Restoring a 50 lb Little Giant Trip Hammer - 1901 model

Me painting the hammer

Close up of the side view of the hammer

The side view


Front view

Oh the things we don't do for those we love. It was just a few night ago that I helped BT move this 1800 lb. hammer onto the wooden platform. Yes just the two of us moved it from the floor, to the 4 inch high platform. Luckily we did it without being killed. Had it fallen on us, I seriously doubt that either one of us could have lifted it off unless a lot of adrenalin kicked in.

This has been a fun project. From the bidding on EBay, to travelling to Nebraska to bring it home. It is almost 100% complete now. An electric motor will need to be added. Check back here to see what it originally looked like. You've come a long way baby!

Fall is coming

We took a boat ride today. the weather was so gorgeous! I thought I'd show how the river banks are starting to turn colors.

Even Bentley enjoyed his boat ride.

I love a good Barter

I know there aren't many of us quilters who like to mend, or alter clothes. But this is always a deal from a friend I can't resist.

You see she works for a book distribution center. They make and sell children's books. It's a major corporation. I just can't say the name.

Every school year she ask me to hem school pants for her granddaughter . This year the granddaughter's Mother also brought along some pants for herself to hem. Both of them are on the short side and today's pants are always way too long.

So here is the loot that she gave me. It included the first 12 books in the Magic tree house series. 3 computer games, one of which is a story by Dr Seuss. 2 Dinosaurs, 2 Halloween key rings that scream (they for sure will go home with the boys), and 6 books they can read. And for me a Gift card to Hobby Lobby! What a deal. We both were happy, her for getting all 22 pairs of pants hemmed and me for what the boys and I took in.

On a funny note, today we had a Satellite repair man at the house. I had to work, so the hubby stayed home. He was in bed when I left. He never makes the bed. Did I tell you never? Tonight when he was showing me the new TV system in our bedroom, I turned and saw this....

He said I knew how anal you were about not having the bed made and I didn't want the repair man to see it.

I couldn't believe it...and neither will my kids when they read this! I love you BT!

Oh one more thing

Here is the quilt top that was in the bag I got at the auction. It was with the crochet table cloth and the ?double wedding ring hand-stitched quilt pieces (all 103 of them).

A 4-H Saturday

Saturday morning we picked up the boys and took them just a very short distance from our house to a Cole county 4-H day.

Our son Jeremy, ( the little boys Dad) was giving the trapping demonstration. The farm where this was held was absolutely beautiful. It had a large lake with 4 bridges across it.







The little boys on one of the bridges.









The boys watch as their Daddy gives the trapping demonstration.








GOT FUR?

Jeremy working

Bow and arrow shooting

Target shooting

The 4-H group

A collection of furs

Friday Auction!

It's very unusual for our area to have auctions during the week days. This Friday was an exception. An out of town auctioneer came for a house hold estate sale.

It just so happened the deceased lady was best friends to my Aunt Faye. Aunt Faye was my quilt mentor. She was a very generous and giving person. When I saw the pictures on the auctioneer's web site, I knew it had an Aunt Faye Quilt listed.

I was at the sale about 30 minutes before it started. The house sold first, then the Jeep Cherokee and then some of the furniture that was not removed from the house. Including the bedding. Luckily the one quilt I was interested in was on the first bed sold.

And that is how I became the owner of another Aunt Faye quilt.

Dresden plate right?

I stayed for 5 1/2 hours. I would have stayed until it was over, but unfortunately I had a hair appointment and I just couldn't cancel at such short notice to the hairdresser.

My son showed up at a great time, just after they started two bidding rings. He bid and won 4 antique folding wooden chairs for me, with a picture frame thrown in. Cost $5.00

I also won a big aluminum roast for the son.

Another great buy was a shopping bag with a full size bow tie quilt top in it. It also included a crochet table cloth which I gave to my sister without even taking a picture! The best thing in it was 103 of these pieces.

CAN YOU HELP ME OUT HERE?

Are they for a double wedding ring?

If so how many do I need?

Most of them are tacked together in pairs of 2.

Now for the part to make you wish you were there. I bought a shopping bag with a quilt top, quilt blocks and huge crochet table cloth.....cost $25.00. (I will try to take picture tomorrow of the quilt top.)

The last thing I bought was a big basket with tons of embroidery thread. Of course once again I gave it away to my Mom before I took a picture of it.

There were two binder rings of small plastic envelopes with thread in each bag. All were numbered and colored coordinated. The basket also had several pairs scissors, including 2 small gold bird looking embroidery scissors. The was a set of 12 quilt blocks, all cross stitched with the thread and instructions included. 2 or 3 of the blocks were finished. Several pieces of cross stitch fabric, some homemade lace or tatted lace, and a nice piece of linen and 1 piece of upholstery fabric. Such a buy for $12.50

It was such a fun day, I wish I could have stayed till the end. But you know a girl needs hair color once in awhile!

Girls shopping trip to Branson

Gabby Garmin did a wonderful job getting me to and back from the Branson hills. You won't believe me but I was so busy shopping that I only took 2 pictures the whole 3 days!

I won't bore you will all the details but here are some of the highlights of the trip.

Monday

* Arrived at Branson Landing at noon. Ate at Shorty Small's before and after visiting most of the 80 plus shops.
* Got our hotel room and purchased tickets for The Twelve Irish Tenors.
* Arrived at the Quilts and Quilts Shop . 1 MINUTE AFTER THEY CLOSED.
* Got isle seats, third row from the stage for the Tenors show.
* I had a tenor on his knees singing to me in the isle. He then kissed my hand!!!

Tuesday
* Was having breakfast at the pancake house by 9:00 AM (not that it was a highlight, too chatty of a waitress high on caffeine)
* Purchased tickets for Breaking up is hard to do. A Neil Sedaka musical featuring his songs.
* Shopping at more than 55 shops at Factory Merchants Outlet.

* It was Senior Tuesday. I got an additional 10% off all my purchases.
* Getting to shop at the Quilts and Quilts Shop. This store had the biggest collection of patterns, and fabric that I have seen in a long time. Luckily I came out with only one piece of fabric and one embroidery pattern.

* Getting a yard and a half of Pendelton Wool for under $10. I will make myself a cape/ponco out of it. It usually sells for about $60 a yard!!
* Shopping at another 65 shops in the Tanger Outlet Center.
* Dinner at Olive Garden.
* Getting front row seats at Breaking Up is Hard to Do.
* Watching Rita getting chosen for a skit in front of the stage.
* Not enjoying myself being called upon to dance with a singer in front of the stage.

Wednesday
* Enjoy fresh made spice cake with creme cheese icing for breakfast!
* Shopping antique and craft shops until lunch time.
* Meeting Rita's husband Bob at noon and eating at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill.


At 12:30 we said our good byes. R & B headed for Arkansas and I went north. I stopped in Marshfield and had a great time visiting with Cousin Teresa. She is a very generous person, like her grandmother was. She shared 3 antique pieces with me and sent me home with a bag of old family photos. Thanks Teresa!

I arrived at home just as BT had gotten out of his jeep from work.

And so I leave you with the one photo I took of Rita, playing a game at Breaking up is hard to do play!