A New Project

It's a real bummer when you finish what you're working on and you think you have nothing else to do. Actually, I have PLENTY to do - like vacuuming, cleaning, walking, etc., but who wants to do THAT when you can sew?! Soooo, I found some more fabric, actually Michaela found it, and started asking questions about what could be made with it. I told her the cut strips were perfect for making a "stripes quilt" that I have been wanting to work on. I had a little free time, so thought I would start it for her, as she was nervous that she would mess it up. Whatever. So here is the startings of it, I still have more strips to add to it. The colors in the photo don't do it justice. They are brilliant and rich. I'm thinking I might just make this for my bed. It would look great with the right border and some yummy pillows to match. Be back soon...

Next Phase...

I have finally gotten back to my "butterfly" quilt. I have been busy with Landon's games and Pre-Ward Conference visits. This is one of the squares all cut, rotated, and sewn to make a block. I took all of the blocks, each one a different color scheme, and this is what it will look like. I wish that you could see the colors "Live" because they are all so much brighter than what you see. Off to the next phase...sewing the blocks together to form the quilt top.

"Butterfly Fling" Fabric

Yesterday was a great day for sewing...and sewing I did! The kids had no school, it was raining most of the day (love those rainy Mondays) and so I got a jump on the wash to do and got busy on the machine. I have decided to make a quilt with these cute, bright fabric pieces. It will end up a fun patchwork look when it is done. So to begin, I had to sew these 9-patch squares together. Don't you love the colors? You know me...the brighter, the better. This should end up a pretty flashy quilt. Who knows, maybe it'll end up being more of a "grandma's house" quilt. Come back later for the next phase...

What a GREAT day!

Mondays have always been a good day for me, not that I always look forward to them. Who wants to let go of a Sunday? Everyone together, no work, getting to go to our Sunday meetings, starting fresh... Mondays always mean, "Okay, here we go again!" But for me it also means, no piano lessons or other obligations, getting the wash caught up (which I don't mind), a day for ME... So what could be better than waking up to a rainy, cloudy day with nothing to do but get my kids off to school, do wash, run some errands, read, and sew? Not much...unless it involved grandkids. So today that's what I did, with some warm, Baked Potato Soup thrown in for dinner. AND I got Connie's table runner done. That was the ONE thing that I really wanted to get done today. Probably the best, most relaxing, most enjoyable part of MY day was in the afternoon sitting on my family room couch, listening to Amy Grant's Greatest Hits, hearing Kevin typing away on his computer in the other room, knowing my children were safe at home, and hand sewing the binding on my new finished project! And I DID get to buy some birthday presents for little Marcelus, so grandkids were part of that fun too. Wow...Happy Good Day to you too!

BAKED POTATO SOUP

(this is a great way to use leftover baked potatoes)

3 bacon strips, diced

1 sm. onion

1 clove garlic, minced

3 Tbs. flour

1 tsp. dried basil

1/2 tsp. pepper

3 cups chicken broth

2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 cup half-and-half cream

shredded cheese

In a pot, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving drippings. Set bacon aside. Saute onion and garlic in the drippings until tender. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper, mix well to make a roux. Gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and cream, heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley. You can add a little hot sauce too if you want to.

Gettin' 'er done...

On Saturday I was able to get a little sewing done after being on the couch most of the day with a fever. I spent my session in the temple on Friday with chills and body aches (after I got to the temple, of course) but was glad that I went. I was planning on getting the top of Connie's table runner put together on Friday, but decided I'd better nurse myself back to health instead. So by Saturday night my fever had broke, and I was good to go. Here is what it will look like...very elementary (it is my first), but will look great in her house. Now just to back and bind it, which I get to do today!! (after I vacuum and dust...)

Blender Wheat Pancakes

Okay...I told you I'd post a yummy recipe, so here it is. This has ended up being one of my recent favorites because it is so easy and uses my wheat right out of the #10 can. My kids love them too, and I know that they are probably about as healthy as you can get with a pancake.

All right...so the bacon in the background isn't so healthy. I can't just make pancakes at my house. We always have something else with it, like eggs, or bacon, or something. The great thing about these pancakes, other than the fact that you are using your food storage items, is the fact that you mix all of the ingredients in the blender and poor the batter right onto the griddle after it's blended. Here's the recipe:

WHEAT BLENDER PANCAKES

1 1/4 c. water

1 c. whole wheat kernals

1/4 c. dry milk

1 egg

2 Tbs. oil

1 Tbs. sugar or honey

1/4 or 1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. baking soda

In blender mix water, wheat, and dry milk on high for 3 minutes. Add the egg, oil, sugar, and salt. Blend for 20 seconds. Add the baking powder and pulse a few times. (At this point I add a little bit more water if I feel that the batter is too thick. Use your own judgement.) Poor onto a hot griddle.

I make my pancakes big, so I can't tell you how many it will make. I can usually get about 8 pancakes with one batch. You will get more if you make them smaller.

Happy Breakfast-ing!

STILL LEARNING...

Yesterday I started Connie's table runner for her house. It actually didn't take as long as I had thought it would. The cutting out takes the most time, but was fun too. Part of the runner calls for these 4 piece squares. The hardest part about doing these was cutting the scraps off! I am saving the scraps though...I'm sure I can use them for something. I couldn't get any sewing done today as I was feeding firefighters down at our poor church building that burned down today. But after a good night's sleep, I plan on getting the top finished. Then on to backing, quilting, and binding! (Oh man, Landon has a game in Vegas tomorrow too.) I'll have to lickety split it!

Perfect!! (Sorry it's a little blurry)

Not so perfect... (check out the middle seam, aarrgghh!) Tomorrow I have a great recipe to share with you too. Yummy pancakes that are healthy, fast, AND uses food storage ingredients. Come back...