Gloomy Day

I forgot what it's like to wake up several mornings in a row with dark overcasts.  It kinda matches my mood this morning lol.  I am starting day 4 of my back issues I really hate having problems with my back.  I haven't done much sewing to say the least.  I haven't  done much of anything, yesterday I tried to stay down and take the pain meds to see if it helped, not to any great measures but this morning the pain is mostly on my right side and I can at least get out of bed so that is an improvement. lol Anyhow on to other things.'

My son and daughters friends married each other some years back (son's friend and daughters best friend ) 
A couple of weeks ago their was a traggic accident and my son's friend died in an accident. 
taking this young father and husband away from his family.  I have had that family on my mind for the last several days.  It's a hard thing to understand and I don't think any of us do.  Trying to comfort this young mother is almost impossible I;m sure.  As a mother you can have compassion for her but how do you reach out to her?  I live 1400 miles away but I feel such a draw to this woman.  Maybe a card or the next time I'm out there maybe my daughter and I can go visit her I am not sure what to do. 

Today I am going to try to do another quilt block for the chocolate and teal quilt and maybe finish a birthday present for my middle granddaughter Abbie she will be turning 8!!!  Eight?  Oh my the time has surely flown.  As I understand it they moved to Texas to be with my son which is such a huge step for my daughter in law leaving her family and all her friends not to mention the beautiful home that my son and her built.  'But what are things if you are far from the one that you married and the father of your child?  I pray that God will bless them in a mighty way and that Abbie loves her new school and hopefully they will find a place where she can have some friends her age and not far away. 


So back to sewing lol I made Abbie a pillow with several embroidered cats on it she loves cats.  I'll post a photo when its done.  Funny story about Abbie and a stuffed cat that my daughter had bought her.  Brandie bought her a fur=real cat and Abbie named it Monica she pronounces it Amonica lol.  Any how she has to take this cat with her everywhere she goes.  When I would talk to her she would always fill me in on Amonicas doings lol  My sister Patti had done an embroidery on a pink piece of canvas I think it was Cinderella and decided she wasnt going to be using it and gave it to me.  I in return decided that Monica needed a diaper bag because my daughter had called and told me that Abbie had wanted to take Monica with them out to dinner and her dad had told her no and Abbie had a meltdown lol (she is the girl if you looked up the meaning drama queen there her photo would be lol)  so good ole dad gave in and of course who can go out without having all the necessities lol so into a bag she threw Monicas stuff and off they went.  I think the bag was a purse not sure anyhow.  So I made this guawdy diaper bag for her.  I have a photo

So anyhow I was under the impression that Monica was almost lifesize but in reality she's only about the size of a softball lol.  So now Monica has this large diaper bag that not only can Abbie carry her things she needs for Monica but Monica herself lol.  My daughter in law said to me "Thanks for feeding into this and I have to be seen in public with this? lol"  I didn't think it was that bad and it's custom made right? lol Just another funny story to be able to embarass her with when she's older. And a good memory for the rest of us.

Children are such a blessing and Grandchildren are much more than just a blessing who would ever have thought?  So off to try to do a little sewing if I can and I have Bible study to get ready for so my final thoughts today are hug your children an extra time, make sure that all around you know that you love them and take the time to say a prayer for someone in need and reach out to them it may be the one thing that gives them comfort.

God carries us through our hard times with strong friends and family members to surround us and do for us when we can't do for ourselves.

 
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
 

Good Friday it's a bluesy kinda day here lol.  I've been down with my back for a couple of days and haven't wanted to do anything other than sit in my recliner.  I want to start today with a recipe I found that is Wonderful!!!!  I call it Roasted Potatoes and Sausage

Roasted Potatoes and Sausage

Spray a 8x12 casserole pan with Pam and coat with olive oil.
Cube up 6 Red Skin Gold Yukon Potatoes
cube up 1 bell pepper and 1/2 red onion
sprinkle 1/2teasp. minced garlic, 1/4 teas. thyme, salt and pepper and parsley
Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes @ 350*
Uncover sprinkle with cheese and bake for 15 min more until cheese is melted and potatoes are slightly browned.

I hope you try this and enjoy it as much as we have.

I have been working with the comic book boards and folding my fabric pieces that are under 2 yards.  I have all 100 boards used and the new shelves up and filled already lol but it's so nice to see the fabrics that I have without having to dig in boxes drawers and bins for what I think I have now I know.  Even if you store your fabrics in bins or drawers these boards are the way to go I think it keeps the pieces from getting all wrinkled up. Since this photo I have added another shelf under these 2 which I moved the embroidery threads down to it and straightened out the one shown here.  It's
nice to have this all up and out of the way my next project is to cut into the closet and add a huge shelving unit with doors.  The closet in this room is 11 foot long and the whole end where I want to put the shelves is wasted because there is no access to it and I sure can use more storage.


Nancy emailed me the cutest baby quilt today it's an elephant applique quilt from epatterns.com it was $3.99 for the pattern I bought it and will start gathering the fabrics that I don't already have to make it.  It's so cute. I'll post photos lol.

Today has been a hard day emotionally but I know that God will carry me through and lift me up once again.  Life throws lots of curve balls in everyones life it's the way we decide to hit them that makes or breaks us.  I am of the mind set that this is just a bump in the road and that the God I serve is so much biger and better and more awesome than anything as small as a back issue.  God is always Good even when we turn our heads away from Him.

1 Thessalonians 5;16-18 Rejoiced always, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Good Monday Morning:  It's a cloudy morning and very chilly lol.   I started my morning with my dogs wanting out which isn't anything new but I came in and sat in my sewing room to start working and something made me look out the window and low and behold my older dog was standing in the driveway right at the road!!!  Now you know that the pup wasn't far behind so I went out and yelled they looked at me like what? lol  I grabbed the bull whip and went on the chase.  Of course the older dog knows the road is a no no but where was the pup?  Standing in the middle of the road!!!! I yelled and Korky started for the house and the Myyah the pup looked at me like look at me I found a new place to play!!  She came barreling towards me until she saw the whip then high tailed it around the fruit trees and straight for the house.  How do you keep from laughing at them you would think that I beat them with the whip everyday the way they act lol (in reality I've not ever used it just scared the snot out of them with it lol) So they are grounded to the house for the morning lol. 

I have been working on folding fabric onto the comic book boards and I think this is going to be the best way ever to store fabric.  I am amazed at how much room it has already freed up for me and I really just got started.  I have about 15-20 pieces of fabric folded and 1000's to go lol.  My sister Anna gave me some Acryllic shelves that I am putting up today that hold the boards perfectly and so hopefully I can get rid of some of the boxes that I store fabric in.

I have almost gotten all the squares done for the brown and teal quilt I feel is never going to be finished lol.  I only have 3 left.  Why when making a quilt and there are some difficult blocks do we leave them to the end?  I am going to try to not do that anymore.  It makes me dread working on them.  The one I'm working on now is a star of mystery and there are 6 paper pieces and each piece has a minum of 5 pieces of fabric and then you have to add 4 half square triangles to them.  Grrr lol  but the one I finished is really pretty so onward I go.  I'm posting a couple of the squares but don't want to give away all the fun of a finished quilt. lol

So today I want to say that our Bible study is going quite well we are into the 5th week and the 4th quilt square I am going to post photos of the squares as I finish them so I am a little behind because of all the hand sewing involved but they are going to be magnificent.  Again I want to make sure that you know that Sue Delany designed these quilt squares we are each adding our own touch and if you want to purchase the patterns I can get you to the right source I'm not sure of the cost but I will fi,nd that out.  Ok so I called my sister and of course I forgot they are in school right now.  She and my nephew are homeschooling my great neices so I will update later in the day.

TODAY'S TIP;  keep a sewing box for the project you are working on or if you are gathering for a new project that way you have everything that you need or will need together or you can see what you need to purchase before starting the project.  I have a 3 drawer rubbermaid container that fits under my desk perfectly I keep my rulers in the top drawer.  The second is for projects I'm working on and the third is for any interfacing pieces that can't be folded onto a comic book board.

Psalms 127;3-5  Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the friut of the womb is a reward.  Like arows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They shall not be ashamed, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Hello Weekend

Hello Weekend

Well I'm sorry I haven't been on in a couple of days.  I have had a couple of unbeiveable days of fun packed events lol.  Dr. visits yuck.  Glad they are in the past. 
I did a bad thing and went to the fabric store yet again.  I found some really cute fabric that I couldn't live without so of course they came home with me.  I have been working on the quilt for my daughter in law also and the scripture quilt.  I took one of the blocks that has some hand sewing that needs to be done with me to the appointments and thought I would be smart went early to have some time to sew and of all times they called me in early!!!!! lol  I had 2 appointments and thought that can't happen twice so went to the next was there 20 minutes early sat down got my sewing out and got 6 stictches sewn and was called!! so I got 8 stitches sewn lol  Oh well I'll get it done tonight while I'm home alone.  I did a Birthday cake this morning for a little boy that is the Grandson of one of my friends it's Star Wars themed and to tell you the truth I have no idea anything about Star Wars lol.  I hope he likes it.  I have another cake on the 5 th of next month that is Golfing themed I got that one lol.

Back to quilting lol  I got my comic book boards on Thursday and started folding fabric it may take me a couple of weeks to get this project done I can only do a few and I have to move on to something else my attention is not focused on the end result as of yet.  My sister Anna has 3 acrylic shelves that the boards are going to fit into like a glove and I am going to have Joe help me mount them on the wall so I will have all my fabric in one place which will be a huge blessing.  I only have 4 quilt blocks left for my daughter in laws quilt you would think that would be enough motivation to finish it but for some reason I have a lack a daisy attitude today I did manage to cut the fabric for the next 2 blocks and print off the paper piece patterns for them then I wondered to Embroidery Library.com another favorite place of mine.  It's a VIP weekend!! so of course I had to go buy some patterns to get my freebies lol.  I saw a project for a table runner for Thanksgiving so I think I may start some embroidery today and then maybe just maybe since I'll be in my sewing room I'll sew lol.  ]

Nancy went to Texas this weekend to pickup her husband whos semi truck broke down please remember them in your prayers the repairs on that truck are very expensive.  Continue prayers for Brandie and Greg both please as Greg recovers from his surgery and for Brandie can't mention it but God knows her needs.

TODAY'S TIP:  If your planning a party of any kind start a few weeks early gathering all your decorations and party favors.  If you use a rubber bin print off a list of the things you need and tape it to the top of the bin as you buy an item mark it off.  This allows you to buy things on sale and you can add or remove items as you think of them.  This takes some of the stress off of the "last minute" stuff.
This works for the Holidays also (I have found bins in colors to match the Holidays)

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace is for gold, But the Lord tests hearts.

Day of Running

Hey there today has been nothing but a running day lol.  I had a Dr's Appointment at 9 and it usually is about an hour long but not today it was 2 hours long and on a day I was suppose to fix lunch for my sisters (well that didn't happen).  I had great plans for today to clean and sew and neither seemed to be going to happen.  We ended up going to KFC for lunch then grocery shopping for a few things for a pot of Vegetable Beef Soup.  I got home and just wanted to take a nap (that didn't happen either) lol.  I had several phone calls and decided that the nap whould have to wait so I got up and made the soup and had Anna over for dinner I also made Alabama Fire Crackers have you ever had them?  They are fantastic so much so I'll share the recipe today.  That's about all I got done today lol.   I guess I'll consider today my rest day. 

Alabama Fire Crackers:
1/2 teas. each of garlic powder, onion powder
1/4 teas. black pepper
3 TBLS crushed red pepper flakes
1 ounce dry ranch dressing mix
2 sleeves saltine crackers
3/4 cup oil

Mix all spices together and add oil in a large zippy bag or bowl with a lid.  Once they are mixed well add crackers and shake.  The original recipe says to let set overnight but they are ready to eat to me asap.  Enjoy with soup or chili

TODAY'S TIP:  If you are just learning to cook get everything out for the recipe before starting a recipe that way you know that you have what you need to make you masterpiece.  As you use the products put them away.  It keeps your kitchen clean and when finished it makes clean up easier.

Have a blessed day Or should I say evening May God bless you with a good nights sleep and tomorrow you wake up well rested and ready for another day.

Tuesday the day of cleaning lol

Every Morning I have a routine I do to try and keep a handle on our house.  It is just Joe and I that live in this house as humans the problem seems to be the dogs lol.  Our puppy Myyah has this idea that her toys need to be every place that she is not just one but most of them lol.  I start the day out with making the be and starting laundry then onto the other things that most of us do in the morning.  I pick up her toys from all over the house and then go onto sewing or sitting on the porch blogging lol.  When I go for my second cup of coffee there are those dang toys all over the poace again!!!!!! I pick them up (I guess if I could stand it I should just leave them out) I must pick them up a couple dozen times a day.  Anyhow I can't believe I got another puppy lol but I love her and wouldn't get rid of her for nothing now. 

Yesterday we celebrated Anna's Birthday.  Conni, Nancy, and Patti cleane her house while I got in charge of keeping her away from her house lol. I didn't get off that easy lol I cooked a roast, potatoes, carrots, gravy and dessert.  We had lunch provided by Joe he bought us a whole cooked turkey breast (the lunch meat kind the deli has) sliced it and made us coconut fried pies.  So Anna and I went to the feed store and bought tomatoes , onions, bread and chips and suprised the girls with a fairly healthy lunch compared to what they called for us to pick up Taco Bell.  Those fried pies are the bomb!!! If you live in Hot Springs, Arkansas you can get them at Patti's on the Lake!!!! and Patti's down the Road the second is in Royal.  We finished off the evening with dinner with the whole family which is a treat for the men because we usually don't allow them at our Sister's Parties lol.  It's a girl thing lol.
"The Men Folk" lol are going over to bush hog, trim trees and clean and make repairs one day when the weather allows for her for her birthday present.  I am going to go to her swap meet and clean a booth and reset it for her.  We bought new shelf paper to line the shelves with, it's red and cream colored checks

Today I clean lol I made a mess of the kitchen yesterday and didn't take the time to clean it shame on me now I have to do what I hate the most clean a mess from the day before yuck.
Oh well I am going to deep clean the kitchen today and see if I can make it look any cleaner.  We are in the middle of remodel (we have been for a few months we may finsih in 2014 lol) Let's see if I can get Joe to cut some more boards for the cabinets today he just has 3 left I think for the facings and then onto the upper doors.  All he has to do is make the frames I'm going to do a cut glass (like stained glass but no color) affect.  I went to Hobby Lobby and found the glasses that I want and the lady said she can order it for me so I will have enough of what I want for them without having to wait.  I just have to figure how many of what I need.  I am going to use a pattern that I'm going to make for all the doors.  It sounds like I have a bunch to make but I only have 4 doors lol  We are taking 8 doors and making 4 instead they will be pretty I just know it.  The bottom cabinets are going to have an insert in them of a copper sunburst cut in 2 so when the doors are closed it will be one design.  The stain we are using is a Cherry on a white Maple wood so it's absolutly beautiful can't wait for it to be done so we can move to countertops which we really need.  I want a countertop made from I think they are marble tiles the color is a cream color with a mocha and copper swirl in them but it's not a heavy swirl and the back splash in a subway tile called emprinado cafe.  It's a mocha color tile with cream and copper swirls in them!! We wanted to do a copper accent tile but we can't find anything that goes with the tile and I want those tiles so if I can't have an accent it's ok with me.  Also we are adding a couple of cabinets to make a Penninsula to put a new cooktop in and we have another wall that the wall unit ovens can go on.  Since I make a lot of cakes for friends and famiily I want a work space for those items and if it gets done the way I want I will have it.

May God Bless you and your family today with a new song in your hearts, a new softness towards your fellow man, and a slow tongue of judgement.

TODAY'S TIP;  Don't be afraid to "Play" with a recipe you can costomize it for your own tastes.  Start out with making the recipe the way it's written then if you can think of something that you think would make it better try it!!!  I started out by just adding a new spice or more vanilla now I add anything once you start cooking with different spices you can figure out what would work and what would'nt.

Before I write the scripture that I want to use for today I want to say this:  I am not a prophet in no way shape form or fashion.  I have asked God to give me words for this blog and I trust Him totally to grant what I have asked but this kinda freaked me out this morning so here it is.

Revelation 6:3&4  And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come," And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth; and that men should slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Good Sunday Morning I hope today is as wonderful as yesterday.  I got so much sewing done I am amazed.  I sandwiched my scripture quilt which I am going to have professionally quilted.  I finished the top piece of another quilt and I completed the 2 blocks on the Ester quilt well I got them to the hand sewing part lol and I got another Kansas dust star almost finished all in one day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I could sew like that every day I would be finished with Christmas by the end of the next week lol.  I also found the comic book boards that I watched a tutorial on for organizing 2 yards or less of fabric with.  I found them on Amazon.com they were $12.41 for 100 7inX10in boards.  They will be here around Thursday of next week so I am finally going to get organized.  If anyone has a unique way of storing the mounds of scraps that comes with quilting that you just cant throw away please drop me a comment I also have 1000's of spools of thread and ribbon and everything else that comes along with a 35 year habit lol.  I am right now committed to making my very small sewing/cake decorating room as organized as I can without getting too OCD.  So today is my sister Anna's 70th Birthday I want to wish her a very happy birthday even if she is working!!  We are going to celebrate tomorrow starting with my sisters Conni and Nancy and myself going over and helping to clean her house (her house is not dirty but every year we have Thanksgiving at her house) so we are going to do the things that she isn't able to do mopping, dusting (if you could just see the as she calls them collections she has dusting is a big deal lol) and maybe if I can some organizing for her.  Then we "the sisters" are taking her to lunch and then the guys as they get off work are coming over to trim trees, bushhog the pasture, clean out the barn do the "Manly Things" that she can't do.  I may even surprise her with a truck load of limbs for the goats too that helps me to haul off some of the debre I have around lol (shrubs and tree debre) Joe is making a pot of his famous pinto beans, we are going to have a roast with the trimmings potatoes, carrots and onions, pickled beets, cole slaw, macaroni salad, and Anna's famous cornbread.  So we will be busy tomorrow and in there somewhere I have to fit in a test that the Dr. ordered lol.  All is well in the family lol

Today is going to be a long day I have been up an hour already and it's only 6:30 going to take Joe's Nephew to work at ( so in the mean time I'm  going to sew and then when I get back I'm doing my Bible Study for tonight go shopping with Nancy and Conni and try to sew some more .

I am praying that if your not up on current events and how the Bible plays into it that you would seek out a person, book, Pastor or church to help you get started in knowing how this all affects us and how it will affect us in the close future.  I am not going to get on a Political tangent but folks we can no longer have our heads stuck in the sand.  I am not against any ones rights being taken away.  I am not against any ones beliefs but in the same breath I am not going to stand quiet and allow my rights to be taken away either.  If it's fair for any Religious Group to have rights then it should be fair for my Religious Rights to be allowed.  If I choose to believe that marriage is a Holy Right between 1 man and 1 woman, I have that right to believe.  I'm not saying that I condemn anyone for thinking otherwise (God is the only Judge) I just am tired of having it SHOVED down my throat.  Why would one group be allowed to overpower another group?  If Chick fi la can say how they believe so can I.  Why do we have to go to such extremes in a Country that was founded on Christian Values to the right to Religious Freedoms to Fight for what is Right?  How come Americans who speak English have to learn another Country's Language to be able to communicate with them in OUR Country?  I think somehow we have gotten it turned around and so backwards that we can no longer see what is right.  OK I'm stopping I said I wasn't going on a Political Tangent lol.


I pray for you today to find a happy place within you and that you will share that with someone.  Reach out with a smile, a kind word, or a hug.  If you can afford it bless someone with a meal, a new shirt, or a small child with a doll or truck.  God will bless you with 10 times what you bless someone in need with.  My sister Conni has a tenant in the hospital and we went to check on her the other day.  This woman has no family here, we found out she has no food in her house, no vehicle, of all the things she doesn't have no family hit me the hardest.  I can't not imagine laying in a hospital and no one coming to visit.  I watched as we walked by some of the other rooms and realized that their are a lot of folks laying in there that have no one.  Maybe that is what you could do just go visit someone and take a bouquet of flowers I'm sure the nurses know who doesn't get visitors.  It saddens me that we have become a Nation of uncaring people.  If you think I'm wrong just watch those around you and how they treat one another.

Today's Tip:  As I'm working on a quilt I have a notebook that I assign to it.  This allows me to keep the instructions together I also make an extra copy of the templates (if it's a paper piece) to put with the instructions so if I want to make the same quilt or block another time the templates are with it.  I glue an envelope to a piece of paper to keep any plastic templates that I have with the instructions or punch holes in the top of the envelope if needed to be able to put it into the binder.  I hope this is helpful HAPPY SEWING!!!!!!!

I have been reading a lot from the Old Testament these days and I can only imagine what will take place in the future.  Today I am Reading from Zechariah 1:16 & 17  Therefore, thus say the Lord, "I will return to Jerusalem with compassion: My house will be built in it,"  declares the Lord of hosts, "and a measuring line will be stretched of Jerusalem,"  "Again, proclaim, saying 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "My cities will again overflow with prosperity and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem,"'"

Today was made for sewing!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Saturday Morning!!!!!!!!!!! It could'nt be a better day for sewing it's cool raining and quitet lol.  So todays blog is short and sweet.  I found a block of the month tutorial on Craftsy.com it's taught by Amy Gibson and it's free!!!!!!!!!!!  Nothing is better than free to me lol.  Anyhow she teaches you 2 different squares for each month and you can join anytime and "catch up" on your own time.  There is a written tutorial and list of things needed for each block and a video tutorial also so if your a newby to quilting as I am maybe this might be for you.  I'll post as I finish each square a photo to keep you informed.  Anyhow I'm off to sew have a great Saturday Morning and Remember to keep GOD first and foremost in your life and given the chance love someone that needs it!!!

Bread for Friday

Today is all about bread.  I woke up at 5am and had bread on my mind.  Wonder why?  I have no earthly idea lol.  I made a couple of loaves of bread on Wednesday and ever since it seems to be my focus.  Yesterday I gave you a recipe for a pumpkin cheese bread today I decided to just do a traditional white bread.  I find it wonderful hot out of the oven with some luscious butter and honey, or agave or just butter lol.  I have been baking for more years than I can remember.  I have fond memories of being in my Grandma Martin's kitchen the sweet aromas of always something cooking and her taking the time to teach me all her little secrets.  Biscuits are something I remember that she could whip up in a matter of minutes without much effort and were melt in your mouth.  I didn't get that recipe but that was one I sure wish I would have.  Our mom could make those same biscuits and we were treated to them just about every Sunday at home.  Grandma Martin was a single mother during the depression (after our Grandpa was murdered) and she had to find a unique way of making money to keep her family fed.  She ran a boarding house and I can only imagine the food that was prepared for her "guests".   We have such great stories that she would share with us about the old days.  I got the honor of getting to go with my dad back to the old home place a couple of years before he passed away to see it with him.  I am here to tell you that when he said that they traveled uphill both directions to school he was not lying!!!  I have never encountered roads so steep in my whole entire life.  We drove my dads conversion van so we could have some comforts and Thank God we did!!!!  That pour van struggled to get up those inclines (both directions) if you are wondering how on earth it could be uphill both ways well let me tell you.  My dad was born in a place called Rosses Creek, KY in Hazard County.  It is located at the bottom of Latine Ridge (maybe spelt wrong not sure) to get to Latine Ridge you have to climb a huge mountain and the road is on the side of the mountain and so steep the van never left 1st gear the whole way.  Then you drive through the small and almost forgotten town on top (Latine Ridge) and then you descend into Rosses Creek so there you have it uphill both directions!!!!!! They went to school in a town on the other side of Latine Ridge and it didn't matter snow or no snow uphill they went lol.  Ok so back to Grandma Martin.  She raised 5 children (there were 6 but my Aunt Ogatha died when she was 5) 4 boys and a daughter.  My dad is the oldest of the group so he became the "man" of the house.   Life had to have been hard for all of them just getting to see where they lived made me realize that we have life pretty good compared to them.  One of our Cousins still owns the land that they were raised on and there still is no electricity to the house or running water or indoor plumbing and yes this is the 20th Century.  I saw many families that live in that area some have electric and some did not.  It makes you thank God for what we do have and to feel a little guilty that some still live that way.  Ok so I got side tracked yet again lol.  Grandma Martin was one of my favorite women of all times.  She taught me many things but her strength to withstand and preserver were outstanding.  She never had the poor me's and always had a cookie and a smile for us.  Sometimes I think less is more for building Character in young people and maybe it is best not to lavish them with all the latest and greatest gadgets that come out.  Anyhow Kentucky cooking is what we were raised on and is the bases of most of the things we cook and eat so heres the Traditional Bread recipe that I have used for years it is my own recipe so I don't have to worry about giving you the Authors name lol because it's me!!!!!

TRADITIONAL WHITE BREAD
In a stand alone mixer with bread hooks add:
2 Tbls. of dry yeast 
1 TBLS. salt
2 TBLS. sugar
2 TBLS. butter
2 Cups of very warm water
Mix adding 1 cup of bread flour at a time until you have 7 cups of flour or until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.  Turn out onto a well floured counter and knead until dough is soft and not sticky.  Oil the bowl and turn the dough in the bowl to oil the outside of all sides.  Let rise until double in size.  Grease bread pans (usually 2) Punch dough down and turn out onto counter at this point I use butter on my hands to knead the dough it gives the bread a butter flavor and it keeps it from sticking to the counter.  Cut dough in half and place in bread pans.  Let rise until it's sticks out of the pans and then place in a 425* oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until dark golden brown.  Remove from oven and place on cooling racks and brush with butter.  Enjoy

Enjoy the coolness of Fall look for one thing to lower your stress level:  a walk, a warm bath, baking some bread lol.  Remove one thing from your life that causes the stress, a bad relationship, a user of a friend, an activity that really isn't neccesary and takes too much time away from family (everyone doesn't have to have their lives dictated by sports or music) and most importantly make time to sit around the dinner table with your children and talk to them about their day to me that's the most important thing you can do to make memories of their time as young people is to be available to them.  It's not about the material items as much as it is about time spent on them for them.

TODAYS' TIP:  If you tend to "run late" try getting up 5 minutes earlier.  Does that seem doable?  Yes, you don't have to get up before the sun comes up like some of us do (not by choice lol my dog likes to) but it will allow you just enough extra time to take some of the stress of the day away. It will give you a jump to beat the morning traffic by 5 minutes, you won't be late maybe even a little early  hmmm and that alone takes stress away.  then maybe you will find that getting up 5 more minutes earlier allows you to grab some breakfast (breakfast=breaking fast), which in turn lowers stress hmmm.  Allowing that extra 5 can give you the time to open your dust covered Bible and feed your soul also it doesn't have to be a huge Bible study but just start your day with a few scriptures that goes a long way in starting a good habit and your children will want to mimic you and there you have it a good habit started instead of screaming and stress in the morning.

Joel 3 18-21 And it will come about in that day That the mountains will drip with sweet wine, And the hills will flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water: And a spring will go out from the house of the Lord. To water the valley of Shittam.  Egypt will become a waste, And Edom will become a desolate wilderness.  Because of the violence done to the sons of Judah.  In whose land they have shed innocent blood.  But Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem for all generations.  And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged.  For the Lord dwells in Zion.

Thursday morning and all is well in my little world.  My dogs and I have been busy working in the yard again.  Yesterday was a wash for any work being done but I did get some cookies baked and groceries bought lol.  Today I have already hauled a load off in the 4-wheler trailer and cleaned up 5 bags of trash from the shop. (the shop is always producing trash and this time it was from my car being painted so I don't mind lol)  The dogs are asleep on the front porch while I blog.  I've got the swimming pool pump on today we are going to get it ready for the winter but I think maybe I'll take one more dip just for good measure before we do.

I have started the Ester quilt last night I got everything ready to go together this morning so I know I will be doing that in a little bit along with laundry (does it ever end?)  I need to make a trip to the grocery store to pick up some veggies for dinner that I didn't get yesterday.  I'm thinking how wonderful Sam's Club is for some things but I'm not to hip on buying my veggies there unless I'm cooking for the whole family.  I get tired of just a couple of veggies I like a variety and I end up throwing to much away if I buy the big bags from Sam's plus they don't carry a few things that I need like zucchini!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

Today is another of those hohum days I feel like I could go back to sleep and I've had 3 cups of coffee lol. 

The acorns this year are so small I think if we were hunters we would have to plant a feed lot to keep the deer close may do it just to be able to see them close up.  We are not anti hunter people Joe just doesn't care for deer meat. Me on the other hand loves it!!!! My brother in law Steve hunts and he always gives me some hamburger and sausage that they make with beef and it's wonderful.  Can't wait for some later in the year.  I hear the turkeys in the back some mornings but of course I scared them all away this morning with the 4-wheeler and lawn mower running.  I'ts such an amazing thing to hear the wild game so close to the house.

Ok today I want to share a recipe for the Fall weather Pumpkin Cheese spice Bread

For the cheese batter:
8- oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teasp vanilla
For the Pumpkin spice batter
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 TBLS oil
1 teas vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
1 1/4 teas baking powder
1/4 teas baking soda
1/4 teas salt
3/4 teas cinnamon
1/4 teas ginger
1/8 teas cloves

butter to grease the pans
Beat all the cheese batter ingredients together until smooth and creamy

Preheat oven to 350* and grease pans

In a med. bowl beat the brown sugar eggs and pumpkin puree until smooth add oil and vanilla.
In another bowl mix remaining dry ingreadients together.  Add to liquids being careful not to overmix batter.  Divide batter between 3 mini loaf pans  Pour cheese batter over top of the loaves
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown around the sides.  Do toothpick test to ensure it's done.  take out of pans and place on wire rack to finish cooling.  I found this recipe at The edible Mosaic on Pintrest.  She says it makes wonderful donuts (baked) also.  Enjoy the tastes of Fall.  My favorite time of the year the weather is wonderful and so is the food.

TODAY'S TIP;  When baking if you use parchment paper in the bottom of your baking pans you will find that things don't stick you can run a butter knife around the sides and they pop right out!!!  Clean up is easier also.

Genesis 18;5 "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts.  After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do as you have said."

Good Morning Wednesday Already? WOW this week has flown.  Yesterday I played outside almost all day.  Playing may have not been the best word to describe what I did lol.  WORK lol  I cleaned the debre from my front porch from the aftermath of Hurricane Issacc or however they spelt its name.  We had several storms produced from it and then some that followed on it's heels so to say the least we had a mess.  Our porch is surrounded by a huge oak tree, 2 sweet gum trees a red bud and a couple of shaggy cedars.  My flower beds are full of acorns and leaves but I think I'm going to leave them for a bit to decompose and feed the soil.  But that porch oh my it was covered.  Was now it's clean and we can enjoy it once again.  Since it is Fall I started the task of trimming.  UGGHHHHH we have a lot that needs to be done before the onset of Winter and Joe keeps telling me that it's too early to start.  If I start right now I may finish by February lol.  My sister Anna came over on Monday and we haule a huge truck load of limbs to her place for her goats to munch on and I filled the or our 4 wheeler completely full to haul off to the back 40 and I only got about 40 feet of the side drive done lol  Like I said if I wait......... Tomorrow I will attempt to finish that side of the drive, but for today I have appointments that I can't put off and the most important of them is lunch with my sisters.

Yesterday was my sister Patti's Birthday we celebrated her Birthday on Sunday evening with our Bible Study Group.  We suprised her with a Italian Dinner and cake and of course presents.  We fixed a salad like Olive Gardens (we tricked her with asking her where she wanted to eat lunch at for her Birthday to get an idea of what kind of food she wanted) Stuffed shells, Chicken and Zucchini, veggie tray, canteloup with blackberries, Garlic Bread, Blackberry tea and a Pecan coconut cake with coconut cream cheese icing. yummmmmm
I want to share the recipe for the Chicken Zucchini recipe with you I found it on Cooks.com

Italian Sausage and Zucchini revised:
I used Chicken Mozzarella and Garlic sausages that I found at Sam's Club (wonderful on their own)

6 links of sausages (Italian or Chicken)
1 large coursley diced onion
1 jar roasted red peppers diced
3 med zucchini sliced on a madolin or 1/4 in coins
4 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 TBLS olive oil
1 TBLS butter
4-5 fresh basil leaves
3-4 fresh oregano leaves
salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

Slice the sausages lengthwise into quarters then dice into 3/4 inch pieces.

Heat olive oil in skillet.  Saute sausage over high heat for 10 minutes until they start to color, add Add garloic and spices  cook till sausages are done.

Using a slotted spoon, remove sausages and veggies to a bowl. In the same skillet (don't wash) Melt in butter and remaining olive oil saute zucchini over high heat until the edges and a little of the center portion starts to brown.  Sprinkle zucchini with salt pepper and garlic powder

Spray a casserole dish with pam and layer in half the zucchini topping with half the meat mix.  Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, top with zucchini and meat mix topping with cheese once again.
Bake at 350* until cheese is bubbly.

You can serve this with pasta but I think it's great without it and it's a healthy meal with a salad.

Today instead of a tip I am proud to give you a taste of poetry by Patti. 

 

 

A GOD LIKE THEE

 

Who is a God like Thee

 

Who pardons iniquity?

Our sin is a filth

But you see no guilt.

 

 

Who is a God like Thee?

 

 

Generation after generatiopn,

Your mercy never departs;

Encouraging Your ministers

Not to loose heart.

 

 

Who is a God like Thee?

 

 

A god rich in mercy

and so full of love,

You sent us Your Son

From Heaven above.

 

 

Who is a God like Thee?

 

 

Made alive by His death,

And saved by Your Grace,

Renewed by Your Spirit,

We fall on our face

And worship the One and True God - Thee!!

 

Patti Kimble

01-12-2007

 

 

 

Mark 2;25-28  And He "said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and became hungry, he and his companions: how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priest and he gave it also to those who were with him?" And He was saying to them :The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  "Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath."

 

Powerful words we are not made for the Sabbath but that the Sabbath was made for us.  God is always in control and we need to learn to just trust in Him.

 

I ask you for prayer for one of my son and daughters good friends family.  Clint was killed in an auto accident night before last and left behind a young wife and 2 small children.  I know God is in control and I ask that God would surround this young family with people who can tend to their needs and Jesus please wrap them in Your Loving Arms of Comfort in this time of need

It's Monday Afternoon and I'm cooking dinner for my Joe Joe this is his Friday so I always try to cook something yummy for him.  I made fresh baked bread, pork chops are in the oven, green beans and potatoes and corn on the cob.  He might even be lucky and I might make some heath bar cookies.  I'll post some photos in the morning take care everyone

Good Monday Morning!!! How about that I started off with a oxymoron lol Good Morning on a Monday lol.  It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood with a slight breeze cool temps and lots of birds flying around the feeders both hummingbirds as well as cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, finch, and my favorites the red headed woodpeckers.  oh and I just saw a chipmunk run across my yard.  Lets hope my Border colie doesn't see it lol.  My Border Collie (Myyah) is a 4 month old full of energy, run my legs off, grab your pants legs girl lol. She is as I write hunting something under a tree hopefully not in my flower bed lol but probably so.  I have to tell you that a day or 2 ago she cornered her first prey.  I was in the house and she was barking around the side of the house with a (alarm) bark as I call it.  I came out onto the patio and could see she was under the cedar tree by the side of our drive.  she was jumping at something then jump back so I knew it was something!!! I grabbe the pitchfork (as you can probably tell I live in the country) and went out there afraid it could be a poisonous snake.  So I had her of course acompanning me and yes she had something a BOX TURTLE lol I could'nt hold back the laughter she was so proud of herself she circled the pour little turtle sure she was protecting me from it lol.  I picked it up and moved it out of her site so the little turtle could get in the creek without Myyah seeing it.  I love watching her she's busy all the time.

So if this video will load it's Title Hummingbird Mornings I think the title speaks of what you will see lol

Heres a photo of Myyah she decided it was time to take a nap and rest for her 30 second nap lol  OOPPPs that's my beautiful Granddaughters not Myyah oh you know a Grandma has to show off her babies every chance she gets lol. That's Kayla, Abbie and Lilly!!!  I sure do miss them they live in Arizona so I only get to see them a couple of times a year.

 

This is Myyah remember she's only 4 months old and she weighs in at 25lbs already lol.  When I got her she didn't have a spot one on her face or legs now both have a bunch lol.  I think she's going to be a great dog once we get through the puppy stage.

 

 

TODAY'S TIP:  If your coffee pot is running slow "brew" a whole pot of vinegar water through it I use half vinegar and half water.  Then rinse the pot with a couple of pots of just water to remove any residue and the vinegar smell.  This keeps all lime scale from building in the lines and helps the pot to brew faster.

 

 

Today I am adding something from my sister Conni she sent this and I love it  "God made wrinkles to show where smiles have been."

 

 

 

Ephesians 2:1&2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formely walked according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

 

 

 

 

 



Quilting Queen

Good Morning I woke up to a beautiful sunny day it will be a hot one the weather man says.  Heat or cold rain or not I quilt. lol  I am happy to report that my car is almost done and may be driveable tonight!!!!  I had a small accident in July and did some damage to the front of my Highlander so we took advantage of the time down to do some other work needed done on it and my sweet Joe Joe did a custom paint job.  I now await new brakes and rotors and he should give me my keys back shewwwwwwww.  I have been driving his Ford F250 V-10 Super Duty 4 door pickup and I love the truck when we are going for supplies and such but for every day driving I HATE IT.  It's hard to park and it drinks gas like no other.  So hopefully I will return to my economical suv lol. 

My sister Nancy and I are going shopping tomorrow for fabric for one of her quilts she is in the middle of working on I think she's looking for a lime green so are first stop will be at the Rocking Chair a local quilt shop that we have come to love (I'm not sure of the web address but will ask tomorrow) the ladies that work there are such sweet awesome wonderful women.  Debbie that works there and I have built a bond of Christian sisterhood and I just love to go in just to hug her neck. 

September is a month of Birthdays for our family starting tomorrow with my oldest son Chet.  He will be 32 tomorrow WHAT???????????? I'm not that old!!!!! oh dang I guess I am but I still feel 30 myself lol.  Chet as a baby was the spitting image of the Gerber Baby he had those fat cheeks and a smile that could melt your heart a million miles away.  He is now a father himself of a beautiful little 6 (almost 7 year old) little girl Abbigail. Abby as we call her is a spitting image of her father she has his beautiful green eyes and dark curly hair oh and her attitude is his all over lol.  So Happy Birthday son I love you bunches wish I could be with you.

TODAY'S TIP:  If you keep a shoe box next to your sewing machine you can use it to put your scrap pieces of fabric that you can use for another quilt.  I only keep pieces that are big enough to make a 2 1/2 square or larger unless I'm making a log cabin which I am getting ready to start on so I keep rectangle pieces of all sized for it.

Ephesians 6:1-4  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother (whichi is the first commandment with a promise).  That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Chet sewing for his little girl making her a Princess pillowcase

 

No matter how old we are we should always honor our parents for they are the wiser generation and have lived to see what we have not and because God told us too for our own good.  Today even as they have already passed I honor my parents and pray that God will give me the grace and knoweledge to be a good parent to my children.  May God bless you today with a kind word for someone who's in need.

Good Thursday Morning:  I am a morning person but 4:30am?  Joe gets up about that time every morning and I usually sleep till 6, 6:30 but today our puppy Myyah decided she wasn't going to be happy with just one of us up she wanted both of us up.  She has a habit of barking in the bedroom when Joe leaves like she's telling me ok we are home alone lol.  Not today it was constant lol.  Anyhow I forsee a nap today lol.  Oh gosh I am taking someone to some appointments today so that might not happen maybe a early night lol.  Anyhow I have been cruising through pintrest this morning (another of my favorite sites)  I repinned just a few pins a couple hundred lol.  Have you ever wondered where people get all those ideas?  I do and why cant I think of a couple? lol 

Today's agenda is taking care of our neighbors.  So many people don't even know their neighbors anymore.  I may just be nosey but I want to "know" who lives next to me.  It's a sense of community to me to at least be able to wave and know that they know I live next door.  I have a neighbor who is a snob.  She comes and goes daily and only once in the 5 years that I have lived here has she even acknowledged me.  We ran into the couple at a local store and she was sweet as pie to Joe and she acted like she didn't even see me.  Her husband on the other hand is a sweetheart (how does that happen? one sweet one snob) he talks to me everytime he picks up his trash can or is out walking their dog, waves when he drives by no matter the time of day.  I think I'm going to try and befriend this neighbor whats the worse thing that can happen?  She will stay the snob lol which will still be her loss.  My other neighbors are kind people and one is especially neighborly she comes over we have coffee a couple of times a week and I know I can call her if I needed help or borrow a cup of sugar.  We watch out for one another.  Isn't that the idea?  To know the neighbors have your back?

So my daughter called me last night and said that her boss fired that other girl around 10am meaning my daughter is on her own lol.  She said she learned more yesterday than she did the day before and that the level of stress in the office dropped quite a bit, seems she was a drama queen and did more harm than good.  I hear a raise in her future!!!!!

So I guess I'll get ready to go early this morning so I can sew while waiting on  my sister to show up this morning.   Find someone that could use a smile, hug, a word of encouragement and give it to them.  It's free and it does so much good.

TODAY'S TIP:  Pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the kitchen sink drain I push it into the drain then pour about a 1/2 cup of white vinegar in.  It will bubble but it cleans the drains of anything that would smell it also does clean the drains

1 Corinthians 13;1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

So today speak with love and meaning and not of a gong or a clanging cymbal.   God's Holy perfection blooms in us beauty and softness not briers and thorns.

Good Morning Afternoon lol.  I have been working on a new quilt today and I think it's going to be a great quilt.   I am making this one for one of my daughter in laws for Christmas I sure am hoping I can get both daughter in laws one made,  I have been so sorrowful today I found out that my friend Duffy died this week after he had a terrible motorcycle accident last week no other motorist was involved thank God.  This man was someone who I have no memories of that he didn't have a smile on his face.  God bless his family and Jesus please wrap your loving arms around him and comfort him and his family.  Also this morning my friend Angi's dog passed away Sugar loved to talk on the phone and always told me that "she loved me" lol.   Blessings and comfort to her today also.

Today I want to feature my sister Nancy.  Nancy is the sister that is just older than me.  Only 9 years difference between the 2 of us.  Nancy is the comforter of our family.  She will do for family and friends before she does for herself.  Dave is her husband and is a truck driver.  Nancy takes care of the household and loves God.  She has opened their home for Bible Study she makes sure to have tea, coffee and lemonade for us to drink and plates for us to eat yummy goodies that the rest of us provide as well as whatever she makes (she's a phenomanol cook)  She has the heart of Jesus always being the one that has the solution to a problem.  Nancy is a beautiful person inside and out.  I love you Nancy.

Yesterday was my daughters first day of work on a new job.  She is another outstanding woman I'll tell you about another day.  Anyhow she texted me yesterday to say her first day was long and that her new boss told her to "hurry and learn fast because she was firing the girl training her today or Friday!!!!!!)  OMG no pressure there lol ,  Brandie said I guess I'll sink or swim.  I know my daughter will rise to the top just like wonderful cream.  Praise be to God for such a wonderful daughter that I have.

Well I'm going back to my sewing I can't do anything else until Joe gets home and we can finish my car!!!!!  I had an accident in July and did some front end damage and Joe finished painting it last night so now we can start putting the lights and fins back on I'll some photos later. 

Oh speaking of photos I have one of our new Neice Holly and she just so happens to be on her new quilt. lol  I can't wait to get my hands on her lol.  Well how could I write anything after that lol.  So I'll stop for today blessings to you and your family

TODAY'S TIP COMES FROM NANCY:  We are never guarenteed tomorrow so always remember that arguements and fights are going to happen.  Don't let them linger and cause pain to the ones that you really love and admire.  If you have a family member that you have gone on the outs with be the first to pick up the phone or go see them appologize wrap them in your arms have a good cry and say I'm sorry I love you.  Our family members can be gone in an instant leaving you with a case of shoulda, woulda, couldas when it doesn't have to be that way.

Nancy's crab cakes;
16 crackers crushed,
2 TBLS water  Mix and let stand for 1 min to soften.
Add: 1 lb. crab or imitation crab meat
1 TBLS prepared mustard
2 TBLS mayo
1 1/2 teas. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teas old bay boil mix
1/3 cup instant potato flakes dry
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs beaten

Mix all together to shape cakes place a mason far lid in frying pan with olive oil put mix in then take lib out and let fry until golden brown

Topping sauce; mix equal parts of ketchup and El pato Mexican tomato sauce yumm

Proverbs 27;9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad. So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. 

Be a friend today that needs you

Hello and Good Afternoon:  Today is Monday and it's been a blahhhhh kinda day. lol  I spent the morning out away from the house shopping for...... you guessed it material lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I actually was on a mission to find some comic book boards to start organizing my heaps of fabric and you know what?  Not one store in this city carries them.  I'm going back to the blog I found the idea on and see if they have any links to where they can be found. I'll do that right after starting dinner.  Since it's 4;20pm I should go put the roast on brb.  Ok so if you think I start dinner late your right lol.  We eat dinner usually around 6 to 7 It will be ok. 

I bought fabric for a teal and brown quilt I'm going to make for one of my daughter-in-laws.  I have been gathering fabric for this quilt so I hope I have bought stuff in the right tones.  Anyhow,  I'm making this quilt from a pattern on Favquilts.com (my favorite quilting site to date) and found a summer star quilt, and a summer solstice star quilt and pulled my favorite stars from those 2 and combined them to make my own star quilt lol.  so now I'm piecing that and laying that out.  In the meantime I finished the quilt for my new great niece.  I made a story time quilt with the center block having all the information about the baby's birth. I'll post a photo in the future.

My sister of the day is Anna.  Anna is the oldest of the 5 sisters (we have a brother that's the oldest).  She is a humble, giving, loving, sister.  Anna has a small farm where all the animals on her farm are her "babies" lol.   There are 2 goats,  Baby and Bubba, a mule Nelly, and numerous chickens, and a Jack Russell Terrier cross named Cricket.  Cricket is the daughter of my Jack Russell Maxwell Smart.  And smart he was!!!  but that's a story for another day.  Anna never had any children of her own but with sisters ranging from 2 years younger to 27 years younger she was surrounded with a plethora of children.  We come from a large family and we were very close to our cousins and they in turn have a huge range of ages too. 

Anna married a guitar playing can't do anything unless it's done right kinda man.  Gene,  Geno as we called him was one of the most giving men I ever have had the pleasure of knowing.  He could do a little of everything and saved me from having to hire people to do my house because I would just pick up the phone and bribe Geno with a home cooked meal and waaalaaaa he would come to my rescue.  This man had a voice that could sing with the angels (he now does).  I also had the pleasure of entering into matrimony on the same day as Anna and Gene we had a double wedding.  What a funny thing that was but so nice to be able to share that moment with my sister.  Oh how I love my sisters but there is something very special about Anna and I think I can speak for all my sisters when I say that.

TODAY'S TIP; Comes from Anna:  To make your own fly repellent mix 1 part blue dawn dish soap, 1 part white vinegar, and 3 parts water.  This is safe to use on your pets as well as yourself.

Deuteronomy 33:26  There is none like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to your help, And through the skies in His majesty.

Good Morning to you!!!!!!  Today I woke up to another cloudy day so thankful for the rain.  I am on a mission to get organized!!!!  My sewing room is shared with my bakery equipment and also by my huge collection of cookbooks and just plain ole junk lol.  So I started off today's organization plan by just filing some papers and guess what?  I found the top of my pc desk lol!!!!!  I'm proud of this little progress it's been long enough since I've seen the top of the desk that I had stuff on there from the beginning of 2011 (ashamed to admit but for admitting there's a problem is the first step to recovery lol.   Any how on my favorite web site (favquilts.com) there was a tutorial on folding fabric to store vertically WOW who da thunk?  It's not only better for the fabric because it's not all wrinkled up in a drawer but it's pretty it requires some comic book boards (used to keep them from bending) so I think if I venture out today I'll look at Micheals or maybe Hobby Lobby for them the local book store said he didn't carry any comic books or anything to do with them hmmmm.  But before I leave out I want to try and finish this desk it's not far from finished but I know how I am lol.

I wanted to thank you for your prayers for my family.  My son-in-law has improved by leaps and bounds and may even be realeased before the weekend is over from the hospital Praise God for His Healing  Power!!!.

Today I'm featuring my sister Patti.  This woman is an amazing example of who and what we should be.  Patti is employed by Promise of Hope Ministries she has a complex job with them and does many many things for them so many I can't name them all.  One thing that she does is she has started a woman's ministry.  She is teaching a core group of women to be leaders in our community to teach Bible studys.  I know that there are a lot of women that do this but this one has a spin lol.  This group is called POH Piecemakers (no that's not misspelled) Piecemakers is a group of women that are learning how to make quilts that's why it's spelled like it is.  We have gone throught the book of Ruth and made a beautifully designed quilt (designed by Sue DeLaney my sisters sewing partner) as soon as we are finished with our quilts and Sue gives us the go ahead I'll post pictures.  These quilts are each made by each one of the women in this core group (I am one of them) and each quilt is the same as far as the blocks but the personality of each woman has come to fruition with there individual quilts.  It's amazing to see how we all started with the same thing and how different they all are.
Anyhow I'm sharing a recipe today that Patti made for one of the lessons (we cook just about every week and share a meal before we start our study) Patti suprised us with a wonderfully rich and decadant corn chowder so I hope you enjoy it.

Patti's Corn Chowder

1 med onion diced, 1lg bulb of garlic, 2 sm. stalks celery with leaves diced, 2 TBS evoo (extra virgin olive oil), 2 TBS butter
Saute' in a large  soup pot until onions are brownish (carmelized)
Add; 1 teas. parsley flakes, 1/4 tspcayenne pepper, 1/4 teas white pepper, 3/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp salt, 1 TBS ranch dressing mix, 1 TBS Vegetta (this is a Romanian spice), 2 cups water, 1 heaping TBS chicken Bullion.'
Add: 1 can diced potatoes, 3 cups fresh corn (cut off the cob)
Simmer 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix
1-12oz. can evaporated milk, 2 cups milk, 1 cup water, 3 TBS flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 can chopped green chilis (optional) and 2 pieces of crisp chopped bacon (can use turkey bacon)
Add to soup mix and bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer for 1 minute.
Serve with cornbread or rolls it's fantastic!!!

We are now in a Bible study on the Book of Ester and we are doing another original designed quilt by Sue DeLaney for it.  So todays scripture is from the Book of Ester
Ester 1;20 And when the king's edict which shall make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all woman will give honor to their husbands, great and small.
Now if your just reading this verse and getting your dander up STOP!!!  go read the rest of the Book it's an amazing story of selfish men and a great woman.

TODAYS TIP:  If your an avid quilter or just a novice know that being organized is sooo important!!!  I use 3 ring binders to keep my quilt patterns that I want to make in them.  Also I have binders for embroidery patterns, projects and any large projects that I've printed the instructions.  It's easier to find and takes up less space.
I know that this seems a little OCD but it works and if I was really OCD they would be color coordinated lol.