Shop Till You Drop

Today Elizabeth and I shopped all day long. Our day began with breakfast at IHOP and then bargain hunting at various stores. Our main purpose for shopping was the fabric stores; I needed some fabric for a future quilt as well as more backing fabric for my fussy cut quilt. Sadly we did not find what I needed.

However, we did find some nice 75% off Christmas deals. This double mug set cost me $3.75 after the discount. I will be using the mugs for a gift basket;

The kids will eat the chocolate and I plan on putting assorted teas and homemade cookies with the mugs in a wicker basket.

I found an unexpected bargain at the grocery store today; cheese marked 50-cents per package. It normally sells for $3.59 per package. I bought 11 packages and will freeze it until we are ready to use it in cooking.

Elizabeth received a gift card for Barnes and Nobel Books from Aunt Eva, Uncle Barry and Cousin Richard. We searched all over the store looking for just the right book.

After much discussion we decided on a handmade leather journal with lock and key. Elizabeth was very excited about this purchase.

Our final stop was Little Caesars for a quick and easy dinner.

We are so tired I think we will sleep until next year! :)

Back To Quilting Pt. 3

All the quilting is finished now.I decided to try my hand a echo quilting for each fussy cut block.

Some of the blocks came out pretty good;

And some are just so so.

But since this was my first time trying echo quilting I am pretty happy with it.

Tomorrow I will need to buy some more of the backing fabric for the binding; I hope the store still has some in stock.

Back To Quilting Pt. 2

I completed about 80-percent of the quilting today; all I lack now are the blocks.Today, Belinda at Brown Dirt Cottage , called the quilting Long and Loopy; this is a perfect name!

I love how the quilt feels; it is so heavy!

Back To Quilting

Today I dug out my fussy cut quilt top and ironed it; Next I pieced a back;

And began the quilting.

I hope to get all the quilting finished pretty soon because I have an idea for another quilt.

A Budding Photographer

One of Elizabeth's gifts this year was a small digital camera; it measures approximately 2.5" x 3" and will take 40 pictures before you need to unload it on to a computer.She has been having so much fun with the camera and I love seeing what she thinks is "Picture Worthy".

A Nice Lazy Day

Today was a nice lazy day; it began with presents around 8 A.M. Then a late breakfast of french toast and hot chocolate.

For Christmas dinner we went to my mother-in-law's home and spent the rest of the day visiting.

It was dark after we got home so some of the chickens roosted in the Mulberry tree.

It sure felt good to do absolutely nothing all day!

Merry Christmas!

I Love Christmas and all that it means.

I hope you all enjoy this wonderful day with family and friends.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A Gingerbread Boy

Elizabeth worked on her first handmade tree ornimant today. I cut out the pattern and she began placing the buttons where they looked best.

Once the button placement was decided she stitched them on and made the nose and mouth with embroidery floss.

After that she began stitching the front and back together.

Here is how the gingerbread boy looks before his stuffing.

And here he is all cozy on the tree.

Elizabeth is so happy with her little boy and has given him the name Daniel.

A Little Stress

I have always heard working with leather is difficult because most mistakes cannot be fixed. So, on Thursday, when I was asked to put a name on a leather guitar strap I wasn't too sure if I wanted the job.Most places are not able to even begin a job for at least 6 to 8 weeks; and since the strap was to be a Christmas gift I held my breath and decided to give it a try. As the machine was sewing I sat and watched each stitch until the name was finished.

I am very pleased with how it came out and now my heart is beating once again!

May I Brag a Little?

Jonathan received a wonderful letter in today's mail. He has been accepted into the Honors College at Tech.

I am so proud of his accomplishments!

A Christmas Gift

This old armoire was given to me a few years ago by a friend. I had wanted to use it as a closet but there wasn't enough room inside it so I had been using it for storage. One day Pat and I were talking to a local antique dealer about selling it and during the conversation we decided to turn it into a gun cabinet for Jonathan. Pat took out all the old hardware and built the inside to house several guns.

He also built two drawers at the bottom to hold accessories.

Jonathan discovered the newly remodeled cabinet in the storeroom last night by mistake. We were hoping to keep it from him until Christmas day but it was just too big to hide.

It was easier to hide his gifts when he was younger!

More Christmas Goodies

Along with the other Christmas goodies I have already mentioned I like making peanut brittle; the recipe does not work in all microwaves so I am not able to share it. Fudge; the recipe is located on the Kraft Marshmallow Cream jar.

And party mix; the recipe is located on the Chex cereal box.

My packages are now all packed and shipped! It sure feels good to be done with most of the cooking now. (I say most because I will still need to make a few more items for local friends.)

Full Production

My kitchen is quit full of goodies being baked, cooled and packaged as I am getting all my items ready for shipping tomorrow.After the boxes are dropped off at FedEx I should be able to slow down a little.

Christmas Memories

For the past several days we have been slowly bringing out our decorations, setting up the tree, adding the lights and then the ornaments . Each year as the ornaments are unpacked they bring back fond memories.

One year, I believe in 1981 when I was in high school, my mom had a neat idea to make Ginger Bread men, women and houses out of cardboard and fabrics. At the same time we did the gingerbread decorations I also made this stuffed Santa and colored him with magic marker.
These beaded ornaments were made by my grandmother but I am unsure of the date.

Pat's aunt made this snowman from dough. He has such detail and is so cute; unfortunately his little metal hook, at the top of his head, no longer stays in place so he cannot hang on the tree any longer.

Jonathan and Elizabeth do all the hanging as I unwrap each ornament and we talk about where they came from, who made it or who gave it to us.

Elizabeth was very interested in the ornaments Jonathan made when he was little. I told her we would make some so she would have her own homemade ones; but this will probably not happen until after Christmas.

Thank You Grandma!

Elizabeth received a package in the mail today from Grandma in Missouri;A pair of handmade pink socks.

Gift Exchange

Tonight I will be attending a Mom's Night Out Dinner and Gift Exchange. Usually I make kitchen towels as my gift but I wanted something more fun this time.While digging through some of my patterns I found this cute snowman pillow.

He was so easy to make and so cute I am planning on making a second pillow for myself.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Another favorite gift giving item is chocolate chip cookies. I can make a batch of cookies for around $1.50; one batch makes 5 to 6 dozen cookies. I use the Nestle Toll House Recipe found on the back of the package.
The chocolate chips is the most expensive part of the recipe but I stock up on them after Christmas when they are 2 or 3 bags for a dollar and store them in the fridge or freezer to be used throughout the year.
The cookies are bagged in 1-gallon plastic bags and put in the fancy paper bags just like the caramel corn.

One batch of cookies makes two gift bags.

Caramel Corn

Another cost effective gift is caramel corn; I can make a double batch for less than $1.

Caramel Corn

8 cups popcorn
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons margarine
3 tablespoons corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Begin by popping a large batch of popcorn; I like making this in the hot air popper so it will be light and fluffy. Remove all un-popped kernels and put popcorn in a large roasting pan.
Combine sugar, margarine, corn syrup and salt in a medium size pan; bring to a boil on medium high heat; boil hard for 5-minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat; add baking soda and vanilla; stir well.

Pour over popcorn and gently stir to coat evenly; bake in a 300 degree oven for 15-minutes; stir and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Place on wax paper to cool.

Now I put the popcorn in gallon size plastic bags and seal with tape;

Then I place this in a Christmas bag to make it pretty.

I stock up each year on these fun Christmas bags when they are marked down to 5-cents each. One caramel corn filled bag cost me less than 40 cents!

Less Than $1.50 Each

I love giving homemade goodies for Christmas; it is not only cost effective but a lot of fun. This year we will be giving sugared pecans to almost everyone on our Christmas list.

Sugared Pecans

4 cups pecan halves

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg white

small amount of water

In a medium size bowl add egg white and a spoon or two of water; whisk well. Add pecans and gently stir to coat all pecans.

Mix sugar, cinnamon and salt together and pour over wet pecans;

Stir well until all pecans are covered in sugar.

Place in a baking pan with sides; bake 250 degrees for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

When pecans are fully baked place on wax paper to cool.

When pecans are fully cooled put into gift container. Pat found vintage jars for $1 each that work very well as a gift jar; the receiver will be receiving two gifts in one.

Not bad for a gift that cost less than $1.50!

Dust Texas

Yesterday our weather was very nice until around 4:30 to 5:00 when the weatherman said a large sandstorm was blowing in.We went from normal to sandy in a matter of minutes as a large wall of blowing sand headed straight for us.

This is such typical weather; instead of calling us West Texas I think we should be called Dust Texas!

The Big Day

Today is the big day; Elizabeth is officially 7-years old!

We do not have birthday parties for the kids, instead we celebrate each birthday as a family. On the big day the birthday child gets to do whatever he or she wants to do. Sometimes we go to Mr. Gatti's, sometimes we go to a movie and sometimes we eat at a special restaurant. Elizabeth wanted to stay at home and watch TV all day. So, last week she began digging through our stash of movies collecting all that she wanted to watch.
For breakfast she requested pancakes; lunch will be Pizza Hut and supper will be leftovers.
Elizabeth wanted a shell for the cake with pink icing.

The birthday girl received several gifts and was very excited to receive a dance outfit for her American Girl doll.

Now Annie, the name given to her American Girl doll, has a new outfit.

Elizabeth really likes her new skirts but we will need to find coordinating shirts to go with them next week when we go to town.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Birthday Skirts

Tomorrow Elizabeth will turn 7-years old.Today I completed two corduroy skirts for her big day.

She will also be receiving a pair of boots to go with the skirts.

The pattern I used was so easy; I am looking forward to making more skirts with it.

Soup's On!

Earlier in the week I made a large pot of soup using two thick pork chops (I usually make this with beef); it was such a big hit that Jonathan asked me to make it again.

Here is how I made the soup;

Begin with two thick cuts of pork chops, cubed;Brown the meat in a small amount of oil;

Add a small onion blended in water and two cans green beans with their juice;

Simmer for an hour;

Add hunks of potatoes and cook until they are tender.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pink Doll Quilt

Today I made a pink doll quilt that turned out so pretty; I also made the cutest little pillow with pillowcase.Elizabeth liked the set so much I am hoping to find time to make one for her doll for Christmas.

Working on the quilt makes me anxious to get my sewing list completed so I can get back to work on more quilts.

Family Tradition

For the past several years we have been able to pick pecans for free. Down town has pecan trees by the courthouse, the library, the DPS as well as other buildings.

Picking from the trees is permitted by the city.

The kids love picking pecans; last year the trees did not produce due to the weather. However, this year the trees are very loaded.

After about 2 hours of picking we managed to gather 51 pounds of fresh tasty nuts. Our local grocery store sells pecans for $5.99 per pound.

For the next week our living room will become a shelling factory.

Some of the pecans are turned into candy to give as Christmas gifts; some are used in cooking; and some are used for snacking.

I love how picking pecans is a family affair as well as a money saving activity.

My New Thread Rack

Business has been very slow which means Pat has extra time on his hands.With his extra time he built me a thread rack to hold my large spools.

I'm not sure how I ever lived without it!