Taste from the past

There is a recipe from my childhood that I love to devour but never had the confidence to make..."Mrs. McKinney's Coffee Cakes".
Mrs. McKinney lived two doors away from us and was from Chicago...that far away place where it was cold and snowy.
One Christmas she made some coffee cakes and gave one to our family as a gift...we were hooked.  Luckily my mother asked Mrs. McKinney if she would share the recipe with her before we moved away.  Every Christmas my mother would make a coffee cake or two for us to eat on Christmas morning and like Mrs. McKinney she would give some away as Christmas gifts.
One year I tried to make the coffee cakes but they didn't turn out so I gave up and decided I didn't have "the touch".  I knew my oldest sister had good luck making these but when I found out my younger sister made them also that was IT, I was going to give it another try.

I thought I would document the procedure.....

 

 

 The recipe calls for pecans and I think the next time I make these I will try an apple filling since I have a family member with tree nut allergies.
Oh I forgot, my first bite took me back a few years... I won't say how many.

12.12.12

I couldn't resist writing a post on such a unique date.  
Lord knows I've been busy doing a whole lot of nothing since my last post, so I think.  If you were to ask Jack he would have a different story.
Christmas shopping is complete considering we give money. The only time I've sat in front of my sewing machine was to hem some jeans for Jack.  Oh, I did some baking....strawberry bread for gifts to neighbors.  Did  I mention sanding and painting woodwork in our foyer?  Trying to keep my "girlish figure" I've been going to the aquatic center for some laps and water aerobics. I remembered a couple of quilts I made years ago and tried to find the pictures of them but got waylaid looking at pictures of our travels...holy smokes that takes some time.  Never did find the quilt pictures, I think I was so excited to send the quilts off to my granddaughters I forgot to snap a picture or two.  I've been trying to figure out the perfect menu for our weekend out of town company coming on Friday.
Compared to others this isn't "busy" and I agree, I just don't know where the time goes.

New mode of transportation

I am part of the age group that grew up riding a Schwinn bike.  Mine was a 1 speed (me) and "previously owned" when I received it for my 7th birthday.  I rode that bike until the wheels fell off.  I've had a few bikes since, a road bike, mountain bike even had a bike that folded up.  I haven't ridden for 5 years and have missed it, there's something about the wind blowing in my face that I missed.  A couple of weeks ago I started looking online at bikes, decided on a Schwinn and the hunt was on.  Jack and I went to a bike shop close to our home.  I was asked a few questions about what kind of bike I was looking for and gentleman said "I have just the bike for you!  It has 3 speeds!!!!!"  I almost started laughing but nicely said I was looking for something with more gears. Needless to say I did more searching for bike stores and inventory and found this Schwinn with 21 speeds....more my style.  I have to admit I don't miss the hunched over position of the road bike nor the hard ride of the mountain bike, comfort is my style now.

25 Years To Complete

No one can say I start a project and never finish it, the process may take years....like 25....but I complete it.

In my April 8, 2011 I explained the story of this Noah's Ark sampler.  At that time I thought I would give it to a great grandchild but now I know my new grandchild will be the recipient. 

Finished and perfect

In my August 4th blog post I featured a quilt I was in the process of making.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it when I finished it, I just wanted it completed and off my mind.  There were times when I was in the "sewing zone" I would say to myself "WHY did you buy this pattern, you think you're going to hang it in the house?  I don't think so."  Now I know where this quilt will go.....I received some fantastic news few weeks ago.....there is going to be a new grandbaby in my life in 2013 and this quilt will be perfect for the new baby.

Here is the finished product...... 

MIA

I've been MIA for the last couple of months mainly because I live a boring life compared to other bloggers and I didn't have anything too exciting to share.
One of the projects I've been working on is this quilt........

.......for the 

Now that it's finished and the weather is getting cooler I am looking forward to cuddling up with it while reading or watching TV in the evening.

Chaos

These pictures show a portion of the chaos I feel like my house is in. I have wanted to paint our sunroom since we moved ....... 7 months ago ....... coming up with the perfect color was the problem.  Once I picked the color I bought a sample and painted portions around the windows, lived with it a while and went out of town.  Now that I'm home I feel the pressure to get the job done.  Because the walls were yellow I have to prime the whole room before I paint ..... this is how far I've gotten. 

I'll keep chipping away at this daunting task and it will be finished in no time, I think.

After painting for a few hours I decided to do a little sewing for relaxation.  I walked into my sewing studio and saw this..... more chaos!!!!!

A Beautiful Day

Last Friday evening, August 17th, my son, Peter, was married to his beautiful bride, Jean.  The ceremony was held in City Park in Denver.  

In my August 4th post I mentioned a project I was working on for Peter and Jean and now I can finally post a picture of it.

I cropped out the last names....to protect their privacy.

Nothing like it

There is nothing more invigorating for me than spending a week in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The Live Oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss, the graceful egrets busy catching their meals at low tide, oh, how I could go on and on about what makes this area so special.  Charleston has been known as the "most polite and hospitable city in America" and from my lastest experience it should still hold that title.   Even though I don't have plans to visit Charleston in the near future I know I can get my "Lowcountry fix" any time I want with a just three hour drive. 

PGA Championship

Golf has never been a sport that I could play.  I remember my son, Peter, trying to teach me and saying "MOM, keep your chin down!!!!!"  I just gave up and decided watching golf on TV was best for me.  Don't get me wrong... I do enjoy being on a golf course, with the beautiful landscaping, cool green grass and lush foliage.   That being said, today I am headed to Kiawah Island, SC  to attend the PGA Championship which is being played on "The Ocean Course".

The Ocean Course

Kiawah is a barrier island just a few miles from Charleston.  I"m fortunate, my sister Laurie and her husband Bill own a home on Kiawah and are willing to put up with me for the week.  

I am looking forward to being back in Charleston and the Lowcountry.  I have considered Charleston my "home town" for about 20 years, even though I no longer live there.  I will take some time from golf (and give my sister and BIL a break) to visit with friends and eat some delicious shrimp and grits or maybe some "Frogmore" stew and I can't forget the boiled peanuts ..... it's a lowcountry thing.  

I don't know

I received an email from my sister Anne asking what I've been up to and I said to myself "Ahhhhh, what HAVE you been up to?"   Even though I stay "busy" all day I couldn't put my finger on one thing I could answer her back with.

A few of the thing I thought about were -

• With my son, Peter, getting married on August 17th I have been working on a project for he and his bride to be, Jean. Picture to come after the wedding.
• Of course as the "Mother of the Groom" I have to have the perfect dress, shoes, purse, etc., etc., etc., and that takes lots of shopping - oh darn.
• We have also had out of town guests in the past couple of weeks, which has been fun.
• I've been doing a bit of sewing - The local quilt store, in New Mexico, I frequented had the cutest mini quilt hanging entitled "Mini Cats Galore". Before the store went out of business I purchased the pattern and decided to start it while I'm listening to the Olympics.

        

The pattern is paper pieced from the top, which is unusual, and it has been fun to watch the cats come "alive".

There are 16 total cats in the pattern and I'm half way there.  The pattern has  made good use of my scraps.

This weekend is going to be spent getting ready to head out of town on Monday, more to come next week on that adventure.

Suggestions

I am in desperate need of suggestions.
I want to make this 12.5 inch block  into an 18 inch pillow but I can't figure out a color(s) to use to frame it.  I do know I don't want red, green or gold.  "Then why did you use those colors" one may ask, my answer is "because I had them in my stash".  
I would like to share my blogger friend Anna's blog, Woolie Mammoth, with you.  Anna lives in the quilt mecca of Oregon and attended the Sisters Qutdoor Quilt Show yesterday, her photos are fabulous.  I was lucky enough to attend the Sisters show in 2004 and would love to attend again some year, there are not enough adjectives to describe the experience.

Novelty Quilt

 I recently went to The Charlotte Museum of History and was awe struck when I came across a quilt called "Novelty Quilt" which was made around 1902.  

When I first saw the quilt I couldn't believe it was made entirely of fabric folded into triangles.  I couldn't then and still can't wrap my mind around how many hours went into making this quilt.  What a labor of love.

I wish the museum would have called it by another name - "Novelty Quilt" - doesn't do it justice.

Helping to find a cure for MS

My niece, Katie, is an independent stylist for Stella & Dot and is helping me host a Stella & Dot Trunk Show until May 29th.  Katie is donating 50% of her profits to the National MS Society. 
Stella & Dot also donate a portion of their profits to help find a cure for MS.


Stella & Dot is a company that creates flexible opportunities for women to be work-from-home entrepreneurs.  Their line is "boutique style" accessories which is offered exclusively though their independent stylists, who sell online and at in-home Trunk Shows.


I have spent many hours in the Stella & Dot online store trying to decide which item will be the perfect piece for a graduation gift I need not to mention the many birthdays that are coming up.  Early Christmas shopping is also in order.  Oh, I didn't mention I am going to buy myself a few things just "because". 


Here's the link -  http://www.stelladot.com/style/trunkshow/fcdc8473-95f9-11e1-ad30-005056b55330 - if you would like to sit back, relax and look at some affordable, stylish accessories.  Remember if you decided to purchase you will be helping to find a cure for MS.

It's Over

Today was the community garage sale and I'm sooooo glad it's over!
When we moved from New Mexico it wasn't a good time of the year to have a garage sale so we just moved it all, besides we didn't know what we would need because we hadn't purchased a home yet.
Moving from 2 acres to less than a quarter acre, with the lawn maintenance included in the HOA monthly fee, "forced" Jack to sell his beloved lawn tractor, tow behind cart, tow behind tiller, and tow behind seeder/spreader - now those things are GONE.  Garden tools - Gone.  300 feet of garden hose - Gone.  I could go on and on listing the various items that are in someone else's possession but I won't.  Notice how I haven't listed anything that would be mine?  Well, I didn't have anything I could part with.

Gotta Have

You know when you are browsing in a store and you see something you just "gotta have" so you buy it and it sits on a shelf or in a drawer somewhere?  Then one day you come across the item and you don't remember buying it?

Anyway, I came across a "perfect binding miter" tool that fit my "gotta have" bill.  There it was all shinning, new and unopened.  I didn't remember where or when I purchased this little gem but it was smiling at me in all it's glory.  "Oh great, now I have to learn how to use this new fangled thing" I thought.  I read the instructions watched the online video and now it's my go to tool for making miter corners on binding, and yes, they are perfect.  

Southwest meet Southeast

While living in New Mexico we took a trip to Madrid, NM, a cute, fun, artsy community south of Santa Fe.  While in Madrid I was on the lookout for something colorful for the front of our house. Our plain Jane gray house very much needed some color near the front door. I had painted the area around the door a vibrant blue but that still didn't satisfy my need for more color.  While in Madrid I found a colorful Talavera ceramic sun that I knew would add the much needed color I was looking for.  When we moved to North Carolina the sun came with us of course.  
There is a workshop on our property with a "plain Jane" gray wall that faces the backyard, "the perfect place for my sun" I decided.  Well, the sun hung by it's lonesome for a month or so when I got the brilliant idea to put a trellis on either side of it.  Does one think I could find a trellis I liked enough to buy two of, well NO!   Off to the local home improvement store for lumber, screws, glue and stain and voila I have two trellis'.  Thank you Jack for your labor of love.
Where does the "Southwest meet Southeast" title come in?  The sun is from the Southwest, vines we planted are called "Confederate Jasmine"- get it?

Go Away!

I want my allergies to go away!  The itchy, watery eyes are getting the best of me today and I don't have time to deal with them.  I am too busy, in a good way, of getting ready for guests.  Our snowbird friends, Linda and Bill who are from Pennsylvania, are headed home from spending the winter in sunny Florida and are stopping by to see us today.  Jack thinks I'm getting ready for the Queen to grace our doorstep the way I am going about making sure the meal will be perfect and the knick knacks are positioned just right.

About time

I have lost count of the number of quilts, wall hangings or any other item I've made that require binding. I don't mind any of the processes that will get to the final outcome except one.  For some reason matching the ends of the binding at a perfect 45 degree angle and sewn on the project without any tucks or ripples on the first try has always alluded me until yesterday. When the binding was all sewn on I couldn't tell which seam was the last one sewn. That's way it's suppose to look, right?  The problem is, I don't know what I did to get it right - drat.  I did tell my DH that my new sewing cabinet in my new sewing room was the reason for perfection.

No Way

The temperature here in the Charlotte area has been unseasonably warm, so I've been told, and I don't mind.  Today it's in the upper 80's but I am NOT going to turn on the air conditioner - NO WAY!!!!  

As I walk the dog in the evening it seems all I hear are air conditioners running and I see dollar signs floating in the air headed to Duke Energy.  I just heard on the news there's a cold spell coming and it will be in the 50's later this week.  I guess Duke Energy will just have to wait a while longer before my air conditioning dollars start floating their way.