ANNIVERSARY WALTZ SAMPLER

Same day, much lighter post. It's a block of the month I just started doing at Appletree Quilting Center, my other favorite shop besides Miss Millie's. This is my first months block and I think it turned out quite nice. We're all using Batiks but everyone has made some different color choices. This is going to be really interesting and creative.

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Boy, I'm just veering away from my main thought for having a blog to talk about all of my handcrafts but I am really passionate about this. I don't use the word lightly so I really don't use it much at all. I guess there would be levels of passion and this is at the top. I'm not a fanatic "Tree Hugger" but I do care deeply about how humans take care of this earth. There are lots of things that could have been done years ago but I don't think any one ever realized what things could come to now. I'm old enough to remember the Mideast oil embargo of the 70's and you would have thought we had learned our lesson but nooooo the gasoline kept flowing. Oh well, maybe we've still got a chance with somebody like T. Boone Pikens speaking up. At least if we recycle, drive our vehicles smarter, use our home appliances wisely, use flouescents but remember to turn them out when leaving a room(I'd been guilty of that in past years but cleaned up my act a while back) we are trying. I feel good doing the things that I am but still want to do more. I've wanted solar panels on our home for years, so maybe the time will finally come, and maybe a small wind turban, too. We just started getting Planet Green on cable and it's full of shows with great ideas-from the big things people with lots of money can do to the little things we all can do. Oh my, I've got to get down off of this soapbox and relax with some quilting or crochet.
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A Picture of Food?

"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces-just good food from fresh ingredients" - JULIA CHILD

I never thought I would take a photo of food, let alone be posting it on my blog, let alone be blogging. So there. Here's one of my dinner from the other evening. We were just having salad, but when I got done fixing my plate, it seemed to look so pretty. I decided to take a picture of it. My husband thought it quite funny, me photographing food, but I've become more daring with my new camera. I find it easier to take pictures of just about anything since I have the Kodak camera and printer system, and my first digital experience. Since I can avoid printing on paper, and just put it on my computer, no waste. Now I take pictures of things I never thought I would. Some I print, some I don't. I am really not an artistic photographer but that simple salad said something to me. I thank Jane at Yarnstorm for much inspiration. She is really good at what she does and all her photographs are just gorgeous. Right now I'm waiting for her new book "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" to come out here in America. I've got it on order and am looking forward to seeing many more photos and lots of ideas.

"Laps from Fats" Sit n' Sew

This quilt is called "Cinnamon and Nutmeg" and is from the book "More Laps From Fats." Miss Millies Quilt Shop started another Sit n' Sew on another Friday nite and we used patterns from that book to make a couple of quilts during the past months. This one was the first of three. It doesn't look much like the one in the book which had very earthy colors. I decided to go for something different and go brite. There were (and still are )about ten in the group and every lap quilt has a totally different look. It was a fun and an easy pattern to use. And I have to say it was a good time for all getting together at the Sit n' Sews.

Catching up

Well, it's been a month and a half since I last posted. Seems like there was just no spare time for it. I was really busy as far a work trying to manage everything that was needing to be done. When I get home I just want to try and crochet or quilt or read, so I put my blogging aside. I was still lurking around seeing what everyone was doing and "finishing" and enjoying seeing all of the wonderful creations.

Since I haven't been blogging long , I've still got so much to learn. Today I finally figured out how I can use my laptop (which is at home) for all of my blogging. Up until now I've only been using my desktop at our business since I had learned how to scan my photos on to it. Problem has been I really shouldn't use any of my time at our business doing this. Takes away from what I should be doing. Today I learned all by myself to download all my photos into my laptop from my cameras memory card. I've spent the last year learning about my new Kodak digital camera/printer dock and this laptop. Kraig(my middle adult child) has been guiding me and let me know that I have the photo disk in my camera that will load right into my laptop instead of having to print every picture and then and then scan it in. So now I can add pics to my blog at home. These things are so simple once they are learned. I'm really surprised at what I am able to do even if it is what a grade schooler can do. I never thought I would have a laptop computer at home let alone be learning what I am. Oh well, hopefully I'll be able to post more regularly.

I have been working on some different projects, so I'll start playing catch up and get photos posted at least. June and Eve at the Crochet Along are going to have July as WIP month.

Both WIPs and unfinished item will be invited. I have lots of WIPs and lots of unfinished things( called UFOs in the quilting community), so I can show everyone what I'm working on, finished or not. So here goes.

I wanted to try the Inga Bag and did finish one. I don't know why I picked those darker colors. So I'll wait till fall or winter to use it. I did start another using a different granny block pattern and much lighter colors. Think I can finish it soon. Hope so. Would like to use it this Summer.

I seem to drop out of sight

Well, it's been over 2 months since I last posted. Seems there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all I need or want to do. Too much business work, even to bring home and a minimum of time for my quilt making and crochet. I may have some things to show some but it's slow going. I tend to feel that I must do my business work and my house work before I can sit down with my handwork. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fanatic nor perfect in what I do. It's just easier for me to relax and do what I want if I've at least done some of what I need to do. It's hard for me to feel relaxed if there is mess around me when I get a day off. Probably what I do best is straighten and wipe up rather than deep clean every time. Then I'm able to take a break. Maybe I'll be rewarded as time goes by. I saw this saying in Jimmy John's when we went for lunch--words to live by?


IF YOU DO THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO

WHEN YOU NEED TO DO THEM,

-----THEN SOMEDAY-----

YOU CAN DO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO

WHEN YOU WANT TO DO THEM.

THEY THAT ENJOY MUCH ARE THANKFUL FOR A LITTLE.

My finished ripple and it's new owner

Trying out some new crochet

Pics of what I'm trying now. I tried a 1/4 square granny log cabin(the square in red) but that is not a go right now. I need to go back and choose different and more dominant single colors. It looks better in person but just all ran together in the photo. So back to the drawing board on this one.

The multi color log cabin above worked out well and I am continuing on with more of those squares for a lapghan.

The triangles I love and will be making those for a afghan.

And of course plain ol granny squares.

These will be my big projects for this year(and next, probably) If I get board with one thing, I'll pick up another project. I've got a basket for each one. Of coures there will still be the quick scarves, Amigurumi, and other small quick items to do. Even a 6 hour quick stick afghan or two.

My ripple is about 3 rows short of being done. I'll post a pic of that in the next day or so and say "Hooray, It's finished."

I don't know what I'll finish or how fast but the main thing is having something in our hands, right? It's therapy and peace after a tedious day or calm on an afternoon off from work.

Crazy Kitty

Cotton just loves drinking from my plant rooting vase.

Sit and Sew Mystery #4

Here's my most recent Sit and Sew project. I started it the end of November so decided I would use Christmas colors. It turned out pretty well considering the Mystery pattern was a Star. For now there aren't any new Mystery Quilts coming. That Friday night Sit and Sew has been turned in to a UFO get togeather. Thats great for me! I have more UFOS than I can think of.

A Little Feel Good Inspiration

DO IT AFRAID!

When God tells you he will be with you, that means no matter what the circumstances, everything will work out all right. That's a good reason to do whatever you are afraid of even though you are afraid --do it afraid!

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. --Joshua 1: 5

I was at the Dr's office the other day for a check up and saw this on a daily desk calender at the secretaries desk. How uplifting. So I asked her for a copy. It's always nice to find some little piece of inspiration to have handy on one of those crazy days. I have been collecting all kinds of wonderful quotes or thoughts and have them posted all around my desk at work.

Haven't been posting very much lately and started to wonder if blogging was for me. But I've been getting back to reading other's blogs and I see I'm not the only one that has been skipping days posting. I guess all the holiday hustle and bustle got to a lot of us. I was also very busy with all the year end bookkeeping for our business and the business my son just opened a few months ago. He has a restaurant-pool hall and it's doing pretty good. Just a down home place for people to relax. Except for me, another business to keep books for. Oh well, I'm happy to see it doing well.

I got to take a day off today. Yea!!!!!!! I did all the basic cleaning I always do and really rushed so I'd have time for myself this afternoon. Made chili in the crock pot so dinner's taken care of.
Got my blocks together from another sit and sew and now just have to put on the border. Then I'll be ready to post a photo. Now I'm gonna relax for about an hour till supper and do some crochet. I' m working on some log cabin squares(joined Log Cabin Fever) and some new and different granny's(so I'll have squares to post at the Granny Along). I've been wanting to try some different styles rather than just the basics like I've done in the past. I'm still working on my ripple-at least 2/3 done -- but I just don't want to work on it all the time. Got to have something new so I can go back and forth between projects. I'm sure I'm not the only one that does that.

Gonna go a crochet for a little while on some squares for new afghans.

Thinbleberries gift exchange

I belong to Thimbleberries quilt club and we're doing a gift
exchange at out December meeting. I made a needle case

a pin cushion, and a jar of Snowman Soup( a wonderful
homemade hot chocolate mix). The Christmas meeting is

always so much fun and I really look forward to it. It's a

great group of fun quilters.

Knitting and Crocheting

Starting a big needle quick knit Christmas afghan just for fun. Finishing up a crochet scarf for our guild Christmas party and auction.

Sit and sew number 3

Finished my project started at the Oct. 19 Sit n' Sew. I chose colors for fall since it was October. It was a mystery quilt as usual, so I was pleasantly surprised with my fabric choices. The Maple Leaf block was really easy to make so I decided to do a king size quilt this time. Finished the top in the months time on the sewing machine, of course, and had it ready to show at the next meeting. Got a free fat quarter for having it done. Now it's waiting in line at Miss Millie's to be machine quilted.

Jessica's first rag quilt

This is a quick quilt made by my daughter for her grandma-in-law who is a NASCAR fan. After I made my Tiger Quilt(posted earlier), I thought the same idea would be good for a first quilt for her to try. Now she is making them for lots of family members and enjoying giving hand made gifts.

Getting Ready to Drop Her Leaves

Just posting another photo of beautiful colors of our Cypress tree. Another week or so and the leaves will begin to fall.

I have been so busy with no time to post. The normal work days taking a lot of time. And also mom broke her collar bone which is taking a lot of time and energy but that's how it goes when you care about someone. I have had a little time to continue working on quilt and gift projects late at night in the quiet time. But not much time for blogging. Just got to get myself together. To much to do, too little time.

Fall Colors

My Cypress is still changing her fall colors. I'd say one more week and she'll be a totally beautiful rust color. Then she'll start dropping all her leaves and my yard will turn from green to rust until I rake then all up. The yard becomes a sight to see also.

I have been working feverishly at a number of projects and am really making headway. A crochet scarf for my Quilt Guild Christmas Auction in December is done except for the fringe. I'm close to finishing a queen size quilt top from the last Friday Nite Sit N' Sew--a Maple leaf block pattern. Still working on my Second Saturday Applique Blocks. Started a new Fall block of the month from Miss Millies. And am working on some small crocheting, craft, and sewing items for gifts. I think finally I started early enough that I won't be going crazy trying to get things done. One thing I should start right now is wrapping Christmas presents so I'm not doing that on Christmas Eve. I've shopped all year and already have most everything. Since non of my kids live at home anymore I have a room downstairs where I can store all my special Christmas stuff--fabric, crafts, etc. along with all my wrapping paper, boxes and presents I accumulate over the year. Luckily i know everything is in that one room, but sometimes still have to search. It does pile up.

I' ve been really busy with work , to so propbaly won't post again till next week. Hopefully there will be photos of finished projects.

Fall colors and a thought provoking quote

Our cypress has finally started to turn to it's fall colors of rust and gold. Two weeks ago she was all green , but now the weather is beginning to turn cooler and so all the trees are beginning to turn beautifully. Another week or so and there will be more color change and then all the strange little leaves (I guess that's what they are) will fall and cover my front yard. And my last lawn care job of the season will take place. I'll rake every thing up and use it like mulch around shrubs, etc. Those little leaves are a little prickly which causes them to stick together. I've been doing this for about 3 years and I have no weeds or anything grow up through these layers.
I reuse whatever I can in my yard. It seems a waste of time and energy to rake and bag and dispose of when it can be used right in my yard.

Now the quote. When I am at my bank in the drive thru I can see through the window to an inside wall where there's a chalk board. I guess there's a different quote each day. Even though I don't go every day there is always a new one to see when I am there. This one especially caught my eye. It's something to think about something to think about.

"WE ARE NOT PRIMARILY PUT ON THIS EARTH TO SEE THROUGH PEOPLE, BUT TO SEE PEOPLE THROUGH."

Peter De Vries

My Little Monster

Here's my last Halloween project. Hooray! He's done. I didn't really have a lot of things going but what I started I finished. So that feels good. Many times I add more items to my stash of UFOs. I have a little bit of Christmas started so now I can go at those full out. I'm afraid when it comes to Christmas I always overdo in what I start to make. This year I'm going to try to work harder at finishing as best I can. I really love all my quilting, crochet, and crafting so much that I'm sure if I could I would spend all my days just doing hand work. Fat Chance! Before I forget this was a ghost pattern that came from Emily Millers Emporium on Etsy. She suggested getting creative and turning the ghost body into a monster.

Watching for a beautiful fall

This is the beautiful 30 year old Cypress tree in our front yard. It's a pretty tree during the summer but as fall comes the color change is gorgeous. I have always wanted to photograph it but never have until now. So for the next few weeks I've decided to photograph it as the colors change and then of course post them here. This is of course photo #1 taken October 11, 2007. In past years I believe it had begun to turn sooner, but we had a Hellishly hot summer this year. I'm definitely glad fall is here. Today it's rainy and cool. Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Candy Corn Man

Here's my little Amigurumi Candy Corn Man. I think he's really cute and have to give credit to Stormycrochet at Etsy. I ordered the pattern from her. Each one of my kids is getting one for their home adding to their Halloween decorations. I've got a little monster I'm finishing up so will
get that posted next. Then it's full speed on to Christmas with so many things I want to do. The question is how many of those wants will I get done.

Muffins

Well, no pictures today one of my favorite recipes along with some thoughts. Blogging is still relatively new to me as far as finding out how many great ideas there are for posting. Whether they might not seem very interesting to each of us or maybe very exciting we never know what others might think or enjoy. Maybe enjoy is to broad a word. When someone has poured there heart over something sad in their life and their heart is aching we don't enjoy reading but we care and feel for them..When someone is excited or happy about something in their life we feel that too. And then there are all of the fabulous photos of pets crafts kids homes food art and so many other thing. Bloggers open their world to all of us other bloggers and vice versa.
This started out to be a very simple post of a recipe, but then I started thinking about what encouraged me to begin to post some of my recipes and I came up with the above thoughts. I saw a very nice simple muffin recipe posted by KathyAnn at be-stitched artfully, which I will definitely be baking, This made me think of one of my favorite muffin recipe and decided maybe those visiting my blog would enjoy it. I have found some other great recipes that I have or will be trying at these blogs-- Oiyi's Crafts, Dark Oak Woman, and Bumpy Doink--to name just a few. And there are many more at other great blogs. Now I guess I better get this recipe posted.

SIMPLE AND PLAIN OATMEAL MUFFINS FROM ELDA KURZEJESKI

Sift 1 cup of all purpose flour with 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Add 1 cup quick cooking oats, one slightly beaten egg, 1 cup milk, and 3 tbsp. salad oil.

Stir just to moisten. ( optionally, sometimes we add some chopped golden raisins along with some chopped dried or fresh cranberries. I especially like adding these extras in the fall)

Fill 12 greases muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.

These are great for breakfast or even on a chilly fall or winter afternoon with a nice hot cup of tea.

Sit and Sew #2 Tiger Quilt

Another Sit and Sew project done. And actually I was able t0 sew this in one evening. Now, all the flannel squares were pre-cut beforehand, but still I was very excited at the minimum of time it took--about 3 1/2 hours. There was more time involved in finishing but that I could do sitting in front of the TV. The quilt is sewn together with a half inch seam leaving the raw edges. After it's all put together those edges have to be snipped into fringe about 1/4 inch apart. Then all I had to do was wash it to make it fringe more. It's a real no brainer and thing don't have to be perfect. the other neat thing I learned is that this can be done with other shapes and lengths of fabrics. It's just the technique of sewing. I think I'll have to try a few more of this type of quilt. This one goes to my son, a BIG Mizzou Tiger football and basketball fan.

The sit and sew was fun as usual. I've met some new quilting friends. And all of us keep signing up for every month so we're becoming a nice little group. Also the food we have is always great. This time it was snacks and appetizers-little hot dogs in BBQ sauce, cheeses, crackers, fruits and veggies with dip and more. We had plenty to eat. In October they're having Chile( one of my favorite foods) and we'll be using fall fabrics for a quilt-pattern still a secret at this time. As usual I'm looking forward to it.