January This and That

It's that time of year when not much happens around here.

It's too cold to enjoy anything fun outside without freezing to death.

We're staying inside where it's nice and warm.

Counting down the days until spring...

Connor built this cool little village.

We're glad he still likes the Lincoln Logs.

(BTW it's slightly less painful to step on a Lincoln Log than a Lego...

and they don't fit in the vacuum. Just sayin'.)

 

He had to take the roof off to show me the people inside.

One tall building.

Lots of short buildings.

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I made some beef stroganoff with homemade duck egg noodles.

We're still so very thankful for the duck eggs!

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I'm diligently plugging away at Connor's quilt.

I've made it my goal to have it completed for his birthday in April.

I think that's a doable goal.

It has gone fast so far.

I'm making my first pass across the second row.

It takes two passes to complete a row.

There's four rows.

So I'm almost halfway done with the quilting!

This time I'm keeping track of the time it's taking me to quilt.

When I get to the halfway point, I'll post how much time it has taken.

Running

We've been feeding the ducks peas.
Peas are the ducks' favorite snack.

Now they will run if they hear us open a window or door.

It's been entertaining!

Doll Quilt

A friend of mine told this story of how she found a really cool doll for her daughter.

This got me to thinking about a doll quilt.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

After some Pinterest research, I made one.

It was super easy and quick to make.

It took me three days, start to finish.

(It would have been quicker but we had silly things like school to do!)

Yes, that's the doll quilt on Connor's quilt on the quilt frame.

I sewed 64 squares in random order with scrap fabric.

Then it was sandwiched, basted, and quilted.

It was quilted with a simple cross-hatch grid using the walking foot.

All done. It finished at 21 inches square.

I like to wash my quilts as soon as they are done.

This makes it crinkle and gives it that soft ready-to-use look.

I found the perfect backing too, dogs.

Now the quilt is in its new home.

:)

Quilt and Quack

I decided to hand quilt Connor's quilt.

The first step before quilting is basting.

So for several days it covered half of the living room floor.

I also marked my quilting lines while it was nice and flat.

It's much easier to do that before it's in the quilt frame.

I had to dig out the frame pieces and assemble them.

I haven't had it out in a year.

My family is awesome putting up with all my quilting things.

Especially when they take over part a room.

Thankfully it fits nicely behind the love seat and under the ceiling fan.

Perfect for lighting.

One of the quilt squares with a crazy dog.

The mark lines will completely wash out.

I'm hoping to start quilting today.

Connor has already asked me how long it will take.

I told him I didn't know until I started. (How's that for not answering the question!)

I'm hoping it will go fast since it's all straight lines except for the dogs and boys.

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And now for some ducks!

The other day Nolan came to our bedroom (where the lap top is) and asked what I was watching.

I chuckled and told him I hadn't been watching anything.

The ducks happened to be right outside the bedroom window.

The hens were quacking quite loudly.

(As if they could quack quietly.)

They must have been having a quacking good time!