birds

 Octobirds...

I challenged myself to painting birds this month.

I'm thinking leaves and pumpkins in November,

both of which will also be a challenge for me.

~b is for bird

Americana

I'm determined to get this old sock done! This week!

I'm always on the lookout for barn quilts. We saw this one in Iowa.

 ~b is for balance

 If you know me you know that I don't always take the easy road.

We stopped at a roadside stand where I bought two pie pumpkins to bake with.

I turned this one into pumpkin bread. The other one will be pumpkin bars.

Always take the long slow road if you can.

~b

Wood Smoke

 Today was a good day for a fire in Dakota Man's woodshop. 

He has an order from me for candle cups.

He picked up a few pieces of exotic wood on our way through Iowa.

I was looking for black walnut.

These places are far and few between. We've never found a place here in South Dakota.

I can't wait to see what he turns this pile into.

Texas will be his next stop for wood this winter.

~b

Country Roads

 Every few years Mr. b and I have to do a pilgrimage to Iowa.

We spent the last four days driving to the Mississippi River and back.

We were hoping to see more color on the trees but we weren't too disappointed.

We saw lots of beautiful countryside.

Driving the back roads is how we like to roadtrip.

~b

too

Somedays I feel like Goldilocks. This block is too small, this block is too large.

This orange is too orange, this orange too pale.

I've been digging out all the fall colors in my little sewing sweatshop.

Dakota Man has been making me these little wooden measuring cups.

You know in case I get my own cooking show.

~b

American Gothic

 Sometimes Mr. b chooses his next paint-by-number and sometimes I choose.

I'm a fan of the picture "American Gothic" 

and I like that it was based on a house the painter Grant Wood saw in Iowa.

So this is what's going on in Mr. b's little corner of the house as we head into fall.

~b

officially

 It's officially soup season here which means 

I don't have to hide the fact that I like soup year round.

Todays selection is chicken and rice.

I'm celebrating with a new flour sack towel that I embroidered.

I see where I forgot to stitch that heart in the O so gotta go...

~b