January 12, 2021
Happy New Year!
For Christmas this year I was determined to give my brothers and nephew each a quilt handmade by me. It was a lot of work, but I’m very pleased with the results. I lightheartedly named each quilt and printed a card to describe the creation process of their specific quilt and to let them know I wanted them to have something handmade by me which they could always wrap around them and have a hug from me and know I love them very much.
Sid was very paws on with each of the quilts. Consequently Sid had to get his Uncle Bret a box of allergy pills to accompany the Chewbacca masterpiece. My nephew and older brother aren’t allergic to cats so they were informed their quilts were lovingly infused with Sid fur for extra softness and warmth.
April 6, 2020
As the sun went down on another day, the church bell rang out across the countryside for a solid three minutes and will every night at 8 o’clock until this coronavirus crisis passes. This powerful reminder of Who is truly in control began two nights ago. It is a collective cry for mercy and a sound of comfort.
Sid and I can hear the bells ringing at night and appreciate what this congregation is doing.
March 28, 2020
The Governor’s stay at home order took effect at midnight, so for the first time since I moved to MN, I will not be visiting my grandma’s grave on her birthday. Each year, I wished I could be taking Grandma to lunch instead. My grandma battled breast cancer, and ironically, I was the one who shaved her head. This week is not only the anniversary of her birth, but it also marked the one year anniversary of my stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis. While I won’t be making my annual trek to Hayward, I thought I ‘d share what I wrote about last year’s emotional visit.
“Twenty years ago, Grandma’s stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis was considered a death sentence prompting her to participate in a treatment research program through Mayo Clinic. So on March 28, 2019, which would have been Grandma’s 93rd birthday, I asked Mom if she wanted to go visit Grandma’s gravesite. It’s something I’ve done each year on her birthday since I moved up to Minnesota. However, I knew this time it would be especially difficult emotionally. Mom embraced the idea so Dad drove us to the small town of Hayward where she and Grandpa are buried. Rain fell from the sky and tears streamed down our cheeks as we stood in front of their ornate granite headstone thanking Grandma for the suffering she endured so that two decades later we would be spared that same fate.”
Grandma loved cats, grew beautiful flower gardens, and made the best fried chicken. Happy Birthday, Grandma! You will always be loved by many.
March 23, 2020
Happy Thought for the Day: Rhubarb Sauce!
Cooked down and thickened on the stovetop:
4 cups of chopped rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of water = taste of spring
Spring is finally here, and that means garden season is rapidly approaching. Now that makes me smile!
Our daily lives have definitely been disrupted by this horrible coronavirus pandemic. Pastor Fritsch began his March 15 sermon addressing the coronavirus, and I think he puts things clearly into focus. I thought I’d share it with you. His sermon begins at about 24:18.
March 15 service, scroll to 24:18
February 2, 2020
LET’S GO CHIEFS!!!
This year’s Super Bowl is a big deal in my family. Dad has his Chiefs flag flying high and proud outside his house, and I’m sure he’s adorned in his Mahomes t-shirt. Today’s highly anticipated game is 50 years in the making. Here’s hoping they can bring home the victory!
In honor of today’s big game and in celebration of Kansas City, MO, I would like to share a recipe from my brother, Bret. Kansas City Cornbread is easy to make and absolutely delicious. I highly recommend topping a nice warm piece with honey butter. Enjoy!
KANSAS CITY CORNBREAD
1 box (8.5 oz) Jiffy cornbread mix
1 box (9 oz) Jiffy yellow cake mix
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients. Pour batter into greased and floured 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 5 minutes, then lower oven to 350 degrees and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean and top is lightly brown.
SUPER BOWL DEAL OF THE DAY:
Calico Hutch Quilt Shop’s Super Bowl Sunday Sale (9am-4pm)
30% Off Storewide (some exclusions)
September 7, 2019
My goodness has it been a monumental week for my family. I’m officially finished with chemo, my parents celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, and Sid got not one, but TWO soup packets!
Yesterday we ventured out for a Red Lobster lunch to celebrate my parents’ anniversary a day late due to my MRI on Thursday. After a day of fine dining, shopping, and visiting with my aunt and uncle who joined us, we stopped for supper at Culver’s on the way home. My chemo stomach still hasn’t forgiven burgers so I was enjoying a cod filet sandwich and barely noticed as a woman walked up to me. She asked if I was going through chemo. I’m sure it was my bald head not so successfully hiding under my hat and puffed up steroid face that gave it away. I was pleased to say I had just completed my treatments. She put her hand up to her nice silver locks and said, “This is chemo hair too.” What a powerful statement of hope from someone who has traveled the road ahead of me and knows that the path does get better. There was an instant bond of understanding and sisterhood of shared experience. I knew this woman completely realized the physical and emotional anguish of chemotherapy. She told me I looked beautiful. Blimped up, bald, and looking especially gaunt from losing my eyelashes and eyebrows, I have never felt so unattractive in my life. She knew that, and yet there was sincerity in her statement. With such an unfortunate bond we share, there’s amazing strength in supporting each other. When the woman walked away from our table, tears welled up in my eyes. I was so touched by this stranger who cared enough to encourage a fellow warrior in pink along her journey.
My cancer journey began at the end of March. I was diagnosed with Grade 3, Stage 3a breast cancer. It was a whirlwind of tests and procedures followed by chemotherapy starting on April 15. Happy Birthday to me!
For my first chemo treatment I had no idea what was going to happen, how I was going to feel or who all these people dressed in red were administering the meds. As I finished chemo #1, the nurses gathered around to sing Happy Birthday and present me with a small birthday cake. It was such a meaningful gesture to me, especially at that point in time. Mom caught just a brief moment on video.
Chemo #1
The army of chemo nurses proved an awesome ally during each battle that ensued over the next 5 months. Support away from the Cancer Center has been phenomenal. A most heartfelt thank you to everyone for the care giving, visits, gifts, cards, encouragement, and countless prayers. I am truly humbled and full of sincere gratitude.
Being in Minnesota has me surrounded by family. While my parents are still the state of Iowa away, they have been constant support from the moment they knew something was very very wrong. So I was definitely pleased (and it was very fitting) both my parents were able to take me to my last chemo session on Tuesday.
En Route
The weekend prior to my last chemo appointment, the neuropathy in my feet got significantly worse, and I began having issues in my hands. My arms absolutely ached, and I was very uncomfortable overall. I had gone down to Missouri for the holiday weekend and tried to get a little exercise walking up and down my parents’ long driveway. When I came back inside the house, my feet were bright red and swollen. I was so ready to be done with chemo! On Tuesday I explained to the chemo nurse the latest miserable side effects. Before starting the infusion, the nurse needed to discuss the issues with my oncologist in case she wanted to alter my treatment. I waited quite a while, but was elated when the oncologist said since my neuropathy had gotten so much worse, let’s just skip the last chemo and be done with it. I didn’t argue with that!
It is tradition at the Cancer Center to ring the bells upon completion of chemotherapy. I was given instructions prior to the official ringing.
Chemo Graduation Rehearsal
Official Ringing of the Bells
Woohoo!
August 25, 2019
*Happy Happy Birthday to My Favorite Nephew!!!*
Thanks to my cousin (aka “Garden Master”) I have an amazing garden this year. Determined to make it happen, Garden Master came all the way down from north of the Twin Cities to till it himself. He organized a planting crew and assigned me the task of planning the garden. And plan did I!
Dreaming about the garden gave my mind a creative escape from the misery of chemo. And each day since, the garden has continued to be a blessing. Whether it’s an up day or a down day, I always look forward to walking around the garden to see how it’s changed.
Garden Tour Part 1
Garden Tour Part 2
Garden Tour Part 3
Garden Tour Part 4
July 17, 2019
My Block of the Month 2018 quilt is quilted! The quilt shop called Monday afternoon to let me know it was done. They have a long arm machine which does border to border quilting much quicker and more skillfully than I could ever dream of doing. After looking through their large binder of designs, I decided on a fairly substantial pattern. My blocks are larger in scale so I thought it should work. It really helped to walk around the quilt shop and look at the finished quilts on the walls. I could see how the different quilting patterns looked on an actual quilt. Some were cute. Some were more elegant. I liked the more elegant look and chose a design I thought would elevate the quilt to look richer and classier. Obviously, that’s not necessarily the cheapest option, but I do think it was worth it. This was more than a year’s project and a lot of effort went into it. I opted for wool batting and a minky backing.
Nevermind the People Behind the Queen Size Quilt!
(They started laughing and cracked me up. A second video was not an option.)
My quilting coach and I set the goal of having the quilt top completed by the May 2019 BOM meeting so I could participate in the quilt shop’s show and tell which was fabulous! Some of those ladies had some pretty inspiring and brilliant ideas for finishing their quilts in alternate ways. I need to offer my sincere gratitude and give credit to my aunt (Quilter Foot) for all of her coaching, encouragement, and support and to my mom who stepped in to help me finish the quilt top timely after I was diagnosed with cancer at the end of March. Mom did a beautiful job with the sashing, sewing the blocks together, and adding the border. There are a lot of memories and love sewn into this quilt. It has a story, and that’s what makes it so special.
Now I have to figure out how to bind. No clue about that other than it will be done in the dark brown fabric.
July 15, 2019
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SID!
My baby boy is 7 today! That’s a big deal in our house. So yesterday, I sat down at the sewing machine to make him a catnip pillow/toy using catnip harvested from our garden and then dried. While I was seated at the machine, Sid went right to the shelf where the bag of dried catnip had been stored. As I began to fill the fleece pillow, he was on top of my sewing table eager to help. Needless to say, I don’t think it’s possible for me to sew catnip toys in the house unnoticed. But really, having him as part of the creative process was more fun anyway.
Early Birthday Present
Big Present
Yeah, I added catnip to it.
February 25, 2019 Update…
Clean-Up!
Yeah, I was stupidly excited to watch huge snow mounds blown up into the air…
February 25, 2019
All roads were closed yesterday, and the plows were pulled. Consequently, today and tomorrow road crews will be working tirelessly to restore transportation networks across southern Minnesota. Travel is still unadvised, and you’re on your own if you decide to venture out. The wind has calmed after the storm, but the temperature has plummeted. A small amount of snow is expected today, and tomorrow may bring an additional two inches. They’re not even speculating the snow amounts that may roll in on Friday. We’ve already broken into the top 10 snowiest winters on record. At this rate, a new benchmark may be set. Granted, this is a milestone Sid and I are fine not achieving.
After I freed the breezeway door yesterday (for the second time), I offered Sid the opportunity to explore. Perhaps the noise from the door scraping across the snow scared him, but Sid does not seem to be a fan of cold and snow.
Native Texan
With a huge drift across my driveway and impassable roads, Sid and I are set for a day of sewing and snuggles.
View from the Garage this Morning
I do not regret adding Under Armor 4.0 to my base layer collection of 2.0 and 3.0. Next on the shopping list: Snow Suit, Ski Mask and/or Neck Gator.
February 24, 2019
Just to clarify, when I said I missed the four seasons while living in Texas, that included spring and fall. Last night into this morning has been the worst winter weather since I moved to southern Minnesota almost two years ago. The National Guard was even called in to help stranded motorists and parts of the interstate were closed. I’m guessing we got around ten inches of snow (on top of the feet already on the ground), but it’s really hard to tell with the forceful winds blowing it at speeds predicted up to 55 mph. There are drifts in the yard that I would estimate to be around 5 feet tall and growing. Outside my glass sliding doors where there was once a deck isn’t a sheer drop off today. The snow has drifted up to door level.
My aunt had warned me to keep a certain vent pipe on the house clear. Fortunately, it seems to be faring well. However, access in and out of the house is minimal. So I decided to brave the elements while I could still open the garage door to get outside. Once outdoors, I realized perhaps I should have considered the dryer vent before I decided to do laundry. It’s still exposed but not by much. My phone currently says it’s 14 degrees and feels like -8. That’s a couple of degrees colder than when I ventured out to expose the breezeway door. The sun may be shining, but it’s a downright blizzard out there! And I’m still missing FOUR seasons.
The Blizzard Has Arrived!!!
First Challenge: Open the Garage Door
How Bad Is It?
In Deep
Snow Gusts
For the record, I prefer my blizzards with Heath or Butterfinger.
February 19, 2019
FYI: Just in case anyone else is having coat zipper problems or just plain needs a new winter parka, Sierra Trading Post has a great clearance sale going on now. Since winter is never going to end here, I ordered two.
February 18, 2019
Good Morning from Us!
Ok, so Sid isn’t going to attend the sewing party. It’s just hard not to use the term “we” when everything in this house clearly involves him too.
Tips & Tricks from My Quilting Circle
February 16, 2019
Take 2
Of course something went wrong! Had to take a little detour before arriving in Stewartville.
Minor Glitch En Route
Overall, it’s been a nice day. The flea market/craft sale was a hoppin’ for sure! And me, I’m a sucker for someone who takes pride in their workmanship. Today, that was an older gentleman who made bird feeders out of cedar. I’m sure Sid will be happy to hear bird seed has been added to the shopping list.
February 15, 2019
My goodness has it been a brutal winter! Late yesterday afternoon the wind began to blow and continued to blow with a vengeance throughout the night. So I suppose it’s really no surprise I had a huge snow drift preventing Subie from making it out of the driveway this morning. Being the determined scrapper I am, I grabbed my shovel and headed out to take on the 2-feet+ wall of snow. Ok, it’s that crunchy snow that’s heavy and stuck together. Maybe I should move way over to the edge of it where it’s not quite as deep. As I crouched into ultimate snow scooping form, my coat zipper split up from the bottom. I’ve been having problems with that zipper so it wasn’t a simple fix. Since it was really cold out, I went back into the house, sent a text to the guy who blows out my driveway, and wrestled unsuccessfully with that stupid zipper. I couldn’t get it to zip back down so I ended up just dropping the coat to the ground and stepping out of it. As I tried to find an alternate coat, I quickly realized they all had zipper problems. Unfortunately the other issues stemmed more from middle age and harsh winters than the actual zippers themselves. While things were looking pretty bleak in the coat department for awhile, I was finally successful in getting the original coat and zipper functioning again.
February 14 Blowing Snow & Front Yard Drift
Yeah, that’s a small tree buried in the snow.
February 15 Front Yard Drift
(A Frigid) January 30, 2019
Being the dedicated farmer wanna-be that I am, I planted Subie in a nice big snowdrift yesterday after work. Fortunately it was in my driveway. My dad has always told me to keep a shovel in my vehicle (and even provided the shovel) so I was equipped on the spot to dig myself out of the large pile of snow. Those few minutes in the brutal cold and white out conditions taught me a very important lesson. No way do I want to deal with something like this in a ditch or along the side of the road.
This weather is no joke and must be respected. This morning I woke up to -28 degrees actual temperature feeling like -54 degrees. The gentleman who blows out my drive (my hero on a John Deere green tractor/blower if you recall my key in car locking incident) had sent me a text yesterday afternoon to let him know if I had problems with drifts. Obviously I did once I got home, but I got myself and Subie safe pretty quickly, and there was no way I wanted him out in the elements either. Once again, snow day for me!
During my snow day Monday, I spent about 3 hours sewing a “10-minute Table Runner” (I always get in trouble trying to be creative.) and later a couple of potholders. My Texas Mom had asked me awhile back about what kind of marking tools I use. My absolute favorite is the green Frixion gel pen Quilter Foot gave me when first teaching me how to sew a quilt block. I love that pen. It works so well. My Texas Mom told me the markings from Frixion pens were known to reappear in the cold. A lady at the quilt shop agreed. Now this was news to me, and I love that pen. So I decided to put this to the test since this week is exceptionally cold.
Green Gel Pen Markings Ironed Off
More than 24 Hours Later
To be completely fair, I do think there are some hints of green along the stitches, but I had to look so closely that they could have easily been there before I put the potholder in the breezeway. The result is good enough for me, and I can’t imagine it wouldn’t wash off after the first time in the washer. I stand by my favorite marking pen!
January 28, 2019
Winter has arrived with a vengeance here in southern Minnesnowta. Another 7 to 8 inches of snow fell and blew last night–and boy did it blow. As my aunt said, it’s an entirely different scenario out in the country than in town. I attempted to go to work this morning. The end of my drive was barricaded with a decent amount of snow so I squeezed out in an area not much wider than Subie where a tree had blocked the snow from drifting. The road between the house and church was fairly deep, but I made it to the county road. Yikes! My lane had drifts about 18 inches and clearly hadn’t been plowed. So over to the left lane I went. The worst of the drifts was in front of the church, but I skated around in fairly deep snow as I continued down the road meandering between the left and right lanes. When I turned onto the next county road, I’d hoped things would get better. Nope. Once again, my lane had not been plowed, and the snow was deep enough Subie struggled. I tried the left lane which had been plowed but got back over to let a pickup go around me. One thing I have noticed is that when the weather is nasty, the other vehicles on the road out in the country are always trucks. I’m sure the higher clearance and weight help. Anyway, back to me perilously attempting to navigate through the snow…I ended up turning around and heading back home. It was scary, and I could feel myself on the verge of starting to shake (I can assure you I was absolutely shaking when I got mixed up in that huge pileup in Iowa last year). Shortly after turning around, I met a pickup and pretty much came to a stop as it was a sheer white out. Fortunately, I made it back home safe and sound. So snow day for me!
Around 4:30 pm I drove down to the dumpster and mailbox. Crouching behind Subie to block the arctic wind, I shot this video of my front yard.
The end was a little awkward as my “touch-screen capable” gloves didn’t work. After I got back to the house, I saw what looked like a snow rainbow to me. Apparently the pillar of light is called a snow dog. Pretty cool.
Stay safe and warm! Schools around here have already been canceled for the next two days. Gonna be about 60 below with windchill here! Brrrrrr! Sid, I don’t think we’re in Texas anymore!
January 6, 2019
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
12 months ago marked the start of a new adventure. Entering unchartered waters in 2018, I set out to successfully participate in a Block of the Month Club. So how did I do? See for yourself…
Mission Accomplished!
Many aspects of sewing quilt blocks have become much easier over the course of the year. However, for me, the hardest part is still lining up all of the points, seams, etc. of the 9-patch. My blocks are by no means perfect, but for someone who doesn’t really know how to sew, I’m pleased.
While the 12 core blocks are complete, there’s still a lot to be done to finish the actual quilt. Next Saturday, I’m hostessing a quilting day with some aunts and a cousin to start working on the finishing kit. I think it’ll be a lot of fun.
As for 2019, I have signed up for the Block of the Month Club again. My plan is to complete the 12 blocks and finish it in my own way vs buying the promoted finishing kit. Here’s to a new year full of many creative and wonderful adventures!
December 15, 2018 (Sid’s 1/2 Birthday!)
With Quilter Foot’s support and coaching, I have officially made it to the final block of the month meeting! It’s hard to believe it’s been an entire month already since I locked my keys in Subie! I still have December’s block to complete as it was just handed out today. But once I get it completed, it’ll be time to start the finishing kit.
Last Block of the Month Meeting!
On a Side Note…
In my effort to get the view I wanted for the BOM Report video, I had to squash myself down into the view. Consequently I look like a very fat turtle. Let it be known I do have a neck and only one chin (okay, maybe 2). Who am I kidding, you were watching Sid weren’t you?!
December 6, 2018
Tis the Season!
It’s safe to say we’re having some creative differences for the time being. At least the Baking Show is on tonight!
November 27, 2018
After last month’s Block of the Month meeting, I came home and completed the next month’s block so all I had to do was wait comfortably for November’s meeting. I definitely didn’t want the last minute stress I experienced with October’s block. I mean, what could possibly go wrong now? The block was complete and comfortably nestled in my quilt block case ready to go to the meeting.
Saturday’s Schedule
Early AM: Snow (Roads Covered)
8:30 AM: Block of the Month Meeting Hayward, MN
9 AM-1 PM: Wee Care Craft Sale Fundraiser Stewartville, MN
1:15 PM: Oil Change and New Battery at Subaru Rochester, MN
3:30 PM: Tire Rotation at Discount Tire Rochester, MN
Reality
Early AM: Snow (Roads Covered)
Plow ever going to come? Whew! It did. Today is going to be a fun day. I get to see two (possibly three) of my aunts, get Subie all fixed up, and hopefully do a little shopping.
8 AM: Load Car
Block of the month, cell phone, and purse with spare keys loaded in front seat. Reach across and start car to warm it up. Go to put ice block in cooler in the hatch. Hatch doesn’t open. Go back to side of car to unlock hatch. Side door doesn’t open. In fact, no door opens. Did I mention my purse, cell phone and spare keys are locked in my running vehicle? Now might be a good time to note I live 20 minutes from a sizable town.
8:06 AM: Panic
Completely freaked out, I went back in the house and emailed whomever I could think of who might be able to help.
9 AM-ish? Snow Plow Guy Comes to Plow My Drive
He doesn’t have his phone or key to the church to use that phone. After plowing my drive, he goes home and has his wife come over with her phone. Oh, I’ve been gone the last 3 weekends, the house is a mess–perfect for having company.
9:30 AM: Block of the Month Meeting Officially Missed
10:10 AM: Help was Supposed to Arrive
Instead, we received a call the company AAA said was coming, wasn’t, and they couldn’t find anyone else. The sheriff’s office transferred us to a company who said they would come.
10:20 AM: Quilter Foot Arrives
Complete with the fabric packet for next month’s block in hand, my Block of the Month Coach came to help in whatever way she could. Naturally she said she needed to see my finished block before she could give me the kit. I then had to tell her it was locked safely in the car.
10:30 AM: The Cows Came
Apparently word got out I needed help. The neighbor’s cows decided to walk down the county road to my house. Folks, I can’t make this stuff up! It was hilarious watching the neighbor drive his pickup down the snowy road to round them up and take them back home. Quilter Foot and I roared with some much needed laughter.
11 AM: Help Finally Arrives
11:02 AM: Vehicle Unlocked
I was dumbfounded Subie still had over 1/2 a tank of gas.
11:25 AM: Off to the Wee Care Craft Sale via Snow Covered Roads and in a Very Warmed Up Vehicle
12:30 PM: Arrive at Craft Sale
While time wasn’t at my disposal, I still managed to find a few treasures and deliver some items from one aunt to another.
1:16 PM: Arrived at Subaru
2 PM: Shopping, Shopping, Shopping
3:30 PM: Discount Tire Appointment
You know, I was the most worried about figuring out how to produce the confetti units for this month’s block. Turns out, that was pretty easy. Little did I know showing up for the meeting was going to be the biggest challenge for Block #10. Only 2 more to go!
October 20, 2018
Last Night…
Yeah, you heard that right. I misused the word block to avoid saying, “Stupid Quilt!” Last night I couldn’t even get a video done right. I tried probably 20 times, and that was as good as it got.
So what exactly did I learn while attempting to make Block #9?
- 1/16″ DOES matter! Don’t skip the scant 1/16″ trim. My greatest challenge came when I needed to trim a checkerboard into a 3 3/8″ square. Since it wasn’t a solid color, I needed to be able to center it. I completely understood what I needed to do, but didn’t have a clue how to do it. While I have acquired an arsenal of rulers, I don’t have one that measures down to 1/16 of an inch. First attempt–skip it. Well, that didn’t work. Once I sewed on the additional background triangles to square it off, the square was to big. It would not have worked into the nine patch. Where’s the seam ripper??? Solution–Mom advised me to measure 1.5″, then 1/8″, and then eyeball the center of the next 1/8″ (that’d be the 1/16″). That was the verbiage that resonated with me.
- It’s not just me! When our group leader asked how the block went, “It was easy!” was the immediate response. On paper, it seemed simple to me, so naturally this was the one that ultimately got me. I kind of anticipated that response from the club members, but I did happen to look at a couple of others’ blocks and eavesdropped on their conversation. One lady had two of her half-square triangles upside down. The other sewed over the points when assembling her nine patch. Knowing other blocks weren’t perfect, made me feel better about my of efforts and challenges.
- Mom was right?! While I was eavesdropping, I heard one of the ladies say her mom always told her that she’d be ripping out seams a lot. Mom, do I have a much older sister? I only ask that because my mom has always told me ripping out was just as much a part of sewing as the actual sewing itself.
- Seam rippers with erasers are cool! They work extremely well. Get one if you don’t have one.
- While I only have 3 blocks of the month left, I am no where close to completing the quilt. Quilter Foot presented me with my finishing kit at the meeting today. Um…that’s a lot of fabric. I did stay to watch our group leader show us how to use the fancy ruler needed to make the finishing kit pieces. It made a little more sense, but at this point, I would not be able to do it. I’m hoping the instructions that came with the ruler will help. Quilter Foot has suggested we get together (along with my aunt Dar) to work on our finishing kits. I think that’s a brilliant idea!
- Attend one of the last meetings. That’s how I end up with a free fat quarter–smaller group, everyone gets one.
October 14, 2018
Making Applesauce
As someone who has traveled the world and lived in a variety of places, I have found that people who themselves have been the outsider in a “foreign land” are typically the most open to embrace the newcomer. So it was no surprise when the first person to reach out to me at my new place of employment in the great white north was a transplant from out West. While she has been living in the frigid Midwest for decades, Melody has never forgotten what it’s like to be alone in a new place, and from the beginning has made a concerted effort to invite me to events, share produce and homemade jam, and always exchange a kind word.
Living on a rural homestead about 20 minutes north of here, Melody and her husband raise strawberries for sale at farmer’s markets. However, their land is not exclusive to the countless rows of plants which produce the bright sweet berries. Each year they plant an ample garden with the hope they will reap a harvest bountiful enough to share with others. Near their sizable veggie patch stand the Fireside and Red Delicious apple trees full of vivid red fruit, ripe for the harvest.
Much to my delight, Melody invited me to her home yesterday to pick apples and show me how she makes homemade applesauce. Our adventure began by washing two 5-gallon pails of apples my hosts had already picked. While I washed, Melody quartered the fruit and removed the core. After putting the apples on the stovetop with a little water, we ventured outside to visit the source of our sauce in progress. Melody and I stepped onto a pallet securely attached to a forklift, and her husband drove us over the muddy terrain and into the small orchard of fruit trees. From his seat safely on the ground, Tim used the controls to raise the pallet up into the trees so Melody and I could pluck the apples from the treetops.
Once we had refilled the 5-gallon buckets as well as two additional boxes, we went back into the warmth of the house to continue the applesauce making process. Since Melody has a “Victorio” food strainer, we did not have to peel the apples. I simply cranked the impressive contraption, and the sauce came out the front and the refuse made its exit to the side. Melody did take the cast off material and ran it through an old-fashioned food mill to get the rest of the good apple out of it. The two-step process reduced waste and made the most of the fruit. Once the applesauce was sweetened to our liking, Melody showed me how to can it using a hot water bath. I will now be able to enjoy the delicious fruit of our labor throughout the winter and with a smile, as I will no doubt be reminiscing about my great apple adventure shared with a new friend.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
–Mark Twain
Deal of the Day:
Target
Buy 2 select mascaras, get a $5.00 gift card.
(Maybelline Great Lash online price is $4.49 each.)
October 2, 2018
I can’t say tonight finds me in good spirits. Sometimes in the morning I leave a used towel on the bathroom floor for Sid to sit on while I take my shower. For whatever reason, he has always had an affection for terry cloth. Having said that, King Sid had no problem peeing on his royal red terry cloth carpet tonight. Yuck! Into the washer went the towel, and out to the garage went Sid. Now, don’t think for a second, my precious boy was facing harsh punishment being locked into a cold dark garage. On the contrary, Sid often begs to go out there, and I always leave the door cracked so he can come and go as he pleases. For me, it was more of a, “Fine. Just go,” moment.
With the washer filled with hot water and Soap Sud Laundry Detergent, I thought I had things back under control until I heard a major ruckus in the dining room. Sid was back! And so soon?! What I didn’t realize initially was that he had brought a huge mouse friend with him. Great. Sid loves to play with mice but never does them in for good. That, apparently, is my job. As it happens, I bought some mouse traps this weekend. Unfortunately, it appears I am too stupid to set one. So I am now sitting on my couch watching Netflix while a mouse runs free in my house, and I have a nice big blood blister on my left index finger. Perhaps it’s best to call it a day.
Sept 18, 2018
Cups & Saucers
Sept 1, 2018
43 cups of tomatoes peeled, chopped and in the freezer!
Anyone have a good homemade spaghetti sauce recipe???
August 26, 2018
Today: 42 cups of hand-grated zucchini and 28 cups of tomatoes went in the freezer.
Saturday: 24 cups of peeled and chopped tomatoes were frozen as were 2 quart-size bags of cherry tomatoes.
I had more zucchini to grate today, but my wrist was tired and there was a breach in the processing area.
August 18, 2018
Well, today was August’s Block of the Month meeting. It was nice to see Quilter Foot, and Auntie Dar won a fat quarter. Right after the meeting, I zipped over to Austin (Minnesota that is) to get Sid his special soup packets at Shopko and some groceries at Hy-Vee–couldn’t bear the thought of starting the day tomorrow without creamer in my cup of coffee! I was very pleased to have accomplished all of that in a couple of hours. After a bite to eat, it was time for farm chores. Once again, the harvest was plentiful, and I will be busy processing produce to enjoy this winter.
August 15, 2018
12 bags of sweet corn went in the freezer tonight! No, I didn’t grow the corn. Saturday morning my neighbors brought me 40 beautiful ears that they grew. I do have some sweet corn planted, but it’s not ready yet.
August 14, 2018
Put 28 more cups of hand grated zucchini in the freezer tonight. Still have a crisper full of zucchini in the fridge. Do I have a Block of the Month meeting coming up sometime soon???
August 12, 2018
Zucchini, Zucchini, Zucchini!!! And Then There’s More Zucchini! And Sometimes They Hide And…
My aunt and her granddaughter visited last week and helped in the garden. It was so much fun to have them around harvesting green beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, and of course zucchini. My aunt and I hand grated and froze 44 cups of the prolific green squash Monday night. That adds to the bags already in the freezer, and as the plants continue to produce, the number of bags continues to grow. So what does one do with a seemingly endless supply of zucchini?
First and foremost, make a Chocolate Zucchini Cake. But what about after you’ve sauteed, oven-baked, made multiple batches of jam, added it to scrambled eggs and into a frittata, used it as a pizza topping, tossed it in chili…? Might I recommend making Orange “Compost” Bread?! It’s delicious. One of my cousins thinks zucchini is only good for compost which is why I’ve affectionately renamed my mom’s recipe for these mini sweetbread loaves. Check out the formula for compost turned into deliciousness on the main Recipes page. Scroll down to the Zucchini section. Enjoy!
Well here we are. Got your first quilt back from the quilters ready to get the binding on and half way through this years Block of the Month!! Your quilt is beautiful and you did a wonderful job Nichole!! Everyone is amazed at how your blocks are so perfected and for Sid to inspect. Haha! And I am amazed at how you have kept up with this year’s blocks in spite of all you are going through. I really enjoy sewing with you. Keep up the good work!!
You did an excellent job on the Block of the Month even with it being your first year!! You have passed being a quilter as I believe you have learned all the necessary steps in making blocks for a quilt. We will get the 2018 block of the month quilt finished up. It will be beautiful when completed. It is something to be very proud of. I am also excited for next years.
Thank you for helping out with the Block #4 Nichole. It will be fun to see them finished. So glad you and Dar are doing this project. It is exciting to see you both come in to get your next free block. Congratulations on winning the fat quarter!!
I think you need the “Non Sid” kind of rulers then the weights might come in handy!
Unky Herb, we need your miles every week! Get going today!
Hey Unky Herb, welcome to Soles With Goals! We’re counting on you to challenge the rest of us! Get going Unky fans show us how it’s done!
Gigi Twinkle Toes
I, too, wear jeans while working in the yard even though the temperature is in the 90’s. Mine, however, are to protect me from mosquitoes.
I thought there was going to be a bunch of Sid b-day tribute videos. It’s only my dog and me. What do I win?
Only the finest made the cut.
Nichole- I was very pleased that you participated in the Summerfest run with us. Sometimes all it takes while running is: “I know I can, I know I can, I know I can”. At the start of every run I tell my running partners “my goal is to finish the race”, everything else is a bonus.
Oh, Nichole, I understand your mixed feelings about “today’s life conditions”. But, today is all we have. So make it the best today ever! Love your adapting attitude – woggle! Giggle, giggle here! You are still moving forward and taking control of your health habits. Oh, that some of us would follow your lead….namely me. I would have cheered for you when you crossed that finish line! So, here it is….. HOORAY! NICHOLE!!!
You go girl! You inspire us with your attitude! Keep on, keeping on!
Sid is a good boy. Hope he doesn’t start delivering trophies to your bedroom door.
Me too!
Perhaps you can provide the coffee for an upcoming meeting with all those boxes of coffee you bought on sale! Someone else will provide the rolls!
Wow! I was just thinking of you today with your birthday coming soon….Have you forgotten how long winter lasts in the northern half of the US? And Minnesota! Understand about closer to family. But you may wish you’d waited just a little longer before the move! All the best on your new adventure!
I confess, I am the most anxious about driving in the snow up here, and I know I am going to be experiencing winters like never before. This house has a really nice office with an amazing view. My aunt and I both kept walking in there to turn off the light which was actually just the sun shining through the windows. I would love to be able to stay home and write during those snowy, snowy days. But for now, it’s back to the daily work grind. It has been fun being able to get together with family any time! I’ve never lived close by my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc before, and it’s kind of fun. Thanks for the well wishes! FYI: One of my aunts works at a quilt shop up here if you ever want to come visit! It was even featured in a quilting magazine!
The winter driving will come back to you. Probably slightly different than here though, with extra snow. Yes, you’ll really enjoy living close to family. Enjoy that sunshine that helps us get through the winter days! OOOOH! A quilt shop…..now you’re talking my language! Which shop? I went on a shop hop bus trip a couple of years ago. We covered ground from Leavenworth, Kansas all the way to a Minneapolis suburb. Two nights and LOTS of miles. Fun, fun! Many great shops! I think I still have my itinerary…..somewhere. LOL! All the best! Spring should be here shortly to stay. You, on the other hand, might have a little more snow. I am NOT jealous! LOL
Did you go to the Calico Hutch in Hayward, MN?
I think we did go there! I’ll double check my list. We travelled so many directions, I couldn’t get back to ANY of the shops by myself. Then we had to re-route on the bus, because the other bus wasn’t on time. Extra time on the bus was not the plan. Now, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’ll have to dig tomorrow for the list!
Hope your black and white “kitty” visitor left to knock on someone else’s door. Luckily we have only squirrels and possums.
Thank you Anne for your comment! If Nichole declares herself middle aged what does that make me, her mother and old woman I suppose?
You said it, not me! LOL! My brothers and I still laugh that when my parents go to church they park far away in order to save the closer parking spots for the “old and decrepit.” While my parents are far from decrepit, observing the age demographics of the congregation… They remind me of my grandpa Schmidt who never grew old.
Nichole,
That is the most shocking post I’ve ever read. You can’t possibly be middle aged! Does your mother know you use that kind of language?
If everyone is happier to declare me much younger than middle aged, I think I could go along with that. Sid and I received the great magazine article you sent. It absolutely made my day, and Sid thought the cat-friendly designs were brilliant!
Sid, I’m laughing so hard right now. That’s just the way I felt some nights in Nichole’s classes! “Stop the world, I want to get off!” I didn’t know the secret was in the “meow”. Not that SHE was the “uncoordinated” one. Oh, no! I had that well in hand. Heckled by a cat….I feel so much better about my exercise/health failures. LOL Keep on keeping on, Nichole. Some of us are rooting for you! And laughing does burn calories, doesn’t it?!
A touch of pineapple might enliven the pie or a flood of fudge sauce. Hank suggested chocolate lava. We, too, prefer chocolate. At 3:00 a.m. you can’t expect sensible comments from me.
LOL! I’ll serve it to my family with a scoop of ice cream and a healthy drizzle of hot fudge and see what they say! It may be the ginger and cloves in the pie that I’m not used to. I was out of cinnamon. Previously, I had made a cranberry upside-down cake and then decided to make a cranberry pineapple upside-down cake. Both were good, but the chocolate lava cake sounds better. I did see a recipe for chocolate covered cranberries that intrigued me. I have 1 bag of cranberries left after stocking up when H-E-B had their sale. It’s been fun experimenting with recipes. Not that I’ve really created a winner yet! Maybe if I was creating at 3 am, I’d come up with a stellar combo!