Carrying On...

How does that saying go: "Keep Calm and Carry On"? I believe that to be good advice and wouldn't it be even better if it involved a cookie? You know it would! I have another recipe to share from the Pioneer Woman. As I mentioned in the previous post I've been watching a LOT of cooking shows while sewing in the past few weeks. If I'm not stitching it seems that I'm either at the grocery store or in the kitchen anymore- it's hard to keep up! So, these aren't just any old cookies- they're Breakfast Cookies and they are simply WONDERFUL! 

I baked a batch, have wrapped them up individually and frozen them. You cannot believe how handy these are to have ready and available on a busy morning! Grab one (or two) to eat with your favorite morning beverage and you're good to go, they're full of good, nutritious grains, nuts and fruit. This will definitely be a staple around here from now on. My husband can be a little skeptical when it comes to trying new things. Think of that old Life cereal commercial with Mikey: "What's this stuff? Some cereal... it's supposed to be good for you... he likes it!!" 

Sew, what have I been stitching? This is block #6 in the 'Aspiring Stars' BOM. The blocks all measure 15"; I'm using a wide assortment of Lori Holt fabrics from different collections. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to set them together yet. 

 

I finally managed to get the borders on my Scrappy, Strippy Diamonds. It's currently loaded on the longarm. I found a low volume backing fabric with an allover tea bag print on the shelf, I had to do some finagling to make it work, size-wise, but I persevered; it's going to be a really a cute quilt.

More oversize blocks for the Cream and Sugar BOM. These took a LOT of time. Whew. This class is a challenge to to stay current with as far as the homework goes but I love it!

 One more thing...speaking of homework... this one will start Basic Obedience classes next week, I sure hope he's ready! 😉 Augie is 25 weeks old today; what joy he has brought into our lives! He's growing fast, just over seven pounds now. He's all about keeping calm (well maybe not), carrying on, and is definitely all about some cookies! 

What's capturing your time and attention, how are you carrying on these days?

Life is Good!

   

This, This and That Tuesday

Fairy tales are too scary for young children. Gregory brought me this book to read earlier today, he crawled up in my lap with it. "Nana, read" he commanded, as he settled himself comfortably in my lap. He wanted "The Gingerbread Man". I began to read, he traced the pictures with a finger as he listened... all of a sudden I realized that the title character was about to meet a gruesome end. I stopped reading and thumbed through some more selections. "Little Red Riding Hood", "Rapunzel", "The Three Billy Goats Gruff", "The Wild Swans" and "The Little Match Girl" were all equally frightening, at least I believe they would be upsetting to a small boy; they are to me! I did end up reading "The Little Red Hen" and that satisfied his curiosity where this particular book was concerned. I put it up on a higher shelf and we watched  a "Bob The Builder" video after that!

Four years ago I posted here about fixing overnight crock-pot oatmeal. A friend recently shared with me a recommendation: Steel-Cut Oats from Trader Joe's, a "quick cook" variety. I bought some last evening and fixed them for our breakfast this morning. I used the same three to one ratio and my small slow cooker on "warm" as described in this earlier post. They were completely phenomenal with dried cherries and yogurt!

Have you ever been sitting with friends, just chatting and sharing ideas, when you heard something that hit you like a lightening bolt and, from that very moment on, consumed your every thought? I did, back last month when I was catching up with friends in Hampton, VA during Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. A friend, Cyndi, mentioned a "quiet, low volume" color palette and how she was going to make a "sick quilt" for her adult children; one per household that their children could grow up with, and snuggle under, when they were ill or just feeling under the weather. I knew right then and there that I was on a mission to do the very same thing. First, I needed to begin collecting "low volume" fabrics... it's tough to be on a fabric mission, feel sorry for me. I admit to having a lot of fabric on hand, but it never seems to be the right one for the project at hand; mine all seems to be too noisy. First, I had to understand the definition of "low volume"; one can't have a sick quilt that is loud or boisterous. I like what I'm finding. I'm thinking  of a one block creation, perhaps a tumbler shape.... stay tuned; I'll post pictures as I amass my fabrics for this, I just won't be making much noise about it.

*Disclaimer: these are NOT my fabrics (I only wish they were), I found the photo on Google images.

Life is Good!