Seahawks Quilt

I recently finished a quilt that has been on my list for quite some time. I finally bit the bullet, forked over the cash for fancy true nfl fabric & got it started.

I just did a simple middle with the Seahawks logo fabric & just put a simple border on it. Then I just put it on my quilt machine & I quilted it. I even let the boys help a little bit.,

Once it was all quilted we added a dark binding on.

And finally finished it. Yay for one more project done this year.

It was actually quite simple to make. So happy for this boys thrilled reaction. 

1 hour basket

I am on Instagram (countryroadquilts) & has seen so many people post about the one hour basket I had to look into it. There is a great Free pattern on craftsy. Just search one hour basket once you get there. You will find it rather quickly.

My favorite part of the basket is she was true to her word. It really only takes an hour maybe less. 

 

These were my starting fabrics. The pink one is from Quilted fish Cottage Garden collection. I have some FQ bundles in my shop.  The grey is some I had leftover from a quilt I made my neice.

I think cutting it out took longer than putting it together. A short hour later: it's finished.

I will be making more soon!!!

Preg Testing Ewes

 I have been in a blog sabbatical if sorts for months now. Intentional & unintentional all at the same time. But then I look at old posts & realize this is about the only stories I have from some days of ranching & school so maybe I better keep at it. 

Time has flown by: all my boys are getting bigger. I took this picture this fall. These are my boys. 

How I love them. The little cowboys they are. 

I am so blessed & they are growing up faster than I am ready for. 

We had wonderful holidays & spending time with family..

We are trying to get back in the swing of things with school & ranching. We will start lambing at the end of the month so we will hit our busiest season. 

Last Saturday we started preg testing the ewes & will continue to do it over the next few weekends. Here are a few things from that day. 

Since we don't currently live where are lambing sheds we got up early loaded everyone up & drove the hours to get there. 

The designated supervisor always asking for food. 😊 We always have boys in & out of the car checking on the boys, & warming up from the cold.

It was cold. But it slowly warmed up to a whopping 20 degrees. 

Warming up the branding paint so we can mark the open (non-pregnant) ewes.

My handsome hubby & boys watching as the vet gets situated & to oversee the bringing in of the sheep. 

 

The older brother teaching my little cowboy how to keep warm. 

Warming up & feeling much better about things. Don't worry he didn't stay out too long. 

My little dude wanted so much to learn how the ultrasound works. He had so many questions for the vet. We love our vet & he is awesome to work with. So my little dude sat by him for a learning how to tell if the were pregnant or open & anything else he could dream up to ask.

Smiling for the camera. 

The three brown spots at the back of the sheep are my oldest boys getting ready to push & walk them back to the pen. 

All donf for the day. We will be doing more in the next week or 2 so be ready for more pictures. 

Then a little celebration once he finds out that after a long day we are done. Plus I needed a picture of the baby as well. 

It was a good day & I love it when the whole family can get out & work together.  It makes for good memories. 

So expect more pictures and posts as lambing & shearing approach & we start school heavy again. Until then. 

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

The boys (big & little) have been asking for cookies again, so I grabbed out my stuff & decided to make some. This recipe is a family favorite. It is one from Jeremy's mom, and I think it is Jeremy favorite cookie. At least anytime I make a different recipe he usually bites into looks a little confused & says "This isn't my moms, is it?" So I thought I might as well share it with everyone else:  

My Favorite part of cookies, Cookie dough. 

Golden Deliciousness 

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

  2 1/2 c. White Sugar           2 1/2 c. Brown Sugar

 2 1/2 c.  Shortening              5 eggs

 2 Tbs.   Vanilla                     1/4 c. Milk

 Stir & Mix it in all together.  Then add:

  5 c. flour                            2 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

 2 1/2 tsp. Salt                      2 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

Beat until it is all mixed well. Then add:

  5 c. of oatmeal   &

  2 c. (or More) of Chocolate & Butterscotch  Chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.

This recipe makes a lot (like 7 dozen or so) So I would cut it in half unless you want to have cookies galore. Usually I make a full batch & freeze most of . For some reason when I make them they are almost softer after  I freeze them & then thaw them. So I don't know what I am doing wrong, but either way they are delicious. So enjoy. 

They call the thing Rodeo

"It's the bulls and the blood. It's dust & mud.  . . .  And they call the thing rodeo."  You know that Garth Brooks song. "Rodeo". If not go listen to it. Up until now the thing they call rodeo was something that every year or so we would go watch at the local county fair. 

 That was until my brother-in-law talked to my husband & told him about a Jr. Rodeo Association in our area & how he thought our boys would love it & maybe we should look into it. 

And so he did.

And then we looked into it.

We have been debating for a long time what we could have our boys do, that wouldn't take a ton of time away from the family & chores.  You see I live in a small town & we have a great athletics program for kids around here. HOWEVER, even for the 5 year olds  have games twice a week & practice twice a week & some groups practice every day. I am sorry, but for me I feel like that is a little ridiculous to be taking your 5 year old to sports practice everyday in the week. It's at least too much for this family. I know others think it is great & if that is you. Good for you, but for us. That isn't what we want. Since rodeo is primarily individual sport, my boys could practice in the front yard if they wanted. That was an appeal.  

Then we asked my boys what they thought.

Then my hubby found out that only the #1 spot in each event actually got a belt buckle & 2nd & 3rd a gift certificate. There were no trophies for just participating or taking a up space in the arena. 

Then we joined. 

And so for the last few weekends over the last 2 months we have spent our Saturday watching our boys Rodeo. Now we know nothing about rodeo, but we have been trying to learn as much as we can as quickly as we can. And we have loved it.

My oldest son has been participating in Chute Dogging & Steer Riding. 

  Chute dogging is they start the boys ages 9-12 in the chute with the steer, open the gate. Once it passes a line 10 feet out there goal to to turn the steer so it down. It's quite the challenge for these boys.

                                                   Then of course there is steer riding . . .

         There is definitely a technique to staying on.We have eaten a lot of dirt this season, but we are definitely getting better. They are required to stay on the full 8 seconds.

                      My 2nd boys "the monkey" participated in Goat Tying & Calf Riding. 

       The last rodeo we went to, he finally rode the calf his entire 8 seconds & received a score. He was so proud of himself & it was so fun to watch.

 
When we started goat tying (this is an 0-8 year old category) We didn't even know how to tie a goat.

 By the last rodeo he had made a time. It has to be under 30 seconds in order to received a time.

                            

                               My little dude also participated in calf riding & goat tying as well.  

           

   Once the goat it tied, you have to wait 6 second to make sure it holds. This little boy finally got his first time at our last rodeo. He has been working hard to finally get it!
.

 Then of course the calf riding. For being the youngest in this event, he always got some of the biggest calves.

 

He came so close so many times of lasting the whole 8 seconds, but he never quite made it there. 

                      "Red" (my new baby) was usually quite good the whole time of the rodeos & this little mischief

  Well this mischief  LOVES to watch. He loves the animals & is constantly yelling & waving his arms at them trying to "herd" them back to the corrals.

 He spends the whole rodeo just like this: leaning against the bleacher in front of him. watching intently & occasionally I can get him to peel his eyes away & smile for the camera.

Overall our rodeo experience this summer has been great. The 5 rodeos we participated in were so fun to watch & the boys made some good friends. They had some great mentors helping teach them, since their mom & dad are still learning as well. The boys favorite part was one of the older boys, a bull rider, who helped them & coached them every rodeo. I loved to watch how even though they were all competing against each other there were plenty of pat on the backs & coaching along the way.

This is the bull rider the boys have become friends with. 

I must admit. I love watching the bulls, but I know that these boys are only 13-16 on these bulls & it honestly makes my heart stop every time one of them gets on & rides, and I am not even their mother. I can only imagine what is going to happen as my boys grow up & want to hop on & ride bulls. 

Until then we will savor every moment we can with what we are doing. They are already asking about next year & what events they can do. They are counting down days until we can find some calves & practice in our own yard. So we are learning & will continue to learn & practice & watch events. And keep working at this new sport. because there is something rather addicting about this thing they call rodeo. 

Our Newest Addition . . .

   Today I wanted to finally introduce you to our newest addition.  Meet our little boy "RED". (This is not his actual name, just a nickname for the blog)

  He was actually born over a month ago weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz & 21 inches long.
He was healthy happy & besides our normal bout with jaundice perfect. So we spent the first 10 days on a billi-light getting it under control.

  I don't have cool birth story to go with him either. It was my 5th c-section, so it's pretty normal for us. I did have a month where my incision wouldn't heal, so we spent the first month at the doctor 3 times a week getting special care for it. But we are now all cleared & healed & feeling great. Just trying to get a new normal around here, but that may never happen.

 But we just wanted to share him with you. He is loved & admired by all the other boys as well & it has been wonderful.

 Here is is now just over a month old & he has already joined us on 2 fishing excursions, 3 rodeo's & a multiple road trips.  We are so blessed to have him join us! And I am so happy to no longer be pregnant & feeling great everyday. Hopefully, I will be showing up on here a little more often as well. I have lot I want to share with you.

Life

I have been MIA for months. Literally months. I didn't mean for it to happen.  I was trying to have LESS time on the internet  &  it happened. Then things just snuck in & time slowly crept by. For those that are still checking out this little blog, I thank you. Here is a quick glance at what I have been up to.

As usual life has been kept busy with these ladies. More for my husband, than for I. Shearing came & went.

All the sheep were moved off the fields & back into the lambing sheds.

And then lambing began. The first lamb dropped on the ground Jan 1st. 3 weeks earlier than we planned.  We are down to our last few waiting to lamb, but it has been a long 3 months. My poor husband just keeps going & going, but I don't know after 90 plus days. He is superman.

I have been trying to get a few minutes in of sewing here & there as I can. And to have LESS unfinished projects lying around my home.

We discovered the boy number 5 will still be in blue. This has been the main reason for my absence. I only have 8 or so weeks left, but am lucky to enjoy morning sickness for the entire 10 months. So with everyday feeling awful. or at least throwing up in the morning, things don't always happen as I would like.

We have tried home school experiments that haven't worked & some that have. If anyone discovered the secret to building your own hot air balloon, please let me know. We have tried multiple you tube videos & tutorials all of wish never even get off the ground.

 So I am hoping to get back on here, once or twice a week again, but no absolute promises yet. At least not for 8 more weeks. I will try, but for now we  have been just spending our days trying to get by & make the most of what we have. Trying to enjoy more of the simple things: like watching a boy & his dog.