Well, turns out me and my computer are neither one dummies! It was the memory stick! ugh! So sorry, thanks for being more than patient. I have posted and checked all parts of Block 10 and will do the same for the Block 11 photo. I will get the finishing directions on here too. WHEW!

With that said I am taking a siesta. I’ve got to get my son well as my top priority! He’s either got to try one more round of antibiotics or it’s gonna be curtains for those tonsils! Enough is enough. Also, on top of this, I’m trying to get my herb garden and flowers in (not a priority, just sanity), and going to be helping my folks who are moving up here in just a few weeks. Meanwhile, I’ve still not finished my own painting, and need to do that. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with my kids’ school work/grades/evaluations and such to summarize. It’s just a busy time for me. I’ll do my best to keep something going on here. If you don’t hear too much out of me, I’m with the goats!

Something fun to think about….last Saturday my daughter and I went to an Amish small animal auction. We had never been before and wanted to go really bad! We decided we would sit and watch for a long time to get the ins and outs of bidding down before we attempted anything. Well, we asked lots of questions to some nice folks next to us too, and that helped a lot! It was something I had always wanted to do, but was scared to death to do it! UNTIL….there he was. This little, perfect, adorable goat billy that I had JUST said we needed (yes, NEEDED!). We are getting ready to seperate Ernie from the girls, but didn’t want him to be so lonely! We also needed another buck to spread the genetics out. We also said we wanted one the same age as Ernie and black headed.

So there he was….Little Boy Blue as we’ve come to call him. And through the help of our Amish friend, we got him! I actually got a number, bid competetively, stayed under budget and got the little guy. He is a doll….so meet Little Boy Blue (we call him Blue as he has been so lonely without mom, he just cries for us and LOVES to be held like a little baby when they cry):

Isn’t he just adorable? Now, here is what will make you smile too…a picture of him with Ernie, now a robust and very onery young man! Yes, he is STILL on the bottle, but it is worth it for his health and manliness!

Now that makes me happy! Blessings and I will be in touch! You can’t get rid of me that easy! Nichole

So  sorry gals. We’ve been over our heads here at the farm. My son is still sick after 6 weeks, which is not only taking a toll on him, but his mom too! Long story…but here’s the issue with block 10. For some reason my computer is not communicating the document to my husband’s computer. So when I copy it to the “stick” and transfer it, it’s not translating. I’ve not had this issue before, and it’s not happened with any of the other blocks. My guess is that my file might be too large, so am going to try again. If nothing else, I will print them out and mail them to whoever needs them…although that would be a last resort considering there are quite a few of you! Forgive me….work ahead if you need too until I can get this problem resolved. So very sorry! Of course there is a glitch here after you are so close to being done! Also, someone mentioned block 11 might be missing it’s photo? I will check that too. Thanks for letting me know! Nichole

I forgot gals…so sorry! Yes, block 10 files are not working and so will upload them here shortly and hope that they work ok from here on. I’ve been so busy just with life stuff and farm stuff, I totally forgot.

Spring has decieved us! We are getting snow flurries as we speak and the temps are not so grand. I made my weekly run to the Amish and got milk for Ernie, who is now out in the barn full time and is so stocky and buff you would not believe him! I know, I stink at posting the whole pics thing. I keep daydreaming about summer vacation! Knowing that I will have some more time to fiddle on here like I like to do! Seems like we just zip through our days and I can’t keep up. But I am sure you never feel that way, huh?

My folks have been here visiting and house hunting and have put an offer in on a small farm not too far away. So we hope that it works out and they can get it. We’ll be so busy this spring trying to get our stuff done and help them get settled too. It will be so great to have them close by!

Other than that, it seems like just daily life keeps me running in circles. The laundry multiplies on it’s own, dishes seem to never be done. Dinner won’t just cook itself. Some days I don’t sit down at all unless it is helping one of the kids with some school work or eating a bite at lunch. At night I fall into a chair or bed and try to remember what kept me so busy….and funny….can never think of it! Ernie is getting closer to the point where I could safely start to wean him. Now that he is on hay and grain it will be just a few short weeks. But now (I know I am nuts) I am feeling the urge to get  some calves. The price of beef around here is insane and I want to know where my food is coming from! So…that may be on the horizon. Talk about busy! Bottle feeding calves is just 1. disgusting because they slobber so bad but 2. another reason to make up milk or heat milk or whatever….like I’m not doing that enough already, ha!

I’m gonna run for now and try to get those blocks corrected here for you. Hope you all are finding more spring where you are! Blessings! Nichole

I’ve been working like crazy in any snippet of time I could muster around here to bring you, FINALLY,  a finished Life On The Farm. I am so excited to share with you this photo, taken just a couple hours ago…

I will also post the directions for finishing this little quilt. It has been so fun doing this with you all! I hope  that you will show me how yours turned out and i’ll find a way to get it on the site!

Finishing Instructions For LIFE ON THE FARM

TITLE LETTERS TEMPLATE

So now it is up to you…finish your beautiful creations, quilt it and bind it as desired, and display it with pride! I am very proud of you for coming along on this journey with me! It has been so much fun and I have enjoyed it so much. Thank you for sharing in life with me on my farm as well. For it is because of my love of my own life on the farm that this quilt came into being. I can’t believe thaqt we are actually finished now. It makes me sad in a way. But I  know only good things are ahead of us and we’ll all be just as happy when we start creating something new.

For now, this will be it for a short time. I’ve decided to take a small break from designing until life can catch up a bit around here. Oh don’t worry! I am not leaving you! I will still be posting and showing you what I am working on for myself…there are quilts and curtains to make, painting to finish, a sewing room that is still in a slight chaotic state. All of this before spring? Yes, I know that as soon as this last snow melts, spring will be here and life on the farm will pick up with all those “to-do’s” that have been waiting for us since moving in. I am continually inspired and have ideas swimming in my head just waiting to be brought to paper. So, while I am busy around the farm, I will still be sharing with you, reading your blogs, and getting the next big ideas ready to share with you.

Blessings to you all! And I hope wherever you are in the world, that the flowers are poking sleepy heads through cold earth just to bring you a little joy, and that your sewing machine is busy making all those tiny little 9-patch blocks! Love to you all, and thanks again for making this so much fun for me! Nichole

P.S. If anyone needs a little help on finishing, please do not hesitate to let me know and I will do my very best to get you there.

P.S.S. I forgot to tell you that I will be teaching hand sewing at our homeschool’s co-op school starting this fall. I will be searching for small easy to complete projects and will be working with children middle to high school age. I am VERY excited about this! I have been wanting to teach and got my wish! So wish me luck! As I teach this class, there will be lots of other fun ones going on as well and we are so excited to be participating.

P.S.S.S. I am going to update the tab at the top and make sure all missing blocks are posted soon, so be watching if you were looking for that.

Ladies, pics are coming, I promise! Been trying to keep my head above water around here and helping my mom to finish up a last block before she has surgery on her hand Friday. We kept my nephew overnight last night and I have the cutest video of him and Ernie…Ernie thought he was so much fun and was really showing off! They both are getting so big! Little nephew is such a stinker and kept us laughing. He slept with P.B. (me) and THAT was fun! I didn’t know if I was going to get peed on or if my nose was going to get broken. It must be a sign of genious to be such a restless sleeper! Gee wiz! He makes my husband’s sonic snoring seem peaceful, ha! Gotta love a little rug rat! So, any hoot…we had church tonight and getting some homeschool stuff together. Tomorrow we get to meet a new group and we are so excited about it. Pictures coming and I have been working on things! Making a fabric run Saturday (yes, could be dangerous!). Love to you all and will be back soon! Nic

Forgive me folks! Time has gotten away from me and I did not get on here as I had hoped too this weekend! I will be back in a couple of days with pictures (as promised) and hopefully HOPEFULLY a finished quilt top to show you and directions to go with it! Sorry so short! But lots to do and been super busy. Be back soon! Ernie says “hi”! He has a cold tonight. Too much fun in a barn that wasn’t warm enough for a little house goat. Blessings on your night…been thinking about you and can’t wait to show you what I’ve been doing! Nichole

Whew! Seems like this week has been busy and full. We somehow survived though! I have a praise report to share with you. For the past several years (probably going on 10, but the last 5 or 6 for sure) I have suffered from chronic fatique and other symptoms. Now I know, staying up late and doing stuff doesn’t help, but that’s not what I mean. I finally have started on thyroid medication and let me say….hooorrrrraaaaayyyy! I have had amazing energy this week and my thinking is cleared up so very much. I wanted to share that as it is a big deal to me. I feel like I have suffered so long, and now to have this excess energy is just amazing for me. I had to share it with you all!

I am still working on finishing up the quilt top and will get that out shortly with the surprises, no I have not forgot! I am working on this WITH you guys. While the drawings were finalized, I have been stitching this month to month right along with you. See! You CAN do this! Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!

Ernie spent the whole day in the barn today! He is off the bottle at night now which means more sleep for me. He spent the whole day playing with Ginger and Merrylegs…the triplets’ sisters. The had many racing games and played so hard that all three crashed at around dinner time tonight. He did not want to come to the house, but my daughter brought him in for the night. He is now squalling in the laundry room (again) as it is drawing close to bottle time. He is so happy out there and I am too. My time as mommy is nearly over and his time learning the rules of the goat herd are here. It is bittersweet, but I am so happy things turned out so very well for him. Iwill post new photos over the weekend.

Well all….hope you have a wonderful night. I will update more by Sunday and let you know how the progress is coming on the finished quilt top. Talk to you soon! Nichole

Sometimes this blog is a lot about sewing and a little about the farm…sometimes it’s a lot about life and very little about sewing! Hope that maybe that keeps it interesting! It’s late and wanted to update you all quickly…

We are fighting: colds, mice and spiders

Ernie is well and about to go outside, but little Edgar (the other little triplet buck) is inside and fighting for life. Somehow seems so cruel that they have so little control over their well-being.

No sewing lately…just bottles, trying to keep everyone sane and healthy, and feeling like we aren’t doing so well on either front.

Beautiful weather makes the hard parts about farm life seem a little more bearable.

Been thinking about you and hope that you are doing well wherever you are in the world! I will be back. Got a lot of needs right now, and so my wants are in the toilet right now. Blessings and hope you are catching up on those blocks! Nichole

You ladies are the best. Your comments are so thoughtful and I appreciate them so very much. I love love love hearing from you and what you are doing as well.

You will notice a new header on the blog! My daughter, who is exceptionally good at making banners, is working on one for her dear mom. She is talented and my husband was listening to us last night and he just shook his head. He asked us, “when did you two become such techies?” Well, I can remember just over a year ago now when I first started this blog and boy has it undergone a transformation as well as I have learned so very much about what to do. I still get frustrated, and I still don’t know what all the widgets do…but I would say we’ve come a long ways.

It is a quiet Sunday. We have let the horse and donkey out in the field to eat and play. Everyone else is jealous, but hubby still has a couple places in the fence to fix before small-bottoms can be let out. I don’t want to lose anyone now that we have just started to get on our feet and everyone (knock on wood) is healthy! Ernie got to go to the barn during morning chores to meet everyone for the first time. Honestly, he was thinking, “take me back! take me back!” Stinky little baby. He is s-p-o-i-l-e-d! And he is going to be such a “lovey” big boy when he is older! Yuck! When they are full grown, they are nasty. I won’t want anything to do with him, ha!

Hope you are enjoying your day! I am trying hard to squeeze a little sewing in. Might just do that right now before bottles and chores this eve. Hubby is cooking out for dinner tonight, so I won’t have to cook! Love that thought…blessings to you gals. You are just the best. Nichole

OH! I fixed the directions for block 12. Let me know if anything else pops up!

Before I forget, be sure that you go back and attach your fence post from block 2, Birdies In The Garden. As I was sewing my blocks together I saw my fence post safety pinned to the block and went back and attached it. Just in case you were like me and it’s been a few months.

By the way, my chickens love me. No, really! They do! On my birthday they laid 6 eggs! Ok, so what is the big fat deal? Well, first of all they have not laid that many eggs since we left Arkansas. Second, that was exactly how many eggs I needed to make my birthday cake! Then, they laid me three more that night. Oh yes, they love me. And no, we didn’t forget to gather them (for you skeptics out there!). If we had, they would have been frozen! They love me, I know it, that is all that matters!

Well, here is some news for you that I am hesitant to share. I few posts back I said that I was not really going to be offering another block of the month simply for lack of time and for no real inspiration. Well, funny thing is that while in the shower tonight I was hit by a sudden inspiration! Ok, I know….maybe more info that you wanted to know…but here’s the thing. I have been so tired between the bottles and the up at night and all the extra work around here with it being winter and everyone confined in the barn. So, while taking a shower, I was praying this silly little prayer, “Please Lord, is there any way you could help me find a little time to sew today, PLEASE?” And then I felt guilty. Our pastor has been preaching on giving as much time to the Lord as you do for things you love…and suddenly I was feeling very guilty. So I started to turn my thoughts to some scriptures that I love and anyways…too early to reveal at this moment…but there is a possibility of a new series in the works. So far (in my brain) it can be used as a 12? month BOM or you could take several of the designs and turn them into tea towels. I am thinking of the Redwork variety, all stitchery…and of course adorable! No other hints at the moment. I am still trying to wrap my brain around it and how in the world I can make this happen. But…stay tuned. I have learned that where there is a true inspiration, the way will be made clear. I would love to be able to do this again and share it with you all. You all make me want to do more and make this site better than ever. Your support is amazing, your friendship has been invaluable…I look forward to fun things ahead.

Gotta run and get to bed. Baby Ernie will need a bottle soon and I am going to drink my hot tea, giggle a little with my family and then hopefully get enough sleep to help me kick this cold coming on. Blessings to you all! And I am finishing up my quilt and the finishing kit directions for you. Soon! Nichole