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 

It's a Finish- Harvest Season

 Better late than never! Well , that is what Nanny always said. 😀

Welcome, y'all  and a lovely winter's day to you.

 This post has been long overdue. In fact, you can tell by the photos that I finished my little quilt in late fall of last year. 

Why in molasses was I so slow in posting? Hmm I do not know. Time just got away from me. 😊🤔

Last year I posted a little freebie called Harvest Season... 

...which included four simple doodles. 

I embroidered the little doodles on 4" finished squares using 2 strands of DMC 898 using the backstitch. 

 

I framed the blocks using 1 1/2" strips. 

A simple leaf fabric was used for the backing and binding. They had been in my stash for at least a decade. 

I look forward to adding this week quilt to my fall collection this year. I think it will be quite  cute with my squirrel collection. 

Speaking of squirrel. I never showed you my thrifty finds that I purchased for mere pennies-  wee souvenir vintage Colorado sugar and creamer set. 

Little acorns are on the backside. Eeeh! They grab my heart! ❤

Well y'all that is my post in a nutshell. Thank you so much for stopping by. Hope your day is a fantastic one! Love and kisses!

As Always, 

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa

Thank you for the sweet visit. 

"Life in a nutshell awaits the squirrel. " - unknown.

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy. Love and miss you, Amo. 

 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 needleworkers to meet. 

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

TGIFF at Melva Loves Scraps for Thank Goodness Its Finished Friday- Friday

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

 

After Christmas Musings

 Good afternoon and Happy Saturday , sweet friends.  Now tell me are you stuffed from all of the Christmas treats and goodies?  I sure am. 😀 I am filled to the gills. We are still eating leftovers- though today may wind it up on them. 

 Did you have a very Merry Christmas? I sure hope so.  I had meant to pop in for a visit earlier , but it has been a bustle of activity here with family visiting. 

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated with finger foods at my house. We played lots of games like the "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Cup" , as well as ,"Candy Cane Musical Chairs" ( without the chairs though- Hee! Hee!) 

Lots of finger foods for Christmas Eve munching. 

Santa thought the grandsons were awful good this year. 

 I had no doubt that they would make the "nice list" but the little one was sweating it. Hee! Hee!

On Christmas Day, I started a new sampler called "Home Town Holiday Sampler"  by Lori Holt. This was a gift from my dear friend, Joan. Thank you , Joan. I am loving it. 

A new quilt also went into the hoop as well. 

It is the Otis Payne  Bow Tie quilt . Do you remember it? I bought it at the antique store this year during the World's Longest Yard Sale. 

Lots of scrappy  fun bow ties in this quilt. Soon my needle and thread will be meandering among the scraps of loveliness. 

Though it is still tarped over, hubby  moved the truck camper forward . We will be packing it down and leaving in a few short days.

The truck camper is being prepped for an upcoming trip. 

 Westward Ho-  We will go for a few short weeks. We are in search of warm sun and outdoor activities.  

Meanwhile, I am enjoying a few blooms in the greenhouse like the bright marigolds blooms. The other day I even picked a green pepper that I moved to the green house. 

A few periwinkle blooms are making an appearance before old Man winter nips them back. 

The feeders are filled for any birdies or squirrels that would like a midafternoon snack. 

      

In the next few days, I will share some "End of the Year " posts. Gosh, it is hard to believe we will be saying goodbye to 2024 in just a few days. Where did time go? 

Have you put your Christmas tree away yet? Not me.  I will enjoy it for a few more days. 

It is going to be another rainy day here in the holler. I just may sit back in my jammies and stitch. I hope you are having a sun shiny day. 

Enjoy you day, Sweeties and ...

As Always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, ya'll

Melisa 

"It's your outlook on life that counts.  "- Betty White

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

I see a heart in this leaf. I always look for signs. 

Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. The holidays are not the same without you.  I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo. 

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.

Frederique at   Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday

Kate at Life in Pieces for  Stitching Stuff ( Sunday) 

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap - Sunday 

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

Fall in the holler and Squirrel Jar- A Fall Mason Jar Freebie

 Days are quiet here in the holler come the first of Autumn.  It is still green, but the colors are  slowly fading to shades of brown mainly due to the heat which is still in the 90's. 

View from the side of the house. The Blueberries

Dinner Bell

It is dry as dust and though we have received a smidgen of rain in the last 30 days,  it has not made a lick of  difference. 

The grandson is making a race track in the yard with his go-cart. He has been stirring up the dust. 

Leaves are swirling and twirling softly to the ground .As we walk along the dirt pathways, you can hear the crunch of dried leaves. 

 

 Pinecones are tumbling  to the ground  and are awaiting to be picked for Fall and Christmas displays. 

 

Walnuts are dropping like bombs from the trees. 

I find myself often  competing with squirrels for the walnuts.

 I pick them up and place them in buckets and use for a fall display. Later they will be used for dyeing fabric and Mr. Pinker will use them to dye traps. 

 The birds are enjoying the birdfeeders and bring delight to my ears when they sing a song of gratitude.

 Meanwhile every now and then a squirrel makes it way to the feeder for a tasty treat for itself.  

My flower gardens have dried and dwindled mainly because I was away on several camping trips over the summer and was not able to tend to them. But there are a few blooms to enjoy.  

Autumn is indeed a blessing.

Alrighty now down to the nitty gritty! I think a fall stitch is in order.😀😉

 Many of y'all know my love for that adorable pesky rodent- the squirrel. I know ! I know ! They can make a mess. They wreack havoc on birdfeeders and can be little nuisances especially if they get in the attic.  

      

Oh , yes, I have shooed a few out of the house . Like Rocky the Flying Squirrel who decided it wanted to visit us in the den and stay perched along the curtain rods. We were running around like chickens with our heads cut off  trying to catch that little frisky critter. It was only when Mr. Pinker got a net out that Rocky stood up straight as an arrow, stuck out its tongue and pranced  out of the house as pretty as you  please. 😀😜😲 Wheew! That was a feat!

But in my eyes they are just as cute as can be.  Anywhoo , we have lots of gray squirrels in our neck of the woods. So I thought I would capture one in a jar.  

This is my Squirrel Jar.  Filled with a squirrel, acorns and leaves. 

 I do think this quilted squirrel is a handsome fella . What do you think? 

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If you are interested in stitching this piece,  just grab , the images. For printing tips, refer to the post Tips for Printing which has loads of tips from my sweet friends. 

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 OOPS- CORRECTION: There is a mistake  at the bottom of the jar in row 66 column 45. It says "B" when the symbol should read "•" for 3371.  I do apologize. 

Now I think this is one squirrel , I would keep as a pet. 

If you missed any of the previous jars, just click on the names below, and you will magically be transported back to a previous post. 

Autumn Jar Pinkeep , Winter  Jar , Sheep Jar , Bunny Jar  ,  Strawberry Jam Jar   , Patriotic Jar ,Honey Jar  ,   Sunflower Jar,  and Halloween Jar . 

Well Sweeties, I guess I have chewed your ear off with all of this rambling. I am so very grateful that you spent just a few minutes of your day with me , strolling in the holler and looking at my stitch. Now if you decide to stitch the Squirrel Jar, don't forget the CORRECTION. 

Have a lovely fall day and...

As always...

Happy  Stitching and Quilting, y'all

Melisa 

Be  a squirrel and go out on a limb. 

Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤

Dedicated to my baby sister, Amy . I love and miss you Amo.❤❤❤.

Amy's rusty farm equipment

Rusty crusty outdoor fall decor