PRAIRIE HOMESTEAD

Holiday Snapshot #6 - Santa Knows

2009-12-21T07:30:00.007-06:00

What my grandson wants for Christmas.

Posted (literally on Post-it Notes) above his bunk bed.

Each square represents something he wants for Christmas.

But, the message is in code.

A code that only Santa can read.

Sounds like a true believer to me !!

Holiday Snapshot # 5 - Sweet Memories

2009-12-18T12:36:00.001-06:00

Little Hands

Big Hands

Making Minty Snowmen --

and lots of 'sweet' holiday memories.

Holiday Snapshot # 4 - Cold & Colorful

2009-12-15T15:45:00.003-06:00

It was 17 degrees when I left my house this morning.
When I stepped outside into the cold -- this took my breath away.

Even the heavens are decorated for the season !

Holiday Snapshot #3 - Singing in the Season

2009-12-08T12:11:00.001-06:00

Evergreen garlands and red ribbons

Twinkling lights and Christmas trees

Children singing and swaying to the music

Little hands waving in the air, eyes sparkling and so very excited

A wonderful start to the season.

Holiday Snapshot # 2 :: 'warm' memories

2009-12-03T15:30:00.001-06:00

It's about 8pm on a dark and rainy winter night. A quiet evening and I'm in my little sewing corner -- cutting, pressing, stitching. And, with each action, the cares of my day fade away -- because I'm sewing pajamas for my grandbabes.

Working with soft cuddly flannel reminds me of the receiving blankets I've made over the years for grandbabes. How those blankies, made by my hands, would wrap them in warmth and my love. Now, those 'babes' are growing and getting older -- and that's as it should be. But, I do so hope that no matter how old they become -- they will remember their blankies and pjs made by me.

I know I loved knowing that something I created will keep the ones I love warm on a cold winter night. That brings a smile to my heart. Because, as far as I'm concerned -- you never outgrown the need for comfort, warmth, and flannel pajamas.

Please notice that I'm wearing flannel as I sew !

Holiday Snapshot :: #1

2009-12-01T13:35:00.007-06:00

Seems like it was just a few days ago that we were celebrating Labor Day. Now, Thanksgiving is over and done. We stuffed ourselves with turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. And, when we weren't looking December rolled around again. In the coming days/weeks we will all be in a hurry to get the shopping done, the cookies baked, the cards mailed -- all the 'things' that we think are so important this time of year. But, in all that 'busy-ness' there will be a few 'snapshots' that will stay with us long after Christmas is packed up and put away for another year. I'm going to make an effort to record (and share) some of the 'snapshots' of my Christmas this year -- things that I want to hold onto and remember.

Here's my first 'snapshot' of this season :: little-girl-cousins from 23 months to 4 years old -- all busy with their Christmas crafting.

In the years to come, they may not remember a November afternoon decorating wooden ornaments -- but, I'll bet their Mamas (and their Grammys) will remember -- and treasure this first 'snapshot' of the season.

Good intentions . . . .

2009-11-24T14:40:00.002-06:00

Every year I have good intentions.

I promise myself that I will start my holiday crafting/knitting/sewing early -- like in January.

And, every year I break that promise.
This means the months leading up to Christmas are very busy.

Knitting scarves for the grand-daughters.

Sewing a baby quilt for a baby girl due in December.

And sewing pj pants for all the grandbabes. I was too busy with all the cutting out, stitching up to get a picture - use your imagination.

(And, if you are going to imagine a picture of the pj pant construction - please also imagine that my sewing room is clean and all the pj pants are finished and in gift bags under my completely decorated Christmas tree. Hey - if your going to use your imagination - go big!)

P.S. I swear, next year I'm going to start early (and I mean it this time !!!)

21 Years

2009-11-19T14:42:00.002-06:00

Bill, Billy, Willie Jay --

it's been 21 years ago today that we said 'I Do'

and we are still having fun.

And, through years, we've both had a lot of titles/names :

newlyweds / step-parents

weekend-remodelers / care-givers.

You've worn them all with your own individual style.

But, the title that I love to see you wearing these days is - - - -

'Papa Bill'

Happy Anniversary Honey !

Every day

2009-11-11T09:44:00.000-06:00

Let us remember & honor all of our Soldiers,

Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guard members

not just on Veterans Day ---

but every day.

Two views . . .

2009-11-10T14:43:00.001-06:00

While I would like to say that November on the Southern Plains looks like this every day . . . . clear blue skies framed by red/gold leaves.

This picture a more accurate . . . . grey damp weather with fallen leaves covering every surface in a patchwork of red and gold.

Two views of fall . . . . . and, I like both of them.

Best Laid Plans . . . . .

2009-11-05T15:35:00.000-06:00

I really had great plans for sewing/knitting/crafting/baking for the holidays this year. I printed off cool handmade gift tutorials from Sew Mama Sew www.sewmamasew.com/. And saw so many cute things on other blogs that inspired me to get in my sewing corner and create something. Sorted through my holiday cookie recipes and even checked out some new recipes on this site http://www.ourbestbites.com/.

As of today -- all my plans are just that -- 'plans'. Not much action has been taken to start any of these wonderful projects. But, I will say that I've got the 'planning stage' of my Holidays done !!

O' I forgot one thing I've almost gotten completed -- an 'I Spy' quilt for the youngest grandbabe. It just lacks a bright green binding and I can check one home-made gift off the list. It's a start at least !

Mississippi in 1962

2009-10-26T16:04:00.001-05:00

Three woman (2 black - 1 white) become friends during a time when possibilities for woman were few. Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny all have dreams of a future filled with more understanding & love than hate & fear. These character will stay with you for a long time. I can highly recommend this book as, 'a good read'

You can't make just one . . . . .

2009-10-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

Nothing much was on television Wednesday night (or at least not much that I was interested in anyway) -- this led to some time in my little sewing corner. My crafting/sewing journal was consulted for measurements and ideas (from bags made for the KC girls last year) -- some were rejected, others were implemented.

An hour later I had these two Trick or Treat bags to show for my time/effort. The Transformer bag on the left is for Joe and measures approx 11"x11". The leopard-print bag on the right is for Laney and measures approx 9"x9". Both bags were lightly quilted using a fusible fleece as backing, the linings are Halloween prints -- everything thing was from my stash!

Such fun making these little bags -- and, very addictive too !

I've already got plans to make at least two more.

Another step . . . .

2009-10-21T13:45:00.003-05:00

With great suggestions from my friends (both quilters and non-quilters) & some quality-time with my sewing machine (and seam ripper) -- the StarWars quilt top & back are finished. I'm loving the way it's shaping up so far. Monday afternoon it was delivered to my machine-quilter and now the hunt for the perfect binding will commence -- but, that's just another step in the whole 'process'.
O' I forgot I also need a perfect binding for the I Spy quilt too --
I'm seeing a trip to the quiltshop in my near future!

It's a process . . . .

2009-10-15T14:44:00.001-05:00

For me, quilting has always been a process - something I worked through until I liked the results and called it finished. The process usually starts with some inspiration (see the picture below - upper right) - in the case of my latest quilt the inspiration was a quilt from Crazy Mom Quilts at crazymomquilts.blogspot.com. My quilt started as a simple quilt with one row of sort of wonky blocks paired with a large block of fabric. As you can see, Master Yoda was my first block.

Here's what it looked like after the preliminary sketching, cutting, sewing, pressing --

It's really rough and I wasn't totally in love with it -- I needed help. So, I emailed the picture of my 'prototype I' StarWars quilt to my quilting gal-friends and got lots of feedback. And, now the 'process' continues.

With some tweaking and redesigning - there will be final pictures posted on Monday.

That is if the 'Force' is with me . . . . .

Stitcher's Joint Project - 24 receiving blankies for a local teen pregnancy center. Made over three weeks and we sewed a little bit of love into each one. Bib & burp-cloths are our next project.

20% Off -- and, much more . . . . .

2009-10-13T14:39:00.006-05:00

See this neat bundle of fabric below ?

I know it looks like fabric --
it's actually a 20% off coupon and so much more.

This past week, our local quilt shop sent out a notice of a unique sale. In emails to their customers, they made this offer: bring in a fabric donation to the Quilting Guilds for use in their charity quilting projects and get 20% off all cut fabric. My friend Nancy immediately sent out another email calling all the Stitcher Gals to rally round this worthy cause (and get some great deals on fabric too!).

Saturday morning we all met at the shop - did our part to fill a large box with donations, oooh-aaaahed over the holiday prints, wandered all through the shop debating the merits of florals vs polka-dots, scoped out out the new fabric lines, fondled the fat quarters, tried out new quilting toys -- it was wonderful. And, with our donations on that day, we were doing our part to add some warmth & care in someone's life -- by way of a hand-made quilt.

As my friend Linda says,
'It's always a good feeling when you can help others.'

I'd like to amend that by saying this:
'If you can help someone and walk out with some pretty cool prints at 20% off -- that's a good feeling for everyone!'

My 20% off fabrics -
Aren't they pretty ?

Autumn-y Things

2009-10-09T13:59:00.003-05:00

For the next couple of months, I suppose all of my posts to this blog should have the following warning:

DANGER
If Autumn isn't your favorite season, do not continue . . . .

You see I love this time of year. I could babble on and on about -- pumpkins, crisp mornings, foggy/rainy weather, scarecrows, candy corn, Halloween, even more pumpkins.
( Please see picture below of the beautiful pumpkin decorating my Mom's front step).

To celebrate another October Weekend -- I plan enjoying a few Autumny things:

baking Holy Trinity Apple Crisp,
buying flannel for pj pants for the grandbabes,
taking pictures of the of the fall foliage progress,
making a big pot of soup for Sunday supper.

That's a great list, but if I could just add --

watch the Sooners win on Saturday,

It would be a perfect Fall Weekend!

A Good Read:: Quilting for Peace

2009-10-07T12:48:00.003-05:00

Make the world a better place one stitch at a time.

The Sunshine Circle created in 1912 and still sewing quilts and 'comforts' for those in need.
The women of the United States Sanitary Commission who answered the call from President Lincoln to outfit soldiers with hand-made blankets/quilts.
Quilts of Valor - coordinated through the VA to distribute quilts for wounded soldiers in communities across America.
The Binky Patrol - providing thousands of quilts and blankets to children who need a little comfort.
Morsbags - sewing your own reusable shopping bags to reduce the millions of plastic bags that litter our planet.
The Aids Quilt - made in memory of those who have lost the battle with this horrible disease.
The Boise Pease Quilt Project - honoring individuals for their peacemaking work.

All those and more organizations/individuals -- along with patterns and suggested projects to stitch a little 'peace' yourself -- are between the covers of this amazing book.
It's definitely a good read.

Baby Gifts - Tiger Tails - Lizard Blankies

2009-10-02T13:44:00.000-05:00

A wee tiny knitted hat (along with flannel burp cloths) for a baby girl expected on December 24th. Such fun making baby things.

Sewing up a 'lizard blankie' for Joe's toy lizard collection - the reason for the blankies? According to Joe, his lizards get cold at night.

A first for me - - - sewing the tail back on a tiger.

The tiger held very still while this surgery was performed and as you can see by the last picture, he is whole once again.

A discussion between MoMo and Joe about treating Mr. Tiger with respect and not using his tail as a handle -- will hopefully avoid further medical procedures.

Symbols & Seasons

2009-09-24T16:03:00.004-05:00

September is almost over - the mornings are starting to have a little 'crisp' to them. Almost every store you pass by has mums for sale. Pumpkins are starting to appear in produce sections all over town. On Friday nights I can see the lights at the football field 4 miles south of our house -- and, it makes wish I could hear the marching bands playing and smell the popcorn. I love this time of year. The sounds, the smells, the colors of Autumn -- so very glad it's almost here.

Picture above is of the one and only bloom my Passion Flower Vine produced this year. It bloomed last week -- looking like something strange and alien, unfolding it's bright purple petals along my front porch -- a last hurrah of the summer's finery.

This week's bedtime reading - Dan Brown's new book. Kept me interested and page-turning right up the end. And, I'll never end another letter with the word 'Sincerely' without thinking of this book. A definite 'Good Read' !

Roasting up dinner . . . . .

2009-09-21T13:54:00.000-05:00

Our Saturday evening dinner was an easy recipe that I've been making for at least 5 years now. It always amazes me how quickly you get this prepared and in the oven. And, the Hubby loves it.

Roasted Chicken & Veggies

1 whole chicken (with skin on)

5-6 med red-skinned potatoes, cut in to large pieces

1-1/2 cup peeled carrots (thick sliced or you can use baby carrots)

10-12 whole unpeeled cloves of garlic

1 to 2 cups whole fresh mushrooms, cleaned & stems trimmed

1 red or green pepper, cut into large pieces

1 small onion, quartered (optional)

3 to 4 Tbsp olive oil

1 to 3 tsps dried rosemary blend (I use the Pamper Chef brand)

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Wash/pat dry chicken, cut into quarters (or buy your chicken cut-up -- or, you can also use 4 large chicken breasts, bone-in and skin on). Arrange chicken onto a large sheet pan or any large shallow baking dish. Just keep in mind that the chicken/veggies need to be one layer in order to roast evenly. Place all veggies into a large bowl, drizzle with enough olive oil to coat, sprinkle in spices, salt & pepper; toss to coat completely. Pour veggie/oil/spices over chicken, arranging veggies between chicken pieces. Bake for 30 minutes, stir veggies and bake for additional 25-30 minutes or until chicken is completely done and veggies are roasted. (Cooking time will depend on size of chicken pieces and veggies) Remove from oven and cover with a large piece of aluminum foil, let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Note: You can add any veggies you like (sweet potatoes, squash or beets), you might want to add veggies that bake quickly half-way through the roasting process. I added green beans at the half-way point with this dish and they came out roasted but still with a bit of a crunch.

First Recipe of the Fall

2009-09-16T11:30:00.003-05:00

Filled with apples and spices - this recipe is truly 'Apple Pie' in bread form. Just right for the cool/rainy weather we are having here on the Southern Plains.

Apple Pie Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup brown sugar

1-1/2 cup granulated sugar

1-1/4 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnuts

3 cups peeled/chopped apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray loaf pans with a cooking spray. Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil, vanilla and sugars - mix well. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, stirring just until blended. Add chopped apples and walnuts to bread batter and pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour or until a tester comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely before slicing. May be frozen for up to 3 months.

Makes 2 large loaves.

Goes great with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

Note: 1/2 cup golden raisins may be added, if desired. Bread can also be baked in a bundt pan or smaller loaf pans - adjust baking times accordingly.

Good 'Read/Listen'

2009-09-18T12:34:00.001-05:00

I have long been a fan of Pat Conroy --

His books 'speak' to me on so many levels. For me, the books read like poetry, with sentences that are beautiful and lyrical as they weave their storylines together. But, until now I've never 'heard' one of his stories read to me. Never listened to the soft southern drawl of the narrator leading you from the year 2009 and into the world of Charleston, SC in the early sixties. And, like the turbulant 60's - there's much more going on than appears on the surface. By the end of chapter one -- I was hooked. And, I'm being stingy with this audio-book. Only listening to it during my commute to/from work. You see, I want my visit to 'South of Broad' to be a long as possible.

O' and I have done a bit of sewing this week. The two grandbabes here in town needed some 'Game Day' pj pants to watch the OU this weekend. Boomer Sooner !!!!

Can't believe I really did it . . . . .

2009-09-14T13:48:00.004-05:00

My very first 'Pumpkin Hat' !!

I'm so pleased and proud all at the same time -- because, I made a hat and it's so cute I can hardly stand it.

After struggling for 2 years with the whole knitting with the 'dreaded double-pointed needles of doom' -- I tried using two circular needles to 'knit in the round' (thank you Jane for that amazing tip). That did it -- something in my poor dyslexic brain clicked and this summer, I made a hat for Laney. Now, mind you, it was entirely too big -- but, I had the technique down.

Then last month I made a little pink/brown hat and it fit just fine. Which made me buy a skein of orange yarn (Plymouth Encore) and immediatly start knitting a pumpkin. For the base of the hat I used my notes from the 2nd hat (written in my handy-dandy spiral notebook that's all pink and zebra print - keeping notes in a cool notebook makes me think I'm stylish). I finished this bitty pumpkin hat over the weekend and my only bobble was on the stem. In order to knit the I-Cord stem, I had to consult at least three knitting books before I found instructions I could actually understand.

But, I did it --

and isn't it cute ?

Did I ask you that already ???

P.S. I've already cast-on another hat

One bright spot . . . . .

2009-09-10T13:46:00.006-05:00

Over the past few weeks, my computer has been visited by a plague of assorted nasty critters in the form of 'spyware' -- 'malware' -- 'everykindof-ware'. It's made me wonder what sort of person would create something that would cause havoc for people they don't even know ??

May they some day be forced to clean up all the messes they've made all over the world-wide-web - - - and, that's all I'm going to say about that - - -

The one bright spot during computer critter infestation was that I had time to get to aquainted with the residents of Bon Temps, LA :: Sam, Eric, Vampire Bill, to name a few and of course, Ms Sookie Stackhouse.

Quick and easy reads
And, I'll give you fair warning - - - they are highly addictive !