Blog Archive

Friday, January 23, 2026

Stitching and the Old Corral

"What's that? " I asked Mr. Pinker as we drove down the rocky, dusty road. 


Mr. Pinker whirled the side by side around the corner and over the  rocks to the area that I had spied from afar. 

"Awww and old corral! Let's explore!" 

Being an ole' farm gal, I enjoy looking at old fences, farmyard tools and structures. 
 
It has been quite a spell since this corral was used. 

Look how green the desert ground is!

There were several fenced off areas ... 


... and a number of watering tanks. 


They were as dry as bones though. 


Oooh! Look at that old, wonderful wooden gate! 


I guess back in the olden days they used old sinks for feeding troughs too. Hee! Hee!  We have several on the farm that are used for the same purpose. Waste not want not as they say. 


There were remnants of an old well with the pipes sticking out of the ground, but alas no water. This brought back memories of my Granny's well. Every day she would drop down the old cylinder well bucket to retrieve her water. As kiddos, my sisters and I loved the opportunity to fetch the water for Granny. Once we had drawn the water , we would pour it into a galvanized bucket and take it to the kitchen . There we would set it on the side table next to the enamelware pan for hand washing. On a hook above the bucket was a metal ladle which we would dip into the galvanized bucket and drink the cold freshly retrieved water. Aaaw such warm fond memories.  

The larger water tank at the corral. 

Anywhooo, Mr. Pinker and I wove in and out of the fenced in enclosures. 



 We were not sure what this contraption was used for. Was it for burning and branding? I am not sure. Do any of y'all know? 


As  the evening grew near, we decided to make our way back to camp. Mr. Pinker stopped when he saw another gentleman on the road on his OHV. As they chatted , the gentleman revealed that the place that we were previously exploring was actually where the mules were kept for the Scott Wells Mine in the 1930's. Well now is pretty interesting. 

After a bit more chit chat, Mr. Pinker and I trudged on to camp. Once there I pulled out my Little House Needlework's "Farm Life" . 

Progress  as of January 16, 2026


Eeeh! I am making progress little by little.  


The pond, geese and cattails are in place. 



Today I will begin a new stitch- an Annie Beez  Folk Art stitch called "Every Heart Beats True", a sweet gift from dear Robin. 


Now I think a patriotic red truck is a perfect Farm Friday stitch to work on . Don't you?  I sure do . Hee! Hee!  


I will be stitching it on 14 count "Mist" Zweigart Aida. Thank you , Robin for the darling gift. Alrighty y'all, I better get in a few stitches before Mr. Pinker and I head out on a day of exploring. 

Happy Trails and Keep those Needles Flying!  



As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"What is life but one grand adventure. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

A heart rock spotted at the corral. 


❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄





 




Thursday, January 22, 2026

Peaceful Days at Camp

I am enjoying some lazy quiet days at camp! 

 

Good afternoon y'all and Happy Happy Thursday. I hope your week has been treating you well. 

A stitchy spot near the shade. 


Mr. Pinker and I have been enjoying the warm weather, mild breezes and sunshine these last few days. In fact, we have been running around amuck in shorts and short sleeves - quite a change from back home. 



Aaw and what beautiful scenery - a delight and feast for our eyes. 

  

To say the least, I am one Happy Camper especially since this is taking place! Eeeeh I am putting "Pretty in Peaches" in the hoop!

 Once we took the side by side off of the trailer, I had a fabulous area to stretch out the backing, batting and quilt. Time to smooth it out! 


It will not be long before I wrangle the quilt in the hoop and begin weaving my needle and thread around the little butterflies. I think the black butterfly will be first.  ( I bought a new iron while in town to give this beauty a good pressing- I need to do that . 😊) 

For my Embroidery Thursday stitch- well, I will continue working on "The Garden is My Home" which I shared as a freebie doodle last year in my July 8th post


I hope you are enjoying some peaceful days.  


I do apologize for not being able to visit as much as I would like. Some of you may remember that we are off grid relying on solar power so my internet time is down to a minimum. I will be back for regular visits shortly. Love ya'! 

As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"The mind is like water. When it's ca.m, it's clear. "- unknown 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

A wonky heart rock! 

I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needle workers to meet.

Melva at Melva Loves Scraps for Sew & Tell- Sunday

Brenda at Songbird Designs for Monday Musings

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday

Carol at Quilt Schmilt  for To Do List Tuesday 

Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday  Wait Loss- Wednesday

Denise at For the Love of Geese for Put Your Foot Down- Thursday

Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday- Thursday

Nina at Creations, Quilts, Art , Whatever by Nina for Off the Wall Friday

Alycia's of Alycia's Quilts for Finished of Not Friday

Michelle  at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday

Monday, January 19, 2026

Boo Koos of Butterflies

I don't believe I have ever showed you the boo koos of butterflies that I have to work with on my quilts. 

Welcome y'all and a very bright and beautiful day to you!  


Over the last few years, I have been working on butterfly quilts in memory of my sister.  But where did all of those butterflies come from? 

 Well, about 10 years ago or so I bought 3 or 4 large bags of "cut out butterflies appliques" at the thrift store for $2.99 a bag . Wow ! Great deal ! Don't ya' think? 
 Right now I am trying to dwindle down one bag. So I will just show you that stack today.  


Oh my, there are so many pretty butterflies to work with in all sorts of scrappy colors.  How many are there? Gosh, I don't know! A lot.  Let's just say I will be appliqueing butterflies till the cows come home. Hee! Hee!
 
Today , I will be going through this sweet stack and choosing some for my next butterfly quilt called Butterflies and Berries or it may be called Fluttering through the Berry Patch. 🤔


I had initially thought of creating a blue butterfly quilt this year, but when I saw this gorgeous strawberry fabric at Hobby Lobby, my mind was set.  

My inspiration fabrics. 

The primary colors will be pinks and reds with dashes of green of course. I am anxious to see how this quilt develops. 
These are my thoughts which are of course subject to change. The butterflies will be appliqued to 16 1/2" background fabric.  
The butterflies will surround an appliqued Berry Patch  which will be made up of 8 1/2" blocks ( unfinished) I still have to figure out how big , sashing , borders and such... but it is a start on the brainstorming process. 

 

I would love to show you my other butterfly quilts that I have made in the past. 😀 I know. I know. 🤷  I have showed these quilts  50 billion times . LOL. I just love them so much though.  ❤

If you would like to read more about them, just click on the links below. 



"You are divinely beautiful like strawberries and butterflies. " -Unknown




Meanwhile Pretty in Peaches is still in the works as well.  It is going into the hoop this week! 

Alrighty  Sweeties, Mr. Pinker and I are off to see what we can get into. 
May your day be bright and beautiful! 


 As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Love is like a butterfly a rare and gentle thing. "- Dolly Parton 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 


Look at that funny creepy crawly on the fence post! 

The spider was on the fence post last year when we camped here but not the caption. How cute!


It reminded me of my spider stitches that I shared in the past. 🕷🕸🕷 Luckily, I haven't spotted any real spiders out here in the desert yet, but the flies are horrendous! Shoo Fly Shoo! 


Friday, January 16, 2026

Working on Farm Life

 Apples, pears and cherries all waiting to be harvested.   

"Farm Life is being stitched on 14 count tea/ coffee dyed Aida. 

Turnips and sweet peas! Oh, how delightful! 

The turnips and peas are ready to be harvested. 

Happy Happy Farm Friday, y'all.  

                              

It is a beautiful day to be working on a farmyard stitch and by golly , that is what I am going to do! 🤠

The veggies and fruits are plentiful on this stitched farm.


 However, I still have more to plant stitch like pumpkins, corn and carrots. But more pressing matters are at hand. I am  going to be driving a backhoe and digging out a crystal blue pond right there above the pears and cherries. Well at least that is my plan for today.

I will be adding the blue pond above the cherries today. 

 There are 2 wild and wacky geese or maybe they are ducks that are waiting to be stitched as well and they do need their pond. 

I am slowly but surely making progress on Little House Needlework's "Farm Life" as I sit at camp. I am using mystery flosses on this piece ( that means flosses that  have lost their labels. ) We shall see how the colors progress as time goes by. 

As Always...


Happy  Stitching and Quilting,

 y'all

Melisa 

"Beautiful things come together one stitch at a time. " 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy - a farm gal through and through. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

 Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!

🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 
🌞A Berry Nice Parade- A Look at Past Berry Freebies 2025Early 2025 berry Freebies. 
🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025  A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025

🌞Time to Dye-  2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric. 
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim. 
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October  4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed  this date. 
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date. 
🌞A Chilly Parade of Winter Stitches 2025- A parade of Winter themed freebies up to the date of Dec. 21, 2025
❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄ 

Back at home, the gals are waiting anxiously for some new arrivals. It may be a couple of weeks but along with some heifers,  a new bull is coming to the farm . I hope he is as handsome as the Rodster was. 🤗

Popular Posts

Stitching and the Old Corral