20th Anniversary Trip - Part 1

Just a warning . . . I'm quite wordy, so if you don't like that, close up this post now:)

David took me to New Hampshire to see the fall colors and celebrate 20 years of marriage (July 16).  Tanner got to come along for the ride since he goes where mama goes:)  Rachel was home with the rest of the children.

We flew out on September 30th in the afternoon.  There was an accident on the bridge on the way to the airport, so we didn't get there quite as early as we'd planned, but we still had plenty of time.  We managed to get Tanner all unloaded from his carseat and stroller for security.  I handed him to David while I put the last few things on the belt.  I went through and then waited for them.  Something kept beeping on David, so he kept trying to find something else to shed.  Finally, one of the women watching figured out it was Tanner's shoes that were causing the problem.  They had a bunch of metal lace holders!  (The funny thing was there'd been a sign that children 12 and under didn't need to take off their shoes . . . Wrong!!!)  The shoes came off and then we were on our way again:)

Our flight to Chicago was totally full so we had to gate check our carseat and stroller.  Tanner was hungry when we boarded, so he ate immediately and fell asleep before we took off.  He slept for about 1 1/2 hours.

Taking his nap across my lap.

 

Playing after he woke up.  A water bottle did  the trick to keep him happy for awhile.

Everyone who would look at him was charmed by his smile.  We managed to keep him amused the whole way there and didn't have any crying.  The people around us were amazed and happy.

Our flight to Manchester was only about half full, so we got to take the carseat on.  That was awesome!  Tanner again ate and fell asleep as soon as we boarded.

He slept the whole way there, waking up as we were walking to get our luggage.  It was after midnight when we arrived, and after 1:00 before we got to our motel.  David and I hadn't really had lunch or dinner, so he found a 24-hour McDonald's to get us something to eat.  Tanner was wide awake, so it was just as well I had something to do, because I had to stay up anyway.

The next day as I was getting ready, David said "Elva, come here.  Come look at these beautiful fall colors out our window."  I went to see and this is what I saw.  Along with the evergreen trees, there was an oak tree that hadn't changed at all!!

We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast . . . when it was almost time for lunch:)  It was delicious!!

Tanner tried out the rocking chair on the porch before we left.

From Manchester we started north toward the White Mountains.  We drove up along Lake Winnipesaukee.  It was a gorgeous, warm day and the lake was beautiful.  We stopped in at a park to see the lake and let Tanner move about for awhile.  He was not at all impressed when Daddy stood him in the water!!

And it's past bedtime now and instead of making this post any longer, I'll post it and continue later!!

20th Anniversary Trip - Part 2

2 Quilts Finished in One Day!

I've had several quilts in the works for awhile.  This isn't my usual way, but it's just how it worked out this time.  On Saturday I finished TWO of them!!  Yep, you read that right . . . TWO in one day!

I think I started one of them a year ago sometime in the spring.  This one was made for Aimee. She chose the pattern and fabric for it.  Her pattern was found here, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore.  It looks like maybe they put out new patterns using their fabric that's available now.  I did find her pattern available with a quilt kit, here.  Not that you want to buy it, but this is what her pattern looked like . . . what originally caught her eye.

I like to use flannel on the backs of my quilts, but Aimee said NO!!!  It's too hot!!  I also like to use my leftover fabric on the back, so that's what I did.  There were many little strips left and I pieced them all together.  I like how it turned out:)

I think I've gotten used to the added thickness of flannel on the back.  It seemed too lightweight when I quilted this and I didn't do a very good job of it.  I suppose it didn't help that I hadn't quilted anything for quite awhile.

So, in all fairness, I quilted this a couple weeks ago, but couldn't finish it because I didn't have binding fabric.  That's really all I had to do on Saturday.  Aimee was gone for awhile and I wanted to get it all done and upstairs in her room before she got home, but I just got the last stitch done as she was walking in the door.

The second one I started at the end of January, a week before Tanner was born, at our annual quilt retreat.  It's a "Jelly Roll Race" quilt.  If you want to make one like it, I found a video tutorial here that you can use.  It's super simple and quick.  Mine just wasn't quite so quick for several reasons.

Sometimes when you're buying jelly rolls, you don't know quite what you're getting.  I'd originally wanted to do a quilt for a young man.  The colors peaking out of my batik jelly roll were greens, golds and browns.  I thought I could applique something on it to "man" it up.  I'd also decided if it didn't work for a male, I'd give it to my sister-in-law, whose husband was in the final stages of cancer.  As soon as I opened it up, I pretty much knew it was NOT going to be going to a young man!!  Just too much of a hint of purple in it.

I got the whole main part done at my day retreat.  I couldn't go any further because I hadn't bought anything for the borders since I didn't know what way it was going to go.  I was glad I hadn't.  Eventually I bought fabric for flower appliques and for the borders.  My final push to get it done was knowing Kathy would be coming here.  I quilted it parts of Thursday and Friday and was finishing the binding in the beginning minutes of Saturday!!

I ended up getting a variegated thread to quilt with.  I've had much trouble trying to use variegated thread but I decided to try it again anyway.  At first I was having trouble and then I remembered someone told me to use a bigger needle so the thread wouldn't keep breaking.  That was what it took, and I'm so happy I found that out.  I really liked using this thread.

For the quilting I just did an overall meandering.  (I definitely noticed the added thickness with the flannel on the back of this one.  It seemed like I had so much more control and I think I did one of my better jobs here.)  I outlined the flowers, leaves and stems.  That is not something fun to do and it didn't turn out very good.  When I was all done, I quilted a design on the leaves.

You can see the quilting in this picture.

My applique work.

Two more of my own quilts ready to be quilted and one comfort quilt I made that needs pinned and quilted.  Then maybe I can start something new:)  I have it all picked out and ready to go!!!

A Tooth!

I found Tanner's first tooth tonight.  Usually a tooth is an important piece of information to share with Grandma.  Tanner doesn't have any Grandmas to share the news with, so I decided to tell all of you:)  So far he's being like Morgan in the tooth department . . . I didn't notice that it was coming . . . and I really like it that way!!!  Tanner's 7 months and one week now.

I just had to share some pictures of his adorable self with you:)

All About Applesauce

A little over a month ago I made applesauce.  We got transparent apples from my sister and I think they make the BEST applesauce:)  It comes out so juicy . . . in fact I don't use all the juice or it's too juicy!  A few years ago I got some kind of small green apple and the applesauce turned out so dry that it tasted kind of pastey.  No one liked it so I still have some left . . . and I always have to mix it with my juicier applesauce.

We ended up getting 7 boxes of apples . . . so I won't feel the need to make it again for at least 2 years.  Most of them were quite small, but I got lots, so that's ok:)

I use one of these apple corer things to get my apples ready.  I just wash them and then cut them.  I know on the really small ones it seemed like more was going to the compost pile than I was saving, but that's ok.  It was fast!

I use a juicer to soften my apples.  No worrying about scorching the apples!!  I pile the juicer high and leave them to cook.

When they are all cooked and really soft, I start to make my sauce.

I use a Foley Food Mill to make my applesauce.  After turning and turning the handle, I just have apple peelings left and I clean that out before adding more soft apples.

I add lots of sugar and some cinnamon to the applesauce.

After stirring, it's all done!  A big pot of applesauce ready to be dumped into jars.

 

I made 62 quarts, 19 pints and 7 half pints.  I was running out of quarts and decided to make some smaller jars to give away.

And now we have applesauce for a long while.  We really love it with roast and ham, but sometimes I think to put it out if we're having a pretty simple meal . . . something else to add to it.

Apron

This apron was one of my Grandma Kulla's.  I love the style, how it covers you up well and comes all the way up to your neck..it keeps you clean!

However, it is rather old and falling apart, not to mention it wasn't put together too well! 

 

So, I decided to make myself a new one like it.  I pinned each section of the apron to my fabric while it was still all one piece.  Though it may have made it easier, I didn't want to take the apron apart.  I cut out each piece a little extra big for a seam allowance.  Lots of guessing and I wasn't sure if it was gonna turn out.  But, hoping that it would, I traced each piece so I have a pattern to make it again, much easier next time.  And it all worked out!

I love it and wear it often :)

Rachel

Last Friday

Last Friday we had a busy morning.  David, Christopher and Clint were working out of town, Rachel was gone to SD, Reid was working, and Tara was gone to Confirmation.  That left Aimee, me and the little kids.  We needed to pick blueberries and mow at the cemetery.  I decided to take Clayton, Forrest, Bronwyn and Hunter with me.  Of course, Tanner went, too, because that's just what he does:)  Aimee stayed home with Walker and Morgan.

First we went to pick blueberries.  The bushes were still wet, but it was a nice warm morning.  We pushed Tanner out to the field in the stroller.  He stayed there most of the time.  Bronwyn visited with him when he needed her to.

Hunter

Forrest

Bronwyn (just for looks).  She picked a whole 3/4 of a pound:)

Toward the end, Tanner wanted to be done, so Clayton held him for awhile.

All of our berries - 48 1/4 pounds.

I had to go back to get some more, but I thought we did good for who all was picking.  We were there for a little under 1 1/2 hours.

The cemetery is only about 2 miles from the blueberry field, so we went straight there to mow.  There are many loved ones buried at this cemetery:  Mom, Dad & Mom Kulla, aunts, a sister who I never knew, two sisters-in-law who I never knew, a brother-in-law who died before I was in the family, nephew, great-nephew, and many friends of our family.

Tanner was sleeping at first so we just parked in the shade and left the doors open on the van.  The kids kept checking on him while I mowed.  It was a huge patch of dandelions.  I tried to run, but I found out it just pushed the dandelions over and I had to mow it again.  That's OK . . . it was such hard work that most of the time I couldn't run!!!  After Tanner woke up and  needed me to take care of him, I let Clayton and Forrest take turns mowing. They got tired pretty fast.  Tanner decided I was too hot and sweaty and didn't want me nursing him.  I was glad I'd thought to bring a couple of bottles from the freezer.  I fed him for awhile, but then Bronwyn was begging to do it since it's something she never can do (he's not a bottle baby).  (Hunter needed to run into the picture.)

Hunter and Forrest resting.

Clayton taking his turn at mowing.

Forrest on his turn.

The kids stayed occupied the whole time.  Soon after we got there we heard sirens.  Right down the road a tree fell and took out a power line.  It started a fire right along the road.  At first cars were turning around at the cemetery driveway.  Later they just had one lane closed.  They kept running to the corner of the cemetery to see what they could see and hear.

Everyone was very ready to leave when we finally got done.  It was already 1:00 and the kids decided that it would be great if we went to Taco Bell for lunch, so we went through the drive-thru.  It was delicious!!! 

That was our Friday.  Now we have to make applesauce:)

Change . . . and Life in General

We've had quite a few changes in the last month.  Rachel graduated from high school as one of her class valedictorians on June 13th.

The following night we had a party for her at our house.

David with our children on Father's Day morning.

Again in front of his old fur shed later in the day (minus Reid).

And with me:)

We picked a bunch of strawberries.  We were completely out of jam and had been for most of the year!  We didn't end up bringing enough containers and had to use some bags they had to get all of our berries home.

One of my sisters moved so her family would be together again (her husband had been working in another state for quite awhile).  This picture of some of us sisters was taken right before she left.

Less than 2 weeks after she graduated, Rachel turned 18.

Later that week our oldest child, Reid, left on vacation . . . all by himself . . . for a long time!  The house definitely feels different without him here.  I really do notice that I have less clothes to wash.  He works full time so he wasn't around during the day, but I notice he's not here to bug his little sisters and brothers in the evening:)  He left at early o'clock in the morning and I had to grab the camera and get him to (kind of) smile for me!!  (It looks like he was still half asleep, too!!!)

 

Another sister and her family moved away this past week.  Last Sunday we had a good-bye get-together at our house.  I didn't end up getting a family picture, but one of the girls snapped a few shots of cousins/friends.  Bronwyn and Camille . . . Camille is a couple months older than Bronwyn.

Clint, Blayne and Christopher.  Christopher and Blayne have been best buds since they were babies.  Blayne's about 5 months older than Christopher.  We'll really miss their family:(

Our little cutie just turned 5 months old last Wednesday.

Friday morning 5 of our children and I went to pick raspberries.  We got 64 1/2 pounds.  I was shooting for 75, but the picking wasn't that great and I was getting as tired of it as the kids were.  I ended up with more than I expected it to be and 4 pounds more than last year, so I guess it's all good:)

Little buddy with a bucket of berries.

So that's been part of our life for the last month:)