I GOT ONE!!!

It's been a few days but rather busy ones.  I have great news!!

Panaramic shot of where we were sitting! Gotta love iOS 6!!

Sunday morning, Big D and i went back to the same spot in the south end of the third field where all the action was.  We got there early, thanks to the time change, and sat and waited.  Big D was getting discouraged and thought that maybe we weren't going to see anything as the deer were "late" from the last two mornings.  No sooner had he expressed this, one lonely buck moseyed out into the field.  He was snacking on winter wheat and making his way south down the field.  We watched with baited breath, fearful that he would turn east into the bush.  Big D tried his buck call several times but the deer didn't even twitch an ear to it.  He turned and started slowly towards us.  I had my muzzle loader cocked and ready to fire, all I had to do was lift my gun, aim and fire.

He was about 90-100 yards away and then it hit me, buck fever.  My heart started pounding so loud I was certain that the deer was going to hear it and run.  My arms were shaking as I raised my gun and Big D whisper yelled at me to shoot.  A tense split second that felt like several years and BOOM!  I fired but I was so focused on the deer through my scope I didn't even hear my shot, feel the recoil of the gun or notice him stumble.  He didn't run at all or drop, he simply started doing a quick walk past us.  Big D whistled to get him to stop and fired another shot.  I heard the shot hit but again he didn't drop and he didn't run, he just kept going on his way.  We both reloaded as fast as we could and Big D jumped out of the bush where we were sitting, saw the deer down the field on the bush line and fired a third time.  Big D's dad was sitting  in his tree stand and said he never heard an impact from the third shot, so the deer just walked into the bush.

We did some tracking but couldn't find any evidence of him having been hit.  Thankfully, Mr E came out to the farm to help us track it and after two hours of bush walking, we found him!!  He was about 2-3 years old, about 200lbs on the hoof and I believe 4 points.  Given that not everyone is a fan of seeing icky things, click here to see a picture of Big D and I with our harvest.  We decided to share the glory because there were two impact points, both from each of our first shots.

He's now packaged up in our freezer and hopefully we can fill the other tag during riffle season.  If we do, then we're set for the year!

On the sewing side of things, JM came over tonight to help me lay out the pattern for my spencer jacket.  I need it for an event Saturday night.  There was a symphony composed in honour of the Selkirk Settler Bicentennial and the MLHS has been asked to be present in costume.  I'm going to wear my peach day dress, as its the only fancy one I have right now.  The jacket is going to be chocolate brown velvet with a brown silk lining.  I have an old fur coat that i'm going to remove the collar from to put on the spencer, as well as trim the cuffs with fur.  It's going to be super fancy and I hope I get some nice pictures of me in it.

Crafting crafting everywhere!

Hello Everyone! I've taken a little bit of a break again, I know. In my defense, I was without internet access for some of it. A lot of my time has been at work doing some overtime to ease the cost of Christmas.  Also, I've been spending some time with Big D, R, Mr E and C out at the hunting cabin. Well, it's not really a cabin, it's the house that Mr E grew up in. It's over 100 years old and is an Eaton's house. There have been several upgrades and additions over the years. Now it's a fully functional house with electricity, running water and even satellite TV!!

The men are usually out of the house before the crack of dawn to get situated and await Bambi. C and I stay back at the house, snooze til the sun comes up (or sometimes later for me!) and make breakfast for everyone. Once the troops are fed, they usually run off again on a day hunt and C and I are left to our own devices. Usually that means we have the house to ourselves to craft to our hearts content. (And watch Boardwalk Empire all day long on the laptop!!) Despite her wide range of crafting experience, C had never ever done a quilting project. We picked up some fat quarters and she finished, by hand, the same table topper I have been creating.

Over the last few weeks/weekends of “hunting”, her and I have managed to finish several projects. Unfortunately, I can't share many of mine with you here until after Christmas, but they are amazing, creative and just plain awesome, let me assure you!

I did create a little Christmas wall hanging decoration. I found some neat cross stitch patterns when I was organizing my craft books. I decided the little snow man mitten just HAD to be made. When he was done I needed to put him on something other than a tree ornament, so I made a mini wall hanging for winter. I have to finish the binding by machine, then I think I will hang him on the outside of my apartment door. It's the only one on the floor without some sort of Christmas or winter decoration!!

I did finish the top of my Christmas table topper. Big D was gone hunting again so I manged to get lots of cleaning and organizing sewing and crafting done. (Please ignore my absolutely HIDEOUS ironing board!)

I've also been hard at work creating a website for my Aunt. It's still in its beginning stages and I'm sure it will always be evolving. Take a look and see what you think. For that matter, see about ordering some jams or jellies as Christmas presents! Visit her at http://www.juliasjamsandjellies.com/ and see what she has to offer!

After finding the MOST awesome blog (other than mine) called Diary of a Quilter I decided to make a quick project tonight.  She has a very nice easy to make table runner done out of scraps.  Now I knew all the bits and pieces I had been hanging on to from each project would come in handy.  I had some material from the quilt I'm working on, another from one of my Christmas present projects and two more from two different historical costumes.  I've come up with the following...

The binding is not on it yet, but I'm quite happy.  Not bad for a few scraps that wouldn't have had a home otherwise!

Of course, because crafting several Christmas present, working full time, upkeep of my home and the general craziness that life throws your way wasn't enough for me to do, I've been plotting and scheming my next quilting endeavor. Aside from a few super awesome quilts I saw in a magazine, I had the craziest idea to turn a knitting pattern into a quilt. Not just any knitting pattern, a Harry Potter knitting pattern. With the permission of the original pattern creator, Rosemary, I have begun turning this into a quilt pattern for personal use! The chart, with the addition of a few things, makes the perfect lap sized quilt. At the urging of several friends in my sewing group, I want to do a quilt with the 4 house crests. Even with down sizing, I'm looking at a quilt that is 7' by 10'. Still at the drawing board with that one! Check out Rosemary's blog. She has so many neat projects and designs. Her blog is definitely worth following!

Well, that seems to be all for now.  At least all that I can show on here.  OOH!! I'm so excited for Christmas and the unveiling of the presents!!