In an April long ago 04-18-20

Looking back in my picture files again.  Just typed in "April" and found a few quilt images. 

This is from April 2005 in a class at Empty Spools with Sylvia Einstein.  Sylvia did wonderful wedding ring pattern quilts and had us use the same templates with original settings.   I think I called mine "Green Trails".  It has yet to be quilted.

This picture is from April 2003 when this quilt hung in a big show in Pennsylvania.  It is a group quilt with blocks made by friends of Judy House who subsequently died of cancer.  It started out as just a few blocks from Empty Spools friends and spread to her friends all over the country.  Unfortunately we didn't put any dimensions on the request for blocks so there was no uniformity.  It took me forever to put it together and I had to make some small blocks as fillers.  I still get a kick out of the chicken in the lower right with a block of three eggs right below it.  Looks startled!  After her death the family donated the quilt to a children's hospital or clinic in the Washington DC area.  Might have been Walter Reed.  As difficult as it was to put together I think it is the most fun quilt I have ever worked on.  

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Friday Food 04-17-20

Seems that everyone I know is sick and tired of thinking of something to fix for dinner and we all want to go out to our favorite restaurants.  I just finished a novel "Home Front Girls" that consists of fictitious letters sent back and forth between two women whose husbands are in WWII.  The two authors set up their exchange of letters as if they were the two 1944 women.  It is an interesting way of writing a novel, but I found it irritating to jump back and forth with letters.  Anyway, they included some wartime recipes including Welsh Rarebit which I made as a child and back in the 60s and 70s, but somehow dropped it from my mealtime repertoire.  It sounded so good that when I last went to the market I made sure I had the ingredients, although the one can of beer has been in my refrigerator for a decade or so.  I made it tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it and will enjoy the leftover tomorrow night with some fresh broccoli from the farmer's market.  One thing I forgot that I used to do is cut up the toast into bite sized pieces instead of having to saw through the toast and the sauce on my plate.  It also distributes the cheese sauce better.  I didn't take a picture of my plate, but borrowed this one from the Internet.   My blue/white plates are different!

The receipe from the book is as follows, although I'm sure you can find one in your old printed cookbook or, of course, online.  

One pound grated cheddar cheese [Tillamook is best]

One Tablespoon butter

One cup of beer

Two egg yolks [large eggs] beaten

Hot buttered toast or crackers [ick!]

Paprika that you bought within the last year. 

Using a double boiler melt the butter and cheese over medium heat, stir continuously until about one fourth of the cheese has melted.  Then add half of the beer and continue stirring.  Mix the remaining beer with the beaten egg yolks,  pour slowly into the cheese and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and thickened.  Serve immediately over toast.  Sprinkle with paprika. 

Unfortunately the weather is just getting hotter and this seems like a cold weather dish, so I probably won't make it again until next fall.  And then I will be busy going out to my favorite restaurants.  

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Thursday Thoughts/Treasures 04-16-20

I have posted these treasurers previously, but they are very special to me, so here they are again. 

More Needlework Treasures 10-25-12

After I posted about handmade gifts I took pictures of a number of others that I treasure.  I'll post them over the next month.  Warning:  This post contains nudity!!

Here are two gifts I received about twenty-five years apart. 

On the left is a scissors bob made with alphabet beads by Mabel Huseby from Washington Sate who I met at Empty Spools   She made me several of these that adorn a hemostat and.  various scissors, including my favorite Gingher Craft Scissors.

  

In the middle is a scissors doll made in 1986 by my late friend Margie Vandenberg as part of a Christmas gift project that was once done by Orange County Quilters Guild.  Even with over 400 members we handmade a gifts for each and every one.  This lasted several years until, I suppose the members that always volunteer got tired of volunteering.  Margie, who made the majority of these little dolls with their eleven black French knot eyes and hair, was a pro at making multiples of anything.  She was a volunteer at a local hospital and over the decades that she served she sewed tens of thousands of handkerchiefs with lace edging that were given to each newborn in the form of a little bonnet with a poem and instructions to clip certain stitches to make it back into a hanky for the baby's wedding day (girl or boy).  It was a lovely tradition that apparently ended with her death.  Many people, including me, have loving and thankful memories of Margie.    

 
I know this one was made by Margie because she gave it to me herself before the meeting.  You see the date 1986 and OCQG.  Above the date is "Xmas", but I didn't want to get the poor girl completely naked.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Another treasure from a quilting friend 10-08-12

I'm still thinking of the treasures friends have given me.  Over the years there have been several sewing accessories that became integral parts of my lifetime sewing addiction.

This is an "ort catcher" - an "ort" being a scrap or tidbit and is usually used in connection with food scraps.  But embroiderers co opted the word to mean the thread ends and tiny bits of  fabric leftover when sewing.
 
 
This little basket block ort catcher was made about 25 years ago by my dear friend Betty Lou Lucas who died ten years ago this month.   She was an accomplished needlewoman and we belonged to several of the same groups, including a long lasting friendship group. 

 

This piece has been well used and I still use it when I am able to do handwork - it brings my friend into my mind with joy.  

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Looking back 04-15-20

I'm suffering from a terrible urge to be out on the highway!  Going anywhere.  Here are some places I have been in years past.   Wide open vistas, blue skies, many types of clouds and light traffic.   Be still my heart!  

In California Central Valley on I-5  06-08-09

Again in California Central Valley, but further north   05-04-14

Arizona on I-40  05-20-13

Outside Joplin, MO  05-30-13

On I-80 between Davenport, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. 

 A well travel part of the route. 07-23-14

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Just wishing you good health 04-14-20

This post is just so you know all is well here.  I am just too tired and KoKo has been asleep for several hours.  In my paternal family there was a saying: "Too far, too hot, and too hard on the horses".   Which is how I feel tonight.  KoKo went to the groomer for a bath, haircut, and toenail trim.  He looks great even if his ears are a little short.  He would not sit still for a full portrait.  

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Nice to walk in the springtime 04-13-20

And look at, if not smell, the flowers.  Only the Calla Lily is in my yard. 

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Calla Lily from Asilomar

A peppermint petunia. 

 Pink Geranium

Pink and white Amaryllis.

Gorgeous white iris.  This neighbor has a huge bed of just these - awesome. 

Snapdragons - huge. 

Gaillardia

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Easter Sunday 04-12-20

What a strange Easter, especially for those who usually have special celebrations and gatherings on this day.  KoKo and I had coffee from Starbuck's and took our usual two walks.  Not many people about and almost no cars.  Eerie. 

The neighborhood organizers had signs out to post eggs for the kids to spot.  I saw quite a few and even some plastic eggs scattered on lawns.  

Here are the three I had in my window.  The one on the left is fabric fused to fabric, in the center is just a large print fused to paper, and on the right  a weird shape that has been "pieced" with cut out fused fabric.  The one on the left may turn into a cushion, still thinking about it.  Who would want an Easter Egg cushion anyway?

No visit to the PetSmart Easter bunny this year, so I bought KoKo a pair of bunny ears.  He didn't like them!  This is the best picture I could manage and I had to be quick since he immediately pulled them off with his paw.  Stubborn, eh? 

I didn't realize I had included KoKo in a picture, he is just keeping track of me.  You see why I had to take the pictures at an angle - because of the reflections.  

I am struggling with the restrictions and I know that many of you are also.  If you just need to talk to someone, give me a call.   714-315-9526   As you know, I am up late. 

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KoKo time again 04-11-20

In the early afternoon KoKo finds his sunny spot and waits for Dave, the mailman.  On the right is the window onto the front porch with a box so he can jump up and see out.  His bed is on the lower right and it contains his toys since he refuses to sleep in the bed.  

And here is Dave to deliver the mail around the neighborhood.  When he arrives KoKo goes berserk and runs around barking, clawing at the window, sniffing at the front door, and scattering his toys about the hallway.  Once our mail is delivered  KoKo just waits at the window to see him off once he has done his round.  It is the high point of KoKo's day, after which he has a another nap! 

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