What a difference a day makes!

It took me all day but I am finished!  I was at my mess tolerance in my sewing room and I finally cleaned today, now maybe I can get some quilting done...

Here's the before...

I could hardly move around without bumping into SOMETHING!  This room seems to be the place where things go that my kids don't know where else to put them.  We now have a new rule-ask before you dump it in mom's sewing room!

And here is the after...

Oh, so much better!  I found some UFO's that I need to finish and a lot of fabric I forgot I had!  Another bonus...there's room for visitors now, too!  

I also finished two hats this weekend...

Two down, many more to go!

Jackpot!

Last night I went shopping with my sis, the other Jenni, and I hit the jackpot in yarn!

These are normally $8.99 a skein and they were on clearance for $1.97!  I bought all they had left and I will be making hats for the kids on the Indian Reservation for the coming winter...
Here's one in progress...

Last week I made Aunt Suzie a tablecloth for her farmers market table...

It turned out really cute so if you are ever in Galena, Illinois on a Saturday morning, stop at her booth and get some Suzie Bread, cinnamon rolls or brownies, she is an excellent baker!

I also made lots of these!  This is the second batch...

And yesterday a friend and my neighbor gave me more cucumbers so I will be making more refridgerator pickles this weekend!  I got my recipe from Crazy Mom Quilts with a few changes-no sugar and I add extra red pepper flakes, peppercorns and extra garlic. I brought these to both family reunions last year and was told to bring a whole bucket this year and again they were a hit!

Linking up with Live A Colorful Life Really Random Thursday today...
and tomorrow...
Crazy Mom Quilts

Happy Quilting and Knitting, too!!!

Knitting is not for old ladies!!!

A couple of weeks ago, I pulled out my Knifty Knitter looms so I could have something to do while sitting around the campfire and I have been having fun "knitting" ever since!  I don't necessarily consider it to be true knitting but for me it works.  I have been on a hat kick so everyone will be getting a hat and I'm going to make as many as I can to donate to the children on the Indian Reservation.  I have family that does mission work there and the need is great!

I also went to my LQS today and bought some treasures!

And here is the hat I started last night and finished tonight...I had to get more yarn today, I had no idea 64 yards of yarn would not be enough for a hat!!!

It's also reversible! 

I used a super chunky yarn and made it double layered so I still have to make a pom pom to cover the hole in the top where the yarn would not close all the way.  Now I think I need a scarf to match...

  And here is the first hat from a couple weeks ago.  I took this right after I finished it.  I was supposed to be cleaning the camper before we went home but I finished my hat first and then cleaned!

This first one taught me a lot, its a little rough around the edges and not very warm but its still cute!  So, I will keep telling those that say knitting is for old ladies, I'm only 37 and I am certainly not old nor are my hobbies!!!  I'm a modern girl, I "knit" on a loom!

Linking up with Live A Colorful Life Really Random Thursday

Words I never want to hear again!

"Mom, I wrecked the car"...
I was at work, an hour away, when I got the call from my oldest son.  Luckily he is OK but his car is not.  I was shaking and feeling sick when I hung up the phone and I never want to hear those words ever again!

T-Man, I love you and I am so happy that you are OK!

10 Miles

I don't have a quilting finish but I do have an important finish!  On Monday morning I started taking my daughter and a friend  (both are training for cross country in the fall) out to run at 6 am every morning.  While they are running I walk the trails until they are done. I set a goal of 10 miles by Friday and I made it!!

Also another finish/bonus...Since having to go gluten free I have lost 21 pounds, without even trying!!!

Linking Up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish Up Friday

Adventures on the Wine Trail...

The Southwest Wisconsin Wine Trail was so much fun!!! My hubby and I and another couple went for the day.  There were four wineries on the trail but we went to three of them and added another one in Illinois...We decided that Spurgeon would be our first stop.  On the way there my friends iPhone took us on a crazy backroad round about way to get there!  We learned that when a sign says "Road Closed", it really means road closed!  If you are from Wisconsin you will understand this one!  At this stop we bought our tickets and got our wine glasses for the day.

Spurgeon Vineyards

I Loved the wines at this vineyard and bought two bottles.  Mary was our host for the wine trail and we tried four different sangrias (the theme for this trip)  This was my favorite drink they served us...

Cranberry Mimosa

1 Bottle Cranberry Wine

12-14 oz. orange juice

7-up, Sprite or other mixer (ginger ale)

Blend wine and Orange juice and chill.

Add mixer when serving.  You can also add fresh fruit

to the wine and OJ when chilling to add more flavor such as

strawberries, pineapple,oranges ect...

Bauer-Kearns Winery

This was the second stop and their sangrias were wonderful but the wine by itself I was not a fan...only because they make less sweet and dry wines and I am a sweet red wine kind of a girl!

Sinnipee Valley Vineyard 

We took a wrong turn getting to this one, but that adds to the adventure and we were soon on the right road!

This was my favorite vineyard of the day!  The drive there is beautiful, the setting is beautiful and they have GREAT wines and the sangrias were GREAT too!  The owners here are also great and we met some fun people along the way.  They also have a deck where you can sit and relax with grape vines growing around the railings and when we left on got back on the road my friend confessed a little secret...

He snagged a grape on the way out!

The next stop was Galena Cellars, the retail store.   I've had their wines before so I know what ones I like but I did do some tasting with the hubby. At this place they charge $5 to taste 6 wines so the hubby and I split a tasting and had 3 each.  I have to say,of the wines I tried, I hated all 3!  But they do make Cranberry Bog that is really good!  I would highly recommend a trip to Galena, IL.  I love visiting this place, there are fun shops and the town is full of history.  The Galena Canning Company is a fun store that has 100's of sauces and products that are for the most part flaming hot!  My hubby, me and the Grape Snagger tried a sample of "#$@&ing Hot Peanuts.  These were not just hot, they were make your nose run, your eyes water, your ears burn, cry for your mommy to make the burn stop, HOT!!!  My friend Tashy was the only smart one that did not try them!  Next time I will heed the warning in the name and pass!

If you love chocolate like I do and you are in Galena then make a stop at Chocolat'...here we had...

Chocolate covered bacon!  And it was yummy!

I've had chocolates from here before and they are all wonderful!

And finally the wines that made it home with us!
Chocolate Red Cherry-Sinnipee Valley Vineyards
Ice Maiden-Spurgeon Vineyards
Sweet Cherry-Spurgeon Vineyards

Total number of wines I tasted=24

Fun with great friends=Priceless

And for the last photo, a sign, that we laughed about that is all around the town of Galena...

Thankfully I am not an offender, I have doo-doo bags on all my dogs leashes and I always pick up!

Berry Picking

Last night while my oldest daughter and a friend did a run at the family farm the rest of us went berry picking.  The hubby calls them black caps but in my family we call them blackberries...

I don't know what i was thinking when we left the house but only one of us was dressed for berry picking!

Can you see him in the briars?  Next time we go we will be prepared!

And this is what I did while everyone picked in this spot!

We did not get a lot of berries but we got enough for ice cream!