Just in case any one's doing some REALLY early Christmas shopping.

I won't say its because of my new found love of quilting (I won't jump on that boat yet) but I do think that I will be sewing for a LONG time.....so I think its reasonable to ask for this to be added to my Christmas (or birthday because that comes sooner) list.


You can find it here. I would like the 18 x 24 size. Its universal. And totally awesome. Plus I can store it.....since I won't have a designated sewing room any time in the foreseeable future.

Also - I'm starting my sewing wish list. Just so you know.

The new adventure

Last night was my first quilting class. Let's just say, it would have been helpful to know all the appropriate terminology and sewing techiques back when I first started sewing 6 months ago. I sure learned alot, and so did my teacher.

With the encouragement of my co-worker, I signed up for a Beginner 101 Quilting Class at the Quilted Ladybug in Moorhead. It meets for the next three Mondays for 3 hours in the evening and by the time the class is over, I will have pieced together my first quilt! YEAH for me!!!

Unfortunately for Ben, I loved it! He should have known by my ever growing stash of fabric in the office at home. I was in fabric heaven here - and thankfully, almost every receipt from our local grocery store has a 20% off coupon printed on the back.....can't resist a sale!

I can't show you the progress right now, mostly because it took three hours for me to learn how to use all the tools I've accumulated the right way. Who knew my rotary cutter was reversible for a lefty? Or that there is a correct direction the bottom bobbin thread was supposed to go?

This session, I learned how to use my ruler and rotary mat (yes, I know it should be pretty self explanatory BUT I really thought my rotary mat with the lines could double as a ruler......WRONG!) to cut perfect strips. To SUBCUT.....look that one up in Webster's dictionary. And to make both a 9-patch and a 4-patch quilt block with NO sewing pins, and never touching the fabric on the ironing board with my hands!

To make the experience even more like a class........I have homework. Homework. I have to put together 60 4-patch quilt blocks by next Monday's class. Please do not call me on Sunday. I beg you.

We (there are only 2 people in my class, which is good because I require ALOT of personal attention) are being taught out of this book.....I highly recommend it even if you are a veteran sewer/quilter. The book has a lot of pictures, tips and "OH crap moments" that reassure you that you can do it! The back section is even devoted to teaching you how to adjust patterns and how much fabric you should typically purchase for each size of bed.

Anyway, I'm very excited. Eventually, I'll get those centerpieces from our wedding put together into the keep-sake quilt I've been talking about for almost three years. But at the speed of my rotary cutter - it may take another three to just get it done. Stay tuned.

The intended post......

Like I mentioned, one of my favorite personality/character traits that Ben possesses is his loyalty - which includes his loyalty to his personal beliefs and doing what it right......what makes this fact even more admirable is that other people notice and admire it about him as well.

Butler County Community College hosts a blog about all things agriculture put together by students in the Ag Ambassadors club. Once a month or so - the blog features an alumni of the college whom is out in the industry/back on the farm or ranch/or owns a business that exemplifies what Butler hopes to show the current student body are possible career avenues, alumni contacts for potential careers, or "movers and shakers" from the program.

This month, they featured Ben. What an honor, right? See the post here. Butler Agvocates - Butler Alumni: Be True to Yourself.

It was a bit embarrassing for Ben to see all of his accolades posted out there for the world to see - but I think he was even more humbled by the fact that the school recognizes him for his desire to treat people right, teach kids and do the right thing. Which is really truly something to be proud of - which I think he is fully aware.

So, here's a thanks to all that our Butler Community College has done for us - and keep on speaking on behalf of agriculture!

What a nice gesture......this post didn't go where I intended it too...

One of the many things I admire most about Ben is his loyalty - to his family, to his friends, to his beliefs. You could even say I'm proud of him for that character trait. So it makes me even prouder that other people notice it too - you'll see for yourself in a bit....

We've made great strides in trying to keep up with the friendships that we've greated through Ben's judging career..........including most of his former teammates, coaches and even some he judged against. Not only is fun to catch up with them on the rather un-occasional judging trip, livestock show, or wedding - but its also fun to see that so many of these people are the up-and-coming "movers and shakers" in the agriculture and livestock industries.

So, although I didn't have my camera out during the most recent rendevous of his former KState judging team - I hope you can imagine how blessed we felt standing in the yards of the Denver Stock Show in the presence of almost the entire team - no longer teammates - but friends exchanging hugs, compliments, and catching up on each others lives - and discussing the next occasion that will bring us all together.

Ben's former coach has even commented (I'm paraphrasing because I didn't hear it) "That's one of the neat things about your team, you guys genuinely like each other, and have stayed connected."

I also truly agree with Emilie when she said to me during the trip, "We might not see each other often - but we pick right back up in our friendship like we were just on the phone yesterday...."

Even though I wasn't on the team myself - I consider all of these people my dearest of friends - and I love catching up with all the wives (no husbands yet) of the teammates...often joking that we "married-in" to this fraternity of people who spends hours upon hours still "talking livestock" like they were still college kids comparing notes.

What I really started writing this post about I'll just post seperately because I got off on a tangent..but another friendship we've maintained over the years is with Ben's former coach from Butler and his wife....that's another fraternity I'm glad to be apart of - coaches' wives - because there are very few women who understand the travel schedules, the treat it is to be invited on a judging trip, the sly way we sneak in a vacation into a judging job, or the obligation to take notes about the shows the guys judge because we'll spend the ride home discussing the classes.

I'll end this unintented post with a small notes of thanks to all of our friends we've met through the course of his judging career. We truly enjoy and appreciate the small amount of time we get to spend together and look forward to the next trip.

There's more than one use for a doll crib....

I couldn't resist sharing this story.....................

A co-worker of mine gave her 18-month old great-neice a small doll crib as a Christmas gift this past year. What little girl wouldn't love a little dolly bed, right?

We found out that at this little girl's house - the crib isn't used to hold a dolly. It's a bale-feeder for the little girl's collection of toy horses. You see, at Grandma and Grandpa's house - the round bale feeder looks exactly like the crib to the toddler. So the little girl spends time each day lining up each horse in each spacing, so that they all have equal chance to munch on the imaginary hay.

I guess sometime's you never know.

Cattle, Corn and Co-Products -- Feeding Cattle in Nebraska

I wanted to share this video with you all - it was developed by the NE Department of Agriculture, along with the NE Corn Board. If you think a few of these gentlemen are familiar, you are right. All three of those dapper young men were my co-advisors and committee members during graduate school at UNL. Kind of makes me miss Nebraska a little more than usual. Great work these three have done to promote the beef industry in the state.

Christmas crafts..........some day we'll have kids of our own to spoil.

For some bizarre reason, I have a need to torture myself and to subject myself to stress-induced herpes outbreak (just the fever blister, people.) However, with my amazing foresight and a little extra planning - I finished this year's round of home-made gifts for the little girls just after Thanksgiving.

A little extra information: Since my neice was born, I felt the need to give a hand-made gift each year in hopes that she has a little something to remember her auntie and uncle if something, God Forbid, ever happened. To make it even more complicated, I discovered that you should always include all the children in my gift creation, because it will save you from having to re-create it again later.

The first year it was de-coupaged photo frames, last year it was the ballerina inspired tu-tu.....but slowly, the projects have gotten more advanced. This year, since I received my sewing machine as a gift this year from the hubby, I wanted to flex my sewing chops. So, I ventured to the fabric store, coupons in hand, and found a child's apron in the SEWING FOR DUMMIES section. Easy enough right? It took an hour trying to find the perfect coordinating fabric that would suit each of the girls personalities....................

I should back-up and say that we fully intend the girls to use these aprons and not merely store them in the closet. Since I un-knowingly started a Godsey family tradition by decorating sugar cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, this will be a perfect occasion for the girls to be them to use!

This one belongs little Honey. The blue fabric is adorned with small pink chicken-like birds. In all of the girls aprons, I made a few adjustments to the pattern to make them a little more girly...I took some inspiration from the apron Ben bought for me last Christmas. The best thing about these little guys is that there is plenty of room to grow, since I added length to the waist tie.

Kait's is to reflect her more "flamboyent" personality. The whole fabric pattern has sparkles in it. Her pattern was further modified by the addition of a ruffled layer. There are small sparkly buttons and cute cartoon kitties all over her print.

Finally, miss Honey's was a turqouise based pattern with small bugs. Her's is my favorite color combination because of my particular affection for anything turqouise.

As is the usual fashion, I didn't have my camera on during Christmas this year. Hopefully Mom will supply me with some photos of the girls to share with everyone. In the meantime, Ben will be glad I didn't show you the photos with his upper leg as the apron model!

I'll let you know once my sewing machine and I relieve ourselves of our "seperation." It was a much needed break - but I did find lots of cute adult patterns that I'm willng to make people if they buy the fabric and give me a little time!

Cheers!