A Quiet Few Days

It's been rather quiet here - and I'm liking it. I haven't been feeling very crafty the last few days, but rather, just doing little things to make our home better and hopefully more organized (until the kids come along and scatter toys from here to kingdom come - hehe). But I am not going to complain too much about the toys, as all too soon, they will be teenagers, then adults, and then out of the house, with any luck.

A few days ago, I read Lynsey's post on homemade laundry soap and fabric softener. So this morning, the kids and I headed off to Wal-mart to buy baking soda, vinegar and more odds and ends for bar soap and the like. Can I just say the house smells so good from the essential oils? I used sweet orange and patchouli in the soap, and lavender in the fabric softener (mixed with a gallon of vinegar). I found these neat jars at the Dollar Store for 50 cents, and they are what will be holding my powder laundry detergent now (and yes, the orange plastic measuring scoop looks out of place in my cute little container, but for now, it will work):




I've gotten this baby quilt mostly quilted, and am hoping to work on Tyler's tonight and tomorrow:




I decided after starting on Tyler's quilt that I needed to switch to a smaller one to practice my meander quilting. I do tend to get rather jerky while doing it (usually when I get stressed and start to rush.

The local farmers/firefighters are having a guys get together tonight - it's their critter deep fry party. Talk about clogging the arteries - anything that can possibly be deep fried they will try. So the wives and kids are going out for pizza and then it's a quiet evening at home for us. I'm looking forward to it.

Both kids got new glasses/lenses yesterday. Tyler looks like such a little man:

Jessie has had her glasses for a little over a year now, but I'm afraid she is going to have my eyes when she grows up (blind as a bat before Lasik surgery).

The cows are all behaving themselves, and no new babies. Right now they are out there enjoying the sunshine, such as it is.

Doesn't it look cold out there? Hard to believe that hopefully, in a few weeks, the snow will be gone and the fields will be green.

And for those of you blogging friends who asked about the black and white star quilt that I am working on pin basting (very slowly, I might add) - I believe this one was made 60 years ago or so by my maternal great-grandmother (?), but not the same one who made the sunbonnet sue quilt I recently completed. Mom - if I'm wrong - correct me. . . . It is striking, it is unique, and I can't wait until it's done and hanging on my mom's wall at her house:)