Monday, February 6, 2012
Warning
That opened bag of marshmallows in your cupboard ... the marshmallows that are probably from last summer, but you tell yourself no, it can't be that long ... belong in the garbage. They will not just puff up nicely when you think you'll finally use them up in some some Rice Krispy treats. They will turn into a clump of marshmallowy glue. Adding butter in hopes of transforming the gooey mass into a pliable, even suitable marshmallow base for the the snap, crack and pop will not work. Aggravating your already tender tennis elbow by stirring in just a cup or two of Rice Krispies will not be worth your while. You will not be making treats. You'll be making gluey sweet glop. I'm just saying ...
Sunday, January 22, 2012
It all takes time
This may not look like much, but it is a week's worth of English paper pieced hexagons, all basted and ready to inspire the next batch. I'm not really sure what direction these will take in the end, but it will take a lot more of them to get very far.
These, too, are not going very far just yet. 
The orange cast will probably go this week and be replaced with a longer-term version. I'm going to try my hardest to keep working on the hexagons for as long as Paul is laid up. It really is nice to sit with him in the evening with my handwork while we watch a movie together. He's turned down my offers to teach him to knit. So, it's just me with needle in hand and both of us hoping this healing thing goes well. After all, the past week's subzero temps and tonight's freezing rain will fade away in due time and make way for maple syrup time. And crutches in the woods simply won't do.
These, too, are not going very far just yet. 
The orange cast will probably go this week and be replaced with a longer-term version. I'm going to try my hardest to keep working on the hexagons for as long as Paul is laid up. It really is nice to sit with him in the evening with my handwork while we watch a movie together. He's turned down my offers to teach him to knit. So, it's just me with needle in hand and both of us hoping this healing thing goes well. After all, the past week's subzero temps and tonight's freezing rain will fade away in due time and make way for maple syrup time. And crutches in the woods simply won't do.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Oh hex
The day started out with intentions of cutting a few dozen hexagons to try out these 2-inch hexagon papers I found at Antoinette's quilt shop in Plover. The papers are printed freezer paper pre-cut shapes. (Yes, I could cut my own shapes from freezer paper, but I know I won't.) Just press them to the wrong side of fabric, leaving 1/4" seam allowance around each, cut and baste for perfect hexagons. The shapes are can be used repeatedly -- until they no longer stick.
As I was saying, the idea was to cut a few dozen hexagons just to have a handwork project available for whenever the mood strikes.
I had just finished ironing the shapes to fabric when the kitchen door opened and Paul yelled for me. So much for the hexagons. So much for his farm chores.
The next five hours were spent in urgent care (without any handwork) while Paul went about the business of having his fractured ankle treated.
There will be another trip to Marshfield later this week to see the orthopedic surgeon. Paul will be on the injured list for a couple of months. The poor guy is going to go crazy. Our sons will do double-duty with their jobs and the farm. I'll go to work. When I'm home in the evening with my uncharacteristically housebound husband I'm going to do handwork -- piecing hexagons -- while dreaming up ways to help him stay on this side of the sanity line.
As I was saying, the idea was to cut a few dozen hexagons just to have a handwork project available for whenever the mood strikes.
I had just finished ironing the shapes to fabric when the kitchen door opened and Paul yelled for me. So much for the hexagons. So much for his farm chores.The next five hours were spent in urgent care (without any handwork) while Paul went about the business of having his fractured ankle treated.
There will be another trip to Marshfield later this week to see the orthopedic surgeon. Paul will be on the injured list for a couple of months. The poor guy is going to go crazy. Our sons will do double-duty with their jobs and the farm. I'll go to work. When I'm home in the evening with my uncharacteristically housebound husband I'm going to do handwork -- piecing hexagons -- while dreaming up ways to help him stay on this side of the sanity line.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Oh, so close
The finish of Kit and Violet's flannel quilt is finally near. The final borders are going on today, but you won't see the quilt until it's all finished. I'm hoping to get it to the long-arm quilter next weekend, and then, at last, to the happy couple.
On the way to the finish line, there were a few bumps in the road. One of those was the backing fabric. This quilt measures about 92x108" -- no small little lap quilt indeed. A quilt this size requires about 9 yards of backing fabric. If you've been to a quilt shop lately, you know that's a tidy little investment, so I opted to shop for a bargain that would still meet my fabric quality standards. My quest took me to Connecting Threads where I found a small floral flannel in what looked like a suitable color to coordinate with the top. I should have trusted the color description, which was mint. Instead I went by price and a hunch that it wouldn't be a bright mint. I was wrong. It was a bright, springy mint. Fresh as toothpaste. Definitely wrong for this quilt. Nine yards of wrong. Even at the bargain sale price, it was still nine yards of a terrible color for this quilt.
Welcome Rit Dye (I find it in the grocery store's detergent aisle). Rit Tan is a miraculous little box of fixing that I've used it on several quilts and fabrics that were just too bright for my purposes. It took two boxes this time, but 9 yards us a lot of fabric.
The original toothpaste-fresh color is obvious in the strip here. The background fabric is the mint flannel after two rounds of Rit Tan. The foreground is the border fabric for the quilt. You'll probably agree the the new subdued mint is a pretty little print that will coordinate nicely with the mood and color of the quilt. I've said it before; I'll say it again: I love Rit!
On the way to the finish line, there were a few bumps in the road. One of those was the backing fabric. This quilt measures about 92x108" -- no small little lap quilt indeed. A quilt this size requires about 9 yards of backing fabric. If you've been to a quilt shop lately, you know that's a tidy little investment, so I opted to shop for a bargain that would still meet my fabric quality standards. My quest took me to Connecting Threads where I found a small floral flannel in what looked like a suitable color to coordinate with the top. I should have trusted the color description, which was mint. Instead I went by price and a hunch that it wouldn't be a bright mint. I was wrong. It was a bright, springy mint. Fresh as toothpaste. Definitely wrong for this quilt. Nine yards of wrong. Even at the bargain sale price, it was still nine yards of a terrible color for this quilt.
Welcome Rit Dye (I find it in the grocery store's detergent aisle). Rit Tan is a miraculous little box of fixing that I've used it on several quilts and fabrics that were just too bright for my purposes. It took two boxes this time, but 9 yards us a lot of fabric.
The original toothpaste-fresh color is obvious in the strip here. The background fabric is the mint flannel after two rounds of Rit Tan. The foreground is the border fabric for the quilt. You'll probably agree the the new subdued mint is a pretty little print that will coordinate nicely with the mood and color of the quilt. I've said it before; I'll say it again: I love Rit!
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy Mess of Memories
I'd be very happy to take another year like 2011 (without the lousy governor), thank you very much. Having a real Christmas tree again was the the start of the happy ending. Since a real tree was a health concern the past few years, having one this year became a symbol of the happier, healthier times we hope will continue.
When our kids were young, each one was allowed to pick out one new ornament for the tree every year. Of course a few tree-crashes and years of use means not all have survived, but the ornaments still hold plentiful memories for me. Even better, the kids were pleased to find some of their favorites when they were here for our Christmas celebration over the weekend. After seeing some beautifully ornamented trees in other people's homes, I briefly considered changing my tree-decorating approach. The themed trees are lovely indeed and ever so tempting -- especially those color controlled schemes. But once I started hanging one memory after another, I knew there would never be one here.
I love our happy mess of ornaments that reflect each of our different tastes as the years went by. All the cows Jane sent for years ... the "baby's first Christmas" ornaments ... my personal favorite: Mama Bear, Papa Bear and five baby bears all lined up in a bed ... the nursery rhyme ornaments Mom sent when the kids were little ...the crocheted satin balls Grandma Ruesch made ... the 4-H projects made by Alyssa ... the sometimes reluctantly made projects by the boys ... the single surviving red ball from our first ever tree ... even the angel the kids selected many years ago ... all of them combine to make one happy mess of a tree.
Our Christmas tree .. and the passing year ... leave me feeling just as pleased as the jolly snowman Jeannine stitched on the cutest-ever pillow.
Happy New Year!
When our kids were young, each one was allowed to pick out one new ornament for the tree every year. Of course a few tree-crashes and years of use means not all have survived, but the ornaments still hold plentiful memories for me. Even better, the kids were pleased to find some of their favorites when they were here for our Christmas celebration over the weekend. After seeing some beautifully ornamented trees in other people's homes, I briefly considered changing my tree-decorating approach. The themed trees are lovely indeed and ever so tempting -- especially those color controlled schemes. But once I started hanging one memory after another, I knew there would never be one here.
I love our happy mess of ornaments that reflect each of our different tastes as the years went by. All the cows Jane sent for years ... the "baby's first Christmas" ornaments ... my personal favorite: Mama Bear, Papa Bear and five baby bears all lined up in a bed ... the nursery rhyme ornaments Mom sent when the kids were little ...the crocheted satin balls Grandma Ruesch made ... the 4-H projects made by Alyssa ... the sometimes reluctantly made projects by the boys ... the single surviving red ball from our first ever tree ... even the angel the kids selected many years ago ... all of them combine to make one happy mess of a tree.
Our Christmas tree .. and the passing year ... leave me feeling just as pleased as the jolly snowman Jeannine stitched on the cutest-ever pillow. Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Fresh baked bread
You may already know that last winter's weekends revolved around a concerted effort in bread baking. All that fell by the wayside over summer and fall when the weather and work simply don't cooperate with my best intentions.
It was last year's deer hunting season that triggered all this. When serving the hunters -- a collection of family and friends -- some topnotch venison stout stew, I warmed up two loaves of grocery store bread. The hunters loved it and asked if I made it. Slightly embarrassed by the confession of being a complete failure at all things bread, I decided then and there to change that. I've had some success, some chewy challenges and a lot of wondering how women did this for large families all the time. Of course, after a few days of feeding 8 or so hungry hunters, I wonder how women of large families got anything done without modern conveniences, especially a dishwasher.
My most recent bread baking endeavors were inspired by the King Arthur flour blog. I have this wonderfully aromatic Maple Oatmeal bread rising right now. Yesterday produced some plain white loaves, also from the King Arthur site. Despite misreading the recipe and adding a tad too much flour, the loaves came out very well. One disappeared with last night's ham supper. The other will go with tonight's leftovers. With two kinds of soups, a bit of ham, a bit of turkey, and some other odds and ends to clean up, my weekend of cooking will come to an end. Fresh bread will complement it all.
Speaking of bread reminds me that while Evan was staying with Alyssa two and three years ago, he sometimes baked bread to pass the time in her apartment. That was a tough time for him, for Alyssa and for all of us. But somehow, baking helped Evan get through the long boring days of doctor visits, tests, and more doctor visits and tests. Grandma's rye bread and ginger cookies were his favorite recipes and they must have done something more than just lift his spirits. After more than four years and two bone marrow transplants, Evan finally received word that he is considered to be in full remission from Hodgkins. By sheer coincidence, I spent Thanksgiving weekend cooking and baking, including his favorite ginger cookies. And why not -- it appears that it's all good medicine.
It was last year's deer hunting season that triggered all this. When serving the hunters -- a collection of family and friends -- some topnotch venison stout stew, I warmed up two loaves of grocery store bread. The hunters loved it and asked if I made it. Slightly embarrassed by the confession of being a complete failure at all things bread, I decided then and there to change that. I've had some success, some chewy challenges and a lot of wondering how women did this for large families all the time. Of course, after a few days of feeding 8 or so hungry hunters, I wonder how women of large families got anything done without modern conveniences, especially a dishwasher.
My most recent bread baking endeavors were inspired by the King Arthur flour blog. I have this wonderfully aromatic Maple Oatmeal bread rising right now. Yesterday produced some plain white loaves, also from the King Arthur site. Despite misreading the recipe and adding a tad too much flour, the loaves came out very well. One disappeared with last night's ham supper. The other will go with tonight's leftovers. With two kinds of soups, a bit of ham, a bit of turkey, and some other odds and ends to clean up, my weekend of cooking will come to an end. Fresh bread will complement it all.
Speaking of bread reminds me that while Evan was staying with Alyssa two and three years ago, he sometimes baked bread to pass the time in her apartment. That was a tough time for him, for Alyssa and for all of us. But somehow, baking helped Evan get through the long boring days of doctor visits, tests, and more doctor visits and tests. Grandma's rye bread and ginger cookies were his favorite recipes and they must have done something more than just lift his spirits. After more than four years and two bone marrow transplants, Evan finally received word that he is considered to be in full remission from Hodgkins. By sheer coincidence, I spent Thanksgiving weekend cooking and baking, including his favorite ginger cookies. And why not -- it appears that it's all good medicine.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Time to cozy in
While driving down Blueberry Road last night, just before 6:00, it occurred to me that the beautiful autumn sky will be much darker at the same time next Friday. Luckily, my camera was close at hand so I could share the view with you. Regrettably, the light had faded too much for my trusty point-and-shoot camera to capture the line of Black Angus cattle at the edge of the corn field. (I love the color of ready-to-harvest corn: not quite tan; not quite gold and find myself drawn to it in many of my projects.) 
That sky absolutely begs for rye bread rising and warm fall flavors on the menu. Such a dining experience didn't happen last night, but it will tonight for Evan's birthday dinner. Cabbage and squash and stuffed steak rolls with fresh rye bread. Maybe even a pumpkin cake. All the colors and flavors of autumn.
First though, a quick update on the flannel quilt progress. The rest of the blues are cut, thanks to some good old tunes.
I'm using an actual pattern for this quilt and am doing fairly well at really sticking to the directions instead of my usual, "let's just see what happens" method. I think this is going to be beautiful in the blues and browns. Just wait until you see the floral border fabric that will pull the entire quilt together-- it's smashing! The pattern is "Christmas Past" from Primitive Gatherings' Primitive Christmas Book. Every single design in this inspiring book begs to be made, which is what I say about everything Primitive Gatherings publishes. And, now that I think about it, another trip to Menasha may be in order before this fall leads too quickly into winter. Maybe even a side trip to Penzey's in Appleton. Time to get out the calendar and plan because it won't be long before it's more appealing to stay home and cozy.
That sky absolutely begs for rye bread rising and warm fall flavors on the menu. Such a dining experience didn't happen last night, but it will tonight for Evan's birthday dinner. Cabbage and squash and stuffed steak rolls with fresh rye bread. Maybe even a pumpkin cake. All the colors and flavors of autumn.First though, a quick update on the flannel quilt progress. The rest of the blues are cut, thanks to some good old tunes.
I'm using an actual pattern for this quilt and am doing fairly well at really sticking to the directions instead of my usual, "let's just see what happens" method. I think this is going to be beautiful in the blues and browns. Just wait until you see the floral border fabric that will pull the entire quilt together-- it's smashing! The pattern is "Christmas Past" from Primitive Gatherings' Primitive Christmas Book. Every single design in this inspiring book begs to be made, which is what I say about everything Primitive Gatherings publishes. And, now that I think about it, another trip to Menasha may be in order before this fall leads too quickly into winter. Maybe even a side trip to Penzey's in Appleton. Time to get out the calendar and plan because it won't be long before it's more appealing to stay home and cozy.
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