Gorgeous October

Most of us here in the Midwest US have had the most mild, warm and beautiful October. The days through the first half of the month were warmer than normal - almost hot, by my standards. Now, here just past month's midpoint, we are finally having what I would term "normal" October weather. Cool, crisp nights in the 40s and clear, sparkly days in the 70s. Perfect.

Here are some nature pictures (sorry, not quilts!) from our part of Ohio.

These two pictures were taken on a particularly warm late afternoon from our front porch. Note that the trees really haven't dropped too many leaves at this point. Our fall color seems delayed, and the leaves are now finally dropping - about 10 days since these pics were taken.

This past weekend we had our 4th annual Hocking Hills getaway with the kids. This has been such a fantastic way to spend family time - it is becoming a tradition we all look forward to! Here's a shot from our morning hike from Ash Cave to the fire tower - about 4 miles total.

Still not seeing much color here in Ohio, are we? But the Saturday morning was cool and the hike was refreshing. Those are my two daughters in the foreground; DH and SIL are further up the trail.

Last evening we drove into town for a couple of errands and admired this beautiful harvest sunset. Farmers are combining beans and corn, and the hazy dust stirred up by their machinery makes for a magical picture, despite our dirty windshield.

While we were away at Hocking Hills, neighbors in our home area were hit Friday night by a tornado. Our property was out of the path of the storm, but three miles away, several homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. It wasn't a big tornado, but even small ones do damage. There was no loss of life or injuries, thankfully; rebuilding and inconvenience are the only lasting effects. 

I am expecting Sharon here in a little bit. What will we work on? Heaven only knows. We both are in that indecisive stage, I fear. I have at least three ideas brewing; we shall see what pans out.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Historic Textiles

 On Saturday, the Mr. and I took a day trip to Marietta, OH, the site of the first land office in the Ohio Territory. We are quite enamored with the town and all its accompanying history since reading David McCullough's The Pioneers last winter. 

Situated on the Ohio River, Marietta served an instrumental part in US westward expansion. The first building and fort were built in 1788; remarkably many remain yet today. A number of fine, stately homes  adorn many of the downtown streets, several of which were built by Revolutionary War generals sent to the Ohio Territory by George Washington himself.

On our earlier visit to Marietta, we were too late arriving to get to tour the Campus Martius Museum, our main objective for Saturday's visit. Even in the midst of so much history significant to our nation's founding, the quilter in me was just as captivated by the textiles on display in the museum.

This beautiful red and white feathered star quilt was made by Phebe Sherman Jeffords in 1812. According to the accompanying information, her name and date are stitched into the reverse of the quilt. Isn't that border remarkable? The decay is rather extensive, and I am glad the museum can give it the care it deserves. What a treasure.

By comparison, this quilt looks relatively new. The condition is quite remarkable really. Yet, it has some age, despite its pristine condition. The sign explained that the quilt belonged to Susan Burlingame Pratt, the great-granddaughter of Rufus Putnam, one of the founders of Marietta. She was born in 1821 and married Henry Pratt in 1857. The block is called Chimney Sweep; the fabrics are dress scraps.

Scant information was available for this baby quilt. The sign says simply late 18th early 19th century. The fabric appears to be quite rough - perhaps homespun or wool. No fancy piecing, but that stitching makes up for the plainness of the fabric.

This whole-cloth quilt was interesting to study. Here's what the sign said for this 1750-1800 specimen, "This quilt is believed to have been manufactured in the last half of the eighteenth century and uses a floral pattern for its design. The materials used to construct this quilt are composed of natural fibers and dyed using a resist process and natural dyes. It displays some minor repairs from years of service and is typical of what might have been used by many families during the early settlement of Ohio."

 

 

Not all the textiles were quilts, as the cross stitch sampler above shows. This beauty was made by 11-year-old Sarah M. Pratt in 1841 or 1842 (depending on the source - do you see the discrepancy?)

 

 One special treat in the museum is the home of Rufus Putnam on its original site. It is decorated much as it would have been all those many years ago, with a beautiful blue and white quilt on one of the beds.

 

We began a big kitchen remodel yesterday, so between my classes and the remodel, stitching might take a secondary role. I hope not; we shall see. I definitely plan to share before/after pics here.

 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Welcome to March

It amazes me how time is flying by. While we seem to be stuck in perpetual winter here in Ohio, I know that Spring will come. I hear songbirds; the days are longer; and seed catalogs fill the mailbox. March brings Spring!!

Today, though, looks like winter. Here are some shots from around our house.

This afternoon, I intend to finish that baby quilt I have had on the list for ever-so-long. It is ready for machine quilting. I talked to Grandma Judy this morning and the due date is March 17. I will be ready as of March 1. How's that for determination?

Then this evening, I will cut out Snowbird Stars. Sharon will be sewing with me on Tuesday, I expect, and this is the project I think I will focus on.

Hope you are all having a great Sunday!
Happy Quilting, Friends!

Ohio Weather

The folks in the great state of Ohio like to bring out a saying every now and then when describing our weather - if you don't like the weather, wait about 3 hours and it'll change. Unlike places in the sunny south where it's 70 degrees and pleasant most days, Ohio boast some extremely changeable weather.

After a January that was warmer than most, with essentially no snowfall to speak of, we are having a February that is breaking low temperature records. And snow to go with it. The picture above shows this morning's snow activity; it is just as hushed and whispery out as can be. I love how muffled the world is when it snows in the country.

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning we had a beautiful hoarfrost. These are the coolest things; when the frost on the branches glistens in the sunlight, I feel like I'm in a most magical fairy land. Monday gifted us with about 5 inches of snow, and overnight the temperatures took a nosedive. It was -5F at 7am when this picture was taken.

This picture is a wider angle. It shows less of the hoarfrost but more of the snowfall. And is that not a majestic sunrise? I just love living here - I call it my little slice of heaven.

Today, snow is falling again. We are forecast to get several more inches of snow, but worse will be the wind and plummeting temperatures. Tonight will be frigid, and it will last for several days.

We had a guest in the backyard earlier in the week before the snowfall. Mister hawk sat on a low branch surveying the potential goodies. We have a fair amount of chipmunks and field mice, and I'm pretty sure he's scoping them out. We have seen a hawk even closer to the house; earlier this winter one was sitting on top of one of our bird feeders. That's where the chipmunks and field mice hang out, you know, waiting for seeds to drop on the ground.

Well, that's the weather report from my part of the world. Hope you all are staying warm and productive! I will be heading up to the sewing room with a cup of coffee and an audiobook on Overdrive. I shall listen and stitch this morning.

Happy Quilting, Friends!