Strike 2

If I get another strike tomorrow, it will be 3 and I will be out. I actually thought yesterday's strike was enough with breaking the jam jar. Today I locked my keys in the jeep at my favorite restaurant - LaBamba's.

Of course I had to have the front parking spce too, right along the street. Luckily Lona was with me in her big Dodge truck. She drove me to where I thought BT would be eating lunch. He was there and kindly drove me home to get the only spare key we have.

I am happy to report that home key now has a new home in BT's Jeep.

After my delayed grocery and shopping trip I made it home just 25 minutes before I had to go pick Brady up from the school bus.

Tonight Jeremy, Lori and the boys were here for dinner. I set the table with my red heart placemants. Little Alex noticed right away and said hearts for Valentine day! I made Chicken and Rice and those great little carmelized Brussel Sprouts along with Caesar Salad. Carrot Cake rounded out the meal.

Thank goodness I did sew a little before I went to town at 10 AM.

8:56 PM 30 degrees

Don't cry over spilled milk!

After sleeping just a few minutes longer this morning, I went downstairs to make myself some breakfast before the usual cup of Mocha Cappuccino. I reached into the refrigerator grabbed an egg, the butter, the Apricot jam and that's when it happened. The jam jar slipped from my fingers, hit the Fiesta bowl on the bottom shelf and fell to the floor, and busted, shards of glass were everywhere. It was way to early for this kind of mess.

Thank goodness, I had another jar in the pantry. Not the same great brand, but neverless something sugary sweet for an eye opener that was long over due.

With breakfast over and caffaine in hand,

I spent a few minutes on the computer before heading upstairs to sew a little. There is an antique quilt called Dear Jane. I am making what might be called a Dear Patti version. I am making my own 200 plus blocks my way. Here is a sample of today's sewing. Now don't expect this to be done anytime soon. I work on it for awhile and then put it away for a newer project.

I took several breaks to let Bentley enjoy some free time outside in the below 20 degree temperatures. It didn't take long before he was ready to take shelter, rather inside his dog house in the kennel, or in his crate in the basement.

The afternoon was spent sewing, housework and making dinner. Afterwards we decided to keep Bentley in the basement tonight. The wind chills are to be around 0 to 5 degrees. We watched American Idol and then it will be bedtime after the news.

9:34 PM 15 degrees

A day of group efforts, including one numbers LVI

Here is the quilt I have been working on all week. Mom embroidered the horse blocks for Lona. Lona bought the fabric, I set it together and machine quilted it. The red fabric in the small blocks is really cute, in case you can't see it up close, it's Cowboy hats. The quilt measures 44 by 70. This was the first group effort of the day.

The second group effort happened many, many years ago. In fact LVI to be exact. (Remember your roman numerals?). In all started in the summer of 1951 when my parents (Thank you Mom and Dad) were playing hanky panky in the bedroom. Nine months later on this date I was born. Happy Birthday me!

This morning at work I was pleasantly surprised with a bouquet of fresh flowers from Sarah and Rusty. (Thanks guys!)What a great surprise and so refreshing for a windy, snowy, and cold Missouri morning. I will take a picture tonight and post it later.

As for the rest of my day, I will hang out here at work till 4:30 then go home and await my carriage for a dinner date in town.

Golden Brussels sprouts for dinner

Here is a new recipe we enjoyed tonight along with a Deli Rotisserie chicken and a small bowl of butter pasta. Dinner was made in a flash. Something good and quick on a cold snowy night!

24 small brussels sprouts
1 T. olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated cheese of your choice

Wash the brussels sprouts well. Trim the stem ends and remove any raggy outer leaves. Cut in half from stem to top and gently rub each half with olive oil.
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your largest skillet over medium heat.
Place the brussels sprouts in the pan flat side down (single-layer), sprinkle with a couple pinches of salt, cover, and cook for roughly 5 minutes; the bottoms of the sprouts should only show a hint of browning.
Once just tender, uncover and cook until the flat sides are deep brown and caramelized. Toss them once or twice to get some browning on the rounded side. Season with more salt, a few grinds of pepper, and a dusting of grated cheese.

Enjoy!

9:21 25 snowy degrees, (probably already 3 inches)

A black eye?

Just popping in to say it's darn cold here in Missouri, it went from 62 this morning to 16 this evening. High winds and blowing snow are adding to that, making it miserable outside.

Look at this picture, cute isn't he?

See his owie?Saturday his big brother was throwing a chunk of ice at a tree to break it up. Long story short, he missed the tree and hit Alex. Thank goodness Alex had on his hat, it took some of the force off of his eye. Anyway it sure made Grandma feel bad, I can imagine what Alex felt like.

Jan 27 2008 the Horse Quilt is Finished

I did it! I pieced this quilt and even machine quilted it on my sewing machine. It's the biggest one I've machine quilted. It fits my twin log bed rather nicely.

It all started with a remnant from Hobby Lobby of the horse fabric. Then I found the horse head pattern at Silver Linings. I have used Linda's paper pieced patterns many times, including the dogs black Labrador and Pomeranian.

After I finished the quilt, I made the dust ruffle. I still have fabric left,

so I will whip up some curtains soon.

When I finished my sewing, I headed outside to 52 degree weather. I started up the 4 wheeler and took a ride down the rode. Then I

trimmed the Forsythia bush and hauled away some cedar limbs from the ice storm.

Bentley enjoyed running with the 4 wheeler, then we BBQ hamburgers and enjoyed the almost spring like weather. I made a quick salad to go with the burgers and a pitcher of ice tea for BT. He had been working in the blacksmith shop most of the day.

We ate dinner and then we crashed!

7:28 PM 53 degrees.

Apologies to PAULA

Here is the pumpkin muffin recipe (See October 2007 post) that Paula asked for some time ago. Sorry Paula, I had forgot to correct my email at the time and didn't get your response. Hope you're still readin'

Pumpkin Praline Muffins

1 c. whole wheat flour, 1 c. flour, 1/3 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder, 1 t. baking soda, 1 t. pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 t. salt, 2/3 c. canned pumpkin, 1/3 c molasses, 1/3 c. canola oil, 2 eggs, 1/4 c. milk, 1 t. Vanilla

Topping: 3 T. butter, cut into pieces, 1/3 c. flour, 3 T. light brown sugar, 1/3 c. chopped pecans. Combine in a small bowl, using your fingers to run them into a crumbly topping. Set Aside.

Heat over to 400 and grease the bottoms only of 12 standard muffin cups.

In a large bowl, whisk, flours and sugar, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. In a medium bowl whisk together pumpkin, molasses, oil, eggs, milk and vanilla. Stir the pumpkin mixture into the dry ingredients just until batter is blended.

Divide the batter among the muffin cups and sprinkle on the praline topping. Bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Makes 1 dozen.

Enjoy!