Tuesday, July 31, 2012

can it

It looks like canning season has begun at our house...


I started washing my jars this morning before work
and resumed this noon.
After work we will go to our local Hudderite colony to pick up
cucumbers, dill and garlic.
I can't wait to mix up that first batch of brine tonight.
b

Monday, July 30, 2012

frogs

Frogs have it made...


they get to eat what bugs them!

We were changing out the water in our fish pond when this
frog decided to take up residence on one of the lily pads.
He's been there a week already,
just sitting there and watching us.


Friday, July 27, 2012

double vision

Having twin granddaughters is sort of like...
having double vision.


Of course we can tell them apart!
most of the time...


You think you just saw the same
pinafore top with lady bugs on it right?
Wrong...
they are two separate tops.

Making two of everything for these girls gets a little
confusing at times too.
I always come up with one piece short and
have to go back and hope I have enough fabric
for it. This time it was pockets...
b


Thursday, July 26, 2012

citrus

These dishrags knitted up in
cool citrus colors
are ready for our Dakota Maid shop...


It's finally a little cooler here in South Dakota today.
Better rush out and do a few outdoor chores before it changes.
b


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

garden fresh

Fresh from my garden...


and oh so good!
b


Monday, July 23, 2012

jumping right in

Our four-year-old twin granddaughters
 are definitely not afraid of the water...


When they got the opportunity to jump off the diving board
they went for it...
over and over again!
b


Friday, July 20, 2012

lions and tigers

Lion and Tiger will be so happy to see their little girls today...


you see they get very lonesome between visits.
b


Thursday, July 19, 2012

bees

Don't Worry...


Bee Happy!

This fabric is on my designing table
and I can't wait to cut into it...
b


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

just peachy

There are things I enjoy about summer...

like fresh peaches and locally grown watermelon...
garden tomatoes on blt's


cicadas in the evening...
cooling off with the garden hose...
ice tea on the patio,
arts in the park...
b


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

lazy days

Can you remember this song
by Nat King Cole?

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer


Just fill your basket full of sandwiches and weenies
Then lock the house up, now you're set
And on the beach you'll see the girls in their bikinis
As cute as ever but they never get em wet

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here

Sometimes a song comes into your head
and you don't know where it came from?

I've been doing a lot of dishrag knitting in front of the fan...
aren't these colors pretty together?
Sunny I would say.
b

Monday, July 16, 2012

socked in

While I was 'socked in' all day yesterday
due to the heat and the cold...
(yes, I have a HORRIBLE chest cold!)


I watched movies all day long yesterday made from Catherine Cookson books.
I really enjoy historical fiction books and movies...
and I think I have read everyone of her books.
The movies were excellent
and I think I may feel just a bit better than yesterday?
b


Friday, July 13, 2012

history 101

I have been working all week on a story for the local newspaper...
(the place that I go everyday and pretend to be a reporter)
 about this historical elevator which remains standing tall to this day.


The structure sits on the right-of-way of the state-owned railroad line
 and the owner has been ordered to remove it.

It has recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places
 and of course the register dictates that it can't be torn down.

It was known as the O.G. Bradshaw Grain Elevator and was built in 1908.

And what a colorful family the Bradshaw's have proven to be as I looked up old records
 and interviewed people that knew them when.

The two daughters were still living together in the family home when we moved to town.
 It was a  grand old three story house across the street from us.
These two sisters were over-educated and crotchety old ladies.
(I would have loved to write that in my story! ha)
I'm told only one of them ever married and was married one day before it was annulled.

Their mother was a society lady who held lavish bridge parties
 pulling out all the sterling silver, china and linens.

The old man worked to keep his wife and daughters in fine things.
He was always covered in grain dust and smoked a cigar...
which he would put on the grain scale to tip it in his favor.

Of course my news story is much longer with all the
blah blah blah details...
but I've given you a short history lesson here.
b



Thursday, July 12, 2012

fat quarters

I just love fat quarter projects...


For those of you that don't know what a fat quarter is...
it is a half yard of fabric cut into two pieces
each piece equaling approximately 18" x 21".

If you're lucky you can pick up one for $2 to $3.

And for someone like me that hates standing in any line...
(much less a fabric store line!)
just picking up a few quick fats is perfect.


And if I do have to wait in line to have a half yard cut
I almost always share it with daughter knit and pearl.

I just discovered I could make these box pouches
and am loving it.

One will be perfect to hold my small knitting projects...
socks, dishrags or toys.
Sounds like I will need more than one doesn't it?
b

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

life

Relay for Life events are being held all over the country this week.

Relay For Life is a life-changing event that helps communities across the globe celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.

I made two of these Kindle covers that were commissioned.
The woman that bought them is keeping one
 and donating the other to be auctioned off for the cause.



The Dakota Maids donated this bag to be auctioned off
this Friday at a North Dakota event.
And we filled it with fun summer products!


Please take time to see what you can do to help fight the cause
at a Relay For Life event near you.
b

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

do re mi

This little jenny wren...
 took up residence in the bird house
 in our backyard this spring
and has been so entertaining...


As little Jenny Wren
Was sitting by the shed.
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head.
She waggled with her tail,
And nodded with her head,
As little Jenny Wren
Was sitting by the shed.

She sings opera all day long...
b

Monday, July 9, 2012

going hollywood

Good news...

the Dakota Maids went Hollywood last week
when we shipped grandma's vintage pill box hat
to the Santa Clarita Studios in California.


Award nominated costume designer Kathleen Detoro
made the purchase through our etsy shop.

I think grandma would be as thrilled as we are.
b


Friday, July 6, 2012

hot peppers

Have I mentioned the extreme heat wave we are having here?



I learned something this morning.
The newsman said heat makes you do crazy things...
like murder someone!


Honestly, I knew it makes me crabby...
VERY crabby in fact!

But...


I didn't know I could use it as excuse
to kill someone?
"Honestly Your Honor...the heat made me do it."

I love the color combination of my
'peppers' dish rags...
chili, bell and banana.

Weatherman says cooler tomorrow...
and I just gotta believe him.
b

Thursday, July 5, 2012

garden party

Have you been invited to a summer garden party?


I worked this bag up in a new pattern yesterday.
I love the design and combination of large flowers and stripes.
It's perfect for a garden party.

It's listed in Dakota Maid's etsy shop.

And if you haven't been invited to a garden party...
throw your own.

Show off all your beautiful backyard flowers, designing invitations,
 serving lemonade and cucumber sandwiches under bright umbrellas,
the sound of a water fountain in the background.
Sounds like fun doesn't it?
b




Wednesday, July 4, 2012

July 4

Are you having a BLAST today?
Today's list included...
hot dogs
sewing
homemade mac and cheese
sewing
root beer float
sewing
fireworks
sewing
dishrag knitting
sewing...

or anything that included keeping cool!
b

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

idle hands...

Idle hands are the devil's workshop...


Daughter Knit and Pearl found us a fantastic bargain
 on cotton yarn for our dishrags...
52 skeins!
Thats a lot of knitting and crocheting.

I don't see much chance of idle hands here do you?
b


Monday, July 2, 2012

in the jungle

Wow! It's a jungle out there today...
92 degrees at noon with high humidity.


Heat advisories until Friday...
weather fit only for wild beasts!


I took these photos in Disney's Animal Kingdom last summer.
 I'm happy to NOT be on vacation on days like this.
Let the boss pay to keep me cool during the day right?
b