Name that plant

 

This is a plant that just bloomed in my yard. I have no idea what it is. Any gardeners out there reading this, please let me know!

May - Block #5 - Iowa

 
Lewis and Clark traveled the Missouri River bordering Nebraska and Iowa, the party came upon their first Indians in August. On August 2nd, a party of Otos and a few Missouries arrived at the camp, accompanied by a French trader and translator. Gifts of tobacco, pork, flour and meal were exchanged for watermellons. The Indians were farming as well as a hunting people, with semi permanent towns. The captians, Lewis and Clark, invited them to a council at their campsite, which they called Council Bluff, which is across and down river from the present day Council Bluff, Iowa.

This is the 5th block in the block of the Month series of the "Journey of Discovery" quilt. It was much easier than it might look.

Lizzie's Hutch

 

This week in LaGrange, the Northern Indiana Woodworker's Association held a convention across the street from where I work. It was in an abandoned RV factory. The group is primarily made up of Amish craftsmen. Now, while I will readily admit that not all Amish are the best furniture builders, these are the "best of the best". I saw some of the most fabulous furniture on display that I have ever seen.

I've been searching for the perfect hutch to put in my kitchen, and I found it. I pretty much figured that it would be way out of my price range, and normally it would have been, but the salesman (could have been the shop owner for all I know) was quite generous that day, as he gave me a great deal.

I love the "antique look" of the cabinet! Now, I just need to add some decorations! Yay! More shopping!

Mrs. Robin

 

Several weeks ago, I noticed that something kept dragging little scraps of dead grass and weeds up to our porch. I didn't think much about it, but, just kept sweeping them off. Then I noticed that a robin was building a nest on the porch light beside the patio door.

She's been sitting in her little nest quite alot lately. I wanted to take a photo, but, didn't really want to disturb her, so I went upstairs and quietly opened the bedroom window. When I was sure she wouldn't fly away, I snapped a couple photos. I cropped them to make it look closer. She's a lovely bird.

The First 4 months

 

Here are the first 4 blocks of the "Journey" series together.

Block #4 - Nebraska

On July 21st, sixty eight days from the start, the expedition reached the mouth of the Platte River in what is now known as Nebraska. In those days, to go past the mouth of the Platte was the Missouri river man's equivalent of crossing the equator. Lewis described the Platte running a mile wide and an inch deep, just bursting with animal and plant life. It was here that the men first discovered the badger.

 

This is by far the hardest block I've done so far. It is not perfect! But, I decided to leave it as it is because I think it's a lesson to be learned. Life isn't perfect, things don't always go our way, even though we like to think we have "it all together", most of the time we just don't. Thankfully, we are not in charge.. God is still on His thrown, and we can trust him.

Block of the Month - Kansas

Kansas is the third block in the "Voyage of Discovery" Block of the month series.

The Kansas plains were a welcome land to the voyagers. "Deer to be seen in every direction and their tracks are plenty as hogs about a farm" Clark wrote on June 30th. Now headed north, the expedition was entering a near-paradise. Clark noted "rasberries purple, ripe and abundant." On July 4th, the men ushered in the day with a firing of the cannon. This was the first ever Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi River.