Down on the Farm

The Danish Family was finally able to have a long awaited reunion!

This is our  silly shot.  Much more fun than the posed shot.  We had about 25 rotating family members.  These are the descendants of my husband's mother and her brother and sister.

We are blessed to have a family farm near Sheridan, Illinois.   The main reunion was Friday - Monday.

Rich's parents bought it 50 years ago and it has grown, and grown and grown, just like the family. Here is me and by boy, andrew.  Rich is in the background playing with a neighbor dog that kept following us.

We do all our own cooking - including making almost 400 Danish Pancakes; Ableskiver.  Here is a website to learn more about them.

We also had 20 lbs of sausage on hand.

We eat under a big rented tent and have a such a great time chatting and visiting.

Rich and I made 32 ears of roasted corn.  I cut it all off the cob and added lots of butter and s&p.  

here is my son and nephew on a building inspection.

and the water equipment testing....  yep, it's all good.

A group of us trekked into town to pay our respects to our Beloved and Departed Patriarch and Matriarch who would be so happy to see we are keeping the tradition going.  I don't know who took the "official" photo ha ha.

In Quilting News:

Our co-op farmer and caretaker of our farm, David, brought me this incredible quilt to see.  He wanted basic information. 

It is in excellent condition.  I did a little fabric research and put its age at 1860-1890.   I love the shirtings, double pinks and look - one of the greens in my Chrome Sweet Chrome.  

wonderful browns.

I'm really glad I met this quilt !  I may even organize a sew along or pattern.

I'm also crocheting a blanket for our bed for the upcoming winter.

The pattern is a solid granny square.  I learned it on Youtube here.

I visited the Frida Kahlo exhibit while in the area, but I'll share that next time!

Happy Fall -Take Care. 

xo

Amazing Ann Arbor

Thank you Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild!    I had a wonderful time visiting your guild.  Everyone was friendly and welcoming.

I made a great new friend, Julie H.  We have so many things in common.  She invited me to her home to see her antique quilts like this one~

But first I want to share some photos from the guild events.

I forgot to take more photos at the Applique' Workshop.  We had a great time learning to make our own patterns and composing original pieces.

The guild meeting is held at a Washtenaw Community College.  They had a great vendor, charity quilt area, a dye-cut company demo, and more.

They had a fabulous book sale - I found 2 great books.

Beautiful venue for my lecture on Scrap Quilts.

We had a fun workshop on Sunday Building Houses!
how fun are these trolls?

 Messy fun!

 The ladies made so many happy houses.  We all wished this was a 2-day workshop to continue the creativity and set them.

My visit to Julie's home was nothing less than incredible!  She and her husband were so warm and inviting.  We had an old fashioned bed turning.

Drum roll.........

 My favorite star

 Is this eclipse fabric?

 Triple cording on the binding - oh my!  I literally almost swooned a few times.

 Julie has a beautiful collection of pristine kit quilts.

 Looks like my header!

 gorgeous hand quilting on this Amish Style quilt.

By the way, this represents only part of her collection.  I saw about 60 quilts and there were more in a special quilt vault.   I hope to visit Julie again someday.

Here is Julie's stunning quilt.  It is a Sue Garman pattern.  Lovely.

Thank you, Julie, for allowing me to share photos from our special quilt sharing visit.  It was such a special treat!

Have a great week!  It's fair weekend here in CT - yay yay yay
xo

Cake and Quilts Sturbridge Village

I love cake and last week while my son, Andrew, was visiting he requested The Bubble Room Orange Crunch Cake.   Do yourself a favor and click the link to their website.  You will see right away why I like the place!

(recipe on bottom of post)

Despite the snow, ice and wind the New England Regional Chapter met at Sturbridge Village for an  American Quilt Study Group day.  Wow, that was a lot of links, but I'd like to encourage you to join this National organization.

From the Sturbridge collection, made by: Susannah Howard 1879.

My heart stopped when I saw this Pride of Iowa 4-block.  Sorry for the bad iphone photo - I was having a mild heart attack.

Wow - these berries were nearly round but securely attached.  I need to step up my game!

My favorite room

What a sweet little doll bed and paper doll set.

It was great to see the group again including Cynthia of Wabi-Sabi and to finally meet Wendy, the Constant Quilter in person.  We had a funny adventure through the snowy village :)   They both have great posts on the day too.

Despite or because of the horrid weather, the feeders have been very busy!   Poor little Gold Finchs.

Check out this look.  She seems to be saying what are you doing here?

 Just waiting my turn.....I'm freezing out here!

Last Chance Charlie to win Diane's book or my stencil.

Thank you for all the comments on your quilting stories.  I've enjoyed reading each one.    Click here to enter the giveaway, I will  pick a winner on Saturday.

xo

**The only change to the recipe is that I make my own buttercream frosting with butter, powdered sugar, milk and vanilla - then I added the zest.**

Ingredients

Crunch layer

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (actual recipe) or 1/2 cup slivered almonds ( actual recipe)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Cake

• 1 Pillsbury Plus yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil

Frosting

• 1 pillsbury ready to spread vanilla frosting
• 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 3 tablespoons grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Directions

1. : Combine crunch layer ingredients. Press 1/2 into each bottom of 2 greased and floured 8" or 9" pans.
2. : In a large bowl, blend cake ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 mins at high speed. Pour into pans.
3. : Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes Cool 10 minutes Remove from pans and cool completely.
4. : In small bowl, mix frosting & topping. Fold in lemon & orange peels.
5. : Place one layer, crunch side up, on plate. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Top with remaining layer, crunch side up. Spread top and sides with remaining frosting.