2019 Archives ⋆ Page 2 of 9 ⋆

Tenants, Paint and Construction are keeping me busy

Posted on October 8, 2019October 8, 2019 by ihaveanotion — 10 Comments

I am so far behind… and as the title suggests there are lots of things that are keeping me busy… Goldie had her 2nd birthday in early September. All she wanted at the new place was a big backyard where she could play. It was done a few days late, her wish became reality. The fence is complete.

Tenants

Also keeping me busy, are the feline tenants, (5 males and 2 females) and the addition of 6 chicken tenants (all hens), my morning is busy. While the chickens grow up to layers we feed them. I let them free-range part of most days too. We are working with the tenants and eliminating the ability to reproduce, but it is a one at a time proposition… I trapped the first and shyest of the cats, “Patience” on a Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. That meant that I was in the car immediately after. Dropped her off for spaying and then back home… a couple of hours later collect her and take care of her in the garage for the rest of the week. While she was recouperating she allowed me to pet her, but she reverted to wary the moment I let her go.

Patience after recuperating from being spayed

Catching Patience was so successful that it was time for another. The next shyest cat, (also a female) named “Prudence”, was easy to trap in the ‘haveaheart’ trap. I was also able to grab one of the younger tenants (a male generally called #2), and put him into a crate we used for the puppies. This was on a Friday morning, and off I went to town… to drop them off at the vet and run a few other errands. The convalescing of the cats is going well and also keeping me busy. #2 now has a new name. “Prince” he did his convalescing really from just one comfy position… and as long as I was reaching in and giving him a rub down… every couple of hours he was a happy camper. Prudence is also extra affectionate too. Prudence needs a week to recover, but Prince is free… again.

Painting

In case you think I don’t have anything to do, just before the cat trapping, we began priming and painting all the walls upstairs. One coat of primer on every single wall and 2 coats of paint. 2 rooms were purple tones, one was a dark tan and the 4th was a dark tan top and a deep maroon (2 coats of primer) on the bottom. Upstairs all of the painting is complete. Next up is the carpet! Anything is better than Berber!

Paint upstairs-old and new — New paint is on the right

Construction

In addition, we have started the remodel construction on the main level. The main elements are eliminating a couple of walls, moving a door, adding a closet. We will be living in a construction zone for a week or 5! Hanging on to my patience by a thread!!! But we are liking the changes, so far.

After the wall is taken down — The rough new look for the downstairs

So as you can see while things are quiet, there is much happening that is so very unexciting but keeping me busy. Nothing happening in the Creative Space… its all still in boxes, although I have lots of great ideas swirling around in my head.

What has kept you busy or entertained lately? Please share in the comments. I need to know for my sanities sake!!!

More Later! Beth

An update in pictures

Posted on September 17, 2019September 17, 2019 by ihaveanotion — 6 Comments

because if we wait until I have enough time to write… it will be 2020!!! So I have an update with pictures and a few words.

New additions. Chickens in the coop. 6 hens about 5 months old now. Should be laying soon? Hopefully soon some eggs, color from light green to robins egg blue! They are a breed called Cream Legbar, supposed to be calm and friendly. So far, it is true. Will be letting them out to free-range a couple of hours each day. These girls love bugs.

When we were looking… for a place. This fellow accompanied our agents. He has his own business cards too. I told him that if we bought the place, he could pick out a chicken and give it a name. He came out in late August, chose his bird and named her Lucy. So 2 have names, Lucy and Ethel. Possibly a 3rd has a name too, Piggy Anne, she is always front and center for kitchen scraps.

pasture to the house view — The view from the pasture to the house

The pasture, around the pond and the yard are all mowed and short! It looks so neat!!! Just needs a large hoofed creature to make it complete.

And last, the pond with about 90% of the cattails cut down or removed. They are hard to kill, but we are working on it.

There is so much more to share… but alas my usual lament. NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!!! So there you have it… and update in pictures.

More Later! Beth

2019 Online Quilters Meet & Greet

Posted on September 3, 2019September 3, 2019 by ihaveanotion — 44 Comments

2019 Online Quilters Meet and Greet — Visit blogs that may be new to you or old friends already on the 2019 Quilters Meet and Greet Blog Hop.

Welcome to I Have A Notion stop of the 2019 Online Quilters Meet & Greet. Benita of Vict oriana Quilt Designs surprised me with the invitation to join this year, and I am flattered, to say the least! I found the 2018 Quilters Meet and Greet last year and discovered several new to me blogs.

A Little Bit About Me

I have been quilting for more than 30 years, and before that, it was garments and craft sewing. My quilting began with hand piecing and hand quilting, but now I do most of my work by machine. Most of what I create are original designs and created most often by’Playing the What If’ game. We have just recently moved from in-town to the country in Kentucky. We have a little 10-acre farm, complete with a barn, a chicken coop, a shop, a house, and a POND! The local cows and cats outnumber the neighbors, which is just what we wanted.

My Favorite Quilt- “today”

Today my favorite quilt is the “Chicken Dance” quilt. I like it because it makes me smile. Making it was so much fun and believe it or not it is a scrap quilt. I started it in 2009… with the chickens, (but moving to South Africa kind of got in the way of quilting!), and eventually finished it in 2013. The most difficult part was finding a setting layout for the chicken blocks, after that the rest was easy! Nobody said quilts had to be made fast. The Chicken Dance is soon to be a pattern! It is almost as much fun on the back as it is on the front. And yes the front is shadowing through… the back. I little miscommunication with the quilter, it should have been a double batt, a cotton batting plus a wool batting.

Front and back of the Chicken Dance Quilt — Chicken Dance Quilt front and back

What is “I Have A Notion™”

“I Have A Notion” is an online sewing notions and tools store. Sourcing quality products to help you create and stitch. I purchased I Have A Notion™ in 2016, from a friend (Kelly Jackson) and moved it from Ohio to Kentucky. The store has undergone several changes and improvements over the last couple of years. Adding new products and creating a new web site. I should complete some web chores that I still need to do… but hey… I like to create with fiber, not just pixels.

Best Products

One of the goals at “I Have A Notion™” is to carry top-notch useful products to support sewing and quilting enthusiasts. Offering the top of the line products and often, a lesser-known brand, if both are good… then probably both are stocked. Before adding new products, I test for features or benefits or if they meet the claims made. If they make the cut, I add them to the stock. Some of the best NEW tools I have found: are the Misting Spray Bottles for using at your pressing station, along with a Wool Pressing Mat. Both will change your quilt pressing routine!

The Misting Spray Bottles and Wool Pressing Mats — Two of the best pressing aids ever- Fine Misting Spray bottles and Wool Pressing Mat

The Newest Addition

Is the Beam and Read Personal Light in Violet. If you do handwork and need a little better lighting on the project at hand. Then this is the light for you. Originally developed for individuals with vision difficulties it has proven to be one of the best handsfree work lights ever! I have started using one whenever I am doing handwork on the go.

Showing the Beam n Read Lights — The Beam n Read Personal Hands-Free Lights, Violet or Black

The 2019 Online Quilters Meet & Greet features many other quilters. To win prizes, you will need to go to the main page of the 2019 Quilters Meet and Greet to enter for prizes. Click the button to go.

press the button to enter for prizes on the 2019 Online Quilters Meet & Greet — Click here to enter the contest to win a PRIZE!

While you are hopping about meeting the other bloggers, I hope you leave a comment and share your findings with friends on social media or your own blogs!!! Add your favorites to your blog reader (I use Feedly), so you can keep up with new friends too.

Thanks for stopping by and come back for “more later!” Beth