Update.

My newest grandson is doing well.  Has developed a bit of jaundice, but they are taking care of it and am told that is is fairly normal for this to happen.

If I do this right, you can click HERE to see a YouTube video of little Micah.  If you watch it, please let me know if it works.

Years ago, a friend of mine would compete with me each month to see which us brought the most isolette quilts to the the guild meeting each month.  Just a friendly little challenge between two friends.  I miss her very much since she moved away.  At any rate, I haven't really quilted much in about 5 years or so.  I saw the isolette covers when I visited my new grandson in the NICU.  Not the ones we made of course, but the guild is still making them.  So, I decided that I could make one for him, a special one since I knew how.

I took it down to the hospital yesterday morning.  Very simple pattern, easy to make and quick to make.  The little isolette quilts are only 32 inches square so don't take a lot of fabric.  They are also a wonderful way to try new blocks and techniques out.  At any rate, I went a head and embroidered his name and birth date on the quilt.  

It probably doesn't mean a thing to anyone but me, but I know that I have prayed for good health for my grandson and that a little bit of me is right there with him.

I think also that maybe God is using this to bring me back to a calling, a passion, that I have been neglecting since my father died.  I get such joy out making various types of quilts to give away.  So many charities need them.  I have been told by many that I have a talent for quilting (crafting in general) and went through a bible study class to find that this is truly a gift from God.  I make things, I make them well, and am pretty quick with it as well.  I can crochet, but while most find it soothing, relaxing, for me it is nerve wracking. I love to sew, to embroiderer (both machine and hand) and now have some new goals for my crafting.

One, I want to make several isolette quilts each month and just take them straight up to the NICU that my little grandson is in.  I don't think I will be joining the back in the local quilt guild any time soon.  Too much little knit picky things go on there that leave a sour taste in my mouth.  I am very uncomfortable when attending.  However, I may try it again in the fall.

Two, I am going to jump back in to my church's quilt group this fall when they start back up.  I have a ton of Christmas fabric squares that I hope to make in to a quilt for the church to use as a door prize this year for the Christmas program they are reviving.

Three, I want to make some charity quilts to use up my scraps and stash.  Although, my stash isn't as big as it used to be since I was stupid and gave a bunch of it away, God seems to find ways of providing me what I need to make various projects.

Four, I need to do a lot of sewing of garments.  I have the patterns, the fabric, just need to do it.  That is a fall project as well since I am using the summer to clean and organize the house.

Speaking of God providing.  I have found many times, that I would get an idea for a quilt, be driven to make it, complete it, and not have any where for it to go.  I put it up and it never fails that somewhere down the line it is the perfect quilt for a person that could use it.  Here is an example.  A fellow church member gave me a big bag of fabric because she knew that I quilted.  The following month, a local quilt shop offered a quilt class that I was just really drawn to so I took it.  The class demo was a lovely quilt in mauve, greens, and cream colors a bit of a variation on the Ohio Star.  Reminded me of an English tea garden.  Well, for some odd reason, even though I like the demo fabrics, I decided to use a completely different color palette using the fabrics that the lady from church had given me.  They were bold primary colors, I used black to pull it together.  And, of course, the ladies that take the quilt classes on a regular basis and always make the quilt exactly like the demo, all thought I was crazy and let it be known that they did not care much for my quilt.  Not that I really cared what they thought, I finished up sewing the binding down and then just put the quilt away in my closet.  Almost a year later, my husband's boss had a daughter that was badly injured while serving in Iraq.  She came home to several operations and skin graphs.  After healing up, she came and talked to our church bible study group about reaching for the stars, keeping the faith to reach the stars. I pulled the quilt out and brought with me to the bible study and gave it to her telling her that she is our star for her service.  It was all her favorite colors.  Her dad told my hubby at work that the quilt is the first thing she packs when she goes back to any hospital stays.

In other words, God had a plan, I followed the plan, and the person the plan was for was blessed.  I was blessed by being able to do it for her.

Thanks for stopping by today, hope your day goes wonderfully.  I am off to start some laundry, pick up daughter J from summer class, then to a doctor consult for my droopy eyelids.

Things to Ponder - Or Not

***Just a word of warning, this ended up a bit long winded.***

Okay, I have had shall we say an "off" week. I have not felt well and am not sure as to the cause. Stuffy head when it isn't running like Niagara Falls, zero energy level, burning itchy eyes, upset stomach and achy (okay, down right painful) joints.

Could it be allergies raging due to our superb air quality in the area? Let's see, half the farmers in town in cutting hay and alfalfa. The other half are cutting down the remains of their summer crops to prepare for the fall crops. Oh and then there is the fire on the hill, it started Sunday afternoon and as of today over 8,500 acres burned and is only 70% contained. Times like this I am glad I don't live up on the mountain. Understand, our town is in a valley, the end of long valley actually, but at our end, we are mountains three sides around so there are often fires to some degree going, especially this time of the year, factor in to that the Santa Anna winds and you have what is referred to as Fire Season. Our honorable governor Terminator, hold on, need to take a drink to get rid of the bad taste in my mouth by the thought. The governor has graciously declared a state of emergency in order to qualify the area for extra funds to fight the fires.

Where is the money coming from? Who knows, the state still has no budget approved and will start handing out IOU's again next month. Analyst feel that the politicians are waiting to see what happens with the November election. I think it is just wrong that the state workers (including those fire fighters, police, teachers, and national guard) will get IOU's. I just don't think that the grocery store is going to take it in exchange for groceries. Not to mention, those that are on disability (which everyone but me can seem to qualify for with less documented illness) state grants for college, or even unemployment (which seems to be really easy for everyone but me to get). I find it interesting that our Governor can declare a state of emergency for a fire from his little trip abroad, but he couldn't be bother to meet the deadline to file and appeal against the court that declared Prop 8 unconstitutional. Prop 8 is a proposition to legally describe marriage as the union of one man and one woman. All the hype over this is truly hard to navigate at times, but if you really look at the bottom line, it is a sad statement of our society that a detailed worded out description of marriage is even necessary. It really has nothing to do with gay marriages (which has an immoral voice that has sounded off in a loud way about) it has nothing to do with interracial marriage (which the proponents of gay marriage want to scare the people with) it has to do with those perverted minds that want to use the lack of terminology to get at our children and prey on women. If you don't believe that, think about it a minute. If the proposition defining marriage (which was voted on by the state - approved as one man to one woman) is not settled then of course there will be a mass stampede to the judges (and a few alters I am sure as several denominations have recently allowed to have gay ministers) for gays to marry. They say they want spousal privileges legally. A legal partnership, such as for businesses, is much stronger. Majority of insurances already pay benefits to anyone you list and pay for. Gay marriage is for the sole purpose of adopting children. Just like a traditional marriage, they can have the pull of a child to use on the mate. Here is the kicker, if marriage is not defined, it will be possible, legally, for multiple wives. In the more extreme case, and yes there are people out there that would embrace this situation, it would be legal to marry an animal, a real four footed animal. I find it rather disheartening that society has advanced to the point that this type of legislation is even necessary, but it is. Hopefully November will bring some huge changes as I believe a significant amount of voters may be waking up to what has been done to the country. Of course, I don't feel that our election process has the power any more for the common people that it should, that is was meant to have. The last presidential election with all the "super delegate" garbage, proven voter fraud, false information and news reports just reinforces that belief. Too bad Nixon didn't have the people in his pocket that Clinton did, he could have stayed in office as Clinton did, impeached and all. Of course, it would seem that Obama is the master of them all. Even his wife gets by with more than any other first lady. Really, her private staff (paid for by the taxpayer) is just obscene. Okay, I have vented and am now off my soap box and on to other subjects.

Things to ponder.

Why do old men like striped shirts with their denim pants with a belt and suspenders, at the same time? I had to go get blood drawn yesterday and there was an older gentlemen sitting there, getting the same thing done. I looked at him and thought how much his shirt looked like one my own dad wore often. Then noticed the same navy blue suspenders that dad wore. I am always thankful for those little fleeting good thoughts I have of my late father. Of course all my thoughts of him are good, except of this last hours. Those still haunt me and I can't get rid of them. At any rate, not going there, this sweet little old man, he was all of five foot five and doubt he weighed much over 100 pounds, but still had a look of determination and that little spark of frivolity in his eye. When he stood up and shuffled in to the lab, I noticed the belt too. That is what really had me thinking about dad, then when they ask his birth date I over heard his response and realized he literally about three weeks older than dad. It was a nice morning.

Then I went to the church quilt group. When I was working, I just didn't have the time to work on anything and just kind of dropped out of life I think. But, I am slowly getting back in to some things, carefully so as not to overload myself. It was really enjoyable. A couple of weeks ago, the last time we met, a couple of the ladies had decided to go through a box of fabric scraps. Occasionally, someone cleans out there home or cleans out a relative's home that is either moving or has passed away and they donate all kinds of fabric scraps, yarn and such to the quilt ministry. It is always such a blessing just waiting to be received by where God desires. Maybe the blessing in the the receiving of those end resulting items, maybe the blessing is in the giving from a thoughtful heart. So it was, that one of these donations was in the form of a box of fabric scraps. It had been decided to throw it away. Well, that is not allowed with the ministry. If nothing else, the church's school and daycare can use it for the kids to craft with. Well, in this box was a UFO (unfinished fabric object) in the form of a quilt squares that some one had started putting in to a quilt top. By the looks of the fabric, probably started in the 70's. I was in high school in the later 70's and I remember making my mom a dress (good grief what a horrible job it was) out of fabric that I had ordered from Sears, back when you had large catalogs that came out and you could just order anything from it, and the small floral print was almost identical to what I used for my mom's gift. Back to the UFO though. The print was paired with solids and made into block using the pinwheel block. Blue, pink, green, and gold (not yellow, typical bold gold of the time). Closer inspection was warranted as a result of basic curiosity. That was when I noticed the embroidered blocks. Someone had taken white cloth, used stamped cross stitch of little animals, and had embroidered the blocks. You know, the first thing I thought of was the time it would have taken to embroider those blocks. I wondered, not knowing where the donation came from, if this had been done by an older women while she waited for loved ones to visit or maybe a young mother while her babies slept, possibly a young child that was being taught to embroider. Okay, I have an active imagination that runs the gamut of lines of thought. I think I inherited it through my genes somewhere, the woman that raised me has no imagination what so ever. Aunts taught me to crochet, home-ec taught me to sew, and 4-H taught me other crafts. What can I say? A wonderfully special teacher taught me to open my mind to imagine everything possible and impossible, through books that I read, through writing my own versions down. Thank you Mrs. Marchbanks for a most wonderful gift.

I drift again, back to the donated scraps and the UFO. One of the leaders has pulled these bags of scraps from the trash and looked through the scraps, that was when I saw the UFO. My first thought was of the time put in to this work, thinking how sad that person would be to see their efforts in a trash bin. I took it and told them I would finish it out in to something. I just had to, their was no other reason. So, as the lady looked through the other scraps, I thought about what to do with these quilt blocks. Not really enough for a quilt, there was only four of them and one of them had this awful red fabric with little anchors on it. Well, the conversation of the other ladies was about the preschool and how the kids love to be able to cut the fabric and do all kinds of crafts with it. I remembered my own daughter playing momma in one of the centers and dressing up and carrying the dolls around. So...I hit on the bright idea to take these blocks and leave the original pinwheel and embroidery blocks grouped together in what is commonly known as a nine-patch then making those in to little doll quilts. Those little preschool toddlers will love the bright colors and it will be just the right size. I did take photos of the work, will post them tomorrow or so when I am all done. I found the cutest red fabric with little white stars to make a border around three of them and a mottled green for the fourth. I don't know why, but I just can't stand red and pink together unless it is valentine's hearts. Not in a quilt or in a garment though. That is why I pulled the green out of the floral and used it as a border on the one with the pink pinwheels.

While on the subject of quilting, I also when to the local quilt guild meeting yesterday. Now, there is a long story and some hard feelings about the local guild, which I won't go in to. Just leave it at the fact that I was made to feel that my skills were a little lacking in some of the old bitties eyes. In fact, I make quilts to be used, not to hang around at shows. I especially don't make the same exact quilt featured in the recent quilt magazine with the exact fabrics used on the project quilt and then act like I am so creative to copy something already thought of. I know, I said I won't go in to it, I really won't. Back to the point. The last few years before I started working, I had pretty much quit going to guild, just didn't want to deal with some of the personalities that were strongly represented there. Then when I started working, I didn't like going to the evening meeting because I don't really like driving of an evening. That is why I dropped out of the church quilt group as well, I could have attended the evening meeting, but just didn't want to leave the house. I don't mind getting out of a day, but when everyone gets home from work and school, I like to just hunker down and relax through the evening.

Well, new meeting place, new times, thought I would just go and see how it flowed. I really like the new meeting place. Nice and roomy. The new location is a little closer to home as well, not much, but a little and feels a little safer area as well. That was a positive. Not too many familiar faces, the ones that were familiar were ones that I normally got a long with, so another positive. Of the few familiar faces I came across, I could tell from their face that only one of them actually remembered me. I might have been a little familiar to them, like they know they knew me from somewhere? But other than that, nothing. Which in their defense, it had been like 5 or 6 years since I was there on a regular basis. However, the rest of the crowd just ignored me and didn't even try to say hello, except for the one woman that chose to sit right next to me when there was like 40 open chairs behind me and beside me. Wouldn't have been so bad for the fact that she was a heavy smoker and the smell was just overwhelming to me. The ladies being so unfriendly was a negative for sure.

I admit, it just hasn't been the same since my dear friend Cara moved away. We always went together, had lunch, visited, I miss having a friend. The other negative is the time of the meeting. There used to me a morning meeting and the evening meeting. Now it is an afternoon meeting, meeting at 1:30 instead of 9:00 AM. By the time they get through saying hello, to all but new comers, it was closer to 2:00 before they got started. I had to leave about 2:30 so didn't get much from the speaker.

The speaker was a lady that designs mystery quilts. For those of you that don't know, let me explain a mystery quilt. A participant is given a fabric list. The required yardage of each of the fabrics needed. Sometimes it tells you to pick a light and a dark, maybe a focus fabric with a light and dark, complimenting colors, or such so you know what to use and how much you will need yardage wise. Nice to pick out your fabrics, but you have no idea how they will be used together, what will be next to what. Therefore, use of value rather than color is really critical to a successful quilt. Then, you are given clues one at a time. This will be your cutting instructions, sewing instructions and eventually piecing instructions. For instance, one clue may be to use color A and cut 45 squares that are 2.5 inches. Or, take the color A squares and sew them to the color B squares. Then, as you sew through the clues, you solve the mystery when you finally put the top together and can then see what it actually looks like.

The speaker had some very pretty quilts, but you know, they all seemed to look alike after awhile. This speaker really likes half square triangles and she uses them. I know you can really make a different look by playing with the placement, even just playing with your colors and values makes a totally different look, but in the end, they are all triangles. Her mystery quilts, the ones she designs, are done through workshops or retreats. Personally, I don't really go in for mystery quilts, although I have made a few through some wonderful online quilt groups. Usually online you get the fabric requirements (most of the time, you post a photo of your fabric and the hostess of the mystery - who knows how the quilt looks in the end - will email you if you need to have a little different fabric choice) and then about every two weeks or so a new clue is posted. Then, you can post about your progress, any problems you may be having or such.

However, I really cheat and won't start cutting one out until I have seen the end result. The speaker said that she has one student that takes all of her classes and loves mystery quilts, but she does them always with seasonal fabrics. The student said that way if she doesn't like the quilt she only keeps it out for a short time before changing to the next season or holiday. Makes sense in a way, but I figure if I wait until the mystery is solved and look at the final result, if I don't like the way it looks I have saved a whole lot of time and a lot of money on fabric for something I would never have made to begin with. Guess I am just cheap that way. Nothing against Mystery Quilts, they are lovely for the most part and I can see the fun in them, and as I said, if I like the finished quilt I will make it. But they are not my thing.

Back to the meeting, I am still undecided as to whether or not I will join up again. They do a lot of good work as far as charity goes, and since most of the quilting I do (about 98%) is all charity, they are a great connection for getting my work to a place that can really use it. I do so love to make the isolet covers that go to the babies in NICU, think it is my favorite thing to do. The quilt guild, according to their latest newsletter, is also making cuddle quilts for Painted Turtle (a camp for cancer kids) and pillow cases for kids along with donations for the Quilts of Valor group. We have a local hero that lost both of his legs while serving our country, the guild made quilts and presented them to him when he was give the keys to his new home that was built by volunteers through Homes For Our Troops. I think that kind of support is awesome and if being a member allows me to be a part of that, guess I can look past the other. They were voting on changing the time back to 9 for the day meeting, so hope that happens, it would be easier for me. The guild also has a block of the month program where you make the block of the month and bring them in and you are placed in the drawing for some prize. It is fun as you can practice making a block you may have never made before with out committing to making a quilt full of them.

I will think about the guild a little more.

My doctor's office just called, my blood work was not improved, in fact was a little worse, so am being referred over to a couple of specialist for some further testing. THANK GOD, we are now getting some results and may just find out why I am having the problems I am having. I knew this was coming back in February, is why I ended up resigning my position. I knew I would need further time off for these test and they couldn't let me have off. Well, they made the effort, was told I could have off one day a week for appointments. However, my office manager also told me it would have to be the same day of the week all the time. This does not work. Some doctors only take new patients on Tues, then see follow ups on Thurs, if you are limited to only having appointments on Wednesday, you may be waiting three months to hit on a Wednesday that has a opening. Reinforces that I made the correct decision, hopefully when we get me all fixed up a part time position of some sort will show up.

Wow, guess I better go up and post a warning that this is long. It turned in to a book. Guess I better go get something to eat and run to Wally World to find Miss J a pair of long black socks for the band performance this evening. Like she hasn't know she didn't have any before the last minute, right? Thanks for popping for a visit.

Missed Monday

Okay, had every intention to post my menu plan on Monday, for Menu Plan Monday over at Laura's blog that I follow called I'm an Organizing Junkie. It is a great site for dinner ideas and real motivator for keeping on track. All the inspiration with over 300 fellow bloggers that all post their MPM (Meal Plan Monday) menus for the week. I am constantly both amazed and surprised at the variety, you really should grab a glass of tea or cup of what ever and just sit and read through them. Every type of dish, from meat and hearty to vegetarian to light and everything in between. From all over the world too. I learned that a pie doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. LOL

This week's plan:

Mon - Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, beans
Tue - Chicken Rice Enchiladas, Frito Salad, cantaloupe
Wed - Baked Talapia, Salad, Dutch Green Beans
Thu - Crock pot Sloppy Joe, Tater Tots
Fri - Pizza
Sat - Sandwiches, Chips
Sun - Steak, Baked Potato, Salad

Although, Wednesday may change a little since it is expected to be 110 degrees here, and since my kitchen is west facing, not sure I want to do any baking tomorrow. But, that is the plan.

On a more positive note, tonight's dish was a huge hit. Didn't have a recipe, which happens around here a lot, but here it is.

It was so good, and you know how I tell if it is a hit? No left overs. And this particular main dish was very cheap.

I bought some rice mixes on sale, this one was a mix for Spanish rice and it was .75 and was prepared in the microwave. In to the rice I chopped up the last few pieces of some packaged fajita chicken strips costing about .50 which is pre-cooked. Flour tortillas that cost about .80 and about 2 cups of grated cheddar, divided for another 1.40 for the portion I used. There was also about .30 worth of red enchilada sauce and an avocado that was .25 sliced up. Here is what I did with all of that. I mixed the chicken and rice together. In the baking dish I layered the rice, just a thin layer to cover the bottom. Then, mixed in about half the cheese with the remaining rice mixture, spooned it in to a tortilla and added avocado slices, rolled up and placed a toothpick to hold it closed. Layered these on top of the rice. Poured a little bit of the enchilada sauce over the tops of the rolled flour tortillas. Layered the rest of the cheese all over the rolled tortillas. Placed slices of avocado on top of that, loosely covered with foil and popped in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, opened the foil and spooned sour cream on topped with sliced black olives, placed back in oven to just warm the sour cream. Total for the main dish was approximately $4.20. Add in about $2.00 more dollars for the salad and cantaloupe and dinner was a total of $6.20 and there is actually enough left over for my lunch tomorrow. Not bad, since I am having a little trouble adjusting my cooking to servings of 3. I cooked for so long making everything for 8 because when the boys were home they ate seconds on everything. Then, went down to cooking for 6, when oldest son left home and since I was working would just take left overs with me for lunch. Now, youngest son isn't home anymore so it is just the three of us and I am trying to eat healthy breakfast, light lunch, and then healthier family dinners so the goal is no left overs.

Speaking of eating, thinking of tables, and all these vintage garments running around my head pleading to be made up. I know, long run on fragment of a sentence there. At any rate, while I was going through boxes and bins of fabric and treasures that were packed away, I came across these and had to share.
I saved these from the estate sale we had when moving mom out here. They are just too precious. They are placemats, probably from late 30's or early to mid 40's, I estimate this because according to mom they were pre-married life. My parents married in 1946 not long after dad got home from the war. The flower is appliqued down with the bottom petal left free so the tip of the napkin can pull through to hold it in place. There are embroidered details on the leaves and vines as well. I just love the scalloped yellow edge which is hand stitched. I have eight of them. Mom believes in settings of eight for everything when it comes to the table. Always has.

Tomorrow is the kick off for the women's bible study at our church. Since no longer working, I am so looking forward to getting back to the group. And...big news here...for me anyway...I was asked to run for a position on the women's ministry board. The elections are in September, so will let you know how that turns out. I thought I wanted to try for one position, but after looking over the position descriptions, I am so happy that they needed me for the one they suggested and I really hope I get to be a part of this board.

Thanks for stopping in an visiting my little world today, feel free to leave a comment as it is always nice to know that someone read it.

I am back home

Well, I am back home. Need to finish up a few projects around the house before I can actually start sewing, but can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak.

Got to spend a week with the new grand son. That was totally awesome.

He is just pretty great. Long fingers, long toes, and a head full of black hair. Will be interesting to see what color his eyes turn out being. Of course, he will be walking before we see him again unless they can some how come here for Christmas. Praying, but not holding my breath.

And of course, had a great time playing with grandson #1 who is ready to be a big brother. He is just special to be around and I can't wait until next summer when he gets to come spend a few weeks with us.

Okay, now that you know what I have been doing lately. This is what I have planned. After I get the master bedroom finished and a yard sale held that is. Oh my gosh, it is almost time for school to start. I am actually looking forward to getting everything back on some type of schedule. Would like to make some clothes for my youngest daughter, but she doesn't really seem to interested in the idea. We will see. Am heading to a vintage shop this morning. Just to look around a bit. Speaking of vintage, here is the plan, think I mentioned this in an earlier post, but now have photos.

This is some fabric I picked up on clearance and the two patterns I have narrowed it down to making. After reading a few blogs that have made Butterick 4790, I think I am going to go with Butterick 5209. The main reason is because the fabric is a plisae (not sure how you would spell that) or thin with little bumps on it and do not think that it would be suitable for the wrap waist which will have some pull on it. I do however, think it would be perfect for the view made with the cap sleeves. Both of these patterns are current reprints of the original vintage pattern. I am so hooked on the vintage styles of the 40's and 50's. Simple lines that are timeless. I have noticed that several of the current lines from the fashion designers are using the same style elements in their fall lines. My only problem is trying to make patterns fit me. They are made for June Cleaver figures, I have Aunt Bea's. We will see how it turns out.

I took the day yesterday and went through the patterns that I do have, listed them, and was quite pleased with what I found I already had. There is one pattern that has me a bit baffled though. See what you think.



This is the front of McCalls pattern 5915 which I purchased many years ago. It was supposed to be my attempt at what would be called high fashion, probably from the days of Chrystal Carrington or sometime in the 80's I think.





However, after throwing it in the drawer and waiting...well, a while...I pulled it out to find that the images on the back of the envelope do not match at all. The fabric requirements and line drawing views were for a totally different outfit.





This is what I found inside.

Not even the same style skirt. At least it is of a style that I like much better. Can wear better as well. No problem there, can go with the flow as it has the sizes in it I would need. I got the bright idea that I would just google that pattern and find the correct image of one made up. Would print it out and glue it to the front of the envelope. Pretty smart right? Well imagine what I was now thinking when I googled the pattern number and this is the image that comes up for that pattern.

Yep! You got it. An apron pattern? Believe it or not, this is pretty typical of my sewing experiences. And, of course, I still have not idea what the outfit for this pattern looks like.

Well, I am off to the store. I should be working on my bedroom, laundry and such, but I am taking a break and heading out to do some looky louing. I am actually going to check the prices as I have found some vintage prom dresses and am going to open an Etsy shop and list them and some very vintage shoes that are from the 40's to see if I can get a little income coming in. I have a pretty decent stash of fabric and supplies so am planning on making some things up to put in that Etsy shop as well. Am thinking that with Christmas on the horizon that maybe I can sell some baby items, doll items, vintage styled aprons and maybe some quilts. It is a plan anyway.

Good news is that youngest DD is actually online in her room making a list of patterns she likes. OH YEAH! A local craft store has the Simplicity patterns on sale this month for $.99 and I can take the add to another craft store and they will honor it. I have a long list myself. LOL

Thanks for stopping in and feel free to leave a comment. It is always nice to know that someone has read my postings.

Getting Started

I spent all day yesterday cleaning out kitchen pantries and feel really good about what I got accomplished. Only made it through one and a half cabinets, but the one cabinet is a converted small closet and the half of cabinet I completed is the top half of the main pantry and while isn't huge is nice size. I am upset that I had to throw so much away but found lots of expired food and those blasted brown moth's and their maggot looking babies were quite a few things as well. So, here is how the kitchen work has played out so far.

The small closet was converted by previous owner's of the home. It is actually located by the front door right across from the kitchen and am sure it was a little coat closet. I figure it is about two and half feet wide and about eighteen inches deep. There are four shelves and then the floor area. I mainly use it for extra storage of kitchen ware, not much food. One entire shelf is hubby's liquor collection. Of course, my friend Capt. Morgan, and his sidekicks amaretto, peach schnopps, raspberry liquor, and mixers are visiting there as well. For a couple that doesn't really drink much we are well stocked. Hubby likes a good margarita but I found that I have three bottles of tequila. Hmm, maybe some tequila chicken or margarita marinade is about to show up on the menu. LOL I keep my potatoes and onions in a big bowl in the bottom and yesterday when cleaning out I did however get rid of the healthy start in that bowl to homemade vodka. Man do potatoes and onion smell offensive when they melt in to mush. Some overlooked home canned goods were found underneath the fifty boxes of swifter refills. Okay, not fifty, but did count five open boxes. Two were the refills for the duster and three were boxes of the floor swiffer. I had no idea that ants were so attracted to those floor rags. I saw somewhere a pattern to make a crocheted swiffer type duster that goes on the handles and then you just toss it in the washer. I kept a copy of that somewhere and it is going to be one of my first projects when I get my little craft room up and going. Other than that, the cabinet mainly has baking supplies. You know, foil pans in all sizes, a box of chocolate chips, paper goods and lots of empty storage containers. The bottom is where I keep my gizmos that I have to have to help me cook...but never use. Like the meat slicer we bought when the boys were smaller and ate us out of house and home so we bought bulk cheese and and cooked hams and breast to slice up our self. It was a huge savings, we could buy a five pound block of cheese for about what one pound sliced from the deli cost. I would slice off part of it, grate a big bag full, then cut the left overs in to cubes for snacking. Now it is just the three of us, and most times just one or two for a meal. And, of course there is the big griddle, canning supplies, and the rice cooker. Although, I quit using the rice cooker because it just didn't seem to make enough, so it might get brought out again. Found a recipe yesterday that uses the rice cooker to make oatmeal and am going to try that one out for sure. I also have a two foot high, literally, stack of assorted Jell-o molds. There is a flag for patriotic holidays (never used), mold to make jiggler jelly beans (used a little), eggs (used a lot) and then the cars, footballs, Christmas shapes (never used) and for a lark when I was involved in a frog themed dinner there are some little frog molds as well and two molds to make what looks like a bundt cake or ring of Christmas trees. At least now I can see it all. Hubby was impressed so we just won't mention the three shelves in the garage that have baking sheets, enamel water canner (huge), roasters, canning pans, shaved ice maker, ice cream maker, pressure cookers (one large for canning and two small for cooking) pasta maker, coffee makers not used any more and the food sealer (which needs to be moved to the house because we use it a lot). Oh, and I just put an electric orange juicer out there too. That is left over from when we would go to the coast for the day and come home with a twenty pound box of juice oranges for $4. I would juice them and freeze the juice.

I am a gadget junky. Along with all I already mentioned, there is also a deep fryer, electric skillet, milk shake maker (won it at some picnic) blender, food processor, hand mixer, the thing you stick in a cup or bowl that blends, about five different crockpots (various sizes and shapes) and of course my bread machine that also makes butter. I found something yesterday that resembled what only a ninja warrior would carry, one twist and a zigzag of sharp blades would come out and cut what ever you had sticking in it. I tossed it. LOL

As for the actual pantry of food stuffs? I got the top half done and now know that I have seven cans of cream of celery soup (for example) to use in a recipe. This where I was very wasteful and threw so much out. Found jars of miracle whip that expired in 2008. It may have still been perfectly fine, but just wasn't willing to risk being sick or making my family sick. Same with all the cans and jars that had expiration dates. I am for sure going to keep a better eye on what I have and make sure to use it. I also put the items back in the cabinet and stacked the older ones in front so would use them first, putting like items together. Now all my green beans are with green beans in the same spot, corn together, peaches, and such. It is only half the cabinet, or all the canned goods, but I am seeing that pretty much all I need is some meat. Even found four cans of chilies in adobo sauce that I had on my list to buy because they were used in a recipe I saw on TV.

Now for the bottom half, which should go a little quicker. Mainly baking mixes, flour, sugar, cereal and such. What I call the boxed goods as opposed to the can. I know that when I get done with all of that I will be well stocked in that area as well. My goal is to get through the bottom section and then finally go through my spice cabinet. A little small cabinet by the stove, but loaded with spices and flavorings. I have been writing everything down as it goes back in to the pantry so I know what I have on hand and will probably spend tomorrow entering it in to my MasterCook program. From there I can enter recipes, create menu plans from the recipes, then create a shopping list which will check my pantry list to see if I already have it. Great help for the goal of organizing the meals. Only draw back... if you have five recipes that call for milk, it will list five milks on you grocery list. LOL I am thinking that when I plan my menus, I need to start trying some pressure cooker recipes along with at least twice a month try some new ingredient, like the chilies in adobo sauce, or a new vegetable or fruit.

Oh well, enough talking, I need to go to Facebook and check over my farms then back at it in the kitchen. I still have a cabinet full of pans that needs to be cleaned out as well and am hoping that Monday I will able to start on clearing out the vacant room so we can start painting. Here is the plan for that. Oldest son has moved out. That bedroom is going to be cleared, cleaned, painted, new carpet, and youngest daughter moved in to it. Then, her room will be vacant. That room will be cleared, cleaned, painted and new floor. Hope to get wood flooring down in there as it will become the craft den. I will move my computer in there, need it to load designs on card for machine embroidery. I will set up all my sewing machines and move in all my supplies for quilting, sewing, crocheting, machine embroidery and scrapbooking. My daughter and I will hang out in there. I even saved my dad's recliner to put in there and will sit in it, think of him, and do the hand work. I see my crazy quilting coming back to life. Oh yeah, of course there will be a TV in there as well. LOL I AM SO EXCITED just thinking about it. I can sew til all hours with worrying about the light or sound interrupting any one's (mainly hubby who seems to have to go to bed by nine) sleep. Although he snores like a chain saw, I am told I keep him from getting a restful sleep. I am thinking I may have to find a dressmaker's mannequin now that I will finally be able to make some clothes. Of course quilting will be first, and am very motivated to get it all set up so I can make new grand baby a quilt. Now that I am not working, I think it will probably be a homemade Christmas all around. LOL Hmm, wonder if daughter would accept some handmade infant wear?

Well off to other things. Will post my progress when I have any. Thanks for visiting.