Living the simple life......

   I've tried so hard in the last few years to live a more simple life.  It's almost become a game with me to find areas where I can cut back or make do with something that I thought was a throw-away.  It's amazing what I've been able to do in my own backyard.  First of all, I hang as much laundry out as I can (no underwear....ever) but my sheets and bedding always.  I even hang most of my clothes now including jeans, t-shirts, p.j.'s, linen outfits and all my vintage linens that I take to the shop.  Lots of the time, I don't even need to iron them.  The electric dryer is seldom used.  I've noticed a big difference in my electricity bill this summer.

 

My garden which isn't that large gives me so much.  Not only do I get my veggies but I also have lots of garlic, basil, chives, sage, rosemary, thyme, arugula (just found out it's an herb), mint & oregano.  This summer I've been drying my herbs and putting them in bottles to use this winter.  I'm loving them and I know where they come from and that they're totally organic.

I cut more lavender today and will dry it.  My plan is to make little lavender pillows to put on your bed.  It's supposed to help you have a more peaceful sleep.  My sweet annie is growing like crazy and soon I'll be able to harvest it and sell at Leola's.  The hydrangeas have already been dried and hung in bunches at the shop.  All these things basically pay for my garden.....what a deal!

 

I've almost completely stopped eating fast food (sometimes I can't help myself) and have noticed a change in the way I feel.  The biggest change is making my own bread.  All I have to do is have a sandwich made with store-bought bread to realize that it has a terrible effect on my stomach.  It saves because I make smaller loaves and have very little waste.  Besides that, it's yummy!

 

Anyway, I'm continually looking for ways to simplify.  My lifestyle definitely isn't for everyone but it works for me and I love it.

Here are a few projects I've been working on.  These are some quilts that I bought at the great auction last weekend.  Thinking I might use some that are not in great shape and make stockings for Christmas.  Not certain what I'll do with the rest but love the way they all look together.

 

 

These are some of the wooden utensils I bought.  They were all dried out so I put oil on all and what a difference.  

The weather is incredible today and has been a good day to get things done on the back porch.  So nice to have these little breaks during the summer.  Also, the garden loves it.

Better get the laundry off the line.....looks like rain!

A few of my favorite quilts....

OK, it's raining again. Why does it have to rain on garage sale day?  It's just been a rainy week and I'm tired of it.  Guess that's May for you.  My garden sure looks great.  My tomatoes even have blossoms.

Thought this would be a good day to show some of my favorite quilts.  I love quilts.  It's amazing to think of a woman putting these together many years ago never realizing that someone several generations in the future would consider it a treasure.  The 2 quilts below I purchased at a garage sale last summer.  They came from Mississippi and Jamie from the quilt shop in Springfield told me that one was pre-Civil War and the other was made during the Civil War.  Unfortunately, they're dirty but was warned not to wash them because of the age,  They had been stored in an old refrigerator in an abandoned cabin for over 20 yrs.  Luckily, that had kept them from being destroyed by varmints.

This is my favorite quilt.  It was made by my Mom, Leola, before she died.  She must have made thousands of yo-yos and luckily she made several into quilts.  Some of her yo-yos are actually made from 3 different fabrics.  I never look at it that it doesn't bring the memories rushing back from the fabrics she used. 

These two quilts were made by my great-grandmother.  My Mom gave them to me as quilt tops and I had a young Amish girl quilt them for me.  Someday soon I plan to bind them.  I wanted to be able to work on the same quilt that my great- grandmother had worked on at least 100 yrs. ago.

This last one is just one I love.  I purchased it thinking it would be cute to have 2 pink quilts for the g'daughters twin beds but so far I haven't found a 2nd one so this one stays on my guest bed.

I have several other quilts in my collection and some day soon maybe I'll show my whole collection.  They're all wonderful and tell such a story.  Hopefully, they'll be cherished by Allison and my g'children after I'm gone. 

Also, yesterday was my Aunt Lillian's 99th b'day.  Until about 2 yrs. ago she quilted.  She's practically blind but quilted by holding the piece just inches from her eyes.  She was always a wonderful seamstress and for years altered clothing for different stores.  She could take anything apart and put it back together.  She's my mom's last sibling left.  She's lost both her husbands and 2 children but she still lives in her home in Kansas City and can still make a mighty fine cobbler.  Happy birthday dear Aunt Lillian.

A few of my favorite things -- quilts & wool

I'm so sorry that this quilt doesn't show up better because it's truly wonderful. It's very old but whoever made it did a beautiful job -- & all hand quilted. It has a little paisley fabric in it that almost matches the paisley chair in front of it. One of the women in the shop, Carol, made the slipcover on the chair. I think Carol has made slipcovers for about everyone in a 200 mile radius & a few farther out. We had two of these wingbacks slipcovered & they're now sitting in front of our electric fireplace. We're having a hard time staying away from them -- especially when someone brings treats from Starbucks.

This is a settee that I painted brown & covered feather pillows with a heavy wool throw. I love the idea of mixing wicker with wool & it looks great -- if I do say so myself.