Bags, Purses, And Enid

Recently, our Historical Heritage Society presented a program on Enid Collins and her bags.  I knew nothing about Collins bags.  My friends, who have lived in Texas for more years than I, knew Enid, even owned one of her bags.  The program was presented by her son, Jeep Collins, who is jewelry artist. Although I was never one to carry a fancy purse, this program enlighten and added to my Texas knowledge.

Enid Collins is known in Texas because she lived and worked her magic on her purses in Hill Country.  At first, she made all the bags by her own hands; evidentially, when the bags became more popular, she moved into a factory, hired many workers and continued to embrace the purse market.

Her son has written a book about his mother and her claim to fashion fame.  You can find some of her bags on Ebay.  

Several of her creations were on display plus many attendees brought their Enid Collins purse to show.

Friend’s bag—such a lovely display—no two bags alike. 

A to Z Blog Challenge

 Somethings, bloggers find it hard to find an exciting feature to write on their blog.  In support of that, the month of April has been set as A-Z Challenge.  The theme for 2025 challenge is gratitude and blogging community.  Each blogger can list their blog location and if you are anything like me, go down the rabbit hole with all these posts.

You'll find bloggers writing fiction, talking about thrifting, animals, book reviews, Genealogy, history, gaming, entertainment, etc.  A wide variety of articles that will be published every day.

For me, I'll write about the same old, same old--hopefully, on the special day of the week, I  follow the letter of the day--this challenge does give you a nudge to write about something specific using the letter of the day.

Carry on, bring forth good works!!

Sloooow Stitching!

What is slow stitching?

 Join in—visit Jen Daly with her #100daysofslow stitching on Instagram

Or join with Jenny to stitch her monthly patterns

There are many forms of slow stitching—there is probably one just for you. 

I'm liking this slow stitching project.  I work up a few when I have time so when I sit to watch TV shows or listen to a book ( right now, I'm listening to Ernest Hemmingway's book

"A Moveable Feast" about his time spent in Paris.  Just lovely words describing the city, his friends, food, actions around the city.

My needle minder, Mr. Fox, is holding my needle.  I hate misplacing my needle—not with Mr Fox—I know where it is all the time!  

Another slow stitching event is hand quilting my heart quilt-- so many years in the making--definitely a slow work in process--might make this ready for next Valentine's Day.

 

What did you do last week?

 In the past few weeks there has been talk about reporting “what did you do last week?”

This report will hold me accountable!  I should like that—right?!  That is IF I can remember what I did last week!! Oh, I do have some proof with photos.  

• Here we go:
• Worked the February pattern for scarf--that was fun!  Once, I found my jar of beads!
  
  
  Now, this February’s pattern to my Estonian lace, with beads
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  Yay!  Finished a pair of socks!
  
  
• 
  
  
  One block from Riley Blake Designs—trying to use my hand dyed fabrics.  Must admit— this was a tough one!  Even had to rip out one corner--the square was turned the wrong way!
  
  
  
  Another block complete 
  
  
• 
  
  
  Sew with Me
  Block 2 --hope, this is a Christmas finish!
• 1
• 
  
  
  And of course, bought books!

• That’s pretty good for “what I did last week!”

Read! Read! Read!

I'm trying to read as many books as I can without a 'squirrel' moment--so far so good.  I'm back on an Agatha Christie--"Elephants Can Remember"  Didn't know about this book.  I am a member of an Agatha book club and every month, there is a different book featured--Many I haven't read--good thing.  I found a free recording and you can access it as well.  Listed below is the site.  In fact, there are many, many free recordings on this site.

This is a short book; one can listen to the whole book within 5 hours.  

I love listening to a book--a good reason to use your hands as your ears work too!

I just finished "A Girl Called Samson"  setting is Civil War;  went to Hollywood with "Severn Husbands of Evelyn Hugo"--Not one I enjoyed

Hit Paris with Ernest Hemingway in his "A Moveable Feast"--delicious reading; along came Great Gatsby author--Scott Fitzgerald--didn't know they were friends.

You can learn so much through reading

Now, I've moved into year 1377 with King Edward III--knew nothing about him at all!!

The descriptions in this book are outstanding--the leader through this year is Monk Athelstan and his assistant, the coroner of London Sir John Cranston, a drunk.  This is a first historical mystery series--I read all of Ellis Peters books and loved them.  

Not sure I would get into these characters but here I am on page 230 and wanting to finish so I can begin the second issue.

book is written by Paul Doherty, "The Nightingale Gallery"

Read on!!

Squirrel Here--Squirrel there!

 Just blew up my thinking!  Let me get back to what I was thinking—I was knitting away on Elizabeth Ravenwood section of February—Estonian Lace—it came to placing a bead—oops!  Where are my beads? I used them for January—so, it was a challenge to find that bottle of beads.

remember throwing the bead jar in ……….some bag.  But, what bag?  Well, took me to searching every bag I could find—nothing.  Did remember there were extra beads upstairs—okay, I’ll grab them 

Now!  I can continue—what was I doing before bead search begin?   About that time a friend texted with just a photo 

Oh my!  Knitted lights!  That took me on another search—looking at YouTube videos and thinking about ordering these tiny fairy lights to knit—good grief!  Such squirrel moments!!!

Then, I thought I could write about knitting with lights—let’s title our blog with something catchy! 

Another squirrel moments—

An email from grandson--he wanted to know if we had any photos from his FFA days--of course, I'll search our photo stream--you can imagine how that took me to other worlds.  I know we have some photos of him with his first lamb--

dinner is on--chicken/sausage gumbo--now, where is that rice for the gumbo??  and so the day goes........

Happy Mardi Gras!

 Splurge today as midnight comes and you've hit Ash Wednesday, the time to reflect, refresh and rejoice--it's Lenten season till April 20 (EASTER).

in that theme, tonight I'm preparing a traditional Louisiana dish.  For breakfast, we are having delicious Beignets, dusted with tons of powdered sugar and a cup or two of chicory coffee!  Yum! Yum!

Grits and Grillades

What is Grillades?  Simply a cheaper cut of beef that will cook up well in this recipe--slow cooking!

for grits, I prefer white but yellow grits are just as good.   This dish is excellent to feed a crowd and helped me empty some veggies from the refrigerator.

It seems beef is not cheaper these days and times, but I look for the best price for this dish--after all, it is Mardi Gras and tomorrow, we'll be leaning to seafood.

Beignet Recipe

But, I cheated!  I bought the mix from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.  The last time we were in NO, this place was packed and the line to be seated was long--so, we went to the take away window and placed our order--quick and simple--no waiting in line.  We walked up the levee, sat and ate as we watched the river traffic.

And the coffee!! nothing like a cup of chicory coffee with hot milk poured in the cup with the coffee. 

why chicory in the coffee?

Chicory is added to coffee, particularly in New Orleans, because it provides a unique, earthy, and slightly sweet flavor that complements the coffee's bitterness, creating a richer, more complex taste profile; historically, it was also used as a way to stretch coffee during times of scarcity due to its lower cost compared to coffee beans alone.  

Enjoy your Mardi Gras!