Sunday, November 30, 2008

Weekend Fun





























I was determined that I was going to sew on this holiday weekend so Saturday I had so much fun making a few Christmas presents. One of these will be for my new grandson that is due on Dec. 28 but I won't tell which one just in case my "sweet daughter" is looking at my blog. She probably will guess which one is his though. He is due in 28 days. Anyway, I was into making bibs and burp cloths for babies. I also wanted to try a cottage block from the tutorial over at Nannettes Blog. I actually made 2 of them! Then this afternoon after church I got my second quilt out and started working on it so I can finish it. The picture just shows part of it. I have to put the border on and then it will be ready for the batting and I will get it quilted. I am in the mood.....Can you tell?? I had so much fun!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving

We had a great time at my Moms house. We were so sad because my sister Brenda and her family did not get to come. Her husband is having some major medical issues so they had to stay with him. Please keep them in your prayers as they face some very scary things. We don't get to see them enough anyway because they live out of town so we always look forward to the holidays. But we are hoping things will be better at Christmas.

But we did have a very special guest--My 95 year old Granny. Most of you know her through my blog. I don't think she has ever had Thanksgiving with us. I was so excited. It made my day. She even brought my mother a quilt that she had made. My mom was so thrilled. Granny really enjoyed herself. She shared with us how my mothers Mom, my other grandmother (who has already went home to be with the Lord) was her best friend. I just think that is so special. We were so blessed to have her there with us on this Thanksgiving. Can you tell that I am proud of my whole family? I am so thankful.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thankful



Granny had a little bowl of turnips & a small bit of chicken & dumplings,a banana, and leftover cornbread & as she said a spirit filled prayer thanking the Lord for this little bit of food, I thought to myself how grateful we all ought to be. We all take so many things for granted. Granny has taught me a lot, but she has taught me most of all to be thankful for the little things.


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess 5:18

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Vicki


Best Friends Forever!
Just a Swinging! (one of our favorite things to do)
Wishing you a very blessed day!
Happy Birthday Vicki!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Baby Shower - 5 Weeks To Go!

My Sweet SIL and nieces gave my daughter Mandy this shower at my home. They did a wonderful job. The food was great. She had a wonderful turnout. A lot of her high school friends and their mothers came along with many others. I think we had 32 in all show up. It was wonderful. Glo prayed for Mandy before she started opening gifts. It was a beautiful prayer. Isn't Mandy just beautiful? She is mine, but I think she is gorgeous! Thank you Maranda for helping me like you did & Thank you Glo, Summer & Sanna for blessing us so!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Happy Anniversary To Our Best Friends!















Beauty Of Our Friendship

Friendship is a priceless gift

That cannot be bought or sold,

But its value is far greater

Than a mountain made of gold.

For gold is cold and lifeless,

it can neither see nor hear

And in the time of trouble

It is powerless to cheer--
It has no ears to listen

Nor heart to understand,

It cannot bring you comfort

or reach out a helping hand
So when you ask God for a gift

be thankful if HE sends

not diamonds, pearls or riches

But the love of Real True Friends.

















We Love you and wish you both a special day today!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO VICKI & EDDIE!

LOVE, YOUR "BEST FRIENDS"

Thursday, November 20, 2008

My 25 Year Old Quilt



































































Once upon a time there were 2 young girls that were best friends. Their names were Val & Vicki. They were in their 20's and each one decided to make a quilt. Their children were toddlers. They went to walmart and bought a book that would teach them how. They each picked out a pattern out of the book & fabric and got started. Well Vicki (the smart one) finished hers in no time at all. It was beautiful. Val was so sad. She didn't think hers would ever get finished. She had it all put together and sandwiched together but that is as far as it went. Over the years, her children thought this unfinished quilt was a part of the family. They would make jokes about it because they knew that it would never be finished. Val would laugh too, because she knew how many projects she had started before and never completed. One year Val had even thought about putting it in a yard sale hoping someone would finish it but her husband wouldn't let her. He said that it was "his" quilt. So she packed it up and then one day she decided to get it back out and hand quilt it. She really didn't know how to do this but was determined to get it done anyway. Val visited her Granny one day and helped her roll a quilt and put it on the machine to quilt it. Her Granny even showed her how she puts a chair behind her and lays the quilt across it as she machine quilts it. She thought to herself that she could do this. So she started removing the hand quilting and follow grannys directions in machine quilting. Then she went to Amanda Jeans Binding Tutorial
and learned how to put a binding on! Things kept interfering with her working on this quilt and then this past Sunday she said that this was the day! Her husband helped her figure how many inches of binding she needed. She got the binding cut and started and it took her several more nights to hand stitch the binding on but she finally got it done. It is finished.

This story of course is about me and my best friend. Her quilt is the big beautiful star. Mine is the calico fabric (shoofly pattern) which was really popular 25 years ago. I am so proud. The quilt is not perfect by any means but it is beautiful to me. I took it to my grannys house today. Her and my dad were eating lunch. When I told her I finished my quilt and showed it to her--she cried. She said that I was the only grandchild that knew how she felt when quilting. She said she is so happy that I would be carrying on this tradition of hers. She never noticed the imperfections. My dad saw it too and I could tell he was happy for me too. I can't wait until my Mom & Vicki gets to see it. They will be as happy and proud as I am. When my "sweet honey" came home I presented him with "his" quilt. He loves it. He said he never thought he would see the day that it could go on our bed. But today is the day that the 25 year old quilt is on my bed. This for sure has been a long journey. Granny gave me some advice today--she said take a short break but get right back at the sewing machine and get another one going. So since she makes at least 1 quilt a week, I think I will take her advice and get another one done. The next one will not take me 25 years though. I have the "quilting bug!"

Saturday, November 15, 2008

There is Always Tomorrow






















For 2 weeks now I have planned to put the binding on my 25 year old quilt. Everyday comes and goes and something always seems to take priority. My plans today were not to leave the house and get this quilt done. I started my day by going and cutting cabbage and broccoli out of my garden. I am really proud how good my fall garden has done. I came in and washed my broccoli & cabbage and froze it. My "Sweet honey" had went deer hunting so I knew I needed to cook something to eat. I thought I would cook enough for supper also because then I could get busy on the quilt. I started cooking & cooking & cooking!

Menu:
Ranch Cheddar Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Cabbage Casserole
Homemade Bread
Amish Pecan Pie

All these recipes will be on my Cooking Blog in the next few days. This was the first time that I have ever fixed this chicken recipe, and it was wonderful if I do say so myself. My "Sweet Honey" was eating and looked up and said, "Have you already finished the quilt?" As I was washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen & feeling really tired........I just laughed.

I already have a ham in the oven, baked beans and potato salad fixed for tomorrows Sunday lunch and supper. I am determined that after church I will start on the binding on this quilt. I sure hope so! I sure am glad there is always tomorrow.
Note: My "Sweet daughter" just read this blog and she informed me that there really isn't always tomorrow! This is so true!

Friday, November 14, 2008

"Just Because"






















My "sweet best friend" Vicki is a super woman. I don't know how she does everything that she does. She works 2 jobs and runs her home and is the best cook ever!! She also is the very best friend anyone could have. She is one of the smartest & strongest women that I know. Of course she is very humble and doesn't realize how much she does. The only thing that she doesn't do is "blog" and I am trying to talk her into that! We are both so busy that we don't get to see each other much but when we do, it is just like we were together yesterday. I know without a doubt that if I called her for something she would be here in a heartbeat. Today I planned to go visit her at her work and take her a few surprises but the morning got by and we ended up just meeting for a few minutes as she was on her way to her second job. We met in the parking lot of Kmart and we gave each other "best friend hugs" and then I loaded her things in her car. A lot of women would not appreciate the simplicity of my "just because gifts" but I knew she would love them. I gave her some of the Brunswick Stew that I made yesterday along with a loaf of banana bread that I made this morning. I also gave her some of my green tomatoes, bell pepper & hot pepper from my garden. I thought she might want to fry the green tomatoes and freeze the bell pepper and make her some pepper sauce. I also gave her some of my canned goods! I took her 2 of my gourds that I grew in my garden. I thought her "sweet honey" might want to make some bird houses out of them. One is dried and almost ready and the other was still green and heavy. They love their birds & flowers just as we do. I loved to share my blessings with her and wish I could do it more. She was so happy to get these very simple gifts. The Lord never ceases to amaze me. When I give, I am always blessed. When I got home I had an email from Darla asking me to go to her blog and let her know if I would like to have some seeds. I went to her blog and was amazed what her and her girls had done today. Of course, I said yes & asked her how much I would owe her and she said that I didn't owe her anything. She said that if she shared, then the Lord blesses her. So see, I shared with Vicki and then Darla blessed me with her "just because" gifts. And the blessings go on and on and on "just because."

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Retirement Center Cookbook






Years ago my church used to own a retirement center for the elderly people to live in. I have a cookbook that these people wrote. I haven't looked through it in a long time. Some of these people have gone home to be with the Lord, and some are still living. I love this cookbook because most of it is just a copy of their own handwriting. Today I made Brunswick Stew from this cookbook. I always make a triple batch and put some in the freezer. I only have to make this 1 or 2 times a year because I always make extra. I made extra to share with a friend also. This stew is so easy and very good. I made sweet cornbread muffins to go with this. I also made homemade hot sauce with my tomatoes and peppers from my garden. Then to top it off I made a Cherry Coke Salad. It is a gelatin salad that is so delicious. These recipes also came from this cookbook. You can go to my cooking blog for these recipes plus many more. I really enjoyed cooking from this special cookbook today.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Doctors Visit





























I went with my "Sweet daughter" to her doctors appt. today. She has about 6 1/2 weeks to go. The baby's heartbeat was strong. He is getting so big. My "Sweet daughter" is so very pretty pregnant. She is all baby. She goes back to the doctor in 2 weeks and then it will be every week until he decides to be born. We are so excited. She is having 3 showers next week. Every since she got pregnant she has requested a sock monkey for the baby. I found one and had his name embroidered on it. It is so cute! My daughter was so excited to get it. We can't wait to meet our new little grandson!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Quilt Give Away!




The Old Red Barn" is having a give away! 3 Quilts to 3 different winners! Make sure and sign up! Deadline is November 17th.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fall At The Lake

We had to go pick up our boat last week before they let the water down at the lake. We started our day at one of our favorite places to eat breakfast. It was a beautiful day so we decided to fish just a little. There were bait fish jumping everywhere so my "Sweet Honey" got the net and threw it and caught the shad so easily. He caught a lot in the net and we were ready to go! We fished for a couple of hours and didn't catch but one fish!!! So we decided to load the boat up and go get something to eat. It was so nice just to get away even just for the day. The colors were so beautiful and the lake looked like glass. The fishing was lousy, but the scenery was just gorgeous.

Friday, November 7, 2008