Long Time No Write

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! 

It is Dancing With the Stars night.  I voted for Gladys Knight.

I have been doing a bit of this and a bit of that.  I went to the quilt show and had a very merry time.  There were some very lovely quilts. 

Funny thing happened.  So far, no one has volunteered for the Block-of-the-Month position at my guild.  I innocently called the soon-to-be-president about something else and she (very nicely and very sneakily) spoke about how we wouldn't have a BOM for the first time ever.  In a moment of weakness I said I would do it if no one volunteered at the upcoming meeting,  The next thing I know I am getting emails from Sharon, who is the current BOM person, thanking me for stepping up.  So, I am the BOM girl.  I have done it before, so it won't be very hard, but hmmmm.  My first square will be Maple Star.  I am thinking of yellows, greens and blues for spring time.  I had time today to think as I watched the kiddies at work and I decided to learn how to put tutorials up on my computer.  So each month there will be a BOM posted after the guild meeting.  We meet the fourth Thursday of each month.  April 26th will be my first BOM posting.

Sorry no pics today.  I lost my pics that I took and was going to put up.  One computer application worked for me.  I learned how to use the Keynote at work.  All the computers at work (except the office computers and that is what I have--a PC) are Apples.  The kids always know what to do (Thank God!), but today the kids were to do a partner project.  This one boy, who I just think is a sweetheart, couldn't find a partner and he asked if I would be his partner.  We worked so well choosing the pics and typing in the facts.  Our project was done by 1:40pm while everyone else was still wasting time.  I told my little friend that he was smart to let me pick the category because I knew lots of facts about the mountain men that weren't even in the book, so he will look good!  The kiddies are studying the march west across the country.

sleep well all.

Tomorrow is the quilt show

I am going to the Valley Quilt Show in Yuba City tomorrow with friends.  Best to go with friends rather than enemies. ha,ha,ha,ha!  One ha for each of us going.

Other than that, it is raining here.  I have made progress with my Shabby Cottages BOM (2012 Mystery Quilt) from Shabby Fabrics (www.shabbyfabrics.com).  I have all the fabrics I am going to use for the houses.  I am so excited that I think I will start working on the first house tonight for the Friday Night Sew-In (www.handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com).

Happy Quilting,
Julie

Weekend Wrap-Up

On Saturday I got together with five very good friends.  I love all these women.  One of the topics of conversation is a little retreat we are planning.  I am not letting myself hope too much that I will be able to go, but will enthusiastically take part in making the plans.  The date that is available and works best for the group is the 2nd week of school for me.  The year before last one of the aides asked to start a week late because she was going on a mission trip with her church (fixing up some poor part of the world) and she was told to be at work the first day or not come back at all.  While I am thinking she could have fought it, I am not sure how much of that threat was real and I am the one with a job, so.....I will wait and see.  The price of the house we are renting is will be a difference of $20.00 more dollars if I am not able to go, but darn I want too!

For the retreat we are teaming up to do dinners. I am teamed up with a very good friend, Sandy.  We will do a crock-pot recipe of pulled pork.  I have made it twice, including Saturday with my friends.  It has been such a hit each time.


Barbeque Pulled Pork Sandwich

5-7 lb pork shoulder (boneless is best)
Rub the pork shoulder with spice blend:
         2 tablespoons brown sugar
         2 tablespoons chili powder
         1 tablespoon black pepper
         2 teaspoons oregano
         1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (don't think this will make it too hot.  Definitely use it!)
In the crock-pot:
         2 onions thinly sliced
         1/2 cup barbeque sauce
         1/2 cup chicken broth
         Pork shoulder with rub
Cook until fork tender on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours.  (I use the low setting)  When done, shred the pork and serve with barbeque sauce and coleslaw. 
Note:  you can also serve pork with this lettuce combination:
         head of lettuce, shredded
        1 red onion, thinly sliced
        1-2 tablespoons vinaigrette

Coleslaw

1 cup Best Foods mayonnaise
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon mustard (I use Sweet/Hot mustard from Trader Joe's)
2 tablespoons sugar
6 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots

Combine all and refrigerate.
Note:  I use a bag of prepared red and green cabbage with carrots from Sam's.  It is approximately 32 ounces and is a bit more than the amount called for, but I still use the same amount of dressing and it is enough.


We are also planning on having each of us bring a project to share.  We will think of something and then make a kit for each of us.  Since I heard mention of finishing the project (hmmmm) I have had some ideas.  I am going to pick one and then I am going to help out one of my friends with the other ideas.  I think she was having a moment of panic.....It just occurred to me that I can't tell what I decide--until August.  Can I keep a secret that long????


I received two charm packs of Redwork Renaissance by Chloe's Closet for Moda.  I am thinking a red purse might be in my future.  I was going to make a pink purse, but red is speaking to me right now.  The pink fabric I picked out may be the problem why I haven't started the purse yet.  There are some really great reds that would be perfect.

This has been a good week.  I played with friends on Thursday and Saturday.  I am meeting a friend for coffee on Monday, Thimbleberries on Wednesday, more playing with friends on Thursday and then the Yuba-Sutter Valley Quilt Show on Saturday.  It will be another good, but busy week!

Farmer's Market

I am starting on the really long pieces of the farmer's market quilt.  I haven't decided what to do about the fabric I want to use in the quilt.  I am definitely going with a Kansas Troubles look, but no one here sells that line.  I am going to Gardnerville, Nevada in May and I am going to call in advance to see if the quilt store there sells the line.  I can go with pieces I can find here, but I love that line.....

I'm off to help out a quilting buddy.  Can't tell.  Shhhh.  It's a secret!!!  Ha,ha,ha.  Not really.  I am just going over to see the next block for Autumn House and there is some question about a house that is crooked.  Can I see it or is it in her head????  Only time will tell.

What I Learned Today in Science

For those of you who don't know, I work in a middle school with 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  One of the classrooms I help out in is a 7th grade science class.  The kiddies are learning about the brain.  Did you know that we retain about 25% of what we hear the first time.  That makes sense that the teachers are constantly repeating themselves and why the kiddies look blank when someone says, "You learned this last year."  Of the amount we retain, in one hour you will only remember 50% of it.  So, if I told you the moon was round, blue, hollow and high in the sky, if all you got was the moon was round, then you might not remember that later.  In one year, you will only remember 5% of what you have heard.  The moral of this story....WRITE IT DOWN!

Bathroom Wars Continued

Just couldn't resist adding this bit today's post.  When I came home there was a sign that said the premises were under video surveillance at all times attached to the bathroom door.  The darling daughter was so upset.  Really there isn't a camera in our bathroom.  Just to be sure I checked because we do have a camera watching the front of the house because of the partying kids next door and their drunk friends.  The whole thing is just so funny to me.  I wanted to take a picture, but it was gone when I came home later after picking up the darling daughter from work.

God only knows what my husband will think up next......

Bathroom Wars

On Saturday morning, my husband couldn't sleep.  He got up and began regrouting the bathroom.  Isn't that what everyone does at 3am???  I am so used to his weird sleeping habits, I no longer even wake up which means he was done by time I wandered out of my room at 7:30am.  We have been married for 27 years as the 23rd of this month.  This is nothing new to me.  My husband has been doing this as long as I have known him.  Knowing that, you wouldn't think that the darling daughter would be surprised.  Nope.  She is surprised every time and she thinks her father is doing this on purpose to torture her.  My only concern was when I could take a shower.  We had plans to go to lunch with friends and I wasn't going without a shower no matter how clean my husband declares I am!!!

After calming down the darling daughter, I asked my husband who long it would be before we could shower.  Well, the grout has to dry and after a lot of questions (how come you have to take so many showers?) he finally says Sunday morning, but he will put up plastic so we don't get the grout wet.  That was great, until he took it down because he thought 4 adults had showered enough. 

It was hell!  Even yesterday the grout was not dry and I could not shower until this morning--plastic up again.
My parents almost divorced when they redid the tile in our bathroom in the house in Concord.  I couldn't understand why there was such a fuss.  Now I know.  It is darn inconvenient to be without a shower.  We only have the one bathroom that has a shower.  The other is a half-bath and it is in the sole possession of my darling husband and I don't like to even step foot in there.  No divorce here (this time), but I can sure understand why that would be an issue!!!!

Paul & Paulette

I wonder how often it works to fix people up?  Paulette liked Paul.  She thought he was funny and nice looking.  Paul thought she was too skinny.  That really bothered him and he didn't feel an attraction.  My husband and Lisa (who set the whole thing up) think Paul should at least take her out to dinner to see if something could develop.  He likes his women with more meat  on their body.

Since I was wrapped up with the lunch, I didn't get any sewing done.  I am doing a bit of embroidery on my Farmer's Market quilt.  That is at least something.  I got to hear how fun the trip to the Manteca Quilt Show was, that was Great!

It's March

The essence of pleasure is spontaneity.
             --Germaine Greer

The Farmer's Market

I went over to see my friends Jayma, Valerie, Jill and Gina.  I needed to trace two more patterns for the quilt I am doing--The Farmer's Market.  It is 14 embroidered pieces and the surrounding fabrics are going to be similar in color to the Kansas Trouble line.  Jayma has the spot she uses as a light box and it is big enough for larger pieces to be traced.  I didn't give any thought to these last two pieces because I had so many to do.  Last week I pulled them out and started counting which were done and found that I am so close to actually sewing!  Hurrah.

Tomorrow I am going to miss an adventure with my circle of friends as they go to the Manteca Quilt show.  I have previous plans to have lunch with another group of friends.  My husband and I are friends with Paul and we are friends with Noel and Lisa.  Lisa wants to introduce Paul to her step-father's some kind of relative, Paulette.  Isn't that cute?  Paul and Paulette.  Anyway, we are not sharing this with all of the lunch invitees.  We are just going to lunch and if something works, then great.  But I have to be there.  So no quilt show for me this weekend.