If you’ve ever grown a Hops Vine, you know how fast they grow. For years this was such a mess because I never cut it down every fall. Then I read that I should cut it down and a nice use of the hops vine is a fall decoration. They are very unruly and prickly but if you let them grow around a piece of twine or clothesline rope all you have to do is cut the rope at the ground and at the top and you’ve got a tightly wound piece of hops vine ready to be hung as a swag or twisted into a wreath. So that means every spring you need to replace the rope and don’t wait too long or the vine will be so rampant you will not be able to control it. So this is what I did yesterday. In the middle of the picture by the wooden gate I am going to plant hollyhocks. I’ll try to remember to take a photo of this same area in mid summer.
Someone said to me just yesterday that I must enjoy journaling. I thought I should say no but after I thought about it I realized that the Goat Gazette was just that and I wrote it for 20 years. I guess this blog is actually an ongoing “front page letter”.
The dogs would not pose for me but here is Jackson, Hope and Mia on our walk through the grove. Yes, I have 5 dogs with me for several days. I’ll update their pictures as I can. They’ve all been here before but not with each other so I’m wearing my whistle around my neck in case of any disagreements.
Here is Connie with Cathy and Susan on the cruise. I have not heard a word from Connie so I don’t know how the class is going. If I hear anything, I’ll post it.
Remember how scruffy Emma looked late last winter?
Here she is today – sleek and beautiful once again!
I’ve had so many questions about my straight line quilting and I plan to post something very detailed and complete in a future post.
Today the dogs and I are going to work outside as much as possible – opening up the screened porch, moving the plants outside, mowing and fixing a fence that the goats have pushed down. If there’s time, maybe we can mow around the garden. It’s a great day in North Iowa!
keep on writing gf! I love your blog. Nature, animals, and quilting!! The best of all worlds! Thank you! Helen G.
Please, please, don’t ever quit journaling! I just loved it and I loved the Goat Gazette, too. Both are and were wonderful! It just gives me such an uplift for the day as I was raised a farm girl!! THANKS SO MUCH!!
I really enjoyed all the pictures!! Is there nothing you aren’t great at!!! Your journaling is fantastic and you are such a natural at it, keep it going. 🙂
Not having been raised as a farm girl (CA beach girl). Did Emma shed all her coat or do you have to help her get rid of the extra fluff?
I just love reading your posts! It’s like getting a letter from home, even though I’ve never lived in Iowa but I did get to visit your shop once! Loved it.
Hello! I am so glad that you posted about hops vines.
On an impulse I added one to my mail order nursery order this year. It just arrived yesterday so it’s not planted yet…so your comments on it are very helpful!
I have been enjoying your blog. Found it through Jo’s Country Jct. Blog…I think?
Scruffy no more, that sleek little Emma! You are just a walking encyclopedia of things we never knew, things we never knew we’d like to know! Thanks for the daily journaling…everyday is something new for you! And for us!
Thanks for the update on Emma and the walk around the yard with the dogs. Could the weather be any more beautiful than it’s been these past few days? I wish I had known about using a cord to train the vines. Duh?!?! Back in NY we had runaway grape vines and they would have been sooooo much easier to make manage after I cut them if they had been attached to something already. Another one of those smack yourself aside the head and say ‘why didn’t I think of that!’ moments! (And why are there so many of those moments????? LOL)
I love receiving your daily posts and look forward to them. As a city girl, it is such fun to see the pictures of the animals! I’ve been to your shop several times over the years and have always enjoyed the visits.
Very interesting about the Hop vines. I also have some and they do get “out of control”. I live along a state highway and we have a utility (electric) pole directly outside of our picture window. I asked the company to move it to the right or left when they replaced it a few years ago. When they quit laughing, I thought I had to do something. I planted two “roots” of Hop vine at the base and I put a metal trellis (about 5 ft.) against the pole. It grew like crazy. I also nailed a bird house to the pole. The good news. . .the electricity is still on! Thanks for the info.
Please don’t ever quit journaling.
I really enjoy reading and seeing all your great pictures in your blog. I live in a much busier area so it
is nice to see a country setting and all your pets and animals that come to visit. Please keep us up to date
on all your doings and love to see the quilts! Wish I could be there for the sale. (How you get so much done amazes me.)
Hollyhocks are a favorite of mine; especially the double flower variety. The flowering Jasmine is blooming all along the dog run picket fence and the back yard smells wonderful.
Love hearing all your stories. When you post more info on the straight line quilting, please let me know if it is a sewing machine or a long arm. Your projects are great
!
Last week I was watching a cooking show that used hops with tomatoes and Greek yogurt.
Enjoying all that happens on your farm.
Mary, where can I find the pattern for the Civil War Remembered quilt Connie shared from the cruise?
Sandy – the cruise quilt pattern can be found in our book “The Blue and the Gray”, our first Civil War book published by Martingale.