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

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

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

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...

The Lo-o-ong Hiatus

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.

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