We're Making It With Love

No hallway sex here this season. We're putting our best efforts into healthy stimulating conversation. It's challenging--given the stress involved in completing projects and getting the baking done and the packages mailed.

I've been sewing.

While I sewing, JB is spitting distance away--on the computer-- doing his Christmas shopping.

It's nice to have company to pass the time as I finish with the Christmas gifts. It's a standing joke that I will be sewing on Christmas Eve. I try very hard not to--but inevitably, there is always one more project that I'd like to get done. There's always one more gift that I would like to squeeze in before Christmas.

The best things are handmade.

Childhood Creativity

What have you got planned for your Thanksgiving table decorations?

The creativity of children always lends itself well to the holiday decorations. The pine cone turkey Miss Jessica has in her hand sat in the middle of our table one year.

And, children wearing handcrafted Pilgrim hats can be festive as well.

One year, I purchased flour tortillas and let the girls make tepees for the centerpiece. I cut one in half and each one painted Indian symbols on it using a fine paint brush and food coloring. They ate a few, but the ones remaining I rolled into a tepee and used toothpicks at the top to hold it together. They loved it! And it was all edible!

The infamous wishbone--every year they scrambled to see who would find it. Every year we had this photo. (Miss Jeni looks a tad devilish--wonder what her wish was?)

What Thanksgiving traditions do your family enjoy?

When Life Gives You Apples, Make Apple Butter

We're almost 12 hours into it now.

We got started at 8 am with the peeling and coring.

The truck was filled with 20 bushels of this...

We all braved 27 degree weather to turn them into this...

The pits were adjusted to accommodate propane tanks
as opposed to wood fires.

We filled bushels baskets one by one.

And keep track of how many using a highly complex method.

We're waiting for the apples to "cook down" so the last couple of five-gallon buckets of apples can be added. This is the down time--the waiting time.



This is the break in the action that gives you a well-deserved opportunity to put your feet up, share stories and nibble a bit more of all the goodies brought by everyone.

It's a getting too dark to take photos, but I'll keep trying.

And, still to come--at the end--is putting the finished product into 85 million jars.

It's Always Better When You Share

I finished the bag by Friday night's get-together. My little friend seems pleased.

We've been eating leftovers for several days now.
JB decided Blue might enjoy some pasta, so he tied his ears up to keep them out of the sauce. Kind of looks like a samurai dog, doesn't he?

I made the Iced Ginger Creams yesterday to satisfy my sweet tooth
and I doubled the recipe so I could share with the in-laws and out-laws.
The recipe only makes 4 dozen.

I know 4 dozen is a lot, but these are so good you have to share.
They're refrigerator cookies and so wonderful with coffee.
Recipe to come, I promise!

Looks like we're on the tail-end of these Banana Nut Muffins, too.
Very quick to throw together and great to grab on the way out the door.
I'll post this recipe later, too. Only takes about 2 very ripe bananas.

Jb made this beautiful maple base for my crystal cake dome when the bottom got broken.
He's so good with making things work exactly so.

Idle Hands Are the Devil's Playground...

Remember some time back when I mentioned sucking it up and finishing school?

Well, I'm right in the thick of things as of Monday. I'm trudging through and working my brain.

Today, on the the 20 minute ride to school I suffered a flat tire and Pop had to come rescue me. Two hours and four tires later, I was on my way to school. Just in time for Biology Lab. Oh boy!

When I'm not at school or studying, I'm sewing.

I made this eyeglass case out of that mothball-smelling fabric I got from the estate sale a week ago. I'm making a matching wine bag for my little friend for her 60th birthday. (photo to come)

Here's the dress from that vintage fabric. The neckline is a tad low, so I added an inset of Batten burg lace. I haven't decided on the hemline. What do you think of a handkerchief hemline?


I still have gardening--in spit of the lack of rain--to provide a diversion to studies.
Don't you just love Hibiscus?

And when I really can't decide what to do with myself, I just swing on the back deck.

How Does Your Garden Grow

I figured out what had happened to my tomatoes upon closer inspection. This weird serpent-like fellow has been having a feast.

Not without repercussions, as luck would have it. It appears--after further research--that he is on his way to meet his maker. Those white thingeys on him are actually wasp larvae and are feeding on him from the inside out. How gross! Read more here.



Cucumbers are looking very strange these days.

Not much good for most things, so JB has become a bit more creative.

I'm Sewing Again

My granny sewed. Momo sewed. I sewed for my two young ladies most of their childhood... everything from frocks (my friend's favorite word) to bikinis. It sustains me.
So it's entirely appropriate that when my Sony Trinitron bit the dust early Monday morning, I ventured into the sewing/exercise room.
I found a large piece of leopard print interlock which I have fashioned into a wonderfully well-fitting frock. I have this marvelous bust form that one of JB's friend scavenged from an estate sale that allows me to "dial" my measurements for a perfect fit. I'm halfway there.
After two trips 30 miles up the road, I have found a new-fangled LCD that I think I can live with and can afford. But, all the while, I am drawn to finishing my frock.
It's good to create.

Side note: The playdough figure which is perched on top of my Singer was fashioned by one of my little girls more than a hundred years ago. It inspires me to create great things.

Did You Get Any Last Night?

Everyone around here is talking about how we need rain, when it's coming, or how much you got (what your rain gauge registered) during the last thunderstorm.

One thing for sure, it's too hot to cook.

This meaty main dish is cooked in the microwave, so it done quickly and doesn't heat up the kitchen.


Santa Fe Enchiladas

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (12 ounces) tomato paste
1 cup water
1 envelope taco seasoning
10 whole wheat or flour tortillas (6 inches)
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies

Crumble beef in a large microwave-safe bowl; stir in onions. Cover and microwave on high for 6 to 7 minutes or until meat is no longer pink; stirring every couple of minutes.

Stir in tomato paste, water and taco seasoning. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 minutes or until heated through, stirring once.

Spoon about 1/3 cup meat mixture down the enter of each tortilla; roll up tightly. Set remaining meat mixture aside.

Place tortillas, seam side down, in a greased shallow 2 1/2 quart dish. Sprinkle cheese and chilies on top. Cover and cook on high 1 minute, until cheese has melted. Spoon remaining meat mixture down the center of tortillas.

Cover and cook on high 5-6 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. (This recipe was tested in an 850 watt microwave.)

Getting Enough of the Good Stuff

I'm always on the look out for recipes that utilize things we should be eating on a regular basis, but don't... Like bananas, for instance, which are a excellent source of potassium.

Here's a recipe that makes a great muffin that's more like a treat. No problem getting anyone to eat breakfast with these around.


Banana Blueberry Muffins

3 eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp vanilla 1/4 cup sour cream
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 cups self rising flour
1 cup blueberries
1 tsp lemon zest

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Gradually add flour and mix until combined. Fold in blueberries and lemon zest, being careful not to overmix. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

I've been busy in the yard--mowing and planting and weeding.
I've been pretty determined to keep the deer from my lilies (as well as other things) this year and have applied Liquid Fence once a week religiously.
It stinks to high heavens for 24 hours but keeps the deer away.





Pop made this little thingey...

He says it's me--complete with hoe!

He's just so creative... I'm always anxious to see what he's been making.



When I watered the garden this morning, I noticed little bitty green tomatoes.

Looks like I may just get first tomato!
Old Horsetail Snake has challenged me so, I hope this prompts him to show me his (since I've shown him mine).

Like Riding A Bicycle

We drove across two counties, far into the mountains to hear these fellows play.
Jb tells me that they have a Grammy or two under their belt.


But the real attraction for me was seeing my other half reunited with his old band from over 10 years ago.

These three got together for a dry run the evening of JB's 50th birthday.

When they started playing on Saturday, quite a few in the audience just couldn't sit still during their performance.




(Don't you just love these guys' shirts? Half the men in America would see either one as a welcome wardrobe addition.)

Broccoli and Cheddar Mini Quiche

I experimented a bit with this recipe, using canned biscuit dough rather than the pie pastry, because that's what I happened to have on hand. I find that plain old canned biscuits can be the start of great appetizers. I was really pleased with the results.

Feel free to use green onions in place of the cooked chopped broccoli in this recipe.


Pie pastry for 2 crust pie
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tsp Spicy Brown Mustard
1 cup half-and-half, or heavy cream and half milk


Grease and flour mini muffin pans and heat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll pie crust (or biscuit dough) out to about 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into 2 1/2 inch rounds; fit into muffin cups. Brush pastry with butter.

Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of chopped broccoli into each cup; top with small amount of shredded cheese.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients; spoon 1 scant tablespoon into each cup, just short of the top of the pastry. Sprinkle each with a little more broccoli.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until set. Makes about 36 mini quiches.

Soft Cheddar Pretzels

Faced with coming up with something quick--with little to chose from in the cupboards-- for our Friday night get-together, I settled on this quick soft pretzel recipe.



1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 tsp sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mild Cheddar Cheese
2/3 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tsp coarse salt



Combine flour and sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cheese and milk, stirring until dry ingredients are just moistened. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead about 12 times.


Divide dough in half and roll each half into 12X18 inch rectangle.

Cut dough lengthwise into eight 1-inch strips. Twist each into pretzel shape; brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse salt. Place on lightly greased baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool pretzels for a few minutes on wire racks; serve warm. Makes about 16 soft pretzels.

I Want a Self Cleaning House

JB just finished this stained glass screen for a client. Beautiful, isn't it? I told her she could forget he had done it and I would be glad to make use of it. Very colorful...





This is my bit of creativity. I make this "Hey Diddle Diddle" flannel nightgown for Momo for Christmas.
She recently brought to my attention the fact that the sleeves were just a tad bit (5 inches) too long. I gladly redid the cuffs. I asked Pop to photograph her in the nightgown as proof that she is wearing it.



My garden... a week ago. I hope to get outside and grub in the yard a bit later and I'm sure I'll be amazed at what I see. It's so hard to take care of household cleaning when there is so much to do outside. I'm forcing myself to deal with the drudgery of housework before I go outside and play.

Bacon Cheddar Layered Dip

I did this for our Friday Night Get-Together and it was a hit! My shallow serving bowl was almost empty. I have less than a cup of this stuff leftover!


1 pkg cream cheese
8 ounces sour cream
5 green onions
1 medium green pepper
4 medium tomatoes
16 ounces taco sauce or chunky salsa
7 ounces cheddar cheese
1 pound Turkey bacon

Blend cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Spread into ungreased 12 inch or larger dish. Top with diced onions, tomatoes and green peppers. Pour taco sauce over top evenly. Sprinkle with cheese. Chill.

Cook bacon and crumble over top prior to serving. I use turkey bacon because the flavor is the same and it is much healthier. Serve with tortilla chips.

Growing In Leaps & Bounds

The rain beaded up on the leaves and looked like little crystals on my Hostas. They're the result of Momo dividing her overflowing flower beds a couple of years back.

The intermittent rain was all the encouragement Pop and Momo's garden needed, though.

Momo fondly recalls how her sister referred to the onions as "little soldiers" standing all straight and in a row.

Pop has all kinds of stuff growing. We walked around their yard yesterday afternoon and he pointed out the highlights.
He gave me 2 Haberno Pepper Plants and I gave Momo a Better Boy Tomato Plant.

My garden is coming along--but you guessed it--Pop and Momo are way ahead of me.

Here's Looking At You, Kid

 

I had quite an audience yesterday as I began planting the garden. My Georgia Collards from last year are flowering and attracted many bumblebees.