Friday Happenings

It's Friday! It's Friday Yeee Haw! It's Friday!

 Good morning, Sweet friends . How are you on this lovely fall day? 

I have had a long week of cleaning and organizing in the quilt room. Slowly but surely, I am making progress, but I will spare you the photos of the room bulging of stacks of fabrics and UFO's galore. 

QUILT ALONG ALERT! QUILT ALONG ALERT!

Kathleen Tracy of Sentimental Stitcher is hosting a Scraps Stars QAL. She posted the introduction information and tips on making star points in her October, 2, 2026 post. 

🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

This week, I have been working on Little House Needlework's Sheep Virtues. A sweet gift from dear Donna.  ( Thank you Donna. I am loving every stitch. 🤗)

Sheep Trifle

Today , I will work on the sheep and the border.  I am stitching the Sheep Virtues as one large piece. There are 5 stitch spaces between each design. 

Time to move onto the sawtooth borders in "Oh My Stars and Pumpkins" , a sweet gift from Cheryle.💗 Thank you , Cheryle ; this is bringing me so much joy. 

 

A wavy line was handstitched in the tan border using an off white thread. 

Soon it will be time to turn down the black binding and whip it into place. 

Oooh Let me show you a couple of my thrifty finds from a couple of weeks ago. 

While in Texas, I picked up a vintage pottery pitcher from the 1990's and the darling crocheted pumpkin. 

The pitcher was made by Ellis Pottery from Marshall , Texas. The family began their business in the late 1800's.

Ok Sweeties, that is my update this week - cleaning, stitching and quilting. Now I best put on my apron and head back to that quilt room. There is more cleaning to be done. 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"I can't get finished cleaning up my room because I get distracted by all of the cool stuff I find.  "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy 

 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

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Tuesday Rambles

 

Do you remember a couple of months ago when I told you that Mr. Pinker found a hutch at a thrift shop for 25 smackeroos?!  It wasn't perfect. It was unstained and  missing the front doors, but it was homemade, well built,  and big .❤

 Well, Mr. Pinker stained it  with my favorite stain ,Early American, and moved it right on  into the house into the small laundry room. 

It was not long before I began filling it to the brim with what most people call "good old fashion junk!" 😀😁 I call the junk thrifty treasures though.

The hutch is tucked into a small laundry room and will be used for storage - mostly storing my blue enamelware and pottery.  The enamelware pots on the top shelf store more enamelware and  floral picks

I am happy as a clam with this new storage piece. 

The baby finches will soon be leaving their nest. It has been a joy for the grandsons to watch the little ones grow. 

 Over the weekend, Mr. Pinker and I took a road trip to Alabama where we enjoyed the beautiful farmland scenery which included vast cornfields.

The huge American flag waving in the cornfield was glorious! 

Old Glory waving in the breeze at the Walker Ranch. 

My travel stitch was Little House Needleworks, "Sheep Virtues". My sweet friend, Donna gifted me the darling charts. 

I finished  "Joyfulness" .  ( The precious felt sheep needle holder was a gift from my dear friend Patricia. Isn't it as cute as a button with the googly eyes? 🐑💗)

I then began "Gratitude". Mr. Ripper did have to come out once when I miscounted and moved the border over a row, but thankfully it was a quick and easy fix.  

Look at the splotchy  grungy Aida. I love it! 

I am stitching the Sheep Virtues  as one large pieced on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida .  Five spaces separate each design.  Today I will continue working on the "Gratitude's" border. Thank you , dear Donna . I am enjoying each and every stitch. ❤😘

Well Sweeties, I guess I have rambled long enough. I do have more to share, but that will have to wait until another day. Meanwhile, I look forward to catching up and seeing what has been going on with all my stitchy friends. 

Have a Sun Shiny Day! 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Do all the good you can , and make as little fuss about it as possible.  "- Charles Dickens

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy .

 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉🍉

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A Visit with the Heifers

 Put on your farm boots and let's head to the farm! 

It has been awhile since we have been out to the farm.  Hasn't it?  

We will go through the gate which is just  off from the yard at the old homestead. 

Don't mind this gal. She is gentle. 

A few  cows are up on the hill  near the barn. 

Bev is doing fine and dandy . She is grazing away. 

Oh , gosh. This heifer is giving us the evil eye. "What's up , girl? Everything is ok. We are just moseying along. "  

Hmmm.. she does not look too happy does she. 

Hi , Gertie!  She is a cutie . Isn't she?

Hanging out with all of the heifers is reminding me that I have not shown you  my progress on Little House Needleworks' " Farm Life " lately. 

The last time you saw it, I had stitched the farm lady who I am  affectionately calling "Nanny".  

"Why?" you ask.  Well, this farm stitch reminds me of my Nanny and Papa's farm.  

Progress March 19, 2026

"Farm Life" has been my ball game stitch this week. As I have been watching the grandsons play ball, I have been stitching away. 

Lookie! I added the heifers.   Rather than making all of the cows Holsteins as charted, I opted to stitch them like some of our favorite cows- like Bev, Gertie and Milky who is no longer with us. 

The corn patch was planted too. Papa always had a grand garden . Corn and green beans were a staple in his garden.  Soon I will be moving up to the barn. Eeeh I am so excited!!

I am using mystery flosses on this stitch- that is flosses that no longer have their labels or off brands. 

I am stitching "Farm Life" on 14 count coffee/ tea dyed Aida that I baked which is why you see some "dark splotches " on the fabric.

 

Progress on Farm Life as of April 23, 2026

Looks like Bev is on the move.

I guess we should make our way back to the  house for a big glass of iced tea. Don't ya' think? 

When we get there, I will show you the fabrics that I have pulled for a new project. Oh wait, I have them here! 

Mmmm, yummy, scrumptious yellows. I am thinking bee skep blocks are in my future.  

Now let's get to that tea . Shall we? 

Little Spring houses on display for April 

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

"Farm Life, where hearts and herds roam free.  "- unknown

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy who loved the farm so much. She had many adventures on the farm. It is not the same without you, Amo. 

 I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

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Monday Musings and the Harvest Basket

For the last year, I  have been trying to eat fish at least twice a week. It's good for  ya' - well that's what my doctor says.  Anywhooo... Tuesdays is "Tuna Tuesday" . I always try to give a little twist to my tuna salads . 

Last week I made the most delectable tuna salad- with the addition of a chopped apple, chopped celery, homemade relish ( yum yum) , feta cheese ,pickled  jalapenos and olive oil mayo with a blanket of fresh spinach on toasted wheat bread. It was just mouth watering. The addition of chopped apples and the spice of the jalapenos was a favorable surprise. 

 As I made my sandwich, my mind wandered to past joyful days in the garden - staking tomatoes, picking cucumbers and summer squash.  The sweet cucumber relish that we made  a couple of years ago  brought back many fond memories . Every time we pull a jar out of the pantry it is like getting a pleasant gift from the garden. This year I hope to plant more cucumbers , tomatoes and of course peppers galore. 

Have you started thinking about your garden? 

Homemade sweet cucumber relish is the bomb! 

This brings me to Block #3 in Melva's Little  House on the Prairie Sew Along. Eeeeh! It's Harvest Basket. 

"Some old fashioned things like  fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. " -Laura Ingalls Wilder

Last year Mr. Pinker and I would spend "many a hours" in the garden filling our own harvest baskets. In fact , there were times that we would take one basket load in and then go out for another.  I should be so lucky if we have a good harvest this year. 

"A farmer depends on himself, and the land and the weather." Laura Ingalls Wilder - Farmer Boy

 All of the fabrics for Harvest Basket were found in my stash. Strips of calicos, plaids  and prints. It was fun to look at the information on the selveges . Some of the fabrics were nigh 20+ years old. 

So tell me. If you are planning a garden, what do you hope to fill your harvest basket? 

I am making progress on Little House Needlework's "Farm Life". Vegetables are being harvested. 

Well Sweet friends, I best get off here and see what mischief I can get into. 

Before you leave. Do you have any suggestions on new ways to prepare canned tuna or salmon? I would be every so grateful for any new recipe suggestions. 

Melva's Little House on the Prairie Sew Along Posts:

INTRODUCTION of the Little House on the  Prairie Stitching Along - January 29, 2026

Block 1 Maple Leaf- February 5, 2026

Block 2 Native Star- February 19, 2026

Block 3 Harvest Basket- March 5, 2026

Block 4 Shoo Fly- March 19, 2026

🌻  A Sneaky Peek of what is on the finishing table today- Eeeeh ! Summer Stamps! 🌻

Have a beautiful day! 

Hugs and Stitches

Melisa 

The squirrels are running rampede here in the holler - gathering seeds and such. 

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred..." - Laura Ingalls Wilder -  A Little House Sampler  A Collection of  Early Stories and Reminiscenses