Quilt Along ~ Episodes Done and Done!

 Quilt along ~ finished!

I'm so glad that Carmen and Nancy did this, it's so much funner to do together....even when "together" means thousands of miles and too many weeks apart.  :)  Plus, you have to click over and see Nancy's finished quilt...it's pretty spectacular.  ;)

 I used fabric from the give-away I had won over on RoseHip.  The fabric is so wonderful, and it made quilting a pleasure.  I usually get all twisted up with 'what colors' and 'what patterns' and argh!

 Beata makes the most wonderful crocheted edgings.  I've been wanting to make some pillow cases from some repurposed sheets, and I've known I would try my hand at the edgings when I do so.  She's such an inspiration!  So at some point, when I was imagining this blanket done, I thought maybe I would do the crochet edging on it, as a tribute to sweet Betta and her generous fabric give away.

I struggled with the decision because I couldn't find any source that described sewing, turning, closing, then quilting.  It seemed like you need to quilt first, then bind.  It just seemed like the whole "quilting thing" was sort of the point of doing the quilt along, so it gave me pause to skip it.  I wasn't in the mood to experiment with my blanket (the cutting!  so much cutting!) and Carmen encouraged me to stop fretting and go for it, so that's exactly what I did!

And you know what?  I LOVE it!!!  I've always been in awe of Betta's (and Alice's, too!) perfectly perfect blanket stitches, and I have to say that the green gingham check fabric provided the perfect pre-made grid so that even I could have perfectly perfect blanket stitches.  I used 100% cotton for the edging.

Did I mention that I love it???  It's the perfect size for cuddling on the couch, but I really picture it on the sand at the beach, the star of a picnic; later, you can cozy under it as the sun sets on the water.

Or is that just too much pressure to put on a blanket?

Progress!

 My quilt-along-quilt.  Dude.  It's a six week project.  I'm on....um....the fifth month?  Yeah, I think that's right.  Five months.  June to October, give or take?  I found this perfect green gingham sheet at the thrift some time ago (ahem) and knew it was exactly the backing I'd been looking for.  Score for three bucks!  There's a few steps left to go, on this one, but there's a chance that it will be done some time this weekend.  Or, in three months.  Just saying.

Okay, here we go.  I started this ripple lap-ghan almost two years ago.  I'm serious.  I tried to convince myself it was last November, but no, I'm sure it was the November before that because I had started it for Erik's dad when he started chemo.  Pancreatic cancer, however, is a merciless thug, and not even 10 weeks later, he passed away.  I set this blanket aside, because his passing was so hard on my honey, and it wasn't until Easter of 2009 that I pulled it out again and decided to finish it for Erik.  

It's a lovely variegated wool, and I am hopelessly in love with the (excessively boring to crochet) ripple stitch.  It's so sweet and old-fashioned!  Last time I set this project aside, I had purchased more of the yarn, in order to make it even bigger, thinking Erik would prefer a full-sized blanket over the lap-sized..  The ripple stitch just eats skeins!  I finished a dozen more rows this week, but you know what?  When I laid it out it was starting to look like a runner...all long and skinny...so I went back to the original lap-ghan tip and ended up pulling out ten rows.  

I won't cry though, because it's just right at the moment, and I have to say, I think it's going to be just perfect for bleacher seats at little league games this spring.  :)

Rocktober

If you've been looking for me, I can be found right here!

Embroidery, crochet, and quilting....I couldn't decide which one I wanted to work on first, so I am working on all three!  It feels so nice to be able to come home from work these days and have nothing doin' except spending time with my boys and bustling around the house and making a little something.

Of course, one of these days, I'll have to do just one of these long enough to actually finish something, but just for today, I'm not too worried about that!  Tomorrow...that's when I'll worry about getting the to-do list checked off.  Today is for rocking.

Perfect October Treat

Applesauce Muffins

4 cups flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

2 t baking soda

(Mix all, set aside)

Cream together:

1 cup butter, softened (yes, 1 cup.  Shut up.)

2 cups sugar (yes, 2 cups.  Do it.)

Add:

2 eggs.

2 cups applesauce

1 tablespoon vanilla

Add dry ingredients, stir until moistened.

Option:  Add 1 cup raisins.  I put it up to a vote in my household.  No raisins.

For some reason, on my recipe card, I have written:  "Raisin tip:  Pinch of flour to coat before folding in."  I've never used this tip, but I find it hilarious that it's documented here.

Fill lined muffin tins.  This recipe made 2 dozen good sized muffins.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 - 25 minutes.  These smelled AMAZING while cooking.  The aroma actually caused Erik to ask me if I was making apple pie.  Erik really appreciates my cooking, in general, but he loves when I get bit by the baking bug.  We always have the same conversation, where he comes in and gets faux-beligerent about the amount of time it's taking something to cook, and then I explain that I'm just obeying the laws of physics.  

In this case, I downplayed these muffins just a bit.  First of all, I was not so sure about the 'batter'.  This was not a pourable consistency, in the least.  It was quite dense, and had to be spooned into the liners.  Plus, I'd never made these before.  I have NO IDEA where I got the recipe.  Perhaps it came from you?  I just don't know.  Plus, I used applesauce that I had made myself.   So.  You know.  I just couldn't be sure what would be coming out of the oven.

 

Turns out?  They are delicious!  I've got three little mice who tell me so.  It took them a half dozen muffins to be certain, but their thoroughness is appreciated.

I Don't Care!

Scotty's bangs were down to his nose, so I trimmed them.  I left the rest of his hair wooly and wild (though it looks awfully tame, in this picture!) and everybody was making fun of me ~ and him ~ and you know what?  I.  Don't.  Care.  I think he's adorable, and I happen to think he's even cuter now.  He has such an expressive face....both of my kids do, actually.  They have their father's eyebrows, and I'm telling you, those things move around the forehead like a caterpillar.  They really start winging around when they get wound up, and I couldn't love it more.   So, if you don't like his hair-do (or hair-don't, if you must) I understand.  I understand, but I don't care.  Just saying.  :)

October!

I'm already loving October!  The heat wave broke on the first, leaving us 30 degrees cooler than we were in September.  I sent off my manuscript on September 30th at 6:30 in the morning...two hours before it was due!  And I don't have any consulting work due until late October, and just so you know, that work is just about done already.  Me!  Ahead of schedule! 

I spent this weekend mostly with my family, doing some sewing, some crocheting, some partying (of the kid variety...happy birthday Niece!) and even doing some chores around the house.  It just feels good.

On my to-do-list, and officially done:

These turtles were the one thing I asked for after Marie died...and her wonderful, sweet children agreed.  So my mom brought them back from Healdsburg on Wednesday, I picked them up from her house on Friday, and I floated them around the house all weekend before hanging them in the very first spot I had considered.  Isn't it always like that? 

I may have told this story, but it's worth repeating because it's so very Marie, but right after she was diagnosed with lung cancer, my mom and I headed up to see what's-what.  Marie was showing me some things she had brought back from Hawaii with her, after Glenn died, and these turtles were hanging on her wall.  "These are for good health and long life...." then she turned to me and deadpanned, "And you can see how well that's working out for Glen and I!"  She was so funny!  So twisted and funny.  I miss her.  :(

I love love love turtles myself, and so I was so happy when my mom let me have them.  I know she would have gladly accepted them herself, so it was very (uncharacteristically) sweet of her.  My own sweet dear childhood friend Tracy had sent me these just last week, and I've been so grateful to wear one or the other daily....

My students love the silver one (his legs and head wobble!) as do I, but I am also quite enamoured of  the mother of pearl...it feels so heavy, and it reminds me every day that friendships that last a lifetime are precious.  I love you, Tra!

I was also so happy that both Jenny and Michael wanted the blanket I had made with their parents' clothing and pictures.  My told me that they agreed to 'share it', trading off who got to keep it at their house.  Love!

 

If all you knew of me was this blog, you might be surprised to find that I have a 'housekeeper'.  Anybody who waxes poetic, as I do, about the mundane tasks of the domestic arts (a full clothesline makes me weep with joy!) surely could not abide employing outside help!

Yep.  And don't call me Shirley.  haha!

Luz comes every Friday and she does all the things I don't love doing.  The bathrooms, the mopping, cleaning our stove and hood, the microwave, dusting.  Oh, that's a lot!  She's wonderful.  She brings me enchiladas and tamales and her friend Lupe sent me the best papusas I've ever eaten, outside of a papuseria in Oaxaca, Mexico.

It's easy for me to make the decision to keep her services, even though as a line-item in our monthly budget she comes right after mortgage and preschool.  In the spring, I thought maybe I'd cut back to twice a month, instead of weekly, but...actually, I didn't do it because somebody else cut her back to twice a month, and I am a total sucker just didn't have the heart.  Plus...I love her!

When I'm not working outside the home, Luz comes over and we work together.  She also loves to garden....loves it!...and she always spends extra (unpaid) time hanging out and working the gardens.  She knows a lot and I learn so much by osmosis.  She even comes over when she's not working to get veggies for her and her friends.  We'll also wash the car when we're together.

The fact is, we're so productive, it sort of proves my only-half-kidding belief that, I don't care who you are, everybody needs a wife.  It's amazing how much easier life is with one!  Just ask Erik.  :)

Anyway, if you can swing it, and you find somebody as wonderful as Luz, I recommend hiring some help.  Heartily.  Not only because it frees up your time to putter around and do the things you love (like laundry...I'm weird...or making beds) and learn new things (like canning and quilting) and make things for the people you love (like knitted Kings and Queens), but also because chances are, anybody who cleans for living will have some wonderful, awesome quirks that will make you happy.

Like this one.  Every time Luz comes when I'm at work, I come home to find some little surprise like this ~ a pile of tomatoes I left on the counter is rearranged into a careful ring.  Or, the lotions and mascaras and lipstick tubes that littered the bathroom counters are commandeered into a smart little army of straight lines.  

It just tickles me so!