Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year's almost

It's Monday evening and we are having a quiet evening at home. No quilting today. Husband was home today and we slept late and then ran errands. Hubby has been looking for a gooseneck stock trailer (used one that is) and found one today! Got it purchased and took it out with the one ton to try it out. Picked up our boar at a friend's place and he got the royal treatment in the (new) trailer. We have a litter of pigs due in February and then hopefully if Big Mama is bred in April and then our new little gilt shortly thereafter. We have two little boars we are feeding out.
We had deer sausage for breakfast Sunday morning. We had some of our peppered bacon recently and really wasn't sure we liked it. The neighbor brought us three dozen eggs today from his chickens. Woohoo! But I had just bought a dozen at the store so I will need to bake, cook, etc. with a lot of eggs in the near future.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Friday

I got the quilt top all loaded yesterday afternoon and starting quilting. I will finish it up today. My husband, Larry, may go deer hunting. SO you know what that means. Yep, more sewing time. It's a good thing, too, the sewing time. HeeHee! I told him not to bring home any venison 'cause we don't have the room and we have enough meat to last forever with the beef, pork, and venison we already have. Give it away. He's thinking deer jerky. Oh boy.
Anyway, I think I am going to make a personal challenge this new year to quilt/piece at least an hour a day and get all my UFOs and projects that I have collected fabric for completed. This will be in addition to any machine quilting, etc. etc. Anyone making a similar challenge to themselves? I do good with lists. I think I will map out my days so I waste less time. You know-
allot this much time to this and this much time to that. Stay focused. Sounds like a plan. Maybe allot an afternoon to do whatever so I don't feel boxed in. Just stick to the plan. I had started a list before the holidays and pow that got blown out of the water. Back to the list. I'm going to make a quilting list, a cleaning list, an exercise list, a reading list, and I better get busy making lists. See ya.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

More Piecing

I partially loaded the other charity quilt last night. But I didn't want to get the roll of batting out last night; so I will do that today.
On a previous post I talked about the project I took to Paradise Piecemakers meeting; I brought out that project worked on the small flying geese and got twenty more done. I also pressed all the little half square triangles squares (is that right?!) that I sew when doing the flying geese. I saw this on Bonnie's Quiltville (see blogs of note). I think I will use them for a border or sashing depends on what the quilt needs when I lay it out. They are an inch and a half now and will finish at one inch. If I can sew at least twenty a day, that part of piecing this quilt will be done in twelve days. Then I have hour glass blocks and then sew all the flying geese around them to make the Soaring Past Time blocks. They are the alternate block to the ones I won at a guild meeting several years ago called Fly Foot. This quilt is all in greens and very scrappy. I hope it turns out like I am envisioning it. I never know til it's done. I want it to have lots of motion hence the name I have already given it, Time Travel. This is for my oldest son who loves to travel and experience new things. He is so good to me--always buying me things. So I want to finish this and give it to him as my way of appreciation.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Is anyone out there?

Does anyone read this blog? I haven't had any comments. I would love to know. I started this blog after reading other blogs. I think I just have a need to communicate with others who love to quilt. Please could you leave a comment or e-mail me? It would be so encouraging. I don't belong to a group of blogs or anything as yet so maybe I am out of the loop. And I know that my blog isn't as exciting as some others. I will work on pictures very seriously now that Christmas is over.

Our quilting day was called off. Our group couldn't get into the building where we meet. We use a room once a week in the back of the building and don't have to pay rent (Praise, God) so we opted out of having a key because the two businesses in the front of the building do pay rent and we didn't want any problems. SO both businesses today weren't going to open due to sickness or such. SO I have an unexpected day to do some catching up. Neat, huh? SO, I am doing laundry and contemplating what else I want to get into. There's plenty.
I didn't tell you. My sister sent me the quilting book and in the same box was fabric. She always sends me fabric she finds at Goodwill. She has a great Goodwill close to her. Lots of quilting fabric has found it's way here let me tell you! I need to tell her about how Bonnie at Quiltville buys the men's shirts for a dollar a pound. But do I really want to get started with that too? LOL. Anyway in the fabric she sent this time was a preprinted Christmas tree skirt. I had been wanting one. I always use a white sheet and drape it around the bottom of the tree and make it look like snow. But I kinda had been wanting to make one with the nativity on it. This preprinted one has snowmen and trees, etc.
So what do I do? Do I make it and give it to one of the kids or make it and keep it until I make the nativity one? Decisions. I guess just making it up would be a good start. LOL Then I could decide, huh?
I gotta go feed the washer and dryer. They are hungry. And I think I will get some sewing done=quilting. HeeHee!

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas! Well, it is late and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. My DH and I had a very quiet day. DD called so grandkids could tell us what Santa brought. We cooked a pork roast with potatoes and carrots. Wonderful!
We opened our presents from my sister and she sent me a quilting book, 100 Best Full-size Quilt Blocks & Borders. There are some neat patterns in this book; some I will probably be making just as soon as I get caught up. HeeHee! Or not. HeeHee! There's just some things a girl's gotta do for creativity's sake! You know how it calls?!
The last several days have flown by. We really enjoyed our visit to our parents. The weather was mild and it was so great to see DH's niece from Colorado and her children who we don't get to see very often. All of our children were there and it was fun to see all the little cousins playing together.
It's late; time to go to bed. Merry Christmas and a Quilty New Year!

Friday, December 21, 2007

Still Baking

I am still baking this morning. I did go to bed last night. HeeHee! I baked these cookies: Chocolate Kisses, two different kind of spritz type, and this morning so far peanut butter and after them some meringues dipped in chocolate. I dipped pretzels and raisins in chocolate almond bark yesterday. I have had this cookies press for several years and I guess I'm not the smartest cookie on the block (pun intended) but until this year I never could figure it out. I got DH involved. He's a mechanic and is wonderful with tools. Yep, he figured it out in two seconds. With one hand in his pocket and one pressing out those cute little green cookies wreaths. I just love him. I told him the job was his; then I got to thinking. Wait a minute, I better figure this out 'cause he's not home most of the time when I'm baking. And I did, but you know what I know me and probably NEXT time I go to use this silly cookie press; I will have to figure it out all over again. : ( HEEHEE!
Tonight is DH Christmas party at work. We are going to my favorite steak house. Ribeye, here I come. Then tomorrow we travel to DH family gathering and stop in on my mom and step-dad.
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and remember Jesus is the reason for the season.
God bless.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Baking Day

Today, I will be baking. Cookies that is. Spritz cookies using a cookie press, cookies with hershey kisses in the middle, chocolate chip, peanut butter, and maybe two bite brownies. I am taking a cookie tray to MIL for Christmas gathering and she asked me to bring the cranberry relish.

Yesterday was fun at quilting. We had eight to come, a good showing for right before Christmas. We are working on a quilt top donated by one of our members. She got it pieced and then didn't like it. It has a blue background with pieced green trees and gold stars in various designs. We haven't decided what we will do with it yet. But we sure are enjoying quilting it. It is so good to sit around a quilt frame and talk. I am so blessed to be a part of this group.
I am still trying to figure out blogging. I would like to post pictures but haven't quite figured out how yet. If anyone reading this can give me a word of instruction or otherwise HELP! please help a little lady out. Maybe I don't have the right software?!; I don't know for sure. Thanks in advance.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Quilting Day

It's quilting day again. I'm not that excited, though. I think I'm just tired. Tired of shopping, wrapping, and thinking of what to get (do) for people. I went shopping again yesterday and got the rest of what I needed to get my sister and her family. Then wrapped and taken to UPS; I sure hope it gets there in time. Every year I say I am not doing this again and vow to start shopping earlier. But every year I am busy with other things until WHAM! it's Christmas and I do it all over again.

Okay, I am stumped. I never know what to get my husband's parents. They really don't need anything. They buy whatever they want. My MIL is a quilter and I can fix her up easily but my FIL is another story. He really doesn't have any hobbies. He owns land and raises a small herd of cattle. Any ideas? He doesn't wear T-shirts. He doesn't have a computer, though he would like one but MIL will not let him have one. Go figure--she't afraid someone can hack into their private and financial affairs. He would so enjoy e-mailing and surfing the internet. Maybe she will change her mind.

I have been baking and making candy. I made miniature banana breads using Bonnie (Quiltville)
recipe. I had some Christmasey papers to line the little loaf pans. DH took some to work today. I made twenty. I also made Peanut Cluster candy. Very easy. If anyone wants the recipe just leave a comment and I will post it or e-mail it to you. You make it in the crockpot and so very easy and makes lots. The peanut clusters will find their way into homemade goodie gifts for lovely people we know.

Not much quilting going on these days. I might as well wait until after the holidays. Although, I think it is therapy. So, I will go get my therapy today and see you tomorrow.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Mission Accomplished

Yep, we got'r'dun. Family Christmas that is. And immediate family that is. It was good, fun, and tiring; of course.
My schedule got off to a change when I DIDN'T leave quilting club early Wednesday. I was having too good a time but that was time I had scheduled to do some Christmas shopping. I theorized, "I'll do it tomorrow the weather will be better." It started out VERY foggy Thursday morning so I put off shopping til after lunch (better to wait to drive on the highway til fog lifts-Right?). I stopped to visit an elderly friend in quilt club who has been out due to recent surgery. Then on to serious shopping, and I did get a lot done. Just didn't get it all done. Baked pecan pies for DH bbq lunch at work that evening. I was invited to eat with them for lunch on Friday (but I really needed to be shopping--VERY foggy again Friday morning but I did eat). Back to shopping again Friday afternoon, which was the day I had planned to clean house. Stayed up way late talking to oldest DS when he came to spend the night and wrapping presents and made newest grandsons bluejean stocking.
So, we had smoked turkey, green beans, spincach, mashed potatoes, crescent rolls(not homemade), pumpkin pie, chocolate meringue pie, and assorted cookies (all of which I purchased at the store). I did get the china, tablecloth and napkins and set out. DH had to work Saturday morning--so no help. DS was wonderful. DD and family came in and started a fire in the fireplace and decorated the Christmas tree. I know I know. But the grandkids love doing this. DH and youngest DS and DIL with newest grandson arrived. We had a great time.
Then, everyone went home. Except we were babysitting newest grandson overnight so mommy and daddy could go to mommy's Christmas party at work. He is the happiest baby. Full of smiles and laughs. Then, tonight we went to grandkids and DD's Christmas program at church.
I am ready for a good sleep.
Goodnight to all and to all a goodnight.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Rainy Tuesday

Shortly after I woke this morning, I heard the rain begin. We need this. We've had a lot of rain this past year but everything was getting dry again. Our lakes and ponds got full this summer with the wonderful rains we had.
I read Mary's blog this morning. She and her family had a reunion this past weekend. It makes me miss my sister who lives in Florida. I talked to her Sunday. She is having some family troubles right now. I would appreciate your prayers for them.
I didn't get any sewing done yesterday. I did get our family get together nailed down. Saturday is the day and here at our house. So, I have started getting things ready. Yesterday I sorted and straightened, figured the checkbooks, and paid bills. Today, I will straighten my sewing room and then on to our bedroom. Then the cleaning begins. I may have to cut my quilting day tomorrow short--I hope not--in order to get all I need to do done. Thursday, I am baking pies for DH to take to work on Friday for their party at work.
I think we will have smoked turkey that DH picked up at the butcher when he was dropping off pigs to be butchered. I have more cranberries to make the cranberry relish. My kids probably won't be thrilled but DH will. I will make chocolate meringue and lemon meringue. Cookies for the grandkids. Fresh baked bread and some good vegetables should round out the menu and if I have time maybe some homemade candy. Oldest DS (who is a bachelor) said he would come and spend the night and help. He loves working in the kitchen.
I have to make the newest addition to our family a stocking. A couple of years ago I made us all a stocking out of old blue jeans. I don't have anymore of the red fabric I put in the pockets so I was thinking I could introduce a new fabric. I know! I can use another Christmas fabric for the grandkids. And since I want at least a dozen grandkids--I better get plenty. HeeHee! We will definitely have to put the stockings somewhere else besides the mantel when we get those dozen. My kids tell -- it's not going to happen. Ok, Ok! I won't be greedy. Three's okay for now but let's have more!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Brrrrrr!

It is cold. 32 degrees to be exact. I know, I know it is a lot colder in other places. But we were in the seventies just days ago. We may have a little freezing drizzle today and hopefully just rain. We could use it. I'm praying for all of you experiencing ice. God bless you.

Quilting--I got 150 of those little flying geese done Saturday and then worked on them more Sunday. 408 (gazillion) minus 150. I made a big dent. DH got home Sunday morning and I guess he was tuckered out from hunting because he fell asleep twice in his recliner. SO I kept sewing.
But for now I have boxed it up until after the holidays. Very hard because I was on a roll. BUT I have so much to do this week. Shopping, baking, decorating, cleaning, etc. etc. So you may not hear too much from me this week.
I did see on a blog awhile back some luggage tags. So this morning I did some googling for luggage tags. It got me thinking that these would make nice stocking stuffers for my kids. I had already been thinking about coasters, napkins, and placemats. I should have started sooner!

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Saturday Fun!

Another party! Two in one week, boy I gotta watch my waistline. You shoulda seen the cake that Maurine made. It was straight from Southern Living--Italian Cream Cake with orange curd and decorated absolutely gorgeous with orange sections, greenery, cheeries, and toasted pecans. It tasted as wonderful as it looked. I took Broccoli Soup. Jo made a really different soup. Vegetable soup with spinach, sage, basil, potatoes, english peas, red bell peppers, and carrots. Very good! Emily made taco soup. We had pecan pie, buttermilk pie, Mississippi Mud, cookies, and candies. Plus cornbread, crackers and chips.
I really enjoy these group meetings. They meet every 4th Saturday except Nov. & Dec. and bring your own projects and sew all day. I got a lot done today. I didn't take the 4 Patch Stacked Posie project. Instead I decided to take the project I usually take to these meetings. My Time Travel quilt. I won some quilt blocks at guild meeting several years ago and decided to put them together with another alternate block to have a bed size quilt for my oldest DS. It requires making these little flying geese. I will have to make a gazillion! I didn't count but I got a lot made. So when I get off the computer; I am going to make more ; ) .
Blessings,

Friday, December 07, 2007

It is soo warm. We had overnight lows in the 60s. Today and tomorrow we are to be near 80 degrees. BUT there is a cold front coming with cold rain.
Today I am doing laundry and going to price merchandise and sew/quilt. DH is deer hunting. I will miss him but I don't have to cook, etc. So this afternoon and tonight there will be a sewing marathon going on. HeeHee! Let the fun begin.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Thursday, December 6, 2007
Good morning to all. I slept a little late this morning. I got woke up around 2am and couldn't go back to sleep right away hence the later wake up. But, I am up and running now. I have to go to the butcher today to pick up our pork. My husband raises hogs so we have pork most of the time. SO we will be having fresh pork chops soon. YAAAAH!
On the quilty front, I have a sew day and Christmas party with the Paradise Piecemakers Saturday. I am thinking of sewing on my 4 Patch Stacked Posie. I mean after all; which project do I choose? I am also sewing strips onto old telephone book pages to make Mary Johnson's Chinese Coins or Bonnie Hunter's String-X quilts. I am also needing to take the borders (that I don't like) off my grandson's quilt and redo. I need to finish the quilt for my oldest son and my daughter's dresden plate started years ago. These last two are definitely UFOs. I have several quilts to machine quilt. But I think I have mentioned this before. LOL!
My husband is going deer hunting this weekend so I will have lots of sewing time. Maybe I can get a lot accomplished. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

I got the charity quilt quilted! Yaaaaaaaaaaaah! I also got the binding made and sewn on one side by machine. Somebody else in our club will turn and hand sew to the back. I also got my cranberry relish made. See earlier post for recipe. It is so GOOD and so simple. Very productive day yesterday. I also printed gift certificates for those asking for them for quilting notions. Today is our Kraz-z Quilters Christmas party. Woohoo! I know I will eat too much and have fun.
Have a really blessed day.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Tuesday, December 4, 2007
I had a nice chat with my hairdresser yesterday and got caught up with her. She's been cutting my hair probably ten years or more! Went to Wal-Mart afterwards to get things we needed and then ate lunch. I then answered phone calls and made a few. Quilt club members wanting to see what food I am bringing for Wednesday to our Christmas party. Then I got to quilt. I didn't get quite done, so this morning I will get back in there and finish up.
My daughter-in-law called to say that she had to Mason to the doctor; he cried during the night and was screaming yesterday morning. His ear infection had still not cleared up from the week of Thanksgiving. SO more medicine. He didn't cry at all with us. But that is exactly how his daddy did when he was baby. I will call today to check on them.
I need to make a phone call to my DD to finalize plans for Christmas. Man, when the kids are "all growed up" Christmas is not simple anymore. You have multiple families to plan around. But it is just planning and we will "get r done".
Here is what I am taking Wednesday for our party.
Cranberry Relish
1 pound fresh cranberries
1 navel orange
2 large red apples
2 cups sugar (adjust to taste)
1 cup nuts, chopped ( I use pecans)
Wash cranberries and sort through. Wash oranges and apples. Process in food processor until nicely chopped. Add sugar and nuts. Stir to combine. Store in refrigerator. The longer this sits the better. Good with ham and turkey or even vanilla ice cream!
found in Texas Co-op Power sent in by Vera Elkins
See you later.

Monday, December 03, 2007

Monday, December 3, 2007

Quicky post. I just realized I have a haircut appointment this morning at 9:30! We kept our 5 month old grandson this weekend and had so much fun with him. He is such a joy! SO--I didn't get any quilting done : ( . Oh well, I will have to make up for it today. Talk later.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Had a wonderful time at quilting yesterday. We were busy finishing up one of the member's quilt before Christmas. Planned our Christmas party and made the room ready and some of us went out and had pizza. Yum, yum! Today is busy, busy. I have got to load a quilt and get it quilted and on to at least three others. AND work on our quilt club scrapbook. See you in a few whatevers. LOL.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Today's quilting day! We will be drawing for a lucky winner of our raffle quilt "Hillbilly Romance". I will let you know if anyone in my family wins! LOL. Gotta get ready. Talk later.

Monday, November 26, 2007

November 26, 2007

I made it through Thanksgiving holiday. Ate too much and now I have to work on that. LOL. I came home and wanted to eat just plain old comfort food. So, I cooked beans and cornbread. Wonderful with relish.

On the quilty front, I worked on getting a quilt ready to load on the machine. Just need to cut a batting and get it loaded in the morning. And then quilt like a mad woman.

I am going to work on getting pictures on this blog.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Checking in. Two days before Thanksgiving Day. Our weather is very warm --sixties at night and near eighty for a high. But tomorrow is a different story; so says the weather people. Cold front coming will drop temps to the forties during the day. Big difference! The next few days will be busy. I have some machine quilting to do for my quilting club--charitable quilts for our local women's shelter and catching up on my own and I am making the roll recipe below to try on my club for Wednesday as a trial run. One lady is bringing chowder (yum).

I am making rolls and probably a pecan pie to take for Thanksgiving. I found the recipe for the rolls at http://allrecipes.com/ and the pecan pie recipe is one from Imperial Sugar. I made the rolls last week as a trial run. They were super easy. I put everything in my bread maker on the dough cycle. I do think they need just a little salt and I will add some to those I make today. Hope you enjoy.
Cake Mix Yeast Rolls

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (9 ounce) package yellow cake mix (Jiffy mix in our area) or half of a regular cake mix
1/4 cup margarine, melted (I use butter)
2 egg whites, beaten
2 tablespoons poppy seeds (I skipped the egg whites and poppy seeds)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the flour and cake mix. Beat until dough is smooth. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into rounds. Let rest 5 minutes and then roll into 12 inch circles. Cut each circle into 10 wedges. Brush with melted margarine. Roll up the wedges, beginning at the wide end. Place on prepared baking sheets with the end of the roll on the bottom. Brush the rolls with beaten egg whites. Sprinkle with poppy seeds. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
These are very good and tender and rise up into very light and fluffy rolls. I did turn my oven up to 375 degrees and like I said I think they need just a little salt.
Texas Pecan Pie
from Imperial Sugar Company
1 1/2 cups brown sugar (firmly packed)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
9" unbaked pie shell
Combine first five ingredients in small bowl and mix well. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add evaporated milk and mix well. Stir in pecan halves and vanilla. (or I like to arrange my pecans in the pie shell and then pour the liquid on). Mix well and turn into unbaked 9" piec shell. Bake in preheated 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until filling is puffed in center and well browned.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Wednesday

Good day to all. I am checking e-mail and favorites before I get ready for my quilting group.
I have a little time and will try to get a few chores done before I go.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Catering Quilter

November 13, 2007

Hello, to all! This is my first post. I have enjoyed reading posts of others for a long time and thought I would take the plunge of creating my own post. Please be patient as I learn all of this stuff.
Today it is warm for this time of year. The weather people are talking that we may set a record warm for this day--85 maybe. Hope not. The warm and dry weather was nice yesterday when we had a funeral to attend; but we really need rain in Texas again. The leaves are just starting to turn colors. I went to a small community last week to sell my wares and show how to cut a quilt pattern. I was anticipating seeing lots of beautiful colors and it hadn't happened yet only a little in the northern most part. But we are forecasted to have cooler temps the end of this week.
I was sick a two weeks ago with a cold or allergies or whatever. I am just now feeling completely over it. Just have a cough that wants to hang around.
On the quilty subject: I have a string quilt I need to machine quilt, my grandson's spiderman quilt/bedspread (that I am not happy with and will probably remove borders I put on and redo) that needs finishing very soon, plus UFOs and projects I have recently started. Plus my quilting group, Kraz-z Quilters, has donation quilts for the women's shelter in our area that I volunteered to machine quilt.
Today I need to go back to a neighboring city and sell more raffle tickets on my quilting groups raffle quilt which we draw for the last Wednesday this month. And I have to find white shirts for us to wear in a family photo this weekend.