Grapes at the farm

Dear Mary and Jeni,

South view

 It was a really good year for grapes at the farm.

East view

 These are my Kay Gray grapes.   The vine is almost 20 years old.

Another east view.

 This year they were just covered with grapes.

North view.

 But I wasn't there long enough to make my world famous green grape and lemon jelly.

From the outside, looking North.

 Just long enough to record them in photo's.

From the outside looking West

Jim says they were all gone in just a few days.   I am sure the birds, raccoons and squirrels loved them.
Hugs.
Nancy

Fall leaves and Spring Bulbs

Hi Mary and Jeni,

I took this picture of Monica's tree out my bedroom window.   It is just beautiful this year.

Leaves on Monica's Maple Tree.

I ordered a few (only 300) crocus bulbs from Brent and Becky's Bulbs.   Love that place!  It is where I ordered my tulips at the farm.   I missed the tulips this year because I was here with the parents.

crocus chrys. 'Advance"

crocus tomm. 'Ruby Giant"

Jon came over at my request on Sunday and we planted the 200 crocus tomm. 'Ruby Giant' and 100 crocus chrys.  'Advance'.   About 200 went in the front lawn and 100 in the back.   Hope the squirrels don't eat them all up.

Is it Spring yet?

Love,
Nancy

The River Rat TOGA in Lake City MN - 2011

Hi Mary and Jeni,   Here are some beautiful sewing machines from the TOGA.  I am sure you are interested!

A beautiful Eldridge.

A 185 with a new walnut base from Cindy and a new handcrank.

The 2-1/2" strip exchange

Treadle Annie's applique quilt of a Jones handcrank.

Jones CS Handcrank with yellow rose decals.

John with his aluminium 101 open and showing oil wick system.

A beautiful German Handcrank, maker to be determined later.

My Singer 128, cleaned, oiled and making a good stitch now.

Lots of 'meching' going on here.

Early Saturday morning before the crowd. (Cindy in the Kitchen)

My what a pretty sewing machine you have my dear.

Words fail me.  It was a lot of fun and many many things were learned.   Toga's are too much fun to be legal.

Love,

Nancy

Getting Ready for the Toga block exchange

Hi guys,  

I have been working on some blocks for the TOGA block exchange.  Since it is the 10th Anniversary of the River Rat Toga there are a lot of people coming.  I had to make more than 20 blocks.  I finished 26 and this shows 21 of them.

21 of the 26 leaves I made.

The following are close up photos of leaves made from the fabric I bought at the Linden Tree.

I added orange and a yellow/orange/green batik to this leaf.

I had a lot of fun finding 'fall' fabrics for my leaves.   Batiks seem to be the best although there is one fabric that is plain quilters cotton.  One of the places I found fabric was right around the corner from Mom and Dad's place.  It is called the Linden Tree.   Jeni and I went there first last spring.  E hangs out there whenever she comes over.  It has some really fine batiks.  I love this pinky orange floral.  I bought it and the unbleached muslin I used for the backing there.  Oh and I also bought a few other fabrics.   Heh.   They seem to match my taste in fabric quite well.

I put more of the yellow/green/orange in this leaf.

Oh, and for those of you who have never been to a TOGA, it is a Treadle On Gathering and Academy for those of us who collect, and use, vintage sewing machines.   My latest baby is a #30 Pfaff that I found just a few blocks up from the Linden Tree at an estate sale.   The cutest cabinet and the top is a bookshelf!  Never seen one like that before.   Walnut that needs a little restoration but very nice.   Here is a pic.

My 'new' Pfaff #30 by it's cabinet.  The bottom drawer was being glued
when I took this pic.  The top right is a bookshelf instead of a drawer!

Mostly the pinky orange floral in this one.

So, can you find those three leaves in the top photo?

Love you,
Nancy

More garden pictures

Dear Mary and Jeni,

Deb sent us some pictures from her (and Chris's) garden.  They were taken early in June so these are the before photo's.   There is some amazing art on their fence.

Music and Dancing in the sun

Many different varieties of basil.  Deb said the basil was great this year.

a cozy sitting area

Chris snuck in a picture of Deb.   

The Daylillies bloom early in Chicago

I can't believe the peppers were ready so early.

Keeping an eye on the photographer.

That is all for now.  Alice is trying to lay upon the keyboard, and mostly succeeding.

Love,

Nancy