The smells of fall

This cooler weather makes me want to cook. I could make soup every day of the week.



This is my latest pot. It's called CABBAGE SOUP. Here's the recipe:

7 -8 cups chicken broth
1 cup long-grain white rice, such as basmati or jasmine
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 pound kielbasa, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 medium green cabbage, cored and finely shredded
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 3/4 cups of the chicken broth with the rice and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 18 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Meanwhile, in a soup pot, heat the oil. Add the kielbasa and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onion and cabbage and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining broth and bring to a simmer. Cook over moderately low heat until the cabbage is tender, 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the rice and serve.




I then made Judy's Pumpkin gingerbread. I added Missouri black walnuts. Raisins would be good too, however, someone in this household won't eat them. Go here if you'd like her recipe.












While all of the above was either simmering or baking, I made a double batch of kettle corn. The grand kids were coming after school and would need a snack.










Look at this real cool handkerchief I bought Saturday in Rosebud Missouri. Can you imagine getting a birthday handkerchief?












I got all 6 of these for $5.00 It was the buy of the day. Around here they usually got for $2 to $5 a piece.





BRB, time for another piece of pumpkin bread and cup of hot steamy black coffee!
Bon appetit'!!

What is it?

It's a cast iron chestnut roasting pan!

Finally some sewing time

What is this?

I know, but can you tell me?

I picked it up Saturday at Rosebud & Southern Antique Mall in Rosebud, Missouri. It's for my SIL.

We were on a road trip to pick up blacksmith coal . We bought one ton of coal, literally.

And I have a confession to make . . I went without the camera. It would have been a perfect time to get pictures of the trees turning in southern Missouri.


This is what I am working on today. It's a baby doll quilt for Miss E. The blocks are 3 inches squares, tiny, tiny pieces. I'm not sure what size I will make the finished quilt. What is your opinion for a doll quilt? Square? Rectangle?






I am also going to make a block for Terry. You can too. Check out A Yankee Quilter.

Time to get sewing ~ ~ ~ ~

A good day

I went to town just shy of noon. First to the feed store.Next stop, Salvation Army to drop off things from the cleaned out closet. It was then on to BK Bakery. I had heard their cinnamon rolls were to die for. My friend Kathy was right. Yummo! They feature Kaldi's Coffee, a Missouri Coffee company. The coffee was excellent!



My next stop was a downtown shoe store. It's an old establishment, not much to look at. I walked in and told the elderly Jewish man what I was looking for. He took one look at my shoes and said , oh you have a long narrow foot. (Long, now that's a nicer word than big!) He gave me a pair to try on to see for size, even though they were 2 sizes smaller than I normally wear. They felt wonderful. Just what I was looking for. All leather, waterproof, not steel toes, lace up and the price was right. (So was the 2 sizes smaller)

I loved them so much I wore them out of the store! Now I'm ready for some sh_ _ kickin'.

On to see my Mother at her assisted living apartment. She's was a shoe inspector in her younger days. I knew she would love sticking her hands in to feel the toe lining, the insoles and the smooth leather outside. They met her approval!


It was then a quick stop at Joann's Fabric. I am looking for a certain template to make a dresden plate quilt block. No such luck on that. However I did find fabric for Elizabeth's baby doll quilt. I want to make one for her Christmas present.

On my way home I remembered this couple that had a baby doll cradle at a rummage sale last year. I stopped to see if he was still making them. Luckily he had an oak one all made up. The $45 price tag was a deal! He was happy about no longer having to store it, and I was happy that I am a step closer to completing my Christmas shopping!

9:00 PM 63 degrees

The filled wardrobe

I have to do this entry early . . . before I'm really awake. Or else it wouldn't happen. You see I can't stand a messy house. (I can't believe I am sharing this picture) I always want everything in it's place. That's probably why I never taught my two kids to clean house, I wanted it done my way and now.

So yesterday it was time to fill the wardrobe BT had refinished for me. This meant getting all the quilt boxes out of our closet. This is one big closet, it's about 24 feet wide and 8 feet deep. So I pulled everything out! Here's proof.




It took me most of the day to sort through what I wanted to keep, take off for donations or burn. Trust me, no quilts were involved in the disposal. When I finished I had 26 quilts in the wardrobe. The drawer on the bottom has various unfinished quilts and quilt blocks in it.

Time to run now . . . I have quilts to make, there are unfilled spaces!!

To Ohio and back

I hope the ghost that posted those last three blog entries didn't scare you. You see, I was actually gone. Gone! Yes, I was road tripping to Ohio with BT. We attended the Southern Ohio Blacksmith annual conference (SOFA) in Troy, Ohio. We left Thursday afternoon and drove about 450 miles.

Thursday night we drove in rain on a recently resurfaced blacktop highway without striping on the side. Get the picture? It was very hard on the eyes and the nerves. So we stopped just short of our destination. We checked in for the night at a beautiful new Best Western in Richmond, Indiana. (Great sheets too!)

It was just a short drive Friday morning to the conference. The SOFA conference is the mother lode of blacksmith tailgating. We walked those isles many, many times. The 3 days I was there, I spent a total of $3.00, two for some raffle tickets and one for Honey Crisp apples at 50 cents each. (Rita, they were wonderful!). Not much for a quilter to buy there.


On Saturday I attended the spouse's program. Here is a photo of the necklace I made. Heather Lynn (the teacher) had prepared bags of beads complete with line, hooks, and needles. Since my wardrobe is primarily brown and black I found a bag with colors to match. The price was right too. It was free for registered spouses!



Meeting up with BT after the class, we shared our sausage, cheese and crackers with our friend Bob Alexander for lunch. Bob was selling wares and we took turns watching his stuff so he could wander a bit.

Saturday afternoon, I went on a solo road trip (well actually with Gabby Garmin, my GPS). I went to find the barn quilts. There are 60 barn quilts in Miami County. Had the weather been nicer I would have gone further. Rain cut my drive short.

This Pinwheel #4 is on the RT Industries building located in town.

A short drive away I found the Right Hand of Friendship block on the Miami county board of MRDD also located in Troy.

Here is what I thought was the best one of the day. It's called Mariner's Compass and is on the barn that belongs to the Malarkey family.

It is located right in town in a beautiful old neighborhood, that used to be part of the country side.

This Laced Star block was actually on the site of the Miami County Fairgrounds where the blacksmith conference was being held.

Another gorgeous winner of the day was this Crocus Wreath block. It is on the Miami County Commissioners Barn.

Finally, I came upon this Cactus Quilt. It is on the El Sombrero Restaurant. Mexican food! I went back to the conference, found BT and fellow blacksmith Jerry, and off we went for Margaritas and dinner. After all it IS Saturday night and that's my favorite dinner on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, I had come across this beautiful covered bridge. No one was around. There it was in the falling rain all by itself. I got out, snapped a few pictures, walked inside and thought what the heck, I'm driving through it. The sound of boards under the wheels of my car is unnerving. The beams on the inside were unique. I just sat there and took the moment in. Beautiful!

After dinner, we returned to the fairgrounds and toured the gallery. The blacksmiths put their forged art on display. I also found this quilt on display. Even the quilting was blacksmith related.

To see more Blacksmith related items from the conference visit

Osagebluffblacksmith.

Barn quilts

I wish I had an old wooden barn.

What would I do with it?

I'd paint one of these on it.