Ghosts and goblins

Halloween is in full swing here so I'm wring this between trick-or-treaters. Darth Vader was just at the door ... followed by a whole gang of princesses. Those are our jack-o-lantern works of art. Mine is the one on the left, Corey's is on the right. What a cute pair.

My cousin Parker even came over to visit - he makes a very cute dragon. I took a few photos - check them out here. (Photos of Parker are only visible to friends and family, so sign up on Flickr and add me as a contact, or ask me for a guest pass).

Apple trio

My coworkers, Tom and Jerry, and I dressed up as Steve Jobs today for Halloween. Steve is the CEO and founder of Apple Computer. Tom, Jerry and I are huge Apple fans ... as if you couldn't tell. What do you think? did we pull it off?

By the way, we're standing in my office - notice the Apple posters. See, I told you we're obsessed. Here's another photo of my digs (below) – notice the huge Mandevilla plant (thanks Andrea). This area was formerly part of the sister's library at the monastery (the bookcase is left over from the library days). The chapel is right upstairs, so I get to hear lots of organ music when they are practicing.

Halloween eve

Pumpkins? check.

Carve the pumpkins? check.

Candy? check.

Halloween sugar cookies and popcorn balls? check. check. (thanks Grandma Irene)

Yep! We're ready for Halloween!

Be sure to take my candy survey (look up top, to the right).

I'll post the finished jack-o-lanterns tomorrow.

The start of something fabulous

This is my collection of fabulous Hawaiian prints. My mom picked them out and bought them for me a few years ago in Hawaii, I think she'd make a great quilter - check out these great fabrics! This one is my favorite:

I like how it's tropical and vintagey but not too loud.

Show and Tell

Show and tell day!

This quilt was on display where I work as part of a "The Other Work We Love," gallery display. I also was showing an apron and another, larger quilt.

It occurred to me that I haven't ever shown this quilt on my blog before. 

Here's the story:

This quilt was finished quite a few years ago - in 2005. I Made it with old family photos from my mom's mom's side. In fact, the center photo is one of my great grandparent's wedding photos - Helen and Carl Hoesel. It's one of my favorite photos - ever. I made this quilt for my grandma the summer of our annual family reunion. The blue represents the sky, the green the prairie and the photos make up the horizon – rolling just like the North Dakota prairie where they settled, a long time ago.

I'm starting anew quilt tonight! It's so darn exciting for me. I may even post a work in progress photo soon.

(click on photos to view them larger)

Neat stuff

Corey's grandpa Andy gave me a walking stick. This isn't just any walking stick! He hand-sanded the wood (many times) and varnished it himself. He also attached a metal plate toward the top (I chose the bison). It is very beautiful – I love all the knots and twists and turns in the wood. Thanks, grandpa Andy!

Here's what I worked on today - my grandma Katy's quilt. It's so pretty - lots of fall colors!

Old School

Today Corey and I are livin' it up 'old school' style. Corey is out hunting. I'm at home sewing. Ah, the life.

In all honesty, I had planned to run a few errands today but I'm scared to go outside. The wind is so crazy today. And, plus, it's cold. So here I am, safe inside.

Corey, on the other hand, is out braving the elements, hunting with my uncle Bob and grandpa Darwin in the small town of Westfield, ND (sound familiar? yes, I've written about it before). Check out this link to Westfield on MapQuest ... the only roads leading to it are gravel ... which explains why it appears to be "floating" on the map. Anyway, the boys are hunting pheasants. Corey and I went shopping yesterday (a rare occasion when Corey initiates the shopping) for "hunting stuff" ... so he's all decked-out in hunting boots, a vest, and warm socks. He even cleaned his gun yesterday ... so those pheasants don't stand a chance :)

If I could take a photo of wind, I would. It is seriously out of control today. Sustained wind of 40 mph and gusts of over 60 mph. I don't care who you are - that's just crazy. I'm staying in today - down in the basement where I can't hear the wind quite as much. I'll be back here later to post some photos of what I'm working on. Oh, and I'll also be posting a photo of a special gift I received Friday night from Corey's grandpa Andy. 

One "New Web Site" update: the 'old' site is still available to viewing online at http://web.mac.com/ericaz but you the comments are disabled ... so if you want to comment, head on over here to the "new site" ... www.bisongirl.com. I'l be slowly moving over some of the more interesting posts like recipes in the next few weeks.

Milk ... it does a body good

I despise milk. I'll drink chocolate milk every now and then but I avoid white milk at all costs. I'll consume it if it's in food but I've never been the type to sit down and drink a tall glass of milk. I have milk in my cereal every morning ... but I use the spoon to strain the milk out of each bite. Yep, that's how much I avoid milk. ack. yuck.

So it was pure luck that the sample dude in the grocery store lured me to try a small taste of chocolate milk. I was pleasantly surprised at at the tastyness of it. I was even more impressed when he said the milk was from his farm, from his cows just a few miles east of town. How cool is that?! I was gosh darn impressed, I even sampled the white milk. I got it down without gagging - I was impressed with myself ... and the milk. It actually tasted good. 

The packaging is quite charming too. "Bessy's Best - Milked and bottled fresh at Bessy's family farm in Sterling, ND"

Have you seen this milk in your local grocery store? I'm curious ... let me know.

I should also mention that it is a "Pride of Dakota" product - made in North Dakota.

Boston Treasures

Like any vacation we've been on, Corey and I came home with some awesome souvenirs from Boston. In addition to the countless memories and thousands (yes, I said thousands) of photographs, we brought back some treasures in our suitcases. Above, from left: real Italian extra virgin olive oil from Boston's North End (little Italy); from the Harvard bookstore, "Make Way for Ducklings" children's book based in Boston; Corey's Red Sox game program; "The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life" book from the Boston Science Museum gift shop; "American Revolution" book (this one is Corey's) also from the Harvard bookstore; Boston Baked Beans (a 'welcome' gift from Jesse and Megan); Boston Duck Tour ticket stub; Red Sox ALCS game 5 (home game 3) ticket stub. 

What fun! I also bought a Boston Christmas ornament for our tree (below).

Photo Safety

This is paranoid Erica speaking ... 

... alert .... beeep .... beeeep .... beeeep ....

Over the last few years, I've heard many warnings and cautionary tales about posting photos and information online. I've finally "come around" and have decided to restrict the viewing of some of my photos to family and friends only. Ideally, this "family and friends" circle will be large ... so, please, all of you distant third cousins in-law, and friends from the past or present, please feel welcome. 

Here's how it will work:

- the blog and photos on it will be open to the public

- larger groups of photos (sewing, vacations, holidays, cooking, nature, etc.) will appear on Flickr

- some of the Flickr photos (family, vacations, holiday and people photographs) will be to available for viewing to friends and family only

So, if you are a friend or family member and want to have access to view my photos, please sign up for a free Flickr account and add me as a friend (search for "Erica Hager"). Thank you for helping to keep my photographs, and the folks in them safe! :)

If you don't want to sign up for a Flickr account, let me know by writing a comment to this post and I'll send you a guest pass.

A short word about Flickr ... from what I've seen, it's great: larger photo viewing, big slideshows, great organization. I did a lot of research and I feel this is good choice for my photographs.

Boston Photos - Take II

Here's a link to our Boston Photos (the same ones that appear on the "old" site - but should be easier to view and comment on images). Look in the upper right hand corner for the "slideshow" button, then sit back and enjoy.

click here. (must be a "friend or family" member on Flickr)

Bison Girl has a new home

For various reasons, I've been considering moving "Bison Girl" to a different hosting site for quite some time and after experience some technical difficulties this week (and a very full hard drive) I decided to make the switch.

Above all, I want to hear from all of you - do you like it or hate it? indifferent? please, leave a comment and let me know.

What will change:

- You'll be able to find me through Google searches ... go ahead, search away!

- My PC friends will be able to view the site more easily and faster

- I'll have the power to approve/disapprove comments

- The "look" and "feel" of the site

- Better grouping of topics and searching

- Better archives

What will not change:

- The content ... quilting, sewing, photography, life, cooking

- Me :) have no fear, I'm still me.

I'll try and keep things fun and user-friendly ... might take some time and a bit of elbow grease, but I hope to make this a good change.

Like I said, please let me know what you think. To view the old site, blog and photos, click here.