Harvest

He is harvesting the wheat in the field south of the house beyond the butte. I took out lunch, but didn't get to ride along until tonight. The stubble comes up to my knees. He is happy with the yield so far and the combine is running well. I love the color of the field.

We had toast with grape jelly that came from the grapes in the vineyard. Yum!!! This is a good time of year. Looking forward to having family home, even if for a brief time.

Love, Marmee

Guarding the garden

For those who have met him, you know that Tucker is not exactly the world's fiercest guard dog. Here he is in his usual spot, doing his usual thing.

He has become family and we love him, even when he sneaks in the sewing room and sleeps on the bed with my projects on it. He is not smart enough to smooth out the wrinkles he leaves behind. He is naughty but not devious.

We are left to guard the grapes ourselves. The farmer was studying "grape-ology" last night trying to find out how to concentrate the grape juice so we (he) can use it later for wine or jelly.

It's the sort of thing my mother would know. She is the ultimate resource of all things botanical. I wonder if someday people will come to me with questions only I can answer. Hmmm.

The farmer is combining wheat this week. I came home from work, quickly made supper, then went out to the field to ride around on the combine with him. Next time I will take the camera. Hooray for harvest!

Signs of fall

This is one of the bulbs Mom gave us for Christmas. It has beautiful depth of color. We are enjoying watching the garden, and the vineyard. We had angelfood cake with our homegrown raspberries for dessert.

The wheat harvest will start this week. Hopefully we will have warm, dry days and no mechanical problems along the way. This has become my favorite time of year.

This was the last week for L. at the quilt shop. She designed and made these pillows all by herself. I am much impressed. We had a good time with her and will miss her.

Speaking of quilting, the binding is going on the quilt bound for Oregon. It is beautiful. I am excited to have it finished.

I need to learn to control my quilting urges. I have many partly finished projects, all of which are calling to me. I need to just shut the door to the sewing room and take a deep breath, and pause.

This week we took a load of stuff to Missoula for the college apartment. L. picked out a futon for the living room. Here is the proud crew after assembly is complete. Lance's kids are on the sides and the other is L.'s roommate. She is also dating Alex. Its a small world.

Hard to believe school is starting. The summer has flown by. To my students, study hard, eat your vegetables and finish strong.

Love, Marmee

Grape expectations

The grapes are turning purple. See how big the leaves are. It is fun to walk down the rows and see the progress. We tasted one and it was sour. We are eating raspberries and the second round of strawberries. The apples on the trees in the backyard are turning color. 96 degrees today.

A full day at clinic with sports physicals. School registration was today and the two-a-day practices and the infamous "circle of fun" start Monday. We will be in Missoula getting L. moved into her apartment. Its an exciting time.

Quilt in every language

My french quilting magazine came today.It has may photos of quilts at a show much like our International Quilt Market. Some of the names are ones I recognize as American designers. I was cutting one of their kits today. I will be cutting the new series tomorrow. It is a small world, and people appreciate beauty in any language.

Some days I get tired of being a doctor. I get frustrated when patients don't have easy access to specialists. I don't want to practice beyond what I am comfortable with. I don't know how to make the system better. Sometimes I think families should consider support services in the same way they look at school districts when they move. I understand that a rural area with one person per square mile will not support a practice in child psychiatry or pediatric neurology. It is a hard problem. Sigh.

I am back to reading Sherlock Holmes. I have read the stories before, but I still enjoy them. Some books are like old friends. Who can forget Jo March struggling to become a writer, and finding love in an unexpected place, or Tom Sawyer getting in and out of trouble?  I am looking forward to the next generation of classics.

Barn quilt

For those of you hoping for a farm kitten, this is the best I can do. There is a black tom cat who visits now and then. Like most farm cats, he is shy. Somewhere behind the long grass, he is looking at you. He was just in plain sight a minute ago. There is another tabby that wanders through now and again. The farmer says its a male...he can tell by the swagger in his walk. I have no opinion.

This is my latest quilt. It is not the one going to Oregon. This one will live at the quilt shop for now.

Remember when the fall fabric was too pretty to pass up?
The pattern is one Wes suggested I try. I loved the fabric with barns and the rest just seemed to go with it. I think it looks better from a distance, but the close up will show you the fabric. 

I took it into the shop this morning so I could take a picture of it. Wes pointed it out to a customer who was buying fabric from the same line. She had her husband and father-in-law get out of the pickup and come in the store to look at it as well. I was pleased. Wes said it may make the newsletter. Does that count as being cyber-published?

Is there such a thing?

May all your dreams come true!

Canadian geese

We did another crop tour today. We got 1.3" of rain over the past two days, and the corn should do well, as long as it doesn't freeze before mid-September. The combine is out in front of the shed, and the header is on. It is a sign that harvest is just around the corner.

This is county fair week, with a rodeo tonight. The rain has made the arena a mudbath. It should be interesting to see the cowboys trying to rope calves on slippery ground. We will go see the exhibits this afternoon. Perhaps next year, I will enter a quilt and see if I will the blue ribbon.

There were Canadian geese in the pond by the lake. They like the rain as much as the farmer does.

Safe travels to those on the move.

                            Marmee

Clouds

It is interesting how much of out daily conversation involves moisture for the crops. Rain at key times can make the difference between a great crop and a poor one. Rain with hail can mean no crop at all. Farmers are gamblers and mine is never at peace until the harvest is done. Even then, the price of wheat varies day to day. You never know if selling today is too soon or too late for the best price.

I was called in from the quilt shop to take care of a child with pneumonia. We ask each other for help with the understanding that we are available when the need arises. When there isn't a need, I get to be at the quilt shop. It is the best moonlighting job possible. 

Grapes on the farm

We have just come in from weeding the grapes. It is fun to see the vines get bigger and stronger. If we can keep the birds from getting to them first, we should have some to eat eventually.

I am going to finish the quilt today. There is one more border strip, and I have to piece the backing and my part is done. Tiff's mom agreed to quilt it for you. I thought it would be more special to have someone you know do it. Choosing the backing from a whole array of fabric took awhile, but I found one I like very much. It has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I think the same designers created the backing fabric and the front, although they are not from the same collection. 

Did you know you can click on "next blog" and random pages of other people show up in no particular sequence, or language? Interesting to browse but disconcerting not knowing who is looking over my shoulder at my life, or my grapes.