February Early - BOM

Is it February yet?

I couldn't wait....sorry....I'm posting BOM #2 a day early.

February's heart block is here!  Go to my sidebar for the instructions.  Remember, I'm still wrestling with the PDF thingy so before you cut your 8 1/4 inch square, check to see if the heart fits within.  If it doesn't....shrink it about 2 to 5%.
I really appreciate your participation and your feedback.

"Lazy Hearts" Block#1 Show & Tell

Cindy and her daughter, Lacy are participating in my BOM.  They have chosen to leave off the word "January" in their interpretation.  Here is their results....Looks great ladies!

Tomorrow's the big day for the next block so stay tuned.

I Recommend

 I am recommending this great hand embroidery book
"A~Z of Embroidery Stitches." 
I have been dabbling with hand embroidery for many years with little to no success.  I stumbled upon this book and was very pleased with the easy to follow instructions and great pictures.
This book gets to thumbs up!
I am using this book to aid me with my "Lazy Hearts" BOM. 
February's instructions will be out very soon so stay tuned.

More.......

"More Tea casssszzzz (Tea cakes) GoGo, peeezzzz (please)," said little princess #2...Sarah.....the girl can put them away.......I think she has a hole in her tummy.  She is so funny...learning to talk........

Back From.......

Greetings everyone........I'm back from retreat and recovered from unpacking......you know how that all is if you've ever been retreating or just packing to go take a class with your machine and all the stuff needed for that.

Below are little snippets of what went on.

Enjoy!

 Here's Annie and Molly holding the row that Annie made for Molly's Row Quilt.  Annie is so talented in many things especially when it comes to machine applique`.

 Here are all the rows  that Molly has from us so far.  Molly's row is at the top, next is Kathy's pieced row, Annie's boots, my trees and tractor row and Annie's other row.

 Kathleen made this quilt for a wonderful friend of hers.  Kathleen also machine quilted this quilt.

 This beautiful quilt top was made by Annie. All the fabrics are solids to gradated.....just so colorful.

 This is my Row Quilt so far.....from left to right.....Kathleen, me, Molly made the sunflowers in the pot, Annie made the violets and Kathy made the last row.........now, I just have to figure out how to put it all together.

This is my row for Kathy......notice the cute little grasshopper........isn't he precious!!!!
I also worked on my February BOM which will be posted February 1st.
We had a blast..........eating, laughing, sewing, doing tutorials and even getting so rest.  I highly recommend retreating.

No Worries

If you don't hear from me for awhile....don't worry. I'm off for a well needed retreat with my wacky girlfriends.  My plans are to relax, laugh and get a little machine embroidery, which I have been neglecting.  I'll be putting the final touches on the February "Lazy Hearts" BOM to be published Feb. 1st....... on my sidebar.
But I'm so excited about next month's BOM that I'll just go ahead and show it. 
As you can see, I'm holding the block up for you to.............wait a minute...........I think my tripod handle got loose and slipped alittle........sorry about that..........I guess we'd better wait until February for the viewing and instructions.

Round 7

Just recently finished round 7 from the Stay-at-home Robin hosted by Kate.  This mini-quilt is coming along and roughly measures16 to 20ish.......I say that because I really haven't taken the time to do any real measuring.....LOL.........All the fabrics used in this quilt are from my stash......I know it's hard to believe but I didn't buy not even a fat quarter.....
Make sure you pop over to the "Robin" link to see what everyone else is up to. Each person's interpretation is an inspiration.

Listening Pleasure

It's another great Monday. Today I decided to share this video of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye. 
Back in the late 60s to early 70s this was one of my favorite songs......you know the pre-teen to teenage years.....the first boyfriend.....life goes from one extreme moment to the next.....that sort of thing. 
I must tell you though, for me there was no dating....why, you might ask?  Well, I lived out in the middle of nowhere, the boonies, way-far........the boys I knew had no cars and even if they did, mom and dad weren't about to allow me to go on a date......I can laugh about that now but then........I was always breathing fire at the injustice of it all..........and needless to say, I spent alot of time in my room listening to music and sulking  ;-(
Now that I'm over the hill, so to speak, I can look back on those years and ........ and......... and......still get a little angry..........hehehehehehehe........but I still love to listen to that music and I've long forgiven mom and dad.
What were some of your boyfriend, dating type songs?  I'd love to here from you.

3 Onion Soup

Does it seem as if I'm more interested in food than sewing lately?  It's possible.
The other day, in a moment of weakness and very cold weather....I had a hankering (great need) for soup.  I thought long and hard......did I want veggie soup, beef or chicken soup, maybe a chowder??????? What to make........I stomach was starting to make demands. I spied croutons in the cupboard and inspiration took hold.  Here's the recipe for my 3 Onion Soup:

• 1 each of red onion, yellow onion and white onion - chopped or sliced thinly
• 2 small cans of condensed milk (Pet milk)
• 1/2 stick butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup flour
• salt/pepper to taste
• garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup grated cheese of your choice
• Croutons
• 1 tablespoon parsley

In skillet, saute onions and garlic in butter until tender
Add flour stirring constantly
To that, add milk slowly, stirring constantly
Pour into a sauce pan to simmer.
Add salt/pepper
As onion mixture thickens, add parsley
Serve hot - sprinkle cheese over top along with croutons 
Total prep to serving 30 to 40 minutes
Note:  I'm a taste as I go sort of girl, so I'm always tasting and adjusting the ingredients to all of my recipes.  In other words, if you need to add more pepper or salt or even an ingredient that's not in my recipe, please do so. Make this recipe your own!

Hog Killing Weather

Disclaimer: This post may be distasteful to some but is told from my memory of long ago.

It's bitterly cold here in central-ish Texas.....around 27 degrees with a wind chill factor of 10 to 15 so that brings things down to 17-ish degrees........what we Texans call "hog killing" weather.
I remember those cold, blue northers sweeping in, blotting out the sun, chilling us to the bone.  On one of those times all the brothers and brothers-in-law, old and wise in their years gathered in our back yard in their long-john covered overalls, wool caps, coats of varied lengths, thick socks.......all in old mud cracked and caked boots. 
Granddad would load his double barrel shotgun in preparation for the "event."  My brother and I dawned our overcoats as grandma cautioned us to stay back and out of the way. Our eyes clear and shining, so excited to get to see this now forgotten experience.
Uncle Kenchion sharpened his ax as a large hog was moved from one pen to the next.  This prize hog would have been fed corn and other grains for a couple of months.  A large tree where a series of ropes hung behind the pen in readiness.
A shot rang out, the hog is dispatched instantly. Uncle K moves in to rope the hind legs of the hog and the other men hoist the 200 pound hog off the ground. A vein is opened with a sharp knife, draining the blood.  My brother and I move closer to see all the action. Gory but back then, a way of life.
Granddad places a large trough under the hog as Uncle K. uses is ax to open the underside of the hog.  The men move in and start to cut away the precious portions of the hog to be shared by many families.
Grandma helps to salt down the pork and rinses the intestines many times to clean them for use later.  Very little is wasted as the men work.
My brother and I are freezing but don't want to go inside and miss anything.  The men carry our portion of pork to the meat-house or smoke-house to be stored.  Salted meats could last quite a while during winter months. The other men wrapped they portions in bits of cloth to take home to their wives and families. This pork would feed several families for weeks to come.
The day is nearly over.  Grandma soaks the intestines in salty water to leave over night.  It's almost time for dinner.  My brother and I warm by the heater as Grandma begins to prepare the evening meal, Granddad gets cleaned up and Mom is home from school.
Those are the memories I had when it's so cold like it is now.

Chicken & Dumplings Anyone?

Here's an easy recipe for Chicken & Dumplings........sure to warm you on those cold days and nights.

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 large cans Cream of Chicken soup
• 2 onions chopped
• 1 pkg. frozen English Peas
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of Poultry seasoning
• salt/pepper (whatever you are comfortable with)
• 1/2 stick butter or your favorite margarine
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 pkg. flour Tortillas

• In a large pot, boil a whole chicken for about 3 hours (this allows the chicken to just fall off the bone). Make sure that the chicken is fully covered in water (you could use chicken stock but tap water works just as well).  Add salt, pepper and poultry seasonings as the chicken boils.
• After chicken is done, remove from pot, lower heat allow the pot to continue to simmer.
• De-boning is very easy.  Use a pair of tongs and a fork to remove the chicken from the bones. It should nearly fall off.  Rake chicken with fork to shred it then place chicken back into pot.
• Add chopped onion, butter, cans of Cream of Chicken, milk and frozen English peas; simmer while working on next step. 
• Stack 5 tortillas on top of one another and slice into think strips (1/2 to 1 inches).  Another option is to cube the tortillas.  Place into the pot then repeat process.  If you love the dumplings, 10 tortillas is plenty.
• Allow to simmer for another 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Serve with cornbread hot out of the over......YUMMY!
• Feeds a family of 8 with loads of leftovers!

Listening Pleasure

I was born in 1955 and in all my years of living, I developed a diverse and eclectic taste in music.  When I was small, my brother and I listened to the radio station ..... WLAC-1510 with John R. & Hoss Allen  Nashville, Tennessee and WBAP-820

They placed some great songs and all on the AM stations.

Mom had a collection of "78 rpm" records (that's the speed which the record turns not the number records Mom had......for those who haven't a clue of this old school stuff) that I love to listen to such Roy Hamilton, Johnny Mathis, Percy Faith, Brook Benton, The Platters and Dinah Washington. 

As I grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, B.B. King, the Beatles, James Brown, The Temptations, Roy Orbison, Elvis, Diane Ross, The Jackson 5, The Beach Boys, Earth-Wind & Fire, 3 Dog Night, AWB, The Mamas & the Popas, James Taylor.....that list goes on and on

My point, I've come to enjoy just about every style of music.  I wanted to share one of my favorites with you.

What are some your favorites?  I'd love to here about them.

Rhonda's Tasty TeaCakes

Just wanted to share a great recipe for those cold mornings or anytime.  They are great with coffee, iced tea, orange juice, milk................

• 1 cup butter (don't substitute)
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 cups flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• Note: If you love nuts, add 1 cup of chopped pecans into the mix

Cream the butter, sugar, eggs, milk and extracts in one bowl.
Stir dry ingredients together in large bowl then slowly stir in the creamed ingredients.
Roll out dough on lightly floured board.  Cut into round or square cookie shapes.
Bake on cookie sheet for 12 to 18 minutes at 350 degrees.
Yields 1 1/2 to 2 dozen tea-cakes.

Technical Difficulties

If you are having problems with the sidebar link to "Lazy Hearts" BOM, let me apologize....it's all my fault.
Once you click on the link, you will be carried to the PDF page where the instruction pages are. To print these 2 pages, click "File" then click "Download Original". Another window will pop up. Click "Open".  Once that's achieved you can safely print the pattern.
I'm sure there's a better way to do this and if you all have any ideas, please feel free to comment. I need all the help I can get.  Thanks in advance.

Put Down The.........

 See my new baby....it's the Kindle......my mom gave it to for me for Christmas.......OMG......I went crazy.....I mean absolutely C R A Z Z Z Z eeeeeeeeee........
Sewing......who needs to sew.........
Embroidery.....who needs to do machine embroidery when there's reading to be done!
I have had the hardest time putting the thing down........my girlfriend Kathy warned me but I didn't listen..........I needed help and quickly.  So I got out the old trusty timer, set it for 2 hours to read .......with the hopes of stopping when it rang off to do something else......like house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, visiting with the little princesses.............Did it work, you ask?.........................
......................................Well...
......................................................hummmmm......
.................................................................................
....................................................................................YES!
.....................................................................................................I got busy!

I've been thinking about trying my hand at a BOM (Block of the Month).  It will give me a chance to practice my hand embroidery (I'm a true beginner). 
"Lazy Hearts" is a one year BOM project that is whimsical and a fun way to sharpen your skills.   If you'd like to join me, feel free!  I have placed a PDF (on my sidebar) for you to download ...... with all the instructions and patterns. Join the fun, why don't you.
My girlfriend Molly is hosting her second BOM......"Boot Bash"......make sure you check it out, as well.