We saw more than a few barns along the way.
This is the same barn, different angle.
While we waited for a pilot car, we were stopped alongside this next one. I kind of liked the way the shadow of the holey roof fell against the wall.
Also while we were waiting for a different pilot car...
Until I took the picture off my camera, I couldn't see that this was ESPN University, so I looked it up online. Apparently "Never Graduate" is a "thing" at ESPN. Whatever...it gave me a chuckle.
Finally, we reached the Oregon State Fairgrounds where it took about three times as long as it should have for me to deposit my quilts. There were two women ahead of me who hadn't read or followed the rules for submitting their quilts, which meant I had to wait for them to futz around, labeling their quilts and the bags that contained them...and writing the stories they wanted to accompany their quilts! Who does that? Anyway...when I finally got to the front of the line, it took about ten seconds. Fie!!
As we were leaving the parking lot, I noticed this marquee.
What a world, huh?
From there we went to the Cotton Patch quilt shop just a few minutes down the road. I'll admit that as we were driving along, I felt a surge of excitement at having just dropped off my quilts for the fair. When I enter a quilt in a show, I have trained myself not to expect to win anything, and to just be happy knowing my quilts will be displayed and viewed by others. Still...it's fun to dream, and exciting to participate. We were limited to two quilts this year. These are the quilts I entered:
Snips and Snails:
Gingerbread Square:
Fingers crossed.
When we arrived home, there was still a little time left for quilting, and so I quilted these blocks.
Bee Sweet:
Bee Charming:
Bee Bountiful:
Bee Adventurous:
Bee Friendly:
And Bee Happy:
So far, I've quilted 10 out of 20 blocks. I should be able to finish the rest of the blocks this weekend, and then I'm hoping to get started on the sashings. I know just what to do there, but it's going to require some marking, which always takes more time.
Today I'm going to do laundry in my new washing machine. If you don't already have your fingers crossed for the quilts in the fair, then please cross your fingers for this virgin washing machine venture. Believe it or not, washing machines have undergone a near complete transformation since we bought our last one fifteen years ago. This one goes through all sorts of gyrations while it fills the tub. We actually had to re-think our original purchase because the one we'd looked at online didn't have an agitator. What's up with that? It gives me some idea how my grandmother must have felt when washing machines gave up the wringer.
Also, I'm trying something new with our CSA carrots today. I love our CSA...don't get me wrong... but we've had carrots in every single share this year...lots of carrots...red ones, purple ones, orange ones, and (currently) white ones. I'm all for carrots. Did you know they give you good night vision? Of course you did. Anyway...carrots. I've run out of ways to love them, and they've accumulated enough in numbers to wage a small war in my refrigerator.
So today, I'm trying a recipe from one of my books for "Carrot Cake Jam." It has pears, pineapple and carrots. Ya gotta love a jam that has "cake" in its name, right? So we'll see. Supposedly this jam will taste like carrot cake, and I do loves me some carrot cake. I'm skeptical, but it's worth a try. There will no doubt be more carrots in next week's share, so what have I got to lose?
20 comments:
Good luck with the 1st run through with the laundry machines !!!
I am sure your quilts will make you proud (er)
Just don't use the microwave to make the jam lol
whatever Google says, the bloody stuff rises above and beyond the bowl and then extrudes enthusiastically through the bottom of the microwave door - across the worktops AND is a bugger and a half to clear up after.
Stickyyyyyy
PLUS it stripped the paint off the microwave floor beneath the glass plate!
And then - only partially set once in the fridge lol
Tell me please, what is a pilot car?
Fab barns, yes that slatted roof and its shadows look super!
Maybe theres a carrot facial scrub or body cream recipe hiding away in Google lol
Carrot cake jam, what could possibly go wrong? Sounds yummy! I'm sure your new laundry set will perform wonderfully - and a real bonus if they do so quietly. I do like the softly meandering quilting design your little bees take across those blocks. Good luck with the fair entries!
I'm voting for Snips and Snails.....ok, no vote from here allowed, but it is a winner in my book. Or just make carrot cake.....you could freeze them as loaves, or cupcake size, then take out and frost. Good luck with the washer.
I like Deb's suggestion of making breads, cakes, cupcakes that can be frozen for a later use. BUT the jam does sound good, too!! Fingers crossed on your two entries.
When we moved to Illinois, everyone told us that there are 2 seasons here, winter and construction. After living here 14 years, I agree.
anxious to hear how the jam turns out. The quilts are beautiful and should do well, I'm assuming they are in different categorys? Good luck with the washer It probably takes HP detergent etc. too.
Those are both wonderful and I hope they do well in the fair.
Love seeing old barns and the shadows are a nice effect.
Debbie
Not sure if this fits in with your diet, but anyway!
My Mom made something called Carrot Ring. It's kind of like scalloped corn, but with carrots. Here's a rough recipe. Peel and chop carrots, cook until soft; mash. Saute some onion and celery in butter. Combine carrots, onion, and celery with cracker crumbs and beaten egg. Bake! Yummy!!
Good luck with your quilt entries! Carrot cake (no frosting) is my favorite. Can't wait to see if your Carrot Cake Jam really tastes like carrot cake.
I got mouth waters with Carrot Cake Jam, I thought it was Carrot Cake with fruit in it and sounds wonderful, without the pears I don't like pears. If you had dogs they would eat some of those carrots for you, tell Smitty.
When I get too many carrots in our CSA, I make mirepoix. Cut and dice the carrots with onions and celery, sauté, then bag them up and put in the freezer. It's ready to go for all your winter soups and casseroles.
Love the quilting on your bee quilt. The barn with the shadows could be a sunshine and shadows quilt in the making. Good luck with your entries.
I HOPE you win for your quilts. You selection is wonderful. Plus your work on your quilts is expert. I love the Bee quilt, too. Pretty. Honestly, you do more in one day than I could in three! You amaze me.
Road construction is no fun. We hit some coming back from OKC yesterday, made for a longer drive home than normal. Fingers crossed for your quilts at the fair, I'm sure they will both do well. Your "Bee" blocks are so pretty! That motif works so well.
My fingers are crossed for your quilts, although I'm sure they will win the judges eyes. I love carrot cake, so baking small loaves and freezing sounds like a great idea (if you have room in the freezer). They would be nice to take along on your upcoming travels. As for the washer, just push the button and hold your breath. lol I've never heard of a washer without some type of agitator except for front loads. That's what we have at present.
I am waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the new washer & dryer premiere...
While I am not a big fan of actual carrot cake (poisonous pecans), your jam does sound interesting.
State Fair goers are in for a BIG treat when they get to gaze upon Snips & Snails and Gingerbread Square. I hope there is an EMS station close by with oxygen when their breath is taken away.
Good luck on your quilts! The local Plano Quilt show was this weekend. We went in on Thursday and helped the Bernina store set up. That was a hard 6 hours! Opening boxes. hanging merchandise, hanging quilts and signs. Then Friday, we went to the show, but were on call for the booth in case they needed a go-fer, which they did a couple of times. Then on Saturday, we went up an hour before closing to help pack up the remaining items. It was apparently a good show for the store because we had it all packed in an hour!
I hope your quilts do well at the fair! I thought of you while we were tooling around Gainesville and I saw a cannabis pharmacy. It brought to mind the sign in this post. Haha. Quite the world, indeed. By the way, depending on if/where you buzz through Minnesota on your trip, we have barn quilt drives -- a combination of two things you enjoy. I can get you some information if you're interested.
Good luck with your quilts - I'm sure they'll do well, if the judges have a lick of sense! I used to be on the receiving end at the fair - I had the flowers/arrangements table...geez, you'd wonder how they ever got along in life sometimes. But, we came from a really small county, and the same people did the same thing, year in, year out. Shake your head and use them as a good example of how not to be, is what I used to always tell my daughters that had accompanied me.
Still loving the little busy bees and their flight paths!! It's amazing how they really accent your blocks and embroidery!
We started buying washing machines the year we came off the road, and I'm on my 3rd one so far. None of them have had agitators, and I truly LOVE that feature. I can fit a king sized comforter in both washer and dryer, and there's no way I'll ever go back. When we were on our road trip last month, we had FREE laundry at the campground, but the catch was that it was using apartment sized over/under types. They fit 2 dresses and a towel. EACH. Took me forever to get everything washed and dried! But, then again, free is free.
We both love carrots too..in fact, they're always the first seeds in the ground for us. We plant them with radishes, 'cuz the radishes sprout first, marking the row. Then, just as the carrots are needing thinned, the radishes are about ready to harvest. You must have been in my head today, because I made carrot cake cheesecake to take to dance tomorrow. I tend to think your usage was lower calorie and probably healthier. But, I included much of the same ingredients.....pineapple, carrots, coconut. Bit o'sugar, and of course, cream cheese. Lots of cream cheese. My nod to healthy is to ALWAYS use applesauce in place of oil. Oh.my.GOSH. I must admit to having sampled it after dinner.....OH.MY.GOSH. I guess it will do! But I'm going to tell everyone it's B.A.D. and hopefully, I'll have some to take home! (doubt it, never do) The recipe was found online, and is titled Cheesecake Factory Carrot Cheesecake, or something like that. I've never been to a Cheesecake Factory, and that's probably a good thing. I would imagine it was similar to going to the Russell Stover Factory Outlet. Simply irresistible.
Toodles for now!
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