Last month at my guild meeting we got back a 9-month block-of-the-month. I had put in a yard of a cream with blue fabric and a block I made. Then eight of my fellow guild members each made me a block. Now I have 9 blocks to put together into a quilt. I have a plan--a checkerboard border and sashing. So, I have been cutting out 1.5-inch squares and sewing them together. I need 176 pairs. On Thursday I am going to my guild meeting and am hoping to get scraps from the eight women. It took a lot longer to do the 50 sets I have done than I thought. Definitely a job for a movie day.
Plans for Friday to go to the River City Quilt Guild Quilt Show. If you are in Sacramento this weekend, check it out! Scottish Rite Temple.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Apple Hill
Hello. I have been a bit lax for a while about checking in here and posting. I am making a commitment to do better. So, sorry to anyone who looks in regularly.
On Saturday I went up to Apple Hill with my Circle of Friends. Apple Hill is just above Placerville on Highway 50. There is apple farm after apple farm after apple farm. It smells so good--like pine needles and fireplaces. It is worth going up there just for the smell. There were crafts, apples, pears, vegetables and gifty items. I bought a box of pink lady apples, some pears and apple cider. Yummm. Apple pie this weekend coming up. I must remember to purchase the vanilla ice cream.
We also stopped at Shared Stitches and High Sierra Quilts. At Shared Stitches I bought a little suitcase to hold my embroidery. I am using a small box by Susan Branch, but it is slowly breaking. I will need something else soon, I also bought a pattern Suffragette by Heartspun Quilts. Every time I go into Shared Stitches, I find a quilt on the wall that I just love. Then I look to buy the pattern and find that it looks nothing like the quilt on the wall. The one on the wall is in reds and creams--rich dark colors. The one on the pattern looks wrong. It is red, white and blue. I can't even decide what it is that makes it look so wrong.
We were gone all day. It is always fun to hang out with this little group.
Let me tell you about the gifts! I don't usually require gifts to be friends, but this group comes up with the best presents. There was a cute little cellophane bag with a gingerbread ornament, a gadget and some Ghirardelli chocolates. Yummm. There was a coffee cup with a cute organizer. One of us gave each person a notebook with a cover in black and white with a label in the middle that says Circle of Friends.
I gave everyone a backpack (because we were going on a trip!!) with hand sanitizer, lip balm, snack, mints,
a cutting tool (something fabric oriented) and a whistle--just in case someone got lost. I got the backpacks from my sister-in-law. She had them from her prescription drug selling days. I was just so darn pleased with myself for thinking of this.
It's time for bed now.
On Saturday I went up to Apple Hill with my Circle of Friends. Apple Hill is just above Placerville on Highway 50. There is apple farm after apple farm after apple farm. It smells so good--like pine needles and fireplaces. It is worth going up there just for the smell. There were crafts, apples, pears, vegetables and gifty items. I bought a box of pink lady apples, some pears and apple cider. Yummm. Apple pie this weekend coming up. I must remember to purchase the vanilla ice cream.
We also stopped at Shared Stitches and High Sierra Quilts. At Shared Stitches I bought a little suitcase to hold my embroidery. I am using a small box by Susan Branch, but it is slowly breaking. I will need something else soon, I also bought a pattern Suffragette by Heartspun Quilts. Every time I go into Shared Stitches, I find a quilt on the wall that I just love. Then I look to buy the pattern and find that it looks nothing like the quilt on the wall. The one on the wall is in reds and creams--rich dark colors. The one on the pattern looks wrong. It is red, white and blue. I can't even decide what it is that makes it look so wrong.
We were gone all day. It is always fun to hang out with this little group.
Let me tell you about the gifts! I don't usually require gifts to be friends, but this group comes up with the best presents. There was a cute little cellophane bag with a gingerbread ornament, a gadget and some Ghirardelli chocolates. Yummm. There was a coffee cup with a cute organizer. One of us gave each person a notebook with a cover in black and white with a label in the middle that says Circle of Friends.
I gave everyone a backpack (because we were going on a trip!!) with hand sanitizer, lip balm, snack, mints,
a cutting tool (something fabric oriented) and a whistle--just in case someone got lost. I got the backpacks from my sister-in-law. She had them from her prescription drug selling days. I was just so darn pleased with myself for thinking of this.
It's time for bed now.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
thinking of gifts.....
I spend time with a group of friends. It is a great group of women. There are several things that I can attribute to knowing these women, butthe funniest is that I think in terms of six. There are always gifts.
It is such a fun part--not just gettting gifts, but thinking of really great ideas to give to them.
On Saturday we have a trip planned to Apple Hill. Apples--yummm. I had a brilliant idea that I can share on Saturday, but not before. I have planned this since August. I drove to Modesto to get part of it. I helped myself to six of everything offered at a Kaiser table in SOuthern California. I have been brasen in my quest to get six of every thing. We shall see if I am as clever as I think......
I can't wait until Saturday!
It is such a fun part--not just gettting gifts, but thinking of really great ideas to give to them.
On Saturday we have a trip planned to Apple Hill. Apples--yummm. I had a brilliant idea that I can share on Saturday, but not before. I have planned this since August. I drove to Modesto to get part of it. I helped myself to six of everything offered at a Kaiser table in SOuthern California. I have been brasen in my quest to get six of every thing. We shall see if I am as clever as I think......
I can't wait until Saturday!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween
I was thinking today about my children who aren't children anymore. On days like today, I am nostalgic about the days when they were small and the fun we had trick or treating.
Every year I refused to make elaborate costumes and spend money on cheap costumes. I took my children to the thrift stores and let them buy things to make a costume. Sometimes we just used stuff we found at home. The wedding dress the year my daughter was a princess lasted us into many years and was loaned a time or two to friends. At 5pm on Halloween, we drove over to my in-laws neighborhood and went trick or treating there with the cousins. After making the full circle, we drove back home, went to a few houses on our block and then called it a night.
I miss that excitement and energy. In the later years when they were definitely too old, they would hand out candy for my in-laws. One year--the son's 13 year, we had a Japanese exchange student. Both kids went out that year. The Japanese boy had a great time and left all his candy when he left our home for his next stop.
I miss all that.
Every year I refused to make elaborate costumes and spend money on cheap costumes. I took my children to the thrift stores and let them buy things to make a costume. Sometimes we just used stuff we found at home. The wedding dress the year my daughter was a princess lasted us into many years and was loaned a time or two to friends. At 5pm on Halloween, we drove over to my in-laws neighborhood and went trick or treating there with the cousins. After making the full circle, we drove back home, went to a few houses on our block and then called it a night.
I miss that excitement and energy. In the later years when they were definitely too old, they would hand out candy for my in-laws. One year--the son's 13 year, we had a Japanese exchange student. Both kids went out that year. The Japanese boy had a great time and left all his candy when he left our home for his next stop.
I miss all that.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Funny Story From a Friend
I work with Andrea. She is really great. I feel a connection to her for two reasons. One: her cousin Nicholas was in my preschool class that I taught at Holy Family Catholic Church ever so long ago. Two: Andrea was a ballet dancer. If I had any coordination what so ever (and I really don't) it would have been my dream to be a ballet dancer. Instead I get to love the people who are able to do it.
Today, Andrea told me a funny story. Ten years ago she had a class set of a book, Catherine Called Birdy. This book is wonderful. It is about a 14 year old girl in the year 1201 and her father is trying to marry her off. So, ten years ago Andrea is cleaning out her room and thinking she won't be teaching history, sells the entire class set to a used book store. Now she is teaching history and she wanted to have some for the students to read. She went back to the book store and there was her class set sitting there waiting for her!
Have a great day.
Julie
Today, Andrea told me a funny story. Ten years ago she had a class set of a book, Catherine Called Birdy. This book is wonderful. It is about a 14 year old girl in the year 1201 and her father is trying to marry her off. So, ten years ago Andrea is cleaning out her room and thinking she won't be teaching history, sells the entire class set to a used book store. Now she is teaching history and she wanted to have some for the students to read. She went back to the book store and there was her class set sitting there waiting for her!
Have a great day.
Julie
Sunday, October 23, 2011
It Is One Thing After Another
Dinner was all about my childhood. We had roast, white rice, asparagus and rice pudding for dessert.
I wanted to use one of those "buy one, get one free" roasts. My mother made this chuck roast with gravy that was delicious, except that it was a full of fat with that fatty piece of meat. I had a very lean roast. It was yummy.
Roast with gravy
2-3 pound roast
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 can water
Line glass dish with foil and top with roast. Pour soup, mix and water over the roast. Cover. Put roast in 300* oven for 2 hours. Serve with white rice.
Tuesday our phones did not work--our land line. It was thought that the problem was our actual phones. So, Saturday, we went to Costco and bought new phones. Still nothing works. I will be calling the phone company tomorrow afternoon. Then last night our washing machine died. I have to say I care more about the washing machine. It is a bearing and I will be calling Folsom Lake Appliance. They have been good to us in the past. I hate the Laundromat. Anyone have a spare washing machine???
I spent some time working on a square for a block of the month through my guild. The meeting is Thursday and we get our blocks back then. I fixed a block that turned out to be 10-inches unfinished instead of the 9.5-inch block I need. I also made the block due on Saturday. I am not happy making 8-inch blocks into 9-inch blocks, so I did another block altogether.
Off to bed soonfor another week of work.
--Julie
I wanted to use one of those "buy one, get one free" roasts. My mother made this chuck roast with gravy that was delicious, except that it was a full of fat with that fatty piece of meat. I had a very lean roast. It was yummy.
Roast with gravy
2-3 pound roast
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 package dry onion soup mix
1 can water
Line glass dish with foil and top with roast. Pour soup, mix and water over the roast. Cover. Put roast in 300* oven for 2 hours. Serve with white rice.
Tuesday our phones did not work--our land line. It was thought that the problem was our actual phones. So, Saturday, we went to Costco and bought new phones. Still nothing works. I will be calling the phone company tomorrow afternoon. Then last night our washing machine died. I have to say I care more about the washing machine. It is a bearing and I will be calling Folsom Lake Appliance. They have been good to us in the past. I hate the Laundromat. Anyone have a spare washing machine???
I spent some time working on a square for a block of the month through my guild. The meeting is Thursday and we get our blocks back then. I fixed a block that turned out to be 10-inches unfinished instead of the 9.5-inch block I need. I also made the block due on Saturday. I am not happy making 8-inch blocks into 9-inch blocks, so I did another block altogether.
Off to bed soonfor another week of work.
--Julie
Saturday, October 22, 2011
I SAVED SO MUCH
I got a card in the mail from Safeway. It showed chicken tacos, a chicken and rice dish and a chicken salad.
There were coupons for almost everything you would need to make the chicken dishes. So, I decided to see how much I would save. Probably didn't save as much as I could have if I had really kept myself in check. We all know I didn't do that. I saw an extra deal or two, but over all.....
I bought everything on the card except the baguette. That was $0.50 off one and would have cost me an extra $1.50. I spent $90.00 on all my purchases. After the coupons, I really spent $56.00. That is a savings of $34.00. The guy behind me was REALLY impressed!
On the home front, my sister just called and told me she was at an underwater pumpkin carving contest. Divers go down to the bottom of the pool and place pumpkins there. Then divers go down and spend the next 30 minutes carving their pumpkins. The best pumpkin wins. Our biggest question is how much of a mess do they make and how do you get it out of the pool?
There were coupons for almost everything you would need to make the chicken dishes. So, I decided to see how much I would save. Probably didn't save as much as I could have if I had really kept myself in check. We all know I didn't do that. I saw an extra deal or two, but over all.....
I bought everything on the card except the baguette. That was $0.50 off one and would have cost me an extra $1.50. I spent $90.00 on all my purchases. After the coupons, I really spent $56.00. That is a savings of $34.00. The guy behind me was REALLY impressed!
On the home front, my sister just called and told me she was at an underwater pumpkin carving contest. Divers go down to the bottom of the pool and place pumpkins there. Then divers go down and spend the next 30 minutes carving their pumpkins. The best pumpkin wins. Our biggest question is how much of a mess do they make and how do you get it out of the pool?
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