Well hello there!
Welcome sweet friends. Please do come in . May I offer you cup of coffee or tea? We do need a little pick me up before we head out the door.
We will be heading out to the farm to look at some quilt blocks and then take a long stroll down memory lane with tales of friendship and childhood games. Oh, Do you have your farm boots? If not, I do have some you can borrow for we will be heading out to the field as well. We may even ride in the back of the truck on the tailgate!!! We shall see! 😀❤🐮🐄
Let's first take a moment to step into the Quilt Nest though.
Melva at Melva Loves Scraps has been hosting a Quilt Along called Pieces of My Life. She is sharing quilt blocks and has questions that you can answer to add to your quilt's history as you create it. I have been working on Blocks 2 & 3 . A few fabrics were chosen to play with .
My sewing machine has been humming away these last few days as I contemplated 2 of the questions that Melva asked which was about friendship and games.
Little HST are in the works.
We better get on the move if we are going on that stroll.
Oh, look there is the old tobacco barn.
Some of you may remember that I grew up on a tobacco farm and helped with the late summer harvest. If you would like to read more about the tobacco farm click the link , Tobacco Grower Quilt and you will be taken back to that farm post.
During the winter time, Mom and Dad would strip the tobacco that had been staked on tobacco sticks.
Usually 5 -6 stalks of tobacco were on the stakes.
Once the leaves were stripped , the stalks were thrown in the bed of the old red farm truck.
It would not be long before there would be a truck load of stalks all ready to be disposed of.
Melva's Block #2 was the Friendship Block. I chose greens and pinks that reminded me of the colors of Burley tobacco.
Did you know that burley tobacco has a pretty pinkish flower? The bloom would have to be topped as soon as it began to appear in order to increase the yield and quality. That meant it had to be cut off along with any suckers.
Now before we go on, I must beg oh , please , oh please do not think I have lost my gourds as I tell this childhood tale . If you pull out a straight jacket, I am sure to run. 😂😂😀🤪😜🤣
As a child and as an adult, my best friends have always been my sisters. We did everything together including help out on the farm. Well one of the tasks was riding on the back of the tailgate of the truck and help dispose of those piled up tobacco stalks. Dad would drive the old truck to the pond behind the barn. Back then, this was a freshly dug pond and in order to reduce erosion the tobacco sticks would do just fine . As soon as dad brought the truck to a rolling stop, my sisters and I would jump to the ground and with a pull and a tug we would drag the stalks out of the truck bed and onto the ground as dad inched forward. Once they were unloaded, we each grabbed an icky sticky tobacco stalk and hopped back onto the tailgate grinning ear to ear ; it was time to play a very special game.
Melva's 3rd Block is the Pinwheel block!
Soon the old farm truck was puttering down the hill toward the bottoms, which was the lower field where Blackie, Molly, Ester Sue and the other heifers were.
"I got one, " I shouted.
"I got one, " I shouted.
"Me too, "said Sis.
"Me three," yelled my other sis.
"1,2, 3, I am going to win"
POKE , POKE, POKE!!!!!
I am almost embarrassed to tell you about the game, but remember we were farm kids. So please do not think we were too crazy!!! Hee! Hee! 😀
As we rode the bumpy trail up and down the hills, sisters and I with tobacco stalks in hand played Poke a Cow Patty! It was a very simple game - just poke a dried cow patty with a tobacco stick as we rode. Whoever poked the most won! LOL. I know . I know Some of you may be rolling your eyes and saying .EEEEEW ! and How dumb. LOL! But we had a ball and remember we were farm kids living the simple life.
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| Bow, Friendship Star and Pinwheel |
Now speaking of cow patties and games. Did you know that in Oklahoma there is a Cow Chip Competition that is held each year ? Yep in Beaver Oklahoma. I think this year it is August 19-24th. Hmmm maybe a camping trip is in order. Lol.
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| Fabrics are cut for Blocks 4 & 5 for Melva's QAL |
Alrighty, Sweeties Now grab you a tobacco stalk and get on the back of the truck , we have a game to play. Heee! Heee!
Thank you so much for dropping by and listening to my goofiness!
As always...
Happy quilting and stitching, y'all
Melisa
"Live life like someone left the gate wide open! "
Hugs and Stitches !!!🤗❤🧵
Dedicated to my dear loving sister Amy who love the farm so much . I love and miss you, Amo
Did you know that Pioneers used Buffalo chips for fuel If you would like to read more about Life on the Trail , click the colored text.
Life is Better on a Farm . It truly is ! Have an awesome day.
If you have missed any of Melva's posts on the QAL please drop by her blog for a visit. Melva's blocks and quilts are gorgeous and she has such heartwarming stories to accompany each of the blocks that she shares. Melva not only enjoys quilting but she enjoys camping adventures as well. Thank you Melva for all that you do! ❤🤗
I do love your blocks and your memories ! Have a wonderful day !
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday, Annelies. Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by and for the kind compliment. These were fun and fast blocks to work on. Have a wonderful day. Hugs.
DeleteIt's nice to start the day evoking sweet memories!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blocks.
Kisses from Spain and enjoy Tuesday.
Aaah you always bring a smile to my day, Isabel. Thank you so much. Have a beautiful day, sweet friend. Hugs.
DeleteYour blocks are so pretty, Melisa. Love the picture of the cow's face in photo 1! What memories you shared about life on the tobacco farm! Have a wonderful Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteAaah thank you so much, Robin. I love when the gals like to get their photos made. She was a character that day. LOL. Hope you had a great day. Hugs.
DeleteFarm children find ways to entertain ourselves that city kids don't understand. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteLol they do. I know you can relate. The tales that farm could could tell. Right, Gretchen? Lol. Thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteI don't think there's any way we'd make fun of you as the farm life has always been a way of life that many admire and wish they could have been a part of. I think this is the reason so many are getting back to "pioneer roots" - keeping things simple, making do, home made. I know my oldest is. I'm giving it a shot at it myself - at the "wise" old age that I am! LOL! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAah you are so very kind, Donna. Farm life is all I have ever known. I have to admit that I was a little nervous about posting ( I still get butterflies when I post. LOL) But yes the simple pleasures sure made our childhood rich. I am glad to hear that y'all are enjoying it too. Thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteYep, I was a farm kid and played weird games too - lol! Your blocks are so pretty and love the story behind them.
ReplyDeleteLol I am glad that I am not alone. We farm kids knew how to entertain ourselves - didn't we? Thank you for dropping by Linda and for bringing a smile to my day. Hugs.
DeleteOMG you had me laughing with your story! I grew up a farm kid but never played that game;) but then my brothers were all way older than me so I had no one to play with.
ReplyDeleteLol I am not sure how we came up with the game, but it kept us entertained after unloading those stalks. Hee! Hee! Thank you for the sweet Tuesday visit, Vicki. Hugs.
DeleteI love so much about this... the blocks, the stories and the pictures. Thanks for sharing. 😊
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much, Melva. I can not tell you how much I am enjoying the QAL. I am sorry that I have fell behind but I hope to catch up. I appreciate all that you do. Hugs.
DeleteSounds like a great game to me. I was a farm kid too! Your blocks look great!--TerryK@OnGoingProjects
ReplyDeleteWell I bet you know what it is like to come up with games on the farm, Terry. There was always something to do or places to explore . Right ? Lol. Thank you so much. I am really enjoying Melva's QAL. I hope you are having a great week. Hugs.
DeleteI absolutely LOVE your stories about growing up on the farm.
ReplyDeleteAaah Jeanna, you are so very kind. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Farm life is all I have ever known. Hugs and Blessings.
DeleteYour QAL blocks are looking great, Melisa! I love the pretty colors you're using. And the story of the game you and your sisters played with the cow patties just reminds me that kids will find all kinds of ways to have fun!
ReplyDeleteAah thank you so much, Diann. I am glad to put some of these fabrics to use. Lol it didn't take much to entertain us. Ha! Ha! I get a kick out of watching what all my grandkids get into on the farm. They do have a ball. Happy quilting. Hugs.
DeleteWhat a cute greeter for today's post! Love your blocks AND your memories! I don't think your game is silly, at all. I have seen tobacco growing at my gr'grandma's in WV, but I've never seen it bloom. I will have to look that up. I have played Cow Chip toss. Ours was not so much distance but could we hit a specific target. An FYI - they do NOT always fly true! Having done a fair bit of camping in the rough (in my youth), I have also used dry patties for fire fuel. Believe it or not, it doesn't smell, at all.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this bovine the cutest? She was quite a character that day. Oh how fun, Ginny! You know what it was like being a farm gal. I can not believe that I never played cow chip toss. I would love to go to the Cow chip competition just to watch - Hey it is something different. Lol. Thank you so much, Ginny. It warms my heart that this post brought back some fond memories for you. You made my day. Hugs.
DeleteFunny story, Melisa! I grew up in the country, not on a farm, but we tromped through the cow pastures enough to know about cow patties and to watch out for them.
ReplyDeleteLol you always have to watch your step in the pastures. Thank you so much , Nancy for the sweet visit and kind words. I bet you can tell we had a ball as kiddos. Lol. Happy quilting.
DeleteOMGosh, that is one cute cow. I just love all your pretty quilts. Thank you for sharing your sweet memories, too. Sending out hugs your way sweet friend. Blessings always. :)
ReplyDeleteShe was a character that day. I think she wanted to lick the camera. LOL. Thank you so much , sweet friend for dropping by for a visit. I hope you are having a delightful week. Hugs.
DeleteLove your story about the cow pie chips. That brought back wonderful memories of going to Berthold, North Dakota to visit my Grandma and would go spend some time with my cousin on her farm. What would we do, go around and poke cow chips and sometimes we would throw them. Also remember churning butter for my Aunt. Loved visiting North Dakota.
ReplyDeleteAaah such sweet memories on the farm, Sandy. I bet you had such a grand time with your cousin when visiting your grandmother. I am so glad to hear that I wasn't the only one that played the cow patty poke game. LOL. What kids will do on the farm. Hee! Hee! I am so touched this post brought back fond memories. You brightened my day, Sandy. Thank you so much. Hugs.
DeletePoke a Cow Patty! That game kept you and your sisters happy.
ReplyDeleteLol that kept us entertained after an evening of working. We were a little bit of tom boys too. Can you tell? Lol Thank you for the sweet visit, Jenny.
DeleteVery fun blocks and very fun stories.
ReplyDeleteAaah thank you so much, Kate. I am enjoying the QAL. Thank you for the sweet Wednesday visit. Hugs.
DeleteGrew up on the farm, so know all about cow chips. Back in the day, we used to have a cow chip throwing contest in the area and I won it one year!
ReplyDeleteLol farm kids know how to play don't they? I am surprised that my siblings and I never played that game. I bet you were over the moooon when you won. You brought a smile to my day, Donna. Thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteYour Friendship Blocks almost look like Korean patchwork - Bojagi - with the light behind them. Lovely blocks and great memories Melisa. Hugs, Barbara @flashinscissors. xx
ReplyDeleteWell I had not even thought about that, Barbara, but now that you mention it; it does . I am so grateful you dropped by the farm to visit with me. It means the world to me. Hugs and Blessings.
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