Done...

 The second graduation quilt is done.  Luckily we had quite a bit of rain this weekend, which made it easier to stay inside and complete.  Don't get me wrong, I have no problem quilting outside.

It was quite relaxing quilting on the deck last weekend. 

I am very happy with the finished product.  This is the second feather quilt I have made and I enjoy creating them immensely.  It is a challenge.

I really struggled with binding it.  Then I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew it was exactly what this quilt needed.

The gardens are looking fabulous.  My daffodils just finished blooming and the primroses are at their peak.

The black currents are blooming and smell devine.

The red currants don't have quite the same pizzazz.

The apples, cherries, and crabapples are also in full swing. 

I have a fabulous crop of dandelions.  Where others see weeds I see wine.  Normally I get barely 7 cups of petals.  This time I had close to 18. Sorry I forgot to take a picture.

I finally found my husband's pumpkin seeds.  He was ready to plant them last weekend and I couldn't remember where I put them.  Of course he thinks I am sabotaging the great pumpkin competition.

The bears are fishing this summer.  It has been awhile since I have been able to set them anywhere.  We are loving the deck.  We eat alfresco whenever we can.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  

Wow...

I am blessed to have such an amazing family.  These last two weeks were all about spending time together and making memories.  

My niece had a dance with a live band to celebrate her graduation and birthday.  It was the first time all of us kids were together since my brother came home.  

We all love to dance and my brother got to play with the band.  We had so much fun.  I want to thank my sister and her family for putting together such a great celebration. It is pretty crazy that my side of family has 3 cousins graduating and a graduate on my husband's side.  That is a lot to celebrate.

The next weekend was turkey hunting with my husband's nephew and his family.  It has been awhile since they all have been out.  Everyone got a turkey.  It was the youngest one's first turkey at our place.

While the guys were out in the woods us ladies had a grand time.  We watched a turkey peck Kyle's pickup.  It saw it's reflection in the chrome or maybe it was getting revenge.  We did some shopping, wine tasting, and baking.  The beekeeper came to work with the hives and gave an interesting lesson on bees.

 Everyone was able to try their hands at making something throughout the week.  I pride myself in having several recipes that require the use of a hammer.  Boys find the kitchen more intreging when a recipe calls for the hammer.

We found this wonderful recipe for 1 hour cinnamon rolls.  It was delicious and perfect for a crowd.

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls 

by Camille Paskett and Shanna Roberts

Mix and let sit for 15 minutes:

3 1/2 c. warm water

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

6 T. yeast (4 1/2 instant yeast)

Then add:

1 T. salt

3 eggs

10 1/2 c. flour

Mix together for 10 minutes, then sit for 10 minutes. Oil the baking pans, dump out dough. Divide in half. Press one half out into rectangle. Spread with ¼ c. melted butter and then with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll up tight, but not too tight. Divide into 12 rolls and place in pans. Repeat with other half of dough. Let rise. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400.  Makes about 24 rolls.

Cinnamon-Sugar

1c. sugar

1 T. cinnamon

 Frosting

1 cube butter

2 dashes salt

2 t. vanilla

6 c. powdered sugar

milk

Orange Rolls: Add orange juice concentrate to regular frosting

Chocolate Rolls: Add baking cocoa and a few drops of water to regular frosting

Cream cheese Rolls: Add cream cheese to regular frosting

I sent some honey home with the crew.  As I was getting it ready we noticed one jar was way darker than the other one.  Of course, we had to have a taste test.  The lighter honey was much sweeter and the dark honey had a richer flavor. 

The daffodils and guineas are blooming.  They look so happy to see the sun.

My bird feeding station took a dive this spring.  The bottom had rotted out.  I took it apart, cut off the rotten wood, made new feet, and stained everything.

Good as new.  I couldn't find a board for our numbers, so I added a wheel to the top.  

I still have one quilt left to finish.  Time is ticking.  I tried spray basting this time and I think I like it.  The test will be how it holds while I am quilting.

My husband has been anxious to start doing some farming.  Once it was nice he was out with his tractor.

 The guinea hen flowers are one of my favorite spring blooms.  If you are interested in learning more about them see the site below. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/guinea-hen-flower-fritillaria-meleagris/

Well it has been a fun and family filled May. All I can say is WOW I am one lucky person. Life is good.  I hope you are enjoying your family.  Do you have any graduations, reunions, or weddings coming up?  Is there a turkey hunting tradition in your family?

Milestones...

Yes, there were Northern lights and they were amazing.  I am so thankful I got to see them and my husband's phone was able to capture them.  This year has been a real milestone as it has been a dream to observe the lights from our cabin.

They pulsated and striated like crazy.  

My next milestone was finishing my niece's graduation quilt.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  Hope she likes it, as she is getting it next weekend.

I finished the quilt on Saturday, which left Sunday for gardening and that I did.  I can hardly move.

Things are starting to come alive.  My rhubarb and the crocuses. 

My daffodils are giving it their best shot.

My seedlings are doing great.  I even transplanted my tomatoes into the greenhouse.  I did a second round of starts.  These were flowers and squash, melons, and pumpkins. 

My house plants know it is getting closer to life on the porch.

I was able to overwinter my basil, parsley, and oregano.  Next weekend they will go to the greenhouse.

The greenhouse is planted with lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, peas, and gherkin cucumbers.

It was a long winter and I am a little leery about it actually being spring.  I'm sure we have one more snowstorm in our future.

Did you see the Northern Lights?  Have you ever seen them?  Are you in the garden?

Maximum Effort...

 Happiness is a successful endeavor.  This weekend's major goal was to get my brother's Jeep, Maximum Effort, across the state.

Max is a 1976 CJ-7 and has not been reliable since my brother left.  My major goal was to get Max 52 miles to my brother, so he could take it the final 308 miles.  I won't lie.  It was a stressful trip for me.  I wasn't certain about the tires, steering, and wiring.  I made it, only went 48 mph, but I made it.  My brother is very mechanically inclined and within a day put on new tires, fixed the steering, got the fuel gauge working, and put in new turn signals.  

He had a very successful trip and enjoyed being reunited with his project.  I am certain Max feels the same.  

I worked on the graduation quilt, but not very successfully.  I'm coming down the homestretch, but it isn't an easy run.  I enjoy quilting, yet having a deadline takes some of fun out of it.

That is the extent of my weekend.  It was cold and snowed.  Hopefully, tonight will be clear as the meteor shower is supposed to be at its peak and there are rumors of Northern lights. 

 I hope you had a wonderful weekend and the night sky is brilliant.

Spring fever

 Spring fever has hit.  Today was a decent day and I took full advantage.

My rose bed is melted off.  That needed a good raking.  I wish I had thought to take a picture of the 3 wheelbarrows of pine needles.

Here it is clean, the bench is back, and ready for spring.  There is nothing better than the smell of fresh earth.

The Tomato Taj Mahal was accessable.  You know what that means?  I accessed it.  Lettuce and spinach are in the ground.

Every year I comment on my planting templates.  They really do make a difference.  I don't feel like I am wasting seed by planting long rows only to turn around and thin them.

My seedlings are doing great.  Hopefully the weather will hold and I can transplant them into the greenhouse soon.

We took Ella for a nice long walk.  I'm so thankful that she has made it through the winter.  She ran around all day enjoying the weather.

I finished quilting the first graduation quilt.  All that is left is the binding.  I took it out on the deck to stretch it out and clip any loose threads.  It should be done next weekend.

I almost forgot to mention that a fox trotted through the yard this morning.  He was trying to catch the turkeys unaware.  They were aware.  I'm surprised as they also have spring fever and are extremely competitive with each other and themselves.

To finish off the weekend I racked my wine and made chocolate peanut butter cookies. https://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com/

The weekend is over.  Back to work tomorrow.  Did you have an exciting weekend?  Did you see any wild animals? Did you garden?