Thursday, November 30, 2017

Thanks for Day 30....................


I am Thankful that Thanksgiving has come and gone--our hearts
are happy with the fellowship we shared with family and friends.

Now, we turn our thoughts to the Advent season 

Advent begins December 3--Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". The term "Advent" is also used in Eastern Orthodoxy for the 40-day Nativity Fast, which has practices different from those in the west

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Day 29 of Thanks.....................


Sorry Folks!  This is the way I feel today--
all tied up!
Everything going ever which way--
tomorrow will be better
that's for sure!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Day 28 of Thanks.......................

Here comes the best Thanks of all..........................
MY FAMILY!!


Husband, daughters, son, brothers, sisters, cousins, mother---all included in gratifulness! 

family

[fam-uh-lee, fam-lee] 
 
nounplural families.
1.
  1. a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children,considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not:
    the traditional family.
  2. a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with thechildren they care for:
    a single-parent family.
2.
the children of one person or one couple collectively:
We want a large family.
3.
the spouse and children of one person:
We're taking the family on vacation next week.

4. any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children,uncles, 
    aunts, cousins
to marry into a socially prominent family.
5.
all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor.
6.
Chiefly British. approved lineage, especially noble, titled, famous, orwealthy ancestry:
young men of family.
7.
a group of persons who form a household under one head, including parents, children, 

Monday, November 27, 2017

Day 27 of Thanks......................


I am thankful for all my friends--near and far.
We are one happy family!

These are wonderful lovable friends made by
Dottie!  They are heavenly to hold and more
fun to enjoy on her bed of red!
Thanks Dottie for sharing!

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Day 26 of Thanks.........................


I'm so thankful for those folks who
share their talents through exercises such as

Aren't these great?  I love putting together a
Christmas tree quilt or table runner.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Day 25 of Thanks..........................

On this day of thanks, I'm so thankful that my son likes my fiber art!
He has requested a Texas Flag Quilt for his bed!



This is the pattern he likes--so I'm gathering my stash fabrics
for this challenge!

Friday, November 24, 2017

Day 24 of THanks............


Thanksgiving Day has passed and I'm so thankful for...........

wearables that fit!!!



Just ate too much!!!  

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Day 23 of Thanks................

On This Day of Thanksgiving,
we offer up this short prayer
that reflects our thoughts
of the day!



Interesting facts about Thanksgiving

  • Canadian Thanksgiving predates American Thanksgiving by 43 years. The first Thanksgiving in North America was held in 1578 in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. It was 43 before the first American Thanksgiving which happened in 1621 at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in Massachusetts 
  • Sarah Joseph Hale, who is the author of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" had contributed to the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. After 17 years of sending letters to President Lincoln, she had convinced him to support legislation establishing a national holiday of Thanksgiving in 1863. Before Thanksgiving, the only national holidays celebrated in the United States were Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) and Independence Day
  • The TV dinner was invented in 1953 when Swanson had 260 tons of leftover turkey from Thanksgiving and no idea what to do with it. When asked, one of the employees said that they should package it in trays with sides and freeze 
  • There is a grocery in Paris named "Thanksgiving" that sells US food like Skippy peanut butter, Jello Instant Pudding, and Pop-Tarts to homesick ex-pats 
  • The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers and septic companies who call it "Brown Friday" 

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Day 21 of Thanks.............................Crab Bisque!

I'm so Thankful that my family loves my crab bisque and request it every Thanksgiving and Christmas!


Here is the recipe:  
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small white onion and one small potato, finely chopped
  • 6 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 6 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Mashed Roasted Garlic
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 to 1 tablespoon Tabasco
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 2 pounds jumbo lump crab or Dungeness crabmeat
    • How to Make It

      Step 1    
      In a large soup pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, celery, scallions   and cook over moderate heat until softened, 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the broth is thickened and the vegetables are very tender, 15 minutes.
      Step 2    
      Add the roasted garlic and milk; bring to a simmer. Stir in the cream and Tabasco and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper, then add the crab; simmer until hot. Serve the bisque with oyster crackers.

      Make Ahead

      The crab bisque can be refrigerated without the crab for up to 3 days. Reheat the bisque gently and then add the crab just before serving.  Serve with fresh crusty bread. 

Monday, November 20, 2017

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Day 19 of Thanls

Day 19 of Thanks!



I'm thankful for the smallest of things--a whisper of
"I Love You" at bedtime
 a simple "good morning"  
 a bright smile upon passing a stranger
a warm handshake
a whisper of thanks!






Saturday, November 18, 2017

Day 18 of Thanks..................

Day 18 of Thanks--
I'm thankful for those who give support and comfort to those in need--
a hug, a shoulder to lean on, ears to listen, 





Friday, November 17, 2017

Day 17 of Thanks--And Giving

Day 17--today I'm thankful for the mistakes that I make-- 



So, I can turn those mistakes around!

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Day 16 of Thanks................................Getting Ready for December!


Day 16 of thanks:  I'm thankful that we have an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with many of the like mind.  



Can you believe?  Fifty! 50! Free tablerunners to create and use
in your celebration for Christmas.  I think it would be really neat if
I started 50 days ago and made  one of these a day---ahh, maybe,
in 2018!  Always need a goal! 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Day 15 of Thanksgiving........................


There are so many obvious things to be thankful for--
health, home, family, friends, food
but, it's the small things that truly make me thankful....

like a cup of hot chocolate on a cool day--

the kind with floating tiny marshmallows.......

and really tasty, when sharing with someone you love!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Day 14 of Thanks!

Day 14--I'm so thankful that my eyes can see color and enjoy the beauty of the world!  So many are color-blind, like my hubby!  He tried those special color blind glasses, but he still could not distinguish between the green in the trees, the red on the holly bushes or the brown on the ground.  I'm so sorry--he can not see color like I do!



Monday, November 13, 2017

Day of 13 Thanksgiving..............


Love, Love Pumpkins!  and everything Pumpkin!

I'm thankful that pumpkins (like people) come in all sizes
and shapes!  

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Another Challenge.......

Day 12 of Thanks:  Here is another challenge to conquer!  Yes,
I'm thankful for quilters who design fantastic patterns!


Quiltville is hosting her annual mystery!  I'm loving the colors
of this one--Aqua, corals, browns and neutrals--
the steps will come each Friday, beginning Thanksgiving.
I love that we are using fabrics from the scrap bin--
only, I don't have that many of these colors in my stash--
ahh, shucks--I'll need to visit a quilt store!  

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Day 11 of Thanksgiving..................


Day 11 of Thanksgiving--

So much appreciation for those who have served in
the military and defended my liberty!

I'm so grateful for their sacrifice..........
and thankful for their service to our great country
and fellow citizens.



Friday, November 10, 2017

Day 10 of Thanks.................

There is a Willie Nelson song that goes "I woke up not dead again today!"
It's a great song with words of wisdom in notes!

Yes, each morning I wake up, refreshed and hopeful for a good day, I
thank the Heavens that I have another chance to make
my day the best I can!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

International Quilt Fest.....................

Day 8 of Thanksgiving:  I'm so very thankful I could walk the whole convention center floor!  Over 3 miles!
Here we go, the blond headed daughter and I.  Off to soak in all there is at the BIGGEST quilt festival--so much to see and so little time.  We had only Sunday to view all our eyes could hold-- there are grand prize winners, small quilts, antique quilts, story quilts, painted quilts, the special exhibits and the SHOPPING!  The aisles are less crowded and it is much easier to view
the quilts.

The main aisle leading from the quilt section to the vendor section--we began on Aisle
T--walking in a zig-zag pattern to view quilts on the right hand side; then a turn at the
end of Aisle A to do the other right side--back and forth--it seemed like a logical
system

We did venture out Hall B to the find some lunch about halfway through
our adventure--


Oh, look there is even a Husbands' lounge--a peek in and
you see big comfy lounge chairs with blaring TV with
football game and one lonely husband.

There was a special section with Sue Garman quilts--what a treat to
see her artisty onndisplay 

We enjoyed seeing each and every one of the 75 quilts on display.

Mama said!  what a great quilt to present to your child

and around each block were words of wisdom--all the things that
Mama would say!

Here are her seasons' quilts



And this is the one she was working on while she was ill--
love it--looks so much like an overshot weaving

blue and white is impressive!

Colorful fabrics

Fabrics of every color

Lots of 'sparkly' quilts--which doesn't show on the camera

but brilliant under the bright lights on the floor

Many quilt with black backgrounds too--
the winners were awesome, but there are so many more in the big
aisles that are just as impressive and beautiful! 
We walked till our legs couldn't do it anymore--so much to see
and the brain is now in "overload!"




Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Day 7 of Thanksgiving................................


Today I'm thankful for words of inspiration.
Words that carry me through the chores of the day
and the unwelcome news of the world.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Quilters Delight!

Day 6 of Thanksgiving:  Finished quilts!!



I'm so excited!  My plain quilt tops are now QUILTS!
All quilted and lovely to look at, feel and enjoy for decades to come!


Here is my poinsettia quilt--this will be a surprise for blond
headed daughter--she can decorate her bedroom with
colorful flowers--

and the quilting!  She'll love the Fleur de Leis theme as
she is a Louisiana gal at heart still

And the Snowman quilt top is bouncing with delight and
will be perpect for Winter theme decoration--and I love the
red and grey--

snowflakes adorn the back--super duper!

Finally!!  I've had this pattern for ages--and so glad to have
it finished in batiks--these were my selection from 2016's 
birthday fat quarter exchange--

 witches, pumpkins, bats, cats--oh my!

This top was calling me from a magazine page--I've got to quit
looking at those!  Just a fun holiday theme that wanted to be made!

Can you blame me?  Of course, not--

More snowflakes falling across the backing--
I'm all set for quilts now for the holidays--
off we go to see what other trouble I can get into....
Happy stitching, y'all!

Just Can’t!!

 It’s been almost two weeks since time change and I just can’t get my body turned around to adjust.  I know it’s only an hour BUT it’s that ...