The Jolly Bee

Been busy

2012-01-26T22:57:00.000-05:00

Pardon my absence. My newest passion is taking me into the great outdoors and away from my beloved crochet hook, sewing machine and the computer. We tackled Gore Mountain (the biggest and some say the best in NYS) on Wednesday. Each evening, I'm putting in appeals to the snow gods. Who would have figured at 46 years old, I would be acting this way?

A sew-along

2012-01-25T20:15:00.000-05:00

This is the year for learning new things. Going out of my comfort zone. And apparently, joining in challenges. Randi at the I Have To Say blog is hosting a monthly sew-along. The first week of the month, she lists the supplies needed and the second week, her blog is all about putting the project together. If you're a sewing novice, it's a great place to pick up new techniques and just looking at the fabric combinations is inspiring.

This month's project was a trio of courthouse steps blocks. They would make a great grouping on a wall. I pretty much picked fabric in the same colorways as Randi -- red, blue and green. I used some fabric from my treasured Mary Engelbreit fat quarter stack. And, I whipped up my trio in practically no time at all -- which is the best part of all (almost instant gratification!).

Journaling :: inside and outside

2012-01-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

I found a fresh basil plant at the grocery store on Friday night. I miss being able to run barefooted out the back door to snip leaves off herbs in my garden. The boys and I got up early and went downhill skiing in the Adirondacks on Saturday. I have a nasty bruise on my left hand from a stupid tumble, but otherwise I'm intact though a little achy. Thanks to another blogger named Jodi (A Keeping of Days), I kept warm by wearing a crocheted cowl around my neck. She linked the pattern at her site. And Sunday was my mother's 75th birthday. We celebrated over chicken soup with brown rice, chipotle, smoked paprika, lemon, wine, and ginger. Check out Ellen's blog (Hurrayic) for the recipe. Instead of birthday cake, we ate apple crisp. Finally, an episode of "Downton Abbey" and then bedtime. It was a full weekend.

Togethering underground

2012-01-20T07:54:00.002-05:00

Walking through Howe Caverns

Kathe and Daniel back from Florida and going underground

The gang :: (l to r) :: Mathijs, Kathe, Daniel, Jeremy, Colin, Megan, Paul and Ryan

There are days like last Saturday when I realize how quiet and empty other days can be. We all met at Howe Caverns -- Kathe and Daniel drove up from Long Island where they landed after nine days in Florida. Colin and his college buddies headed East from Hartwick to join us. And Jeremy and Mathijs traveled with me.

I'm not much of a cave fan. Walking in 52 degree temperatures underneath dripping ceilings is not normally what I look forward to doing. But all day long, I had such a feeling of contentment. I was nearby my children and their friends -- though I knew in a matter of hours everyone would scatter again.

The past few years, I struggled through many days of teenage drama and angst. There were days I wondered what I was thinking having three kids. I was tired, so tired, of the process of raising kids. The joy -- oftentimes -- escaped me. But since two of my three left home, I have been at a bit of a loss. I miss the household noise -- even other things like the dishes left in the sink. It reminds me of that saying "be careful what you wish for."

My house and my life for the past 20 years has been about children. With just Jeremy home, it is quiet (he's a very quiet child). I think that's why we decided to take on Mathijs, our foreign exchange student. To make some noise. To add a little more life to the house.

But Saturday will be a day I will always treasure. A day when we came together -- more as adults than as a mom taking her brood on an outing. I watched them interact. Colin with his friends from his college life. Kathe with her boyfriend. And Jeremy and Mathijs snapping hundreds of pictures. And me, just enjoying their presence in my life.

Yarn-along :: change of plans

2012-01-18T09:52:00.001-05:00

I made a valiant attempt to make an Attic24-styled ripple afghan. I started, stopped and ripped out row after row several times. Finally, I decided another ripple just wasn't in the works for me at this time. I've made two so far and they are very heavy blankets. They gobble up wool. And, they do require some concentration skills which I seem to be lacking.

So, I took that lovely yarn and I'm hooking away on Plan B. Granny stripes. I'm using the Attic24 colors. I'm using Lucy's color transitions (3 rows of one color, 1 of a second color, 1 of the original, 3 of the second, etc.).

I am reading "Happiness Key" by Emilie Richards. I've renewed it a couple of times and I'm having a hard time getting through it -- not because it's bad. It's not -- somewhat predictable -- but it is an easy read. I'm just having trouble keeping my eyes open at night.

To see what others are crocheting/knitting/reading, check out Ginny's blog -- Small Things.

Journaling :: 1.17.12

2012-01-17T09:23:00.001-05:00

The long weekend started out with snow. Slick snow. It took me a long time to get home from work on Friday because of accidents. Jeremy and Mathijs were able to get a ride home from school with a neighbor. When I got home, my new camera had arrived in the mail. I've been using a tiny point and shoot camera for years -- since I started this blog. I feel like I've graduated to the big time now. Woohoo! Lots of random pictures were taken all weekend long. Pictures of the dog. Pictures from deep within a cave (more on that outing later this week) and outside pictures of deserted hotels in Sharon Springs. Someday, I'll get brave and peek in the windows -- hopefully without getting arrested for trespassing. For some reason these old hotels beckon me -- they're decaying, hulking buildings but house so much local history and lore. The boys want to go downhill skiing next weekend. We're hoping for a snowy week ahead.

Journaling :: mid-January

2012-01-16T09:19:00.000-05:00

Despite what the calendar says, the hours of daylight still seem too few these days. I rush home from work and get to enjoy only an hour or so of brightness before darkness descends. Living in a home that's on a street with a cluster of houses brings a special kind of reward this time of year. As lights twinkle on and other mothers start cooking dinner, I feel a certain sense of camaraderie.

I felt the same way when I was growing up. From my corner bedroom windows, I welcomed the neighbors' lights. It was a sign of life out there in an otherwise dark landscape.

The after-dinner routine is the same each night. Dishwashing. Homework. Laundry. Dog in. Dog out. On Thursday night, the garbage and recycling get put curb-side. And the quiet -- the neighborhood is blanketed in stillness. No bikers pedal by. No laughter or antics from children playing outside. Just the occasional lights from a passing car.

It's January. The heart of winter in New York.

A Dresden plate, flying geese and postage stamps

2012-01-12T10:57:00.000-05:00

I kind of had the feeling I would be over my head with one of these blocks -- namely, the Dresden plate. This is one block that I have been smitten with for forever. I really thought it was something that was beyond my talents. But it's so much easier than I thought. Really -- if I can do it, then anyone can.

So here's the mini-quilt challenge low-down....

A Dresden plate

Flying geese

Postage stamps

Liesl -- the brains behind the mini-quilt challenge -- was chugging along just fine with her blocks, then she asked if there were any other designs anyone wanted to include. Me and my mouth. I should have kept it shut. I figured sewing little postage-stamp-sized-squares would be mindless quilting. Argh -- I got myself a bit stressed out over this one. Apparently, I don't count as well as I used to. My squares were 1 1/2 inches. Accounting for a quarter-inch seam allowance, I figured 144 squares would result in a 12 by 12 inch square. I messed that up. Maybe my cutting wasn't precise enough. Anyhow, I had to add another couple of rows to square this baby off. And to think, my eighth grader asks me for math help. He may want to look elsewhere.

For details and designs on Liesl's project, head over to her blog. Next up is a stripey lonestar. YeeHaa!

Kitchen time and household changes

2012-01-11T07:50:00.001-05:00

The past weekend was filled with lots of anticipation. Colin took off for college -- with a vehicle -- which adds a certain degree of stress to my life. Thoughts of roadtrips, late nights, bad weather, etc. all rush through my head. But, I keep thinking of what a responsible man he was become -- not that those thoughts eradicate my serious case of anxiety.

Then, our foreign exchange student arrived shortly after Colin departed. I spent much of the weekend cleaning, organizing and cooking so that everything would be ready for him. I baked artisan bread -- I figured the scent of homemade bread would be a comforting home-like feeling and I made Susan Branch's chicken soup which was a two-day process, but worth the extra effort.

Our student -- named Mathijs -- is so mature and likeable. The Rotary provides a first-night questionnaire for families to complete with their students. Things like -- who does the laundry, what chores need to be done, rules of the house, bedtimes, curfews, etc. I realize now, that I've been way too easy on my own children because the answer to all the chore questions was "me" or "Tim" -- not the kids. Dang! We need to change things up quick. I could be leading the life of luxury had I known kids should be doing all the hard-labor around the house.

Jeremy laid down some pretty strict rules for me -- things like no walking around in my nightgown. In case you're wondering, my nightgown is a Lanz, flannel, granny-gown. Not revealing at all -- I don't see a problem with that. I'm also not allowed to talk much either for fear that I'll say something embarassing. Rest assured, I have already violated that rule. Oh well. I'm sure there was more on the list -- but quite frankly, I can't seem to get past the talking bit so I stopped listening to Jeremy's review of list items. He's 13. I hope this phase passes.

This weekend, I think we'll go on a little outing provided the weather is snow-free. I'm thinking Howe Caverns. There's nothing like poking around in a close-quartered cave to get to know someone better.

A baby quilt

2012-01-10T08:56:00.000-05:00

One of my co-workers is having a baby, which gave me the perfect excuse to make a baby quilt. I used Camille Rosecky's design for the "Little Man" quilt. But where hers was done in soft browns and beige-colored fabrics, my is done in almost blinding shades of green. And, I paired that brightness with vintage floral sheets that are so soft.

I have one complaint though -- working with gingham is not fun. It tends to veer off and look crooked no matter how hard I tried to keep it in line with pins. Frustrating.

Here's the finished product. I made mine square because it's destined to be a play-mat quilt -- I'm not really sure of the color scheme the mom is going to pick out for the nursery, but play-mats can go wherever.

Here's just a few project details -- I hand-quilted it using perle cotton. The back-side doesn't thrill me because it looks a bit sloppy thanks to my imperfect stitching. But, that can't be helped I'm told. The binding is also from a vintage sheet. I think that's it. I'm just hoping it gets lots of happy playtime use.

Glimpses of a house at 20

2012-01-09T07:46:00.000-05:00

My husband and I went for a walk with the dog a few weeks ago and as we chatted, we realized that it was the 20th anniversary of when we moved into our house. It hit us completely out of the blue -- and ironically, it was the actual date we moved in two decades ago. Funny how that happened.

We both love our little house so much. We picked out the design. We put a lot of sweat equity into its construction -- alongside my dad, who had a huge part in building it. Our children were all raised within its four walls. A few dogs have made their mark here as well -- and not necessarily in a good way. We've cooked many a meal in the kitchen. I've washed loads and loads of clothes and sheets and towels in the tiny laundry room. But, I think my most favorite room of all is our bedroom.

It's a big room -- stretching from the front to the back. The afternoon sun shines in, making the oak floors glow. With the exception of our Pottery Barn bed, every piece of furniture in the room is an antique. There are old, well-worn books on a shelf. My dresser was picked up at an antique store in Bouckville (home of the famous Madison-Bouckville Antique Show). Tim's is a birds-eye maple dresser from his mother.

There's plenty of room for a little desk that also came from Tim's mother. He used it in high school and brought it to our home shortly after his mother's death back in 2001.

We collect lots of wooden boxes. Tim's taken to making some too from re-claimed wood. They make great little storage containers for things like little books, letters, and maybe a love note or two. I love that my husband prefers to send handwritten letters to his relatives in Holland rather than use e-mail. He's old-fashioned that way. He even takes the time to write his letters in Dutch -- just to keep in practice.

I have stacks of afghans piled up on a chair in the corner. I'm at that age when I can go from hot to cold and back to hot in a heartbeat -- so it's best to be prepared.

Which brings me back to 20 years ago when we first moved in -- I was so young at the time. I hadn't a clue about raising kids. My dad was still alive. Things have changed so much, but my house has stood alongside me and weathered it all. I think I love it even more than I did back then because of all the memories we've created. I'll be sad when we have to say goodbye, but the memories are mine to take with me.

Journaling :: 1.6.12

2012-01-06T08:58:00.000-05:00

I think home-keeping is about my most favorite thing to do. I swear, I can waste more time puttering around my house than anyone I know and I love every minute of it. I straighten out damp towels each morning before I leave for work. All pillows must be fluffed and righted just so. And never, ever can I leave dirty dishes in the sink. When I return from work, I get great satisfaction from re-arranging a spice rack or a cupboard or just hanging clothes to dry.

It's been nice having my kids back in the nest for their extended winter breaks. Yes, the laundry pile has been doubled (maybe tripled even). And, things are a little messier. But, it's good knowing everyone is nearby.

On Tuesday of this week though, Kathe flew to Florida. All by herself. She's doing the theme park-thing with her boyfriend. They're spending time in Fort Lauderdale at the beach. All the while, I'm staying close to home -- only venturing out for work or school-related functions. The funny thing is, I have no desire to travel these days. I'm content where I'm at. Folding laundry. Making dinner. Changing sheets.

My boys, on the other hand, are chomping at the bit to go somewhere. To do something. Anything. I'm feeling a little stumped for ideas -- or maybe it's just an underlying lack of motivation. We're going to take my mother out for pizza tonight. Maybe that will count as an outing, though it's not Florida as they will remind me. Colin goes back to college on Sunday. And our foreign exchange student will arrive next week. That may liven things up. But, I'm content with the pleasant monotony of a quiet home life. And puttering.

On resolutions and such

2012-01-05T07:52:00.009-05:00

Resolutions. So many times, I've taken the plunge only to fail to live up to those well-intended New Year's hopes. I'm not much of a resolver -- maybe I'm more of a work in progress. As I go through the days, the weeks, the months of each year, my directions change. Interests come and go. I don't know that I have the staying power to commit to any big resolutions.

That being said, I do have a list of things I want to strive for....

I want to eat healthier. This is easier said than done. I start out just fine in the morning, but when I get home from work the grazing begins. I need to add more fruit and vegetables to my diet. And more low-fat dairy.

In 2012, I will not add to my stash of fabric or yarn. I. Will. Not. I have plenty of materials on hand. Probably enough to last a life time of crafting. No matter what I'm in the mood to do, there's no reason why I can't find what I need right here under my own roof.

About exercise....I don't like it. There's barely room in the day for it. But, I need to carve out time. Even if it amounts to just walking the dog each and every day, I should try harder. At least the dog will appreciate my efforts.

And, I want to eliminate clutter in my household. I made a pre-New Year's start by emptying out one drawer in my kitchen. One drawer. Wow. Just the thought of tackling the whole kitchen is over-whelming -- which brings me back to the reason I don't do resolutions. Good intentions, but no stamina for the haul.

How about you? What are you resolving?

Yarn-along :: granny stripes

2012-01-04T09:17:00.004-05:00

I'm nearly done with my granny stripes. Progress has been slow because I leave this project at the lake so it's more of a weekend-only kind of crocheting gig. I'm using up little balls of yarn from various other projects that seem to accumulate at a rapid pace in my baskets. Thank goodness for baskets.

I would say one or two weekends more and this afghan will be ready for use. The nice thing about big crochet projects this time of year is that I get to sit under the warmth of the afghan while hooking. The temperature here's been dropping since Saturday making me appreciate crochet-time even more.

I wanted to do a posting about making New Year's resolutions -- one of mine will be about not buying any more yarn or fabric or crafting supplies until I use up what I have. My granny stripes makes me feel like I got a jump on that goal. Hopefully later this week, I'll get around to finishing that posting -- there's nothing earth-shattering in it, but maybe if I officially document what I hope to achieve in 2012 it will keep me focused.

And on my nightstand last week was "Coming Up for Air." I have to admit, I did not enjoy this book. I stopped about half-way through because this year, I'm not going to waste time reading books that don't enthrall me. Life's too short to waste time and, there are too many good books out there waiting to be read.

For other yarn-along projects and book picks, check out Ginny's blog -- Small Things.

Turn the page....Tuesday {1-12}

2012-01-03T06:03:00.000-05:00

"Leaving the World" was one of the bargain books I picked up at a Borders closing sale back in August. I'm not sure why I didn't actually pick it up to read until December -- I was in a book-rut for a while and here this one was on my nightstand, just begging to be read.

The tale is a little over-the-top. It's the story of a Harvard-educated woman who basically has a big black cloud hanging over her head. Her parents are pathetic (the father's a crook and the mom blames the daughter for everything that has gone wrong in her life). She is unlucky in love. Not once, but twice. The worst possible thing imaginable happens (I won't spill the beans on this one). So, she wants to leave the world. Trust me, you would too if this were your life.

Despite the string of bad luck and bad choices, I did empathize with the main character. I was hoping for a happy outcome. I kept turning the pages and was little sad to see the story end -- but I guess author Douglas Kennedy decided his character endured enough so it did come to a close.

I have one more Kennedy book on my stack of to-be-read novels. For now though, I've moved on to lighter fare of the love story variety (this will be a short-lived phase -- I just need something quick and predictable right now).

For other Turn-the-page....Tuesday picks, head over to Adrienne's blog, Some of a Kind.

Journaling :: 2012

2012-01-01T22:29:00.001-05:00

When I was in the sixth grade, I kept my first-ever diary. On the tiny pages, I jotted down the ever-so-important details of my days. I remember writing down what I wore; who I was friends with; who I wasn't; and of the pressures that sixth graders feel.

Blogging is kind of like that old diary, but much more public. Daily details emerge between entries about crafting, cooking, or the books I read. But lately, I've been thinking about writing more about my days, about the miniscule parts that make up a whole day. A whole life. I'm going to call it "journaling." It may not happen with absolute regularity, but bits and pieces will get sprinkled within this blog.

~ A New Year's Day Entry ~

{The lake on January 1, 2012}

{The snow-less shoreline exposed}

{The path to the beach still looks green}

We spent New Year's weekend at the lake. No snow. No skiing. But we had fires in the fireplace. We ate take-out pizza on New Year's Eve. Kathe re-connected with an old friend. The boys played Yahtzee. The dog got loose and wandered off in the very dark night -- but she returned when we called for her. I work up early each morning and crocheted and quilted to my heart's content. Before leaving, Tim and I cleaned out old books, games and puzzles in anticipation of filling the lakeside camp with more things from home -- as our dream of moving to the lake slowly becomes more real. Tomorrow, we'll bring boxes and piles of stuff to the Salvation Army.

Hobo squares :: take two

2011-12-29T10:10:00.000-05:00

I've been moving in super-slow-motion as far as quilt-making goes. The holidays interrupted the best of plans -- in a very good way. But, basically every in-the-works project got put on the back burner. That being said, after about a month-long delay, here's my progress on the hobo mini-quilts (the second one):

Now for the best part, the names of each block....

~ OK ~

~ Talk Religion, Get Food ~

~ Road Spoiled - Full of Hobos ~

~ Anything Goes ~

Joyous greetings

2011-12-28T10:38:00.001-05:00

The holidays crept up on me a bit too quickly. Before I knew what hit me, my house was bustling with activity. Kids returned home from grueling final exams at college. A boyfriend arrived home with the daughter -- which was a new experience. We traveled to my sister-in-law's house to celebrate the Dutch Sinterklaas festivities. We traveled to my mother's for Christmas. Between trips, we baked. We ate well. We drank glogg (oh my -- glogg! -- something you must try!). And we had much time for togetherness.

Because chaos can be good, we're soon going to add to our chaotic family! Not a baby silly, but a Rotary foreign exchange student from Holland. He'll be coming in a few weeks so we're re-arranging bedrooms, doing a bit of decluttering (oh, how I love decluttering -- more than glogg even!), and eagerly anticipating his arrival. So when those college siblings depart, Jeremy will have a fellow teenager to commiserate with. Teenagers do better with their own kind, you know. Having just old parents around is boring.

Anyhow, as quickly as the big day came, it was suddenly over. I realized, that I haven't blogged in more than a week. I never even posted any holiday greetings -- so while a bit belated, here it is....I hope your holidays were joyous and full of family and love.

A Gooseberry giveaway

2011-12-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

The drawing is officially closed....The winner of Gooseberry Patch's "Fresh From the Farmstand" cookbook is #38 (Anna Louise). Congratulations!

The good folks over at Gooseberry Patch tell me it's time for another cookbook giveaway -- just in time for the holidays. Their latest book -- hot off the presses -- is "Fresh From The Farmstand." I had a really hard time picking out a couple of recipes to review because they all look so good.

Because I usually eat my lunch at my desk while at work, I love to pack salads -- tabouli, chicken, tossed lettuce, you name it. When I came across this recipe for Wheat Berry and Wild Rice Salad, I knew I had to try it. For three days, I ate it each noon-hour -- and I could have gone the whole week, but my husband found it in our refrigerator and polished it off. It truly is one of the best recipes I've tried -- though, it takes a bit of patience when making.

Wheat Berry and Wild Rice Salad

1 cup wheat berries, uncooked

1 cup wild rice, uncooked

1 red or green pepper, diced (I used a jar of roasted red peppers)

1 red onion, chooped

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped

4-5 leaves fresh basil, chopped

3 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped

Vinaigrette salad dressing to taste

Cover wheat berries with water in a saucepan and soak for eight hours or overnight. The next day, drain the wheat berries well; add fresh cold water to cover. Cook over medium heat for about one hour, until tender; drain well. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, cover rice with cold water. Cook for about 30 minutes until tender; drain well. Combine wheat berries and rice in a serving bowl. Add remaining ingredients, adding salad dressing to taste. For the best flavor, serve at room temperature. Serves 6 to 8.

Next up, was Freezer Slaw. I was a bit skeptical -- but I am a coleslaw lover (especially, for a non-mayonnaise-type of coleslaw). I cut the recipe in half -- and there was plenty for at least two meals for my at-home family of three.

Freezer Slaw

1 head of cabbage, finely shredded

1 tablespoon salt

2 cups sugar

1 cup vinegar

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon celery seed

1 teaspoon mustard seed

Place cabbage in a large bowl add salt and mix well. Cover and let stand one hour. Drain well, pressing out liquid. Divide cabbage mixture among freezer containers; set aside. In a saucepan over high heat, boil remaining ingredients for one minute. Let cool; strain. Poor liquid over cabbage and freeze. Thaw before serving. Makes four pints.

If you would like the chance to win this cookbook, simply leave a comment below -- you don't have to do another thing! I'll draw a winning name on December 28 and send it out. Be sure you leave an email address or a blog link so I may contact the winner -- it's frustrating and kind of a bummer when the winner is inaccessible.

And, to order your own copy of this soon-to-be-released book head over to the Gooseberry Patch.

A second Ruby's Garden wall-hanging

2011-12-15T08:27:00.000-05:00

After making my first mini-quilt using the Ruby's Garden fabric, I had to make a companion quilt because like the song goes, one is the loneliest number. (Please say you know the song I'm talking about -- otherwise, I'm going to feel really, really old). Oh heck -- here's a link, have a little listen.

Ahem. Back to my little quilting project. My second one used up just a smidge more of this fabric. My stack of fat quarters from this collection is basically intact! Translation :: More quilting projects are in the future. I'm thinking of perhaps a lovely little table runner to coordinate.

I can't seem to satisfy this urge to quilt these days. My old Singer went in for a re-alignment a few weeks ago so I had to bring the machine from the lakeside camp home so I wouldn't go into withdrawal.

Suffice to say, a few things on the home-front have been neglected while I pursue my daily quilting fix. Here's the list :: my shower curtain desperately needs a washing; the dog's favorite window is so smudged with nose drippings it's a wonder she can see out it; there's about a quarter cup of milk left in the refrigerator; and I am unprepared for the arrival of college kids home for the holidays -- including the daughter's boyfriend.

Thankfully, I have managed to take a day off from work today and I'm going to tackle all of the above projects and more. Yes, I'm pumped (really, it's more like panic-stricken). So, I must bid the old blog adieu and get cracking.

It's about discipline, my friends

2011-12-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

I got a little giddy the other day because the yarn was delivered. THE YARN! This is the yarn I'm going to use for my Attic24-styled afghan. I'm going to be totally true to Lucy over in the Attic. I'm not going to wimp out and go down my usual route. No sirree. We're talking vibrant color here. I don't have a clue where this brightness is going to eventually call home because my house does not scream color. It's subtle, muted, subdued. But, I will not be deterred. Color it is!

However, first things first. I have a granny stripe afghan that needs to be finished. I know you're thinking there's color in this one -- but there are soft colors too like the heather grey and the minty green and the pale yellow. None of those will be making an appearance in the next one.

So getting back to the title of this here posting :: DISCIPLINE. I have two things I need to concentrate on -- finishing the granny stripe afghan. I cannot be tempted. I must stay focused. I should not even look at that new yarn because I'm a weak-willed woman and it will not end well (actually, this afghan-in-progress may not ever get finished). And second, I need to stick to the color scheme that Lucy uses. Yarn from my stash cannot work its way into the new afghan.

There you have it. Me being very firm with myself. Wish me luck.

A mini-update

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm popping in this morning to give a little update on that mini-patchwork project. The chevron block is finished -- not perfectly, but I'm satisfied.

But this one, the mini-string block, is my favorite. I had such fears going into it. I always get that way when I try something new. But, I kept telling myself that the worst thing that could happen would mean a pile of scraps would end up in the garbage pail. Really, other than little bits of old fabric and my time, nothing would be wasted. So I forged ahead. And I have to say, I feel great pride in this particular block.

I've created a design wall in our basement -- in reality, it's just half of the ping-pong table folded up. The other half I use as a cutting table. It's perfect as far as that goes -- lots of space. The design wall half now has every quilt block made from scraps on display. I spend a lot of time just staring at those blocks. I dragged my husband downstairs to show him this so-called design wall. I think he may have cringed a bit, wondering what I had done to our limited wall-space. Then, I saw him visibly cringe when he realized that the ping-pong table may not ever get used for its original purpose again. But, every quilter needs a design wall -- you agree, don't you?

And last up -- at least for this update -- is the log cabin block. Liesl has already posted the Dresden Plate block which is up next in her series. This little bit of fear is creeping back into my head -- but I'm going to give it a try. Be sure to check out her tutorial series if you want to tackle any of these blocks. I keep telling Liesl that she should write a book on making these -- her directions are that good. But, you can get them for free at Lieslmade. Now, I'm off to dig through my scraps (which by the way, don't seem to be diminishing. Besides overcoming quilting fears, this project was supposed to help me get rid of my scraps. Must be I have a lot of scraps).

Getting festive

2011-12-10T19:19:00.001-05:00

We've been busy here decorating, cooking, baking, and making. Thank goodness I still have Jeremy at home or else I might very well let the season's festivities slip by. It's practically mid-December already and somehow, I realized just how far behind I am -- only a few presents are good-to-go and until this weekend, no Christmas cookies had been baked.

My youngest took a lot of initiative this year and made sure nearly every room has some holiday cheer within its walls. Little mini-trees are decorated and twinkly lights cast the coziest light everywhere. Somehow, between Thanksgiving and now, I have found myself barely treading water between work and everyday life stuff. Back when my kids were little, I seemed to do a better job of juggling everything and of making sure the holidays were jolly. Maybe, I'm just getting older and slower?

Every time I see a little decoration that Jeremy set out, a flood of memories rushes forward. This little Santa came from a co-worker many years ago. He sits on a bookshelf in our little first-floor study. His company is nice when sitting in there.

Today, I woke up early and declared it cookie-baking day. So I dug around in my cookbook cupboard and found a stack of holiday recipe books. Old favorites are a little more dog-eared than the new editions that seem to make their way into my grocery cart.

I even made a big pot of chicken soup because the forecast is calling for Lake Effect snow. Depending upon how the bands set up, we could see a few inches. Up north, the weather experts are calling for ten inches. Finally. It's been way too warm for my liking.

The traditional Chex Mix is made and awaiting the return of my oldest two. Colin's coming home on Thursday night and Kathe is coming with her boyfriend on Saturday. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! The family dynamics are changing a bit.

I'm even incorporating some holiday colors into my crocheting. The yarn is compliments of Colin -- a sweet birthday present that I'm finally putting to use. My squares will become a festive Christmas scarf (hopefully, it will be done when that snow arrives).

Anyhow, things are looking much more festive around here and I'm starting to feel that Christmas spirit a bit more.

Crocheting flowers

2011-12-07T11:02:00.001-05:00

Look what I can do! Yes, I can crochet flowers. It may be downright bleak here in New York, but I'm whipping up pretty and colorful flowers. What will become of them is anybody's guess -- because I don't have a clue. But now that I can make flowers, I can't seem to stop (one takes me only about 15 minutes -- so you can imagine what a whole evening can produce).

Do you want to make some? Here's some very basic instructions:

I used a number three ball of Aunt Lydia's cotton. It comes in beautiful colors, so go wild.

Chain seven and hook the last chain to the first with a slip stitch. Then chain three more. Double crochet in your circle. Single crochet once and then double crochet. Repeat until your original circle has seven double crochets around. Then make seven half shells in each segment (my half shells are one single crochet, three double crochet, and one single). Join in the next segment and repeat the shell pattern until you have yourself a flower. Weave in the ends.

Does this make sense? It's my first attempt at writing out crochet instructions and I'm not a technical soul -- so maybe I'm the only one who will understand it. I'm sure there's a tutorial out there somewhere. But trust me on this one -- they're easy and a bit addicting.

One night, three aprons

2011-12-05T06:15:00.000-05:00

Need a quick gift for neighbors, friends, co-workers or in my case, three sisters-in-law? Then, applique some aprons. I bought the aprons for about $5 a piece at Wal-Mart a few years ago. I can't remember why I bought them back then, but this year, they're leaving my WIP (works in progress) pile and heading to new homes.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, I appliqued fabric trees onto the aprons -- leaving the edges ragged. They should fray a bit when washed, but I think that will actually improve the look.

My stitching went a little wonky, but I'm okay with that because there's a time and place for wonkiness. If you don't want to do trees, there are many other options....Little triangles sewn together in a bunting formation, snowmen, pinwheels, flowers, balloons....I could go on all night, but you get the idea, right? And in total, this project took only about one hour from start to finish. See? One night, three gifts. Check. Check. And Check.

Now I'm off to wrap them up along with a couple of jars of homemade jam. Tata.

Mini-quilts for the holidays

2011-12-02T06:54:00.000-05:00

I have been diligently working away at some holiday projects and I figured it was about time I shared -- since a few (like these mini-quilts) were made in the summer and early fall.

A few years ago my mother turned over her fabric stash to me. I left the basket at the lakeside camp so I would have a go-to collection there. I found a bunch of Christmas-like fabrics that I put aside.

I think log cabins are so much fun to piece together. For any beginning quilters out there, I highly recommend these.

I made 16 squares which turned into four mini-quilts that will be given away to some very special friends this holiday season. Each one is a little different -- and one has a little fabric imperfection in it that I didn't notice until it was all finished. But a true friend will overlook that, right?

I'm adding this to my ADVENTure projects -- a Kristyn Knits-sponsored challenge. What do you have in the works for the holidays?

Scraps and mini blocks

2011-11-30T06:56:00.000-05:00

I think if I was so inclined, I could make many a quilt just using fabric from my scrap box. However new fabric somehow keeps coming into the house, so most likely scrappy quilts will not be the norm around here. That being said, Liesl is making me take stock of the scraps I do have on hand. She has launched a mini-patchwork sampler quilt tutorial using -- yes! -- scraps and only scraps. Each square is a different design and is made up of teeny-tiny bits of fabric.

Here is my version of square number one....The Fence Rail Block.

And number two....The Spider Web Block. * Just a little note here -- this was very challenging and required precision stitching. It was also the very first paper piecing that I have ever done. Ah. Success. I'm not sure what I was afraid of.

I find myself doing these mini-patchworks in the bright and early morning -- sometimes even at 5 am when the rest of the household is quiet and everyone else is snug in bed. It takes a few minutes for my eyes to focus -- but the silence is worth it. And I have to say, I am so pleased with how I'm being stretched to try new things and go out on a bit of a limb. Of course, using only scraps helps -- knowing that if I make a mistake, nothing is really lost. And we have had some casualties involving a rotary cutter -- only fabric though, no fingers have been lost.

This week, I'm working on the Chevron Block. Three more of these rows and I'll have a complete block. Liesl's already posted the tutorial for the next one -- a String Block. It looks difficult but in all honesty, if you follow her step-by-step instructions, it will work. It's an amazing series she's put together -- so if you're interested in trying your hand at quilting, this is a wonderful place to start. Just pick a quiet time and place and dive in!

I'm participating in the WIP Wednesday project at the Freshly Pieced blog. Click here to see what other crafters have in the works.

A recipe for maple-walnut muffins

2011-11-28T06:53:00.000-05:00

Good Monday morning. At least I hope it will be (seeing as I'm writing this in the wee hours, I can only hope for the best). It's back to school and work today. My house -- despite the Christmas decorations that now adorn it -- is decidedly empty without my two oldest who left for the final few weeks of college before a long break.

Anyhow, I'm starting the day off with Maple-Walnut Muffins -- from a recipe that I modified (It was originally a recipe for Poppy-Seed Almond Muffins). My main motivation for baking these was that handy-dandy walnut chopper that I picked up at a thrift store. It is just like the one my mom had when I was growing up -- except hers was orange not bright yellow (gotta love colors from the Seventies!).

Maple-Walnut Muffins

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup yogurt (I used maple-flavored yogurt)

1 teaspoon maple extract

In a small bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, then add yogurt and maple extract until well-blended. Stir in flour mixture until moistened. Spoon batter into lined muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool.

Now, I need to go rouse a sleepy 13-year old and make sure he's ready for school. He couldn't remember if he had homework to do last night -- so his Monday may not turn out too well. But, here's hoping your Monday is a good one!

Hobo squares :: take one

2011-11-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

I've started the hobo squares project and figured it was time for an update. I'm sewing four, six-inch blocks and putting them together as a mini-quilt. There's a little wall-space in my bedroom where I think a quartet of mini-quilts will look fabulous. All designs are from the book "Hobo Quilts." I've mentioned this before, but the stories from real-life hobos about their experiences are so fascinating -- sometimes downright scary though. It's like a very well-done history lesson and it makes me appreciate my warm though humble home even more.

By the way, the hands that are holding up mini number one are from my not-so-mini youngest child. He no longer wants to appear on this blog because -- well, he's 13. No other explanation is needed. He is however, growing by the inch every night and has reached a wonderful height to hold up quilts and afghans for his mother to photograph so he will be a behind-the-scenes assistant from now on.

When I last posted about the hobo book, Debbie left this comment that I just love:

"During the Depression, my Dad grew up on a farm near Port Jervis, NY. Across from his house, the road crossed the Erie Line. He used to tell stories of the hobos who would stop by their house and how his mother would always give them a sandwich and a glass of milk."

These are just the type of memories that are woven throughout the book. So, without further adieu, here are the blocks and names from the first mini-quilt....

~ The Well-Guarded House ~

~ Housewife Feeds for Chores ~

~ Be Afraid ~

~ Easy Mark ~

Yarn-along :: for the kitchen

2011-11-23T07:03:00.000-05:00

Since the start of the holiday season means more time in the kitchen, I thought it was about time for a little kitchen updating. Sadly, the old budget has some serious limitations meaning no new countertops or sleek appliances. The only updating has to do with potholders and dishcloths. Kind of sad, huh? But, a fresh new look with these babies can go a long way.

Seriously, how can you not smile when greeted by a bright, cheery and clean potholder? Somehow, my other ones look positively dingy and dreary compared to this burst of sunshine. Truth-be-told, I may never dare to use this one. It's too pretty.

Or during these dark and cold days, how about a little blue heaven? It was almost more fun picking out the color schemes than the actual crocheting. Almost.

Now that the kitchen has a fresh look, it's time to get serious with the cooking. As usual, I'm working through today -- the. day. before. Thanksgiving. Don't ask what's on the menu besides the bird and stuffing because all the rest has yet to be determined. Tonight, I will be pouring through these cookbooks (hoping all the while that I have all of the ingredients on-hand).

Here's hoping you all have a very happy Thanksgiving while you gather with all of your loved ones. If you get a moment, stop by Ginny's blog, Small Things, to see what's cooking with her yarn-along.

From my mom's friend

2011-11-22T10:53:00.001-05:00

I thought today I would share photos of some linens that came my way via my mom. She has a friend named Sally who has been cleaning house. Her own daughters-in-law weren't interested in these beauties. She knew I would treasure them.

I'm not sure what to do with these little ones -- they're hanky-sized but the material is very silky, not at all appropriate for hanky-use. Suggestions?

And there's a whole pile of lavender-colored hand-towels like this one. I didn't photograph the linen table runners. There was so much crammed into the bag my mom delivered to me. I was like a kid in a candy store.

I've been amassing quite the collection of linens from thrift and antique stores. I feel better about rescuing the ones from the thrift stores -- mainly because I don't think everyone has an appreciation for the handwork and skill that goes into creating such pieces. These new additions are extra nice because I know just where they came from and I know they've been well-loved.

Happy little coasters

2011-11-20T18:51:00.000-05:00

I found the tutorial for these pop-flower coasters over at Twin Fibers -- it was a great, easy-to-follow tutorial and a set of four coasters can be whipped up in less than an hour. Don't you just love projects like that?

I changed things up a bit though. Instead of sewing a zigzag stitch or hand-sewing my appliqued flowers on, I chose to machine sew with a black thread. I got this idea from the "Scandinavian Stitches" book. It's very simple to do and in my opinion, really makes the design stand out.

What do you think? I think they are the happiest coasters ever.

This coaster foursome got bundled up and is ready to head out as a gift. If you're short gifts on your Christmas list, I just know you could whip up a few sets of these in an evening. Easy-peasy.

Morning

2011-11-18T07:45:00.000-05:00

The days may be shorter, but the sunrises are no less spectacular. The rays are welcome in the chilly house where these mornings, frost blankets the roof and the grass outside. Despite the cold, the dog still awakens me early to hustle outside where she leaves paw-prints on the lawn. I'll stay in and warm my bones in the sun's glow.

Next up :: a hobo quilt

2011-11-17T06:12:00.001-05:00

This has to be one of the most interesting quilt books that I have ever read. There's a story that goes with each block depicted in the book. The blocks are based on the symbols used by hobos back in the Great Depression. Some symbolized that a housewife would share food. Another would forewarn of danger. In addition to the actual quilt blocks, there are stories from those who were either real-life hobos or from those who helped them. There are gritty photos of hobos traveling on the railroads or drifting down a dusty road. Even if you aren't a quilter, this is a great glimpse at an easily forgettable part of American history.

If you are quilter -- or a quilter-in-training -- like me, this book has just the right mix of easy to moderately easy blocks to try. The more difficult part is picking out the fabrics because to be true to the history, I wouldn't recommend using anything too flashy. I found some perfect depression-era reproduction prints at The Gloversville Sewing Center.

I'm slowly making the squares -- hopefully, I'll have enough fabric to make all 56 of them. Each block is only six inches. I'm thinking that I'll put four together and do a semi-regular update here. * Little disclaimer :: Christmas is coming and I'm not totally ready for the festivities, so it may be an irregular update, but I'll try my best.

Yarn-along :: shawl

2011-11-16T06:59:00.000-05:00

Who would have figured that I could take my recently-finished shawl on the back deck, in the sunshine and warmth during the month of November here in New York? Strange weather. By now we're usually hunkered down with fires burning in our fireplaces and we're outfitted in woolen coats, scarves and mittens. But these past few weeks have been just beautiful -- perfect shawl-wearing weather.

Unfortunately, this shawl is not really mine to wear. It's getting wrapped up as a Christmas gift. Now, about the design -- I made it up. I hooked half-shells and decreased the count with each row until I arrived at a pointed end. Simple, huh? I can't remember the name of the wool -- because it was from two balls of discontinued yarn and I threw away the labels early on in the project. But trust me, it's very soft and silky.

And here's a pile of books I picked up -- all quilting and home projects. I'm mostly loving the "Hobo Quilts" book -- but I'll post more on that tomorrow, because this is a yarn-along post. For more crocheting and knitting projects, head over to Ginny's blog -- Small Things.

A long lakeside weekend

2011-11-13T17:07:00.001-05:00

We spent the last of my vacation week at the lakeside camp. There was a little snow, a bit of drizzle, but lots of sunshine too. Here's how the weekend went down....

{sweeping, raking and the final mowing of the season}

{cold mornings from the inside}

{warmer afternoons from the outside}

{admiring a view from a mostly leaf-free lawn}

{taking a walk past a cabin that's seen better days}

{visiting a cemetery along the way}

{it's a very old cemetery -- old and interesting}

{heartwarming to see that though gone, some are not forgotten}

{an abandoned barn that I wonder if I could claim}

{hoping for peace on Veteran's Day}

The mini-quilt challenge :: a flower garden quilt

2011-11-11T09:19:00.000-05:00

A week off from work, and I'm cranking out the projects....crocheting, cooking and now quilting! I got wind of this little mini-quilt challenge that Amy is hosting and I cast my quilting insecurities aside. Usually, I'm totally intimidated by the awesomeness of most quilters. For years, I really didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. But lately, things are coming together better.

Back to that time away from work....Maybe all I needed was a week or so to really concentrate on the projects at hand. Because here I am, taking part in a quilt challenge -- with real-live, professional-grade quilters.

One thing that I'm still not entirely confident about is picking coordinating fabric. Hello fat quarter stacks. Oh, I've seen these beauties out there on fabric store shelves. Yes indeed. But the price tag always stopped me in my tracks -- that and the fact that it seemed like a cop-out. Don't quilters just have an eye for picking out fabrics, kind of like artists? My eye has been a little unfocused on occasion, but I was learning as I went along. I wasn't going to give in to a stack of picked out designer fabrics.

Until I walked into a quilt store that was closing its doors for good and saw that all fabric stacks were marked half-price. Even me and my unfocused eye could see that was a deal. So, I brought my fabric stack home and carefully unwrapped the twill tape and spread out my new-found loot. I petted it for a while. I re-organized it. Then, I carefully re-folded everything and tied it back together. I was way too overwhelmed. That doctor's oath came to mind...."do no harm." I certainly did not want to damage, ruin, maim or disfigure my stack.

When the time was right, I was going to do things....well, just right. One day, I started doodling with a new set of very colorful and very pointy pencils (you see, conditions have to be perfect). And lo and behold, a design took shape. Now, I'm sure other quilters have used this very same design. But, it's new to me -- and I'm very proud of "my" creation. Remember, I'm in a confidence-building mode right now so please don't burst my bubble.

Anyhow, the brave new me took the plunge and started gingerly cutting into that stack of fabric (which by the way has a name :: Ruby's Flower Garden. I did not pick that name -- I would have called it Jodi's Flower Garden). I sewed way into the night because when you're on vacation, it's easy to forget about bedtimes -- your own and a certain cranky 13-year old's bedtime (but that's another story).

I took a queue from those professional-grade quilters and made myself a scrappy binding using leftover ends. Trust me, even at half-price I did not want to waste an inch of this fabric.

I tied the points together and hand-stitched a border around the sashing using perle cotton -- which as you may know from yesterday's post is another new-to-me find.

Before I knew it, I had myself a sweet little mini-quilt. The sun was shining brightly on this very lovely November day (did I mention it was my vacation -- shouldn't the sun always shine on a vacation week?). So my quilt and I went outside to catch some rays.

Lest you think I was more ambitious than I was -- it really is a mini-quilt. Here's a shot for perspective. And by the way, I barely put a dent in that beautiful fabric stack so Ruby and I will be spending lots more quality time together -- but sadly, it will only be on evenings and weekends because it's back to work for me come Monday morning (insert frown face here).

To check out more mini-quilts from this challenge, just click the button below.

Pillow dressing

2011-11-10T07:13:00.002-05:00

I found some pillow-making inspiration over at Twin Fibers and I just had to make a new cover for an old pillow.

Patch-worked pillows in reds and blues suit me quite well. And, I love the hand-stitching design. It's a bit pokey to do, especially when you get used to zipping along with a sewing machine. But on these Fall nights, sometimes zipping is not what I want to do. I would rather cozy-up to a fire and settle on the couch with some slow-going hand-sewing. (Try saying that fast...."slow-going-hand-sewing").

My new pillow coordinates well with an older-counterpart that has seen lots of use.

I've been using perle cotton for my hand-quilting lately. It's amazing stuff. Am I the last person in the world to discover it? I'm feel like I'm entering a quilt phase right now. There are so many wonderful and inspirational quilting blogs out there. I've tried to link a few on my sidebar so I don't forget where to go for new ideas -- because these ladies share the loveliest projects. Real eye-candy for the quilters out there.

Yarn-along :: squares

2011-11-09T07:05:00.000-05:00

I'm on vacation this week. An odd week to have off -- not many take vacation in November. But, I have somehow accrued a lot of vacation time and if I didn't use it now, I may very well miss the opportunity. It's kind of nice being home alone without distractions and without having to plan vacation-type activities for everyone. I took care of the house-keeping stuff during the weekend, so this week has been all about relaxing and crocheting....Which brings me to my latest granny square project.

I have had many hanks of homespun yarn sitting on a shelf -- probably collecting dust despite my housekeeping ways. Many years ago, I used a lot of homespun to make afghans, but there's something about the feel of it on my fingers that I don't like. Anyhow, I figured it was time to clear off that shelf and put that homespun to good use. So granny squares it is. I've got enough to make 16 squares that together, will make a very square afghan.

I'm counting the days until this one gets done because I've taken the plunge and bought some very new and exciting yarn and I'm going to try my hand at a colorful Attic24-type afghan. I've wanted to do this for a long time, but I had color-phobia (can you tell from the homespun colors -- or lack of?). Anyhow, I hope to have a progress report on my more colorful afghan soon.

And as far as books go for this yarn-along project, I've been reading "The Butterfly's Daughter" by Mary Alice Monroe. It's an easy, just-before-bed read. The story is about a girl who returns to Mexico with her grandmother's ashes along with the Monarch butterflies -- who instinctively know just where to go.

For other yarn-along projects and book suggestions, check out Ginny's site, Small Things.

You do get used to things

2011-11-08T12:54:00.004-05:00

It's been almost three months since my oldest two kids departed for college. And if I think about it, I still get a lump in my throat. But, life chugs along as life has for generations. Mothers and fathers and siblings left at home do adjust. Perhaps a little unwillingly at first, but adjustments do happen.

The morning routine is less harried. There's more hot water for longer showers. There's no jockeying for the toaster or the last of the orange juice. No one yells "shotgun" for the ride to school because the one student left automatically gets prime seating. After school is simpler too. There are no conflicting activities. Some days, there are no activities at all. Dinner is quieter. The dining room is used less and less, but we do manage to gather side-by-side at the kitchen counter where we pull up stools and share a meal together. And in the evenings after the homework has been done, sometimes a television softly plays or a book gets read or a little crafting is done. The dog wanders in and out, not able to make up her mind or settle down because to her, certain someones are missing. Yet, another day is done.

Little by little, the details that filled our days when the house was bustling are leaving my conscious memory. Last night, I awoke from a dream with a smile on my face. My kids were little again and we were giggling over something silly and I was so happy. But as I nestled back into my pillow and snuggled under the warmth of the quilt, I wasn't really sad that it was only a dream because life today is still good. Just different.

Welcome to the Soup Bowl :: a recipe exchange

2011-11-07T04:39:00.000-05:00

It's Soup Bowl Day! As the temperatures dip, I am in such a soup mood. There's nothing finer than having a pot simmering on the stove to take the chill off. You feel the same way, don't you? So feel free to link up your favorite soup recipe right here -- that way we can all share in the warmth.

I had a hard time picking out a recipe -- but I finally decided that a good old-fashioned chicken soup always hits the spot. And because I feel a case of the sniffles coming on, it has even more appeal. I found a recipe in an old Yankee Magazine's publication called "The Flavor of New England: Soups, Chowders and Stews." I changed it up a bit -- that's the beauty of soup.

Instead of using macaroni, I used wide egg noodles. Much better.

I used up the last of my garden-grown carrots (they were multi-colored, in case you're wondering about the white ones).

Old-fashioned Chicken Soup

2 quarts (8 cups) of chicken stock

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 chicken breast

1 onion, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 bay leaf

1 cup egg noodles

A fist-sized bunch of parsley (the last from the garden too!)

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the chicken stock, wine, chicken breast, onion, carrots, celery and bay leaf in a soup kettle. Cover and let simmer about 30 minutes. Remove the chicken breast and cut or shred into bite-sized bits. Return to the kettle. Increase heat and add noodles and cook for 10 minutes. Add parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve hot.

The house smelled so good. Even the dog was sniffling away -- maybe pretending to have a cold so she could get a cup. Thanks for stopping by -- and I hope you'll share a favorite recipe (or two!).

Doing laundry while the sun shines

2011-11-06T07:43:00.001-05:00

These past few mornings have been beautiful. The sun's been shining. The skies are blue. I'm trying to eek out a bit more outside laundry-drying time. My old clothespin-holder fell apart. So using some home dec scraps, I pieced together a new, cheerier one. I hope I get to use it for a few more weeks because hanging laundry up outside makes me happy and I hate to give it up to cold weather.

And one final reminder....tomorrow's the Soup Bowl. My fingers are crossed, hoping that Mister Linky cooperates and that you all will share a favorite soup recipe. See you in the a.m. -- after I hang out a load of laundry.

Remembering Bargello

2011-11-04T06:36:00.000-04:00

This pincushion dates back to the Seventies. Back to when I was in 4-H. Back when my mom was the leader of our group, also known as the Great Dames. My mom, the former home economics teacher, tried to come up with projects that were outside the norm. She was really into needlework at the time so she thought her ten 4-Hers might have an interest in such pursuits. She introduced us to Bargello.

I remember playing with the threads. She had piles and piles of colorful wool threads. Obviously, I snatched up the most colorful of all. I wonder now, if I left any vibrant colors for the other Great Dames. She had us make pincushions -- a simple project designed to introduce us to the world of Bargello.

To this day, I use my pincushion almost daily. It's almost a fixture on a corner table in our living room (which by the way, is not nearly as colorful as that pincushion). It was one project that stood the test of time. Unfortunately though, and maybe to my mom's great disappointment, I never did another stitch of Bargello. But, I am thinking about it now. None of the craft stores locally sell the threads or the canvas, but we live in a different age so getting supplies is a click away. It's going on my list of things to do.

Something about bittersweet

2011-11-03T07:05:00.001-04:00

My bittersweet vine and I have a love - hate relationship. All summer long viney-sprouts shoot up and invade the surrounding plants. They grow right-smack in the middle of the hostas. Shoots wrap themselves around the burning bushes. And my black-eyed Susans have all they can do to compete for just a little space. But by Fall, when everything else has withered and died, I remember why I grow bittersweet.

I'm liking it so much at this point that I even bring a bit indoors. And outside when the snow flies, the red berries will add a spot of color to an otherwise very bleak-looking view.

Turn the page....Tuesday {11/1/11}

2011-11-01T18:24:00.003-04:00

I picked up this book on the new arrivals shelf at our library. The setting takes place in Norway shortly after World War II. The writing was a bit stilted -- I believe it was translated into English so the flow of words isn't always smooth. But, the book is rich in history about Norway's involvement in the war. Many young men fled to England by boat to help fight the Germans. Those men found brides on English soil. After the war, they brought their English brides home. The women banded together, at first living on an air force base and then, eventually settling throughout Norway.

Here are some little bits of history about Norway that were woven into the story....

Norway didn't have its own king or queen, so they asked a Danish prince and his English bride to assume those titles before the war broke out.

There was a very active resistance to the war in Norway, those attempting to escape would be shot.

The Nazis operated concentration camps there.

There was a town called Molde which grew a rare rose. Because of bombings during the war and the resulting fires, the Molde rose was lost forever.

"The House by the Fjord" is a story about generations of Norwegian women who occupied this house. After World War II, an English widow of a Norwegian inherited the home and came to care for it and grew to love it deeply -- refusing to leave even in her old age.

For other "Turn The Page....Tuesday" picks, pop on over to Adrienne's blog, Some of a Kind.

A final challenge update and a reminder

2011-10-31T19:05:00.001-04:00

It was a good effort. I have to pat myself on the back for trying. But when it was all said and done, I couldn't keep the food budget under $400. In the last week, we went out twice -- once for pizza when Colin came home (because nowhere in the world is there finer pizza than right here in the Mohawk Valley) and once on my birthday (you only turn 46 once and we just had to celebrate!).

I really don't feel too badly about failing because for the most part, I did well. I used up a lot of things I had on hand. I was more innovative with ingredients. I planned ahead. And, I shopped smarter. That's all good, right?

Also, much of what I purchased is going to carry us through the winter -- like the 30 jars of applesauce that I canned. And the homemade cranberry sauce that I made using frozen berries that were buried in the back of the freezer. There is something very satisfying about using up food and not letting it go to waste. I keep thinking of that "Little House" book, "The Long Winter" where the Ingalls family practically starved because there was no food to be found. I feel very fortunate indeed having a plentiful pantry to pull from.

I've also been trying new recipes -- like vegetable soup with cornbread dumplings.

And I made spicy black bean cakes from "Everyday Food." They were really good. Here's a link to the recipe. Those in the family who tried them, liked them (you know who you are -- so thank you for being brave!).

As far as the budget goes, I was over by nearly $100 (something like $96 and change). On a bright note though, normally I was spending about $500 more each month -- so I did quite well. I'm hoping to continue being mindful about where and how our food dollars are spent. It's been a good wake-up call for all of us.

And just a reminder -- next Monday is "The Soup Bowl" recipe exchange. I've got a few more soup recipes lined up to try this week. We'll see which one makes the cut. I hope to see you all then!

When the weather turns

2011-10-30T17:46:00.000-04:00

Lazy Sundays make me think of that Calvin and Hobbes collection of cartoons -- appropriately called "Lazy Sunday Book." I love that cartoon. I miss the boy and his tiger each morning as I peruse the comics. But in my house, Sundays continue to be filled with nothing but laziness, especially now that the weather is cooler and our weekends have mostly turned into soggy messes. We're spending a lot of time on the couch. Some of us nap. Some of us catch up on homework and reading and one of us (guess who?) stitches, hooks or dreams up new projects.

I spent one recent Sunday straightening out floss. It seems like I tackled this project not so long ago, but my floss and I have an on-going battle. Usually, the floss wins but I go down fighting.

That black blob squeezed in between the couch and the old trunk is the lazy dog. She gets into laziness in a big way -- only moving when she thinks someone may step on her or that tail of hers. Gotta love those kinds of Sundays.

Yarn-along :: October 26

2011-10-26T06:54:00.000-04:00

This post is not going to be a wordy one. I'll let photos of my shades of green striped afghan speak for themselves (we went on an extensive outdoor photo shoot together -- the neighbors may have thought it strange, just me and my afghan).

And as far as reading goes, I just finished up "Outside the Ordinary World" by Dori Ostermiller. It was a book about how experiences of your youth can shape who you become as an adult. Personally, I didn't particularly enjoy this book -- but I'm in a bit of a book-rut right now. Not much is appealling, so I'll probably find another crochet project to delve into. I'm participating in Ginny's yarn-along, so head on over to her blog, Small Things, for more yarn and book picks.

The third week update

2011-10-24T18:21:00.003-04:00

This family of mine is still hanging in there with the $400 a month food challenge. Other than me, no one is paying much attention to the food bill and there are few complaints. Actually, I'm scratching my head here trying to think if there have been any complaints. I think not.

Before I get into budget matters, let's talk about grocery shopping. I live in a town with one store -- Aldi. Think no selection, aging produce, but cheap prices. The quality of foods that should be fresh is poor at Aldi, so now that farmstands are disappearing for the season, I'm in a bit of a pickle. I need to either stop at a decent grocery store when I'm heading home from work or travel to the next village to do my shopping -- which isn't really a problem, but do I need to factor the price of gas into the equation?

Prior to this challenge, I would frequently stop on my way home from work and buy everything I needed -- not even looking at the prices. I know, shame on me. Now that my awareness has been raised, I realize that I have been overspending. So here's what I'm doing: I buy only produce, meats and items I won't compromise on at the stores offering better quality and selection. I don't compromise on breads, orange juice and yogurt. For quick-fix items like canned tomato soup, I'm buying at Aldi. As much as I try to shop for healthy foods, every once in a while a tomato soup / grilled cheese sandwich dinner is going to slip in the mix.

I've also been saving a bit by taking the time to prepare my own mixes from scratch. For example, rice -- my family isn't wild about plain rice, but jazz it up with a few spices and herbs and it's much more palatable. So here's what I do: Take a one pound bag or box of white rice, add a 1/3 cup dried minced onions, a 1/3 cup dried celery flakes, 3 tablespoons dried parsley, 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon each of tarragon and oregano and 1 tablespoon of an instant chicken flavored base (I use Vogue Cuisine's which I found at a natural food store). Mix all ingredients together and then cook rice using the normal proportions of water.

Okay, now for the budget. After three weeks at this, I've spent $342.67, which leaves me with $57.33. I think I can do this though. I did buy a lot of items at a local farm. For example, a 10 pound bag of onions for $4.50. They'll keep for a while and the price was great. I also bought several pecks of utility-grade apples for $5 a peck. I see more applesauce in the future.

My co-workers are helping the cause too (though they don't know it!). We've got a little food exchange going on in my department. I bring in jams and jellies. One co-worker brought in the greenest and tastiest pesto. Another supplied homegrown garlic. And another brought in pounds of freshly caught salmon (her husband's first-time out fishing yielded about 40 pounds of salmon).

Like I've said before, menu-planning is key to staying within the confines of a budget. For breakfasts, we've been eating quick breads (zucchini bread is pictured above), English muffins, cereal, oatmeal, and fruit smoothies (I knew I froze all those berries in June for a reason!). And for lunches, I continue to pack a bagged lunch. Leftover soups, salads and occasional sandwiches, along with an apple or yogurt. I wanted to share a new favorite recipe too:

Marinated Salmon (thank you, Beth!)

2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons light olive oil
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
2 salmon fillets

In a medium glass bowl, prepare marinade by mixing garlic, light olive oil, basil, salt,pepper,lemon juice and parsley. place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish and cover with the marinade. Marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Place fillets in aluminum foil, drizzle marinade over top and seal. Place in a glass dish and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until salmon is flaky.

I'll be back with one more report before the challenge ends -- though I'm thinking and kind of hoping that this menu-planning, money-saving new me sticks around for a while.

The Soup Bowl {sharing recipes}

2011-10-23T08:54:00.000-04:00

Based on a good response from you blogging peeps, we're going to do a soup exchange! Mark your calendars for Monday, November 7th. I'll try to get a Mister Linky widget set up (Cross your fingers on this one -- any experts out there who could lend some technical support?).

All you have to do is post a soup recipe on your blog and add a link right here on November 7th. Oh -- if you want to grab the image above, feel free to do so and link back to this post so if anyone wants to join in they can get the particulars. I'm hoping my family is ready for all the soup coming their way!

Long Island Cheese Squash, who knew?

2011-10-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

I added a new type of squash to my growing collection :: Long Island Cheese Squash. Has anyone heard of this variety? Any recipes ideas? (It's the flat, brown one on top of the pile).

Last year, I did an entire posting on squash -- appropriately entitled "The Squash Edition." I'm finding myself referencing it quite frequently. As you can see, we're eating a lot of squash these days. It's overflowing at the farmstands. And, it's inexpensive. Did I mention that it makes a great centerpiece for my island?

What I stumbled upon and had to buy

2011-10-19T06:55:00.001-04:00

Between work and Jeremy's cross country meets, I have about an hour to kill. Not enough time to run home. But, I don't want to look like an anxious mother either by arriving way too early. So, I tend to engage in some serious browsing (okay, sometimes I shop too). A bookstore is near my office, so I usually lose myself there for a bit. Last week, I found this book. Did I miss something? The Beekman Boys wrote a cookbook and I didn't even know it? Apparently that's what happens when premium cable gets cut from the family budget -- you are so out of the loop.

Now in case I haven't mentioned this once or twice or maybe a few more times, the Beekman Boys live on their homestead which is only about 40 minutes away from me -- in Schoharie County, where I grew up. Each and every time I visit my mother, I have to drive by their farm. For years, the house was barely standing. The paint was peeling. The grounds were overgrown. I had visions of being its savior. But, I didn't have a cool million in the bank and before I amassed such a fortune, someone else snatched it up and renovated the place. Brent and Josh became the next owners.

They raise goats. They make soap and cheese. The grow heirloom vegetables. They opened a store in nearby Sharon Springs. They promote the local yokels (I can say that because I'm a yokel too). They have a television show on Planet Green. Basically, they are like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise struggling area. Now, they have a cookbook. A wonderful cookbook filled with drool-inducing pictures. It wasn't just me doing the drooling -- I brought the book into work the next day and my co-workers had the same reaction. The recipes are simple. They use fresh ingredients that aren't all that hard to find. You don't need to grow your own vegetables or raise pigs -- a trip to a farmstand or a decent grocery store will work just fine.

After the cross country meet, I couldn't wait another minute to try the tomato and bread salad. We're on the tail-end of tomato season here in New York, so I had to act fast. Fortunately Russell's Vegetable Stand had a few tomatoes left and I had a half-a-loaf of leftover Panera's asiago bread in my bread drawer. It was divine. Jeremy agreed -- which totally justifies the addition of this book to my collection.

A thrifty kitchen report

2011-10-17T18:33:00.002-04:00

Things are chugging along here with the $400 a month food budget challenge. As you can see, I grabbed the last of the green tomatoes off the vines before a super-hard frost hit. I'm trying to get as much mileage as I can from things on-hand and from the garden, but that's it. Officially, my garden and gardening are done for the season.

I have to say, menu planning has really put things into perspective. I'm amazed at the senseless choices I have made through the years when it comes to food shopping. I never really stuck to lists. Things just ended up in the shopping cart more on a whim -- certainly not necessity. You can bet with only $400 to play with, I'm becoming a much smarter shopper.

I should talk a little bit about leftovers. Because it's usually just Jeremy and me home for dinner in the evenings, my mister would dine on leftovers the next day. If there was still food left-over, it would most likely end up getting tossed because we're not big left-over-type people. These days, I'm trying to cook the appropriate amount of food for three people. Favorite recipes are basically getting halved.

Also, I'm trying to bake a little more. I made these granola bars from Ellen over at Hurrayic. She had a point about the fact that the granola bars her family prefers only come five to a box. And they're costly -- so she's been playing around with recipes and came up with the absolutely perfect granola bars (not just my opinion, but Jeremy's too). Instead of our usual cereals for breakfast, I've made quick breads and been having more toast with homemade jam.

Now for a little peek at the budget, I'm about two weeks into this plan and so far I have spent $109.46 -- which puts me well ahead of the game for the remaining two and a half weeks. By the way, that includes money for a bushel of apples that I made into sauce. I still continue to be amazed that a bushel only yields 15 pints of sauce, but it's homemade and this canning obsession has become sort of a labor of love for me. I can't explain it and certainly my two guys at home think I'm a bit off my rocker, but they'll appreciate it someday, say in January.

And what have we been eating? Well, we're big chicken eaters here. My kids' all-time favorite is chicken parmesan with pasta. I make it with Panko breadcrumbs -- which are a little more expensive that regular breadcrumbs, but well worth the expense. I've also made chicken noodle soup, chili for a cold, rainy day and homemade pizza. I have to confess, that I've really been digging around in my pantry and using up stuff within. I had my cupboards well-stocked to begin with because my grocery shopping habits really didn't change much after my oldest two left for college. Suffice to say, I started this challenge in a good spot.

So, that's where I'm at right now. Is there anything I'm forgetting or that you want to know? I'll respond through comments.

Soup's on

2011-10-16T18:06:00.006-04:00

I've been digging through my cookbooks. This happens annually when the weather turns cooler and there's not much else to do on the weekends besides cook and create. I'm also plotting out menus for the upcoming week. An update on that $400 grocery challenge will be posted tomorrow evening after I get out of work.

I had leftover broccoli and potatoes in the refrigerator so into the soup pot they went. I used a knock-off broccoli-cheese soup recipe from Panera's Bread. I added a couple of the potatoes to thicken it up.

It passed muster around here, especially because as the temperatures dropped outside we were all in the mood for a little warmth. I have yet to turn on the heat indoors. I'm hoping to make it to November before that happens, though the thermostat is reading 64 as I type this. I may not make it much longer.

And I wanted to ask you something....A few years back a blogger coordinated a soup recipe exchange that was quite popular. Is there any interest in doing something similar this year? I would be happy to coordinate it. On a designated date, we would all post our favorite soup recipes. Leave a comment and let me know if you're game.

Friday night sewing

2011-10-15T13:47:00.001-04:00

The Fall break with my girl did not go as planned. She came home only for an overnight, but wanted to return to campus to hang out with friends. Apparently, not everyone heads home for the long weekend. I tried my best to conceal my disappointment when I dropped her off. I suppose it was a big mistake helping her carry stuff into her suite. The word "mess" does not do justice to the condition of their four-girl space. I had to empty the garbage pails. I had to make her bed. I had to vacuum. And then, I had to split. I think I may have lingered too long. I called her a few times since. She was having fun watching movies and catching up on her reading. I imagine the last half of the semester will be more intense, so -- in theory -- it was good that she got to do just what she wanted.

I tried to do the same. On Friday night while the wind blew and the rain poured down, I grabbed my needle and thread for comfort. I saw this bunting and wanted one to call my own. It was a craft book challenge project, but I didn't follow any directions. I made things up as I went along.

It came out better than I imagined. But then, I really didn't imagine having the time to create over the weekend. Oh well. I guess we all need to make our own way and do our own thing. Next weekend my oldest boy comes home from his college. I'm not making any plans.

Just for a visit

2011-10-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

She's coming home today. She has four days off from college to reclaim her space. This time, I will not protest when she leaves laundry in piles. Or clutters up her desk with scraps of paper. Or doesn't make her bed. I've learned these moments together are fleeting. She wants to apply for a passport while she's home. There are plans being made to go abroad for a semester. I'm swallowing another lump. Time does fly by.

On Columbus Day Weekend

2011-10-11T16:11:00.004-04:00

We went to the lake for the long Columbus Day weekend. The weather was wonderful -- almost like a Labor Day weekend, but with more brilliant foliage.

I brought another granny stripe afghan down to the water. This one is the lakeside one -- I keep different projects going at each house. And yes, I sometimes get confused about projects, not knowing where I left off or what yarn I need.

The sun was so bright. There were lots of boats cruising the lake and even waterskiers to watch. Our boat is already tucked away for winter. Tim brought out a kayak for a quick paddle around, but he couldn't entice Jeremy to join him. Stubborn, that one.

These stripes kept me amused for hours on end. I could sit forever watching the lake. But as the shadows grew long, I headed indoors.

I brought up lots of canning supplies and made two batches of applesauce, one each of red pepper jelly and green pepper jelly and a large batch of apple-tomato chutney -- which is has become a favorite on sandwiches and will make great little gifts for the holidays. It's so much more pleasant canning and cooking at the lake. Time is not of the essence. I can putter around and linger over the stove with no pressure of having to run off to pick up a kid or deal with work.

On Monday afternoon, we walked around one last time, looking at the water, checking the house over and saying our silent goodbyes to another season. It doesn't seem like we spend nearly as much time at the lake as we used to. With kids off at colleges and Jeremy's cross-country meets, it's hard to squeeze in time to get away on the weekends. The next time we may be here is the long Veterans' Day Weekend. By then, the leaves will be long-blown away and the sky will most likely be that ominous November gray. And, I'm sure I won't feel like sitting in a chair by the chilly water.

A food and budget challenge

2011-10-10T15:58:00.001-04:00

Let's talk about this $400 food challenge that's making it's way around blogland. It was started by Heather over at Beauty That Moves. She is challenging herself to feed her family of three on $400 for the month of October. That sounds possible, right?

We're down to being a family of three in my house these days too, so I figured I might just make this a personal challenge. In my mind, I started to do the math and on average when all my kids were under the same roof, we were spending about $250 a week on groceries. That's more than a $1000 a month. And, we would eat out or order pizza maybe once every other week -- which went above and beyond that budget.

Just a little side note here, I also calculated what meals at college are costing per week. Brace yourself for this one....We were charged $2800 per 15-week semester which amounts to $186 for each child to get three meals a day. That's not a negotiable fee -- and I know for a fact that they are skipping meals. They're college students. I get that. But still....$186. Ouch.

Now back to my challenge (a budget that I do have control over)....Here's what I'm doing:

I'm putting $400 into a pouch. That's going to be all I have to spend on food for a month. It's too easy to hand a store clerk my debit card and not really pay attention to the total bill. I'm thinking that handing over cash will keep me in check.

I'm taking stock of what's in the pantry and I'm trying to integrate things that we have on hand. This is good because it's forcing me to use up things like brown rice (not popular with my kids) or canned tomatoes (not the fresh ones I labored over this summer).

I'm preparing a weekly menu instead of winging it -- which is how I've operated for years. It's making me shop for only things I need and not necessarily stuff that falls outside the menu.

I'm eliminating junk food entirely. Oftentimes, it's too easy to slip a bag of chips into the grocery cart or M and M's (a favorite of my kids). That's not going to happen this month. Each of those items costs nearly $3 -- too much for this budget.

And, I'm going to purchase big at the farmstands. I'm still in a canning and preserving mood. Go figure -- I should be exhausted at this point from all that peeling, chopping, boiling and more boiling. But, it's food for the haul and I figure this will help my budgeting plans year-round.

So that's it. Heather is doing weekly updates each Monday, but if you would care to give me your feedback, tips, ideas and even recipes, I would welcome them. I'll post updates here regularly and try to incorporate your suggestions as well.

Flavors of the season

2011-10-07T06:59:00.000-04:00

I'm using up frozen squash from last Fall to make room for new. My labeling system failed me, so I'm not sure what kind of squash emerged from the freezer. But paired with cranberries, it is pretty much sure to please.

And we were. Quite pleased with the results, that is.

A morning mind-bender

2011-10-06T06:52:00.000-04:00

This post is brought to you by an eighth grade math wizard.

Pick a number between 1 and 10.

Multiply that number by 9.

Add the two digits of that number together.

Subtract 5 from that number.

Now, find the alphabet equivalent to your number (like number 1 = a, 2 = b, etc.).

Name a European country that starts with that letter.

Now using the last letter of that European country, pick an animal name that starts with that letter.

Then using the last letter of the animal's name, pick a color that starts with that letter.
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
Wait for it....
.
.
You picked....Denmark, Kangaroo and Orange.
Right?

A one-of-a-kind shawl

2011-10-05T06:57:00.002-04:00

I'm a slow learner. It took me years to master the granny square. Really it did. Now, of course, I can whip up a granny in my sleep. I've been wanting to crochet a shawl for awhile. I purchased instructions. I fiddled around and got frustrated. I tossed those instructions aside. I played with yarn for an evening or two. Then, I made up my own design. In my mind, I know just how it's going to look. Right now, I'm about an eighth of the way there.

As far as books go, I loved this one by Katie Crouch. It's the story of a woman whose father disappeared when she was eleven. He went fishing with the family dog, but never returned though the boat and dog were found. The memory haunts her so as an adult, she returns to try to find out what really went down.

I've just realized that of my three postings this week, each has revolved around a book. Makes you wonder if I'm doing anything besides reading these day, huh?

For other yarny projects and book picks, check out Ginny's blog Small Things.

Turn the page....Tuesday

2011-10-04T05:55:00.000-04:00

This book by Corinne Demas started out slow. A group of serious, successful writers gathers for monthly meetings. They critique each other's work. They make suggestions. But because they all write different genres, no one is threatened professionally. However, their personal lives intersect frequently. I'm warning you though, it's a strange group. You have to keep up with who was married to whom, who's cheating on a spouse, and so on.

And then, the plot gains momentum. You know something is going to happen. It does, but it's not what you will think. It's bad. And that's all I'm going to say -- I don't want to be accused of being a spoiler.

I would be happy to pass this book on to someone -- let me know if you're interested. If many are, I'll do a little drawing at the end of the week.

For other Turn the Page....Tuesday picks, head over to Adrienne's blog Some of a Kind.

Teasing. Finding. Making.

2011-10-02T18:50:00.003-04:00

I'm probably the last blogger out there to purchase this book. While I really like the Soulemama blog, I find that she's writing to an audience that has younger children than I do. When she comes up with ideas, I end up regretting that I didn't do this or that with my own kids. Finally though, I did join the bandwagon and got myself a copy of the book.

I leafed through it over the weekend -- another rainy weekend, I might add. And what did I see on page 177? A picture of apple-maple jam. Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about a merger of two of my favorite things. But after that photographic tease, nowhere within the book's pages was the recipe. Dang.

So when Jeremy was doing his weekend's homework while munching on apples and drinking cider, I did a little research of my own. Internet-style. Sure enough, I found a recipe out there. Actually several.

I copied down the ingredients. Can you see them? Put all ingredients in a big pot and bring to a boil. Then boil until the mixture starts to get jam-like in consistency. Ladle into hot half-pint jars, put lids on, and process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.

This is what my apples looked like at first. Then, I cheated a little bit and basically pulverized those apples using my immersion blender. I have one and I'm going to use it -- is my motto.

This picture doesn't do these jars justice (poor lighting -- blame the rain). The jam looks very caramel-colored. It would make a great substitute for maple syrup when serving pancakes. Just a thought.

Done

2011-09-29T05:22:00.001-04:00

I made slow progress on this peach-colored quilt. What began in the summertime has turned into a fall project. I had plans to name it something like "sun-kissed" or "peach bliss" or "sweet melon." But at this point, I'd like to just call it "done."

I was just about there, but I ran out of fabric for the binding -- which meant I either had to make a run to Jo-Anns or I had to seriously dig through scraps and piece together enough coordinating fabric to finish the job. I opted for the scraps and fortunately, found some orange-colored pieces that did the trick.

I was hoping to finish this in time to send it to the flood victims of Schoharie County, but I that didn't happen. However, I ended up donating three other quilts to the cause -- this one, this one and this one. My mom delivered them to the drop-off site and the kind ladies there said they would ensure delivery to very special people -- which made me feel good that they would go to someone who appreciates the handmade.

I'm very self-conscious about my handywork, so this was a big step for me -- turning over something I made. I have to admire crafters like Meg from Lucky Duck Day who bravely shows her beautiful work at a fair -- where it's judged (gulp). I'm not quite ready for that yet.

Now that this quilt is finished, I'm going to start concentrating on Christmas gifts. I have some ideas brewing for mini-quilts that would make festive table-toppers. I'm hoping I have enough greens and reds in that stash of mine.

A shades of green yarn-along

2011-09-28T06:55:00.002-04:00

I have this basket that houses a lot of little balls of yarn leftover from many a project. Some is Kathe's -- back when she was a knitting kind of girl. Some is mine. I'm really trying hard to use up stuff from my stash, so I'm diligently incorporating bits of this and that into my projects.

And, I'm avoiding lunch-hour stops at Jo-Ann's and Michael's. I'm a weak woman and can very easily be lured into purchasing something I really don't need. In fact, temptation came knocking at my door on Saturday -- actually it was the mailbox and in the form of the Jo-Ann's flyer. Coupons with 40 or even 50 percent off. I clipped them and stuck them in my pocketbook -- just in case. But I'm really trying to avoid that store. Do you liken this to some sort of addiction?

Now back to my stash....I think the easiest way to use up those balls of yarn is to make randomly-striped grannies. Don't be surprised if a few of these get whipped up and given away as Christmas gifts.

And as far as books go, I'm still reading my way through that pile of books from the Border's sale. This week, it's "A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents" by Liza Palmer. It's not the most riveting book, but it's not awful either and since I paid for it (even though it was 80 percent off), I figure I better finish it.

To see what other yarn-along participants are up to, head over to Ginny's blog "Small Things."

A weekend recap that includes squash

2011-09-26T20:07:00.004-04:00

Just when I was getting used to life without kids at home (except for Jeremy, of course), it was weekend entirely devoted to the offspring. It was parents' weekend at Colin's and Kathe's colleges. My luck, of course. And Jeremy had a big cross-country invitational that he did not want to miss. Here's how it all went down....

On Friday, we accompanied the daughter to the scholarship recognition luncheon at her college. Then we sped off to the son's college to collect him because he generously offered to forgo weekend festivites there to participate in his sister's.

On Saturday morning, I got up super-duper early to put Jeremy on a school bus for the big race. I returned home to shower and become presentable. Then, we raced in the car to Jeremy's invitational where we saw him for about two seconds run by in the drizzle. We congratulated him on his finish -- but he was much too busy with his teammates to waste time with us. So, we chitchatted with a few parents and headed home to get out of slightly damp clothes and into something a bit more fitting (because you DO NOT want to show up at the daughter's college looking unpresentable -- trust me on this one).

When we got to the daughter's college, we realized that she really didn't want to spend much time with us anyway. Instead, she grabbed her brothers and they went off exploring and discussing things that were probably not fit for parental ears. The husband and I shrugged our well-clad shoulders and amused ourselves with other parents who were similarly deserted by their children. While my husband went to an archeological hike, I attended a discussion on the Summer of 1816 -- the year without a summer (because of a massive volcanic eruption).

Eventually, we hooked up with the children who wanted to go shopping. After a stop at an orchard for some cider (and squash -- because I can't resist pretty squash!), it was off to Target where some pretty big bucks were handed over. Hmmm. Back to school shopping can stretch into almost October apparently.

After dinner out, we still had some time on our hands. The daughter wanted to see her dog, so we took her home for the first time since she left in mid-August. She bonded for about two minutes with said dog and got a text message from a friend who persuaded her to head back to college for the evening's silent disco party (to be followed by a no-pants crawl -- don't ask).

On Sunday, the son was returned to his school. And finally, I sat with my squash thinking that somehow life was much easier when they were all under five, safe and sound at home.

Canning

2011-09-25T18:38:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure the word "self-restraint" is in my vocabulary. On my to-do list for last week was to stop by the orchard and pick up apples. I came home with a bushel of Crispins, but I also brought home a large box of Italian plums.

My dad used to make wonderful stewed plums -- basically split and pitted plums with sugar and cinnamon boiled down. He would freeze and enjoy them all winter long. I lack much freezer space, so I searched the Internet and found a similar recipe for canning.

And while on my search, I also found a recipe for Asian plum sauce. So using about six cups of chopped plums, I canned plum sauce too -- it's good as a condiment for chicken or stir-fried vegetables.

And then there's my apple issue. Making applesauce became a two-day adventure. I think I lack appreciation for my desk job. Standing in front of the sink peeling about a gazillion apples is hard work, even when the husband helps out.

Now that the hard work is behind me, I can't help but venture into my basement a couple times a day to stare at the lovely jars sitting alongside my tomatoes and pickles. Kind of silly, but seeing them makes me smile. I heard Jeremy murmuring something about if the end of the world happens in 2012, we'll never survive on just pickles, tomatoes, applesauce and plums. It will have to do because I'm putting my canning pot and apron away now. Enough. And for the record, I'm not really worried about 2012 gloom and doom predictions.

Yarn-along and a new kind of square

2011-09-21T06:53:00.001-04:00

I've got a nice little stack of squares going -- not my usual grannying, but something new. I made them using cotton yarn.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them -- maybe make a runner or placemats. I don't think I have the stamina for a full-sized afghan and the cotton would make for a heavy blanket. We'll see.

I got the pattern from this book that I found at Michael's. It includes a detailed history of the Coats and Clark Company -- which, if you're interested in that kind of thing, was very well done. It tells about the different types of yarns that they introduced through the decades -- and centuries. Not surprisingly, demands varied depending upon the generation.

I used the Tally-Ho design and found somewhat similar colors in my stash. To view other yarn-along projects, head over to Ginny's blog -- Small Things.

Tiny Tips drawing and ADVENTure progress

2011-09-20T06:54:00.001-04:00

** Update **

The drawing is now closed....Erin from Tiny Twist Creative won. Congratulations!

I received some seriously cute books in the mail the other day from Gooseberry Patch -- two of their "Tiny Tips" books. I have to admit, I'm smitten with both of them. I thought I'd share some of the ideas.

From "Tiny Tips for the Kitchen" here are a few....

Dried celery leaves add homestyle flavor to soups and stews. Save the leaves from celery stalks, spread them on a baking sheet and dry slowly in a 180 degree oven for three hours. When they're crisp and dry, store them in a canning jar. The leaves can be crumbled right into a simmering soup pot.

Coffee adds a rich taste to chocolate recipes...just substitute an equal amount for water or milk in cake, cookie or brownie recipes.

Try dropping a dryer sheet into soaking pots and pans...baked on crust comes off in an hour.

And from "Tiny Tips for Gifts to Make and Give," I made some festive gift tags -- using ideas from the book.

I've been meaning to craft some hand-made gift tags this year -- and they're a perfect fit for Kristyn's ADVENTure project. It's a monthly show and tell of holiday preparations. Kristyn's set the pace so that she and her fellow participants don't get too overwhelmed come the holiday season. I'm a little behind, but I'm hanging in there. Click here and here for some of the other projects I've worked on this year.

Now, back to the books....Both of these little Gooseberry Patch books are crammed full of ideas. If you'd like to add them to your bookshelf, I'll draw the winning name on Sunday, September 25. Just leave a comment. Of course, to order your own copy of these books (or any other Gooseberry Patch book), click here for their website.

New week :: new list

2011-09-19T06:43:00.000-04:00

I've been keeping lists in my mind for a while now. It's not working well. I get distracted too easily. I'm going to try jotting things down. This week I want to....

~ Wash windows and curtains and get the house freshened up for Fall.

~ Buy pumpkins. Nothing says "autumn" better than squat pumpkins.

~ Stop at the orchard on my way home and get a bushel of apples and cider.

~ Make homemade applesauce, putting those fresh-picked apples to good use.

~ Go to Jeremy's cross-country meet. It's in Clinton -- right near Hamilton College where Kathe is. Maybe she'll want to go with me and see her old team. Maybe.

~ Start watching "Bramwell." I've become addicted to British television. I plowed through the "Doc Martin" series and "Downton Abbey." The second season of DA doesn't air on PBS until January. I. Can't. Wait.

~ Clean out my spice cabinet. Since pickling season, I've noticed many duplicate jars of things like mustard seed and turmeric. I don't what else is lurking back there.

~ Hang as much laundry outside as I can before the snow flies.

~ Walk the dog every day. She's looking old and neglected. She misses her kids.

I think that's enough for one week. How about you? What do you want to accomplish this week?

Yesterday...

2011-09-16T06:58:00.001-04:00

I noticed the shadows growing longer as the day became shorter. And then, there's that smattering of leaves on the lawn.

I picked the last of the green beans because the weatherman had the nerve to say the f-word. Frost.

Ditto for the romaine lettuce.

And then I spent the entire evening washing and storing the last harvest of the season.

Yarn-along stripes and a cookbook

2011-09-14T06:49:00.000-04:00

I finished my granny stripes afghan. This is one my own granny would have made. It reminds me so much of her. She was one to always have a crochet hook in hand. And she made piles of afghans for her six grandchildren.

Except for the black yarn, I only used balls of yarn that were leftover from other projects.

I debated on putting fringe on it, but decided I liked it well-enough without. It's almost shawl-like, which is perfect for the Fall weather that will hopefully arrive soon. As I type this, it's still about 80 degrees outside though our local weatherman is forecasting thunderstorms and a shift to cooler temperatures tonight. I hope so. Sleeping is so much better when there's a chill in the air.

As far as books go, I've been pawing around in my cookbook collection and I re-discovered this one. It is an amazing cookbook that features such simple recipes. As I read through them, I was amazed at how Martha takes the most basic ingredients and makes them come together like a gourmet meal. It's making me feel even more inadequate right now because I just served bowls of Campbell's Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for Jeremy's and my dinner. I suppose tomorrow's another day to actually dive in and make something from the book.

To see more yarn-along projects and books, head over to Ginny's blog Small Things.

From my kitchen in early autumn

2011-09-13T06:52:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that Fall is my most favorite season of all? Um, probably. For me, it's about getting reacquainted with my neglected kitchen. This summer I spent perhaps too much time outside, swimming, gardening, grilling. Well, you get the idea. I'm not even sure when the last time was that I turned on the oven. This week, I've been going somewhat crazy cleaning out cupboards, taking inventory, revisiting cold-weather stand-bys and firing up that oven to do some baking. Here's what I've been up to....

Making plum jam -- lots of plum jam. The color is so beautiful, pictures do not do it justice. These jars will be headed to very good homes come Christmas-time. They make perfect gifts for neighbors and co-workers and anyone who loves a dab of jam on an English muffin.

I had some leftover plums (not quite enough to make another batch of jam, but way too many to let go to waste), so I made my own version of a plum crumble. It was supposed to be an apple-blackberry crumble -- but I took some liberties with the fruit. By the way, the potholder is a creation from the very talented Liesl.

This crumble should only be eaten with vanilla ice cream. If you ask really nicely, maybe your husband will make a last-minute ice cream run for you. Then, he can have the largest helping. Bribery works around here.

I found the recipe in this cookbook. My parents brought it back from a trip to Oregon many years ago. I'm not even sure if it's in print any more.

The heirloom carrots were all pulled out of the garden. With all the rain we've had lately, I was fearful that they would rot in the ground. Funny thing....the orange, purple and yellow ones grew short and stout, while the white and pink ones were long and thin and crooked. I'm not sure why. So, we're eating lots of carrots these days. My late-planted green beans are the next thing to get picked.

The chocolate chips went from the oven into a box and were promptly delivered to Kathe at college. There are perks to only being 30 minutes away from home.

And finally, a big tray of Chex mix made with popcorn. The recipe was on the side of the box. It was different -- not bad, but I prefer the original.

And that is what's going on in my kitchen.

September's Ten on Ten

2011-09-10T21:37:00.001-04:00

September 10th. Already. It's a Saturday and I'm home. I usually can't join Ten on Ten because work gets in the way. But today I could. Here are my ten shots taken throughout the course of the day....

~ Washing and drying ~

~ Stitching ~

~ Enjoying ~

~ Missing her ~

~ Missing him ~

~ Planning ~

~ Biking ~

~ Remembering ~

~ Folding ~

~ Dining ~

Nothing monumental happened. The sun shone. Housework was done. The day flew by as all Saturdays do.

Thank goodness it's Friday

2011-09-09T16:13:00.002-04:00

Can I just tell you, I'm so glad it's Friday? Is it possible that four-day work-weeks are harder than five? Maybe I'm just still adjusting to the new normal around here. We've been hustling and bustling getting the kids off to college and then we had to deal with hurricanes (fortunately, no flooding for us). My youngest started eighth grade on Tuesday -- only to have school cancelled on Thursday because of heavy rains. And at work, I'm starting my busiest season. I literally drove home from work making lists in my mind for next week -- and now, I've got only two days to recover.

My not-so-big weekend plans include: clipping back dying flowers, changing sheets, cleaning the house -- which is actually so much cleaner minus two children, a little cooking, a little reading, and rediscovering embroidery.

This quieter household is certainly different. There's good and bad to the new normal. It was definitely time for Colin and Kathe to head off to college. But, it's still hard getting used to the fact that they are not here. As I sit here typing, I can glance over at their high school pictures and I get a terrible lump in my throat because I miss them so much. I miss knowing what's going on and being able to guide them down the right path. I only hope they make good choices. And now, my choice is to kick back and enjoy the sunshine streaming in the windows while I wait for Jeremy to call me for a ride from cross-country practice. And then it's needle and thread time! Here's wishing you a great weekend too!

For our wintertime dining pleasure

2011-09-08T06:36:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to posting about what I did with all those tomatoes I bought. It was a lot of work for 10 jars of tomatoes. Ten jars. That's it.

And the cucumbers? Well, let's just say I don't care to see another cucumber for a while. I made many a batch of bread and butter pickles and five jars of dill pickles. This canning business is hard work. Lots of steam filled my kitchen. I suppose come wintertime I'll appreciate my efforts, but right now I'm just tired.

Turn the page....Tuesday

2011-09-06T07:32:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to read this book for a while, mainly because Louisa May Alcott ranks right up there on my favorite authors' list. Adrienne reviewed it in August for Turn the page...Tuesday as well, so it may sound a bit familiar.

As luck would have it (maybe not to the Borders' folks), when we dropped Colin off at college, we forgot a ton of stuff. Really important stuff like laundry soap, toothpaste, bath soap -- somehow, my wires got crossed. Maybe Kathe took doubles of everything with her when she headed off to college. Anyhow, we needed to make a run to the mall near Hartwick. While we were there, we got caught up in the 80 percent off sale at Borders. Eighty percent! That's almost like borrowing a book from the library. I picked up a stack of books, including "The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott." The rest of my el-cheapo books will be reviewed for months to come. Yeah. I went a little crazy.

Now, back to the review....I got caught up in the tale right from the get-go. I always figured LMA's life pretty much replicated the tale of "Little Women." If author Kelly O'Conner McNees is right, then Louisa, her mom and sisters, really had a much more difficult time of things. Bronson Alcott, Louisa's father, was amazingly lazy. He much preferred to engage in philosophical thought than to do any sort of work. Louisa was consumed with writing, partly for the joy of it but also for the money. Basically, the family had absolutely no money coming in and Louisa felt it was her responsibility to help out. For a long time, they lived off of the charity of others and struggled with debt for years. In "Little Women," the girls' father was absent because he was ministering to the troops during the Civil War. This book paints an entirely different picture.

It also portrays Louisa as a woman way ahead of her times. Marriage was not what she wanted (mainly because her father tainted her views on that). She wanted a career in writing. In "The Lost Summer...," Louisa comes dangerously close to falling in love and giving up her dream. If she had, who knows if she would have produced all of the masterpieces she ended up writing. Who knows?

For other Turn the page...Tuesday picks for September, head over to Adrienne's blog "Some of a Kind."

Lunch at home

2011-09-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

When I first entered the workforce, I lived close enough to run home for lunch. Then my job took me farther and farther away, making it impossible to get home to eat. I ended up going out to lunch. A lot. It wasn't good -- for me or my wallet. These days, I pack a lunch most mornings before I head out the door. Usually it's either leftovers or soup or if I'm lucky a tabouli salad. And these days when I'm at work, I sit at my desk and gobble it down while doing my work thing.

On the weekends though, it's another story. A much better story. I get to fiddle and fuss over lunch. And this I love. Sometimes it's ordinary stuff that can be concocted into something really good. Like a homemade crab salad sandwich. A little mayo, some Old Bay seasoning, chives, a chopped up red onion -- oh, and crab. It goes so well with Pepperidge Farm white bread. Very New England-y. Very yummy.

And that's the story of my lunch. How about you? What's your lunch like?

Colin's decision

2011-09-02T04:57:00.000-04:00

Today's the day Colin heads off to college (it seems like I just wrote about Kathe leaving). He made a decision to switch from music education to a dual major in political science and business administration. And this Fall, he'll enter Hartwick College as a sophomore. Once he made up his mind that he didn't want to stay at SUNY Potsdam, we had a very small window of time to react.

We talked over options. We made phone calls. And as luck would have it, Hartwick had a few openings for transfer students left. So, we moved quickly. Somehow, it all came together. And that's the story.

But, there's more to the Hartwick connection. My dad got his undergraduate degree from Hartwick. Though he passed away almost five years ago this fall, he's been a big influence on Colin. He passed along his work ethic, his political views, his height and super-long arms, and so much more. It just feels right that Colin is going to attend his alma mater.

When we visited the school, I wandered into the Alumni Relations office and found my Dad's senior yearbook -- class of 1958! Colin and I looked at pictures and wondered what the campus looked like back then. My Mom says my Dad lived in an old Army barracks that was used as student housing. That's long gone now. The campus is made up of ivy-covered buildings and has lots of very steep stairways because it's built on the side of a hill. From the oldest building on campus, you can see 30 miles to the east.

My Dad always reminisced fondly of his days at Hartwick. I'm hoping Colin does the same. Now I have to get him and all his piles of stuff loaded into the car.

Feeling almost too fortunate

2011-08-30T22:31:00.004-04:00

I grew up in Schoharie County -- probably the most beautiful, but one of the poorest counties in New York State. My mom and brother both still live there, but I moved to Herkimer County -- about 40 miles northwest. When Hurricane Irene came barrelling through New York, we barely blinked. Yes, they forecasted high winds and heavy rains -- but come on, we're in the middle of the state. Seriously, how bad could things get?

When I went to bed on Sunday night with the winds dying down, I felt secure knowing that we weathered the storm. I talked to my mom who assured me from the top of the hillside where she lives, that all was fine in her neck of the woods. Then Monday came and there were reports of massive flooding in Schoharie County that literally wiped away whole Main Streets and in some cases whole towns. Water spilled over the Blenheim-Gilboa Dam and destroyed everything in its wake. The old Blenheim Covered Bridge -- built in 1855 -- fell apart as though it was built of matchsticks. The Schoharie Creek wreaked havoc with every bridge that spanned it -- including the vitally important New York State Thruway.

Late on Monday, my mom heard helicopters flying overhead. Her neighbor said they were landing at the fairgrounds less than a mile away. It was the National Guard setting up a makeshift headquarters. On Tuesday, my old high school -- the one that my parents both attended as well -- was converted into a shelter for flood victims. And sad stories started emerging. An elderly lady was swept away in a current as she and her husband gathered their things to leave home for higher ground. Businesses and homes were gone in the blink of an eye. Livestock died in floodwaters. Farmers lost crops they labored over for an entire season.

My husband, the newspaperman who works for the Albany Times Union, had to plot a round-about-route to even get to work. Photographers from his paper captured amazing pictures of the scenes that you can click here to view.

Today I am feeling lucky but so very sad. I wish there was something monumental that I could do to erase some of the suffering of my former Schoharie County neighbors. I remembered how so many bloggers made quilts for the people of Japan after the tsunami. At the time I thought how amazingly generous it was of strangers to give a piece of themselves to people in a far off land who desperately needed some comfort.

As I sit here in my dry, cozy home, I decided my quilts are what I want to donate. And while it's not an original idea, I'm going to give a stack of my cherished quilts to flood victims. When I made each one, I spent countless hours plotting fabric selections and designs, cutting, piecing and quilting. I contemplated many great and some not-so-great thoughts. I worried about my children. I made shopping lists in my head and planned menus. I dreamed about summer. And fall. And spring. And winter. I had visions of gardens. I recalled family members who have passed on. But, I never, ever thought about what it would be like to lose everything.

My only hope is that these quilts will give comfort to someone who needs a hug and a bit of warmth when they are at their lowest point.

An end-of-summer garden report

2011-08-30T06:51:00.001-04:00

How about some garden distractions today? My plantings got battered in the storm, but everything survived. (And thanks for your kind words and wishes regarding storm damage. We did make it to the lake yesterday -- and other than some downed branches, everything was fine. No power -- that's not due back on until Thursday night, but that's all). Now, back to that garden report:

My garden is producing its biggest bounty these days...

Cherry tomatoes. Of course, at this point, I don't really need any more tomatoes. I think that craving was satisfied last week.

Cucumbers -- not mine but from my generous neighbor, Harriet. She's always bringing over produce. Hurray!

I canned three batches of bread and butter pickles using the same recipe my parents used to use. It brought back memories. I remember jars of pickles lined up on the enamel countertop of an antique Hoosier they had in their kitchen.

Chard. Way too much chard. But it's so pretty with the deep red veins flowing through rich green leaves.

Carrots that get pulled little by little, only as needed. I feel like I'm making space for the little ones to grow a bit bigger and longer.

I planted an heirloom variety of different colored carrots. I never know what color carrot it's going to be before I yank it out of the ground.

And finally, I planted a late row of green beans and one more bed of lettuce which is just about ready for harvesting. I used the bed from my onions which were all harvested by the beginning of August.

Note to self for next summer: Plant more lettuce, onions, carrots and add garlic and cucumbers to the mix. I can't say no to a good pickle -- especially in the middle of winter.

Goodbye Irene

2011-08-28T21:45:00.000-04:00

We came home from the lake on Saturday to ride out Hurricane Irene at home. By the time it reached us, it was only a tropical storm. But, it brought lots of rain and wind. Thankfully, the only damage we incurred was to our trellis which supported a very hardy bittersweet vine. Tomorrow's another day and it will get righted. Really, you can't kill bittersweet. We probably should venture back to the lake to check on damage there. According to reports, power has been out since the wee hours of Sunday morning. There are lots of big trees near to the house and the lake's waves are forever pounding that dock. Thankfully, we hauled the boat out on Saturday morning in anticipation of the worst.

Wherever you are, be safe.

I'm not sure what I was thinking

2011-08-25T07:03:00.000-04:00

In a moment of weakness, I bought a few tomatoes from Russell's Farm Stand. If you need me, I'll be in my kitchen canning. I hope to be back soon.