Quilting Kitty!!

Molly has learned well in less than a year with us. She loves to quilt..lol



This picture is a little on the dark side. Love the fabrics. Great way to use up your stash. I got this quilt as a kit several years ago. Now to get it quilted. Another lap quilt for those cool evenings. Lets hope those are not going to be an issue for much longer.




Have a great weekend. In our area it is going to be keep dry. Lots of rain heading our way. Won't be much snow left if it does keep to rain.

Finally Christmas Is Complete

Read my post on Jan.12 which will explain this post..lol.

Do you see it..do you?? That far leg..just fell off when I touched it..a REAL TURKEY should do that! Not like the whatever bird we had on the 25th of Dec. We are thinking now it must have been a wild turkey. The meat was horrible and we all still wanted "turkey"..lol. When driving past the farmers field last week there was a huge flock of wild turkeys..need I say any more..LOL.
This bird was awesome. It was 30lb+ and I bought it from our local grocery store. Not taking any chances this time. We invited friends and family to enjoy!! What a great evening. My birthday and our granddaughters are in Feb. so we had cake as well. Lots of laughs about my last attempt at cooking a "turkey". That is ok..we all need to have a few giggles..lol.

We had a big melt..and now are back into winter weather. Snow last nite..just a dusting but more to come as the week progresses. It is family day today so Rod doesn't have to head to work until tomorrow morning. He can use the break. Between Nascar starting up for another season and the barn we have kept busy. Did you watch the race on Sunday..OMG..what an ending.

Have a great week everyone!!

Busy Weekend

Yes..we had to get hay again. That is ok..one thing good about all this is that we are not dripping hot..lol. We have had to be creative in getting the hay stored downstairs..but that is also Ok!!

The wind was incredible today. It went up and down all day from around 20km to 60km. A group of snowshoe enthusiast used our entrance to the fields to head back into the bush for a tour. We brought the big boys inside for the afternoon so they would not have to deal with them. After the hay was done hubby and his friend who owns the farm next door went out to make trails for the girls to ride the horses. Between what the snowshoe group did and the work the guys did..they have a great trail to ride tomorrow. Wind is supposed to calm and warmer temps as well..yippee.



After all this we had a wonderful Thai meal. Kitchen is tidy and I am heading to bed..!! Still no sewing...maybe once the weather warms up. These days I seem to be spending most of my time at the barn..lol. How can you not just love a face like this




Have a great weekend all..nite!!

Storm is Over!!

Oh how I feel for my friends that had to put up with the freezing rain rather than our snow storm. I can handle snow but the freezing rain is something totally different. The storm started during the night. I was fine until the wind started..wow..was it powerful. That kept on until mid morning. The trip to the barn was not as bad as it could have been..but still it was not good. After the wind died down the snow really started to fall. The drifting had been bad then to add more snow made it even more so. None of this has been as bad as the winter we had several years ago so I really don't think I should complain. To those that got the snow rather than the freezing rain...oh my!! What we got was nothing compared to so many areas. Interesting winter isn't it..grrr!!
Here are a few pictures of the last day or so. Needless to say the horses were inside yesterday and were very happy to get out mid morning after it warmed up..another -23 when I got up..brrrr!!



Leah enjoyed a good roll after being in the barn for a day..I am sure felt good!! Murphy was getting set to do the same once he found a spot.



Gilly is 25yrs this year and the daughter of one of the original Welsh ponies bought from Mrs. Dupont in the USA many years ago. I think I was around 11 years then. How the breed has changed. They don't have the same look anymore sad to say. She is still a very pretty pony..with lots of attitude some days...lol..lol. Humm..she also needs a good brushing and her mane done, she is shedding already..does this mean an early spring??





Well I am off to the barn..lots of work to be done. Thank heavens for our wonderful boarders who make my life so much easier. They were awesome last weekend helping with the hay. We are all set!!

Lets hope this is the last of the severe storms for awhile. Enjoy the rest of the day!!

Trucking Hay

We are still getting a little snow every day. It is mounting up. This weekend we are supposed to get another dump. Also this weekend we have to start getting hay from the farm next door. Never before have we run out of hay but it was bound to happen at some point I guess. When we did hay in the summer our count was way off..and now we are paying for it. Also with the weather being so cold the horses have been eating more. Not happy!!

Our group met for our once a month lesson on the quilt we are making. There is a lot of detail in this quilt and is a learning curve to just about every class. We have been having a ball. Lots of laughs and one liners from the gals as we express our frustrations..lol. Here are a few picturs showing the different colour combinations.












So we have lots of homework to do this month. I can't wait to see these quilt tops finished. They are going to be just amazing. They are all going to be queen size. Back to my sewing.

Enjoy the day!!

Sunny Days

Yesterday was snowy like most of the country but today is great another sunny day. Last weekend our granddaughter called and wanted to go for a ride. So she and the young gal that keeps her horse with us saddled up and went out in the fields for a short tour. The wind came up so they were not out that long but at least they got to enjoy the horses. I think the horses had even more fun than the girls did.



Our horses are just so social. As soon as anyone comes in the yard they are right at the fence wanting attention...or food..lol. I managed to get a few pictures. Ears up..how about that.



My constant companion Tippy



With it being such a nice day I am off to do some fabric shopping. I have a lapquilt that is almost finished so time to get some backing fabric. Have a great day.

Another year!!

Happy New Year to All..

What a great Christmas we had in our household. The tree and decorations are down and packed away for another year. Somehow we got to the 12th of the month. A few more days of winter gone..yes!!!!

As with most of our holidays I do have a story to tell. Now for those that do not know me well...I hate cooking. I would much rather work a 12hr shift..clean the barn...sew..anything other than cook. With age I have managed to adjust to the fact that our family and friends do like to eat...so!! Without a doubt cooking a turkey is not rocket science and I have managed to put on some pretty amazing meals..but as the years have rattled on I have also had some dandy misadventures. One year the door fell off the oven..we used a chair to keep it in place for the rest of the day..lol. Another year I decided to use the convection oven part of the stove to cook the bird..well it was broken..we ate Thai food that nite. So now we get to this year.
Over the years I have gotten a nice farm turkey from neighbors and have had success with every one of them. This year I had to get a bird from a new source as our friends were not raising turkeys anymore. I found a farmer really close and ordered a turkey..or so I thought. We dressed the bird first thing in the morning and in the oven it went. It was only 18lbs so it was not going to take that long to cook so checked it a few times and thought it looked really dark...and gee it does look kinda thin...??? As the hours past...gee no smell of bird in the house..odd!! Well finally it was cooked according to the thermometer..so I got my SIL to help lift it out of the pan and put it on the cookie sheet to carve it. It was dripping GREASE...BLACK GREASE!! OMG...and the legs were pitch black and impossible to carve off the bird. At this point any turkey I have cooked falls off the bone..WHAT THE HECK HAVE I COOKED???? There was white meat..so it was not a goose..yet it was very greasy. Next to NO..dark meat..and very little white for that matter...AND the skin was at least 1/4 inch thick with ta fatty skin???? So...was it a wild very old..lol...turkey...or a goose?? I have not been back to see the farmer...!! Did he think I wanted a wild bird...I don't know..what I got sold..but I sure paid for it. $3.33 lb. and we did not eat it.
So much for Christmas dinner. I think for Valentines Day I will buy a turkey from a STORE...and have a nice Christmas in February dinner for our family!!

Moving on to a Great 2011

Finished, Done...Ready

Yes I am, no more shopping..yippee. I think this is a first that I am ready this early. What a great feeling. Now to do some more baking..which is no big deal. Rod is on his last run for the year. For the first time in many years he has the week off between Christmas and New Years. Looking forward to some down time. The long range forcast is for cold but sunny weather. How great is that. Not a snow storm in sight..lol.

I got a call from our neighbor a few days ago wondering if I still had a picture of there Great Dane I had taken a few years ago. He was a sweet old fella and had a stroke and died the day she called. Well I looked all over my computer and finally got my old camera out and there was the picture on it. (which I have sent her) Anyway on that disk were some other pictures I wanted on this computer. This is one of them. Our granddaughers playing on the wagon in front of the barn. They are 12 and 13 now so this was awhile ago. How fast they grown up.




Well off to do some sewing. Hope everyone is enjoying the Season and are all ready for the Big Day...Merry Christmas to all my friends out there. Enjoy!!!

Windy & Cold

There is lots I need to get done before Christmas and it has had to wait. High winds and snow has made driving to dangerous to head out to do shopping. The horses were in for 2 days (second time in Dec. they have had to stay inside) and finally today we had a break. I was surprised that they went out so calmly. Guess there age is showing. I was hoping to get some good pictures of them playing. The mini's put on a little show but that was it. So today after I got everyone out I headed in to town and got some more shopping done. Before long the stores were very busy so I guess everyone else had the same plan I did..lol.

Last year I posted a cute picture of our Fuzzy cat checking out the Christmas tree. I still miss the little guy so much..what a sweet entertaining little guy he was. Molly the kitten I got from the Human Society is celebrating her first Christmas with us. She is going to be a big cat..man those long legs..lol. Sure enough when the tree went up she was right there.






We have been very lucky here when I look at the news coverage of the Sarnia, Ontario Snow Crisis. Lines of trucks and cars snowed in on the Hwy. Hundreds of people in warming centres and private homes keeping safe until the weather improves. The spin off from this is starting to show up in ways no one had thought of. One area is Propane. All our propane supply comes from Sarnia...so the outlets in our area are running out and the hwy is just open to one lane of traffic. It will take weeks to build up the supply here and hopefully homes will not run out before the trucks can get rolling again. Sure glad our tank is full..for now anyway. It will be interesting to see what else runs low.



Happy that my hubby was not caught in that storm. As it is he is having a challenging winter. Last year was a breeze compared to this winter..and it is only December..geesh!! I am so happy he is off between Christmas and New Years this year..he can use the rest.

Keep warm!! Back to my sewing room..a few gifts to finish off.

Mini Blast of Winter

All around us there is massive snow building up as the week progresses. Oh my goodness some people are having a heck of a time of it. Snow is falling lightly so it is accumulating but not to the extent some are getting it. Cold enough -8 with the wind chill it is -18..brrr!! Horses are glad to be in at nite I am sure. At least they seem to be happy to see me at my usual 4pm feeding. With the usual water to be filled up, vitamins ect.,hay and bedding it is usually around 5 - 5:30 before I am finished. I do hope this winter the temps don't drop much colder..I am not wanting "that"..lol



This past weekend I surprised my dear husband with a new Kitchen Aid Mixer. Our old one had finally died. He was raised with his Dad as a baker and worked for years in the bake shop. We had our own bake shop when we were younger and still have all the old recipes from his father's shop. So this weekend was the weekend for making Christmas Cake. He even went so far as to give a try at making pastry. Both turned out great..he has not lost his touch. It looks like a lot of cake..but it is not by the time we give some as gifts and our friends attack it..lol. So the mixer is a winner and will be staying. Note that it is red...lol..to go along with the washer and dryer in the entrance way..lol. It has been well broken in on its first day of work!!







Now I will play around with small batches of cookies..but will leave the large amounts to hubby..lol.

Enjoy the day!!

Men & Toys

Again.. I am late posting. Not sure how the days and weeks whip by so quickly but they do. Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with family and friends.

With this holiday almost over it is on to planning Christmas. Every year it gets harder and harder to get holiday shopping under control. It was so easy when the girls were younger..toys are easy..lol. Now we are into the teen years so it is a chore. I think we are into the $$ and a small gift stage. This year again I am going to rely on the internet to do most of my shopping. Between gift cards and some phone and internet orders I am hoping to avoid the stores. This weekend the tree goes up. I have a few holiday decorations out now. With the kitten the tree will be secured in the corner with a few more cords..lol.

Yes hubby started his Christmas early this year. He and a buddy decided they should get new cars to play with this Christmas..and should break them in early..lol. Our friend travels a lot so they spent his last visit home testing out the new cars. I think they get more of a bang out of these toys than the kids that visit...lol






I have to show you my friends first quilt. Can you imagine she is a new quilter..and also picked out her own fabric. Kim Bolender did the quilting for her. She just has to put the binding on and it is all done. Just love it!!She should be very proud of herself. Now on to another one..she is hooked..lol.



Back to my sewing room. Have a great weekend!!!

Lavender Ridge..Co Cutter Draw

What a cool little addition to anyones sewing room..the Go Cutter. If anyone is interested..you have a short time to get on over to Lavender Ridge and enter your name. Good luck!!

Some jobs just take time!!

It all started last week. I went in to town to order new winter tires. After much searching around the internet with the staff at the garage we decided to stick with what worked out before. I had liked the ones I had..those tires were just worn out. Tires had to be ordered.
So a few days later I went in to get them on..tires off the car..off the rims..ready to put the new ones on. Nope!! The warehouse had shipped the wrong tires or the number had been wrong..who knows!! Well hey these things happen. Back on with the old tires..new ones ordered.
Go back in today to get the new ones on. Now I want you to know..I HATE sitting around waiting for "stuff" to get done. Drives me crazy because all I can think of is all the things I want to do at home.The POOR Girl..!! that works at the garage comes over to me after sometime ...and says..awwww!! we have to put one of your old tires back on the car. They have sent a tire that had a sticker on it with the right number but the numbers ON the tire are not the one we need. Now..I am being nice..it is one of those things that happens. The girl has been awesome..and I feel so sorry for her..it has not been her week...or 2 weeks..lol. No point in making her feel any worse than she already feels. BUT..OMG!! I have to go BACK to town again tomorrow to get the 4th tire. At this point as much as I know I should NOT say this...darn it..it had better snow..LOL..LOL. I will as of tomorrow be ready!!!

Hey and have you noticed..Daylight Saving Time change is Sunday November 7th. How did we get to November anyway!!

Off to get some sewing started..so much for a day of sewing..will call it an evening of sewing..lol

Comments..and Sewing!

I noticed on my side bar that it is showing so many wonderful areas/countries that are the homes to some great bloggers. I would love to hear from you..thanks for dropping in but please if you can slow down and leave a comment. I would love to hear more about you and be able to visit your blog. I know it is a pain to do when our lives are so busy..but it sure would be appreciated. It is so fun to look at the world map and see just where all my visitors are from. Oh my!! In any case thank you so much for dropping in even if you are to busy to comment.

My blog title says Stiches & Hooves..well I am sorry I have not shown a lot of stiches lately. I am still having trouble with my eyes so it has taken me some time to adjust to not sewing "perfect" seams and corners. Slowly I am venturing back to my wonderful hobby. I am just having to let some things "go". I am so lucky to have my #1 love..my horses. They have helped me cope with this change in my life. I am very lucky!!

So here is a table runner I just finished. It was during this class I realized just how bad my eyes were. It is a Serger Class I took..lots of fun and did learn a lot. Yippee..something is finished. Now on to more UFO's that are waiting for me.





Still working on my Mariner's Compass Quilt..it is a queen size so it will be awhile. I started this quilt many years ago..and it is going to get done before my eyes get any worse. I would say I am 1/2 way into this quilt so will post some pictures soon.

Well off to the barn!! Have a great evening.

A Gentle Stroll

Our friends had dropped in for a visit and we decided it was a great day to hitch our horses and go for a wander and check out the fall leaves.
I gave the lads a whistle to come into the front paddock from there big field they graze in all summer long. When they were young I taught them when they heard me..they needed to come. Better than walking all the way out there to get them. You can pretty easily see Bill is saying ..?? what do you want??? It did not take long for them to figure it out.



Just liked they had been hitched the day before. What great lads they are. Both Bill and Max are in there late teens early 20's..lol..we have had them so long we can't remember. Close enough.



Off we went for our tour. Now our lads are not show horses..lol.They are just dear old pets that love to get out as much as we do..and well..we are kinda slow as well. Our friends who show there horses came with us. It was hilarious to hear them as we slowwlly walkeddd down the roadddd!!! LOL..LOL. There horses rarely walk..lol..they are big..impressive, aggressive show horses..and they ``MOVE". What a gorgeous thing to see. (pictures of there horse in back post on this blog) I don`t think they have ever gone on such a slow ride..lol. They said oh my..you can almost day dream while out here...lol So true..it was so relaxing and the horses were that way to.



Back to the little yellow barn after a lovely walk with the lads..what an awesome day!!