Charging & RECharging

Or maybe that should say Sunday REcharging! I don't know. I'm not feeling very charged up for another work week! But that's beside the point!

The camera is charging.....so forgive the photo below of what I've been 'needlin' today.



Yep. Spent a little quality time with Ann Rayner today. Painting her house. Red. I think I'll continue on with her at least until the whole house is painted! I'm almost to the 1/2 way point with her!

I'm trying NOT to be 'charging' any new charts and stash, but it's oh so hard! I've been doing some online 'window shopping' today...but have held off with any charging just yet! For today anyway!

I wish I could plug in like the camera battery and charge right back up! Don't you? I think it might take a long time though! The light on my charging adapter would be blinking...for a long time.....signaling that I am not yet fully charged!

I'll get there though! Not to worry! I've got too many fun things to do!

We'll blame it on the weather! Hope you've had a great day and are all charged up for the week ahead!

*Peace!

A Day In The Kitchen...An Evening In My Chair

Another Saturday.....during the winter.....in South Dakota...which means I didn't set foot out the door...and I'm extremely happy about that!

This day has flown by!!! Where did it go?

I spent most of the dady in the kitchen...baking..........these . And oh my goodness were they good!



By FAR the BEST Chocolate Crinkles recipe I have ever tried! No oil in this one! And after that dough sits in the fridge...Oh * My * Word...it's like fudge! YUM!!!
Notice that little bit of a cookie in the forefront of the pic above? Now you see it...and now...



you don't! I had to spare it from it's broken misery. These were seriously good! And again....I bet you have everything you need in the cupboard!

I wonder how many will still be in the cookie jar come morning?



We can only hope hubs gets sick of them...and quick!

For dinner...again..time in the kitchen and Oh * My * Gosh goodness! This is one of my all time favorite steak recipes . Not that you actually NEED a recipe for steak. But this one is deYUMMY!!!

After I asphyxiated the hubs while making the balsamic glaze....the end result was worth it.



Oh glorious medium rare filet.....oh creamy goat cheese goodness....oh sweet balsamic glaze.....you've made my tummy happy!



So very good! And now....time for the evening in my chair! With a glass...



and a needle! Stop back tomorrow to see what I worked on!

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday!

One stop...$11.25....and I say "Holy Moses! I found it!". In case you don't recognize the quote, it was uttered during the Creede Silver Strike! Yeppers....it was a silver strike for me at G'Willy's this week!



Ooooh lovely! And a few lovely old white little finds too! First up....



Lovely Homer Laughlin pitcher! Just some crazing...which I love! Two bucks! And then there was this little find...



It's marked Japan on the bottom. A mere quarter! Too darn cute to leave there and it will be right at home with my all white sugar bowl collection! Now no..I didn't set out to collect all white sugar bowls. It's just happened that way! What can I say!

Don't you love this???



I love it! A silver (ahem..or silverplate...but I refer to all shiny white metal as silver..I take creative license to use the term loosely!) apple! The leaf detail is exquisite! I looked quickly but could find no mark. $3.00. Home it came with me.

Then there was this!



Again...$3.00....marked International Silver...it is LOVELY!!! And then yet one more $3.00 piece...



WM Rogers two tier piece! I was very pleased to come home with such great pieces in my one and only outing this week.

Have you been out searching for treasure? Would love to hear about your finds!

*Peace!

Needlin' Along...

I've been resting the foot after the pedal to the metal sewing sessions this past weekend. And I've been spending some time with my needles!

A lovely group of stitcher friends decided that we would start a Quaker Sampler on Fridays. A Quaker Friday Stitch Along. I am no good at Stitch Alongs (SALs). The pressure gets to me....I become defiant...I do not play well with others in SALs. I do not like being "told" what I'm going to work on and when I'm going to work on it. But hey....I can get along with "Hey it's Friday. Let's put a few stitches in a Quaker sampler of your choice." So...I decided to start another sampler.

I know, I know. It's so not like me! AAAACK! I don't like to have too many samplers started at one time. Even though they're all sitting here...kitted up...waiting for some needle time. So in this new year, I'm going to just go with it! As my dear friend, Marsha, said to me...what difference does it make if they're ALL started instead of sitting there waiting, and then we just work on whatever we feel like whenever we feel like it (or something like that. That wasn't verbatim, but that was the gist of the 'convo' we had!).

So...I chose a Quaker sampler to begin...an Ackworth Sampler. And I pulled my own conversion using Hand-Dyed Fiber silks



and last Friday, I picked up my needle and started a Quaker. Now...these motifs may seem like you can just whip them right out. HA! So not true!



I worked on the sampler on Sunday during football...and then again last night. I have one motif done and another one started.



I'm glad there's no deadline on this Quaker Friday SAL. And for those concerned about garish Sarah Brignell...she has been tucked away for a bit. I haven't taken scissors to her or anything.....yet. I'm just going to let her rest..out of sight...for just a bit. ALL of the over one lettering she requires makes me think I may not ever endure the torture long enough to actually complete her. We shall see. Did I say she was my New Year's start? Ahem...I meant New DECADE start...which means I have the entire DECADE to work on her! My kinda deadline! ;o)

In other needlin' news......you may remember I've been using some yummy Debbie Bliss Cashmerino to make my Mossy Mossy scarf...



and here's my progress...



AAAAACK! I lost my place on the pattern!! I tried to unknit to fix it....but who the heck am I kidding! I could unknit many rows and still not know which row is on the needles compared to the pattern!! So....I just yanked it tonight. Right off the needles. I shall start anew. Had I been farther along, I wouldn't have resorted to the needle-yank...I would have traipsed in to the knit shop, tail between my legs, and asked them, with my head hanging low, if they could please help me fix my mess. But instead, I opted for needle-yank...and I'm okay with it. Looks like a pile of red ramen noodles...no?

Note to self...do NOT knit MossyMossy patterned scarf while watching TV or talking to people until you truly know what you are doing. AND remember to mark your spot on the pattern with the little sticky arrows so this doesn't happen again! Okay? Okay...start over now!

*Peace!

Bad Weather, Good Coffee, Blaring Tunes & A Lead Foot

One might think those things would be a not-so-great combination! But....for me...this weekend....it's been pure heaven!!!

You might remember on New Year's Eve, I pulled these fabrics and did a little cutting...


Well...last night....after the pie (have you made it yet? the pie? trust me on this...make it! I'm making a second one today because the kids are coming over to watch football.)...anyhooo....after the pie....


and the coffee....ah...glorious fully caffeinated coffee......I decided to go back down and start sewing some strip sets. The plan was to just get the strip sets started....that's all. Just get it started.

Sometime after midnight, I believe, my facebook status said "Behold! The power of coffee and an Ipod".


I was a sewing maniac! Had to pull myself away from the machine!

It was the coffee...


and the blaring tunes! Did I mention my wonderful hubby spoiled me with a Bose SoundDock for my Ipod? LOVE it!!!


and the lead foot......what can I say? The Bernina likes to go FAAASSSST!!!

Who am I to argue? Pedal to the metal!

Keep in mind I was working with a very easy pattern. Modern, graphic, big pieces....


and this morning, I got up, had a quick breakfast and more coffee.....and finished it up!


A definite departure from my usual traditional quilts....but it's fun.....and it's one that is going to come alive when the longarm quilter takes over and adds some creative quilting!



I can't quite believe, myself, that I did two tops in less than 24 hours! LOL But hey....I blame it on the weather, the good coffee, blaring tunes and my lead foot!

Now I'm off to put a pot of chili on, and get another pie in the oven before I settle in to stitch and watch football the rest of the day!

Next post.....stitching progress!!

*Peace!

Sun Stars and a Slice of Heaven

First quilt top finish of the new decade!

The Sun Stars quilt (aka Nutmeg Stars) is put together!



I loved working on these blocks.



And I went with the lighter fabric...mainly because I could easily find it in yardage online. Also, because I need to lighten up things a bit sometimes, since I tend to like dark quilts.



And I went with the 3 x 4 set, but on point...like the original pattern.



I can't wait to get it quilted!

And in other news----today is Pie Day! Did you know that? It is! And so in honor of this fabulous day, I made Paula Deen's Old Fashioned Fudge Pie.

Oh my word....



A slice of heaven on a plate. And I just bet you have all the ingredients on hand! Mmmmm...mmmmm.mmmmmm. Easy and delicious!! Time to put a pot of coffee on!!

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday

One might think horrid dental pain would sideline the Thrifty Thursday post this week. Au contraire. I planned ahead! On the WAY to the dentist I stopped off for my one and only thrift outing this past week!

One outing...and one treasure to share!



I had to get this regal lion. Just had to. Because he reminded me of this...



Don't you agree? They go hand in hand! Inspiration!!



And for that reason, I have cast aside Sarah Brignell, and started Faith, Hope & Honor! A new sampler start this week!



I haven't worked 40 ct in a while, but with my new progressive bifocals...no problem!! 40 ct Light Exemplar using the charted NPI silks. I am already picturing the vignette... this sampler hanging with the regal Leo lion sitting just under. Sometimes you just need a muse to pull out some stash and get busy! My muse happens to be a $2 thrift store lion!

I'm itching to get out and about again and see what fun and funky finds are waiting for me this week! You know I'll share my finds with you next week!!! Stay tuned!

*Peace!

Dirty Little Secret

Do you ever have a couple pounds of ground beef in the frig that needs to be used up, but you're sick of hamburgers, not in the mood for meatloaf, and the thought of Hamburger Helper just doesn't do it for you?

It happens to me all the time. And I usually turn to a box of good ol' Zataran's Dirty Rice.

Well, I had 2 lbs of ground chuck that needed to be used yesterday. But was not very keen on heading to the grocery store. And then I discovered how flippin' easy it is to make my OWN dirty rice!!



Brown 2 lbs ground chuck.

Do not drain!

Add:
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 or 3 stalks of celery (finely chopped)
2 or 3 cloves of garlic (minced)

You can also add green bell pepper (finely chopped), but I just didn't have one laying around.

Cook until veggies are tender.

Add:
1/2 C to 3/4 C chicken broth/stock
4 or 5 shakes of Worchestire
4 or 5 (or more) shakes of Louisana Hot Sauce

In the meantime, I cooked 4 cups of white rice.

Once most of the liquid evaporated in the meat mixture, I folded in the rice. For a good hot tasty measure, I did about 5 good shakes from the red pepper flakes shaker. And, since I like mine hot, I used the Louisiana Hot Sauce as a condiment as well and really kicked it up!

Serve with cornbread muffins.....



I may never buy another box of Zatarans again!

*Peace!

Playing House

When I was a little girl, my most favorite thing to do was to play house! Whether it was with Mrs. Beasley, my Cabbage Patch doll, Baby Chrissy, Barbie and her gang, or even better, my two willing little brothers, it was what I loved the most. Playing house. Domestic diva was what I aspired to be!

Some late-week dental work has had me sidelined with some achy jaw issues. It has given me a chance to play house this week, instead of going in to the office and playing career woman.

I much prefer the domesticated tasks....



Laundry is done, folded and put away. The house is somewhat tidy.

I spent time in the kitchen.



They say a way to a man's heart is thru his stomach, right? The hubs loves chocolate chip cookies.



I greeted him with a smile when he came in the door and made comment about the smell of cookies in the air. I let him know he could have all this and more every day.....if I was allowed to just play house!

They say you should look back to when you were young, before the world got a hold of you and told you what you should do and what you could do, and go back to that time when you felt like the world was yours and you could do whatever you wanted to do and you were happy. And THAT is what you should be pursuing.

I should be pursuing a full-time gig playing house. Seriously.

*Peace!

At least the food was good.....

Game day.....my beloved Cowboys.... < insert loud sobs and crying >.......the Cowboys < insert out of control crying >.....

*sniffle sniffle* ......< insert more tears >.....

Big game day.....lots of food prep for the big game...











At least the food was good. And the Cowboys will be back next year.

< insert meltdown >

I'm off to mourn....with a needle.....and perhaps a new sampler start...just because I'm so upset......

Where's that box of Kleenex when I need it?

*Peace!