Sunday, November 25, 2012

Holiday Weekend Progress

Patty:  This is my pecan pie that I made from scratch using real pecans.  It tastes magical!  You can see all my mismatched bowls and tableware, but the food was really top notch.  Now, I personally do not like pecan pie, but it is Sabryin's favorite and this year I forced him to tell me what he wanted for Thanksgiving dinner because otherwise I was going to make cod.  Sorry, but I like cod (fish of any kind, really).  He's a steak and potatoes kinda guy and I'm a salmon and salad lady.  But I can compromise, you know?

Well, it all started Monday when I was reading this particular biography of Steve Jobs.  I wouldn't normally be interested in a bio about a tycoon, except he's wearing the glasses I want and his eyebrows grow upwards, just like mine.  I thought, hmmm, maybe we have something in common and it turns out we do (but I won't tell you what).  For some reason (hmmm, I wonder what), I decided I would make an APPLE pie.  Now, I have not made a pie in a very, very long time, but I had the apples and I needed to use them or compost them, so . . .  This was incredibly easy and, according to Sabryin and Ernie, tasted really good.  So, faced with this success and the request for a pecan pie for the holiday meal, I determined to make it myself rather than buy one premade. 

The 9 patch quilt top I'd been making was finished and I miraculously had enough of the background and border fabrics to create a backing for the quilt!  Usually I wind up going out and buying six more yards, which is pure folly.  It's not as if I didn't have millions of yards of fabric already!  My problem was space.  I didn't have anywhere to pin it up.  In the past I always took the quilt, batting and backing to the office conference room and pinned it up on the table there.  But this summer they had the table refinished, so I didn't think it would be appropriate to dig little pin holes in it again!   So, I went to the public library and reserved a room!  Can I say I love, love, love our public library?  It's so fantastic for so many reasons.  Anyway, the room was perfect, the table was great and I got the top pinned up!  I did run short of pins.  That has never happened before.  This is a BIG top!


Bhu:  Now you gotta quilt it, mom! 


Patty:  So I do, sweet Bhu!  Hope efurrybody had a great weekend!  xxoo

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Efurry day thanking

Patty here!  Bhu is sleeping.  He has had a hard day so far.  He horked up on his favorite napping spot, so he has been wandering around from sunny spot to sunny spot.  I just gave him some Appetizer; sometimes it settles his tummy.

In a minute I am going to attempt to make a pecan pie from scratch.  I've got collard greens soaking in the sink and the ham hocks in the fridge.  All the parts for tomorrow's feast are assembled and I have a pot of decaf coffee ready to keep me hydrated during the rigorous preparations!  The photo, by the way, is of our lovely KnockOut roses blooming like crazy!  You know, even though we had a devastating drought this year, all my roses did spectacularly well (I think it was the leaf mulch and I did water them every day).  They all have very long stems, too.  The real reason for posting today is that I wanted to "file" a recipe for homemade spray starch that I do not want to lose.  This is from "Sunday Morning Quilts" by Amanda Jean Nyberg & Cheryl Arkison, a lovely book I got at the library.

HOMEMADE SPRAY STARCH

12 to 16 ozs water
1-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Mix the water and cornstarch until no lumps remain and pour into a spray bottle.  You can add 2 to 3 drops of lavender essential oil, if you like.  The starch will separate between uses, so you will need to shake well before each use.  If you're not going to use it regularly, keep it in the fridge.

P.S.  Bhu, Sabryin and I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!!  xxoo

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Flypaper and other special thoughts

We're sorry for being so absent lately.  Mai mom's excuse is there has been a lot to do at work, she is trying to fit everything around Poppy's new work schedule (which means everything gets done later but not at any specific time).  Mostly she's been quilting and fiddling around with the sewing machine and trying to get an etsy shop going.  I am doing just fine so far this Fall and I'm glad mai mom is helping me go around and visit effurrybody to say hi! 

Patty:  Who can believe it is November already?!  When did THAT happen?  Anyway, we finally plugged in our land-line telelphone yesterday now that Mitt Romney doesn't want to talk to us anymore.  His loss, right Bhu?  Maybe he's afraid we'll ask him for some money.  Plus, my family and friends on the Jersey Shore and in New York are suffering through some nasty stuff perpetrated by Mutha Naycha!  We are hoping for the best ('cause the worst has already occurred). 

As for the etsy store, I am so happy to have a banner designed by Ann of Zoolatry!  It's bright and happy and I love it and I can't wait to get the store stocked with items!   I plan to sell vintage and repurposed sewing items including tools, patterns, fabrics and even some handmade items like quilts, totes, and the occasional magic doll. 

Veteran's Day is Monday and I know I am a bit early, but I don't want to miss the opportunity to say thanks to the people who have chosen to do this job (and especially to those who did not choose it, but did it anyway and served  bravely and honorably).  xxoo Patty