fell short.  My husband did get a beautiful buck, so Sunday was spent butchering.  I also spent Veteran's Day quilting.  I'm pretty nervous about getting two quilts done by graduation.  I'm really behind.  I'll figure it out.  

Well, that was my weekend in a nutshell.  I hope you had a great Veteran's Day.  My thanks to those that served.  Freedom is not free.  

Exhausted...

 Egads, I am tired.  This weekend flew by.  My husband harvested a nice buck on Thursday.  

Luckily, it has been cold and I let the meat hang until Saturday morning.  Some people say you should let them age for a week.  I have never noticed a difference if I butchered that day or a week later.  As long as the meat is handled properly.

I absolutely enjoy butchering our harvest.  I canned 8 pints of stew meat.  We made six 1 lb. summer sausages and 30 maple breakfast sausage patties.  There are six roasts and five lbs. of jerky. It took me two days.  I don't know how people can process meat for a living.  My hands ache and my back is killing me.  Still, it is worth the trouble.

That wasn't all I accomplished. One of my teachers had a baby shower. I have no children, so I had to ask my sister (she has five kids) what a new mom would need: lotion, diapers, and onesies. I got a cute little bear coat too. 

Last, but not least, I finished cutting out the second quilt.  There were a lot of pieces and it took way longer than I anticipated.  I hope it goes together faster than it took to cut.  I'm getting nervous, as I am a bit behind schedule.  

I'm afraid winter is here to stay.  Did you tackle any big projects lately?  Have you ever eaten venison?  What is your favorite way to enjoy it?  It is by far my favorite meat.  I hope you had a productive weekend.  I can't wait to go to work tomorrow and get some rest.