Pulled muscles - Work in Progress

As you may know, from my last post, I have started a new exercise regime...  Mostly walking... but also trying to make an effort to stretch and a few other tidbits when I am walking...

Well, in the process, I pulled a muscle in my back --nothing serious -- just a bit of tightness,  but it became a bit difficult to sit at the sewing machine --- maybe it was even working at the sewing machine that caused the 'pull'.

So for the last few days I haven't been sitting at the sewing machine, hunched over (not really hunched) making things but instead sitting in my recliner making some more crochet snowflakes from the book I mentioned a month or so ago called 100 Snowflakes 

 

In the last two days I have managed to crochet 14 of these little treats!  I am thinking I might put some of them into my etsy shop, once I have got them blocked and stiffened...

 

 

For a few of these snowflakes from the book, I have actually been 'elaborating' on the designs and creating a few of my own variations!

 

 

I haven't shown any of my very own versions here, but basically I have adjusted a few of the designs from the book that are 6 pointed stars to either 5 pointed stars or even a few 8 pointed stars...

 

Being my own designer is quite the process, tho in a couple of cases, my written instruction was not so clear, even to myself, so to make a second one, I will have to look at the original to make a second one! If I get the writing instruction straightened out I'm sure I would find my own designs easier to understand!

 

And since he has not appeared for awhile on the blog here is a peek at WALTER, peeking at birds that are sitting on the roof of the townhouse across from ours...

 

 

 

Linking up today with the Needle and Thread Network...

and Freshly Pieced (see the button on the side bar to link back)

Renew, Review, Revitalize....

Time slides away so quickly!

You may know that my favourite sewing machine is currently out of commission, and will remain so for awhile yet -- due to financial constraints, BUT luckily I do have a good "just in case" sewing machine!  It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the Janome 6600P, but it certainly can fill in the gaps...

So, I have been reviewing some of my priorities lately and sewing is not on the top of the list, even though I do take myself into my sewing room pretty much everyday!  What?  The sewing room is also where I keep most of everything that falls into the 'crafty' category, so yarn, and ribbons and even some specialty papers!

Part of the reviewing process include renewing listings in my etsy shop and concentrating on the sewing related items that need to be listed or relisted...

 

So I am adding some fabrics that I am pretty sure I won't be needing and hopefully someone else will find value in them...

 

These, plus I am adding a few more - mostly fat quarters or half meter cuts - will be added in the next week or so...

 

A few more vintage dress, skirt, pants or suit patterns were also added this morning to the shop...

 

For a quick look, click on the link on my sidebar to the right...

 

And, I had a light bulb moment last week...

 

Exercise.  I need it desperately!  But because of a slight problem with walking any distance I have been reluctant to walk around my neighbourhood or in local parks...  I refuse to get one of those ride on scooter thingys!  My brother actually offered me one a couple of weeks ago -- what a nice guy! -- but I said no, I will find a way.  I think his concern actually helped to motivate me!

 

So here's my secret to getting a good walk in at least three times a week and not having to appear like my disability is showing...

 

I have taken to walking around the big stores, using a shopping cart as my "crutch".   In the great outdoors, I can barely walk to the end of my street and back, but in a store, using a shopping cart I can stay walking up and down rows for as much as an hour!  In Ikea, an hour got me into a bit of a sweat, but joints and muscles did not ache to where I was unable to keep going!   Now on my list of stores to use as circuit walking routes is Wal-Mart, Superstore, Rona, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and if I had a membership I would wander around Costco, too.

 

So my motivation to walk and get exercise seems to be revitalized and hopefully I can use my secret exercise plan on a much more regular basis!

 

Now today is a walking day, and I am headed over to Home Depot, I think!

Work in Progress --- CLUNK!

OH, not a good sound!

 

But lets start with the good stuff...

 

A friend gave me some unfinished fabric experiments as she called them...  And some practice pieces of quilting that she could not find any need for...   The quilting practice pieces were not too large, but large enough and the fabric used on both sides was a very good quality...  So I trimmed the quilted sections into Hexagon shapes and put a binding around --- Now -- Mug Rugs!   A couple of the applique practice bits also became Mug Rugs...

 

And, I thought I would give my own bit of arty touch by photographing them out by the birdhouse made from wine corks that I found in a garage sale for two bucks!

 

Now, having been inspired by those 'practice pieces' I thought I would make a couple of place mats with some scrappy coffee themed fabrics...

 

CLUNK!  Error #5 !

 

 

And thats where it sits, until I can get 'er packed up and lugged over to the sewing machine repair guy!

 

Now, I do have another "utility" sewing machine that I can use in a pinch, but can you believe I kept waking up in the middle of the night wondering if I should go and turn on my Janome to see if the problem had cured itself?  I know it hasn't, tho...   Why does it become so important to sew something when the NUMBER ONE sewing machine is not immediately useable?  Why, the tension and just a tinge of worry?

 

They say that needlework is relaxing...

And I do have a fairly rich stash of yarn...

Ooooo - KAY!  I will start another crochet project...

Just a quick one.

Would you believe I was hunting up something to do at 4am? Yes I was!  Yarn picked and project started by 4:30am...  Then I dozed off while sitting in my chair til almost 7am --- Proof that needlework is relaxing!!

 

 

A Mobious Headband

 

I came across this free pattern at PD Designs and it is a quick and easy pattern and best of all, FREE!

I have made a couple of changes tho...  The yarn I used is a wool blend and a bit finer than a worsted weight, so I found I needed to increase the beginning chain by 10 -- then after getting most of the way done, I decided I preferred a more 'solid' weave so ripped out the third row and just did two more rounds of the second row of the instructions... Not quite done, but no more than a half hour of crochet stitches to do...

then I think I will add a contrast yarn in a simple running stitch along the edge...

 

Linking up with the Needle and Thread Network...

 

Work in Progress -- Postage Stamp Quilt

Just a quick update on the progress of my Postage stamp Quilt.

I bought some fabric!  The purchase of fabric has really become a rarity around here.  It took a fair amount of thought as to colour choice of fabric for the postage stamp quilt.  I definately needed something that would give the impression of "age".  This was not intended to be a MODERN quilt.

My aunt who I am trying to emulate, somewhat with this quilt, used a soft pinky peach as her sashings, but that sort of thing is not my 'cuppa tea'...

As I usually do tho when I saw a fabric that I felt was right, I just went ahead and bought it, even tho I was thinking I should have been carrying some of the postage stamp blocks with me to see how they 'fit' with this colour...

I am wondering if the sashing might be just a little bit dark?  But then I look at it and say "Yes, it does look older than it is!"

At this point the quilt is still in the building stages.   This is 16 of the postage stamp blocks (each is 7.5 inches square) which makes this center area about 38 inches square.  So now the plan is more postage stamps in 4 wide strips on each side -- that makes 100 postage stamps on each side, then again a narrow strip of the grey brown sashing and 'corner stone' postage stamp blocks;  beyond that I haven't planned the effect or what happens with the postage stamp blocks or how to arrange them...  Are you keeping track of how many "postage stamps" there are?

As is usual tho, Walter must poke his little face in to inspect the progress!

Linking up today with the Needle and Thread Network to see what other textile bloggers are playing around with this week!

Successful Copies

Not all of us create original art.  Even tho I consider myself to be a bit of an artist, I still come across alot of things that I create copies of...

The first best copies I made, of course were my sons! The elder is a copy of myself, only better and the younger is a copy of his father, definately better!

Now having said that, I did not ever intend to further improve on those copies by attempting any more of them!

And back to artful copies...

One of my favourite blogs is le monde sucrette.  She creates marvelously bright and cheerful crochet things.  Everything you might think can be crocheted and more...  A week or so ago, I was reading her blog and in the background a granny square covered tissue box caught my eye...  So, I copied it! Not exactly, different colour choice, I am quite happy with the copy, and it was EASY...  I never thought to cover a tissue box with a granny square.

 

Heres the photo blog post that I found the granny crochet covered tissue box.... http://www.lemondedesucrette.com/2013/07/17/a-new-addiction-called-amineko/

 

You will have to look thro her photos to find it and compare to my version...

 

And my third copy is an accidental copy, what they call a happy accident!  My neighbour was a bit ahead of me with planting her container garden (we don't have actual gardens so we have to put the growing things in to big planter type pots)...

We must have gone to the same place to purchase our starter tomatoes, because we both chose Roma tomato -- and they (hers and mine) are doing spectacular!!

Sometimes when I buy starter plants I wonder if it is worth paying the price for a couple of 'fruit' that would have been cheaper to buy in the store!  But then of course, the growing and nurturing is a big part of the satisfaction of planting things!

 

 My Roma Tomatoes

 

My Neighbours Roma Tomatoes

 

Her's are just a bit ahead of mine -- I think she has a  much greener thumb than I do, because she has a windfall of pink petunias that look spectacular on her deck...

 

 

But then, I have strawberries! And even tho I don't get enough for a bowlful of berries every day, I do get enough to slice up and put on my morning cereal...  Tomorrow's berries are almost ready for their morning milk and cereal...

 

 

Making copies, I think is just as satisfying as creating original work, don't you think?  Not all of us are innovators!

 

Have a wonderfully satisfying day, enjoying your particular favourite copy of something!



Old Lace and Edgings

It is so very obvious with the pace of life today why lace trim and the crafting of 'frilly things' has fallen out of favour.

When you go to work for 8 hours a day or even fewer hours it becomes much easier to buy a piece of lace if you need it for a project -- then it became easier to not bother putting lace on things. 

Used to be that lace trim, made by your own hand was the special touch that the lady of the house added to guest towels and the edge of pillow cases.  Lace that you made, either crochet or knitted was even used to pretty up the edges of shelves in cupboards or in your glass door china cabinate...

No more, or so very rare -- maybe in great-gramma's house; or maybe not...

So continuing from last weeks experiments (Hot. Lace. ) with lace, I thought I would work on this piece of lace edging that as shown in the book in the photo suggests that lace be used on one's china shelves!

 

This is quite a wide edging and is the bottom, pink trim shown in the booklet.  This particular photo and pattern is taken from a publication called Crochet Home and was printed in May 1995 -- not so long ago really...

 

I really enjoyed crocheting this piece, although it does take some time and so far I have about 10 of those flared fans done.  I am not sure where I am going to use this bit of lace -- maybe on the top shelf of my computer desk???  In the book it says that the pattern was designed by Lucille Laflamme.

 

Perhaps you would like to give this piece a try for yourself.  I am going to type out the instructions as originally written and if you test it out, please let me know how you liked doing it.

 

In the booklet it is called Pink Edging but perhaps we could find a more appropriate name for it?  Any suggestions?

 

Row 1: Chain 14, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 5 ch, ch 2, skip next 2 chs, dc in each of last 3 chs, turn (10dc, 1ch-2sp)

 

Row 2:  Ch 3 dc in each of next 2 dc, dc in each of next 2 chs, ch 6, skip next 6 dc, dc in last dc, turn

 

Row 3: ch 5, dc in first st, dc in next 6 chs, ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in each of las 3 sts, turn

 

Row 4: ch 3 dc in each of next 2 sts, dc in each of next 2 chs, ch 6, skip next 6 sts, dc in next st, (ch1, dc) 9 times in next ch5 space. sl st in bottom of st on row before last. turn.

 

Row 5: (ch 3, sc in next ch 1 sp) 9 times. ch 3 , dc in next dc, dc in next 6 chs, ch 2 skip next 2 st, dc in last 3 sts, turn.

 

Repeat rows 2 to 5 consecutively until you have reached the length of edging that you desire.

 

The pattern suggests using #10 bedspread cotton and thats what I used, with a 2.25 mm hook or the size that is similar...

 

The edging works up to about 2.5 inches wide, but I was thinking that this would be really pretty if added as a border to a crochet baby afghan...

 

Summer contrast

This little 'forest' is part of a local park -- alot of child size feets run between and beneath these lovely conifers...

 

 

The main thoroughfare in my town.  All that space, made just for the tires of cars to roll thro...

Each space has its invaluable purpose...

I know which space I prefer to be in on these especially hot sunny days...

 

How about you?

 

And PS....

This is the 400th entry on The Susan Being Snippy Blog!

Yay!  Happy 400!

 

AND

 

I am linking up with the Needle and Thread Network and they are celebrating the 100th post!

 

Not quite syzygy, but close...

(I had to look this up actually so syzygy means when the at least three planets are aligned in the same gravitational system) 

Hot. Lace.

Three weeks since I have posted on the blog! Not that there has not been things to day and show off, but because I just don't seem to have the motivation...

Hmmmm....

The last few days have been so hot, too hot for me.  I try to do as little as possible because, well, really I like being lazy...  sort of. 

I have been doing a bit of everything lately at least everything that doesn't seem to be too much like work...

I even made pumpkin tarts for an uncle who lives in a care home that is about 100 kms from us, so we only get there about once every 6 weeks.  Anyway, because of the heat, I did not want to use the oven, so had the bright idea to pull out my toaster oven, and put it on a table outside on the deck, where I was able to 'bake' a 1/2 dozen of his favourite tarts without warming up my kitchen to miserable heat levels!

As to the producing something without working, I was experimenting with some crochet lace and lace edgings.  I had #10 crochet cotton, which is not nearly fine enough for these edgings (and I did not even have white to use).  It was an experiment for the most part tho.

 

I had picked up at a garage sale awhile ago a couple of vintage booklets (the green one is copywrite 1942, and the pink one is 1943).  One of the challenging things about these booklets is that the instructions are written somewhat different than what we use now.  In fact a couple of these I could not make heads or tails of...  there were a couple of sets of instructions that seemed to have repeats within repeats -- or maybe it was a series of stitches that I was not quite advance enough to understand.

 

 

The other problem with the experiment was the type of cotton thread, #10 just doesn't make a fine pretty lace, BUT it was excellent for figuring out the instructions for the most part.

 

 

I am not sure how far I will take this experiment as there are about 100 or more different laces in these two booklets that I could try out.  It is satisfying to achieve the proper look to the lace, and with each one that I do succeed at, I am re-writing the instruction to our modern understanding.   I am even thinking I might graph a few of the instructions so that I can easiy go back to a few and work on a length of lace with the proper cotton thread weight.

 

I am still working on and slowly progressing with my postage stamp quilt idea.  The heat does prevent me from spending much time in my second floor sewing room because when it is hot outside it becomes quite oppressive in that room.  Instead of sewing  the tiny squares together, I have been working at adding to the tiny squares pile...

 

 

Even so, the 25 patch blocks are growing.  16 of then now.

 

 

And my final, work in progress for now, is a small crochet bag.  The bag is quite simply done with a crochet icord handle.  I sewed up a watered silk scrap I had as the lining with a inside pocket and put a magnetic snap closure on it, now all that is left is to hand stitch the lining to the crochet bag at the top edge.  I think I may list this bag in the ETSY shop -- I have been ignoring my shop too, so if I want it to be a bit more active I should be updating it with interesting things....

 

 

This week I am too late for the Needle and Thread Network link- up, but these still are my WIP's for now....

 

 

 

For Alberta

Over on Cheryl Arkison's blog, she has suggest that those who wish to help out might make Slab Blocks to send to her and the blocks will be made into quilts to help those who lost many of the necessities of everyday living when their homes  were flooded...

Check out her instructions at Dining Room Empire for instructions...

 

As Luck would have it, I was 'gifted' with a bag of scraps from another quilter.   I don't know about you, but when ever I get free fabric, be it fat quarters, yardage, or 2 inch wide strips, I am inspired to sew.  Just because the given scraps are almost always fabrics that I would not likely buy and it is a wonderful challenge to create with these unexpected colours and prints.

 

And a double challenge of making Slab Blocks as suggested by Cheryl!  This system of creating pieced blocks is somewhat unusual for me, so the first couple of blocks were not really to my satisfaction, but I have managed to put together three blocks this morning!

 

 

This is my #2 try and I am quite satisfied with it.  I used my own scraps for this one.   The trick to these blocks, I am finding, is making sure that they are squared up properly and that the seams don't bulge or gather anywhere...  If you are making some of these blocks, (and you don't have Cheryls book Sunday Morning Quilts) my advise is to square up every section that you make!

 

 

This block has larger scraps and comes from the 'gifted' fabrics...

 

This one too, I sure hope christmasy fabrics fit in with the 'scheme' that Cheryl plans to put together!  What do you think?

I am hoping to make a few more before the end of the week and get them sent to her by next friday... I am aiming at a dozen blocks done by then! How 'bout you?

 

Works In Progress - Post Clean-up...

As you may have read here, I have been doing a major sort, organization and clear out of my sewing room!  Many items in my sewing collection have been hanging around way too long!

Now, that is done, I can actually SEE MY WAY CLEAR to a few projects!

I am slowly working on a Postage Stamp Quilt -- My Aunt Vera made one of these, by hand, many years back and every now and then the memory of it returns in my mind.  I decided, I should actually make one for myself!  A postage stamp quilt is made up of well, postage stamp sized fabric bits.  In the case of the one I am doing, the bits are 2" square and when sewn are 1 1/2 inch... So when I make a block of 25 squares it is not very big...

 

 

And so far I have 12 of these made - it is a long way to go, yet tho...

 

 

There will be narrow sashings between each block, at least that is the plan so far...

 

My other in progress is the blocks and fabric that I got from a quilting friend that I have been working on...

 

 

I made a stack of leaves and petals so that I could add an applique border, tho it is only on two sides of the project...  I guess you might say it is my ARTISTIC interpretation! Hahahaha!

 

 

I had started to applique the pieces with my machine, but the curves of the leaves and petals are a bit too tight to do them neatly, so now it goes down to lay beside my TV watching chair and I can applique by hand before the layering and quilting...

 

 

Last year just about this time, I won a Jelly Roll of black and white fabrics and I have been searching since then for just the right project for them...  And I do believe I have found it!  Good thing I thumbed through all those old magazines before giving them away!  This S-Block Quilt in Quilt Magazine from January 2009, seems to feel right.   Now, the decision that needs to be made, what colour should the 'in between' S be???   RED? hmmmm....

 

My last Work in Progress for now, is this poor little AVOCADO plant...

I do think there is something wrong with it.   I started the seed from a store bought avocado just around Christmas time.  It took til March before it had a good root and a couple of leaves, so I planted it in soil on March 9.   It has added about an inch in height since then, but the leaves are not opening out and why are they so white?

 

 

I doesn't look like pictures of avocado plants I see on the internet google images... hmmmm...

Linking up as usual with The Needle and Thread Network...

Every Night Travel Pillow

How about a tutorial for a change?

Quite a few years ago, I purchased (for way too many $$$$'s) a travel pillow.  You know the big fluffed up 'C' type of pillow.  I found it unuseable.  I really disliked it.  It just seemed to push my chin down onto my chest -- it was not a good pillow -- at least for me.

So I invented one for myself - but I have seen very similar versions since then, so there is not just one person who thinks those expensive 'C' shape travel pillows are not so good...

I actually use my 'travel' pillow every single night!  I don't use a regular pillow at all.  I lay flat on my back and I like my head to rest at the same level as the rest of me...  One problem, which seemed to develop as I got older, my neck was often sore after a night like that.

I had to think of something to support my neck.  After some experimenting with rolled up towels and scrunched up regular pillows, I thought I just need a small roll behind my neck.  But that didn't work very well even tho it supported my neck, it tended to 'slip away' during sleep, or if I moved my head...

And now, because I have been making this pillow for myself now for well over 5 years, probably closer to 10, I cannot remember how I came to think that a "dog bone" shape would work...

And it does!  So here follows my version of a very useful little pillow for every night, or for travel, or even to keep on the back of a recliner type chair to let you lean back and have an afternoon nap without waking up with a stiff neck!

I made myself a pattern.   The sewing is very basic so I am not going into major details of how to sew this together but there are alot of photos so you can see the step by step...

Every Night and Every Day Neck Pillow

 

supplies:  a piece of polar fleece or other 'comfy fabric'  enough to be able to cut out 2 rectangles that are about 18" x 14"

 

thread, pillow stuffing, or left over bits of quilt batting, sewing machine, or even just a hand sewing needle and thread. 

 

The pattern you make yourself - a large piece of paper, use a newspaper page if you need to and mark the lines with a crayola marker that doesn't bleed thro, or put layers of paper underneath so you don't leave marks on your table.

 

Step 1.  Make the pattern.  refer to the photo below.  1st mark a rectangle that measures 16" long x 12" wide

 

 

Step 2: mark a seam allowance of 1/2 inch all around your rectangle. (my pattern doesn't show the end seam allowance on this one so you just have to take my word)

 

Step 3: I fold the paper in half long ways and short ways, so you can use the crease to measure from.  Use your ruler and draw a line 2 inches from each side of the folds, so that now it looks like a 'dog bone'.  Check the shape you have made so that it looks like my drawn pattern.

 

Step 4: On the part of the pattern that forms the " |_| " draw your seam allowance so that the log or centre 'bone' part stays at 4 inches wide and 8 inches long.

 

Your lines don't have to be perfect, I find that this size works very well for me.  If you are a bigger person you might want to make the length a bit longer, you might make the centre "bone" so that it finishes at 9 inches, but my suggestion is to start out with the standard then experiment on later tries.

 

Now the rest is super easy...

 

Step 5: Pin your pattern to your fabric.  I like polar fleece because it is easy to sew and is soft and not scratchy at all...

 

 

Step 6: Cut your fabric in the pattern shape. Unpin from your pattern and make sure that the right sides of the fabric are facing each other.

 

Step 7: Now, I like to make a marking dot at each corner so I know when to turn the corner and still keep the 1/2 inch seam allowance.

 

 



Step 8:  Start at the centre of one end of the 'dog bone' use one or two back stitches and sew all the way around making sure to maintain a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  End so that you leave about a 4 or 5 inch opening

 

 

Step 9:  Snip the outside corners so they don't bulk up, and snip the inside corners so that they turn smoothly, don't snip into your stitched line!

 

 

Step 10: Turn right side out

 

 

Step 11:  Find your prefered stuffing or batting

 



 

Step 12: A bit at a time, and being patient, push stuffing into the furthest corners of the pillow, but don't make it really firm, just squishy...

 

Step 13: Last bit, hand sew the opening closed.

 



 

Step 14: Lay down and test it out....

 

Hope you find this to be a useful accessory.

 

Oh, one other thing this little pillow is great for...

laying on the ground (with or without a blanket beneath you)

and watching the clouds float by on a warm summer afternoon!

PS, this little pillow doesn't need a pillow cover and I rarely wash it, it is so simple to make that I just do a new one as needed -- about every 3 or 4 months...

Vegetablized!

Not often that I write about cooking here on Susan Being Snippy, but every now and then I come across a recipe on the internet or on the Food Network (especially on Chef Micheal Smith's shows) that looks like a recipe that would suit my worker guys...

They like meat.

I try as I might to get as many vegetables into their diet as is possible without causing the words "I ain't eatin' that" to be said...

I was exploring a 'link-up" to see if I could find any new crochet or quilting blogs to put on my reading list and came upon a blog that was actually hugely crowded with a variety of ads, all down the side and between practically every paragraph -- I generally skip over those kinds of blogs, not that the blog owner doesn't have interesting things to say, but that everything they do say, is an attempt at selling you something and in this case she presented a recipe promoting Bush's Baked Beans (we don't get that brand where I am) The recipe she shared included adding 1/2 cup of brown sugar and a 1/2 cup of maple syrup, plus salt, garlic powder and onion powder, ketchup, yellow mustard and no veggies...  But it did sound and look interesting with a few tweeks that I made to it...

Now, since this household has a diabetic in it -- me,-- another concern in most cooking is SUGAR...

The recipe on the other blog has extra sugar and really no veg other than the beans.  So since I cook, much like my grandmother and mother - you know, a bit of this and a bit of that -- I often take the idea of a recipe and recreate my own version...  My version takes a bit more chopping to prepare, but i think is more 'garden fresh' healthy!  And even so I would say that the prep time did not exceed 15 minutes...

Sorry, I did not think to take a photo of the finished dish -- it was scooped up onto plates very quickly!

So here is my recipe, that I am calling ....

Vegetablized Brown Beans and Beef

Preheat oven to 375 F.

 

1 regular sized can baked brown beans -- whatever brand or store brand you prefer (I used Maple flavour store brand brown beans)

open and pour the can of beans into a middling size cassarole dish.

Add

2 tblsp ketchup and 2 tblsp grainy mustard

stir together really well

Then

Saute about 1 pound ground beef in a fry pan til nicely brown -- drain off the extra fat -- add a 1/2 onion and about 2 crushed garlic cloves and saute til the onion is translucent. (don't burn the garlic!)

Add

2 or 3 stalks of celery chopped including the leaves.  Saute for a couple minutes til the celery softens a bit more. 

Broccoli stalks 3 or 4 -- not the floret part, chop the stalks into pieces about the same size as the celery and mix into the bean mixture, no need to precook these. (use the florets another day)

Stir the meat mixture into the beans in the casserole dish and stir together well.

Put the lid on the casserole dish and pop it into the oven for about an hour.  (You might get away with less time, but thats how long it took me make a few crochet granny squares and watch an episode of Elementary on TV).

I don't think you should leave it in longer than a hour tho.

 

Remove from the oven, take the lid off and let the family serve themselves.

This recipe is enough for Three of us, so if you have more to feed just double up the ingredients and follow the same procedure...  You could double up everything except the meat and still have enough beef flavour in it to be quite satisfying to a Meat Lover...

 

I served this with a home made coleslaw -- the coleslaw mix you buy in a bag and coleslaw dressing with a sprinkling of sesame seeds...

 

My DH said he thought it was the best beans he had eaten in a long time -- even better than the chili that I make.

 

I told my son that I did not put any hot pepper or hot sauce (as the internet recipe had called for) into it and he said "good thing"

 

And as for me, I liked it too and after checking my blood sugar level later in the evening, I found that I was as normal as could be expected...  definately a good thing...

 

I'd like to know if you try out this idea and how your family might like it.   If you have one of those big BBQ's you might try it as a BBQ side dish baking it on the BBQ in a non-flame corner...

Someone Else's Sewing...

It's been awhile since I wandered up into my sewing room...

Partly because it was in a real shambles after 'culling' quite a few of the books and magazines I had collected through the years along with notions that I probably would never get around to using and even some lengths of fabric that I just could not see a way to use...

I did finally get things back in order to where it became a room that I could walk into and see where the things were on shelves or in their baskets along the wall so I sat down and pulled a plastic bag of stuff out of a drawer...

Every now and then everyone needs an injection of inspiration.

Even if that inspiration comes in the form of someone elses part done project that they had lost interest in a year or two or three ago... (people tend to give me stuff, cause I always smile when they do so! and I always promise to make good use of whatever it is!)

Some blocks, a few cut squares, triangles and long strips pre-cut, were organized into this piece...

 

This is, either a table runner or a door quilt -- not quite sure which, or perhaps it is a bed runner... It measures about 60 inches long and about 25 inches wide.

 

Most of the star blocks were already made and the alternating plain blocks were cut, the narrow border strips were already cut too.  There is some of that lovely mauve about 1/2 meter and I am hoping that I can add a final border with it.  Then with some of the bali print scraps I am thinking to add a leaf vine applique border...

 

I think I will put another couple hours into it today and see how much further it progresses...

 

 

Oh, and today, even tho he looks a bit grumpy, I know Walter is celebrating...

It was two years ago today, that Walter came to live with us and we are happy and thankful that he did!