Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Sew What You Been Doing?

 We’re back from our travels.  It’s time to sew!  

Just could not resist!  Decided to sew up Autumn Wonders with Pat Sloan—once I finished this block, I took a good look—those 4 patches should have been arranged differently!  Am I doing a date with Jack to change it?  You can bet NOT!!

A new block is posted every Wednesday, of course, I’m not keeping up with blocks! Still another one to finish. 

This block from Sew with Me was fun to do and I screwed it up!!  It does the block look different— no one knows but me. 

Decided this one should be whim-sly—colors I don’t normally use.  This month’s block from A Quilting Life

A fluke photo—I put my phone down on my glass top sewing table and accidentally snapped this photo—fun!  






Sunday, October 15, 2023

Let's READ!

 

The Intrepid Reader is sponsoring a historical fiction reading challenge!!
I'm in!  Love books!  really enjoy historical books--can you read a book without thinking how did that happen; when did that happen; why did that happen?

Have your read "The Killers of the Flower Moon"? before it came out as a movie?
I have!! So interesting to learn about this period in our country's history--how could we do such a thing?  I passed my book along to a friend--she wants to read before she attends the big screen.

We are traveling now and we are listening to Elmer Kelon's book "The Time It Never Rained"
We feel like we are in that period of time now, especially in Texas!
What book will you read this month?  Be sure to check out Intrepid Reader's reviews to find your next historical fiction masterpiece!





Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Thank you!!

 What an amazing day we had Saturday for JD’s fund raiser!  God gave us a beautiful day, huge turnout, support from friends, strangers, and strength from family! We’re blessed to have a wonderful family & extended family base!  

Our car was loaded!  Plus there three other cars just as full with auction donations!

Bid sheets and donations laid out—
One of our fabulous original art pieces donated.  Painted on wine barrel top stave—
Two of JD’s nurses came wearing special shirts that displayed his love of Curious George

Here is the back!  Nurses call him Jerr-Bear!  
What an honor to have them visit!
This table contains all his nurses that attended!  Love them all and their dedication!

Our sweet #CDH Warrior with his curious George! 

Scan to learn about #CDH! 







Sunday, October 8, 2023

At Loose Ends

 After all the hurried frenzy of JD's fundraiser, life feels so empty!  Have you ever had that let down feeling once you have completed an important task?  You just don't know what to do with yourself--Guess the best way to get over that feeling is to find another task that will take you to that feeling again!

Back to reality for sure--

Picked up the September dishcloth of the month to hopefully (!) finish before I begin on October's pattern.  I have plenty of hand-spun yarn on hand, so that's not a problem.  These patterns are provided free by Garlene.  September's pattern was named Appeltaart, very simple pattern to knit.

I have another hat on the needles, using stash yarn--this is something I can pick up and just knit!  I've made a number of these caps--mindless knitting!

OH--I did locate hubby's socks, that I've (maybe intentional) forgotten about--but, guess what?  the yarn and unfiished socks just keep getting buried to the bottom of the pile of things I really want to do!
At loose ends about those darn socks!!

Since October is National Breast Cancer Awarness month, Moda fabrics is sponsoring this quilt along with Camille Roskelley using her fabric collection, along with quilt blocks a 'pink' taste.  The QAL began October 3 and runs through November. Stitch along with your best Pink!

There was a bit of disappointing news this week from our local quilt shop--they will no longer rent their long arm quilting machines--real bummer!  my friend and I have been using their machines for over a year and have gotten a lot of tops quilted.  Now, we will need to regroup and learn a different way to quilt those tops!  Research is ongoing as I type!  
It will be a new adventure, for sure.






Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Little history with knitting

If you incorporate a history lesson with your knitting, all the more better.  OH==an aside here!  When I type "More Better", I always think of the Mexican shop where we were buying tequila and the local shop owner came to us with a "More better" bottle of  Tequila!

Okay back to the topic of this blog--The historical pattern being knit this month with one group of history living knitters is representative of Henriette Sontag, a German opera singer who visited various countries wearing an unusual wrapped shawl—it made an instant impression on many women.  Yes, we need that! THat's the way it is with most everyone who wants to be fashion conscious--doesn't matter the year as this fashion accessory was noted in Mid 1800's!   There is nothing new in the minds of women with it comes to fashion trends.

Henriette Sontag was a famous German opera singer.

n 1849, she was encouraged by the impresario Benjamin Lumley to perform a season at Covent Garden Theatre. She proved to have fully retained her vocal powers. In 1852, she toured America, and in May 1854, at a literary evening in honor of Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna, she made public for the first time the lyrics that Francisco González Bocanegra had written to celebrate the nation (with an Italian musical arrangement). A day after singing Lucia di Lammermoor, she contracted cholera, which would claim her life at age 48.[1]

So, what if she was an opera singer, what fashion trend did she begin?
where ever she toured, this was the talk of fashion--a cross your heart wrap that hugs your bossom.  This fashion could be seen in the Outlander series. Little Women were also wearing this fashion. There were plenty of patterns written and needles with yarn were flying to knit one of these wraps.

Modern day designers have found other ways to wear this wrap around--one that doesn't hug the breast--as seen in this pattern by Jenn Monahan--a double duty fashion!

So, the next time you think about knitting a garment--think-maybe, just maybe, this will begin a fashion trend of your own!
Historic Knit Garments to Knit is In the Loop Knitting theme--check that blog out for other knitwear for history cotent.



Sunday, October 1, 2023

It’s time!!

 Our great grandson’s benefit is being held October 7–the family has been preparing for this event for weeks. Take a look at this promotion Film

This is our #CDH baby boy.  He has had nine surgeries and spent most of his seven months in a hospital room.  He is definitely a brave little boy, smiles a lot, is loved by so many.  When we visit, just about every nurse in his pod came to check on him—he has prayer warriors all around the world. 

Our home has been the location for many donation baskets for the silent auction.  The kitchen table is colorful with these lovely decorated baskets.  

Such great donations for the silent auction

It has been heart warming to see the outbreak of love and generosity from many.  

Fritztown Farms has donated these lovely pieces of jewelry made from their quail eggs!  Absolutely unique!

A donation of Lladro piece—we will find an auction house that will take this piece.  
We’ve also set up a go fund me for JD’s hospital bills not covered by insurance.

JD #CDHWarrior





Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Cooking with the Bear!

Have you heard about The Bear?  

Although, I’d heard about this, I just ignored it for the longest time.  After all, The Bear is a series on Hulu streaming service, which we didn’t have—definitely a moot point then. 
Later this summer, we subscribed to Hulu —still didn’t think much about it.  Plugged in one day and there it was!! The Bear! Watched the first episode and I was hooked! 
Your mouth can water from seeing delicious foods being
Prepared!  Yum!  Yum!!
And then
The one recipe being talked about on many blogs—spaghetti pomodoro!!  
So simple in preparation and looked so delicious—I decided “it’s what’s for dinner” tonight
And the best thing, I had all supplies on hand! 

On our last visit to Costco, I grabbed a bag of fresh garlic 

My garden still had basil growing


There was a can of San Marzona tomatoes in the pantry

For pasta, I decided on sprialized zucchini

Basil and garlic are steeped in olive oil, in bottom pan
Top pan is onion cut in half simmered in butter
Following the sparse directions, everything is combined in one pot and out comes 

The most delicious sauce ever! 
I watched a number of you tube videos and blogs about
This simple recipe and want to thank the person or persons who conceived this delight as well as all the other foods featured on the series.   
Off to watch another episode of delightful food combined with drama/comedy.  I’m liking The Bear!


 

Good Day To……..

 It's always a good day to take some time for yourself.  it's also a good day to do nothing when the day is rainy and no outside act...