Wow Falling for Colour

I'm not sure if I really have a favourite season.  I do really like how the seasons change the rhythms of my life.  I got some hand dyes from Vicki at Field Trips in Fiber.  These are the colour wheel palettes and I just luv them.

Fall is always a rush to get things finished up from summer and prepared for winter.  Each year we do better and I'm looking forward to enjoying mellow autumns once we get organized.  I am busy reworking our kitchen but still have a few finishing touches for the dining and sitting rooms.  I need a wall hanging for the dining room and I am thinking leaves and/or trees but with a modern twist.  I have been enjoying Melody Johnson's Make me a Quilt series. I'd kind of like to meld Vicki's fabrics and Melody's technique and add my own twist to it.

This is pretty much the selection and colour range I want.

I do have some prefused leaves to play with although I probably won't use these particular ones.

Here is a pre dawn, hot of the press shot!  Not exactly staged but this is the general look as I am also finishing up the decorating in this room and choosing curtains for the slider in the adjoining sitting room. The Rooster wants curtains! ;)  I need to decide on a hanging system for these wall hangings that will change each season.  I'm leaning towards a hidden one.  I am also thinking that a square shape would be best, that just about fills the space with a 4-6 inch border of wall showing all around

Perhaps some of the visitors from The Needle and Thread Network  will have some suggestions that I haven't even thought of yet as my brain may be also in a pre dawn fog!  LOL

Thankful

And I am thankful for a great weekend.  The grand kiddies and I went with the Rooster to pick up the new stove and we got that in place and ready for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.  The stove worked wonderfully and dinner was delicious.  We waved goodbye to everyone and began to think about what happens next.  We did talk a lot about how the kitchen is functioning and what we need to do to improve things.  The new stove has no plug and that is a serious disadvantage. ;)  Crock pots, ya know! 

The Rooster was scheduled to work today but I had big plans for reorganizing the shelves in the kitchen and I made good use of uninterrupted blocks of time.  He is a much more serious cook than I am and we need to collaborate on the layout but I got lots of preliminary stuff done. 

I had hoped to be done in time to get into the studio but maybe tonight.  I have several good ideas all ready to implement.  I expect we will get some more nice weather but I am looking forward to being snowed in!  ;)

I am thankful that I can be so happy with the small things as well as the big!

Growing

 A typical fall morning and a fine time for a walk.

We began our day with a quick cuddle with the friendliest cat.

They were hoping for a free ride but they are getting heavier with every step.

We checked out Charlotte and the calves.  Only Charlotte came to have her ears scratched.

Sweet Pea, the Border Collie, was all for checking out the sheep but Manny, our Great Pyrenees cross,  had wandered off on his own guard business down the field road.

 Puhleeeese!  Lets go chase sheep, forget that other dog!

He is almost out of sight but I got a glimpse of these little people's view of the world.  This was a great adventure to follow what appeared to be a large distance.  Josh got a surprised look when we reached the end of the bush as he recognized the railway crossing at the corner of our property.

Then began the science lesson where we examined seeds from oats, millet, timothy, Canada thistle and something I don't know the name of.  lol

Sweet Pea beat us home and Eliana was a close second shouting, "I did it!".  :)

Manny showed up in his own good time.  He came home by his own back road which leads by and even circles around our final destination- the chicken coop.  The grand kiddies were off investigating his road; calling all the while to make sure they could hear me.  I do believe they are growing up. :O

Now my camera decided the aroma from the chicken coop cleaning was intolerable and ceased to function but I remembered my new tablet.  It has a camera.  I managed to get it to take pictures of Sweet Pea and the grand kiddies 'watching' the chickens while I levered chicken debris out the door and into the wheelbarrow.

Then we had lunch and a nice rest. I introduced the budding artists to my gelli plate.  Yes, they like!

While they played I tried to use the 'puter to figure out how to transfer my pictures from a balky camera and a tablet.  I downloaded  something that had my virus protector freaking out and scanning and pitching things into a chest/vault.  ??? Something deep anyway.  While this was happening I poked at my camera and managed to get my pictures off it.  I have been having trouble with the on/off button and I guess it is feeling over worked!  Part two of the chicken coop cleaning may or may not happen tomorrow depending on my getting wi-fi access at the library to send my pictures to the home computer.  I should be able to download straight to the computer but I need to study on that some more without downloading gremlins. ha!  I guess I am not too old to hopefully learn these techy things.

Our walk about the yard made me realize that to keep from growing old, I must not forget to see the world through the eyes of a child.  ;)

Whiz Bang Fizzle

We started Thursday with a bang as Eliana got tangled in her covers and rolled unto the floor.  She is a bit of a drama queen and let us know how she felt about that.  The train blew just then at the crossing 1/4 mile away. All that was accompanied by a rudely awakened distress call from Joshua. Definitely naps all round were called for! 

We had an early start though because we had to pick up the Grand Dad in town as he was dropping off his big truck for some kind of servicing that escaped my jangled nerves. The grand kiddies felt it was cold and dressed as if we'd had our first snowfall!    Since these are new boots, I suppose it was inevitable.  LOL

Then back to really start the day!

Cleaning, that is the sound of the vacuum, soothes my soul.   So we started to do that; soothe my frazzled nerves, with some soul music.  I kept them at it.  It promised to be a nice day but we always have company Thursday night and I had to reclaim my space. 

Miss drama queen, was on rug shaking.  Not sure why the stick but behind her the drawers for the dresser can be seen.  Josh would be carrying them all in later and tightening the knobs.

It was quite the challenge to keep them on track when we cleaned the playroom but I am not all toffee and dvd's.  You play, you pay.  Note to self, do as I say not as I do! :O  ahem

We wrestled the cabinets around in the kitchen which is what I REALLY wanted to do.  It worked with only one major tippy moment.  Sorry, no photos. I was busy!!!

I am thrilled!  It turned out better than I hoped.   The light works but I need to hide that cord somehow.  Painting the kitchen walls is next and then that old sink leaves and we would like to have a large island.  This is a test run. ;)

The centre panel is not in as I must paint everything.   I feel like they are a good match though.

I would like the top of the hutch to be even with the top of the windows and I wonder if the Rooster could make me a box frame for between the top and bottom that would hold three baskets .  We'll see.

We did have a great quiet time in the midst of all the rearranging.  Eliana went to sleep immediately.  I checked my 'puter and after ten minutes my dear grand son reminded me I should be sleeping.  Right! I do believe I did!  :)  I was so relaxed I let him watch a dvd after we did the drawers.  Eliana must have heard the word dvd as she awoke. They watched Madeline while I made happy noises arranging my new china cabinet.  A bit of a fizzle from our previous action packed days but a change is as good as a rest!  ;)

 But it really was a lovely day so I shooed them outside to go harass the livestock!  :)   I harassed the display!  lol  The early morning mitts, boots and jackets must have made them think about hockey!  lol

Which made them all hot and then they needed a cool down.  These two are all about extremes and that keeps things banging, fizzling and whizzing!  :)

Creating at Mach 101

It was rush, rush all day!

Eliana made an early morning appearance and we were off and running!

I had several errands in the morning:  mail, recycle depot, thrift shop, library, hardware store and a stop for milk. 

Then home again home again jiggety jig for Creativity 101.  I barely had the lunch on the table before my gal arrived, never mind the rest break!  Gee, kiddies, too bad, no rest for you!  ha!

I was most impressed that they stayed with the class for an hour and a half and then opted out for Clifford the Big Red Dog!  That was the reason for the library stop!  Yay, Clifford!

Shenise worked away and we spent a bit of time unifying everything.  We did actually finish her butterfly book and we'll be starting something new next week.

Now after she left,  Clifford was still going strong so I had a lovely coffee break.  I shall deal with the aftermath later.  vbsigh

I chased them outside where Josh had his turn with the kitten and his sister demonstrated the pinata swing technique!  LOL

The Rooster did finish up the garden box and began on the mess the dog has made along the basement.  We have a creative solution. :)   And bless his heart while I read the bedtime story he began the alteration to the sink cupboard.  We brought in the dresser for the new base and Josh came to check out the commotion.  He was informed that he and  I can set the new dresser in place and lever the hutch on top tomorrow!

I am so excited and so is Josh who is wondering if his muscles will improve over night!  lol!!!  Ahem, it is the teary eyes that make it appear blurry!

Definitely a creative day all round.  :)

Sweet

 I can't believe I really have all this delicious buttery toffee cut up and ready to actually serve to company!  And in bite size pieces that retain their shape.  :)  sweet

It was a kind of red letter day.   The roses have been stunning this year and are still producing. 

We started off early this morning picking raspberries for our morning smoothie.  We have had some hard frosts but the raspberries are still very sweet and plentiful.

After a quick pick up through the house we decided to tackle that last stool for the art room.  I thought I'd have the Rooster tighten those screws down before we stick the little plugs in though. Good thing as he spent a bit of time REALLY sinking those screws in.  oops!

I am not a baking kind of gramma.  So we hunted up a recipe for English Toffee.  It was the very best candy I have ever made!  whoo hoo!  Ha! to all those nay sayers who laughed at my spoon fudge.  ;)  Of course I have to credit my little helpers. And the Roosters thermometer!   :)

Then we made art!  And yes, we painted.

They will be joining the Creativity 101 class and we are finishing up our butterfly books so I wanted them to also have some butterfly pages.

I have to admit that yesterday felt long and the quiet time was very welcome.  But today just flew by and as soon as we'd had a quick rest we were off to collect eggs and they all made it safely back to the house this time.

We gathered up the wheel barrow and headed for the flower beds.  Harvest is happening all around us so Josh is checking out the action  in the field.

The kids are both gonna be gardeners but Eliana had found a kitten and was getting in some cuddle time on the bench.  So Josh was showing me a good hoeing technique.  We had a very productive day.  The Rooster's garden box is just about filled.  He and Josh had to stop to fix Charlotte's waterer.  There is something about water that just makes pigs want to figure out how nozzles work!  lol  A late supper with some sweet toffee for dessert.  We were all in bed early and our dreams were very sweet!

Jumping In!

The kids jumped into action bright and early. They had the promise of painting to make them hop to any suggestions I made!  LOL

I chose to paint this old cupboard as I needed a better fit for this space and I could use this one down  in the basement.   I had a small amount of green paint from the upstairs bookcases.  The kids got right into emptying these shelves while I started organizing the basement.   It yielded a small amount of extraneous stuff this time so I am definitely improving.  I did lose the kids once or twice as they found something to play with.  But I had us ready for painting after lunch.

 We had a  quiet time after lunch and my little Eliana actually fell asleep which is not at all usual. ;) Josh reported she was 'gone' but she had only climbed up into the top bunk.

She remembered that she used a ladder for the last project and insisted on one this time. :O

 Josh was a quick study but doesn't like to get messy which bothers his sister not at all.  lol

There was still lots of enthusiasm and a bit of paint left.  I felt the bookcase had gotten enough of their tlc so I gave them an old but useful stool down in the basement.

While I cleaned up they went off to harass the rest of the winter's supply of drumsticks! :(

I was beginning to wind down but they were ready and waiting for 'art'!  I was firm about no more painting so they just used the less messy stuff. 

A little time with Bob the Builder and Wendy from my dvd stash and I got supper going.  The Grand Framer was a bit late so their wasn't too much tractor time.   We did get the eggs gathered and back to the house safely this time.  ;) ;) 

We finished up the day by  reading a chapter in our book and I was the one that almost didn't make it to the end of the chapter!  LOL

Tuesday sees us back outside.  I shall be thinking about 'art' as we drag the wheelbarrow around the flowerbeds.   I suspect they'll be wanting to jump right back into painting! :)