Fr. Chris' Cactus Patch #5 update and a Visiting Karen

After leaving Niagara Falls we drove through NY into PA on the way to visit my sister-in-law, Karen.  We stopped at several quilt shops along the way and I was able to purchase a few more fat quarters to make the last 100 HSTs.  I also found the perfect fabric for backing this quilt. ... an orange grunge... and because it wasn't wide enough... I got some blue grunge to go with it for a pieced backing.




I set up a little sewing corner in her dining room. 

I continued working on the last of the HSTs and then began the quarter block assembly.

I was able to complete all 100 quarter square blocks before we had to pack up and head home.

While there, Stan worked out in the gardens with Karen until she had to go to work (noon-8pm).  Then he worked on and off through the afternoon... stopping for breaks to get a drink and cool off.  I went out late in the day to help out when it was cooler... I don't do well in the sun and heat.

Lots and lots and lots of weeding got done.  We layed down the weed barrier and mulched and the gardens were looking quite nice by the time we left.

 

 




We always forget to take the before pictures ...  so you only get to see the beautiful results.

The boys helped a little bit with the weeding.   Matthew did some mowing and dug out three small tree stumps... forgot pictures of this too!

They also enjoyed visiting with Cousin Kim and Nick, who got a horsey pedicure while we were there.

Kim also took Cayden on hikes along the stream... looking for fossle rocks.

 


She bough him a gemstone archeologicl dig kit and coloring for Matthew.

 

Thanks Kim!

After 3 weeks away we came home to our own gardens full of weeds and are working on getting them cleaned up.  I remembered to take a picture after starting and getting the first wagon full pulled.