Happy Labor Day...

Rosie The Riveter

 

Happy Holiday...

Labor Day Greetings from our family to yours,

Donna & Handsome

Bella & Carly

Claudette & Crystal

Labor Day 2022...

 

 

As we celebrate our traditional "end of summer" holiday, we'll be taking a moment to thank all 

the men and women whose hard work and sacrifice made our country the place where we can 

enjoy our freedom with pride. Enjoy this time with family and friends, and above all, stay safe. 

From Our Family to Yours,

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day…

Happy Labor Day!

From our family to yours,We hope you enjoy the last summer holiday of 2021. 

Labor Day 2020...

Brynwood Needleworks - Labor Day Greeting

 

A Little Wrinkle...

Brynwood Needleworks - My Great-niece, "Lady M"

 

Last weekend, my great-niece (one of my nephew, Dan's twin girls), cut a face for my camera. I'm sharing it for today's post, because it's the way I feel these days.

 

I've continued to be in pain since the elective surgery I had on July 23rd, so I not only went back to my doctor this week, but was also squeezed into the schedule of a specialist. That appointment was on Thursday.

 

After a period of discussion, and a thorough examination, it was determined that I should have another surgery to reverse the previous one. Doing so will remove the cause of my persistent pain. After a recuperation period, we'll have another appointment, and review my medical options. The surgery has been scheduled for next Friday - 9/11 - with restrictions for at least two weeks (again) post-op. 

I spent yesterday baking bread, and will be baking again today to stock the freezer, as I plan ahead for this wrinkle in my September. I'd planned to go to the Farmer's Market today, but have been restricted to staying home and away from crowds so I'm not inadvertently exposed to Covid-19 prior to the procedure. So, I'll do my homekeeping tasks (baking, laundry, and the like) while I'm able, and stay here at the farmhouse. I'm also going to set up a few needlework projects ahead of time, to keep myself busy while I'm healing.

I just thought I'd share this information so you won't wonder why my posts might be a little vague in the short-term. This next week will be spent tying up loose ends, getting out orders, and planning my handwork projects. I'm thinking I should get some Fall projects together to work on.

It's hard to believe it's already Labor Day Weekend. In Wisconsin, that's traditionally been the end of summer; the end of wearing white clothing; and the time to put away the lawn furniture. I'm a die-hard about keeping the lawn furniture in place until well after first frost. There's still plenty of time for campfires, s'mores, and enjoying the outdoors. I'm going to make the most of it all.

Celebrate Labor Day...

Web Image

 

Tag and I will spend today together, after we drive down to meet #2 Son about materials for our porch rails. Once that's finished, we'll head back to the farm. I've been busy needle dancing, so more of that will be on my agenda.

Tag will be back tomorrow with updates on the travelers, so you won't want to miss the latest developments. 

Happy Labor Day, friends.

Celebrating Labor Day...

Brynwood Needleworks - Farmhouse Canning

  This is how Handsome and I spent part of our weekend. I think we may take today off.
Enjoy your holiday! Tag will see you tomorrow.

Labor Day...

Web Image

   Enjoy today with family and friends, remembering the hard work of those  who came before. Their efforts helped create this great country of ours.  

Happy Labor Day...

We are! (Handsome, Tag and Bella, too!)

Relaxing On Labor Day...

"Gwendolyn" by pinkgloves2 on Etsy

First, I'm sharing this image because I love it. It makes me happy and reminds me

of the holsteins that used to graze in the fields next to our marsh (and sometimes

hide in our woods or visit our front stoop when they broke through their fences).

I may have to order it to hang somewhere in our home. I'm that enamored of it.

It also reminds me of our Labor Day Weekend parties. Before we moved south,

we hosted up to 250 friends and family members at our parties. Everyone brought

a small dish to pass, some brought rolls and/or soft drinks, and we supplied the

grilled meat (pork roasts and brats from our farmer friend up the road). Our sons

and their friends camped in our high ground woods...and there was always music!

One year there was karaoke, another time a jazz ensemble (Handsome on drums),

our younger son and his band played, and one year we even had a barbershop quartet!

There were volleyball games in one part of the yard, horseshoes in another area and

bocce ball or jarts on the hillside. Each year, the celebration got bigger and bigger.

I took photos each year and put them all into their own photo album. We have 

fifteen of those albums, beginning with the smallest gathering of about 15 people.

So many fond memories of summers past. We continue to make memories, but 

these will always remind of of special times with great people in Wisconsin.

 This year, there are no big gatherings, but the days are lovely just the same. I'm blessed to have these days with my Handsome husband, local friends and Tag.    I've been in the studio a bit this weekend, but have yet to complete any project,  with the exception of replacing a broken zipper in a skirt. I have also done a little work on the guild raffle quilt for 2016. (Didn't I say I would take a rest from guild  quilts for a while? I'm not quite sure how this happened. More on that another day.)   The rest of my time has been spent with Handsome and Tag, and I'm going to 

continue that program for the rest of the day today. Nothing better I'd like to do.

I'm sure many of you will be back to work tomorrow, so enjoy your extra 

day off today. Have good fun and, if you're traveling, please stay safe.

Tag will be back with his post tomorrow...September 1st (already)!

 

Wishing you a Happy and Restful Labor Day!

Planning A Restful Weekend...

My "Grace" necklace.

Remember that "creative imperative" I'm always telling you about?

Well, I think it's gone on a little break...and taken my sewing mojo along with it.

I'm sure it hasn't gone far - or for too long - but my attention span in the studio is 

like that of a four year old. I'm more content right now to dust and rearrange than 

actually sit down and make something. That doesn't happen to me very often.

"Grace" and sand dollar charms, with my "lucky" sixpence.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the holiday and taking a little time off. I'll be posting over the weekend, but I'm going to concentrate on Handsome,  Tag and homekeeping rather than playing in the studio. Maybe we'll head to the beach or take a little day trip. I'm sure a cookout will be in order for Monday.   I have a knitting project to work on, and perhaps a little handwork, but I won't be sitting at the sewing machine until next week. I'll grab my camera, like a good blogger, and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you.   Labor Day is the last official holiday of summer. If you're anywhere north of Jacksonville, soon the leaves will turn and there will be a little nip in the air.    We always had a big party this weekend, followed by Labor Day Monday, when  we cleaned up the yard, put away our lawn furniture and prepared for fall and the  inevitable winter that followed. This weekend was always our farewell to summer.   So, have a great weekend, enjoy your time off...and please be safe.  Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Celebrating Hard Work...

Celebrating Hard Work...

Have a safe and happy holiday.

From our home to yours...

**Labor Day image from Moyea Power Point to DVD Website. (this is a link)

Taking The Day Off...

I'm taking the day off.

Hope you enjoy a few Labor Day festivities of your own. 

 I'll be back tomorrow.

(Image available for purchase from Kotula's (here's the link).)

Sunday Scripture...

"Come to me, all you who are weary and

 burdened, and I will give you rest."

-Matthew 11:28

I hope all of you are enjoying the last holiday 

weekend of the summer with friends and family.

Happy Labor Day Weekend

They're Called Apple Pears...

Have you heard of these before today? They're called "Apple Pears". Handsome and I hit the local Sam's Club and I spied these in the produce department.

They looked like apples and they smelled like pears. I love pears and was intrigued by these fruits, so into the cart they went! I expected the texture of apples with the taste of pears, and couldn't wait to get them home to wash one and take a big bite!
There were six in a box, each nestled in these little "apple pear cozies". They're foamy, stretchy and white. Veeerry interesting. I'm thinking about how I can repurpose them to put them to use in the studio. Anyone with any ideas?
But, girlfriends...Look at the fabulous box they came in! It has the most wonderful, colorful art on the outside. It reminds me of the old-time fruit crates I used to see in produce markets. Of course, this one is cardboard with a slick outer surface, but I can see it working in the studio, too.
I'm thinking that my rolls of seam binding would fit just perfectly in here. I'll be pulling out all of the rolls today to see if they fit.

Now, back to the apple pears...If you like a sort of mealy texture, with moist but rather tasteless fruit, then go ahead and purchase a few to try. As for me...they have none of the positive qualities of either apples or pears, and although I won't let them go to waste, I won't purchase them again (unless I can't live without another box!). Then, I'll share the fruit with a neighbor! lol
I hope you've planned a picnic or gathering with family or friends today. Our sweet friend, Ellen D., is going to join Handsome and me for dinner at our home. Ellen lives alone, and her daughter lives up North, so we're really looking forward to sharing a meal with her. Celebrate family and friends as you enjoy an extra day off today. Happy Labor Day!

Four Plus Frog Equals Nine...

Nine-patch, that is.

I knew I had the pattern for this kit somewhere in the studio. I found it after I'd sewn all the four-patches together, only to realize that not only should they have been sewn as a snowball motif, but they were meant to be made into nine-patches as well. (sigh) I decided I wasn't going to frog all those squares and make them into snowballs first, but I would reconfigure them into the recommended 12 1/2" nine-patches.

I spent all day Sunday frogging those four-patches and by the time we were ready to go to the ballgame, I had them all disassembled. I was quite proud of myself - and the ball game kept my mind off the fact that next time I'll locate the pattern before I start sewing!

Labor Day was the perfect time for me to take all those squares and reassemble them into nine-patches for my next quilt. (I know that I haven't started the Anniversary Quilt for our master bedroom project yet, but Handsome and I have been discussing fabric and design. After all, it's his bed, too! We've almost got the details worked out, but I decided to do this kit next instead. Our anniversary isn't til December, anyway. I've got lots of time to sew on that one.)

There you have it. THIRTY nine-patch squares waiting for my next step. That's 270 squares sewn, frogged and resewn. Aren't you proud of me for even considering doing all that? (Heck, I sure am!)

I have to measure and cut the sashing next, and then the beautiful floral border. I probably won't finish this quilt before we leave for Williamsburg on Friday, but I'll have everything ready to get back to it as soon as we return. I finished the evening by turning off the lights in the studio and making a cup of tea. A real labor of love on Labor Day.