My Homemade Life

Quilt Club Block 1 of 12

2012-01-24T17:50:00.005-06:00

In November, while visiting my local Bernina store, I signed up for their monthly quilt club. It meets once a month for a year; at a cost of $5. Last week was our first meeting.

The store supplies all the fabric needed to complete one block each month and during the class they also show samples of an assembled block.

In the packet of fabric are instruction and a paper pattern that is needed to complete your block.

When your block is finished you bring it back to class and show that is has been completed; then the store gives you, free of charge, the next block. When the year is up you have enough blocks to make a quilt.

This is my first completed block.

Tattler Lids...An Update

2012-01-17T11:55:00.005-06:00

My Tattler Canning Lids are still holding up strong. The only concern I had was in breaking the seal. I didn't like inserting a butter knife under the lid, it felt like I was going to damage the rubber ring. My solution? A jar opener. This opener used to belong to Pat's aunt and works well at breaking the seal.

The opener slips over the Tattler lid easily and all I have to do is pull up.

And presto, the seal is broken and the lid easily lifts off the jar.

Now all that is needed is a good washing and the lid and rubber ring will be ready to use again.

I am so very happy with my Tattler lids, they are wonderful. Sure wish I had known about these sooner.

Homemade Noodles

2012-01-12T18:35:00.005-06:00

I have made homemade noodles for years and usually just roll them out by hand. After recently visiting my mom, and talking a lot about cooking, I decided to dig out the pasta attachment for my mixer.

It usually takes me awhile to get used to a new gadget and it has been over a year since I played with this.

I love how thin the rollers make your dough. Some day I plan to make homemade crackers and will use this attachment since I love thin and crispy crackers.

After pressing the dough I then switch to the noodle cutter; it makes them very uniform.

Yum, a perfect pot of chicken noodle soup.

My pasta maker is fun to play with but it takes more time than just rolling and cutting dough by hand. Now I remember why it is I haven't used this attachment in awhile.

The Nerve of Some People

2012-01-01T19:15:00.006-06:00

Last week I witnessed a man stealing from our local Home Depot store. He walked from the back of the store at top speed with a can of paint and some rollers.

He walked out the front doors, jumped in his pickup and drove off quickly. Goodness, what is wrong with people. Have we lost our morals and values?

Better Late...

2011-12-26T08:34:00.005-06:00

My "to do" list was just too long this year so some of my gifts will be received late; such as the doll clothes I had planned to make my twin nieces to go on the dolls I sent last year.They will receive dresses with bloomers and flannel pajamas; click here to see what I sent last year.For sure, even though I say this every year, my Christmas sewing will start in January.

Christmas Morning

2011-12-25T20:44:00.005-06:00

Snow began falling last night...And this morning we awoke to...

Beauty all around.

I just love snow!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T18:48:00.003-06:00

Country Treasures

2011-12-23T19:08:00.005-06:00

Today when I checked for eggs I discovered some of the young hens have begun to lay.Yippee, I'm so excited! What a nice early Christmas present.

Making Muffins

2011-12-22T10:31:00.006-06:00

I love to eat muffins but seldom find a recipe for one that is sweet like the store muffins. A few years ago I decided to make some blueberry muffins by adding the berries to a plain cake recipe; the end result was a perfect moist sweet muffin.

Recently, while at the grocery store, I saw giant chocolate chip muffins topped with large sugar crystals. They looked so good I was tempted to pay well over a dollar for just one muffin; but I didn't. Instead I decided to try making my own chocolate chip muffins.

I used the same plain cake recipe, used for the blueberry muffins, and added chocolate chips. I then topped the muffin with plain white sugar, because the large sugar crystals at the store were just too high. The muffins came out so moist and sweet and perfect in every way!

Here is the recipe I used for the muffins; it comes from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I have had for years.

Busy Day Cake

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup shortening; I used margarine

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix dry ingredients; add wet ingredients and mix well. Bake 375-degrees until brown.

When I add blueberries I use frozen berries; about 1 cup.
When I add chocolate chips I used 1 cup.

The next time I try making muffins I would like to see how strawberry muffins, using frozen berries, would be. The possibilities are endless.

Enjoy!

My New Microwave

2011-12-18T20:18:00.005-06:00

I seldom buy anything new for myself but this weekend I was desperate and purchased a new microwave. My old microwave was not getting hot enough and when I cook Christmas treats a microwave is a must. Thankfully I found a nice one at Sam's Club.
I started with fudge and the microwave really got the fudge mixture boiling;
And the fudge turned out perfect.
Next I made some peanut brittle; now the house smells so good!
I am very impressed with my new microwave. It has a lot of space inside and a turn table too.

Christmas Recital

2011-12-17T16:58:00.007-06:00

This year Elizabeth played The Pink Panther as her song for the Christmas Recital.

She is always so terrified and only focuses on her mistakes; but she did so very well.

Playing With Money

2011-12-15T07:10:00.005-06:00

What do you give a person who has everything? How about money!When I recently spotted these at the bank I knew instantly they would be a perfect gift for my dad.

I seldom see the Eisenhower dollar anymore.

Elizabeth suggested we buy this money fabric to wrap the coins in.

I made a small drawstring bag that came out so cute; it's a true money bag!I think my dad will be happy with his bag of money and I'm happy to have another item checked off my to do list.

Little Ballerina

2011-12-14T14:21:00.006-06:00

Meet ballerina no. 1...
She has the cutest little hair bun...

And lives a life of luxury.

Ballerina no. 2 has yet to be made. I'm not so sure my "to do" list is getting smaller.

Winter

2011-12-05T10:54:00.003-06:00

Winter has arrived...

And I love it!

A Thank You Gift

2011-11-29T07:53:00.006-06:00

This quilt is a thank you gift for my mechanic's dog Maggie. The idea came from the quilt I made for Jonathan's dog Rani who uses her quilt all the time.
I love how soft this animal fur is but the price is pretty high so I mix it with corduroy; the two work very well together. Now I have another item checked off my "to do" list.

Chicken Killer

2011-11-24T19:05:00.006-06:00

We have had the worst luck this year with various creatures killing our chickens.

Here is the latest varmint; we caught him by using a can of tuna as bait.

Now perhaps our chickens will have a peaceful night.

No Ordinary Grilled Cheese

2011-11-19T19:49:00.005-06:00

Grilled cheese made with homemade white bread and cheddar cheese.It's simply Divine!

Homemade Breakfast Sausage

2011-11-16T20:41:00.004-06:00

Today I dug out the book Encyclopedia of Country Living;So I could make homemade sausage with a large package of pork ribs I had in the freezer.

Just look at this price...$5.04 for just over 5-pounds; what a deal!

My spices consisted of salt, sage and black pepper; all mixed together and set to the side.

Next I rinsed the ribs and placed them in a pan to drain while I began cutting off the bones.

Once the bones are cut off I rinsed the meat a second time; I do not like having small slivers of bone in my sausage. Next I layered the meat slices in a pan and sprinkle the seasoning on each piece.

I like to add the seasoning before grinding so the flavor is well mixed.

As I began cooking a few patties I realized my sausage didn't have enough fat mixed in the meat; so I ended up lean sausage.However, the sausage tasted great and not dry like I had expected. In fact, the sausage had a very nice "meaty" taste to it.

Plain Pork Sausage

10 pounds fresh pork

5 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons sage

2 tablespoons black pepper

I cut this recipe in half and it made a very nice amount of sausage.

Sewing Projects

2011-11-09T12:26:00.008-06:00

My sewing room has been buzzing with activity as I begin working on a long list of sewing projects; one project was the making of several little pillows. They looked so cute all attached together that I almost hung them on the wall like a banner.

This year I am trying to tackle my projects early.

But I have a feeling my sewing list will be growing longer as Christmas gets closer.

Potato Soup Restaurant Style

2011-11-03T11:05:00.005-05:00

Thanks to the Internet I was able to make one of our favorite soups, Zuppa Toscana, at home for a fraction of the price.
And because I bake we were able to have fresh baked bread sticks too.

Yum, yum it was almost as good as what is served at Olive Garden.

I'm betting the leftovers will be even better!

Fall Roadtrip

2011-11-01T18:25:00.006-05:00

Last week Elizabeth and I took an unexpected and very last minute road trip.
We visited the Alamo;

And the zoo.

We visited friends who took us to Corpus Christi; I love how downtown sits right on the water.

After Corpus Christi we all headed to Padre Island to play in the water;

And search for sand dollars and shells.

Near the end of our road trip we visited family and celebrated my great-nephew's first birthday.

Fall is the perfect time to have a road trip......it's not too hot and it's not too cold.

Crock Pot Apple Sauce

2011-10-24T10:18:00.007-05:00

Elizabeth and I visited a new to us apple orchard last week.While walking under the trees not only did we find sweet delicious apples...

But we spotted plastic snakes, used to scare off birds. My heart skipped a beat or two when we first spotted them, from a distance the snakes appear real.

We gathered 11-pounds of apples, which fit nicely in my large crock bowl. After eating several apples I began pondering what to make with the majority of our sweet bounty; and settled on apple sauce using the crock pot.

My handy apple peeler really saves times. The apples are not only peeled but sliced and cored at the same time.

The apples were placed in the crock pot with a little apple cider, also from the apple orchard, instead of water. And set on low to cook all night.

The next morning the apples were very tender. I used a potato masher to blend them instead of a food mill; so glad I did, chunky apple sauce is amazing!

Apple cake is the next item on my list, providing we don't eat up all the apples before I get around to baking.

To Sew and Sew and Sew

2011-10-20T19:41:00.005-05:00

For the past several weeks I have been busy in the sewing room.

Making satin party dresses.

Each dress has numerous satin ribbon flowers stitched on by hand.

Fifteen dresses in all.

This dress is my favorite.

Who are the dresses for, you ask? They are a gift for 15 little girls who love the American Girl Doll.

Pumpkin Bread

2011-10-11T20:43:00.005-05:00

Fresh pumpkin purchased from the big red barn we visited on Saturday.My favorite way to cook fresh pumpkin is in the pressure cooker.

The insides are so easy to scoop out and mash with a fork or potato masher.

And the flavored water, used in the pressure cooker, is perfect to cook with. I sometimes add powdered milk to the water before adding it to my recipe.

The house smelled wonderful while the bread was baking.

We like eating pumpkin bread with ice cold milk or hot tea.

Pumpkin Festival

2011-10-10T16:09:00.007-05:00

On Saturday we went to Floydada for the Pumpkin Festival. The weather was perfect and felt just like fall; cool and wet.My favorite attraction at the festival was this miniature tractor that was used to churn homemade ice cream.

Just outside Floydada is a big red barn where people stop to buy pumpkins.

Stopping at the barn is so fun; they offer pumpkins is all shapes and sizes.

People use wagons and carts while shopping.

In front of the barn is a large grassy area set up for picture taking. This year it was too wet to walk to the wagon to take our picture but we had fun watching others wade through the water.

We purchased four small pie pumpkins to use for pumpkin bread. At 50-cents each they were a bargain!

A Walk and an Idea

2011-10-06T18:16:00.007-05:00

Early one morning while walking outside I spotted some pretty wildflowers. Later that morning it began to rain and I got an idea....To make a cake using my recently thrifted cake plate and the flowers.

My plan was to arrange the flowers on the top but my top layer began sliding to one side creating a ledge. So not only are the flowers on the top but on the side as well.

The cake still turned out cute; I really liked using freshly watered, from the rain, flowers as a decoration.

And I love my new cake plate.

Pickled Jalapenos

2011-10-05T15:17:00.005-05:00

My few jalapeno plants have really produced. This is only some of what was picked today. See the white pan holding the peppers? A recently find at the thrift store.This time I pickled the peppers using a brine of 5-parts white vinegar and 1-part water; to each pint jar I added half a teaspoon canning salt; and put in a hot water bath for 15-minutes.

There were so many peppers gathered today I was able to share with a friend and still had enough to can 12-jars!

Still Hope

2011-09-26T12:50:00.006-05:00

My tomato plants are still growing and blooming. In fact, the plants are putting on tomatoes like it was spring instead of fall.

Almost daily I spot new tomatoes at various sizes.

However, something has been eating them as they begin to turn red.

I have been cutting off the bad spots, feasting on the rest and still hoping for enough to preserve for later.

My Birthday

2011-09-24T12:52:00.007-05:00

We have used and enjoyed our bar-b-que grill for over 3 years. (This is the grill one of Pat's customers gave us when she was moving.)It has been slowly falling apart, the bottom is hanging on by a thread, and I had been thinking about taking it to a welder to see if we could salvage the grill.

Before I had a chance to visit the welder Pat surprised me, for my Birthday, with a brand new grill; not just any brand new grill but a homemade grill.

This grill is heavy, made with thick steel and lots of extras. The wire rack you see above the regular grill is a box that sits inside the lid to hold hot dogs.

On the side is a Lazy Susan that works as a shelf to hold your pan of meat or seasonings.

On one side of the grill is a smoker box with three shelves to use for smoking chicken or sausage.

In order to move the hot grill or hot smoker racks Pat built two tools that hang on the side of the grill.

These tools work so well; you simply stick the prong end into the grill and lift. I always dread moving a hot grill but now it's so easy and I don't get anywhere near the flame.

Pat also built a griddle which I used this morning to make bacon.

There is a shelf to one side that works well for holding plates of finished foods and cooking utensils.

I also used the griddle to make pancakes;

And eggs.

When breakfast was done cooking I added steaks to the griddle; these are covered with onions and bell peppers from the garden.

The steaks slow cooked, in their own juices, until golden brown. And, I must say, they tasted amazing when I took a small bite.

At the last minute we added some potatoes to bake so we can enjoy them with the steaks.

While cooking this morning I felt like a modern day pioneer cooking my food over an open flame. Fun, fun, fun!

My New Crock Bowl

2011-09-22T15:01:00.006-05:00

Recently I found a large vintage crock bowl at the thrift store for a whopping 12-dollars!

With fall weather in the air I decided to mix some bread dough, in my mixer, and then place the dough in the crock bowl to rise. I love how the dough looks so small sitting in the bottom of the bowl.

When the dough rose it didn't even reach halfway up the sides. I love how big this crock bowl is!

My bread and rolls turned out nice and will go perfect with the jelly I made early this morning. The bread sticks I made from this same batch of dough were devoured for lunch.

We ran out of jelly last week and Elizabeth asked when I was going to make more. (I just love how she knows it will be homemade instead of purchased from the store.) When I make jelly for us, and not to give as gifts, I don't bother to seal the jars; they go straight into the fridge when cooled.

Christmas Red

2011-09-21T09:42:00.004-05:00

My jalapenos are still producing; yesterday I noticed some are turning red.It's almost time to can my second batch.

Reliving the 50's

2011-09-17T09:16:00.006-05:00

Friday was dress up day at our co-op group and for lunch several families gathered at a local ice cream shop with a 50's theme.
It was so fun drinking a coke float...

And visiting while in costume.

It felt like we were part of an episode of Happy Days.

Elizabeth was dressed perfect right down to her shoes!

Elizabeth likes her poodle skirt so much I plan to make her another one. Dressing up is such fun.

Hand Sewing

2011-09-13T21:37:00.005-05:00

I have been working on a poodle skirt for Elizabeth which requires a little bit of hand sewing.The pattern states to glue on each pom pom but I was afraid glue wouldn't hold; so each little pom pom, more than 150 of them, have been stitched on by hand.

Potluck

2011-09-10T23:04:00.004-05:00

I have been pondering what to make for an upcoming potluck breakfast; coffee cake or cinnamon rolls.

Cinnamon rolls are always a big hit and my recipe feeds a crowd.

Saturday Harvest

2011-09-03T10:55:00.003-05:00

My one and only cantaloupe was picked bright and early this morning.

We shall enjoy this and a tomato with lunch today.

Last Minute Sewing

2011-09-01T18:06:00.005-05:00

Our homeschool co-op group begins bright and early tomorrow. This year I will be teaching 2 toy making classes where we will be working with sanding wood and painting wood. Both tasks can get messy so I whipped up 15 child size aprons for the kids to wear during class. It took me two days to complete all of them.

One of Elizabeth's co-op classes will be an American Girl class. The girls will be bringing their dolls to class and Elizabeth requested I make her doll a poodle skirt.

I had so much trouble while making this outfit. My first mistake was cutting out the wrong skirt pattern (and having to go buy more fabric) and it went down hill from there. Thankfully I was finally able to make the outfit good enough to use.

Elizabeth thinks it's perfect so as long as she is happy I'm happy!

The Mystery of History

2011-08-29T16:46:00.005-05:00

This year Elizabeth is in 4th grade; and for history we will be using The Mystery of History. I have heard so many good things about this curriculum. One exciting part is the use of a timeline; which is just up my alley since I used one when we homeschooled Jonathan.

The timeline for The Mystery of History is made with a fold-up pattern board; which I just happened to have on hand.

The book suggested covering the pattern board with contact paper but Elizabeth and I wanted something more exciting so we colored a picture on the back side of the board and then marked the time "lines" with clear packing tape; this way we could still see our design.

Our timeline turned out so cute and we are looking forward to filling it up.

Peppers Hot Hot Peppers

2011-08-27T08:20:00.007-05:00

Fresh picked peppers....
Newly washed...

And preserved.

The first picking provided enough peppers to fill a dozen 4-ounce jar with leftovers. These will be used for salsa so instead of canning them in vinegar I used water and processed in the pressure canner.

Garden Progress

2011-08-23T11:12:00.006-05:00

My garden is still producing but it's quickly being taken over by weeds.I have begun removing my green bean plants and tossing them into the chicken yard.

My tomatoes are still blooming and I have been discovering more and more tomatoes;

Not only in the middle of the plants but on the ground as well.

It looks like we will have a nice tomato crop after all.

So far I have two watermelons growing well. One is on the outside of the fence and I am hoping the rabbits do not start eating it.

The cantaloupes are small so I have no idea how many of them may be hiding under the leaves.

I have given up on my carrots having any flavor and have begun pulling them up and tossing them into the chicken yard.

The cucumber plants are slowly dying. It still amazes me how many cucumbers we got this year.

The bell peppers are big and ready to be picked. I plan to make stuffed peppers very soon.

An oh my, the jalapeno peppers are so plentiful. I will be canning these very very soon.

I am still amazed how well my garden did this year, especially since we had very little rain and many many days with temperatures over 100-degrees.

Beef Tips Over Rice

2011-08-22T13:19:00.004-05:00

Today I made some of the best beef tips using my pressure cooker. I began by Browning the meat, which was a steak I cut into bite size pieces, in olive oil. I seasoned the meat with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and an onion cut in half. When it was time to add the water I stirred in a tablespoon of brown gravy powder. Next I cooked it at 10-pounds for 40-minutes.

Adding the powdered gravy mix was the perfect touch; it blended so well into the meat and broth. The flavor was rich and the meat was so tender.

Fried Pies

2011-08-20T14:40:00.007-05:00

We love fried pies and today, while searching online, I found the best fried pie crust recipe ever. It can be found here.

While my dough was chilling in the fridge I opened a jar of fresh canned peaches, from last years crop, and proceeded to thicken it.

When my dough was chilled enough I took a small amount and rolled it thin; I like to roll out more dough than needed.

Next I added my filling;

And covered the filling with half of the rolled dough.

Taking a fork I crimped the edges;

And trimmed the edge with a pizza cutter.

The pizza cutter works well for shaping the pie.

Once the pie has been shaped take your fork and crimp a second time.

If you forget to do the second crimp your fruit will spill out like this.

Gently place your pie into hot oil.

Flipping when golden brown.

Drain on paper towel.

This newly discovered recipe made a nice flaky crust.

Today's fried pies were the best I have ever made!

Homemade Flour Tortillas

2011-08-17T11:40:00.008-05:00

I am not very good at making homemade flour tortillas but someday I plan to master them.

I can roll them out pretty well, but not round.

When it's time to flip them I am chicken...

And use a metal spatula.

They usually cook up well but are never soft enough to fold into a burrito.

So we eat them as a snack with peanut butter and honey or margarine.

Flour Tortillas

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup warm water

Mix flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening until it resembles crumbs. Add water and mix until it forms a soft dough ball. Place in plastic for 10 to 20 minutes; this makes the texture of the dough more like elastic and easier to roll. Divide into small balls and roll flat. Cook on a hot griddle until brown on each side.

A Wedding Gift

2011-08-11T14:38:00.009-05:00

While searching the fabric store recently I stumbled upon these cute kitchen themed fabrics. Using my embroidery machine I stitched a cute "days of the week" design onto muslin;

And trimmed the ends in a ruffle using the fruit print fabric.Next I found some plain hand towels at Wal-Mart;

And stitched a strip across the bottom of one end using the utensil print fabric.

All the towels and this set of knives are headed to an upcoming wedding.

I think the happy couple will enjoy their gift for many years.

Out on the Water

2011-08-08T09:11:00.005-05:00

We recently enjoyed two days out on the water with just the moms and four kids.

The kids had a blast playing on a raft being pulled by the boat. Their favorite part was jumping off while the raft was moving full speed.

My favorite part was swimming in the lake when the boat was sitting away from shore. We were able to dive or jump from the back of the boat and not worry about hitting any rocks or tree branches.

The water was cool and refreshing, perfect for cooling us off on these hot summer days we have been having!

The First

2011-08-05T11:22:00.006-05:00

We picked the first of the hidden tomatoes.And it was perfect!

I Was Wrong and I'm Glad

2011-08-02T14:37:00.005-05:00

I was so wrong about my overgrown tomato plants not producing; just take a look at this.I have only spotted a few, hidden inside the center of a few plants, but I have hope there are more that I cannot see.

And look at what is growing under the tomato plants...

Yummy, be still my heart!

A Life Without....

2011-07-31T06:30:00.004-05:00

A life without fresh eggs is just too hard, so hard that I considered buying laying hens; but paying 10 to 15 dollars a piece was just too much. Thankfully I found a lady needing to down size her flock. Many are older and most are bantams;

But for 2-dollars a piece I was not complaining! And look at this...

Five eggs the very first day!

Out in the Garden

2011-07-30T07:42:00.011-05:00

It is a strange year for tomatoes. My plants are tall and healthy;

But no tomatoes, just lots of pretty blooms. I have heard that others are having this same problem.

What I thought was Serrano peppers...

Have turned out to be bell peppers.

My jalapeno peppers that struggled to come up and then struggled to grow....

Are now producing cute little jalapeno peppers. And the onions are still growing despite the fact that I am constantly stepping on the green tops.

With the drought we are having I wasn't sure how well my garden would do, but this years garden is one of the best I have had.

I Miss You

2011-07-29T09:19:00.005-05:00

Dear Eggs,

I miss you. Last week we purchased store eggs for the first time in years. You made my day brighter and satisfied my taste like no other.

We hope to see you again in February or March.

Love,

Patty

Another Puppy

2011-07-25T18:38:00.004-05:00

In the middle of our busy summer we stopped long enough to enjoy a birthday party.Elizabeth requested I make a puppy for the birthday girl; it was well received.

Granola Bars

2011-07-23T08:02:00.004-05:00

Elizabeth has been so anxious to learn to cook but I tend to say "I don't have time" too often. To solve this problem I have begun letting her make simple recipes when I am busy elsewhere. In my recent coupon magazine I found a recipe for homemade granola bars that looked pretty simple to make.

While I was busy in the sewing room Elizabeth took over the kitchen; all in all she spent about an hour and a half preparing them for the oven.

Elizabeth did a great job, all I had to do was answer questions and remind her to measure in a separate bowl before adding ingredients to the mixing bowl. She was scared when measuring the liquid ingredients and had me stand nearby to watch!

How did the granola bars taste? Well, they were good but not very sweet; so we dipped them in honey!

Brown Sugar

2011-07-22T14:15:00.007-05:00

I tried making brown sugar for the first time more than 20 years ago and it was a disaster. Recently I decided to give it a try once again.

To make brown sugar you will need white sugar and molasses.Pour sugar in a mixing bowl.

Add some molasses to the sugar and begin mixing.

Continue adding the molasses slowly; roughly a tablespoon or two at one time.

As you add more molasses you will begin to see how the color is changing and how the sugar is beginning to look moist.

When the sugar is as dark as you like stop adding molasses and just let it continue to mix.

Stop mixing when it looks well blended.

Store in an air tight container.

The first time I tried making brown sugar I mixed it by hand, using a mixer really makes a difference; just wish I hadn't waited so long to give it a try again.

Summer Baking

2011-07-19T16:26:00.010-05:00

During hot summer days I find a toaster oven to be a very valuable appliance; we can make pizza without heating up the house.And even bake fresh dinner rolls.

This is one appliance that pays for itself over and over again!

Playing Dress Up

2011-07-18T08:03:00.005-05:00

This year for the Dress Like A Cow Chick-fil-a day Elizabeth had her cousin visiting.It made dressing up twice the fun.

I so love the promotions Chick-fil-a does.

The kids had a great time eating and playing.

And my sister-in-law and I had a great time visiting and looking at the fun costumes others had made for the big day.

On a Hot Summer Day

2011-07-17T17:33:00.005-05:00

Hot weather plus a water hose is a great way to cool off.I even washed her hair before she was ready to come inside.

Carrots

2011-07-14T08:13:00.005-05:00

The carrots are growing well and the plants are so tall they are falling over.When I picked a few I was expecting them to taste sweet and juicy; but I was disappointed, they were flavorless.

I'm not sure why, perhaps the dry hot summer weather.

Cucumbers

2011-07-09T21:08:00.004-05:00

I was so late getting our cucumbers planted this year...But boy oh boy were they worth the wait....

Crisp and delightful and oh so yummy!

Our Fourth

2011-07-08T07:04:00.005-05:00

Our Fourth was spent watching the parade.I love this stagecoach.

And this balloon.

Sadly all fireworks were cancelled due to the drought.

Homemade Ice Cream

2011-07-03T17:00:00.006-05:00

Several years ago I tried making homemade ice cream but it had a strong "cream" taste that I didn't like. With the weather being so hot I decided to begin a search once again and settled on this recipe from the Eagle Brand web site.Another reason to make ice cream, aside from the heat, was to try out my new ice cream attachment that fits my KitchenAid mixer. It worked very well and was so simple to use.

The ice cream was delicious! I plan to make this recipe several more times this summer adding fresh strawberries the next time.

Canning Season pt. 2

2011-06-29T13:09:00.005-05:00

All my hard work in the garden is really paying off. I have been so busy picking and canning;

And I still love my new canning lids!

Canning Season

2011-06-21T20:48:00.005-05:00

Canning season has begun and I am so very excited!

My green bean plants are producing very nicely.

I canned the first batch of green beans with red potatoes; sadly the potatoes did not come from the garden since I decided not to grow potatoes this year.

These were canned early one morning using older Kerr lids I still had; later that day my new Tattler lids arrived in the mail.

I will be picking more green beans later this week and this time I will be using my new lids.

Another Summer Trip

2011-06-20T07:28:00.009-05:00

Earlier this month we hit the road and headed to Ft. Worth. First on our list of activities was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. No cameras or cell phones were allowed in the building so I wasn't able to take any photos. While on the tour we saw stacks and stacks of money and learned how money is designed and printed. This place was amazing and totally free!

While in Ft. Worth we visited The Botanical Gardens, another free activity. We went early while it was cool outside.

The flowers were so lovely and full of rich colors.

And the trees were so magnificent.

As we approached the rose garden the air was filled with sweet perfume.

The zoo was on our list of activities and while it wasn't free we did go on half price day!

Thanks to a very friendly volunteer, at the pioneer museum, we learned about a small train that you could ride for less than 3-dollars per person.

The ride lasted for about 40-minutes and followed the edge of a river and through a very beautiful park.

On the day we wanted to visit the museums I didn't want to drive and park downtown so we took the bus. The inconvenience of waiting for a bus was so much better than driving through all the traffic.

Along with visiting the museums we also checked out the Stockyards.

While we watched the daily cattle drive I was expecting to see hundreds of cows and real cowboys, but everything in the stockyards was just for "show".

Each evening after our daily activities we cooled off in the pool at our hotel. Ft. Worth is a nice place to visit. I loved being able to get away without spending a lot of money.

Reusable Canning Lids

2011-06-15T19:08:00.005-05:00

Last year during canning season I had a lot of trouble with my lids not staying sealed. I called the company several times but never could resolve anything; so I began a search for another brand of canning lids. While surfing the web I stumbled upon a brand of canning lids called Tattler. They are designed to be used over and over and I loved the positive reviews I was reading about the lids.

The Tattler lids consist of a plastic lid and rubber seal but you need to use your existing bands.

The rubber ring and lid needs to be placed in hot water, just like standard canning lids.

When your jar is filled you wipe the glass rim and place the hot lid and rubber ring on top.

And add the ring. Do not tighten too much, just fit the ring snug. Then you turn the ring backwards 1/4 of an inch so the jar can vent while in a hot water bath or pressure canner.

As I added my filled jar to my hot water bath the first thing I noticed was bubbles, lots of bubbles. I was afraid the water would leak into my jars since they were not "tight" but it didn't.

After processing my jars for the allotted time I removed them one at a time and proceeded to tighten the rings. This required two towels, one to hold the jar and one to hold the ring.

After all the jars were removed and tightened I then left them on a towel to cool. Normally I would listen for the traditional "ping" sound that comes with canning but these lids do not make any sealing sound.

The next day I removed all the rings and prepared to "test" for a seal.

Testing is very simple, just lift the jar up by the lid; each jar sealed perfectly.

When it's time to open a jar you will need a butter knife to separate the ring from the jar. You have to be very careful not to damage the ring because the ring can be used over and over again. This was easier to do than I expected.

Once the lid and ring was removed I washed it in hot soapy water and set out to air dry; now it's ready to use again. I then added a used metal lid to cover my opened jar; normally I wouldn't unseal a jar this soon but I was interested in seeing how to unseal a jar.

Trying to deal with Jarden's about the problem with their lids was a "Major Pain"! However, my blessing in disguise was finding out about Tattler. I have already placed an order so I can use these lids right away.

I spent just under a hundred dollars for a total of 6 dozen regular lids and 6 dozen wide mouth lids. According to what I have read the lids and rings will easily last 20 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail

2011-06-12T21:21:00.006-05:00

Each day as I walk out to the garden I have been seeing my neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail dining on my green beans; so I have had to put up a make shift fence, which cost a whopping 40-dollars, in hopes of keeping them from eating any more of my plants.

While we were setting up the fence we discovered Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail has a family.

A very sweet and very soft family.

How can something so cute cause so much damage!

A Pleasant Surprise

2011-06-10T11:37:00.005-05:00

A little over a week ago Pat discovered our last hen had not been killed after all.On Wednesday she became the proud mama of 5 little chicks.

Twice Baked Potatoes

2011-06-08T06:53:00.006-05:00

We love twice baked potatoes; they are so easy to make. Begin with several baked potatoes that have cooled enough to handle.Cut in half length wise.

Scoop out most of the inside, leaving enough to keep the skin from tearing.

Put the potatoes in a bowl and add butter or margarine, salt and pepper. Blend well with a fork mashing any lumps you may have.

Now put the blended potatoes back into the empty potato skins filling each one evenly.

Top with grated cheese;

And place in a baking dish. I have found that the potatoes tend to fall over so I use a pan with sides.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350-degrees until the edges are crisp.

I usually bake more potatoes than needed so I can have extra to put in the freezer. Simply cover the potatoes before the second baking with plastic wrap and freeze.

Thaw before the second baking. This is a perfect food for summer since they can be made in a toaster oven and it doesn't heat up the kitchen.

Weeds in the Garden pt. 2

2011-06-07T09:40:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth helped me pull more weeds from the garden yesterday and we managed to finish the peas;

And the carrots and onions.

My Jalapeno peppers have finally emerged; I was afraid the seeds were too old.

My cucumbers are up and ready to be thinned. I always dread thinning plants, it feels like I'm killing them.

With all the weeds gone my garden looks a little bare.

But I would rather it look bare than buried in weeds.

Weeds in the Garden

2011-06-04T08:21:00.006-05:00

My garden is really looking good but oh my the weeds are trying to take over! This morning I began the "back breaking" job of pulling the weeds that are growing up next to my plants. My focus this morning was on the green beans.I love how lush and full the plants are. While weeding I noticed many of the green beans have begun blooming.

With the green beans finished next on my list will be the peas. They are growing well but the weeds are too thick around each plant.

My tomato plants are really looking good and getting tall; thankfully the weeds around them have been very minimal.

The carrots are coming along nicely;

And so are the onions.

I started several pepper plants indoors but when I moved them outdoors most died; I only have three plants that lived and they are really struggling.

Although my garden is small this year I am so very pleased with it.

And I love having it in the orchard, which is really looking good as well.

I'm already on my second mowing and determined to keep up with it. Mowing small green weeds is so much easier than mowing tall dried weeds!

Something Old Turned New

2011-05-29T21:22:00.005-05:00

Sometime last year we had a friend sell us an old incubator. I wasn't too sure it could be fixed or even fixed up.

Thankfully Pat is good at restoring things.

We had to order a few replacement parts in order to have a working unit; thank goodness for the Internet.

On Saturday we noticed the eggs began hatching;

Which is good since every one of our chickens have been killed over the past few months.

Between the dogs, the coyotes and I think a bobcat, our poor hens didn't have a chance!

Thankfully we were able to buy some fertile eggs and can now begin replacing our flock.

A Little Shopping

2011-05-28T21:02:00.007-05:00

While we were in Austin Jonathan wanted us to drive to Buda so he could shop at Cabela's.

A sporting goods store is not exactly what I consider a "fun" place to go, but boy was I wrong about this place.It was like being in a zoo or a museum; it was truly amazing.

There is so much to see in this store.

They even had a large aquarium room filled with giant fish.

I'm so glad Jonathan talked me into going; while he shopped Elizabeth and I just walked around and admired all the wonderful displays.

The Oasis in Austin

2011-05-24T11:34:00.006-05:00

Earlier this month we began the first of many summer trips; our first destination...the Austin area.

We visited The Oasis which is an exciting restaurant built on a cliff. We dined on a deck that hung over the cliff's edge.

The view was breathtaking! Our food was really good and the weather was perfect.

While at the Oasis I took this photo of my sister and Elizabeth. They have the same type of hair and in this photo my sister looks more like Elizabeth's mom than her aunt.

What a fun time we all had; the Austin area is so pretty and so exciting!

A Pretty Pink Book Bag

2011-05-18T21:38:00.006-05:00

When Elizabeth is invited to a party my first thought is "what to make" since I like giving handmade gifts.A book bag is always a fun project; my favorite part...the over sized flower.

I so need to make one of these for Elizabeth.

A Little Here and a Little There

2011-05-09T11:58:00.005-05:00

Elizabeth wanted to make a gift for her cousin; so as time allowed she began working a little here and a little there.First she chose two colors, pink and purple and then she began marking and cutting them into squares.

Next she slowly stitched the squares into a pleasing design.

Once the front was finished she cut a back and stitched around the outer edges.

After stuffing it was time to stitch, by hand, the opening closed.

And "presto" a pretty little pillow made by a pretty little girl. I love how Elizabeth always wants to do something special for others.

Weeds Be Gone pt. 2

2011-05-08T10:43:00.005-05:00

The orchard is officially finished!I love the view when standing at the back looking up towards the house.
Now that all the weeds are under control I can begin focusing on the fence which needs some work.

Weeds Be Gone

2011-05-07T12:00:00.008-05:00

The orchard has been in a very sad state this spring, but thankfully I have been able to slowly mow down the weeds.It's amazing how nice an area looks when you spend time working it.

I love how the trees really stand out when the weeds are short.

The job can be overwhelming so I like to cut out paths and small areas when I first begin.

It feels like I am accomplishing a lot when I focus on mowing just small areas.

When I finally past the half way mark the orchard once again began looking like a park.

I still lack two small areas;

But it's almost all finish; mowing dried weeds is hard work.

As I have been doing all this mowing I began thinking about the deer family we purchase sometime back; they turned out to be a disappointment.

They were cheaply made and have been steadily breaking. We only have one left from the bunch.

Oh well, next time I'll know better than to buy yard art from a man selling on the side of the road.

Ham Steaks

2011-05-02T09:03:00.010-05:00

Each year, during Easter, the stores run ham on sale at a really good price. This year the lowest price I found was 87-cents per pound.
Compared to the regular price of $2.37 per pound; I got a great deal. The day I went to get a ham the store was sold out. But this was okay since I was able to get a rain check. My family loves to eat bacon and eggs; but with prices on the rise bacon is getting a little too high. So, this year I had my ham cut into steaks. (The meat department will do this for free).
These ham steaks freeze well.

I like to separate them with sheets of wax paper;
And place them in a gallon size zip lock bag.
The very end of the ham is also placed in the freezer for when I want to make a pot of beans.

Locally a prepackaged ham steak sells for well over 2-dollars per pound and I have seen it over 3-per pound. The cheapest bacon I can buy, when not on sale, is $2.50 for a 12-ounce package. So stocking up on ham steaks will save a lot of money over the next several months. And, fried ham steak with eggs is out of this world!

Garden Prep

2011-04-23T08:56:00.008-05:00

Spring is very dry for us this year. My garden area from last year is covered in dry weeds and sand.Some of the onions I planted last year came up again this year and are slowly getting buried in all the sand.

Since my old garden area was too depressing to work in I decided I needed a change. This year my garden will be in the orchard; which has its share of weeds too.

My first task was to water a small area to soften up the dirt. It was almost impossible to hoe weeds with the ground being so hard and dry.

Once all the tall dry weeds were cleared out things began looking better. I ended up with two piles of dry weeds awaiting to be burned.

After several days of watering the ground was finally soft enough for me to begin hoeing the green weeds and making rows for planing.

I now have onions planted along with carrots, green beans, peas, cauliflower and broccoli.

There is still much to be done, hoeing weeds and planting more seeds, but now when I walk out to the orchard and look over the garden I can really see the progress I have made.

Cool Weather Days

2011-04-21T11:27:00.006-05:00

Some unexpected cool weather has made it possible to bake without heating up the house. First on the list...lemon cake. The actual cake is a mix but the icing is homemade. I did a search, collected ideas, and then made up a recipe.

Melt some margarine in a pan; pour in a dab of vanilla; a couple squirts of lemon juice and some powder sugar. Stir until smooth; adding milk and more powdered sugar until it looks and taste right. Yummy, the icing was so incredible!

Second on the list was bread. I began with bread sticks;And ended with a giant loaf of bread. I truly love cool weather days!

Playing at the Park

2011-04-16T12:48:00.007-05:00

Have you noticed most parks no longer have merry-go-rounds? After Elizabeth read, sometime back, a story about a little girl playing on a merry-go-round I went looking for one at our local parks. Sadly I could not find one.Then one day, while visiting a small town not too far from us, we stumbled upon a park, on the older part of town, which had a wonderful merry-go-round.

The playground even had an old metal slide.

Such memories this park brought back! I used to get so sick on the merry-go-round and I would always burn my skin playing on a metal slide during hot summer days!

Summer Planning

2011-04-02T15:48:00.009-05:00

Camping is in our plans for summer so I have been looking at small bumper pull trailers, conversion vans and tents.When you buy a used tent there is always the chance something will be missing.

Something like the rain guard. But with no rain guard we will have a clear view of the stars.

The shape is a bit odd. It's narrow on the back end;

And normal on the front.

But the whole tent cost me 10-bucks; which I thought was a good price.

Pillow Slip Project

2011-03-28T16:57:00.011-05:00

Elizabeth tested the new sewing machine on Sunday by making a pillow slip.She was patient when cutting and pinning the fabrics.

And the excitement was flowing when it was time to begin stitching.She managed to complete most of the pillow slip by Sunday evening and finished the rest this afternoon.

The pillow fit perfectly.

And now it's on her bed;

Being tested by Alf and Tweety.

Ultimate Bargain

2011-03-23T13:46:00.005-05:00

I recently stumbled upon a used sewing machine at the thrift store. The cost?A whopping $9.48 with a note "Needs Works". Well, sometimes a machine needs work and sometimes it's just operator error; especially with computerized machines. So, after a little thought I decided to take a chance and see what would happen.

Normally I just look and pass up used machines because I already have a collection of machines that I use when I teach sewing classes. But this machine had two features that caught my attention; 1) it was computerized and 2) it offered a nice selection of stitches.

My next thought was "can I re-sell it and make a profit"? Yes, I felt it was possible to re-sell and make a nice profit.

After getting the machine home and setting it up I quickly learned the "problem" was indeed user error! The machine works beautifully, is smooth and quiet and in perfect shape. It even came with a book and a few accessories!

Instead of re-selling the machine I have decided it would be the perfect starter machine for Elizabeth. It has a speed control, which is so important when first learning, and the simple push button controls will make it easy for her to operate.

Spring Break Trip

2011-03-18T21:17:00.012-05:00

Seldom do we follow the traditional school vacation schedules, but this year we did so Jonathan could get a break from classes and visit with his grandparents. Our Spring Break destination was Missouri.Our first stop was in Lebanon where I met my Internet friend Ann. We actually went to the same school when growing up but did not get to know each other until recently.

Elizabeth had such a good time playing with her cousins Matthew and Samuel.

While the kids played at the park Jonathan tested out the running trail. He really loved being able to run up and down hills and smelling all the wonderful trees that surrounded the park.

During our stay we experienced many different types of weather; snow was by far our favorite!

Most of our vacation plans changed because of the weather so we occupied ourselves with Scrabble. Elizabeth nearly won thanks to having help from her grandma!

When six o'clock rolled around each day Elizabeth loved being smothered in hugs and kisses from her grandpa!

During one of our outings my sister took us to an Asian market where we saw many, many forms of sea creatures. The biggest shocker was giant fish heads, on sale for $1.29 per pound. I don't think I would take them even if they were free.

After our visit ended, and we were on our way back home, we made one last stop to visit my friend Rita. It had been 9-years since we last saw each other. Rita and I were best friends in school and have been able to keep up with each other all these years.

Vacations are always fun, especially when you get to see family and friends.

Eyeglass Case Tutorial

2011-03-10T09:17:00.008-06:00

I have been wanting an eyeglass case for my sunglasses and since I did not have a pattern I created my own using the case that holds my reading glasses as a guide.

I began by placing the sunglasses on a piece of muslin and folding over the fabric to get an idea of how much fabric was needed.

Once the size was determined I cut my square slightly larger.

This square was then used as a pattern to cut my printed fabric;

And the quilt batting.

The muslin goes on the bottom and will become the inside of the eyeglass case; the batting is second and used for padding; and the printed fabric goes on top for the outside of the eyeglass case. These three layer are then pinned together.

Using my walking foot I stitched vertical lines through all three layers.

Once the quilting was finished I then trimmed the outer edges.

I wanted to add the little dip at the top of the eyeglass case so I folded my square in half and snipped off one corner and then curved the other corner.

For my binding I found a red fabric with small white polka dots. This fabric was cut into a 2-inch strip;

And then folded, pinned and pressed.

The hardest part of the eyeglass case was maneuvering the binding around the curve and catching the two layers of the folded edge together; go slow and be sure to keep your needle in the down position.

Continue sewing down the side and across the bottom.

Once the binding is on the eyeglass case is finished.

The sunglasses are well protected inside the case;

And I no longer have to worry about my sunglasses getting scratched.

arf....arf....arf

2011-03-08T07:00:00.008-06:00

Elizabeth loves her Christmas puppy...The pattern is pretty simple; I used McCall's 4893.

This little one is a Birthday gift for one of Elizabeth's friends.I added a boutique style bow to the back of the neck.

The body is made with corduroy which made for a very soft and cuddly puppy.

I so love handmade gifts.

Under Pressure

2011-03-07T18:23:00.008-06:00

When I was growing up my mom had a pressure cooker and my grandma had a pressure cooker; so when I found a used one, about 15 to 20 years ago, I just had to have it. I believe I paid 3-dollars for it and was pretty excited until I realized something was missing...

Which was the pressure control that sits on top. After searching for several months, while on a road trip, I located one at an Ace Hardware store in Oklahoma. The price was a shocking 10-bucks; but without it the pressure cooker wouldn't work.

Thankfully finding a book was cheaper, 1-dollar at a junk store.

Over the years I found I seldom used my pressure cooker; until recently when I was on a quest for a juicier roast and began searching the web for ideas. Now I am truly hooked on pressure cooker cooking.

To cook a great roast sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder; sear each side in a little oil; be sure to sear the roast in the pressure cooker and not a separate pan.

My book recommends cooking roast at 10-pounds for 45 to 60 minutes. I like cooking for the full 60 minutes; the meat comes out so tender and juicy.

The broth you will find at the bottom of the pan is so rich and full of flavor;

And makes the very best gravy ever.

Why did I wait so long to discover how well a pressure cooker works?

Al Fresco Dining

2011-03-02T21:37:00.005-06:00

Oh my, today's warm weather had me wanting to bar-b-que so I fired up the grill!

On the menu was beef ribs and sausages.

While the food cooked Elizabeth and I tried out our "new to us" patio table.

This was given to us by a customer who was moving and no longer needed it.

The food was amazing and eating outdoors was great fun.

This is definitely the first of many Al Fresco meals!

Cooking from Scratch

2011-02-28T06:06:00.007-06:00

I have always enjoyed cooking from scratch because it is fun, tasty and economical. However, with this being said, I still enjoy buying mixes, pre-made cookies, frozen prepared foods and other "fun" items at the grocery store.

With the price of gas going up, and our grocery prices rising yet again, I began wondering just how much a person saves when making foods from scratch.

Lets start with homemade peanut butter cookies;
After calculating just how much I pay for each ingredient, I had a very clear picture of how much one batch of peanut butter cookies would cost.

Flour came out to 5-cents per cup

White sugar came out to 15-cents per cup

Brown sugar came out to 25-cents per cup

Margarine came out to 20-cents per stick

One egg was free since I have laying hens

Peanut butter came out to 48-cents for half a cup

For the remaining ingredients (salt, baking powder and soda) I added 3-cents

My batch of peanut butter dough made 50 cookies and weighed just over 1 1/2 pounds. The total cost came out to 1.02; peanut butter was the most expensive ingredient.

Our local Wal-Mart has Chips Ahoy on Roll Back for 1.98 per package; each package weighs anywhere from 9-ounces to 13-ounces. The Wal-Mart brand cookies were priced 1.16 for a 1-pound package.

Most of my baking ingredients are purchased on sale and stock piled. If I had gone to the store and purchased each item when I wanted to bake then my final cost would have been higher.

Sew Perfect and So Fun

2011-02-19T08:31:00.005-06:00

Thanks to a coupon in my Jo Ann's flyer I was able to purchase a fun sewing notion.My coupon was for $5 off one regular priced item valued at $5 or more.

The pins sell for $6.99; after tax and my coupon I paid $2.15.

I "sew" love these pins!

Another T-Shirt Memory Quilt pt. 3

2011-02-15T07:35:00.006-06:00

Last week I completed the first commissioned memory quilt.

I added a little personalized message at the bottom as well as a few patches. The quilt turned out so nice!

A Time to Play

2011-02-13T21:21:00.007-06:00

A fun part of home school is play time.

While the kids play and burn energy the moms get to relax and visit!

When it Rains it pours, and pours, and pours

2011-02-03T14:53:00.007-06:00

Winter has paid us a visit this week and left us with frozen busted pipes, backed up plumbing and an overflowing water heater; thankfully the water heater had a drain pipe that allowed the water to flood under the house instead of inside the house!And it's been so cold the eggs froze and cracked.

So, how are we dealing with all our troubles? We are improvising! A plastic cup and spoon works well for cereal....and paper plates for sandwiches.

We are using the dish pan to wash our hair; thankfully we were able to collect water from the water heater to use for drinking and washing.

Elizabeth loved having her hair washed in the dish pan and wants me to start washing her hair this way from now on!

Thankfully we still have heat and electricity but I am really longing for summer and it's warm sun!

Another T-Shirt Memory Quilt pt. 2

2011-02-01T07:00:00.008-06:00

I completed all the blocks last week and waited until yesterday to assemble them in stitch order.
My favorite block is this one, that little girl is so cute!

Once the squares were arranged I began adding the sashing.

All I lack now is the outside borders and adding a few patches for the top to be complete.

When the top is complete it will be time to piece a back and start the quilting.

Another T-Shirt Memory Quilt

2011-01-26T13:50:00.005-06:00

My sewing room is buzzing with activity at the moment as I prepare this pile of assorted t-shirts for another quilt.

I have been commissioned to make 4 t-shirt quilts for Birthday gifts, the first needing to be completed by March.

Thankfully Jo Ann fabrics had their iron-on interfacing on sale 50-percent off last week and I was able to buy a full bolt of it.

Here is block one.

Only 23-blocks to go!

A Project for Jonathan pt. 3

2011-01-20T05:49:00.004-06:00

Taking time to tape down the quilt backing has really made a nice difference on how smooth my quilt backs are turning out.

I was expecting the top to be easy to pin and stitch since each t-shirt square has interfacing ironed on....but it wasn't.

When it was time to begin the quilting I had problems with puckering as well as little bunches here and there where the t-shirt fabric just would not stay put; because of this I was not able to quilt it as heavy as I would have liked.

Overall I am pleased with the quilt. I like how the denim looks and I really like the extra weight the denim adds.

I like this idea of turning t-shirts into memory quilts; what a good idea someone had!

A Project for Jonathan pt. 2

2011-01-17T13:46:00.005-06:00

Once I had all my t-shirt blocks completed I arranged them in stitch order. I had planned to use a dark blue cotton fabric for the sashing but changed my mind at the last minute and used a light weight denim.

I love how the denim looks and the best part is denim works so well with many colors.

The top and bottom border was used for patches we have collected over the years for different activities.

The quilt top is now complete; I only lack sandwiching the quilt and then the actual quilting.

I really love how it is looking.

A Project for Jonathan

2011-01-15T07:57:00.007-06:00

Would you like to know what's going on in my sewing room?I have been busy cutting up assorted t-shirts.

Jonathan gave this pile of t-shirts to me a couple of months ago to make into a Memory T-Shirt Quilt; but I didn't get around to starting it until recently.

Oh my, the memories these shirts bring back! Veggie Tales and Adventures in Odyssey were a very big part of Jonathan's childhood.

Pat and Jonathan helped several times with the building of a local park.

I so love Mickey Mouse.

Most of the shirts that will make up the quilt are music related and came from Band Camp, Pastorale and the Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra.

I am so anxious to see how the quilt is going to look when completed.

A Cedar Chest for Elizabeth

2011-01-12T19:37:00.005-06:00

Two years ago Pat built a cedar chest out of some old wood flooring we had stored in the barn. It turned out so pretty but lining it with cedar was put on hold when Pat ran out of time to finish it.
Last week Pat began working on the chest once again.

It's amazing how pretty cedar is and I so love the smell.

What a wonderful Hope Chest this will be for Elizabeth.

Baked Apples

2011-01-05T06:06:00.005-06:00

Begin with Rome apples; I have never used any other variety.

Wash them well and remove the core leaving a small part of it at the bottom of the apple. Basically you need to hollow out the apple's center but not cut a whole completely through.

Fill each apple with sugar. I have always used white sugar but plan to use brown sugar sometime to see what happens.

Place a very small amount of water in the bottom of your pan and cover. Bake at 350 until the apples are soft. The skins will split when the apples are ready.

Spoon some of the liquid syrup, at the bottom of the pan, over top of the apple before eating.

These are the most amazing apples ever!

Baby Quilt

2011-01-03T20:17:00.007-06:00

My nephew Joshua and his wife had a baby boy, Caleb, in October; for Christmas I made him this quilt. It was made with a Moda charm pack called, Red White and Bold. The sashing is Kona cream.

The sashing has been quilted with vertical and horizontal lines using variegated thread and each square has stipple quilting.

The back of the quilt is a Moda print from the same line.

I hope Caleb likes the quilt as much as I do.