Inside and Outside

Time for a little update on what's been happening around here this week. Inside: I finished the binding on Cotton Candy (I STILL do not like this quilt, but it will work for a picnic quilt or a cuddleup quilt), Farmers Market BOM with the newest cherry block, a doggie tug toy made for my new "niece", sister's beagle Bailey (so simple to make, directions below) and tissue holders I am working on for the Guild's Boutique.

To make a doggie tug toy, cut 3 strips of fleece (easier on doggie's teeth) about 4" wide from selvage to selvage. Lay the strips together and tie a knot. Braid to desired length, maybe 20 or 22" for a small dog and 25 or 26" for a large dog, then tie off the other end. Trim edges to same length and fringe. Easy, no? And of course, the colors of fleece are endless. Coordinated doggies rule!!!

Outside: Kansas City has finally lifted its death grip on winter and allowed spring temps to enter---yay! So a bit of planting can begin. I put in a few tomato plants. I am trying a new variety (well, only new to me) Celebrity. It is more bushy than viney so should look a little tidier as it grows. I've had to move my tomatoes and herbs up near my house as the outer part of the yard has become more and more shady--not a bad problem, just an adjustment. This little plot gets full sun and used to hold perennials. Since the mysterious rash that the allergist could not explain, I have had to do away with most of my perennial gardening. Oh, well, tomatoes will taste better than honeysuckle vines and turtlehead flowers. Next photo is of my first bloom of iris for the season. These were moved about a year ago and I wasn't sure if I'd get blooms this spring. So happy to see them. Last pic is of a sweet little container, preplanted, that is happily sitting on my sunny deck. Hopefully this week I can fill a few pots and plant some annuals around the pond. I know I should stay out of the yard but I just cannot seem to do that!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happiest of Mother's Day to all moms out there in Blogland! Hope you can enjoy family time today--and maybe get a little break from cooking--and hey, maybe even get a little sewing time!

Gotta Make This!!!

Did you ever see something in a quilting magazine that just had your name written all over it??? Well, figuratively speaking LOL. My name's not Susan but I must make this adorable wall quilt/mess coverer-upper. It is in the new McCall's Quick Quilts, July 2008, magazine. Maybe it just hit me at the right time. I have been working on my sewing space--for the umpteenth time--to get some things out of the guest room and into the sewing room. This is no easy task as my sewing room is teensy. My stash is stored on industrial (read that, "ugly") shelving. It serves the purpose, but what a downer to look at. I'm thinking this darling hanging could jazz it up a bit--and thus my mood! I was so-o-o glad when Susan Branch got into fabric design. Love the sweetness of her stuff.

And here's the recipe I couldn't find for the Cinqo de Mayo menu. Thanks, Nell.

Sour Cream Enchiladas Mixture 1: 1 pint sour cream, 2 cans cream of chicken soup, 1 1/2 or 2 cans green chilies. Mixture 2: 2 bunches chopped green onion, 1 lb. grated jack cheese, 1 lb. grated longhorn cheese. Heat some oil and run tortillas in and out of the oil. Put a thin layer of mixture 1 on bottom of 9x13 baking dish. Fill tortillas with mixture 2 and roll up, add to dish. Cover with remainder of mixture 1. Bake at 275 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes.

Happy Fifth of May!

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood here at Casa de KC Quilter!    Glorious sunshine, yummy temps, and no harsh winds.    Who could ask for anything more?

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, here are a few favorite recipes:

Tortilla Soup     In a large soup pot cook 1/2 t coriander, 2/3 c mild salsa, l bunch chopped green onion, salt & pepper, one chicken (boiled) cut into bite-sized pieces, approximately 2 quarts chicken broth.   In a fry pan in hot oil, cook corn 1/4 inch tortilla strips, then drain or dry well.   Place condiments (extra salsa, sour cream, guacamole, sliced black olives, shredded cheddar) in separate bowls.   Put handful of tortilla strips in bottom of soup bowl, ladle soup on top, add whatever toppings preferred.    Serve with additional tortillas.

Mexican Skillet    In a large skillet with lid, lightly coat bottom with EVOO.  Brown and crumble 1#  lean ground beef.   Pour off excess grease.   Add (thawed) 1  16 oz. frozen broccoli, corn, red peppers.   Add 1 can no-salt black beans and 1 16 oz. jar salsa.   Cover and cook 8 minutes.   Sprinkle with broken up tortilla chips and shredded cheddar and cook 2 more minutes.

Martha's Margaritas    1 lime, cut into wedges, coarse salt, ice cubes,  1 3/4 c tequila, 1/4 c cointreau,  1 c grand marnier, 1/4 c freshly squeezed lime juice, 2-4 T simple syrup.  To salt-rim the glasses, rub a cut lime around the rim.   Fill a saucer with salt and dip each glass upside down into the salt.   Set aside.    Fill a blender 3/4 full with ice.   Pour tequila, cointreau, grand marnier, lime juice and simple syrup.   Blend till ice is very finely chopped and mixture is frothy.   Can add more simple syrup if more sweetness is desired.   Pour into salt-rimmed glasses.

I am searching, searching, searching for my most favorite Cinqo de Mayo recipe--sour cream enchiladas but cannot put my finger on it.   Drat!!!     Will need to call my friend in Arizona to beg for it.     Till then,   adios.

KC Gets Hammered...

...the town, not the quilter!! Severe thunderstorms swept through our area last night leaving a wake of destruction. We were so very lucky to have escaped without any damage or injury, but folks just a few miles away weren't so lucky. Whether it was a tornado, straight line winds, microburst or just a really bad storm, parts of the area were devastated. Those neighbors are on my mind today.

Yesterday's outing to the grocery store led to the purchase of this FABULOUS magazine. (No wonder my grocery bills are so high!) I love scrap quilts and I especially love the one on the cover here. It looks like a great way to use up some stash of blues and creams. Don't have a lot of yellow but I could certainly do something about that!

The Chinese coins quilt really caught my eye, too. Something about the pieced sashing strips I really like. And star quilts and flying geese always trip my trigger.

I am trying out a new scanner so the photos could be a lot better. This scanner is part of a 3-in-1 printer and is not as easy to use as my old one. Well, if all else fails, I could read the directions!