Welcoming of FALL in Wisconsin

This only takes two weeks. You carve something in a pumpkin while it is still on the vine. I had trouble getting down that low. It will scab over in two weeks and ready for picking. HeeHee - "scab ready for picking" I remember these words from childhood. It happened lots when all we had to ride our bicycles on were gravel roads.
Some of what is out to greet you when you come this Fall.
On top of the mantel. Getting ready for some hand work by the fireplace.

We have curbs in our Fall parking lot. Please take advantage of them by unloading near the door, and then moving your car at an angle. We should be able to get 4 - 5 cars along this expanded parking lot section. So blocking someone in might just be a thing of the past. Unless everyone drives separately of course.

Quilt Expo 2009 - Madison Wisconsin

Quilt Expo 2009 was great. Thanks to Nancy Zieman for all she has done for the needlearts industry.

I thought there were many more quilts entered into the show this year. I also thought they were squeezing the venders hallways - unless there were just that many people there on thursday. I would like to see the quilt show in one area and the venders in another but they haven't asked for my advice yet. :) Are they afraid that we (quilters) would not find either? Are you kidding me?

I took a great class "Sewing w/ cotton feed + flour sacks by Christine Motl.

and another one hour lecture from Jan Krueger and Linda Marcou on "Scrap Busters". They showed about 30 quilts made from JUST their stash in the last three years. They have created some of their own techniques/patterns and some patterns from others. All were eye candy.

Labor Day Shoot Out

First off, let me say that guns aren't for everyone, but if you grew up in rural Wisconsin like I did, you learned to respect them. They were used for hunting, though I never got into that as a youth. But as an adult, am I an adult? I enjoy target practicing along with the rest of them.

Our latest family photo. Looks like the Hatfields and the McCoys - Ok the McCluskey's

Fun was certainly had by all who attended. Thanks Ken for organizing what will no doubt become an annual event. Caleb and Casey had fun.

Lots of 22 bullets were used up for 'plinking'.

Chillin in the shade. Safety was always first. Ear plugs for all who wanted them.

My Mom enjoying the great outdoors. Thanks Donna, for bringing the camper! Next year I will bring the Shiny Bubble.

The stand for all the hardware. Some of the guns were looking as old as we were.

I was pretty proud of myself. I could occasionally hit the stationary targets.

I had a lot of fun trying anyway. The semi automatic was soooooo easy to shoot.

The clay pigeon flinger was more of a challenge. Though, I did connect and hit two moving discs. The shot gun has a 'kick' when you pull the trigger so I was a bit apprehensive but it wasn't as bad as when I weighed 60 lbs as a kid and tried it. It can bruise your shoulder and send you backwards.

Grandma (my mom who is 92 yrs old) is being given a ride around the field by her great grand son Caleb. She's hanging on to the 'Oh, my God" handle.