Yesterday's quilting class was so much fun! We worked on a mini log cabin quillt which is something I've never done before. Not surprising, really since I'm just learning. LOL!
We did get the entire quilt top done, 12 squares. Next week we'll be putting it together and hand quilting the top. I'll post photo's when the whole quilt is completed. I had so much fun though. I did have some trouble at the beginning of class, which put me behind everyone else by about 20 minutes. My thread kept fraying and breaking. I couldn't figure it out and neither could the instructor. After about 15 minutes of this, she suggested switching out thread and that worked perfectly! I purchased their thread and I had no issues from that point on.
I'm not sure if the instructor liked me or thought I really needed the practice, but she sent home a bunch of extra strips for log cabin squares. I don't think there's enough matching colours to make another mini quilt, but I can use them up to work on my 1/4 inch seam.
I also found a pattern online for a full size log cabin square that I might work on today. Either that, or I'm going to start on the Sunbonnet Sue pattern for Christmas gifts. I'll make one up for myself to get a feel for the design, then I can make them up for everyone else.
The baby hamsters are doing so well. I can't get over just how incredibly cute they are or how fast they're growing! I swear you can almost see the growth. They're getting really chubby too, which makes them all that much cuter. I got a sweet picture yesterday for the Day 2 page of my son's album with one of the babies yawning. So sweet!
Today's Update:
There is really nothing exciting going on today at all. It's my desk day which means that I'll be writing up thank you notes and letters. Of course, there are the regular routines that need to be done. And it's Anti-Procrastination day today, so that means I need to pick one job that I've been putting off. Maybe I'll tackle my bookshelves in the den. They're a disaster!
I messed up the recipe for yesterday (sorry!) I had my days mixed up. Yesterday's dinner was actuallly taco's and tonight is Pork Chops in Soup. So, that means, no recipe for today. :(
Have a fantastic day and don't forget to smile!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
We Have Baby Hamsters!
And oh my goodness are they ever cute!
As I'm writing this post, I'm not sure exactly how many there are, but we think 10. It's so hard to tell, though, they're so small!
This is all my son's idea and he has done all the work, the research, the planning, everything. On the last day of July, he put his male and his female together to mate (after checking to make sure that the local pet store would take the babies when they're ready, of course). He has been reading and researching and learning everything he needs to know to be a responsible hamster breeder.
And now, he's so excited. They're finally here!
His sister is going to have her choice of the litter to keep as her own pet. I will put an ad on Kijiji soon to see if we can sell them from home, and however many are left, will go to the local pet store.
Sally, Mama hamster, is doing such a great job too. She's a natural mother!
I'm going to start my son a scrapbook for this project of his. I'll take photo's every day of their growth, and save them on the computer (and post them here once a week so you all can see them grow too!) We'll keep records and notes, so that when it's all over, he can put together a nice little record of his babies. :)
Update: We did lose one little baby last evening. Poor little guy. It was just so sad. :( We're counting 11 noses now, we think.
But, cuteness abounded this morning when I got up. Apparently, the lure of the babies was too much for my son.
Today's Update:
Today I'm going to another quilting class! I can't wait. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy the classes, but I have to tell you, they are fun! This class we're making a miniature log cabin quilt. This will apparently span two classes, today and next Tuesday.
Since Tuesday is my "free day" I don't have much on my To Do list, just the usual routines and decluttering. I'm determined to get this house in good working order and have a successful Christmas season! I've never had a good, organized and stress free Christmas. That's my goal for this season.
Tonight's Supper:
I won't be here all afternoon, so I'm making a nice easy supper today.
Pork Chops in Soup
4 pork chops
3 cans tomato soup
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
dash of worchestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
Place pork chops in skillet. Cover with remaining ingredients and cook for approximately 1 hour or until chops are cooked and vegetables are tender.
Easy peasy! I'm going to make this all up this morning and have it sit in the electric frying pan until I get home. Then all I have to do is turn it on and voila! Supper is done. :)
As I'm writing this post, I'm not sure exactly how many there are, but we think 10. It's so hard to tell, though, they're so small!
This is all my son's idea and he has done all the work, the research, the planning, everything. On the last day of July, he put his male and his female together to mate (after checking to make sure that the local pet store would take the babies when they're ready, of course). He has been reading and researching and learning everything he needs to know to be a responsible hamster breeder.
And now, he's so excited. They're finally here!
His sister is going to have her choice of the litter to keep as her own pet. I will put an ad on Kijiji soon to see if we can sell them from home, and however many are left, will go to the local pet store.
Sally, Mama hamster, is doing such a great job too. She's a natural mother!
I'm going to start my son a scrapbook for this project of his. I'll take photo's every day of their growth, and save them on the computer (and post them here once a week so you all can see them grow too!) We'll keep records and notes, so that when it's all over, he can put together a nice little record of his babies. :)
Update: We did lose one little baby last evening. Poor little guy. It was just so sad. :( We're counting 11 noses now, we think.
But, cuteness abounded this morning when I got up. Apparently, the lure of the babies was too much for my son.
Today's Update:
Today I'm going to another quilting class! I can't wait. I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy the classes, but I have to tell you, they are fun! This class we're making a miniature log cabin quilt. This will apparently span two classes, today and next Tuesday.
Since Tuesday is my "free day" I don't have much on my To Do list, just the usual routines and decluttering. I'm determined to get this house in good working order and have a successful Christmas season! I've never had a good, organized and stress free Christmas. That's my goal for this season.
Tonight's Supper:
I won't be here all afternoon, so I'm making a nice easy supper today.
Pork Chops in Soup
4 pork chops
3 cans tomato soup
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
dash of worchestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
Place pork chops in skillet. Cover with remaining ingredients and cook for approximately 1 hour or until chops are cooked and vegetables are tender.
Easy peasy! I'm going to make this all up this morning and have it sit in the electric frying pan until I get home. Then all I have to do is turn it on and voila! Supper is done. :)
Monday, August 16, 2010
It's The First Day of a Brand New Week!
I am so excited right now. Yesterday I signed up for a one year digital subscription to Quilter's World Magazine. Not only did I get access to October's issue, I also am able to download and save issues all the way back to 2006! There are so many great patterns, and all for only $14.95. Seriously. I almost didn't do it, because as funny as it might sound, $15 can be a lot of money, but I'm very glad I did. I have so many new presents I can make now!
If you quilt and you don't have a digital subscription, you really should think about it. I get nothing for saying this, or directing you to their site, I just think it's a fantastic deal. :)
Today's Update
Well, after a very busy, tiring Saturday and a relaxing Sunday, it's back to routines and getting things in order today! I swear, if I didn't have my routines, I'd be lost. I'm very much the type of person who loves knowing exactly what I'm doing day to day, and I adore having a list where I can check things off as I complete them. I'm like a little kid getting a gold star for a job well done. LOL!
So, cleaning and decluttering is the story for today. I've already done a lot of laundry (although the washing machine is acting a bit funny. Hopefully it's nothing serious), cleaned my downstairs bathroom and done all my routine cleaning for today.
Then I had a nap. I really didn't mean to! I don't like sleeping in the afternoon. It can really mess up my night time sleep. Hopefully not this time.
As soon as I'm done this post, I'll be doing Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie. You grab a garbage bag, go through the house, and find 27 things to throw away. Once you're done that, grab a box, and find 27 things to give away. It's a great way to declutter and if you do it right, it can be fun too.
Today's Supper:
Tonight we're having soup and biscuits. Monday is always soup day. That started last fall because my son had piano lessons and my daughter had concert band rehearsal. Because his piano teacher lives 1/2 an hour away, we had to leave early. It made for a busier after school period, so I found that if I made soup in the morning, I could just let it simmer all day and we could eat whenever we need to.
Garden Harvest Chowder
1/4 lb bacon, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
16 oz can cream corn
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
Fry bacon, celery, onion and carrots in a 6-quart saucepan until bacon is semi-crisp. Add water and peas, cook 15 minutes over mediumm heat until peas are tender. Add remaining ingredients, execpt peas. Cook over medium heat, stirring occassionally, until heated through. Add cheese, stirring until melted, but not boiling.
What I love about this recipe is that you can put anything you want into the soup. I didn't use bacon this time, I used ham. I've added broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, whatever I have on hand in the fridge or that needs to be used up. It's a delicious and very versatile soup.
With it, we're having
Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
2 cups biscuit mix
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Preheat oven to 450. Mix together biscuit mix, milk and cheese until a soft dough forms. Shape into balls and arrange on a cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden, watching carefully. Combine butter and garlic powder. Brush over each biscuit as soon as they are removed from the oven.
If you quilt and you don't have a digital subscription, you really should think about it. I get nothing for saying this, or directing you to their site, I just think it's a fantastic deal. :)
Today's Update
Well, after a very busy, tiring Saturday and a relaxing Sunday, it's back to routines and getting things in order today! I swear, if I didn't have my routines, I'd be lost. I'm very much the type of person who loves knowing exactly what I'm doing day to day, and I adore having a list where I can check things off as I complete them. I'm like a little kid getting a gold star for a job well done. LOL!
So, cleaning and decluttering is the story for today. I've already done a lot of laundry (although the washing machine is acting a bit funny. Hopefully it's nothing serious), cleaned my downstairs bathroom and done all my routine cleaning for today.
Then I had a nap. I really didn't mean to! I don't like sleeping in the afternoon. It can really mess up my night time sleep. Hopefully not this time.
As soon as I'm done this post, I'll be doing Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie. You grab a garbage bag, go through the house, and find 27 things to throw away. Once you're done that, grab a box, and find 27 things to give away. It's a great way to declutter and if you do it right, it can be fun too.
Today's Supper:
Tonight we're having soup and biscuits. Monday is always soup day. That started last fall because my son had piano lessons and my daughter had concert band rehearsal. Because his piano teacher lives 1/2 an hour away, we had to leave early. It made for a busier after school period, so I found that if I made soup in the morning, I could just let it simmer all day and we could eat whenever we need to.
Garden Harvest Chowder
1/4 lb bacon, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
16 oz can cream corn
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
Fry bacon, celery, onion and carrots in a 6-quart saucepan until bacon is semi-crisp. Add water and peas, cook 15 minutes over mediumm heat until peas are tender. Add remaining ingredients, execpt peas. Cook over medium heat, stirring occassionally, until heated through. Add cheese, stirring until melted, but not boiling.
What I love about this recipe is that you can put anything you want into the soup. I didn't use bacon this time, I used ham. I've added broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, whatever I have on hand in the fridge or that needs to be used up. It's a delicious and very versatile soup.
With it, we're having
Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
2 cups biscuit mix
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp garlic salt
Preheat oven to 450. Mix together biscuit mix, milk and cheese until a soft dough forms. Shape into balls and arrange on a cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden, watching carefully. Combine butter and garlic powder. Brush over each biscuit as soon as they are removed from the oven.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Tournament Day
In the end, the kids did great, better than I thought they would, actually.
They lost their first game, which wasn't really a surprise. The team they played they'd never been able to beat and ended up playing for first place. So, really, a loss to them was expected. A win would have been great, but losing to them wasn't so bad. :) This is a photo of him playing second base.
Their second game they won, and won really well. They played that game so well, in fact that they were only one run away from being able to play for first themselves! That would have been an interesting game, if they'd gone for A Champs, because our town has two teams, Tamworth 1 and Tamworth 2 (that's my son's team). So, if they had played for A's, the two Tamworth teams would have faced off. It would have been a fun game, at least, because most of the kids on both teams are good friends.
But, as fun as that would have been, it didn't happen. They were short one run, so they played for B Champs. Against my son's old team. Unfortunately, it didn't go all that well. The coaches for the other team are a bit hotheaded, so there were some issues there. A few weeks ago, those same coaches got into a yelling match with some of the parents on our side. It was quite upsetting, the coaches were swearing at the parents and yelling some very insulting things. We pulled our son off the field and were preparing to just leave, but in the end, he really wanted to stay and play, so we allowed it. They did calm down, but it was very upsetting for everyone.
Because of the history, we knew there would issues, and of course there were, but nothing as bad as what happened earlier in the season. Things went along fairly well, but it puts a stress on the kids.
He did get to pitch two innings, which was very exciting for him. He loves to pitch and he's really quite good at it too!
Unfortunately for him and for the team, a really good hitter came up to bat with the bases loaded and 4 runs came in. That was the end of the game for them and they lost the B Champs.
But, considering that all season long they only won 2 games, both of them against the only team they won against at the tournament, and they were playing the all around #1 team in the league for the season, a 6 run loss isn't all that bad. They were disappointed of course, but they had a great time and that's what mattered for this team, this season.
And they did still get medals!
It was a very long day (7 hours altogether) and I have a horrid sunburn. But the kids had fun and they were very happy, so that makes me happy to.
And as a lifelong, diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I'm used to saying "There's always next year." :)
They lost their first game, which wasn't really a surprise. The team they played they'd never been able to beat and ended up playing for first place. So, really, a loss to them was expected. A win would have been great, but losing to them wasn't so bad. :) This is a photo of him playing second base.
Their second game they won, and won really well. They played that game so well, in fact that they were only one run away from being able to play for first themselves! That would have been an interesting game, if they'd gone for A Champs, because our town has two teams, Tamworth 1 and Tamworth 2 (that's my son's team). So, if they had played for A's, the two Tamworth teams would have faced off. It would have been a fun game, at least, because most of the kids on both teams are good friends.
But, as fun as that would have been, it didn't happen. They were short one run, so they played for B Champs. Against my son's old team. Unfortunately, it didn't go all that well. The coaches for the other team are a bit hotheaded, so there were some issues there. A few weeks ago, those same coaches got into a yelling match with some of the parents on our side. It was quite upsetting, the coaches were swearing at the parents and yelling some very insulting things. We pulled our son off the field and were preparing to just leave, but in the end, he really wanted to stay and play, so we allowed it. They did calm down, but it was very upsetting for everyone.
Because of the history, we knew there would issues, and of course there were, but nothing as bad as what happened earlier in the season. Things went along fairly well, but it puts a stress on the kids.
He did get to pitch two innings, which was very exciting for him. He loves to pitch and he's really quite good at it too!
Unfortunately for him and for the team, a really good hitter came up to bat with the bases loaded and 4 runs came in. That was the end of the game for them and they lost the B Champs.
But, considering that all season long they only won 2 games, both of them against the only team they won against at the tournament, and they were playing the all around #1 team in the league for the season, a 6 run loss isn't all that bad. They were disappointed of course, but they had a great time and that's what mattered for this team, this season.
And they did still get medals!
It was a very long day (7 hours altogether) and I have a horrid sunburn. But the kids had fun and they were very happy, so that makes me happy to.
And as a lifelong, diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan, I'm used to saying "There's always next year." :)
I'm Featured In a New Collection!
I woke up to a notification that I'm featured in a new collection on Artfire. This one features studios who are participating in the Artfire Stimulus Sale. Myself, I'm having a Buy One Get One Free sale, although I haven't had any takers yet. It runs till the end of August and proceeds are going to Pakistan, so I'm really hopeful that I'll make a sale or two. :)
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Muffins Were Good!
Well, the muffins turned out really well. They weren't very big, because it didn't make up a lot of batter, so I had to make them a bit smaller than I would have liked. But, they were light and very tasty. :)
Banana Muffins
3 or 4 large banana's, mashed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup flour
Mix mashed banana's, sugar, egg and butter together in a bowl. Set aside. In a seperate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add wet mixture to dry and mix well. Spoon batter into greased muffin pan and bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes. Oven times will vary.
These bake up very nicely. I made a full dozen and before they were even cooled completely, I only had 3 left. I guess they were a hit!
Well, today is the day. It's the last day of baseball for the boy. The tournament starts this morning around 8:30, although he doesn't play until 11:30.
It's a bit bitter sweet, as it is every year. They haven't had a great season, mostly due to the fact that the coach only called 2 practices all summer long. So, the kids haven't been improving as quickly as the other teams. But they're having fun and that's really all that matters, right?
I'm always a bit sad to see this day, though, because that means that back to school is just around the corner. Unlike most parents I know, I actually love having my kids home. I really miss them when they're gone all day at school, even though I know they have to go. :)
But, today is about fun and excitement and good sportsmanship. I'm taking my camera with me, so I'll have a picture or two to share tomorrow. Hopefully one of them will be the team posing with a trophy!
Have a fantastic day and make sure to find one person to bless, even if it's just with a smile. :)
Banana Muffins
3 or 4 large banana's, mashed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup flour
Mix mashed banana's, sugar, egg and butter together in a bowl. Set aside. In a seperate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add wet mixture to dry and mix well. Spoon batter into greased muffin pan and bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes. Oven times will vary.
These bake up very nicely. I made a full dozen and before they were even cooled completely, I only had 3 left. I guess they were a hit!
Well, today is the day. It's the last day of baseball for the boy. The tournament starts this morning around 8:30, although he doesn't play until 11:30.
It's a bit bitter sweet, as it is every year. They haven't had a great season, mostly due to the fact that the coach only called 2 practices all summer long. So, the kids haven't been improving as quickly as the other teams. But they're having fun and that's really all that matters, right?
I'm always a bit sad to see this day, though, because that means that back to school is just around the corner. Unlike most parents I know, I actually love having my kids home. I really miss them when they're gone all day at school, even though I know they have to go. :)
But, today is about fun and excitement and good sportsmanship. I'm taking my camera with me, so I'll have a picture or two to share tomorrow. Hopefully one of them will be the team posing with a trophy!
Have a fantastic day and make sure to find one person to bless, even if it's just with a smile. :)
Friday, August 13, 2010
I Forgot!
I don't know how it happened, but I completely forgot the recipe for tonight's dinner!
We're having Country Salisbury Steak. It's a very easy dish to prepare, and very frugal as well, which is important. The kids love it, too, which is equally important. :)
Country Salisbury Steak
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg stuffing mix
1 1/4 cup water, divided
3/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cups free mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup bbq sauce
Mix meat, stuffing mix, onions and 1 cup of the water until well blended. Shape into 1/2 inch thick oval patties. Place in baking dish. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until cooked through.
Spray large non stick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms, cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occassionally. Add bbq sauce and remaining water. Reduce heat to low. Cook 1-2 minutes or until sauce is heated through. Serve over the patties.
Enjoy!
We're having Country Salisbury Steak. It's a very easy dish to prepare, and very frugal as well, which is important. The kids love it, too, which is equally important. :)
Country Salisbury Steak
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 pkg stuffing mix
1 1/4 cup water, divided
3/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cups free mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup bbq sauce
Mix meat, stuffing mix, onions and 1 cup of the water until well blended. Shape into 1/2 inch thick oval patties. Place in baking dish. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until cooked through.
Spray large non stick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms, cook on medium heat for 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occassionally. Add bbq sauce and remaining water. Reduce heat to low. Cook 1-2 minutes or until sauce is heated through. Serve over the patties.
Enjoy!
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