June in South Texas

This is long overdue... my last post indicated that we were in the process of moving back to Ohio.  Well, that is not going to happen.  So just to be sure there is no confusion... we are staying in Texas, right where we have been for all these wonderful years, in our little homestead just south of San Antonio.  When we started looking at houses in Ohio, it became very evident that we were not going to be happy leaving Texas behind.

Now back in Texas I did not plant a spring garden because I was not going to be here... but I did have lots left from my winter garden.  Well, I did plant potatoes in February, so technically I think that would kind of be a spring garden.  I harvested the potatoes a couple weeks ago already.  I had a pretty good crop of potatoes, both red ones and white ones.

Just this past week I pulled up all my onions and let them dry some before I braided them into a rope so I could hang them like I used to.  I had red, yellow and some small white ones.  All are very impressive for my first real onions in Texas.  My dill plant was taller than I am and I thought I had harvested all my Brussels sprouts, but when I was thinking I should be pulling up the plants, I found them loaded with a whole new crop of sprouts.  A garden that just keeps on giving.

My quilt room has been expanded.  There previously was a doorway going into the room which limited the length of the frame that my longarm sits on.  Ron basically knocked out the wall that the doorway was in and opened that end of the room. It is amazing how different that work area looks now.  It has a whole different feel.  Now this picture does not show where the doorway used to be, but it does show the longer frame.  With the longer frame I also had to make longer leaders, so last week was a busy one. 

 This is a quilt that I had in the closet for several years now... waiting to be finished.  Since I had time, I was able to get one of my own quilts on the frame.  So many times I have several quilts from friends that usually take up alot of my quilting time.

I saw a pin on Pinterest for this pieced binding.  The pieces are 2 1/2" strips sewn together then cut on the bias into the long 2 1/2" strip to go around the quilt.  I think it really turned out cool... and so did the cats.  Boston has pretty much claimed the upper spot.  This quilt does not have a destination yet... not sure what I will do with it.  Don't know why I chose the size, but I sure do like how it all turned out.

Updates coming up in the backyard.

Hopefully it won't be so long to my next post.

Potatoes are coming along

Potatoes are doing well,  even though there are only two rows instead of the three that I planted.  Did an experiment to see if what I heard was true... you can't use supermarket potatoes for seed potatoes because they use growth retardant on them so they don't sprout in the store.  Seems that is true cause first two rows were official seed potatoes from the feed store.  Third row was potatoes from the grocery store.  Still a while before I would be digging any potatoes... but the seed potatoes won.

Now for the other side of my garden adventure.  Looks like I won't be the one who will be digging these potatoes.  I was so looking forward to that after my failure last year.  I learned lots since then and these plants are really looking great.  I even put in irrigation to be sure they could get watered properly.


Other parts of my garden have been doing so well... remnants of my winter garden.  The blackberries are loaded with blossoms and berries, also the asparagus bed is doing great.  Both the blackberries and asparagus were a first for me.  I was excited to see them exceeding my expectations.  My dill is taller than I am and I might get some onions large enough to harvest soon.

For all of you who have seen or talked to me lately, you are aware of our upcoming move.  For those who are unaware... we are moving back to Ohio.  It is with great sadness that we leave this beautiful place that we have made our home for the past eleven years.  Lots of great people that have become like family to us, that we will miss immensely.  Some of our family has returned to Ohio and the time seems right for us to make the move back to Ohio to be nearer to many of our children and grandchildren.  I cannot think of a better place to be than here in Texas, but family has a very strong pull.  We have done lots of praying and we are confident that we are on the track that the Lord would have us on.

I am going to try to keep my extended family in the loop when I can find the time to get here and post what is happening... at least now and then.
Our house search is next on the agenda.
Ohio here we come.