Long winter

It was minus 1 outside when I got out of the sack today and I should be posting pictures of our snowy piece of property.  We have had a lot of wind, which is typical of course, but with the snow, our driveway always drifts.  Our driveway is a very long graveled circular drive and we do not have plows out here as we are a private division.  The snow blower has gotten a lot of use   and this is the first year since we have lived here that we have had this wintry weather.  (Should have known better since we have lived in this area for 45 years.)

We do not experience the kind of gridlock that the eastern part of the country does as we are so

rural.  The snow packed and  icy roads do not deter our activities as everyone here has 4W vehicles, so off to quilting my buddy and I went yesterday.  We are a tough bunch of ladies, trudging through the snow with our heavy sewing machines and one of our quilters is 80 years old.  She is an inspiration to us and was a little late yesterday "because she had to shovel her way out!".

Anyway, with the long winter days, it keeps us busy and we are already preparing for our quilt retreat next summer.  We give away a lot of door prizes, mostly donated by merchants here and handmade by us.  So above is my idea for a sew-

ing caddy.  The red plastic is for watering baby chicks purchased at the ranch supply and the jelly jar fits perfectly inside the center.  I put odd old buttons in the bottom to support the old wooden spools and added a pincushion to the top of the jelly jar which could also hold pins or a tape measure.  Since this is a ranching community, there are a lot of people who have chickens.  I am also working on several more quilts and the LONG WINTER this year affords me much time.

The little dogs and the cat even snuggle together when the cold weather and wind blow snow when they go out, although as you can see by the look on Spencer's face, he is not real happy about having to share his space with Coalette who makes herself at home anyplace.

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." ~ Sir James Barrie