Mug Rugs and 100 Years Calgary Stampede

Been awhile since I last posted, just too busy in the garden and outside. Trying to keep on top of the weeds, but we've had so much rain it is hard to get into the vegetable garden without sinking. Good excuse anyway. I should make some covers for my knees so my pants don't get so muddy crawling around in the dirt.

Made these Mug Rugs some time ago, but decided I needed something to post.

Fronts and backs, a couple are just in time for the Calgary Stampede coming up next week.

Speaking of the Calgary Stampede, I have 3 old post cards from my Grandma Pearl.

My maternal grandparents were married in Calgary July 1912, and must have returned in September for the first Stampede. Rumors are Grandma raced her horse there but I am not certain of that.

I remember these postcards pinned on a bulletin board in the upstairs bedroom. They were one of the things I wanted when Grandma moved from her house. Kind of faded and one has something on it, but don't know how to clean it, so it can stay that way for now.

Real Cowboys and Cowgirls

I never knew my Grandfather, he died 1939, and my Grandmother always seemed old. She was quite the cowgirl and had her own cattle brand when she was 16 in 1904 before Alberta was even a province. I still have that brand registered to me. I've got those gloves she is wearing and another white beaded leather pair also. Picture taken 1903.

1912, Forrest and Pearl on her horse Swift.

Back From Holidays

WOW, I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted.

My husband and I went on a 5 week long road trip to Arizona. Did lots of sightseeing & exploring in the desert.

Glen bought a used metal detector in Parker, Arizona and tried his luck at finding gold in the hills of Arizona and California. No luck with gold but found lots of old bullets and other stuff.

North of Quartzsite, Arizona

I knitted 15 dish cloths along the way. Made them out of doubled #10 crochet cotton. I had a bunch of partial balls and just wound them all up, used 3.5mm (3 U.S.) (10 Canadian) knitting needles. They seem to have more scrubbing power than worsted weight cotton.

Saw a herd of antelope south of Great Falls, Montana on our way home. Picture shows about 1/3 of them.

Visited with friends, Larry & Dianne who live in Palm Desert California.They used to be neighbours 28 years ago. I sure envied their lemon and orange tree. You can't believe the smell of fresh oranges while peeling them.

Beauty in the desert

West of Quartzsite, Arizona

 

Someone's lost butterfly, North of Quartzsite, Arizona

Bright red and green hills north of Barstow, California

Our car from the top of a hill we were exploring north of Barstow, California

1000 Palms Oasis, California

Geode found north of Yuma, Arizona

 

Weird rock found north of Yuma, Arizona

Strange cloud over street festival, Palm Springs, California

And the not so beautiful

West of Quartzsite, Arizona

Not much for wildlife, but what we found was interesting.

Black Phoebe

Northern Mockingbird

 Back home, now some sewing time for my next post.

One Flower Wednesdays

I didn't get any new flowers made this week, but sewed 8 to my quilt top. Total is now 152. I've run out of green squares for the leaves, will have to cut more, luckily I bought enough fabric.

Mac and I went for a walk the other day and I found this interesting heart shaped rock, I only now realized I should have brought it home instead of just taking a picture. Maybe I will find it again.

Over the years cows have rubbed on this old willow so much it has a wonderful smooth surface and beautiful red colour.

 

I am excited to say I sold my last 8 mug rugs, all to the same person. Now I have an excuse to make more. I have one in the works for a friend turning 60 next week, but for some reason I had a hard time coming up with a design. Now that I am working on it, it seems to be coming together.

One Flower Wednesdays

I made 2 hexies this week, one with new fabric and a repeat, I still need more flowers for my garden and some repeats are fine.

Added 43 more flowers to total 144. I am finding it easy to add a row while watching TV at night. Didn't post last week because of an appointment in the city so they really added up.

I did stand on a chair this week, so my picture is kind of wonky. Hard to hold my arms out and lean over without shaking and not falling off the chair.

I've found this interesting site called Pinterest on a recommendation from a friend.

Great source of ideas and interests. I've just joined and am trying to figure out how it works.

Frying Pans Etc.

I counted the different varieties of frying pans I have recently when I added a red cast iron enamel grill to my hanging rack. I've got 17, that's not counting the 2 or 3 I have in the trailer for camping.

Although most aren't technically frying pans that's what I call them.

There are 4 cast iron ones - an 8 incher with a wooden handle, another 8 inch one, a 10 inch my husband had when he was single 40 years ago, and a nice big 12 inch Ware from my parents, oh and an old 8 inch Wagner Ware round griddle I bought at a garage sale. 

The 11 inch red enamel grill has a panini press that I've used for steak. Cooks really fast.

I was super excited when I found the green 10 inch Le Creuset enamel  braiser for $1.00 at another garage sale. Came with a glass lid.

8 inch turquoise Le Creuset at another garage sale.

There's a cast aluminum Danish Ebelskiver pan with 7 round indents for apple pancake balls. Haven't used that one yet, but it looks interesting. I think I found it at the re-cycle take it or leave it in town. Guess I should look up a recipe online.

3 different sized nice deep ones for those really big one pot meals that seem to get bigger as they cook.

An 11 inch square light weight grill that works perfectly for frying bacon. Have to watch the heat though. Got that with points a few years ago at Co-op. 

2 copper bottomed stainless steel ones that came with my Martha Stewart pot set, 8 and 10 inches.

A 4 inch steel one that's so old it is blackened and crusty. Never used it but I like the looks of it too, can't remember where I got it, probably a garage sale. I'm curious to know why it has an 8 stamped on the handle.

And lastly an 8 inch steel Comal tortilla pan I bought in Yuma Arizona last year, and yes I have used it a few times to make corn tortillas.

The stainless stand with holes is for cooking stuffed jalapenos on the BBQ. Used it a few times, works good. My sister-in-law gave it to me for Christmas, thanks Judy B.

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Best Historical Fiction Vote now for your favorite books!

One Flower Wednesdays

One flower from some happy fabric.

Managed to get 11 more flowers attached, total is now 101. The trouble is that my arms can't get any longer, so I will have to find a new way to photograph my growing garden. Maybe I'll have to stand on a chair next time.

Not too much new, the garden is almost cleaned up, most of the lawn furniture is put away, now just waiting for snow. We had a tiny bit the other day, but melted almost as soon as it hit the ground. The colder weather is a good excuse to do some sewing anyway.
The other day I made 12 crumb squares.They are 6.5 inches but I see by the picture I did not trim the side of one yet. Good way to use up small scraps, but my scrap box never seems to get any emptier.

If you want a good tutorial go here.

I do mine the same way.
 http://quiltville.com/crumbs.shtml

One Flower Wednesdays

Only one new flower this week, but it is an interesting colour combination. 

Also got 15 hexies added to make my total 90.

With shorter days, the sun is rising later and has made for some beautiful sun rises. Although sometimes it is difficult to capture. I see it, have to get on a coat, shoes, grab my camera and get to the edge of the yard so I have a clear shot. I headed outside before the sun was up, missed my planned shot but caught the sun just behind the neighbour's farm.

One Flower Wednesdays

Well I'm back from our annual trip to the Okanagan in BC. Traveled to Salmon Arm, where we spent the night. Bought some cheese at Gort's Gouda and visited a new winery called Ovino, very good white wine. To Kelowna, for another night and lunch at Freddy's Brew Pub.Then off to Penticton for 3 nights, my favourite place out there. My brother and his wife drove out and met us in Penticton. We spent the next couple of days doing wine tastings at some of the many wineries there now. Found good deals on fruit and vegetables also and brought back a couple boxes of goodies.

I remember the first time we went to the wine festival in Penticton over 20 years ago, there were little wineries selling wine out of their garages, now most of them have built fancy tasting rooms. The wines aren't much better but the prices are getting ridiculous. We pick and choose our favourites who haven't inflated their prices too much.

I got 5 hexies done on the road, and 8 added to the top when we got home. The total is 75 now.

Just north of Keremeos there was a bear along the side of the road eating chokecherries. Lots of cars were stopped and people wee taking pictures. We got out and took some too, but there was one woman who walked right up to tree, before we told her to be careful, she was too close.

Also stopped at Hardy Falls just south of Peachland to watch the Kokanee spawning. We were earlier then usual this year and didn't see as many dead ones. We also saw a black bear on the other side of the stream but he went into the bush and I didn't get a good uicture.