Yesterday seeing as I am still waiting patiently (almost) for my batting to arrive I worked up another little Dear Jane block for “Insanity Revisited”. I will get another one prepped today. After running in to the problem of two separate companies out of the batting I use and having to wait for them to send it I decided when I go to Paducah in April to make sure to stock up on several sizes of batting and bring them home and store them under the quilting frame. The packages will be out of my way and there when I need them. I love Quilters Dream 100% cotton batting – it is the only kind I use – I have experimented with numerous brands and just find I like that one the most.
The beginning of Row K (#11) this is block number 1.
Yesterday brought a visit from our daughter Melanie and her husband Ric. This was a visit that had not been planned far in advance but a delight. Melanie and I took a nice walk at the trails while her husband was visiting his mother – who luckily lives only 2 miles away from us which makes visiting easy for them – then we made supper and Ric came over to visit for awhile and eat then they went back to his mom’s house to visit there too. With Melanie’s hours at work not being very flexible we appreciate a visit when they can squeeze us in 
I don’t know how it works for most people but we have found it is easy for them to make a visit to both sides of the family easily because of how close we live to his mom.
It rained last night – we had not had much rain lately so seeing as it was not sever storms and it was at night it was welcome. My little garden plot is ready for planting.
My little plot next to the wood pile. There is a reason for this. I figured because I wanted to plant early - salad type of veggies that grow good at this time of year - but anyway because it is early I want to be able to protect from cold weather. So the plastic over the wood will be pulled over the garden instead and held down and the heat can stay in the area by the plants! Instant green house 
I still need to get some chicken wire to put a small fence around it too keep out the rabbits. Right now I plan on planted two kinds of lettuce, spinach, radishes, carrots, green peas and beets (not a salad veggies but I like them) all of these should be ready within one to two and half months which works out well seeing as we will be gone for a good chunk of summer. By putting plastic over it part of the time it should encourage them to grow faster (I hope). I would have liked to have tomato plants too but I don't feel I would have enough time to use them all and I hate to waste them.
a little wild area of plants. The little green that doesn't have flowers on it yet are lily's
The big tree in the center of the yard always gets these reddish buds all over it before the leaves come. They look pretty but sure do make a mess in another two weeks or so when they fall off the tree and the leaves grow. I have to blow them all off of the porch and the deck then, but they are pretty. The picture is not as clear as I hoped. In fact a lot of the photos I took this morning did not turn out and were out of focus. I'm still working on that.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:51 am
When I see pictures like this, I am really looking forward to spring. We still have snow, but the last few days it has been higher temperature and some rain, so some of it has melted. So nice to grow your own veggies, maybe I will try that this year, I have a lot of space
)
Merete
March 9th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Glad you had a nice visit with your daughter and SIL. Your garden is set in a beautiful area. Very peaceful.
Nedra- Cactus Needle´s last blog ..Jill Finley’s Trunk Show
March 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
You will enjoy your garden veggies. If you put in one tomato plant I will take the tomatoes you don’t need.
Susan Fields´s last blog ..
March 9th, 2010 at 11:34 am
I love your yard – I am totally inspired and will be trying my hand at a Dear Jane quilt in the future – we won’t say how long in the future – just finished a lap quilt to give to next door neighbor who will be undergoing a mastectomy (33 year old – she found the lump herself) and she stays cold so I thought something homemade may bring some comfort – I don’t have enough scraps of one color to make mine one color so mine will certainly be a variety!
Thanks for inspiring!
Teri
March 9th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I wish I could start my garden already! I want spring to come more quickly in Illinois!
I love your DJ quilt! Can I ask a question on this block though? Is that bottom triangle put in correctly? Should it be rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise?
Gina E´s last blog ..Design Wall Monday
March 9th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I can see why you would like quilter’s dream cotton for your hand quilting. I like Hobbs Heirloom myself for machine quilting.
Spring is definitely in your neck of the woods. We are up to 50 degrees today.
Wanda´s last blog ..More inspiration
March 9th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
hey Gina yes you are right – you caught a mistake
I’m not changing it though LOL there are so many little pieces in this quilt that it doesn’t really matter – all the blocks are different. Now and then I do change a block a little bit to make it easier to piece – this one was just a mistake 
71 degrees outside right and windy as can be! sun is shining and it is nice.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Karen, Loving the Insanity Revisited. Keep up the good work! Nice to have some time with your daughter on such a beautiful day. I am envious that you have things budding and your garden is ready to be planted. There is hope that we will get some spring!
Jackie´s last blog ..Border Suggestions Needed… Please
March 10th, 2010 at 5:51 am
I noticed the turned piece in the block too LOL. I agree, no one will ever notice it….I have several bloopers in mine too :0)
We are getting another 6 inches of snow today which is about the same amount that had melted….sigh. I’ll just have to celebrate spring by seeing pictures like yours :0)
Crispy
March 10th, 2010 at 6:49 am
I’m jealous of both your blooming spring flowers, and your upcoming trip to Paducah!
March 10th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Oh Karen I love the spring photos. As always you make your little world so inviting for me to visit.
I’ve been having the family for dinner for three months now, which is something to get everyone together for one meal.
everyone is so busy these days so a little visit is a thrill. You get your fill of hugs and laughter till next time.
We have been in the mid 50s here which makes everyone giddy. But even though we sat out for coffee yesterday at 9 am, it’s coming rapidly to a stop tomorrow. rain is on the way also.
March 10th, 2010 at 7:59 am
how do you guys notice these little mistakes! LOL I never even noticed it and I know I look several times back and forth at the pattern while I’m sewing
I bet I have a lot of mistakes in these little blocks – and I don’t care LOL
March 10th, 2010 at 8:31 am
How nice that you have flowers blooming! There is hope for us that spring is on it’s way!
March 10th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Karen, I also love the Quilter’s Dream cotton. It’s so soft and “quilt friendly”. I use it for both machine and hand quilting and it is a joy to work with either way. It’s about all I buy now too. It’s good that you are saving up some money for Paducah as the Hancock’s store always runs such wonderful specials while the quilters are in town. Great deals, great prices, great shop! They are so customer friendly when ordering through the catalog also. Guess the only downside is that the store is usually so crowded during the quilt show. And isn’t it funny how you can check and re-check a pattern and still turn a piece the wrong way?!?! At least on this quilt it won’t be at all noticeable. Some other designs would have to be “fixed” and don’t we all hate negative sewing?