Friday, November 27, 2009

Friday's Fave Five & Cook & Tell Friday

Fridays Fave Five is hosted by Susanne!
Go visit her blog to learn more. The point of this is to list five things that I am thankful for from this past week.
I am thankful for:
1. The little things my sweet honey does to make me feel special.
2. Getting to spend Thanksgiving with my children & my son in law's & grandchildren, my Mother, my Dad, my sisters & their families, & my 96 year old Granny!
3. Getting to take some time to sew.
4. Watching my daughter hand a homeless person a gift from her heart.
5. My home.
This "Cook & Tell" is hosted by amylouwho's blog! Every Friday she host a Friday Show & Tell. This week it can be something we cooked. So here goes:

Mushroom Casserole
4 tblsp. butter
2 tsps. flour
Make a rue with this until it is an amber color.
Add onions & garlic - according to how much you like.
Sautee together.
Add heavy cream (approx. 2 cups)
Add 2 cups of sliced mushrooms
Sprinkle with cayenne pepper and garlic powder to taste.
Add 1 cup of chopped broccoil (thawed or frozen)
Add 1 quart of chicken broth and cook until all is heated through.
Add 1 cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese and 1 cup of shredded Cheddar Cheese
Heat until cheeses are melted.
Turn heat off.
Add 2 cups of white rice (precooked and drained)
Transfer into baking dish. Top with shredded cheese. Bake 425 degrees for 20 minutes.
This is so delicious and so easy. I saw this on a cooking show and could not wait until I could try it. We loved it. I hope you enjoy!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving From Me & Granny!

I went over to Granny's the other day and found her making another quilt! Imagine that! Thats pretty good for a 96 year old, isn't it? She gets so into her sewing that sometimes she forgets that anyone is there. She looked up at me while I was taking this video but she is so used to seeing me with a camera in my hand she doesn't think anything of it. She looks as though she is confused on this video but this is just how she concentrates. She has her way of doing things and if anyone tries to tell her different it doesn't set well. If you watch really close you will see that she just finished a strip and then she was going to add it to the rest of the quilt. She always leaves a pc. of fabric under her needle. I noticed that she just left that last square under the needle as she picked up the other end and started sewing it on the quilt. It is really amazing watching her work. I thought she had got it tangled underneath and I started to help her but she figured it out. There isn't anything special on this video except for one thing........Granny! Did you notice her hair? She got a permanent! I just thought you all would enjoy watching her working on another quilt during this Thanksgiving holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Oh by the way, this quilt is already sold to my My Sweet Mom! A special thank you goes to Beth C. for sending Granny all this fabric!!!! You bloggers are great!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I Am In The Mood

This is my favorite bib!
I made these following the instructions on
Note to Bonnie in Iowa: I could not get your email to go through so here is the answer to your question. Go to the archives of www.modabakeshop.com and go to baby and it will have lots of goodies to make. Send me your correct email so I can contact you.
The same strap is used for all 3 bibs.
You just unclip it and change to the other bib.
I didn't use their fabrics but used their instructions.

Here they are all ready to give as a gift.
The burp cloths to match are below the bibs
and the strap for the bibs is what is holding it all together.
So cute!

I just love them. I had so much fun making them.

I am in the sewing mood for sure now. The Friday Night Sew In's have inspired me.
I hope I get to sew next weekend too! It helps when "Sweet hubby" goes hunting!!!!
By the way, I just joined the Sew & Tell Fridays! Go to my sidebar and click on button to find out more.

Sharing My Church 20 Years Ago



This is the Trailblazers, a group from our church 20 years ago. This features Phil Barker, Jesse Pratt (who is with the Lord now-we miss him so much-He was our Pastor and General Overseer then.), Ray Faulknor, Alton Gentry, Trey Starnes (on the piano-our pastor), Jay Pratt on Guitar. What a blessing this group was. When Phil speaks about Bro. Harold Sowder it is so touching for us because he was the General Secretary of our church and just went home to be with the Lord this year. This group is the singing group that we were invited to hear before we joined our church. Memories. Sweet memories. Thank the Lord we have charted our course and know where home is. Thank you Lord.

I would like to dedicate this song to my new blogging friend Susan in memory of her husband, Vann. You can visit her here: http://blackberrycreek.typepad.com

Saturday, November 21, 2009

My Second Friday Night Sew In

Burp Cloths is what I worked on for the Friday Night Sew In hosted by
Heidi!
This is what I give for baby gifts a lot of the time.
Sometimes I add in a bib to match.
I actually started one but didn't get finished.

These are so simple to make and very usable. I followed the instructions on Moda Bake Shop.
I love having a certain time to sew because it seems that there is always an excuse. Something always happens to keep me from sewing. This gives me accountability. I can't wait to see what the others did last night. Go check out what my Mom did. She is the smartest & most talented lady I know. She is my hero! Go check out Heidi's blog to see what the others did. Scroll down on her post to see the Mister Linky list. (November 10 post on Heidi's blog).
I am ready to do it again! Thanks Heidi!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Surprises In The Mail For Granny & Me!

Yesterday I took Granny some beautiful gifts from Beth C. in Birmingham Alabama.

She sent Granny a sweet letter telling Granny that she was her hero.

She also had a prayer request for Granny to pray for. I think this meant more to Granny than the gifts and she loved them but she takes praying for someone serious. I can promise you if you want Granny to pray for something, she will!

Beth C. cut Granny 230 Green fabric squares and 230 muslin fabric squares plus some extra.

She also included thread and a sheet for the backing.

She had everything ready for Granny to make a quilt!

Granny is so amazed at what people are doing for her.

We have a great family and they do for her all the time and she has a great church family but this just amazes her that people she will never know think enough of her to send her gifts and cards. Thank you Beth C. for blessing Granny.

This gift is from my good friend Sherry!
She made this just for me.
Our friendship started with an Annie Doll Swap.
I had never made one but I had so much fun making it.
Since then we are the best of friends and I would not take anything for our friendship.
Thank you Sherry.

This is where I found Granny yesterday.

She looked up and saw me but hadn't quite reached her goal of 20 squares on that first strip so she told me that she had to finish before we talked. I told her that I love to watch her sew. This will be the next quilt for sale. I went on Wednesday morning to see her and this was her second quilt this week. She just amazes me. The last quilt she made I sold it just from pictures like this before it was made. You will see it below & on my sidebar.

UPDATE: This quilt is sold before it is even finished to Linda
(another sweet blogging friend). I am so blessed!

She has already purchased & received 2 quilts and is buying this one and another.

Thank you for blessing Granny, Linda!

It amazes Granny that you all are buying her quilts. She says for years she only sold them at Christmas and there was always a stack in the quilt room and even then she didn't sell many. She told me yesterday when I took 4 and put up for some of you that it gives her HOPE and makes her want to get up and get started. I noticed when she got up she had a very hard time just walking a 2 or 3 feet to the sofa. It made me sad. I told her that she needs to get up and get her horse (as she calls the walker) and walk to the kitchen and back when she is sewing so she won't get so stiff.

These are the last quilt squares that I cut for her and she sold this quilt to Heidi (a new friend)
before it was ever finished. The sheet that she used on the back of this was sent to her by
Michelle. Michelle is another great friend of mine and I am blessed to call her my friend.

I was fixing to leave when my Uncle Joe and Aunt Carol came in. My aunt had some old pictures of Granny's school days. Granny actually stopped sewing to look at these pictures. Aunt Carols mom is also in these pictures. Granny recognized a few people. I loved watching her looking at these pictures.

I asked my Aunt Carol to point out which one was Granny. The girl standing above her is my Aunt's Mom. I didn't ask Aunt Carol the year this was. I wish I had. I will next time I see her though.

These are gifts to me sent by Maggie! I won her give away! She was celebrating 100 posts!
Congrats to Maggie. Please visit her blog. I received so many things including Gummy Lobsters, hot chocolate, maple syrup and much more.

This is some fabric that was included in my gift.

Don't you love it?

I love it all!

Thank you Maggie!

**************

I am so excited that Heidi is hosting a

FRIDAY NIGHT SEW IN!

Click on her name to join in on the fun!!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Love Is In The Air

This is my daughter Maranda & her fiance Lane at their wedding shower at our church last night.
This shower was hosted by some very close friends of ours at church. They all worked so hard to make this the perfect night and it was. Thank you, Reba, Tiffany, & LeAnda for giving Maranda & Lane an awesome shower.
This picture does not do this cake justice. I don't know if you can tell but a giant ring is sitting on the top of this cake and it has ribbon around each layer that reads "with this ring".
It was as delicious as it is beautiful.
Cheryl, another very good friend made this gorgeous cake for this shower.
Thank you Cheryl.


Those small pictures laying around the cake are actually coasters that were made by Tiffany.
They were so cute we just had to lay them out.

These are the tables before the guests arrived.
Each table was decorated with something from different rooms of a house and each centerpiece was for them to take home.

They took pictures of Maranda and Lane and purchased frames and put on the center of this table. The picture on the left is so cute. Lane is remodeling his house for them and he had been sanding sheetrock and was covered in it.

This centerpiece was utensils for the kitchen.
Each center piece was wrapped with wedding ribbon.

This is an alarm clock along with another picture frame.

This centerpiece is a group of beautiful white bath towels.
I just loved this idea because they can use everything.

Paper Towel Holder complete with paper towels
for this centerpiece.

This is the gift table. They had a great turnout and received many very nice gifts.
Thank you to everyone that came.

This is their second shower. I will be posting their work shower in a few days.
The wedding is fast approaching and we have a lot of work to do.
We have lots of friends that are just jewels to us.
This upcoming wedding is an answered prayer and everyone is so happy for Lane & Maranda.
We are all so excited about this wedding!
Don't worry you will all hear about it!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Grannys Always Busy

I went to visit Granny today and this is where I found her.
Imagine that?
She left the sewing machine for a few minutes to sit and visit
and all of the sudden she looked up at the clock and said
"Is it 3:00?" I said, "No Granny it is just 2:00. She said, "Are you sure?"
I said, "yes Granny."
I knew what was up. She was wanting on the sewing machine. All of the sudden she jumped up and said "Well, I better get busy. It is getting real late."
She is so funny. She acts like it is a job and she is on the clock.
This quilt will be for sale next week. She was finishing it up today.
This is the quilt that she made last week. As you can see on the back corner that
is where she cut the corner our of a fitted sheet and made it flat. She is really so smart.
All Granny's quilts are her own original design. They are unique. This one will be added to the sidebar for sale.
I cut her some quilt squares out of some of the fabric that some of you sent to her for her birthday. I took them to her today but she wanted to know where the other part was. I finally figured out that she was talking about the coordinating color.

My dad found a beige sheet in Granny's stash and asked me to cut it up to go with those quilt squares that I gave her today. So I came home and did that for her. I also went through the box that Michelle sent her for her birthday and found this sheet that Granny can use for the backing of this quilt. I will drop these by tomorrow so she will be ready to sew next week. Granny told me today that she has been dreaming about the quilts and her sewing machine. Isn't that sweet? I totally understand this.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Friday Night Sew In

I have not been sewing anything lately because there is always so much to do.

My Mom & I were talking about how we always have an excuse for not sewing.
We talk about it. We dream about it. But never seem to take the time.
I saw on another blog a while back about 2 friends having a Friday Night Sew In.
They lived in different states but chose that time to work on their projects.
So Mom & I decided to start it last Friday night.
I loved using my Singer 401A that I received from Michelle!
It is a REAL machine.
My Mom and I decided to just pick a project that we wanted to work on. She was in her home and I was in mine in 2 different cities but connected by the internet.

I had committed a while back to make a simple 9 1/2 inch block for Laurie
who is making a quilt for a friend in need. I haven't joined any swaps this year but thought I could do this.

Isn't it pretty? I even think so. There is only one problem. It measures less than the 9 1/2 inch that was requested. I thought to myself, "Just try, try, again. And so I did.

I didn't even take a picture of it. It looked horrible.

So then I thought.....

I have been reading about a 9 patch and was sure I could do this.
So here it is. It has pretty fabrics but I just didn't feel the love.
Also, it didn't measure right either!
GGGRRRRRR!!!
(as my grandson would say).
So then I remembered my signature blocks that I made for a swap last year. It was only 6 inches. So I just thought add some borders......... I never could get it exactly right.
So what is the moral of this story?
Don't make excuses to work on the projects that you want to do because you forget.
I read about sewing, I talk about sewing, so now I need to get to it.
If I really want to learn how I better practice.
Practice makes perfect, right?
I hope we have many more Friday night sew ins.
I went ahead and mailed my 3 blocks to Laurie.
I told her she did not have to use any of them. I sure will understand why.
My heart meant well but my mind could not get it together.
Looking forward to sewing more.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

More Gifts For Sweet Little Granny

This sweet birthday card is from Suzanne!
Thank you so much. Granny read every word in the card and also what you wrote.

All of this was in one box. I knew that Granny would have a ball opening all of these packages and she did!
All of these goodies are from Linda G. - She recently blessed

Granny by purchasing 2 of her quilts.

Granny received all kinds of goodies.

She loved it all.

Granny was just overwhelmed.

Look what all Linda G. sent her.
There were all kinds of fabric, a crocheted face scrubby, cucumber soap,
all kinds of teas, some candy, and a little fall decorations that she had me put up on her mantle.
There also was a beautiful card and a very sweet note to Granny.
Thank you Linda!
After she got through opening her gifts she asked me to do a few things for her.
First someone had bought her a new table cloth and she wanted me to put that on.
I had already thought to myself that it was Wednesday and the sewing machine wasn't going. She had already made one quilt this week but I had wondered if she wasn't feeling well or something. But then she asked me to help her with a backing for a quilt. She got a newspaper and took me to the bedroom. She had a sheet layed out and it had a big cut in each corner (v shape). She asked me to cut the newspaper to make the sheet square. By this time I was totally confused until my daddy came in and told me what she was wanting. She had took a fitted sheet and cut the corners out. She was making a fitted sheet into a flat sheet to make a backing. Once I finally understood my daddy already had it cut. Granny was making her a pattern! Then she cut the fabric to make the corners. She is so smart! Now I bet tomorrow the sewing machine will be humming again!
*Special request: My dad is not feeling too well. Will you help me pray for him?
Thanking you in advance, Val