I made it.....I did, I did !!!!

Wrote this in October and decided to save it for posting while I was away in New Mexico.........

Remember the cake recipe that I shared awhile back.............welllllllllll, lookee lookee, I actually used the kitchen for what it is suppose to be used for...........a place for preparing food. This cake is just beyond words.........in fact no one says anything while they are eating a piece, as they are just enjoying the moist cake and well how do you explain and share the frosting........hmmmm, think of the most wonderful day of your life, now imagine doing something that you have always wanted to do, and doing it............well the frosting is that good............trust me.............no, don't trust me, make it. Honestly, the longest part of the whole thing was peeling the apples and chopping them up. I only put pecans on part of it, as the boys usually aren't into the nut thing.......now since the adults are the ones eating this like crazy, I may go ahead and put more pecans on the rest. The boys like it, but they would rather have these store bought Halloween cookies or ice cream..........the flavor we have right now is cinn-a-bun.........oh man, another goody.

I like trying new flavors.........now I KNOW I don't like bubble gum flavor.....took a wee bite of one of the boy's cones........yuck-o big time. I do like wedding cake flavor.....oh man it's better than plain vanilla (if that is possible) but not overly sweet.......just right. Hey we had peanut butter something or other a few weeks ago............that was good too. Love maple walnut and butter pecan..........not real fond on the chocolate types, hmmmm, wonder why? I won't refuse a bowl if it's offered, but won't be my first choice. Hey let me know if you make the cake.........

THE END

This will be the last of the quilts..........some of you will be doing a sigh of relief, others will be doing a sigh of wanting more...........

See the flowers on this........they are yo-yos? Material yo-yo's

If you don't know what they look like, here is a close up..........easy to make, but they do take time, tracing the template (pattern) over and over, and then cutting them out and sewing them by hand.......time.......any ways, I thought this would look good on a little girl's bed.........whoa, the quilt guild member and my friend both looked at me with horror..........seems both of their grand daughters have a tendency to be like Andrew............you know.........take apart and destroy...........so guess this won't be showing up in either of these households!!!!!

Ho ho ho..........did you brave the crowds and go shopping yesterday? Not me..........nope did it twice in my life..........can't for the life of me remember what convinced me to do it the second time.........surely at the younger age I remember my wanting to strangle, mangle and sit down on the floor and cry.......then pick myself up and run for the nearest wine bottle...........

Sun bonnet Sue.......you either love her or just appreciate the hard work that went into it and walk away...........me I appreciate the hard work, I truly do.

OOOO, this one is striking........I wish you could have seen it in person..........that black just makes everything pop........again, I wish I had taken close ups of some of the blocks.................just gorgeous.

Bright, cheery, and just plain eye catching............and how much do you want to bet that is was hand quilted??? Oh that Miss J, she gets right up there and personal with those hand quilted ones..........tee hee.

The end...........this last one was taken at "my" bead shop........someday I am going to go and just take pictures of all of the beads inside.........just eye candy. Oh and I am writing this on 10/12/08 and I am sure that someone will have already shared the name of that block........but I remembered on my own.......the mariner's compass.........oh I get so giddy when I do remember on my own.........

Well tomorrow I will be flying back..........hmmmm, wonder what I should post for that day??? Another surprise in store for you...........

While I am away..........

Hello, how was your Thanksgiving? Are you stuffed? What type of stuffing/dressing did you have? I do like stuffing........and it shows!!!! Oh the mashed potatoes and turkey gravy.......green bean casserole.........ahhhh, the smell of the house...........love Thanksgiving. Well back to the quilt show.........

This quilt was hung on the backside of the shop that I like........see in the back round, all of the pink.......that is their accent color..........everywhere........love it!!!!

Ok, I truly don't care for this quilt......BUT I do know all of the time and hard work that went into it.....so I had to take a picture of it to share........the cutting and sewing and then cutting again.......and sewing it together again...........a act of love.

Another scrappy.....and look at those itty bitty triangles........whoa, and the half square blocks on the border.............time, time , and more time.

This was the quilt that was being given away........given away........you just voted for the viewer's choice and you received an entry.........sadly I never heard my phone ring.........and I knew JUST the spot I would have hung it too.........on the landing coming up the stairs, don't you think that would have looked nice?

For all of you coffee lovers........I just thought this was so cute.........

Well tomorrow will be more quilts........as I am out of town and posted these ahead of time..........

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Where you are spending the day......with family, friends or sadly alone, I hope the day will bring about thoughts of what you have to be thankful for. To remember memories of Thanksgivings in the past and to make new memories for the future. For those of you that are required to work today, thank you......I appreciate it along with others..........I know it isn't easy giving up time with the family.

I'm offfffffffffffff

Well not until 7 pm tonight.......but I am packed........well not the last minute items.......oh shoot, whatever I leave with, I leave with and what I forget......well they have Wally Worlds everywhere, right? This will be the first time that I have ever traveled on the Thanksgiving holiday....have done Christmas traveling lots and lots and that is always a test

of ones patience and smile-ability (I know, my famous smile thing comes back to bite me you know where!!!!) If all goes well I will arrive in Albuquerque NM around 11pm and will have snored my fellow passengers into a state of total annoyance or laughter....I try to stay awake, I do, really I do. The minute I get into almost any mode of transportation that I am not actually steering, my eyes get heavy and off I go.....which ALWAYS brings on the wonderful sound of snores. Now I am polite......I always ask whoever is stuck with me in the assigned seats to jab, poke or do whatever is necessary to wake me up if I do start to snore.........shoot no one ever has.........sigh. How do I know that I snored? Oh you know, just look at the people around you, they either have that funny look on their face like "Oh wait until I share this story with my wife/husband.....Aunt Mabel and Uncle Harold......the office." OR, it is the look of disgust......like they would like to personally sue me for ruining their time on the plane. I understand this......I do. In fact once I was on a flight that I never did nap and there was a snorer........I giggled like a silly school girl. Oh well, life goes on.

I will have posts tomorrow and all of the days through Sunday.....so check back........please......and say a prayer for me if you like........a prayer for patience because I am the 9th person in the 38th row to the left.

Can you see me? Yup, that's me, the little over-extended in girth Nana with the red leather jacket on.........

I hope that everyone has a few minutes to be thankful in their own way.......whether it be while they are cooking, holding loved ones, working, a nice brisk walk........however you like to celebrate. I am thankful for all of you for coming and reading, commenting and sharing your lives with me and others........have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Blogger found wandering.........

Sadly I wasn't lost........I have a cold. Now my theory of having a cold is this........I would much rather have the 24 hour flu instead of a cold. 24 hour flu is usually just that.......24 hours....you are a little weak for a day or two, but all in all, the total flu experience is over with. A cold, now a cold wants to linger, it will present you with puffy eyes, that no amount of make-up can cover, a cough that resembles a fog horn in San Francisco, hot and cold flashes and my all time favorite, the ever runny nose.........this is when I know I should have purchased stock in different tissue companies........because I use tissues........no I mean I USE them, constantly. I can't stand that tickly feeling that happens with the fountain turns on.

On the the other hand I did go on an outing on Saturday with a friend...........we went to Artisans' Alley. Let me see if I can find the short cut....www.samarketplace.com. I wonder why it doesn't come up blue so you can click on it? I did take a few pictures.......but juggling, the purse, camera and tissues.........well I didn't take as many as I would have like.

Hmmm, here are a few from Rebecca Kathleen (http://www.rebeccakathleen.com/) Now before we go any further, I love boutiques, I just do.........but alas, Omar the Tent Maker hasn't set up any boutiques, so I don't dwell on the clothes as much as many people do, but I do look.

I fell in love with these ink pens......they are made from old silverware.........and only $10, but I was being so practical, which can be so boooooooooring. I also thought what would I do for a refill once this one ran out.........I also liked the box next to the pens..hmmm I know I had a pictures of it.......sigh..............

I didn't look at the price of this........you could store little trinkets, jewelry, that type of thing......

I thought these were the cutest scent chips holders.........the candle goes into the toe of the shoe.....the store is http://www.scentchipsartisansalley.com/ The smell alone is just wonderful. I have never been into a scent chip store before and I was just in heaven. Sadly, my friend who is re-cooperating from chemo, well the smell makes her quite sick, so I didn't spend much time in there.......but if I went back I sure would. Oh I remember another thing that I thought was nice..........it's a plug in, with a small shallow dish on top, you put the scents in there, plug it into the outlet and after they melt, you can clean out the dish, turn over the container and it turns into a nightlight.......I thought it was unusual.

Ba-Da Bling boutique..........oh I could have dropped some $$ here. Sadly they don't have site.......I sure wish they did. Here are a few things............

aren't these the cutest flip flops? Ok, not something that you would wear everyday......well I guess you could, but they just struck me as fun and whimsical.

Now these aren't your everyday cowboy boots.........again, I didn't even look at the price, because I didn't want anyone to have to perform cpr on me..........but they are sooooooo bright and cheerful.

Now isn't this lady just to die for.......I saw her and just wanted to invite her home with me.......

Michelle's Jewelry & Gifts.......again does not have a site. Lovely jewelry, beautiful silver from Mexico, but sadly the sales lady was soooooooooooo pushy and made me feel like I was going to shop lift........I did take one picture in this shop, just because I do like shawls and found these so attractive.

Back Alley Antiques. again no site............but oh I could go back and wander again and again.......

This is a Murphy bed. Now I never knew that they existed that didn't go into a wall. This folds up and when it is all folded away, it looks like an armoire......or a tall chest........it is so cool. In all honestly, the red quilts and pillows were what drew me to this........but I thought it was so nice of the owner to share this information with me.

I don't know why I am sharing this, but I just loved the copper pot, the shoe forms and the basket of thread still on the factory spool.........


Like this needlepoint purse too.....I probably wouldn't ever carry it, but I know some lady, somewhere either made it or was gifted with it and carried it...I bet to church.....what do you think?
Now this definitely isn't antique, but wouldn't this be just the cutest garland for a Christmas tree? OOOO, one of those small ones that you could put just in a corner and decorate it with sewing notions.

I could take this home and put it into my bedroom......oooo, or if I had a pretty sun room........or a
porch that was protected from the elements..........
Thought this angel would be a wonderful addition to a garden........again, the beautiful red work in the back ground......and isn't that little church cool?

Cool candlesticks, chair and chest...........ooo, all "c" words.........you can tell I am helping a certain 4 year old learn the alphabet?

It was a good day......and lunch was Apple Annies...good food and even better pie.....I splurged big time....coconut cream pie.........oh man, if I close my eyes and hold my head just right I can still taste it...........heaven!!!!

Hope everyone has a good day.......smile and laugh..........best medicine in the world

Centerpiece

all pictures taken from BHG site

Ok, so I am hooked on Thanksgiving.......it is one of my favorite holidays.......family, no stress on presents and who gave who what........if I am lucky someone will take pity on me and play cards or a board game..........so we did pies yesterday.........how about the table centerpiece. Some homes don't do the fancy table thing, some families like eating in the kitchen and off the everyday plat4es.......we've done it both ways....and each has it pluses and minuses.......but today let's pretend we are going to do a little more formal of a setting and see what we have here........ready?

I like these little votives......lots of atmosphere, fake or fresh leaves and a little white glue and then wrap it all up with either string or raffia.....easy peasy. Really impressed with this table......lots of highs and lows (and I was taught to keep things low, so you could see across the table.......BUT........if you family or friends that things are a little touch and go........put them across from each other and then they can't see or talk to each other.....). I like the table itself too.

Now this one is really out of my league......well not out of my league, but let's face it, I haven't ever had time to do up menus to send out to people coming to share the feast.........shoot, I am more of a call up and say "the more the merrier" type, but it is pretty.

I am totally in love with this arrangement. Simple and yet so pretty. If I were going to bring a hostess gift, this is something that I would truly consider.........I am thinking this particular centerpiece is one of my favorites.

Another simple, yet totally pleasing to the eye........another one of my favorite.........

Ok, I slipped this one in, but it isn't one that grabs me.........it's ok.

I like this one too........can't remember all of the details, but here is what I remember. You slip a strong rubber band around the candle.......then slip in the different veggies (green beans, asparagus - I am thinking the artichoke is hollowed out) then place a pretty ribbon around the rubber band to cover it, slip some flowers and leaves on the platter and wha-la, something totally different and festive.

Another simple one to put together.......candles and some type of ring.....either fresh or faux........you could use whatever glass to match your table settings........

I really like this one too........except again I was taught the height thing........ I like the two different candlesticks.....the color, the simplicity of it.........

Well I hope I gave you some ideas........again, they all came off the BHG site and even if you aren't doing a centerpiece, it was eye candy........I like pretty things, even if they are in pictures.

Have a good day.........shoot just think about some of the centerpieces, that will put a smile on your face.......yes?

Pies pies pies pies pies

It's getting closer........in just little over a week, it is the official "invite all of the relatives, eat to much, where are we going to put everyone, football watching, hope the kids can go outside to play, no more afghans to cover up the nappers, why do I have to clean up, why did Aunt Gert bring that #*%& green jell-o cottage cheese salad day" I love it.......I truly do. Sadly for me, once we moved from Massachusetts, our (meaning my mother, father and I) family holidays were just the three of us..........but they were all special......the traditional dinner and then maybe a movie, or if a play was coming through Kalamazoo, MI, we would get tickets...........so I had good childhood memories. I do remember Thanksgiving and Christmas with family in Massachusetts, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins........it was fun, well I was a child, so I am sure there might have been tense moments, but all in all, I remember good feelings and lots of giggles and laughter.

Now to the subject:PIES

What is your favorite Thanksgiving pie? Pumpkin? Pecan? Mince meat? Do you have a family specialty? I do love pumpkin and I like just a sliver of pecan.......mince meat.......well I shall pass. I think that is either a love or 'no thank you' pie.




I did find some new pies on the web........here they are


Peppermint and White Chocolate Cream Pie
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 20 minutes Chill: 15 minutes + 8 to 24 hours



Ingredients
1-2/3 cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 4-serving-size package white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
1-1/2 cups milk
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
Crushed peppermint candies
Directions
1. Generously grease a 9-inch pie plate; set aside. For crust: In a medium bowl, combine crushed chocolate cookies and melted butter. Press mixture onto the bottom and up the side of the prepared pie plate. Cover and chill for at least 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare pudding mix according to package directions for traditional pudding pie, using the 1 1/2 cups milk. Spread filling in the chilled crust. Cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
3. Before serving, in a small bowl, combine whipping cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Spread whipped cream over top of pie. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candies. Makes 8 servings.
Hmmm, maybe that one is more Christmas.......well if you like peppermint you would like it any time, right? Let's see if I can find the other one.........

Caramel Crunch Pie
Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons finely chopped peanuts
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1-1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 Snickers candy bars (2.07 oz. each), coarsely chopped (3 cups)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup whole peanuts
10 caramel candies, unwrapped
Directions
1. Make Crust: Heat oven to 350 degree F. Combine graham cracker crumbs, peanuts, and melted butter in medium bowl. Press into bottom and halfway up sides of 9-inch springform pan.
2. Beat cream cheese in mixer bowl until smooth. Beat in brown sugar, corn syrup, and cornstarch. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in sour cream and vanilla. Stir in chopped candy bars and peanuts. Pour over Crust.
3. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degree F and bake 1-1/4 hours more or until top of cheesecake is no longer wet or glossy. Remove cake from oven; run knife around edge. Turn oven off and return cake to oven 1 hour more. Cool completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Make Topping: Melt chocolate chips, stirring frequently, in small saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1/4 cup sour cream and the brown sugar. Spread over cheesecake and sprinkle peanuts on top. Melt caramels, stirring constantly, in heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons sour cream. Drizzle over cheesecake. Makes 16 servings.

· Now this one seems to be a wee bit of work........but doesn't it look wonderful?

Of course I can't leave this one out............

Chocolate pie.............oh, have you ever had chocolate pecan pie.........oh man, I can just taste that one. Yup, pies are a tradition aren't they? Some people do them from scratch, some use the refrigerated crusts, others order, some are frozen.........and others rely on guest 4, and guest 6 to bring them...........however they arrive to the table, they are yum dilly-ious.

Have a good day........spread some sunshine, a smile........