*hints of fall

There is this one thing I am know for, well there may be more than one thing.. but in the Hawkins family (my BFF's Family) they know that come August this girl will be pulling out her fall decor.  It could be an early cool August, or a long hot summer August - either way I get a bit antsy and start pulling the beautiful autumn colors into our home with my fall decorations.  I do love each season in it's due time, but I think fall is my favorite!

We have already had a week or so of high 50's and low 60's night weather, bring a crisp morning as a bonus!  It has been picturesque to sit in a rocker on the front porch, watching the sun rise while sipping on a cup of coffee in the cool weather.

Baking has been on my things to do list for a few days now, so I gave myself to it! Fall invites such things right? Who wants to heat up the kitchen in the middle of the summer? Eat heavy foods when it is so hot outside? So, to day with Fall in my heart, I baked some tasty pumpkin muffins and several loaves of beer bread. I also dreamed my way though a Taste of Home Soup Recipe Magazine, marking many soup recipes that will be tried out in our kitchen soon!

Isn't this pumpkin muffin adorable? A little of the mix some how was slopped out and when the muffins came out of the oven, this one looked like a pumpkin stem. Cute!

Happy Fall Ya'll!
~Lynnie

shared at Homestead Revival

*national sewing month project #5

Woot! Yippee! I have finished a WIP! It is no longer in that category, it is now photographed and in my COMPLETED Quilt Journal!

Yes, you can say I am a bit excited.  I have been working on this project for several years now. The top has been completed for more than a year, but it has been waiting to be set in and completed.   This quilt was a product of one of my classes that I took at Loving Stitches with Wendie as our teacher.  She had made several "stripy quilts" and shared it with us, and we all decided it would be a great project for our class.  I chose some scrap fabrics for all the pinwheels and purchased some stripy fabric for the inner and outer borders.  We used Deb Tuckers, Tucker Trimmer tool to make these blocks.

 I chose to meander the quilt with hours of loving care!  This quilt is a double topper, or nice lap quilt for snuggling on the couch or perhaps even taking in the car on a long trip.  I learned to quilt traditionally and would have never thought to put binding on with the machine in the beginning, but now I cannot imagine getting it on any other way!  I use a decorative stitch and it, I think, adds a nice touch.

For this quilt I used Hobbs Natural Batting and ended up with the lovely crinkle throughout the quilt as the batting shrunk a bit when I washed and dried it.

One that is unsuspecting will walk to her mail box in the coming week to pick up this package, as she opens it I hope she loves it as much as I do.  Love is the thread that binds us together.
 

~Lynnie

shared at Homestead Revival

*the tree

Last week I posted some of my favorite photo's in black and white, this tree being one of them. I got so many comments on this particular photo that I thought I would post the original, unedited image for your viewing pleasure!

This photo was taken at our home in Fayetteville during our once a year snow in the month of January! It was a beautiful covering.

Lynnie

Also shared at Better Than Best  
(won top three the week I entered at Better than Best)

Also shared at: Snap & Share

*cottage white

Source: littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com via Eric-and Lynette on Pinterest

Source: littleemmaenglishhome.blogspot.com via Eric-and Lynette on Pinterest

I have suddenly fallen in love with all things white. sigh. I like cottage decor and a lot of what I see is based on a white color palette.  I have thought of painting all of our bedroom furniture white, the dining room table (which is a antique Duncan Phyfe dining set-which I would NEVER paint), our coffee table and much more. I have pulled the reigns in and only allowed myself to paint some picture frames that were in the closet yet to be hung.  I used a can of flat white paint to give them a new look.  I do like the way it turned out, personally.   Several of the frames are still in need of a matte before I can put photos in them. I will  keep my eyes open at thrift stores until I find the ones I need.

~ Lynnie

Shared at Farmgirl Friday's Blog Hop

*national sewing month project #4

photo credit anthropologie.com

Some aprons just make you want to put them on and get into the kitchen and create!  I love aprons that are cute and funky, funny though, all of my aprons are simple white aprons with my handmade soap logo on them.  I love them too though and have worn them almost to death!

After selecting a few fabrics from my stash, I went to work on making a holiday apron. It is my first, so there are no frills and ruffles, but I feel that coming on the next ones.  I was pretty pleased with the way this one turned out.  I made the apron without a pattern, but I did use one of my other aprons as a guide. Since I can be a very sloppy and messy cook, I made a front and back fabric for double protection.  We do not have a land line, so  I made a little pocket to keep my cell phone in so it will be handy.  If any of you have a great tip for keeping your phone FOUND and well known as to it's whereabouts please let me know!  I am notorious for not knowing where mine is when I need it.

 My other aprons have a squared edge, but I decided that I turn make a rounded edge on this particular one, so I used a bowl to get a uniform pattern.

One pocket adorns the front of the apron.

 I made bias tape and ran it across the top of the apron before I put it on the sides which  also made the loop to go around the neck.

 While I was enjoying my sewing time and having a mini coke and a smile, my lovely cat Julie was doing this....
 

Go ahead, take that shirt out that needs that button reattached. You can do it! That project that you started months ago, pull it out! Those little girls that you are rearing would love a simple lesson on sewing a straight stitch with some scrap fabric or old clothes.  Start planting that seed!

What are you working on right now?

*busy bees

This morning when I went out to feed the animals I decided to walk out and check on the bees.  They were busy taking flight, and others landing. I sat and watched intently for a few minutes, when I noticed the ones landing on the landing board has bags of pollen on their legs. Beautiful yellow pollen. I sat and watched for a few more minutes then ran back to the house to get my camera. This is what I captured.

Aren't they amazing!

If you are interested in beekeeping,  you may want to bookmark  Honey Bee Suite.  I have really enjoyed reading and learning from this seasoned beekeeper!  Read more about our bee adventures HERE.