KC And The Sunshine Blog

Toe In The Water

2012-01-23T09:47:00.007-06:00

Well, well, well, doesn't that calendar just gallop right along! It hasn't really felt like Winter here in KC......yet. I have a feeling that is about to change. So...it seemed like time to get moving on some handwork. Mmmmm....fire in the fireplace, cup of Calm herbal tea, and yarn. Bring it, Mother Nature.

I decided to dust off the ole' crochet hooks and flip through some books for inspiration.

Of course, there were trillions more books and internet sites that I devoured. Blogger has been dealing fits with photo uploads this morning, though, so I'm just putting up a few. Have so fallen in love with the little amigurumi crocheted critters but haven't completed the polar bear I am working on. I think I'll have to go down to a smaller hook as it is coming out MUCH larger than I think it should be.

So I fiddled around with some other quicky projects to get the crochet rhythm goin': a Valentine coaster (and who doesn't need one of those???),

a fun crocheted hotpad,

a Valentine garland for the mantle,

and a stripy warm afghan! This blankie is so much fun to work on. Don't know any project that can be as soothing as a predictably repetitive and rhythmic crocheted afghan. I like that once the logistics are worked out in my mind, I can just crochet along without referring to a pattern.

2012

2012-01-01T07:49:00.003-06:00

It's here! A new blank slate. Hoping to fill it up with healthier eating, more walking, actual blogging and--especially-- cherishing family and friends as they most definitely deserve to be cherished. Those are the top resolutions. Throw in some attention to long-neglected crafting (crocheting, quilting and embroidery), continued joy found in reading, experimenting more in cooking and trying each day to de-stress life (SIMPLIFY). That ought to be a start.....

And To All A Good Night

2011-12-24T08:11:00.000-06:00

Yummy, Easy, Festive, Fun!

2011-12-06T06:21:00.002-06:00

Here's a wonderful recipe I found while websurfing the other day. Shortcuts abound! And who doesn't need shortcuts in December? And they will be so cute on the cookie trays.

Christmas Tree Brownies

Here is an easy recipe from Betty Crocker for Christmas Tree Brownies:

1. 1 box brownie mix (with chocolate syrup pouch)

2. Water, vegetable oil and eggs (specified on brownie box)

3. 2 or 3 drops green food color

4. 1 cup vanilla frosting (from 1-lb container)

5. Decorating Decors red and green candy sprinkles or miniature candy-

coated chocolate baking bits

6. Miniature candy canes (2 inch), unwrapped

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2

inches over short sides of pan. Grease bottom only of foil with cooking

spray or shortening.

2. Make and bake brownie mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using

water, oil and eggs. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Remove brownie from

pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. To cut brownie into triangles, cut

lengthwise into 3 rows. Cut each row into 7 triangles. Save

smaller pieces for snacking.

3. Stir food color into frosting. Spoon frosting into small resealable food-

storage plastic bag; partially seal bag. Cut off tiny bottom corner of bag.

Squeeze bag to pipe frosting over brownies. Sprinkle with decors.

4. Break off curved end of candy cane; insert straight piece into bottoms of

triangles to make tree trunks.

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-11-23T06:49:00.001-06:00

Hope you and yours out there in the blogosphere have a most wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Contribution

2011-11-15T07:16:00.005-06:00

Yum....best eating day of the year is just around the corner! My family will be treated to turkey dinner with all the trimmings at my sister's house. And we'll get to spend time with some relatives that we ONLY see on Thanksgiving! Old traditions will carry on and new ones will be made. Belts will be loosened, football games will be watched by some, family stories will be recalled by others and for the day, old grudges will be forgotten!

Each year I bring two pies and a veggie casserole to the gathering--much easier than preparing the whole meal, n'est pas? These may vary from year to year, but most often it is broccoli rice casserole, pumpkin pie and pecan pie.

This broccoli rice casserole is a recipe I came across way back in the 60s or 70s--an oldie but goodie for sure. Over the years I have simplified it. It does use convenience foods--which I try very hard to avoid in my day-to-day cooking, who needs all that sodium-- and the microwave. I guess I rationalize that with the fact that I have to get out the door by 11AM to make the hour's drive. I just need to "git-er-done"! They still taste amazing!

Broccoli Rice Casserole In a small glass bowl soften 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion in 1/4 cup unsalted butter in the microwave. Cook a bag of Success Rice according to package directions. In a large oven safe casserole dish cook 24 oz. chopped frozen broccoli in the microwave, according to package directions. Drain excess water from broccoli, then add the onion, rice, 1 can cream of celery soup and 1 small jar Cheez Whiz. Stir, then bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. To keep the casserole warm while transporting, I use my old trusty quilted casserole carrier--it works!

If there is a better recipe for pumpkin pie than the one on the Libby's label, I have not found it.

Libby's Pumpkin Pie In a small bowl mix 3/4 cups sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 t ground cinnamon, 1/2 t ground ginger, 1/4 t ground cloves. Beat 2 large eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 1 15 oz. can pumpkin and the sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk. Pour into an unbaked deep-dish (4 cup volume) pie crust. Bake in preheated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temp to 350 degrees and bake 40 - 50 minutes more or till knife inserted in the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool completely. Serve with whipped cream.

This pecan pie recipe dates way back, too. I found it in the old Dear Abby column one year and it has been my go-to pecan pie recipe ever since.

Dear Abby's Kentucky Pecan Pie In a large mixing bowl combine 1 cup white corn syrup, 1 cup dark brown sugar--firmly packed, 1/3 t salt, 1/3 cup melted butter and 1 t vanilla. Add 3 slightly beaten eggs. Pour into a 9-inch unbaked pie crust. Sprinkle 1 heaping cup pecan halves over all. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 45 - 50 minutes. Cool completely. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Food, family, fun--what could be better?

Eleven Eleven Eleven

2011-11-11T08:36:00.006-06:00

So glad to see the number 11 getting a little respect today! Other than players on a football team, a lucky first roll of the dice and pipers piping, what else is special about 11? Well, today is ALL about 11!

It seems that 11's neighbors--10 & 12--get all the glory! Ten cents in a dime, 10 dimes in a dollar, 10 bowling pins, 10 fingers, 10 toes, Ten Commandments, 10 digits in a phone number, 10 hotdogs, Bo Derek's rating, basis for our number system, little Indians, Letterman's list. Twelve anniversary roses, 12 eggs in a carton, donuts in a Krispy Kreme box, days of Christmas, apostles, jury members, inches in a foot, signs of the Zodiac, highest grade in high school, hours on a clock face, knights of the Round Table, tribes of Israel...well, you get the picture! It is high time Eleven got its due! Maybe you can add to the list of things that come in elevens...

But of course, today the most important thing about 11 is Veterans Day. I so appreciate those who have served or are serving our country so that we can enjoy freedoms. To them and their families, I say Thank You, you are appreciated!

Recent Reads

2011-11-10T08:02:00.012-06:00

I am trying to make this here blog'o mine more of a chronicle of my days. That definitely includes reading. I say this as a disclaimer to those who maybe have absolutely no interest in what I read!!!! If you're in that category, please move right along to the next blog!

Kindling right along...some of the books I've been reading...

The authorized biography of Steve Jobs is a fascinating look at the perfectionist/genius who was not a very nice person to be around. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the early days of Apple Computer (now called just Apple) as I have been a longtime fan of Apple products. But I was disappointed to learn how he treated people in his life--friends, coworkers, business associates, business rivals--even family members. Having been given away for adoption as an infant seemed to cast a sadness or longing over his early years. He did later unite with some birth family members--never his biological dad. His eating obsessions were interesting as were his hippie background and spiritual searches. An insightful look into what made the man tick.

The biological sister that Jobs discovered turned out to be Mona Simpson, a talented author and success in her own right. Talent must have just run in that family! Of course, I had to read one of her books. Anywhere But Here was Simpson's fictional novel seemingly based on her own mother's irresponsible rearing of her. It followed their life from Wisconsin to LA and the half-hearted attempt to get the daughter into show biz. It was quite a ride.

One of my favorite books from last year was Winter's Bone, a novel set in the Missouri Ozarks, rife with a mystery killing, meth users and a strong teenaged heroine who needs to discover what happened to her dad--while helping to raise her younger siblings. When I saw this book, The Outlaw Album, by the same author and set again in the Ozarks, well, I had to read it too. It is a series of short stories about people who do absolutely horrible things--but as always, there are two sides to every story. The stories really make one stop and think and consider people's choices in life, no matter how evil they may seem on the surface.

On a whim, I decided to download The Mill River Recluse, a book that had become a bestseller on Kindle. It was very different. The heroine is an elderly lady who is dying from cancer and the story relates her tragic life that led to her becoming a recluse. She became quite wealthy and secretly used her money to help the townspeople who had stories of their own.

I love novels that have a food element. A Homemade Life was a dandy! Molly Wizenberg recounts her life with family and food and how she decided to quit graduate school and go to Paris. It turned out that I had been reading her blog, Orangette, for a while and had not put two and two together!!!

Change of pace...two J. A. Jance mystery novels featuring J. P. Beaumont. Always good for some laughs and some thrills and some plot twists!

The Kite Runner was one of those highly acclaimed novels from a few years back that I never got around to reading. Thanks to Amazon's vast library of books for Kindle, it is easy to go back and catch up with some great books I missed first time around! I can see why The Kite Runner spent over five years on the NY Times bestseller list. It was a wonderful look at a culture I knew nothing about--Afghanistan at the time of the Soviet invasion. It is about two boys growing up in Kabul in the same house but with very different experiences. It is about love and friendship and betrayal and hope. Khaled Hosseini painted a very beautiful but stark picture.

Currently I am absorbed in John Grisham's newest legal romp, The Litigators. I have read a ton of Grisham's books and have found that he can usually keep me rapt. He did go through a period for a while where he got so bogged down with tangential information in his novels that I gave up on him for a while. Happily--I returned and am so glad I did. This book seems lighter and faster-paced. A burned-out lawyer joins a small ambulancing chasing, hospital haunting two-man team of injury case attorneys. The change of pace and lowering of salary leads to some interesting, tragic and comic experiences. Can't wait to finish it!

Mmmmm....Cornbread Dressing

2011-11-08T06:01:00.005-06:00

My sister and I have settled in to a nice pattern: she hosts the family Thanksgiving dinner and I have the Christmas dinner. We each bring items to the other's get-togethers. It works! The only regret I have every year is lack of leftovers. So... I sometimes make Thanksgiving Day wannabes the weekend after the fourth Thursday of November. A pumpkin pie here, a turkey breast there and my favorite dressing, Best Cornbread Dressing!

In a huge bowl combine a bag of Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix with a pan of cornbread, crumbled. Set aside. Saute 2 small chopped yellow onions and 4 or 5 stalks celery, chopped, till soft. Add a squirt of garlic paste (about 5 ") and saute a minute longer. Season with house seasoning (mine is Kosher salt, coarse black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder). Add to the bread mix and stir in about 6 cups unsalted chicken stock (or turkey stock if you can find it!). The mixture should be almost soupy. Stir in 2 beaten eggs. Spread into a sprayed 9x13 oven dish. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 20 minutes. Then cover with foil and bake another 25 minutes or until desired doneness is achieved.

November Is Here!

2011-11-01T09:21:00.003-05:00

An Evening In the Country

2011-10-29T06:58:00.008-05:00

Situated some 40 miles from KC is the tiny town of Rayville, MO, population 204. Gorgeous rolling countryside, pretty farms with horses, cows and mules watching the cars go by and home to Van Till Farm & Winery, this little burg was our destination for Friday evening.

A pair of beautiful matched mules, along with a sleek black horse, welcomed us from across the road.
Inside the winery we tasted a few wines. Grapes grown and wine made on the premises, delicious! Next we placed our order for pizza that would be cooked in this wonderful brick wood-fired oven.
Again--delicious!!! We ate our pizza paired with a semi-dry red wine and listened to mellow guitar music on the covered patio. It was a good way to wind down the week!

We had our "Wine Passport" stamped and purchased a bottle of Missouri Chambourcin to bring home.

The most amazing sunset ever--mauvey lavenders, rosy pinks, slatey grays and harvest golds--lit our way out past the vineyards.

Small family-owned wineries have been popping up all across Missouri. At first I wondered how grapes could be grown on a large scale here, given our harsh winters. Turns out there are several hardy varieties that flourish quite well. In fact, we even have a state grape--the Norton! Who knew? Also, prior to Prohibition, Missouri produced over two million gallons of wine a year, second in the nation in wine production. Missouri has over 90 wineries across the state--and growing! The Missouri Wine and Grape Board has provided a booklet for finding them all--and a passport to get stamped upon visiting. So many stamps in the passport=a small prize!!! So glad red wine is heart-healthy!

Friday Funny

2011-10-28T08:47:00.000-05:00

Can't resist a cute cat photo!!!

You Had Me At Caramelized Onions

2011-10-27T09:23:00.005-05:00

I so love caramelized onions. One of our favorite little restaurants is a 50s style diner that lets you order caramelized onions--on the side--for a quarter!!! Love to pile them on a burger. Making them at home is so easy and they can be used in so many ways--as well as scarfing them down with a spoon! Use them in French onion soup, on the side of a meat entree, in sandwiches--no end to their uses.

Caramelized Onions

1 large sweet yellow onion

1 teaspoon butter

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

House season (Kosher salt, fresh-ground pepper, garlic powder, onion

powder)

1/4 low-sodium cup beef broth

Heat butter, olive oil and worcestershire sauce in a medium skillet

over medium heat. Cut the onion in half, then thinly slice each half.

Add onion slices, separating the layers, into the skillet. Season with

House season and stir well.

Continue cooking the onion over medium heat, stirring every 2-3

minutes, until it starts to turn golden brown and soften. If the slices

begin to stick to the pan or burn, add splashes of beef broth to

moisten. Continue cooking until onions are deep brown and soft, about

30 minutes. WATCH CAREFULLY. If the onions burn, toss out and

start over!!!! Experience speaking here.

Remembering Mom

2011-10-25T15:43:00.007-05:00

October 26th would have been my mom's 95th birthday. She passed away at age 81 and I still miss her everyday. Times were hard for her growing up. Her mother died when Mom was only 2 from the flu pandemic of 1918. This is the only picture I have of her with her mother. I treasure it. I often look at it closely to try to see if I can find a bit of myself in either of them.

This was Mom at age 7. Love the "do"! By this time she was being raised by her grandmother. Her dad had remarried and the new wife didn't want to be saddled with a child. It's amazing she still had that cute little smile...

Her high school senior picture, lookin' pretty stylish!

And a family classic, ta da! Mom with my older sister and me. This photo hung in every house we ever lived in!

I think she had a rough childhood. She rose above it and raised three daughters with love and care and concern. She never worked outside the home and never got a drivers license. She was the typical housewife of that era. A hot meal was on the table every night. Sunday morning breakfasts included homemade biscuits. (I still can't make them as well as she did!) Though she did not go to college, she had a thirst for knowledge. She especially loved astronomy and was so excited when we landed a man on the moon. She sewed her own "housedresses" as she called them. She was very shy and was happiest at home, though she did get out and walk to stores and movies. She loved soap operas--first on the radio, then on TV. I have vivid memories of her standing at the ironing board listening to Our Gal Sal and Hilltop House.

I don't have a lot of photos of Mom. Oh, sure, a few candid snapshots here and there. But we weren't a family of photographers, unfortunately. I think it is so neat that nowadays kids have their photos taken frequently by professionals.

Happy Birthday, Mom...

Geocaching

2011-10-25T04:51:00.001-05:00

What a fun fun day yesterday was! DH and I got together with a couple we've been friends with since college days (whew! long time!) and headed out for a little town about 30 minutes away. We did a little geocaching. The friends are quite good at this while DH and I are still novices. Geocaching is done with a handheld device, a GPS.

You must first go to a website, geocaching.com, to get information about caches in a given area. You then download from the website into the GPS the coordinates. You can also print off information about the cache from the website. Now, these caches are not valuable money-wise. After all, they are left unguarded! However, the thrill of finding one is great. Okay, armed with your GPS and your paperwork, you set off in search of the cache. The GPS provides direction. Once you've located it, you sign the tiny log with your username. Back home, you can register your find at the website to keep track of your "wins"! A good incentive to get outdoors and walk, geocaching also provides opportunities to see areas you might not visit otherwise. Even in our own home town, we have discovered lots of new sights through geocaching. And the cleverness with which some of the hiders place their caches is amazing! It is fairly inexpensive entertainment; you need the GPS, a computer and some good walking shoes. And the benefits are many: exercise, being outdoors, exploring new areas--and FUN!

Gittin' All Cultured Up

2011-10-21T06:33:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was one of those amazing fall days in Kansas City--mild temperatures, blue skies and gentle breezes. Perfect for getting together with an old friend for a day of laughing. We've been friends for about 45 years and though we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like, we seem to pick up right where we left off! Gotta treasure a friend like that. She asked would I like to go see the Rodin exhibit at the wonderful Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Sure! It was very educational. I was amazed to learn that any bronze sculpture made from one of Rodin's castings is considered authentic. So while what we saw were not personally made by Auguste Rodin, the art was sculpted from his own castings. The pieces we saw were primarily from his Gates of Hell production, based on the Dante's writings.

Always a controversial "lawn ornament", the Nelson has several of these shuttlecocks on display. Why, I don't know!

As a kid growing up in Kansas City, annual school field trips always included a visit to the Nelson. And we were always greeted by this Rodin sculpture, The Thinker--probably his most famous work. And as kids will do, we giggled and blushed to see this naked man right there in front of us as we approached the magnificent building.

Well, that was enough culture for the day! So we then headed out to the Brookside area, a delightful old KC neighborhood. First stop was lunch at Julian's. The chef and owner there is Celina Tio. If you are a fan of Iron Chef on Food Network, you might remember that she competed last year and came in third!!! Pretty awesome. While we were eating our delicious lunch and enjoying a glass of HobNob red wine, Celina came by our table--twice! Always fun to have a celebrity-sighting. She is very personable. Then it was time to stroll the streets and visit the shops--and work off lunch! My friend was interested in finding a new houseplant and there were two shops with plenty to choose from. Brookside is a wonderful area and I often wonder why I don't go there more often!

Favorite Butternut Squash Soup

2011-10-11T08:20:00.004-05:00

This is my very favorite butternut squash soup! Prep: chop l large sweet

yellow onion. Peel, seed and cube a butternut squash (about 3 pounds).

Peel and chop 2 medium carrots. Peel, core and chop 2 apples. Peel and

chop 1 Yukon Gold potato.

In large Dutch oven melt 1/2 stick unsalted butter over medium heat and

saute the onion till soft. Add the squash, carrots, apple and potato.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover with unsalted organic chicken

stock (or water) so that liquid is at least 1 inch above the veggies. Bring to

a boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer about 45 minutes or till veggies are

fall-apart tender. Blend with immersion blender till smooth. In a small bowl

temper 1 cup cream in some of the hot soup. Add the tempered cream

into the soup pot. Cook a few minutes more. Check for seasoning and

adjust if necessary.

Good Juju

2011-10-09T08:45:00.004-05:00

My sister has a knack for finding out about neat little shops! She had learned about Good Juju--an old building converted to a vintage-finds store in the West Bottoms of KC. So we decided to go check it out ourselves. The place is only open one weekend a month and apparently people wait with baited breath! The parking was horrendous, with threats of being towed away. We finally claimed a spot after several around-the-block drives. It was worth the search! So fun. The shop owners find old things and rework them, fix 'em up, paint them and put them up for sale.

While I didn't find any must-haves, Sis scored a vintage bread box, a LuRay sugar bowl and a couple of pieces of green depressionware. And, of course, while we were out and about, we had to hit some other antique malls, grab lunch and enjoy the required late afternoon ice-cream cone. The weather cooperated...well, except for the gusty winds.

Sisters Day Out....it's just good juju!

We Finally Got a W!

2011-10-02T17:01:00.004-05:00

My KC Chiefs have really been struggling! We had not won a game yet this season. It's been tough to be a fan. But we've stuck with our boys in red and today we actually won a game. Mostly earned by the 5 field goals Ryan Succop made, we'll take it!! Dwayne Bowe's touchdown was sweet too. Here's our quarterback, Matt Cassel. And what gorgeous weather for football. Sunny and 70ish, teensiest of breezes. Woohoo.

Let The Show Begin!

2011-09-30T12:11:00.003-05:00

How Can That Be???

2011-09-28T07:22:00.006-05:00

Saturday night last I attended my 50th high school reunion. How on earth did those 50 years go by so darn fast??? It was so good to see so many of my former classmates but so sad to learn of how many had passed on and how many were facing serious health difficulties. Our class had 358 graduating seniors but only about 100 attended plus spouses. Many could not be located, many just could not attend. But of the ones who were able to make it, boy did we have a good time!!! So much reminiscing, so much catching up, so much story-telling! What is interesting about a 50th reunion is that the petty things of the 20th have faded away. No more "clique-ness" or who can outskinny whom. Grudges seem to have disappeared. Just good conversation with folks you spent a very important part of your life with. One teacher even attended. I found that pretty remarkable. Of course, the slide show of our high school days made for some pretty good chuckles!

Here's a good celebratory pie and boy, will it keep you awake long enough to party!

My Really Really Chocolate Pie

Purchased Oreo crust (OR homemade: 1 1/2 c. Oreos--about 20--crushed in food

processor. Add 3T melted butter. Mix well and press into a greased 9” pie plate.

Bake at 350 degrees 10-15 minutes. Cool.)

Filling Mix 1 c. sugar, 1/3 c. cornstarch, pinch of salt and 1 t. instant espresso powder.

Gradually whisk in 3 slightly beaten egg yolks. Put on medium heat and gradually stir

in 1 c. cream and 2 c. milk. Bring to boil, whisking constantly. Cook and whisk until

mixture thickens. Remove from heat and whisk in 6 oz. semisweet chocolate mini

chips and 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped. Whisk until smooth. Pour into crust.

Topping Top with whipped cream OR a meringue: 3 egg whites and 1/4 t. cream of

tartar beaten to stiff peaks. Gradually add 6 T sugar and beat till stiff and glossy.

Spread over hot ﬁlling, sealing meringue to crust. Place on a baking sheet and bake at

350 degrees till golden. Rotate sheet and bake about 2 more minutes.

Cool at room temperature. Refrigerate after a few hours.

Yum!

Survey Says....FALL!

2011-09-23T19:12:00.006-05:00

Ahhhh, that sweet time of year has just arrived. Tinges of orange popping into the trees, smoky smells in the air, pumpkins landing on front porches, socks and sweaters pulled out of hiding, football games on the teevee, weekend festivals abounding, baking bread aromas wafting from the oven and...soups, stews and bean pots bubbling away on top of the stove.

Cannellini Beans With Kielbasa

Fell in love with cannellini beans a few years ago on a trip to Italy after

tasting them in an incredible soup. Since then I have used them in all

kinds of recipes from tuna salad to lettuce salad to mashed in dips! Hereʼs

a recipe I have been working on for a while to get just like we like it!

Drain and rinse 2 15-oz. cans cannellini beans. (Great Northern white

beans can be substituted. Not all grocery stores stock cannellinis.) Set

aside.

In a large skillet heat about 2 T bacon drippings. In this, saute 1 package

of Kielbasa (that has been sliced into 3/4” pieces diagonally) till lightly

browned. Remove and set aside.

In same skillet add more bacon drippings if needed and saute 1 chopped

yellow onion till soft. Add 3 cloves garlic that have been pressed.

Cook about a minute longer. Add back in the Kielbasa and 1 cup organic

chicken stock. Season with house seasoning (mine is Kosher salt,

coarsely ground black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder) to taste.

Splash in some Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for about 15 minutes or

until some of the liquid has reduced down to desired thickness. Great with

a crusty bread or cornbread!

Chunky Carrot-Tomato Soup

Roast about 4 pounds tomatoes (peeled, cored and sliced in half) OR

2 28oz cans tomatoes on a baking sheet that have been tossed with olive

oil, salt and pepper in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile

melt some butter with a little more olive oil in a Dutch oven. Add 1 chopped

yellow onion, 4 or 5 medium carrots that have been peeled and diced, 2

stalks diced celery and 3” garlic paste. Cook over low heat till veggies are

soft. Add roasted tomatoes and 2 cups organic chicken stock. Simmer on

low for about 20-30 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender. Add 3/4

cup buttermilk (or cream) that has been tempered in a small amount of hot

soup. Taste and add more S&P if needed. Great with grilled cheese

sandwiches!

Fun With A Vintage Bread Box

2011-09-22T04:31:00.005-05:00

I have been shopping for a while for a bread box--the kind that opens easily and doesn't require both hands to do it, the kind that has ventilation holes to prevent condensation build up, the kind that just looks cute and not too industrial. Well, turns out I have had one right here on the premises the whole time! I was in my basement looking for who-knows-what when my eye landed on this thing! I have had it for probably 25 years and used it for decoration at my previous home. Hmmmm....could this be cleaned up and re-purposed as an actual bread box?

Found this spray paint which matches my KitchenAid blender and mixer at Hobby Lobby. No way! So after much scrubbing and sanitizing, I began to prime the box. Drop cloth in place on the patio table, it was spray, spray, spray!

Here it is, almost finished. I'm thinking I'll leave the star off and maybe stencil the word BREAD across the front with white paint. DH says, no, leave it plain. Gonna have to ponder that one for awhile. In the meantime, my bread has a place to live!

HELP! In my lower righthand sidebar is a list of archived posts. The titles are there but won't show up unless highlighted. I have tried everything I can think of in the Design section of my blog but nothing is working. Anyone have a suggestion? Also Facebook, why did you change things just as I had gotten used to navigating you?????

Gratuitous Cat Photo

2011-09-21T05:08:00.001-05:00

Nothing like a warm stream of sunlight!

My Husband, The Enabler

2011-09-20T06:42:00.005-05:00

Yesterday we decided to make a quick trip up to Omaha to spend a few hours with Older Son. While we were there, DH insisted we stop in at one of my favorite Omaha haunts, The Country Sampler Quilt Shop. He knows how to hurt a girl!!! I think he is thinking about that lovely Bernina sitting up in the sewing room collecting dust! While I still enjoy looking at all the gorgeous fabrics and sample quilts, what caught my eye was this:

I have been a fan of Kathleen Tracy's books since her first one came out in 2004, American Doll Quilts. I also have Prairie Children and Their Quilts and Remembering Adelia so this is a nice addition to the collection. I love how she weaves history in with the darling quilts. I love her sense of color and the warmth her quilts convey. And I love that she is a fellow Mid-Westerner and likes to dabble in jewelry making! I think we have a connection.

I really liked this quilt in the book:

So simple yet so evocative of those Sanitary Commission quilts that show up a lot in Civil War history pieces. I appreciate the easy sewing techniques she used on this quilt. Easy? My middle name.

Okay, I promise. This is the last mention of the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. We did attend the open house Sunday. Organizers were expecting 25,000 people to turn out. A whopping 50,000 folks showed up!!!! And that's with a Chiefs game on TV. The parking was challenging, but we were able to find onstreet parking just two blocks away. The line to get in was longer than long, but we only had to stand in the light drizzle for 45 minutes--some people waited one or two hours! Once inside the center we were overwhelmed and amazed. The wait was well worth it. There are two main theaters which will host symphonies, operas, theater, ballet and other arts. They are gorgeous. The beautiful foyers and views are spectacular. Kansas City, you have arrived.

What Will This Reincarnated Blog Be?

2011-09-18T08:38:00.015-05:00

Settling back into blogging has been a good thing. It is such a good way to chronicle parts of one's days. I felt that one reason I had the "bloggie blues" for so many months was that it was primarily a quilting blog. Well, when you've basically stopped quilting, what is there to blog about??? So I decided to change my banner to include cooking and reading--the two things I do most--and just living the retirement life in general. There! That ought to give me a few more topics.

Reading has been a lifelong passion. Novels, historic nonfiction, cookbooks, education reform studies, food politics, celebrity biographies--anything that catches my fancy is fair game. Well, let me tell you, when I received a Kindle for my birthday about a year ago, the whole reading thing was kicked up several notches!!!

Being able to hold hundreds and hundreds of books inside this one little ole' device and tuck it in my purse for reading on the go and download new books ANYWHERE--well, hello, this was just made for me. The only downside is the cost. However, my public library is "in talks" with Amazon to allow free downloads. The books will stay on the Kindle for a short time, then disappear. Counting down the days till this happens!

Another wonderful thing I discovered a few years ago is goodreads.com. It is a great place to store titles of books I've read. I have been known to buy a book I have already read DOH! Now, I can either check goodreads or my Kindle home list and make sure not to do that!!! Only wish I had had these options 50 years ago LOL. Goodreads shows that I have logged in 138 books since I started using it. Hmmm....that's a lot of housework that didn't get done.

Blogger seems to only want to load up 5 images at a time--some things never change! Here are a few recent books I have enjoyed:

Ruth Reichl is one of my favorite authors. I have read everyone of her books I could find.

She was a former food critic for NY Times and editor of now-defunct Gourmet magazine among other things. She has a magical way of weaving in food, cooking and restaurants with family history. Her stories of her mother's cooking disasters are worth the read alone.

Tina Fey--love her! So much fun to find out how she got to where she is today. There is so much more to her than a Sarah Palin impersonation--although she does do that brilliantly. Her comedic writing skills are so great--both on TV and in books.

This book should be required reading for all educators and law-makers. It very ably points out the flaws with trying to run an educational system with No Child Left Behind tactics. As a retired teacher, I saw the massive destruction occurring in schools by the endless focus on testing, preparing for testing, misusing the testing, crushed spirits due to over-testing and poor use of test results. Testing is not education.

This book was a little hard to read but worth sticking with. The narrator is a five-year-old boy who has been held in captivity all his life in a shed with his mother who was kidnapped as a teenager. It is a story of ingenuity in the face of seemingly impossible odds and mothering in the worst of circumstances. I honestly could not put it down.

And, oh my, speaking of books I could not put down, this is it! Sarah's Key takes place in both 1942 and the present. It is an unfolding mystery during the horrific times when Paris police helped round up Jews for the Nazis to send them off to death camps. While it is so painful to think about that inhumane time in history, it is so important to know about it to try to prevent it from happening again. Again, a story of indomitable spirit and hope.

Deja Vu (Or Sure Glad Fabric Doesn't Rust)

2011-09-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

Okay, so re-entering the blogging world is making me a little antsy. All those projects that are STILL unfinished kinda make me feel bad. I redid my "Projects In Waiting" list on my sidebar so that I could maybe sorta kinda get a manageable number of quilts to maybe sorta kinda think about dragging out and working on. Maybe. Sorta. Kinda. I figured 5 was a nice round number--ha ha--so I ventured into the scary sewing room and pulled out 5 and photographed them (there's the deja vu part). I am trying to remember why they were abandoned in the first place. I think I may have an inkling....

Here are the blocks from Women of Influence, the 2009 Kansas City Star BOM. I liked some of them, the flowery ones, but some of the others seemed so "been there done that" to me. I think I even "gasp" replaced some of the original ones. These blocks just aren't doing it for me. So I'm thinking I may use some of them but make some new ones to replace the ones I don't really like. Hmmmm....

A few years back I was so into quilting. When I wasn't sewing blocks and putting quilts together, I was shopping for fabric or poring through quilt books or attending quilt shows or getting together with quilting buddies to talk about quilts or reading blogs about quilting or watching TV quilt shows. Perhaps I overdosed! But it gave me so much pleasure to be involved in quilting. Then something happened! I just quit--almost cold turkey! Oh, there was the occasional baby quilt to be made or a quilty-type gift item, but the zest just wasn't there anymore. So I am determined to recapture that lust. However, I think the key is going to be, "If I don't love it, why am I doing it?" Maybe some of the projects will have to be donated or rethought.

Here's one I still DO love, the 2009 Bunny Hill BOM, A Tisket A Tasket. I just need to come up with a clever way to set the blocks. I'm thinking maybe a tilted block setting....

I know why this one fell out of favor! These are so NOT my colors! Maybe I'll finish it and set it out on the porch swing for Halloween!!! I do love string quilts--just not this Wacky Web String quilt.

And this little puppy has been to this stage for a long time. It was a BOM for Pat Sloan's internet group back in the day! I do like it and it could probably be finished up in a coupla afternoons. It is called Farmers Market and I do love farmers markets!!!

Another string quilt, Chocolate & Cherries--all ready to be quilted. I had originally planned to do a big-stitch quilting on it. Now I'm a-thinkin'--straight line machine quilting. Get that sucker done done!!!
Well, I wish I could say that these were all the unfinished projects lying around my sewing room. I could say it but then I'd be lying! So many more. But even if I get only one project done, that will be one more finished than I have right this minute.

Tricked Out Kansas City

2011-09-15T07:01:00.017-05:00

After years in the making--literally--our piece de resistance is finally opening! The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the feather in Kansas City's cap, is so incredibly beautiful. I wish these photos did better justice. Sunday is a free open house for the new center and I plan to be there--along with at least 25,000 of my closest friends. Watching the construction go slowly along, I would always breathe a spontaneous "Wow!" every time we drove by. It always made me think of the Sydney Opera House. We are so lucky here in KC to have many things we can feel pride in. Fountains galore, the Country Club Plaza, many museums including the nationally renown Nelson, professional sports teams Chiefs & Royals, wonderful restaurants...I could go on and on. Yep, I love my city. Well, except for the summer humidity and the winter ice storms! I am so excited that this newest work of art is opening. Maybe it will put Kansas City on the map!

Peach Butter

One of Hubs' favorite things this past month has been peach butter--kind of a cross between jelly and sauce. So delicious on an English muffin or toast. We have already gone through two jars and the three that I have held back for gifts may go the way of all things yummy!

In a large pot bring to a boil and reduce to simmer : four pounds of peaches (blanched, iced, peeled and chunked) with one cup of water till tender, about 15-20 minutes. Puree with immersion blender. Add 3 cups sugar and the juice of 1 lemon. Bring to strong simmer, stirring frequently. Cook for about 30-40 minutes till thickened. Ladle hot peach butter into hot, sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe rims. Put on lids and rings. Process in boiling water canner 10 minutes. Remove to towel and DO NOT DISTURB for several hours. Check for seal.

*This recipe was adapted from Ball Blue Book. I decreased the sugar called for and increased the water and added lemon juice for acidity!

Summer Plans An Exit Strategy

2011-09-13T08:13:00.010-05:00

Here in KC we've had a nice string of gorgeous weather--mild temperatures, gentle breezes and some overnight rain here and there--teasing us with the autumn to come. Yesterday summer reared its ugly head and said, "I'm not done with you yet!!!" Temps in the 90s put us right back in our place. Calendars don't lie! The harvest moon last night, though, made me forget about temperatures and calendars and airconditioning and mosquitoes. So incredibly beautiful. Pausing to think about summer's dwindle, I'm reflecting this morning on what I'll miss most. The brilliant colors of zinnias, petunias and roses? The croaking frogs and flittery dragonflies at the pond? The baby cardinals attempting to leave the nest? The lazy afternoons in the family room recliner with my nose buried in my Kindle? The Cuisinart ice-cream maker churning out strawberry yumminess? The Weber fired up with Italian sausage and peppers grilling away? Well, all of that, for sure. But mostly I'll miss the farmers markets (which we have in abundance around these parts) and my husband's homegrown tomatoes! It's been a summer of...salsa-making and sauce-making. Tiresome, but I'll be glad come January!

For some reason I got on a ratatouille kick this summer. Through July and August we must have had it at least once every two weeks. And I never remembered to shoot a photo!

Ratatouille PREP: Scrub a large eggplant and cut it into 3/4" pieces. Place in a colander, sprinkle with Kosher salt. Scrub two zucchinis and cut into 3/4" pieces and place in a bowl. Salt. Place bowl on top of the eggplant in the colander. Let stand for about 30 min. Wrap each in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze to remove some of the moisture. Quarter lengthwise, then thin slice crosswise 2 yellow or Vidalia onions. Halve, seed and chop two pounds tomatoes (4 or 5) OR two cans diced tomatoes in tomato juice. Cut one red bell pepper into 1" pieces. Press 8 - 10 garlic cloves. COOK: Saute onion in olive oil in a large skillet. Transfer to Dutch oven (DO). Saute zucchini, adding more oil if needed. Add to DO. Saute eggplant, add to DO. Cook red bell pepper strips till soft. Add to DO. To the DO add the tomatoes, garlic, fresh or dried basil, fresh or dried parsley, fresh or dried chives (other herbs would work too but basil, parsley and chives are what I have growing in pots on my deck!) and house seasoning. (My house seasoning is Kosher salt, coarse ground black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. I make up batches and keep it in a shaker.) Can add tomato juice or veggie stock if needed. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer till veggies are tender but not mushy. Taste. Add more house seasoning if needed. This is so darn good even my veggie-shy sons love it. And...it gets better after sitting in the fridge a day or two. And.....you can add some grilled kielbasa and cannellini beans on the second or third day (if there is any left) for a hearty entree! And......well, that's enough about ratatouille!

Speaking of zucchini....

Zucchini Soup

Yummy and mild, a tasty goodbye to summer...

In medium Dutch oven saute 1 chopped yellow onion till soft. Add three zukes that

have been scrubbed and cut into 1” cubes and 3 small Yukon potatoes, peeled and

cubed. Stir to coat in the oil. Cover with organic chicken stock. Add garlic powder,

onion powder, Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste (my house seasoning). Cover and bring to boil.

Reduce to simmer and cook till zukes and potatoes are soft. Puree with stick blender

till smooth. Add a squirt or two of fresh lemon juice and some fresh chopped herbs

(parsley and chives are good). Temper some cream (1/4 to 1/2 cup) in a small amount

of hot soup. Add to the pot. Taste...may need more cream and more salt and pepper.

***A sprinkling of grated sharp cheddar on top wouldnʼt be frowned on! Serve with

crusty bread.

As summer crawls to a close, it's good to savor those wonderful veggies for another week or two. But autumn will bring its own rewards...

2011-09-11T11:53:00.002-05:00

The Lo-o-ong Hiatus

Looking in Merriam-Webster, I find that "hiatus" means an interruption in time or continuity. No mention of how long the interruption has to be in order to be considered a hiatus and not a "quitting". Phew! My last post was 15 months ago. There were many times when I considered closing down shop altogether but the nagging memories of so many great blogging pals kept me from doing that. So...here we go again. Probably no former readers still out there but would love to hear from any who happen to stumble across this blog! It is said that life is what happens when you are making plans...so so true. Some of life's issues have been resolved, others still in progress. Sorry for no further explanation but that's how it must be...for now.

Today is a day full of memories for so many Americans. It often feels like the terrorist attacks were just yesterday. I am always grateful to the many who protect us on a daily basis, both on our homeland and abroad. Thank you.

Be Back Soon

2010-06-15T18:01:00.001-05:00

Brought To You By The Letter "M"

2010-05-09T07:11:00.003-05:00

Mamacita, Mere, Mutter, Mommy, Mana, Mater, Makuahine......to ALL you nurturers out there

40 Earth Days

2010-04-21T13:26:00.003-05:00

I actually do remember the very first Earth Day, April 22nd, 1970. I was teaching at a small elementary school and my dear, dear friend (who passed away in 1989 from breast cancer) was the catalyst for a big celebration at our school. We planted a tree and did a lot of ecology-related projects with our students. We drew pictures of ways we could help the earth. We sang songs about the earth and read poems exalting our planet. It was such a hopeful joyous day. I wish we had come farther in taking care of our environment since 1970.

I try every year to add one more thing to the list of ways to live "green" and purchased the book Do One Green Thing by Mindy Pennybacker It is a wonderful book chock full of practices that are better for your health, better for the planet, and better for social justice. This year's "one more thing" will be to strive to eat more locally grown organic produce and to support local sustainable farming.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T17:51:00.003-05:00

May your Easter be full of promise and lots of chocolate bunnies.

Guess Who Came To Dinner

2010-04-01T08:59:00.005-05:00

And this is no April Fool's joke!! Yesterday evening DH and I were sitting in the living room when all of a sudden, he jumped up and ran for the binoculars. "There's a great horned owl sitting in the tree out there!" he exclaimed. Hmmm...I was skeptical. Even though we do hear hooting from the woods that lie behind our house, I always assumed they were smallish guys. But, no. I immediately shagged this photo off the internet from a nature site so we could verify his coloring and habitat range. Sure enough, he is our neighbor! Isn't he gorgeous? Soon three crows flew onto nearby branches. We really didn't want to see a war between these feathered friends and luckily, they just engaged in a staredown for about 20 minutes. Of course, I then began to worry about what he would choose for his prey. The fish in our pond? The frisky rabbits that are hopping down the bunny trail? My croakity frog buddy? I think I am better off not knowing. After all, an owl has to eat too. And Rocky and Natasha were reminded, once again, that they are forever house cats!

Happy First Day of Spring?????

2010-03-20T09:46:00.002-05:00

Well, didn’t the Vernal Equinox just dump a load of stuff on Kansas City!!!!

We went from mid 60s and gorgeous yesterday to 30 degrees and THIS this morning. Guess I won’t be hosting any luncheons on the deck today. Bummer! (No, I wasn’t really going to do that.) Looks like we got between 3 to 4 inches of the white—with possibly more on the way. Hmmm…just when you thought it was safe to come out in the weather.

Oh, well, a perfect day to stay inside in the comfy sweats and read the new book:

A Borders coupon was “burning a hole in my pocket” (as my mom used to say) and I found so many great uses for it, but settled on this one. So glad I did! A bonus one-year subscription to Country Living magazine was included in the price of the book!!! I have followed these gals (Serena and Teri) on their blog for a while now and love all their homey touches and great recipes. It’s good to see bloggers “make it big”!!! Apparently, Teri has now retired and Serena is writing the blog on her own.

A coupla cutesy ideas from the book:

Off to the couch with my cuppa and new book! Hope your 1st Day of Spring looks a little better…

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

2010-03-16T22:31:00.001-05:00

Loneliest Sewing Room In Town

2010-03-15T10:46:00.006-05:00

If the Maytag repairman took care of my sewing room instead of washing machines, believe me, he’d be plenty busy!!!

I just don’t get in there like I used to. However, this morning I braved the elements and tiptoed in. Nothing fell on me so maybe it is still habitable!

Or NOT!!!!

A few items needing my—ahem—attention:

materials for the last Tisket Tasket block (yes, it was the 2009 BOM from Bunny Hill!!!)

fabric for

a baby quilt…baby due April 22nd (no idea what I’m going to do with this piece!!!) But isn’t it adorable?

fabric to make a drawstring bag for new baby’s big brother who is two and a half and LOVES matchbox cars. This should make a handy grab-and-go holder for the cars.

towels and potholders to make hanging kitchen towels. These will be thank-you gifts for the friends who treated us so well in Mesa. Before I can stitch them up, I need to embroider something on the hotpads.

Yes, I do have my work cut out for me. And you’d think I’d be upstairs chained to the sewing machine right now. But you’d be wrong! I’m on the computer getting ready to order yet another project pattern:

This just rocked my world when I saw it on a wonderful blog (new to me) Notforgotten Farm .

I know, I know, this is a sickness. SEND HELP!!!

Bunnies In Stitches

2010-03-09T08:46:00.002-06:00

Wow, would you look at that speeding calendar!!

March 14…..Daylight Savings Time begins

March 17…..St. Paddy’s Day

March 20…..First Day of Spring

and…..

April 4…..Easter!!!!!

Is it just me or is time getting away?

Starting to pull out spring/Easter decor. First out were the bunnies in stitches:

Today’s task will be to dig through boxes for more.

Here’s a wonderful recipe for brussels sprouts for people who don’t like brussels sprouts—even DH liked this one!

Of course, as he would say, “Everything’s better with bacon in it!”

5 pieces bacon, cut up and fried. Drain on paper towels and reserve drippings in the skillet.

1 pound brussels sprouts (cut in half) Saute the sprouts in the hot bacon grease, till crisp—about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup chicken broth and cook till broth boils. Cover and cook 5 minutes more. Uncover and cook till broth is gone, then add 1/2 cup cream. Stir till cream covers sprouts on medium heat. Remove from heat and mix in 1 t. black pepper and the bacon. Mmmmmm…mmmm!

Ain’t It Great To Be Back Home Again…

2010-03-04T10:09:00.002-06:00

A wonderful trip was had to Arizona to visit with dear friends. As much fun as it was, it’s always great to be back home to pamper your pets and sleep in your own bed.

Love, love, love those Southwest cacti and succulents. Just a few…

…and of course, my ole’ pal Saguaro

Side trips abounded. Saw the new (and scary-looking) bridge at Hoover Dam.

A quick stop at White Sands National Monument…

with lots of gorgeous sunrises and sunsets to boot.

This little vacation was just what we needed!

A Sea of “C’s”

2010-02-17T18:14:00.002-06:00

It seems that I have been hanging out with a lot of “C” things lately!

…Candy

Russell Stover chocolates. Mmmmm….a Kansas City legend.

…Chickens In The Road

A new (to me) blog that is just wonderful! Go here and see for yourself. But, be warned…you’ll spend lots of time there with recipes, farm life, goats and chickens, craft projects, and just plain fun!!

…Crochet

There’s very little that relaxes me more than a repetitive crochet project, especially if it’s Cheap and Cheerful!! Little dishcloths are a good way to try out edge stitches and pattern repeats for larger projects. And they work up so-o-o fast!

…Competition

We’ve been overdosing on the Olympics. Vancouver is so beautiful and I especially enjoy Apolo Ohno. Oh, and the polar bears at Churchill!

…Color

Beautiful flowers from a son. There’s a story but it can’t be told here!

…Cats

Rocky seems to be thinking, “She can have the flowers. Just let me have the paper!”

…Cold

Kansas City temperatures…enough said!

2010-02-12T17:28:00.001-06:00

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

February Arrives

2010-02-01T08:41:00.003-06:00

No, I didn't make this wonderful quilt but it has always been a favorite of mine. Thank you, Google Image Search!!!! It has just the right flavor for February. Not too bright, not too mushy. Maybe someday I'll get around to making it.

February....what is there to say about February? Here in KC we're still having lots of gray. The good news is that we're taking off in a couple of weeks for Arizona---the epitome of "not gray"! Can't wait. Tomorrow the ground hog makes his official proclamation about gray. Six more weeks of it or spring just around the corner? Fingers crossed. Although, my son who is a meteorologist says, "doesn't matter what the ground hog says, we're having six more weeks of winter!" Hmmmmm....we'll see who is right LOL! Happy February!

It’s Here! 2010 KC Star BOM!!!

2010-01-19T08:57:00.003-06:00

This morning’s paper brought a delightful surprise! A folk-arty, primitive style of quilt for the annual block-of-the-month, Across the Wide Missouri. And the bonus—it is a quilt reflecting life on the frontier! What could be better? It is a charming quilt with lots of history of my native state thrown in. The first installment features a short story of Luzena Stanley Wilson whose husband had caught “gold fever” and packed up his family in 1849 to head west for Sacramento, California. The treacherous trip took three months and Luzena discovered much more than gold…..

The designers of this wonderful quilt are Edie McGinnis and Jan Patek, two area favorites. Here is the first very prim block, with the one on the left by Edie and the one on the right by Jan.

Looks like a good way to charge through "the winter that won’t quit" here in Kansas City!

Another great way to weather out the winter?

Build a snowman!!!! Neighbors across the street constructed this amazing Snoopy Snowman in their front yard. Isn’t he just the most darling snowman EVER??!!! Love him!

Or-r-r, there is still another way to fight the winter blahs around here:

Natasha In Repose

Rocky Following Suit

It’s a cat’s life……sigh.

A Little Review of 2009 Book Reading...

2010-01-12T07:57:00.006-06:00

Many quilt bloggers are posting photos of their quilting accomplishments at this time of year. Since I don't have much to brag about along those lines (sniff sniff), I decided to reminisce about something I have done a lot of in 2009!!! I am an avid reader and really gave into it this year. Reading, for me, is such escapism. I didn't keep track of exactly how many books I completed during the year, but did keep a log of the ones I really liked on goodreads.

These are a few of my favorites (not in any particular order):

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan chronicled various families during the Dust Bowl of the 30s. Fascinating to read of all that we learned as a country during this trying time.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett was an engrossing read of life in the 60s South and how domestic help was being treated and a plan of one woman to expose it, even though it was a very dangerous idea.

What a walk down memory lane The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan was! During my childhood days, advertising jingles were all the rage and people all over the country entered contests with their cutesy little ditties. In the heroine's case in this book, though, it was survival to win money and prizes to keep her family afloat due to an alcoholic husband who tended to drink up his salary! Very heartwarming.

A different way to think about history is always fun for me. In The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, the author posits "what if there really were witches in Salem in the 1600s???" Very intriguing.

Over the Rainbeau by Schwartz, Hausman and Sabath was just sheer dreaminess for me. My secret fantasy (I can hear my husband laughing at this one!!!!) is to raise goats and make my own goat cheese. Lofty, huh? In this book Lisa Schwartz recalls her journey of leaving a job as a management consultant and becoming a goat farmer and cheesemaker. Wonderful read about the trials, tribulations and rewards.

I loved reading about Julia Child's recollections of her life in France during mid-century. I so want to go to France so this was right up my alley! Her descriptions of Paris and other regions and her tough ride at the Cordon Bleu were so interesting. My Life in France which Julia co-wrote with her husband's nephew, Alex Prudhomme, was one of the two books that the movie, "Julie and Julia", was based on.

Something kinda different, The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett, was a great reminder that life is not always what it seems to be.

While I wasn't as enthralled by Dan Brown's latest, The Lost Symbol as his DaVinci Code or Angels & Demons, I still enjoyed it very much and will anticipate the movie with good ol' Tom Hanks as the symbologist!!

Another depression-era tale (I sorta got obsessed with 'em and even re-read Grapes of Wrath) I adored this book of simpler times and making do. Recalling her childhood in the harshness of 30s Iowa, the author brought to life what it was like growing up without modern conveniences yet still having a rich life.

The other book that the movie "Julie & Julia" was based on, Julie & Julia by Julie Powell, was just fantastic! I was attracted to it initially because Powell was a blogger! She had decided to make all the recipes in Child's book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and then blog about them--all in one year's time. Ups and downs, marriage problems, career problems...all a fun peek into someone else's life.

This one, recommended to me by my sis, was so touching. Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was a reminder of the injustices done to Japanese-Americans during World War II, with a beautiful love story woven in.

A few years ago I read Jeannette Wall's amazing story of overcoming an abusive and neglectful childhood, A Glass Castle, and still to this day haven't quite gotten it out of my mind. When her new book, Half Broke Horses was released, I couldn't wait to get to Borders with my trusty coupon! The book did not disappoint. It chronicles Wall's grandmother who was way ahead of her time and was a pure example of the can-do spirit!

Just for something a little different, I read Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner. An entertaining view from an economist on how everything from cheating on tests to crack gangs' business dealings to the inner workings of the Ku Klux Klan are connected--incentives! A good mind opener.

Looking for that next great book, KC Quilter.

Snowed In And Frozen Up

2010-01-10T12:49:00.003-06:00

Here in good ol' KC we have been hit really hard with snow and dangerous temps--as have many other parts of the country. About the only thing to do is stay inside by the fire, read and drink lots of hot chocolate!!! Oh, and think about sewing or crocheting! I think it is high time I got into that sewing room and dug around for some UFOs that are wanting some attention.

I found this photo on the internet of the Platte River about 20 miles from my home. Isn't it beautiful! I think it has landscape quilt written all over it.

Happy New Decade!

2009-12-31T08:19:00.002-06:00

Wishing all in Blogland a happy new decade! So ready for the old decade to be history and the new one to step in. The motto for the upcoming months will be "Hope". May all your hopes come about in 2010.

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-20T14:34:00.001-06:00

Back in the new year with updates on the block-of-the-month quilts and life in general. Have a wonderful holiday.

Wishing You a Wonderful Thanksgiving

2009-11-22T05:25:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T05:07:00.002-05:00

Playing Catch Up Part 2

2009-10-21T09:21:00.002-05:00

Back to the sewing room this week to try to get caught up on the other Block of the Month, the Kansas City Star’s Women of Influence quilt. Did manage to get blocks 6, 7, 8 and 9 done. Will work on block 10 and hopefully have it finished in time for the next block to come out, third Sunday in November.

Block 6, Love Apple, honors Elizabeth Cady Stanton who was a significant part of the suffrage movement.

Block 7, Log Cabin, honors rights advocate and abolitionist Sojourner Truth.

Block 8 is called Tulip and was designed to honor Lucretia Mott who was an activist for abolition and suffrage.

And Block 9, called Whirlwind, pays tribute to Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet.

So enjoying the women’s history that is being intertwined with these blocks! Anxious to get the measurements for the Flying Geese borders for the blocks which will form a secondary pattern when the blocks are put together. Even though many of the blocks are very simple, I think this bordering of the blocks is just going to make the quilt.

A little daydreaming going on too! In the new magazine I picked up the other day, More Fast & Fabulous Quilting Ideas, I fell in love with this adorable purse. I mean really, can you have too many pockets??

May be time to dig through the autumn or Christmas fabrics…

Playing Catch Up

2009-10-08T11:45:00.002-05:00

As I attempt to get back into quilting, I am reminded why I LOVE this block of the month so much! It is the Tisket Tasket series from Anne at Bunny Hill (see sidebar). Each month’s design is even cuter than the one before. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite.

I’ve been trying to hang out a little more in my neglected sewing room and this was the first project I ran to. I was four months behind so this week has been filled with tracing patterns onto fusible web, cutting and ironing.

Lighting is pretty poor there this morning due to overcast skies and just generally crappy illumination!!! Trying to improve the photo with a photo-editing program was no help! But here are the July, August, September and October blocks all fused. Now to add the machine blanketstitch, hand embroidery and some button embellishments and they should be ready to join the party!

Two more months of blocks to go—can’t wait!

Off to fight the rain and get a haircut.

Tiptoeing Back In…

2009-10-04T08:57:00.003-05:00

It has been said that life is what happens when you’re making plans. Oh, boy, so true. Thanks to the readers who expressed concern. I am trying to get “on with it” so thought I would start back into blogging with a post about those wonderful Gee’s Bend quilters. In case you haven’t heard their story, there are wonderful posts on the internet. Here’s just one: http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/history/

Last Sunday DH and I traveled about an hour and a half to a charming small town, Marshall, MO, to a quilt show where the Gee’s Bend quilts were being featured. Three of the quilters were there in person, along with about 15 of the quilts.

It’s hard to look at these works of art and not reflect on the influence they’ve had on today’s “modern” quilts—whether intentional or not. I see so many designs on the internet and in books that could easily have been in the Gee’s Bend collection. Here are some I was privileged to see.

Their appeal to me is in the functionality and utility. It was so fun to see how they were able to incorporate scraps and pieces of fabric in comforts for their families. Nothing appeared to be off limits—leftover corduroy from a Sears plant, husbands’ work shirts snippets, whatever they could get their hands on! To the uninformed, these quilts might not be appreciated. To me, they are what quilting is all about. They are expressive works of art with a very necessary purpose.

If I have not commented on your blog in a long spell, please forgive me. I will try to do more of that!

Blog Break

2009-07-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

I will be on a blog break indefinitely.

Inspiration, Motivation, Incentive and a Fire Under the Seat of My Britches

2009-07-11T10:41:00.006-05:00

Was that title long enough??? Those words may all just be synonyms for the same thing-- what I need right now. But they all seem to express what's lacking around here. I was so sure that after things settled down from the Fourth, my little self would be holed up in the sewing room--but no. My little self has been just holed up! What's been going on? Reading, lots of reading. Just finished The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. An absolutely fascinating look back at the Dust Bowl during the Depression, it delves into the lives of some of those who lived through the hardship. I learned so-o-o much--from how much of the blame for the dust storms belonged squarely on human shoulders to what federal programs were first initiated during the Depression. Of course, the winds and the drought were dealt from nature's hand but the soil that was bared by overplowing millions of acres and laying the land raw in No Man's Land could not be attributed to Mother Nature. We as a country hopefully learned a lot about soil conservation. For some reason, I have become very interested in the Depression. I immediately checked out The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck from the library. Oh, sure, I have read that book---but probably 40 or 50 years ago LOL! Its first copyright is 1939. And I do vaguely remember Henry Fonda in the movie version. But I think I will read it now with new eyes. Hmmm...maybe I should look through my 30s reproduction fabrics to find the missing inspiration, motivation, incentive and fire! Or, dear readers, you could leave some comments relating what motivates you when you get into a sewing slump....

On a very exciting and delicious note, we are planning a trip to PARIS!!! I am so beside myself I can hardly stand it. Of course, it won't happen till 2010--probably May, but all I can think about is I'M GOING TO PARIS!!! The one in FRANCE!!! We'll travel with dear dear friends. We'll also go to the beaches of Normandy. Mmmmm....Eiffel tower, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, wine, pastries....ooh la la! I'd also love comments and suggestions from any who have been to Paris.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer—WHERE ARE THEY????

2009-06-30T09:24:00.002-05:00

Gosh, June is GONE! Not much sewing or blogging got done this month. Between the weddings, the showers, the high school grad parties, two weekends of houseguests, an out of town funeral, visiting relatives from Colorado in another town, attempting to keep the weeds away from my herbs---whew!

Oh…and this vice

…nose firmly stuck in books. Dating back to the bookmobile days of my childhood, it just seems right to read away any spare time in the summer. I loved Julie and Julia. Back in the infancy of blogging Julie Powell decides to learn to cook by cooking all 524 recipes in 365 days found in Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking---and to blog about the adventure!!! Gosh, I wish I had been reading blogs back then (2002ish—2003ish).

Of course, the story is about so much more than cooking—although it is fun to read of the successes and hilarious failures. It is a tale of a Texan transplanted to New York, her zany friends and supportive husband, her “career” which she despises, her family relationships, her life in general and even some snippets of Julia Child’s life. Great read. Can’t wait for the movie.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was a bit of a stretch for me. A good stretch. The premise is what if there really were true witches in 1690s Salem. Very supernatural, very intriguing.

Oh, forlorn sewing machine…where art thou mistress? I am at least THINKING about sewing. Here’s Block 6 of the KC Star BOM (photo from the newspaper):

I do at least have the parts ready to fuse. Maybe after the Fourth…

This block honors Elizabeth Cady Stanton who helped officially start the struggle for women’s right to vote.

As Independence Day creeps up, I am preparing for a family gathering at my house. Recipe-digging-out, grocery shopping and more grocery shopping, cooking and the dreaded housecleaning will consume the rest of the week. Can’t wait!!!

The Things We Leave Behind

2009-06-18T08:11:00.003-05:00

My MIL passed away one year ago on June 14th, Flag day. She was 96 years young. DH and his siblings have been going through her things in preparation for a sale later this summer. The treasures of old family photos and letters and greeting cards, bibles, newspaper notices of deaths, births and wedding announcements have been pored over. The woman saved EVERYTHING! One of the interesting things SIL found was a list of every gift she’d ever given! And of special interest to me, she kept a list of every quilt she’d ever made and to whom it was gifted. I don’t recall ever seeing one of her hand-pieced, hand-quilted beauties on any of her own beds. We proudly own these—and they have each graced a bed in our home at one time or another.

They were not labeled so I am hoping her list will help me remedy that! I know approximately when each was made but would love to have better dating info.

This experience of digging through another’s belongings and wondering why items were saved has certainly made me think of the day when my loved ones will be faced with the same task. I really believe that DH and I must start culling through “stuff” to lighten the chore of our sons from those decisions of what to keep and what to donate, what is valuable and what is trinket-y. It is a daunting task, no matter who does it.

On a lighter note here’s Block 6 of Tisket, Tasket.

This looks orange-y on my screen but in “real life” the basket is a softer peachy coraly color. I adore those coneflowers!!!!

And on the decorating front, I love to put some patriotic touches out (then leave them out!) from Memorial Day through D-Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.

Isn’t that a little on the lazy side????

Not I, Said the Duck

2009-06-10T12:55:00.002-05:00

I can’t imagine having a hubby who a) CAN cook and b) WILL cook. But Sista’s DH does both! A few days ago he sent me a bag of mushy stuff:

Doesn’t look much like bread, does it? It was the beginning of Amish Friendship Bread. Years ago I kept a Sour Dough Starter going for a lo-o-ong time. When it became a hassle to “babysit”, I finally threw it out. But if memory serves, it did make delicious bread. So I decided to play along with this new starter stuff. After ten days of mushing and adding ingredients, the day came to bake it off:

Two loaves! One to eat today and one to freeze!!!

Very tasty! A lot like cinnamon bread. Now, what to do with the new baggies of starter it created! Much like the Little Red Hen, I think it will be hard to find “takers” who will want to mess with it. Think I’ll start with a couple of unsuspecting neighbors…

Baby shower gifties are DONE DONE—and a bit early! Since I can’t attend the shower due to a prior commitment, I’ll get them delivered tomorrow to the granny-to-be and she’ll take them to the shower for me.

And from the “I’m Just Sayin’” department, could anyone greet the morning with these beauties looking back and not feel a smile creep around the lips?

Even after being beaten down by a huge rainstorm we had yesterday, they just keep going!

June Is Busting Out All Over!

2009-06-01T08:41:00.002-05:00

The colors of early June inspire.

And…drum roll please…a quilt is DONE DONE!

Thanks to Carrie of Cricketwood Prims and Gardens for her suggestion of a limey-green flange between the quilt and border! And thanks to the other Blogpals who weighed in with other suggestions. It really helps to get another eye. I put four plain blue cornersquares in so that baby’s “stats” could be embroidered after he makes his appearance. This photo could have been better—the holderperson isn’t home!!! So the quilt is laying over the sewing table and some odd features occured LOL! Today I’ll get a label made for the backside.

The weekend brought some reconnecting with longtime friends—always a pleasure. As our talk turned to travel, I had to laugh at DH as he told everyone that he had been in quilt shops in Alaska, California, Colorado, Arizona, New York, Tennessee, Georgia—and on and on and on!!!! Can anyone relate?

Somebody Stop Me!!!!

2009-05-27T12:26:00.002-05:00

Crochet has its grip on me---BAD! But just look at this cute lion amigurumi

Who could resist whipping this up? Hope Baby Boy Great Nephew likes it. (I’ll be glad when BBGN has a name!)

And crocheted flowers? Oh, my—so quick and so fun.

But I must concentrate on the quilt!!! Squares are all stitched together and I am auditioning borders.

I was thinking of a calming small print but nah, let’s stay with “busy” LOL! This cute number print caught my eye and I hope there is enough there for borders and backing. I’m thinking maybe I’ll have to put an inner border to stop those red squares from flowing right on into the red border! Maybe a bluish? Help, please.

Baby Fun

2009-05-24T09:20:00.002-05:00

DH’s niece is having her first baby in the fall. Yippee! I thought I had lots of time to make a quilt….BUT…the shower is in two weeks!!! Due to scheduling conflicts among her friends and family, the shower had to be really early. This may sound familiar. The same thing happened to me two years ago (see this post) when I made a mad dash to whip up Kyle’s quilt.

So…yesterday I decided to make a quickie Eye Spy Match ‘Em Up type quilt for the new baby boy who is on the way. I dug through my stash of novelty prints. How much fun is that?? I have a tendency to buy those adorable fabrics with absolutely no idea in mind as to how I’ll use them. Well, this should be perfect! Most of the Eye Spy quilts I have seen have rather small blocks. I decided to give Baby (and myself) a break and use 6” finished blocks. And since I could, I cut two of each to make it a Match the Pairs game too.

Somehow I want to incorporate into the label what to find and what to match: teddy bear, horses, butterflies, watermelon, farm, lunch boxes, crayons, chocolates, sheep, kids, cowboys, Dalmatian dogs, whales, baseball stuff, hen & chicks, frogs, monkeys, lemons & limes, flamingoes, cats and penguins.

This really looks busy but then, I’m sure Baby Boy will be busy one day too! Here are a few of my favorite prints:

And on the I’ve-Gotta-Stay-Off-Attic24’s-Blog scene (it’s just too-o-o much fun over there) here is a cute way to spiffy up an old pickle jar.

Crocheted Jar Jackets!!! Who’d a thunk? I tell ya, that girl is a designing genius. And what a great way to use up bits and bobs of yarn. I just love all her colorful crochet goodies. And now, she is into patchwork! Give her a look.

Tomorrow is a day of remembrance. Along with the barbecued brats, coleslaw, baked beans and strawberry pie, I hope to pause in reflection and think of all those brave ones who have served, are serving, and will serve in defense of our freedom.

Have a peaceful, safe and mindful Memorial Day!

Adrift In A Sea of Blogs

2009-05-18T07:47:00.003-05:00

Not really accomplishing as much as I should…but that’s Spring for ya! What HAS been happening around these parts…

enjoying a lovely Mother’s Day

opening day movie watch of Angels & Demons (two thumbs up)

clucking over a dear friend who had a mild heart attack and subsequently a stent inserted

crocheting kitsch for friends coming to visit from Arizona

and the rose that ate Chicago for me

watching the rain gauge fill up (Friday we had 4.5” in a very short amount of time and lots of local flash flooding)

cooking up a storm (my yummy Rainbow Stuffed Peppers for one thing)

catching up on the Kansas City Star BOM Block 5

and picnicking and geocaching in our favorite state park, Watkins Mill.

Whew, how’s that for a run-on sentence??? And from a former teacher at that!

Edited to add the recipe for the stuffed peppers as requested by a commenter:

Rainbow Stuffed Peppers

Wash 4 large bell peppers--red, orange, yellow, green or a combo of any.

Cut off tops and clean out stems and seeds. Parboil the pepper shells in

boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. Place on a towel to drain. Cook 3/4 cup

instant rice according to package directions. Saute 1 med. chopped yellow

onion in olive oil till soft. Prepare the stufﬁng mix: 1 pound lean ground

beef, the cooked rice, the sauteed onions, 1 clove chopped garlic (or 1 t

jarred minced), 1 T chopped fresh parsley (or 1 t. dried), 1 T chopped fresh

basil (or 1 t dried), 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, 1 t

Kosher salt, dab of freshly ground black pepper. Mix gently by hand.

Sprinkle insides of the pepper shells with salt and pepper, then stuff them

with the ground beef mixture. In an oven baking dish pour a small amount

of either tomato sauce or jarred marinara sauce. I love to use Bertolliʼs

Italian sausage garlic romano sauce but whatever tomato-based sauce is in

your pantry will do! Set the ﬁlled peppers in the dish and cover with more

sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree oven for about

an hour till ground beef is thoroughly cooked. Serve a little warmed sauce

on the side. Add a loaf of warm Ciabatta bread and a salad and youʼre

good to go!

Inch By Inch

2009-05-07T11:55:00.003-05:00

Block 5 of A Tisket A Tasket (link in sidebar) was so much fun and is just as sweet as the first four. (And, yes, I put the upper wings on the butterfly upside down—doh!!)

I cannot believe how tickled I’ve been with this adorable BOM series. A huge thank you to Anne at Bunny Hill for providing this for us devotees – FREE!

Made a beginning on some baby gifts (see previous post). Here’s Rudy the Rectangle. Isn’t he a goofy guy?? He is an amigurumi (Japanese-style critter crocheted in single crochet stitches) and the pattern was FREE at Michael’s, compliments of Lion Brand Yarn. Are we seeing a trend here? Free? My favorite price?

And a few burp cloths…almost free as I pulled from my stash of 30s kids’ prints. Just stitch a rectangle to a pre-fold cloth diaper and embellish with some rickrack to make burping time just a little more colorful LOL! Can a new Mom ever have enough burp cloths?

Wrap a few up with some ribbon or netting and toss into the gift bag.

And a few more crocheted hexies join the group:

The hexie pattern is generously provided by Lucy at Attic24 (see side bar for link).

It seems as though I accomplish more when I have several projects going at once. I can flit from thing to thing as the mood strikes!

Hope all you moms out there in Blogland get to spend a little time with your sons and daughters on Mothers’ Day. And maybe there’ll be some chocolate involved.

Sympathy Berries

2009-05-04T08:44:00.004-05:00

After the “Rocky Caper” involving DH’s ruined blueberry pie (see last post), pity was taken! Since California strawberries could be had for a ridiculous price this weekend at the supermarket (local berries not in yet), it seemed only nice to fix a little poundcake/strawberry/whipped cream delight for the sulking boy (DH—NOT Rocky!).

(DH tends to like a little cake, a lot of berries, and a truckload of whipped cream.)

And, wow, for THE BEST poundcake recipe—ever--

go here. A big thank-you to that blogger for the yummy recipe and a big thank-you to my 6-month-old KitchenAid mixer for the rather fiddly amount of mixing required (well worth it) to make this recipe so-o-o delish.

And the big bonus—the recipe makes TWO poundcakes, one for now and one for the freezer. This cake was so tasty, I even ate some plain!

Baby News: One of DH’s nieces is expecting her first baby in the fall. FUN! And a dear friend is gaining her second grandbaby this fall so….you know what that means. Baby sewing—always the most fun kind there is. Of course, there’ll be the “required” Snoopy dogs (see this post)

and burp cloths and bibs. Maybe a quilt or two?

Just look at this beauty in the newest issue of Quilts & More magazine. Waiting to learn of the sex of the babies to pick patterns.

Well, Monday ramblings will end with a salute to Mine That Bird

Thanks for the inspiration, Beautiful Horse.

CSI Kansas City

2009-05-01T10:19:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was our first trip for the season to a local farmers market. Of course, not much in the way of veggies there (except some gorgeous asparagus) but hubby was well rewarded. One of our favorite Mennonite vendors brings delicious homebaked goodies. DH spotted a yummy blueberry pie and bought it on the spot. Well, back at home, after having a slice or two, he dutifully wrapped it with Saran. Hmmm…apparently a midnight marauder decided to have a taste too.

You probably can’t tell from the photo (click for big to see better) but the Saran was broken into, juice was licked clean, and (here’s where the CSI part comes in…) purple pawprints were left at the scene!!! It was pretty easy to determine the culprit. Natasha’s, ahem, girth prevents her from jumping onto the countertop. But this naughty boy

can fly right up there! Rocky, you’re so busted!!! Not the cleverest of criminals to leave your pawprints at the scene of a crime, but at least you managed to get the purple off your tongue before morning.

And just to keep things even, here’s Natasha hoarding the remote control

as if to say, “I will decide what we watch tonight!!!” Who rules THIS household?

On the cloth and yarn front, I am still slicing away at the pyramid pile. Since I have found that I cannot rotary cut sitting down, I have been working on some crocheted hexie love during TV time

because these hands have to keep busy. Rainy days in KC are keeping me indoors. Here’s hoping for a bit of sunshine and a terrific weekend for all us Blogpals!

Charming Charm Quilts—Scrap Quilt Royalty

2009-04-27T09:41:00.002-05:00

I’ve been cutting a few pyramids here and a few pyramids there. Here’s what 400+ pyramids look like:

I try to knock out a few each day. Here’s what the waiting pile looks like:

Oh, and there are several Moda Charm Packs hidden away too, just in case.

And the bag o’ crumbs:

And ten little pyramids all in a row (look like little tepees, huh?):

I became curious about when charm quilts were first being made so a little googling taught me that they were wildly popular during the American Victorian age. They were also known as “Odd Feller” because there were no two identical pieces of fabric. AKA “Beggar” because women often asked others for bits of fabric to collect enough different scraps. (Womenfolk.com) Womenfolk. com is an excellent site for learning historic tidbits about quilting. There’s even a section on uncovering myths about quilting.

The very word “charm” brings to mind collecting (think charm bracelets) and also delight. These precious 5” squares certainly fall into both categories. As I’ve previously mentioned, my charm squares were swapped and collected with my mini-group. And they ARE delightful. In fact, they are so “charming and delightful” I’ve had a hard time cutting them up!!! I’ve enjoyed a couple of years of just fondling them and looking them over. It was time to commit!!!

According to Victoriana Quilting Designs these quilts sprang from the custom of collecting one-of-a-kind buttons on a string, called either charm or friendship strings. I love that idea! Oh, no, I feel another addiction coming on…

And Quilters Studio stated that generally they are constructed of a one-patch design. So…no two fabrics alike and only one patch template. Love it.

It’s a rainy day here in KC so time to whack a few more pyramids. Have a simply charming day!

Every Day Is Earth Day

2009-04-22T08:23:00.002-05:00

How glorious of Mother Nature to bestow upon Kansas City such a beautiful Earth Day. It is sunny and will reach the mid-70s later and best of all, the wind is calm.

Our plan to celebrate the day is to go “geo-caching” with friends this afternoon. It is our new hobby. While we are novices at it, our friends are pretty proficient and hope to teach us a few tricks. If you aren’t familiar with it, you can learn more on geocaching.com. It involves using a portable GPS

to find secret “caches”. Coordinates are given at the website, along with a few hints and other tidbits. It’s a good way to get a bit of exercise by hiking and to explore areas you might not ever take a look at. All in all, lots of fun.

A very wee bit of sewing

took place yesterday. The fourth installment of the Kansas City Star BOM came in the Sunday paper. This one is called Whig Rose or “Rose For Julia” and honors Julia Ward Howe who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic in 186l. In 1869 she helped organize the American Woman Suffrage Association. I have really loved reading the snippets of history about women who were so instrumental in equal rights.

Here are the first four blocks. They will not appear in this order in the quilt. I do see that I need to jazz up the color scheme somewhat!

Hope you have a wonderful day—and go do something earthy!

Three Years Of Blogging

2009-04-17T08:33:00.003-05:00

Wow, it’s hard to believe but I’ve been writing this blog since April 20, 2006. Some marriages don’t even last that long! I wanted to celebrate in some manner and decided that, for me anyway, the most enjoyable way would be a little walk down memory lane. You know, kinda like TV shows do a reel of clips of old shows when they reach a milestone episode? Since my blog’s theme is primarily “making stuff”, I’m showing some of the projects I have had a lot of fun creating.

A few quilts first…. (See, I do occasionally finish things.)

And a favorite antique quilt (NOT created by me)

Some crocheted goodies

A knitted baby sweater with crocheted hat

Since I am expecting houseguests for the weekend, I am posting this a bit early. Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Happy Easter

2009-04-11T17:47:00.003-05:00

May your Easter be filled with chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks!

Eggs, Glorious Eggs

2009-04-10T08:56:00.003-05:00

Over the past couple of years I have made a determined effort to, as much as possible, eat locally grown and produced food. It is a concept that was brought home to me after reading the wonderful Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Of course, there are so many things that the KC climate and locale cannot produce (lemons, bananas, shrimp,etc.) but there are so many things that can come from local farmers. I recently discovered these local eggs in my grocery store. They are beautiful—no Easter egg dye needed LOL!

I love that they are from free-range chickens and that no antibiotics or hormones were used and that the hens were vegetarian fed. And each box contains a little note from the farmer telling a bit about what is going on at the farm that day. This sweet entry says, “Little calves are appearing beside their mothers in the pasture fields. The little lambs with their mothers are out for fresh air too—how cute they look; it is a sign of spring…” How precious is that!

Speaking of lemons (we were, weren’t we?) I found the most yummy lemon cake recipe here.

From these

to this….mmm.

The recipe is written in metric. I diligently googled the conversion chart but I have to tell ya, I came up with some pretty bizarre amounts in the American equivalents!!! Imagine my glee when I discovered that my Pyrex measuring cups had both the metric AND American amounts all lined out for me. Whew! Anyhow, made the luscious, lemony, light cake yesterday and it is GONE. So moist, so delish. I won’t post the recipe but hope you’ll click the link above--you won’t be sorry. Speaking of the link above (and we were, weren’t we?) Attic 24’s blog is one of my new favorites. A young mum in England, Lucy writes eloquently and entertainingly. She is a beautiful crocheter (one of my current obsessions) and has a Victorian home that is about 100 years old that she is doing wonderful things to. Check her out.

And, on the quilting front

this pyramid cutting station was set up in the kitchen. I had intended to do this in front of the TV in the living room in the comfort of an easy chair but find I have to rotary cut standing up!!! I pulled out a ton of the nickel squares and culled out whites, creams, and screaming brights. I am making two piles: darks and medium/lights as I cut. I’m trying to keep them in groups of ten (hence, the six-pointed star effect!) for ease in counting. I have to tell ya, the mini-rotating mat and the pyramid ruler are proving INVALUABLE! And, yep, that’s a Klutz glove you see there because, well, I am a Klutz!

Odds and Ends Monday

2009-04-06T10:10:00.002-05:00

Since April has proven itself to be “the cruelest month” these first six days here in KC, there seemed nothing better to do than stay inside and do a little of this and a little of that.

You may remember if you have read my blog for a few years (please say you have…) that my mini-group embarked on a year-long 5” square swap around 2005-2006.

This photo was taken after 9 months’ of swapping.

Well, I really never had decided exactly what I wanted to use mine for, except that I was pretty sure I wanted it to be a “charm” quilt—one pattern piece. For years I have loved these 1000 Pyramid quilts (from a 1989 book Creative American Quilting)

and thought maybe these little nickel squares might work. After searching for an acrylic template that would fit snugly inside the fabric so as to keep waste to a minimum, I finally saw one on the Fons & Porter TV show. I promptly ordered it but it was back-ordered for several weeks. Wah-la, it finally came in the mail the other day

and I love it. It is adjustable and can make pyramids from 1” to 6”. This will be a great TV project in the evenings to sit with my smallish mat and rotary cutter slicing those little babies!

Another divine TV project is crocheting. While watching Changeling yesterday, in front of the roaring fire, I whipped out this little scrubbie and matching dishcloth as a quick gift for a friend I’m having lunch with later this week.

Doesn’t that flower made from a non-stick scrubber, some cotton yarn and a G hook just scream Spring? Such fun.

More crocheting…I have been wanting to crochet a Ripple afghan for the longest time and think I have FINALLY figured out how to do it. The pattern stitch is a piece of cake, it’s the counting that always messes me up LOL!!! So…..collecting some yarn and digging through the stash….

and deciding on this pattern (from a Lions Brand yarn book)…

I should soon be ready for another TV project. I am hoping to catch a good sale on the rest of the yarn I will need. My sewing machine is upstairs and most of my current quilty projects are machine-y, so I try to have some fun stuff to do while DH and I watch the tube in the evenings.

The temp is hovering at 33 degrees right now, the wind is fierce, and the skies are gray. I WANT MY SPRING---NOW!!!

A Little More On Tennessee

2009-04-02T09:24:00.008-05:00

Karen and Marne so kindly asked to see more photos of the trip to Tennessee.

View Full Album

Hope this works. I am still fumbling with Windows Live Writer!!!

I promised to give more info on the wonderful shops I stopped at on the trip and to show in more detail the ~~greedy purchases~~ souvenirs.

On the way down we made a quick rest break in Paducah. Paducah??? Say what? Isn’t there a sweet little fabric shop there whose catalog I drool over? Why, yes, that would be Hancock’s of Paducah.

I will almost always go for a nice bit of cream fabric since it seems as though I use it constantly for applique backgrounds so I picked up a yard. The darling little honeybuns are from the Flag Day Farm line by Minick & Simpson. DH is so funny in quilt shops! Something will catch his eye and he’ll insist I buy some. So this very patriotic fabric will most likely go into my Courthouse Steps project.

Then a stop in Chattanooga at a WONDERFUL shop called Lavendar & Lime just blew me away. The shop owner had a most gorgeous quilt using Charisma charm packs that I HAD TO MAKE! But, of course, she was out of the charm packs. Waaaa, waaa, waaa. I bought one jelly roll on spec and the book with the pattern (thought in mind: find those charm packs on the internet!!!) Which I did but opted to wait before ordering in case I found them elsewhere on the trip. As an aside, I must give a shout out to quilt shop ladies. Whenever we travel, we always work in a quilt shop or two and my husband never complains because we ALWAYS get the best info from quilt shop ladies!!! Anything from best place to eat lunch to historic attractions in the area to easiest routes. Gotta love quilt shop ladies. Beyonce should write a song…

On a tip from the Lavendar & Lime owner, we headed down to Chickamauga via her BEST route and stopped at a shop in Ringgold, Georgia, she recommended. Sew Bee It—fantastic!

I have been admiring the Louisa May Alcott book by Terry Thompson so I took the plunge. While waiting to pay, I saw Remembering Adelia which had just come in. This is by Kathleen Tracy, the lady who wrote those wonderful doll quilt books, American Doll Quilts and Prairie Children and Their Quilts. Even if I don’t make the quilts for Adelia, I have already loved reading the diary excerpts she had written during the Civil War. (I know this is a very lo-o-ong post, so maybe you’d like to grab a cuppa?)

In Sevierville, Tennessee, we found The Cherry Pit, another amazing shop. And wouldn’t you know, she had a shop sample made up of Charisma—and it was kitted!!!

I don’t have a photo of the quilt but I did buy the kit. I can either make the one I saw in Chattanooga or this one! And I supported local quilt shops. Yay, me!

This post probably sounds very materialistic (oops, bad pun) but honestly, when we travel, I’d rather have quilty souvenirs than t-shirts or cedar boxes. That’s my story and I’m stickin’…….

On Top Of Old Smoky…..

2009-03-31T11:39:00.002-05:00

…..all covered with vapor…. We have returned from a short trip to Tennessee. Even though the weather was not very cooperative, we still had a wonderful relaxing time. We saw the “choo choo” in Chattanooga,

we toured the largest national military park in America—Chickamauga (hubby is a huge Civil War buff) on the Georgia side,

we stayed in a wonderful mountain log home in Gatlinburg,

we spent lots of time in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park,

we saw the artists and craftspeople both at Arrowmont and along the Glades Road loop,

and ate lots of delicious country food. Talk about flaky biscuits!

Of course, I have lots more touristy photos but I know you aren’t really interested in that!!! You want to know about the quilt shops, right? Well, here’s the loot:

Details of books and fabric will follow in a later post. It’s good stuff so check back.

I do have to share a piece of handthrown pottery that I just had to have. Wish I knew how to do that. Perfect for scrambling up two eggs for breakfast!

And, of course, I can’t travel without a handwork project! Inspired by this beauty and also a desire to whittle at the yarn leftovers, I crocheted a few rows on an afghan.

Now to whittle away at that pile of laundry….

Channeling Gwen Marston

2009-03-21T13:06:00.002-05:00

The anti-dote to template piecing (see previous post) is a heaping cupful of Gwen Marston’s liberated process.

I LOVE this book. Even though I have had it for simply ages, I always notice something new each time I sit down with it. This time it was her analogy (page nine) to conventional quiltmaking being like traveling on an expressway. “Nothing new to see and traveling on the same wide straight road with multiple lanes with everyone else becomes wearisome. The only choice for lunch is fast food…” Then she talked about taking road trips as a kid on the two-lanes—no end of things to see, going slow enough to see them. Fun and adventure along the way…that is what liberated quiltmaking is all about! And Process—making your own creative decisions, reflecting your joy. Wise woman, that Gwen!

I am caught up on all three BOMs and not ready to work on my other projects, so I spent a little time in the sewing room yesterday just playing. Just enjoying the Process. Gwen’s house blocks Process is just plain ole’ fun. I hadn’t made any for a long time so these first six were just to get back in the groove. After sewing six, I am ready to be a bit more creative. I want to construct a whole neighborhood—and I won’t even have to deal with City Hall to obtain permits!

Speaking of road trips DH and I will be leaving bright and early Monday morning for a little much-needed excursion of our own. We are heading for Tennessee. First we’ll hit Chattanooga, then on to Great Smoky Mountain National Park and sites thereabouts.

Hopefully we’ll get to travel a few of those two-lane slow and easy paths. See you soon.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Quilting Fairy…

2009-03-19T12:18:00.002-05:00

but she doesn’t live at YOUR house!!!

I completed Block 3 of the current KC Star Block of the Month this morning. Whew! I just don’t like working with templates any more. I have gotten so used to quicky techniques for HSTs and Flying Geese that I find it hard to work with templates and usually find that I am less accurate—even though I frequently check my 1/4” seam allowance and check sections for size after stitching, for some odd reason, I am mostly OFF a tad. AAARRRGGGHHH! This block is not exactly 12 1/2”.

The good news is—apparently the first and second ones were off the same amount of tad!!! Guess this will be a “liberated quilt” LOL.

In other “news” DearSister and I had a Sisters Day Out yesterday—so much fun. She is not a quilter but she IS a shopper. Man, can she wear me out!! We went to one of our favorites—Cockrell’s Mercantile out in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. (I may have blogged about this place before. If so, mea culpa.) Such an incredible place. Five little cottages of wonderfulness. One is Fiestaware only, one is baking equipment, one is cooking supplies, one is a gifty shop, and one is a garden goodies spot. Let’s just say, we did our part to help the economy. Here is just a sampling of my “contribution”:

This little doodad is a Garlic Zoom. You fill it with garlic, roll to chop, and empty it out! Can’t wait to try it.

And a retro timer—so cute. I have a bad habit of sticking something in the oven or on the stovetop to cook, then heading off to my upstairs sewing room and forgetting all about it! I like to carry a timer with me to—hopefully—avoid starting a fire.

Much needed winestoppers! One for red and one for white, of course!

We also each added to our Fiesta collections and shopped at Dillards and a pottery store and, best of all, lunched at a darling Italian restaurant, Ciao Bella, in Lee’s Summit. Oh, and mustn’t forget, our late afternoon tradition on these little excursions—a McDonald’s ice cream cone. It’s a rule! Sisters are just the best.

YouTube Fun on St. Paddy’s Day

2009-03-17T09:12:00.001-05:00

Just Playin…

2009-03-16T13:19:00.001-05:00

You know how it is when you get a new toy..ya just gotta play with it. Using Live Writer to blog with is really fun. I love how it places photos where you actually want them to be and in the order you want them—something I always struggled with using Blogger. Even though I would load them in reverse order, if I wanted more than 5 photos, it just didn’t cooperate! I have also been interested in watermarking my photos. Piece of cake with Live Writer.

I like the ability to tilt pictures. There are more options I will explore soon. I also like the ease with which you can make a list. Here’s a Things To Do:

Go shopping for one-speed bikes with coaster brakes with DH
Learn how to use our new portable GPS for geocaching before our trip to Tennessee next week
Start a checklist for the trip
Continue lessons with my next door neighbor on giving shots to my diabetic cat
Gather some handwork to take along on the trip

I like that “crossing out” feature:

Today is a ~~nice~~ gorgeous day in the neighborhood. I should be out ~~playing~~ exercising instead of being on the computer.

Tables can be fun too,

Wacky Webs String Quilt Add borders to the long ends Pull scraps in color scheme

Chocolates & Cherries Big stitch quilt with brown perle cotten Mark fans pattern

Hot Salsa Nights Piece blocks together Arrange on design wall

I know there is much more to it but that’s enough for today!

Signs of Spring

2009-03-15T16:00:00.002-05:00

A short little trek around the backyard revealed some promises: iris, sedum, knockout rose, and lily—all poking through the brown earth. What a welcome sight!!

I am trying out a new blogging program, Windows Live Writer, a free download. Sorry, I didn’t make a link but I’m sure it can be googled.

In response to a request by a commenter, here’s the recipe for Irish Sweet Potato Soup:

3 medium sweet potatoes—peeled & cubed

6 medium carrots—peeled & cubed

1/2 onion—chopped

4 cloves garlic—crushed

2 sticks celery—chopped

6 cups chicken broth

1 t. salt

Pepper

Put all ingredients in a dutch oven and simmer till soft. Blend with immersion blender till pureed.

Fingers are crossed that this actually publishes and doesn’t wreck my blog!!!!

Warning: Sunglasses May Be Needed To View This Post

2009-03-12T07:55:00.004-05:00

Dug out from the depths of the sewing room the other day, this string quilt UFO was my first attempt at string piecing. It was started several years ago in a bee class at my guild. It was so much fun but I soon grew tired of the bold color scheme. I have now decided to finish it as a picnic quilt or just a fun Halloween cuddle quilt. I have run into a road block, though. The piecing was done on a very lightweight foundation material--an interfacing type fabric. This is what the leader of the bee had us use and so I just went ahead and finished it that way. It is a "leave in" foundation and that appealed to me. I so dislike having to tear paper foundations out. Well, here's the snag: the weight of the quilt body is slightly heavier than the borders which do not have the foundation fabric under them. How is THAT going to play out??? I am planning to use a low-loft 80-20 batting. Maybe that will help to camouflage the two different weights? Also the top measures 60" square. Maybe an extra border would be good to make it a more useable size? Hmmmmm...what to do, what to do...

The Wonder of "the Internets"

2009-03-10T08:37:00.010-05:00

Everytime I gripe about the high cost of internet service, I have to stop and remember all the wonderful perks that come with my internet service!!! Example: free BOMs. Here are my March editions of Christmas Wish from Gail Pan and A Tisket A Tasket from Bunny Hill. See sidebar for links.

Then there's example two: book suggestions from other bloggers. I saw this book on

Happy Things sidebar recently, Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression. So I immediately requested it from my local library. It came, I read, I LOVED!!! No, I didn't grow up during the Depression (I was a World War II baby) but I heard countless references from my parents about it while growing up. With the current economic times (some would say we're in a depression now) this book captures the truly important "things"--self reliance, family, innovative problem solving, and joyous revelling in all that nature gives us. I laughed, I cried. Now I need to OWN that book.

Example three: help in locating items. You may recall a previous post called

A Tale of Two Quilts in which I was frantically searching for a book that contained the pattern for this beautiful quilt I saw at my guild meeting.

I had combed websites, quilt stores, craft stores, and asked friends to help find it. To no avail! Well, a very kind reader (Betsy who had no email or blog for me to respond and thank her) commented that this book was on eBay. I "Buy It Now--ed" it. It arrived the other day and sure enough--there was the quilt. Different colors and a slight variation in the applique, but still--THE QUILT!!!

Can you believe it??? I am grateful to Betsy. I am going to delay the start of this quilt so that I can select fabrics carefully--it's been a long time since I set out to buy fabric for a quilt. I have been whittling down my stash for projects. So I think I deserve a splurge. My story, sticking to it. In the meantime, I have been working to finish a string quilt that has been languishing in a dark corner for too many years, Spiderweb.

Oh, and one more example of internet perks: friendship

Wacky Webs String Quilt	Add borders to the long ends	Pull scraps in color scheme
Chocolates & Cherries	Big stitch quilt with brown perle cotten	Mark fans pattern
Hot Salsa Nights	Piece blocks together	Arrange on design wall