tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30344323511169309042024-03-12T19:17:03.650-04:00Quilt ConfessionsUnburdening the Heart Allows the Mind to CreateDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-80281172778562545802012-09-20T12:15:00.001-04:002012-09-20T12:15:46.065-04:00Drawing is a different way to confess<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvus5UdXgyIBfeBmDf-Qh9lES2kacjXUIXsjXjTuREetJdYI9JKcaf25s-swmSijN6UAxdBUiwclaF_QLpG_asuzB8zkl4jLeywrlUc-usgqiFvTVcWIOHY4XY-Z4EpJhb0ntH7rRjIfI/s1600/IMG_1544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvus5UdXgyIBfeBmDf-Qh9lES2kacjXUIXsjXjTuREetJdYI9JKcaf25s-swmSijN6UAxdBUiwclaF_QLpG_asuzB8zkl4jLeywrlUc-usgqiFvTVcWIOHY4XY-Z4EpJhb0ntH7rRjIfI/s320/IMG_1544.jpg" width="240" /></a>I have always been a doodler. In the corners and edges of notebooks as far back as 3rd grade. I learned it from my mother who always drew on the back of envelopes as she talked on the phone. She was actually a pretty good pen and ink artist when she gave herself the time but that was rare. I never thought of myself as good. In fact, I can't remember using a pen or pencil to make pretty shapes thinking I was doing anything but occupying my mind so it wouldn't drift until a few years ago when Pam taught me how to draw a feather for quilting. I literally took a pile of about 50 pages of scrap paper and drew feathers until I felt I could actually do it with some kind of confidence and then went to my machine and tried sewing them. It was quite a victory. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtaIvZZjMp_FUGmzuJr9uP0ZmM1MMrLahKwbdCTuPC6VmEpDUeNv7D1Ga0edv_ItwkCPHM0lRea0mXxTFplenUVV13mdRyq-GunMNJhSlmT8J2ROCNFCEyIb54m5FSHwvNShdDd68MWQ/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtaIvZZjMp_FUGmzuJr9uP0ZmM1MMrLahKwbdCTuPC6VmEpDUeNv7D1Ga0edv_ItwkCPHM0lRea0mXxTFplenUVV13mdRyq-GunMNJhSlmT8J2ROCNFCEyIb54m5FSHwvNShdDd68MWQ/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I began Zentangle playing a few years ago. After my second surgery this year, when I stopped falling asleep every 15 minutes I was awake, I found my ability to keep my mind focused on what's going on during a sermon or a meeting or just about anything else is almost comical. I have begun sketching much more because it keeps my mind from wandering. Sometimes the sketch is about who I'm with or what the sermon is addressing. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuMBrwdlDsP7GwkYlHRFp52tVOyy6Qk-0ZV4BnTtJIw2iUuMqCnJVLTWfKr2WoX6W0Rs_eAOKYnU-klyhwAZY-TSoIYVwLhMJwr3V5_M1rM4LVJ1GciZSeEyAEBJ0iOnh2dBJ_9QgaBY/s1600/IMG_1543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuMBrwdlDsP7GwkYlHRFp52tVOyy6Qk-0ZV4BnTtJIw2iUuMqCnJVLTWfKr2WoX6W0Rs_eAOKYnU-klyhwAZY-TSoIYVwLhMJwr3V5_M1rM4LVJ1GciZSeEyAEBJ0iOnh2dBJ_9QgaBY/s320/IMG_1543.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp9bVHtKV2tP8f6qRoytv-AqrIihE4uQv1wOHjMp8hENC_D4iJzlxh1X2r_sEppyv5zfSb-1nD5nEfvPzXPw21dfJb9VE72fhcMSCtgnSKO76waMCpxgppqon_j1Qt_QgMESNQrtRln4/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp9bVHtKV2tP8f6qRoytv-AqrIihE4uQv1wOHjMp8hENC_D4iJzlxh1X2r_sEppyv5zfSb-1nD5nEfvPzXPw21dfJb9VE72fhcMSCtgnSKO76waMCpxgppqon_j1Qt_QgMESNQrtRln4/s640/IMG_1538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometimes it's about ideas for the brain quilt I'm thinking about. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8RmQlflVQK0Xf_lwzPp6uPaEabszS9asv0L2gDItxgt8nltTOM1GV8Vu1j4vZ94iS2wy1jecnTbSwdgOjEo-kfkYQ9nIlhv-5SFQDb9XtqaPMxgkDuqlLRpBRZBnsPUHjlpeokfDHiQ/s1600/IMG_1545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8RmQlflVQK0Xf_lwzPp6uPaEabszS9asv0L2gDItxgt8nltTOM1GV8Vu1j4vZ94iS2wy1jecnTbSwdgOjEo-kfkYQ9nIlhv-5SFQDb9XtqaPMxgkDuqlLRpBRZBnsPUHjlpeokfDHiQ/s320/IMG_1545.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Some of these lines of ink inspire quilting ideas. Or design ideas. The eye postcard I showed you I'm making came because I drew an eye during a sermon a few weeks ago. I no longer take a pretty notebook to church choosing a sketchbook instead. It yields some interesting things. Looking back over my sketchbook for the past several months I saw eyes in many of my sketches and didn't realize I was doing it repetitively until recently. <br />
<br />
This morning for the first time I spent 15 minutes drawing a mandala after reading an essay about it. The encouragement was to start with a dot and build out. I've never tried it before, but I wasn't unhappy with where it took me and it was fun to try to use shapes that describe (at least to me) a little bit of what I am feeling about my life. My daughter Kay looked at it and decided that the very element that I meant to use to indicate crazy unpredictable health garbage looked like crowns. It's noon, and I think I just had my favorite moment of the day. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-68878903119995144972012-09-04T07:00:00.000-04:002012-09-04T09:18:14.607-04:00Blueberry Bruschetta and Homemade Ricotta<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ9XWO8DIFaUvPong8BRMTCCGHvVg4xz59v0UJLUz52PtVweloo8Vi3eEWYVdgetA-dL9hoqPkPL1v4ieQDTgxeo5jNjp84K8SgymI-c3XYL366cARZs6-stDOgPhET85JMbAi15fp6s/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ9XWO8DIFaUvPong8BRMTCCGHvVg4xz59v0UJLUz52PtVweloo8Vi3eEWYVdgetA-dL9hoqPkPL1v4ieQDTgxeo5jNjp84K8SgymI-c3XYL366cARZs6-stDOgPhET85JMbAi15fp6s/s640/IMG_1441.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Of course, I enjoy a little coffee along with breakfast. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Now, I don't know that this is really called bruschetta. If it were a savory dish with cheese and veggies on toast it would get called bruschetta, so that's what I call it here, too. :)</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I found a picture of it on Pinterest and unlike many other food pics clicking on it didn't really get me to a recipe. The original picture (still visible on my "Food Other People Make" board is beautiful and shows a slice of ciabatta with ricotta, blueberries, honey and mint. (How hard can that be?) </span>Well, I have to admit, I love blueberries and until very recently we had free access to as many blueberries as we cared to pick, so we picked a bunch. I decided to try this for breakfast one morning and it was great. Since then I have made it without mint (around my yard mint has turned a little bitter so I am not using it) I have made it with raspberries instead of blueberries and I have made it with other kinds of bread and one morning I used agave syrup because I was out of honey. I have to confess, I much prefer honey and will do without it rather than substituting again. <br />
<br />
This isn't just my favorite breakfast, it's my favorite mid-afternoon snack and my favorite late evening treat. This summer I've learned to make my own ricotta which is so easy it's almost silly. It's a good thing because I have used a LOT of ricotta since discovering this treat. I hope you enjoy it, too!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Homemade Ricotta:</b></h3>
1 gallon whole milk<br />
1 t. salt<br />
2/3 c. lemon juice<br />
<br />
Heat the milk and salt in a large non-reactive pan. Stir to keep any from sticking to the bottom. Bring the temp to 185 F. Turn off the flame (if you use electric heat, move the pan to a cool burner) and stir in the lemon juice. Leave it alone for 25 minutes. The curdling happens almost immediately but let it sit for this short while, in the mean time prepare the colander, have a glass of tea and read some blogs. <br />
<br />
Use a large colander lined with cheesecloth (ask about the day I made cheese using coffee filters instead of cheesecloth because I couldn't find my stash) set over a bowl, when the milk has sat for 25 minutes, pour the curds and whey into the colander. I find it helps to do it kind of slow in the beginning just in case the cheese cloth slips or something else happens. <br />
<br />
Honestly, at this point you've done the hard work. Lift up the colander and empty the bowl. I have no use for the whey and I throw it away. If you know a good use, please let me know! Set the colander back down in the bowl and pour yourself another glass of tea. You can go work on a quilt this time because it's going to take about an hour. <br />
<br />
When you return to the colander you will see that the cheese has drained a lot. If you like the consistency, GREAT, you're done. If you like it a little thicker you can squeeze the cheese cloth to force out any excess moisture. I do this every time. You can add any seasoning you like (you'll find a use for lemon basil ricotta on my Pinterest page or leave it plain. Put it in a sealed container in the fridge and use it as you like.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Blueberry Bruschetta:</b></h3>
Ciabatta bread sliced in 1/2" thick slices, I prefer to do it on the diagonal most of the time<br />
Fresh ricotta, I have been making my own, but store bought works, too<br />
Fresh blueberries<br />
Honey<br />
<br />
Toast your bread slices. Schmear a good spoonful of ricotta on each piece of toast. Take handfuls of berries and cover the cheese with them. I like to push them down into the cheese as I place them. Drizzle honey over the top and enjoy this lovely treat. I've tried it with different berries and I'm planning to experiment with melon slices and cherries and asian pears.... all in good time. :)Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-18770151626478871942012-09-01T12:31:00.001-04:002012-09-01T12:31:36.901-04:00Eye am watching you...<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have found that sketching during talks helps me keep my mind in the topic at hand. It's funny how that happens for me. Since my surgery if I don't keep the quiet part of my mind busy it can wander and distract me completely. I have started taking sermon notes in my sketch book, so the notes and drawings grow along with one another. LOL A sermon on Dt. 6 involved an eye drawing, which was the result of a very long and a still not final eye appointment last week. </div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNuFqTryFbiVlR1TgovBywuudx6c6MSacrI5F6a1ZssXV9s3Mrks52bsNpG6WwhkMxfffDEsxuCBilb1eia-S9ig0CHCgb8CvpjLsEGsza9jFsIk2PN8UGhuz5JBDhuGDWOqcPQD2-IA/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNuFqTryFbiVlR1TgovBywuudx6c6MSacrI5F6a1ZssXV9s3Mrks52bsNpG6WwhkMxfffDEsxuCBilb1eia-S9ig0CHCgb8CvpjLsEGsza9jFsIk2PN8UGhuz5JBDhuGDWOqcPQD2-IA/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Funny my eyes aren't green but look like that here.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE4K4rge6Q9Hv0dkM8bRGemdCYb9kNBhe9iHOKQ7Eu8j_U69zsTAxwwhsRDr-GE7Mo0lqVJfnLLgcAMlrivmnyBTlUcEI2EiHO8Vu9sc8bPooqw3vn_QILGA4zoIpM1MtPtFHmJq4byo/s1600/IMG_1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbE4K4rge6Q9Hv0dkM8bRGemdCYb9kNBhe9iHOKQ7Eu8j_U69zsTAxwwhsRDr-GE7Mo0lqVJfnLLgcAMlrivmnyBTlUcEI2EiHO8Vu9sc8bPooqw3vn_QILGA4zoIpM1MtPtFHmJq4byo/s400/IMG_1455.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I think Mavens thought my time with crayons was funny.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next day I took that picture of my eye and then during Mavens I re-drew the drawing this time using color to flesh it out (literally). <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then, I started playing with fabric. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWVSPemV5ciN3v8MyjHkBcq6qm9wBszN3xHP0aGJXj9SJyaxQjnyCJQ9p_hoEVXzr_Q6kqJcu4qFgBSA49ULEmHnXVwBcsot8OdV9E-3fgUzQINW3_1D0qNI-dLigEtDFD8XDzgso2hs/s1600/IMG_1459+2+9.12.40+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWVSPemV5ciN3v8MyjHkBcq6qm9wBszN3xHP0aGJXj9SJyaxQjnyCJQ9p_hoEVXzr_Q6kqJcu4qFgBSA49ULEmHnXVwBcsot8OdV9E-3fgUzQINW3_1D0qNI-dLigEtDFD8XDzgso2hs/s320/IMG_1459+2+9.12.40+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I think this is going to be a postcard. Ask me how you can get it!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-21799781115186173652012-08-23T06:26:00.001-04:002012-09-02T18:52:29.073-04:00Pinterest Confession and Tomato Cobbler<span style="font-size: large;">I have become addicted to Pinterest. After resisting for some time I got bitten by the Pin It bug and now I have to say I am completely infected by it and loving it. LOL. If I read your blog, chances are I've seen a pic to share and I'm happy to do that, I hope it brings you more people looking at your pages.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31flEYEX6gd1v6SDeEGWx1EqNlQg37IZD5X4iH9w-gSegzLJNgKlVpZXKpd_izopUkxvDRlDmQX4SN7U9SSRtdFY4SSYWZ9ti7iiYTCTaQ50Lx5YOX8PQS2QSMa2SMjc9c30XpVkckP0/s1600/IMG_1401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31flEYEX6gd1v6SDeEGWx1EqNlQg37IZD5X4iH9w-gSegzLJNgKlVpZXKpd_izopUkxvDRlDmQX4SN7U9SSRtdFY4SSYWZ9ti7iiYTCTaQ50Lx5YOX8PQS2QSMa2SMjc9c30XpVkckP0/s320/IMG_1401.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I tried this recipe I found there and thought I would share it with you. I made some changes, not least of all because I'm not a blue cheese fan. So my version is with goat cheese. If you want the original recipe there is a very pretty picture on my board called "Food Other People Make" I hope you enjoy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By the way, this was originally a Martha Stewart recipe that was reworked and posted on the blog "Joy the Baker" and now it's been reworked by me. :)</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
Tomato Cobbler with Goat Cheese Biscuits</h2>
<h3>
Biscuit Topping:</h3>
2 c. Flour<br />
2 T. Baking Powder<br />
1/2 t. Salt<br />
1 T. Sugar<br />
1/2 t. Ground pepper (I used lemon pepper)<br />
6 T. Butter cut in pieces and made very cold. I never use unsalted butter in biscuits.<br />
1/2 c. Goat cheese, very cold, broken into crumbles<br />
3/4 c. Buttermilk<br />
<br />
<i>Just a couple of notes, if you have self-rising flour, you can use that instead of the first three ingredients listed. I freeze butter because I buy my favorite brand it when it's on sale. A frozen stick can be chopped up pretty easily and makes the biscuits nicely. Also, buttermilk is easy to buy and keep in the fridge. It doesn't really start tasting like buttermilk until it's been there for a month. Now, if you're not a big baker or buttermilk user you might be getting grossed out by this idea, but I promise you it will stay there and get better and better for several months. Three months old is not out of the question, it just gets thicker and more tasty as it waits for you to bake something, I promise you you'll notice a color change when it begins to go bad, I think it's happened to me once with a jug that was six months old. :)</i><br />
<br />
Put flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and pepper into the food processor and give it a whirl. Add butter pieces and pulse it to get them started incorporating with the flour, when you're almost done, add the goat cheese pieces too and give a few pulses just to cover them with flour mix. Now, you can add the buttermilk to the food processor if you like, I often do when I'm in a hurry, but I prefer to pour the flour into a bowl and add the milk by hand. Incorporate it and turn it out onto a floured surface, I did it on a baking sheet, pat it out. I know people like to cut biscuits into rounds but I don't like having scraps to reform so I cut the biscuits into squares or rectangles and get them all done in the first time the dough is shaped. Put the biscuits in the fridge which was part of why I did them on a baking sheet in the first place... easy transport and less mess to clean up!<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tomato Filling:</h3>
<br />
2 T. olive oil<br />
1 T. butter<br />
2 onions, very large or 3-4 medium size, sliced thin (I prefer mine cut in half first)<br />
3 cloves of garlic<br />
3 packs of cherry or grape tomatoes (I recommend using red, yellow, and size)<br />
1/4 c. coarsely chopped basil<br />
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar<br />
1/4 c. flour<br />
1/2 t. red pepper flakes<br />
salt and pepper<br />
<br />
Set oven for 375 F<br />
<br />
Heat oil and butter in an oven safe large sautee pan if you have one, over medium heat. Add onions and salt and pepper. Stir them occasionally and let them get caramelized which takes about 20 minutes. You can begin at a slightly higher temp, just to get them started and giving off moisture, but turn it down as soon as they start to lose shape you want them to get their color from caramelization and not high heat.<br />
<br />
While onions are cooking, either cut the tomatoes in half (if you bought cherry tomatoes) or pierce them with a knife (if you're using grape tomatoes). This decision came to me after getting spurted by hot tomato innards several times when using whole tomatoes the first time I made this recipe. Oh, I promise you the pretty picture is lovely if you use whole tomatoes, but your table cloth, shirt and chin will be happier if they are given a break. It takes 5 minutes and the onions are still cooking, so you have the time. :) Place in a large bowl with basil, flour, and pepper flakes. Toss well.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFu097bhzGYVpMfG44KeBe-Q7QONOy4thnxnyX_22GutEaULoBRSDuLHzdekeq5MjcdS6UYZ0L15W5p1gGEX2fLj17AgAP7ZVWY8knBFHfHmtupMZVATHh3096rN7Hfk3u0YMsoRYSJs/s1600/IMG_1396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFu097bhzGYVpMfG44KeBe-Q7QONOy4thnxnyX_22GutEaULoBRSDuLHzdekeq5MjcdS6UYZ0L15W5p1gGEX2fLj17AgAP7ZVWY8knBFHfHmtupMZVATHh3096rN7Hfk3u0YMsoRYSJs/s320/IMG_1396.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is delicious even without biscuits!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When the onions are done, add garlic and cook for one more minute. Turn off the heat (if you use an electric oven, move the pan to a cool burner) and add the balsamic vinegar and stir well. Add tomatoes mixture. If you don't have a sautee pan big enough for this dish, you could pour the onions into the tomatoes and then pour the whole mixture into a baking dish. I liked making this all in one pan. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5-alvhdJGWlFTG54i4gRJOJBvSRYlR9qy5B5LjmbKP9CidNoyfajeSxGMCw659XcrK3B_p78_rtrmv2G6LsgrT88BYHAIR64kP92as5SYukQw-aBU847MxKGAdvEx_o__5ZwFBJ41c0/s1600/IMG_1398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5-alvhdJGWlFTG54i4gRJOJBvSRYlR9qy5B5LjmbKP9CidNoyfajeSxGMCw659XcrK3B_p78_rtrmv2G6LsgrT88BYHAIR64kP92as5SYukQw-aBU847MxKGAdvEx_o__5ZwFBJ41c0/s320/IMG_1398.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next time I will add 2 less biscuits to the pan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Bake the tomatoes for 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, top it with biscuits. You may have more biscuits than you need, they can go in the oven on the baking sheet for other snacking. :)<br />
<br />
Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the biscuits are browned and juices are starting to bubble around them. Trust me when I tell you that it's worth waiting to make sure the biscuits are actually cooked all the way through. :) <br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-63347719810178330072012-07-13T17:01:00.002-04:002012-07-13T17:06:29.989-04:00A Crowded Village<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WhNzHaAowQlYJbFevPdLyzWCmAEOs22jb8qD1pT7UIlqigv_4wiZddYC9nUfdc2iT9_RimjezRaNsBLGkExUayrKr6NsWAxebDP_ZeoMZY8PGrLX8vyNPq7faMnsrDnWCgqnZrxWZCI/s1600/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WhNzHaAowQlYJbFevPdLyzWCmAEOs22jb8qD1pT7UIlqigv_4wiZddYC9nUfdc2iT9_RimjezRaNsBLGkExUayrKr6NsWAxebDP_ZeoMZY8PGrLX8vyNPq7faMnsrDnWCgqnZrxWZCI/s200/IMG_1136.JPG" width="200" /></a>Two weeks ago I gathered fabrics from my stash and went to my first class in 2012. Getting to plan to attend a workshop that lasts all day is strong testimony to how much better I am. During the lunch break I actually went and took a nap which allowed me to come back in the afternoon and do more work, which is good because even at the end of the day I didn't get anywhere near done and I chose to let 2/3 of my quilt be NOT a village! My friend Melinda managed to get a whole piece covered in a village! I'm glad it was a workshop and not a competition. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGNuJ2WmBT-P_pwc8jMFt1Cs1DBUfjpuLJXz6ml9ppFCXJi0oxENllXYqnDklORnLM1gl9Z8BP6jL8oe6mcWTQHTeE-yAnb3lkfpQGYYP-NlQIHXqCbWp399N2JQDKiZzU9_zbeDHX-c/s1600/IMG_1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGNuJ2WmBT-P_pwc8jMFt1Cs1DBUfjpuLJXz6ml9ppFCXJi0oxENllXYqnDklORnLM1gl9Z8BP6jL8oe6mcWTQHTeE-yAnb3lkfpQGYYP-NlQIHXqCbWp399N2JQDKiZzU9_zbeDHX-c/s400/IMG_1137.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
It was especially great to take Karen Eckmeier's workshop because I had wanted to study with her a couple of years ago during the North Carolina Quilt Symposium and couldn't get a spot, so I was really happy to see she was coming to ECQG just as I was ready to try taking a class again. <br />
<br />
It was a busy day and it took days to recover but I'm really glad I did it and I'm really grateful to have created the beginning of a project that will almost surely be an auction item for the ECQG Quilt Show next June.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-23066490357196417622012-05-21T20:11:00.000-04:002012-05-21T20:11:07.374-04:00Georgia Pecan Coffee Cake<div style="color: #7a7a7a; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
This recipe makes me giggle. I actually buy my pecans from a company in Alabama which I drive by on my way to Florida, but I make the cake in Georgia so I guess that's okay. Also, like many coffee cake recipes it originally called for sour cream but I seldom have that on hand while I often have fat free or low fat greek yogurt, turns out that works perfectly. </div>
<div style="color: #7a7a7a; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
I made it for the Mavens recently and they all seemed to like it so I thought I'd share it with you. I hope you like it too!</div>
<div style="color: #7a7a7a; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #7a7a7a; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Georgia Pecan Coffee Cake</b></span></div>
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
</ol>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
<b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Cake:</b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
2 c. flour</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1/2 t. salt</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 T. baking powder</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 c. butter, softened but not melted</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 c. greek yogurt</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1.5 c. sugar</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
2 eggs</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 T. vanilla extract</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
<b>Streusel Topping:</b></div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 c. pecans </div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
1 t. ground cinnamon</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
2 T. butter</div>
<div style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #7a7a7a; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Directions</b></span></div>
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9x13 inch pan with aluminum foil, and lightly grease with vegetable oil or cooking spray. </span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Prepare a pan, the original recipe called for a 9x13 but I prefer my 8x11 which happens to be pottery rather than metal. I butter it well and set it aside. </span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Put the pecans on a cookie sheet and toast them lightly while getting ingredients together. Don't let them toast too much, this step is just to keep them well textured after being mixed in the streusel. If you toast too much then they will burn while baking later on. Take them out of the oven (I used my toaster oven) and let them cool a bit before chopping a bit, big pieces are nice for this cake. This whole step takes less then 10 minutes and make a good difference in the quality of your cake. Mix with brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter and set aside.</span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In a medium bowl dry whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. </span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In a large bowl use a mixer to cream the butter until light. Add the greek yogurt and mix to combine well and then beat in sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla. Without the mixer add the dry ingredients, folding it in to combine as quickly as possible. Pour the batter into the pan. </span></li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">I find it's easiest to apply the streusel by hand to make it even across the cake. Here's where using a slightly smaller pan makes for a better layer of topping. </li>
<li style="color: #666666; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The original recipe called for baking 30-35 minutes, but in an even slightly smaller pan it takes about 45 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center of the cake and make sure it is cooked all the way to the center. Let it cool 15-30 before cutting into pieces and serve. </span></li>
</ol>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-91541474904614865482012-04-30T14:54:00.001-04:002012-04-30T14:54:32.985-04:00Sew-in Day for (most of the) Mavens<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUKluLyJazQMJPZCjHBvGvP2SJ3ebPWgGQwluirI5MzyFY40W7ZXjN_9l1DuYunsiM2MIRTN_rmnWuKmS-SGYP0LVc9odqLWufR5btxKCHhPNBAKGHTkMwHg6FnNg0h7O7rUm4f1fubc/s1600/IMG_0744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUKluLyJazQMJPZCjHBvGvP2SJ3ebPWgGQwluirI5MzyFY40W7ZXjN_9l1DuYunsiM2MIRTN_rmnWuKmS-SGYP0LVc9odqLWufR5btxKCHhPNBAKGHTkMwHg6FnNg0h7O7rUm4f1fubc/s200/IMG_0744.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric for spool blocks exchange</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before Mavens got together today I grabbed these fabrics and started cutting them for the blocks that the Piecemakers are making for our annual exchange. This is what I was looking at when the Piecemakers walked in through the front door. I thought we were all working on our blocks for this exchange, but Jan was done with hers already which was no surprise, Stella was working on her hand sewing project, and Melinda was working on a project that is due this week. Somehow I failed to take a picture of Jan's work which was cutting for a quilt she's working on in teal and orange. The spool block exchange is going to be pretty cool. I got 12 of them done today, I need to finish another five I'm pretty sure I'm in good shape at this point. :) We missed you Lynda!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVR2HRUmTQ-JiecgejY3yOjWf0ki7jDLroeSOuQZKTEZKOm2EI8Qk-GnyVRDttn7pVm-le8IQQgCqjq3dch3OFrgWcLrfyOzHw6BQO3FAi5zGQCs2EUqiVuOAPVGWlEgBEIj3lIG9mdk/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVR2HRUmTQ-JiecgejY3yOjWf0ki7jDLroeSOuQZKTEZKOm2EI8Qk-GnyVRDttn7pVm-le8IQQgCqjq3dch3OFrgWcLrfyOzHw6BQO3FAi5zGQCs2EUqiVuOAPVGWlEgBEIj3lIG9mdk/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stella giving another block of hand stitching.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03NPJOY8Nv6diQvuxls1p7EqAA5Ck0nwqr-3uJe4XeRyxFxiTNq3Fw_g24aCLY_RcP_f5CnkaYkwsht182IGktvyCRkBfFwj1kPGIdAXCJAY-Tep_sKfEINUsBw7-TazBFz9iBcVjIv8/s1600/IMG_0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03NPJOY8Nv6diQvuxls1p7EqAA5Ck0nwqr-3uJe4XeRyxFxiTNq3Fw_g24aCLY_RcP_f5CnkaYkwsht182IGktvyCRkBfFwj1kPGIdAXCJAY-Tep_sKfEINUsBw7-TazBFz9iBcVjIv8/s320/IMG_0754.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The spool blocks I got finished</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk89dTvAZhLkifQ_4vH6IBQNUNSuUGDK0QDGyIDa4pAyUBcUN2GpTKGRcjYSrZU67EbyTHF56I5wPIP6s0Ck8JcUAPkk1hVQnmo6WN9CdS58dsZWuIJukHts_voKu2gWa4HaOMnlJas4/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk89dTvAZhLkifQ_4vH6IBQNUNSuUGDK0QDGyIDa4pAyUBcUN2GpTKGRcjYSrZU67EbyTHF56I5wPIP6s0Ck8JcUAPkk1hVQnmo6WN9CdS58dsZWuIJukHts_voKu2gWa4HaOMnlJas4/s320/IMG_0753.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melinda's exchange project due this week</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-43728667406881907422012-04-26T20:01:00.000-04:002012-04-26T20:01:26.202-04:00Quilts of Valor, Wounded Warriors, Women and oh, something ready to be quilted, finally!<br />
I made the backing for the Sherwood Forest Romance, so it's going to Melinda tomorrow for long-arm love. I've only asked her once before and I have to say that I have great emotional attachment to that quilt although I didn't love it at all. I can't wait for her to quilt this one because I do love it already.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsr3vnBie0SkidmQ7ePxQMX0yzFsyB5EhckaXL2FIxK0GpvAZ-ALn_kGSaQIOADhsQnD1aCSx49FQGH1g1-F88ewZKy_iHobOsROEBEzuozGJTzl_Vk9r6sPxtqQ_T94_Kun7Xi_doosY/s1600/IMG_0728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsr3vnBie0SkidmQ7ePxQMX0yzFsyB5EhckaXL2FIxK0GpvAZ-ALn_kGSaQIOADhsQnD1aCSx49FQGH1g1-F88ewZKy_iHobOsROEBEzuozGJTzl_Vk9r6sPxtqQ_T94_Kun7Xi_doosY/s400/IMG_0728.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sherwood Forest Romance & backing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My bee group "The Piecemakers" made quilt tops for Quilts of Valor last week. My guild did quilt tops for Wounded Warriors. I managed to work in both sessions through the week. (Then spent days resting, including Saturday which basically took 22 hours of sleep, but unlike our wounded heroes I will get better and be fine in the next few months!) </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4xBavoKeysXFeaD5A7CFkhWFN3Bwq2sYrEG6g4qfR4WYt-V0jrV1adJnouTIiuusVCSE3v15G3XPTyQZwVetDoKmRXhaiqLeBuu4TUvnA54XxXIJhcAhp7htwJssT9IOWd99x_Q_Bsc/s1600/IMG_0711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4xBavoKeysXFeaD5A7CFkhWFN3Bwq2sYrEG6g4qfR4WYt-V0jrV1adJnouTIiuusVCSE3v15G3XPTyQZwVetDoKmRXhaiqLeBuu4TUvnA54XxXIJhcAhp7htwJssT9IOWd99x_Q_Bsc/s320/IMG_0711.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course JAN finished her quilt top, LOL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNdx1UHn80calZJYXydh1Ad4aktzb6GH0bVUC0b1Em4drdyPHomD39Os2MHk1RXvmpbsmqQmrBMf6kdSwdGgClwItGgq7A1B6d2GwNeSWbErj7Ov4brneKq1tq_4qknRFNk4Oscifzts/s1600/IMG_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNdx1UHn80calZJYXydh1Ad4aktzb6GH0bVUC0b1Em4drdyPHomD39Os2MHk1RXvmpbsmqQmrBMf6kdSwdGgClwItGgq7A1B6d2GwNeSWbErj7Ov4brneKq1tq_4qknRFNk4Oscifzts/s320/IMG_0720.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wounded Warriors Quilt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHMMjTEEFh4Mb-JCpKJiXExdwSPJNU4iMVvF9OQIdVeOOr5_8BWFFGdUtnmxZ5hb-ak2XNiCbx5MRBBqwRAzk1eFJJkgFQQSnp9SnRdeKbnUeic0nALvHvwWLcB8MAlUaEAFSFRRknh0/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHMMjTEEFh4Mb-JCpKJiXExdwSPJNU4iMVvF9OQIdVeOOr5_8BWFFGdUtnmxZ5hb-ak2XNiCbx5MRBBqwRAzk1eFJJkgFQQSnp9SnRdeKbnUeic0nALvHvwWLcB8MAlUaEAFSFRRknh0/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Piecemakers </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEK4cT5LZrfiJ_hTWU1gDw3On7H3XqIIR7VK-FwaDGHYthxP0KxPT9SAmo6mr_FxdCTTNQH5JB1uz0oDJ6vbvVHPMkKSHJDR2qmJHuag3pC4vL974TORdvWeidSqcE9793w306sns1bug/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEK4cT5LZrfiJ_hTWU1gDw3On7H3XqIIR7VK-FwaDGHYthxP0KxPT9SAmo6mr_FxdCTTNQH5JB1uz0oDJ6vbvVHPMkKSHJDR2qmJHuag3pC4vL974TORdvWeidSqcE9793w306sns1bug/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pam having no fun at all!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQz6Lb8eJ_6vOoEbvS_wNHat5Q5FgVv6uN_DVmj-ym2p9RO-RQB8IrqAE4UY1Lt3J7C8KLbbZSz4tHu7iS4ABRsNGgOklJTIm8XPnrVkEOrmEX3hHfe_K37GQgqTVtM0XlmMGo3HwL_8/s1600/IMG_0705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQz6Lb8eJ_6vOoEbvS_wNHat5Q5FgVv6uN_DVmj-ym2p9RO-RQB8IrqAE4UY1Lt3J7C8KLbbZSz4tHu7iS4ABRsNGgOklJTIm8XPnrVkEOrmEX3hHfe_K37GQgqTVtM0XlmMGo3HwL_8/s200/IMG_0705.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also Quilts of Valor in Progress<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismZ_YUv-jP38-1wZQsk9jXBQ1gOtHrYQI0oMYHVLtz2nCADeEttAF0gyR2_IfDubaMYd1hUktXtTMb7p5atVy1_fTSkyjF7HTFR2D3YglpRW4-3IM-ixH80z6rra8iBMtkaf-D5Yk-pg/s1600/IMG_0727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismZ_YUv-jP38-1wZQsk9jXBQ1gOtHrYQI0oMYHVLtz2nCADeEttAF0gyR2_IfDubaMYd1hUktXtTMb7p5atVy1_fTSkyjF7HTFR2D3YglpRW4-3IM-ixH80z6rra8iBMtkaf-D5Yk-pg/s400/IMG_0727.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quilt Jan & I made last year... thank goodness she quilted it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">e</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-78639947897910008412012-04-11T10:26:00.000-04:002012-04-11T10:26:01.431-04:00Well, That Didn't Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QCNmrcgRFIucYhGv1sCNSvFocICtXew8My2bhyN-2vwiMroRHwR1lRRfrGvh7-SrSrU987Tcuueij_i7i-hLce1aHlgIR53cX2CydJeU-JnJZras9XyF2BompZ97FwqWGzygViEjn0g/s1600/IMG_0664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QCNmrcgRFIucYhGv1sCNSvFocICtXew8My2bhyN-2vwiMroRHwR1lRRfrGvh7-SrSrU987Tcuueij_i7i-hLce1aHlgIR53cX2CydJeU-JnJZras9XyF2BompZ97FwqWGzygViEjn0g/s320/IMG_0664.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
While cleaning up the studio space (which will soon become Kay's bedroom and I'll be moving the studio across the hall to her current bedroom space) I found a lot of things that were practice pieces or workshop try-outs. I found this block. I'll be darned if I can remember which teacher had us doing it. It's got paper scraps in some of the seams, so it was obviously paper pieced. I love red and would love to use this block, maybe as a round robin style setting. I love doing groups of borders around a single block. I also found a ziplock bag with green square in a squares. I thought they would work. I put them aside to try with the block. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwmppq8qnlu6m5GfZIee3_22hGfNpRXSc9VF-xOtTNPYd-n7yw-3DtsnPDmXZpjG8V1ULzfPI2zb80AQc75zlwhN-tvSHFkgZXLyzvDF7dM5hQuZ7wcvRQIhBl51_S-J7pok9cznCHxs/s1600/IMG_0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwmppq8qnlu6m5GfZIee3_22hGfNpRXSc9VF-xOtTNPYd-n7yw-3DtsnPDmXZpjG8V1ULzfPI2zb80AQc75zlwhN-tvSHFkgZXLyzvDF7dM5hQuZ7wcvRQIhBl51_S-J7pok9cznCHxs/s320/IMG_0665.jpg" width="240" /></a>Last week I put the center block and the setting blocks on the design wall together. I had six of the square in square blocks. I could make some more and get the first border done. Making 10 of them wouldn't take any time at all, right? LOL I'm still doing things on the not so impressive schedule of getting things done. First I had noticed that these blocks had the same background fabric as the center block. I realized I must have thought of this back when I made the block. Funny that apparently the same thought came to me then. I looked through my fabric and miraculously managed to find both the background fabric (not much of it) and the green fabric in my stash. WOW! So I made 10 more squares and surrounded the block with them on the design wall.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wfndNfiMT9lWa5JoxQ4ALv_q3ORFX-R7tc5LTUprtnSTJzcHWnEbPm-Uvc-LhyGEgkYLJjbR_pDhqKOMHlj8y9iy0JlxIV9R447FXYvr-20JyXGnjNLEvWG-E4T_F5EPtiG3ZG8JPwg/s1600/IMG_0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wfndNfiMT9lWa5JoxQ4ALv_q3ORFX-R7tc5LTUprtnSTJzcHWnEbPm-Uvc-LhyGEgkYLJjbR_pDhqKOMHlj8y9iy0JlxIV9R447FXYvr-20JyXGnjNLEvWG-E4T_F5EPtiG3ZG8JPwg/s320/IMG_0662.jpg" width="240" /></a>At which point I decided I HATED them. Hmmm. Well, this is maturity. Deciding before I sew the quilt together with borders I know I'm not going to like it. This shade of green with this shade of red brown and yellowish cream does not work for me. <br />
<br />
So now, I'm thinking about what I might do in the future with this block, and putting the new square in squares back in the ziplock. There will be another 12" block to be bordered at some point. Now I can move on a bit. Also, I'm almost done cleaning the stack & whack quilt top and I've figured out the backs for that one and the one I'm giving to Melinda to quilt. Today I'll be taking on a new project that I'm hoping to do for a friend's birthday, something really small but fun. Hopefully I'll have something to say about it (and maybe even pictures) before the end of the week. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-37137961062469174012012-04-04T17:33:00.002-04:002012-04-04T17:33:45.046-04:00Making Progress!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAPfQH2_Imw-O37faKjF3z-qdxQsHOshzAlkACPx1yAQI0TCiwWTozzIMK_riVS2kMLV8xmFTAqAhOfIH663Rrh_SuDOhBovSAIL_rfX_oGQva6IFK-PWUQXNu5HlT64-oNGYkUbLRjk/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAPfQH2_Imw-O37faKjF3z-qdxQsHOshzAlkACPx1yAQI0TCiwWTozzIMK_riVS2kMLV8xmFTAqAhOfIH663Rrh_SuDOhBovSAIL_rfX_oGQva6IFK-PWUQXNu5HlT64-oNGYkUbLRjk/s400/IMG_0515.JPG" width="400" /></a>Last week I began working on this quilt top. I think I've shown you the blocks when they were on the design wall last week. I had bought some fabric for sashing during shop hop day (my quickest trip EVER to Tiny Stitches) and I think I had two windows of time to work, about 15 minutes long each, and began sewing the vertical pieces to the blocks and making rows but then I discovered I didn't have enough of that fabric for the border around the rows as I was going. A fret began to grab me, even as I was too tired and weak to work more. I began to think about what I would do next if I couldn't get more of this fabric, oh, and I called my dear sweet Melinda who works at the shop and in fact was going in to teach that day as luck would have it. I emailed her pictures of the fabric and asked her to buy me another half yard please. She was willing but couldn't find the fabric in the green section. She asked Mindy to look for it the next day. I was hopeful but beginning to thing I'd have to go to plan b. Don't ask me what it was, I can't remember any more. LOL. <br />
<br />
A friend of mine came to visit me on the next day and I asked if she could please take me over to Tiny Stitches. I was still not feeling good but I really wanted to look for myself. We drove over there and I walked in, Mindy was working and knew immediately that I was coming to find this fabric. Of course I had a scrap of the green, she looked at it and said, oh that looks blue to me. She went right to the blue section and found the bolt immediately. I love Mindy a lot but I really do think it's green fabric, definitely on the blue half of green rather than yellow which is much more popular these days, but green at any rate. I didn't care, I was just glad she got the bolt. I bought extra too, so I could use it for binding too when I get there. These blocks were a little wobbly but I think the quilt will do well when it's quilted out. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoq_VFFV6v-gzIFOz15wahPbOTKTSj5OLa07HMiJQRQ81cXgjhw-YDChvp6x0P7VbBs-QvDCrC_4alVa6ZAgg9F_64tdCx3J4153zRkGqnmGGrS-lGCrqrrrE-7eWKmGiRgcGPzFNSCs/s1600/IMG_0611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoq_VFFV6v-gzIFOz15wahPbOTKTSj5OLa07HMiJQRQ81cXgjhw-YDChvp6x0P7VbBs-QvDCrC_4alVa6ZAgg9F_64tdCx3J4153zRkGqnmGGrS-lGCrqrrrE-7eWKmGiRgcGPzFNSCs/s400/IMG_0611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It took a lot of work and effort but I did finally get the horizontal sashing on and the inner border and then cut and pieced on the outer border. There's no way this 1990's fifth ever quilt in my life is ever going to look like anything but a 1990's quilt, but honestly, I love the floral fabric and I'm glad to be getting it re-worked to something I actually might have enjoyed better. I'm going to use it to practice some of the more challenging quilting options out there that I tend to chicken out on. Right now it's just a big enough wahoo that I got the top finished. I'm slowly working my way through it cutting out all the loose threads that are every where from having dismantled the original setting that was so awful. It's the kind of work that I can do while watching NCIS, it's going to take a while but that's okay. :) It enough to say I have a completed top. <br />
<br />
<br />
Actually, I have 2 completed tops. For reasons I'll explain another time I was able to put my hands on a lot of UFO's in the past few weeks. One of them is Sherwood Forest Romance which I loved when I made it during a Tiny Stitches retreat in January 2011, and finished the top the same week of the retreat if I recall correctly (and posted pics here, I think) but didn't love the border I put on. I showed it to Melinda while she was here recently and agreed that the border doesn't need to be removed, just cut down. Yesterday I cut it from 12" to 7.5" and I love it so much more. I turns out I have more of the floral fabric to make the backing I think so I'm going to have Melinda who is a professional quilter go ahead and complete this one for me. So really, that was finishing 2 tops this week. Not bad for a girl still doing serious recovery from brain surgery. LOLDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-71764795717009678312012-04-03T09:10:00.000-04:002012-04-03T09:10:28.995-04:00How I Know I'm Getting Better<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6kGmj7swdVfiZr5YWlu7rRVZ5-dw2-P89PiIqrZbvA7jsAUTnfrHORW__8BhlrVg0DWB-fcjJrmjczWuqMGK3x2xJgwrBlKpjO-wZu3BM4i0cojpgAbHlHbTOZm_0Y60oAsLl3ux2m4/s1600/IMG_0560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6kGmj7swdVfiZr5YWlu7rRVZ5-dw2-P89PiIqrZbvA7jsAUTnfrHORW__8BhlrVg0DWB-fcjJrmjczWuqMGK3x2xJgwrBlKpjO-wZu3BM4i0cojpgAbHlHbTOZm_0Y60oAsLl3ux2m4/s320/IMG_0560.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon Schamber and a beautiful red quilt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Friday I took a chance and went to the East Cobb Quilters' Guild meeting, mostly because they had a teacher I really wanted to see give a lecture. I was really bummed at not being strong enough to take a class with Sharon Schamber, but I was glad to see her quilts and hear her talk about her design methods. It was very exciting to hear her talk about how she perceives color, too. She is the first adult I've ever heard say some of the things I've experienced in color. While she seems to see auras, which I don't, she is overwhelmed by color in ways that I sometimes am. I sometimes experience colors along with emotions, words, and experiences. Most of her lecture focused on how the colors she experiences end up her quilts. It was very cool indeed. I spoke to her for a minute or two after the lecture and told her how encouraging it was to hear from another person who feels color in unusual ways like I have since I was a kid. She also offered a healing energy exercise so that God could be active on my brain and asked me what color I was experiencing and when I said it was green she laughed and said that was the color of healing. It was pretty cool.<br />
<br />
I have a few pics from the meeting, they were not great pics, but if you sense how great her quilts are, let me encourage you to go to YouTube where many of her lessons are presented in video. She said a couple of times during her lecture how she makes all her techniques available to people for free. If you admire anything you've seen here, I encourage you to go look at some of her lesson videos. <br />
<br />
Going to the meeting undid me. I did some serious resting for the weekend AND I finally came off the awful drug. The good news is that doing so didn't cost me as much physically as it did the last time I tried, and in fact I am remarkably better this week than I have been all along. It's a good sign that real recovery will happen with better engines from here on out. Thanks so much to all of you who have encouraged me and gotten me through the worst of my post-surgical experiences.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures of Sharon's applique, quilting designs and a couple of large quilts, one with detail shots. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPF46QWOFQckpVZeXhN9cDZoCv5PlPspRmpV2GXZbYkzk6e2YBcOVaMZjQTcjyzDJ6KNTSiM4V00-Jh89pZ2jXKrchyqR_8VA8edKjEGA7IMUKrbvPUGqCcNDQ7luO5lox_AZRne9t44/s1600/IMG_0540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPF46QWOFQckpVZeXhN9cDZoCv5PlPspRmpV2GXZbYkzk6e2YBcOVaMZjQTcjyzDJ6KNTSiM4V00-Jh89pZ2jXKrchyqR_8VA8edKjEGA7IMUKrbvPUGqCcNDQ7luO5lox_AZRne9t44/s320/IMG_0540.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw32AwbYPFMip2EWG-JXGjEi9-CzZ5Y-4YqzDA7dtnwnpdjbP-sGrbcXEfZ4N43qw-Mo-Q4v6Z4OJ5dijJmzkjLIrP44ClhOOyBUVjVaPcTQvr24JEGjlNM790gr6hNywK6fXr6P5MsfE/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw32AwbYPFMip2EWG-JXGjEi9-CzZ5Y-4YqzDA7dtnwnpdjbP-sGrbcXEfZ4N43qw-Mo-Q4v6Z4OJ5dijJmzkjLIrP44ClhOOyBUVjVaPcTQvr24JEGjlNM790gr6hNywK6fXr6P5MsfE/s320/IMG_0525.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjRF0piz_9Yk7jgNM0ka6LPokQD9CHkATjdwEDFgHmW0OFEDfiNVQC5WBRGh9So2Z72sqG6z05sKdj0Z7Ps37d07EcPd_9GgBPgc5hDOVZh867qtfY1dCfl89wa3wGjLiXHvxrZnKGEQ/s1600/IMG_0528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjRF0piz_9Yk7jgNM0ka6LPokQD9CHkATjdwEDFgHmW0OFEDfiNVQC5WBRGh9So2Z72sqG6z05sKdj0Z7Ps37d07EcPd_9GgBPgc5hDOVZh867qtfY1dCfl89wa3wGjLiXHvxrZnKGEQ/s200/IMG_0528.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2WsBaxCOKtDjQWOH8tzq_2qzLMyThF0yrVLYIebg4qz8ldeYlIcBxLAjlQDE90AJXA5sA_yOVWcg2L3YAYoBqQKDReORO1IpRMdqXVN1AL6dPVHBPG4ymyDM77CYQ8eMmHYB2M6dlIg/s1600/IMG_0529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2WsBaxCOKtDjQWOH8tzq_2qzLMyThF0yrVLYIebg4qz8ldeYlIcBxLAjlQDE90AJXA5sA_yOVWcg2L3YAYoBqQKDReORO1IpRMdqXVN1AL6dPVHBPG4ymyDM77CYQ8eMmHYB2M6dlIg/s320/IMG_0529.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvG1GksprYkDcEvu5lK7rcSOBMzoPSlM0Kgcgtm4iV4M6CrAXOX5uPFxkB227yqJNBhN62bHfbA0Lm1SSbkuCyOpzhIXTbw0mgIGRXLXw1DvOb3l29qEYNGRrM3LfYIUA4Bzecvt7Afk/s1600/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvG1GksprYkDcEvu5lK7rcSOBMzoPSlM0Kgcgtm4iV4M6CrAXOX5uPFxkB227yqJNBhN62bHfbA0Lm1SSbkuCyOpzhIXTbw0mgIGRXLXw1DvOb3l29qEYNGRrM3LfYIUA4Bzecvt7Afk/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-FMgT-OtJ63SSXZH2JODDZPtEveKYrrFc6_0H41Z4vB-0A1obTHEGaOTBuv84pkVQfKye10NqNW4sDJHQCQ645muBUz_Y-z61T-Xnh2nOcQWlVq9cmms_a6GK6N_3sjbnGGkmg6nxEM/s1600/IMG_0540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-FMgT-OtJ63SSXZH2JODDZPtEveKYrrFc6_0H41Z4vB-0A1obTHEGaOTBuv84pkVQfKye10NqNW4sDJHQCQ645muBUz_Y-z61T-Xnh2nOcQWlVq9cmms_a6GK6N_3sjbnGGkmg6nxEM/s320/IMG_0540.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFkqU34sTpFhAD9IdATwZRZWusxkVyLClQIDhSpTuYj0xFrM9IrYcK_R-cDMrZ9lW8kkAp9US4kJ-X74chEds8BdxwKef6aqwXpnk5-MSTahr0CDnbve9Sn23g81LjcvzdiyfoPsPRqo/s1600/IMG_0542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFkqU34sTpFhAD9IdATwZRZWusxkVyLClQIDhSpTuYj0xFrM9IrYcK_R-cDMrZ9lW8kkAp9US4kJ-X74chEds8BdxwKef6aqwXpnk5-MSTahr0CDnbve9Sn23g81LjcvzdiyfoPsPRqo/s320/IMG_0542.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytfYklD_-xqOYmpR8tqyAbASNVC-Ehm90zqSjZpq2l6jhffjw_Y76Qe3yWGXur-uG0zvGkzvzUCskZfEF4hQXQONOSv5J8vo3qFjGdocqzPG_HlNAIOPa8qAdYVy1oHrhLdsaimL2OeE/s1600/IMG_0539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytfYklD_-xqOYmpR8tqyAbASNVC-Ehm90zqSjZpq2l6jhffjw_Y76Qe3yWGXur-uG0zvGkzvzUCskZfEF4hQXQONOSv5J8vo3qFjGdocqzPG_HlNAIOPa8qAdYVy1oHrhLdsaimL2OeE/s320/IMG_0539.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnccSpmFfD-khWbdaVdGC0nu8A-0nKZKe4gF8jeoPWWZf4lYmnJ6CDollXzBnZRIKnE67P12mdqCm-NWkNpMAKIQLNVCTeOrgmmcrfO5AOagbpVTpuTbGmQoWU7XmrrFQmocD6ah4vhS4/s1600/IMG_0555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnccSpmFfD-khWbdaVdGC0nu8A-0nKZKe4gF8jeoPWWZf4lYmnJ6CDollXzBnZRIKnE67P12mdqCm-NWkNpMAKIQLNVCTeOrgmmcrfO5AOagbpVTpuTbGmQoWU7XmrrFQmocD6ah4vhS4/s320/IMG_0555.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WQjNEZRdQCPIPatPLbjH28E9PiKCqlfy2MynuuZN9CDNVTUGdnMF0O7VFfuWLitJK8vmhYo01Rd1Ljz-BDu3zOehn4CdwVfg_61eFgEUtMA05yPrY0AnEZ6Q0So9tKdT_K-ybq6ffpQ/s1600/IMG_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WQjNEZRdQCPIPatPLbjH28E9PiKCqlfy2MynuuZN9CDNVTUGdnMF0O7VFfuWLitJK8vmhYo01Rd1Ljz-BDu3zOehn4CdwVfg_61eFgEUtMA05yPrY0AnEZ6Q0So9tKdT_K-ybq6ffpQ/s320/IMG_0533.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbEfisd6up-G4KASKukpXSvduQycsdezgqcki8WxVs9XKAHlQSK1nG4bHAuPTDodbSLw8FLJnA5HL1iWBTAAL6Vg48Nd3V70A62l2rC09bRCEgeGQy-L4PrcCWqT3okFxaPYGdLpgRdw/s1600/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbEfisd6up-G4KASKukpXSvduQycsdezgqcki8WxVs9XKAHlQSK1nG4bHAuPTDodbSLw8FLJnA5HL1iWBTAAL6Vg48Nd3V70A62l2rC09bRCEgeGQy-L4PrcCWqT3okFxaPYGdLpgRdw/s320/IMG_0562.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-NiHkTByo22J6rNA0OJ2aUudiG4JW-PIVDqkVPeIm3ZHUpnRvzZA8T02T6Vl5HVRB3koaisGIWwLL4_MvyWwe8G_4vanVG96N4kG8BJ1OLO3-KAoE7uA_3GtF4-b4jYs-mTxgSgjaSk/s1600/IMG_0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-NiHkTByo22J6rNA0OJ2aUudiG4JW-PIVDqkVPeIm3ZHUpnRvzZA8T02T6Vl5HVRB3koaisGIWwLL4_MvyWwe8G_4vanVG96N4kG8BJ1OLO3-KAoE7uA_3GtF4-b4jYs-mTxgSgjaSk/s320/IMG_0536.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQH-6VFzlzb3_9PzHu_6RRftupqvCL7Df1mGdrS9zb4K_8LhuMXEkcRSLEUypUDEM1Rg2rii5Td-D-B27StZ3qkAS4ZdFzEI1umCQXOaHZCy-yQ5vIeD3-P1G65e7bzTvVxKiiLMDyUs/s1600/IMG_0563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQH-6VFzlzb3_9PzHu_6RRftupqvCL7Df1mGdrS9zb4K_8LhuMXEkcRSLEUypUDEM1Rg2rii5Td-D-B27StZ3qkAS4ZdFzEI1umCQXOaHZCy-yQ5vIeD3-P1G65e7bzTvVxKiiLMDyUs/s320/IMG_0563.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-34296936621505497602012-03-28T18:59:00.000-04:002012-03-28T18:59:20.196-04:00About an Hour of Quilting Projects in a Week... a VICTORY!Last week I told you how hard the recovery has been but that I was excited because it was the day to come off the awful drug and start looking forward to real recovery. Well, it didn't quite go that way. With in 36 hours of stopping the drug I was so sick I didn't know what to do. I wound up calling my doctor in Arkansas who called me 3 times that day to follow me and put me back on the drug again. I had to take it every day for a few more days, now I'm taking it every other day. I was very sick and in a lot of pain and needing pain relief drugs that I hadn't taken for a while. Here's hoping I won't go through that again. The doctor thinks perhaps I had some kind of viral infection that added to the problem because some of the symptoms I had aren't things they usually see with brain surgery patients. LOL, leave it to me to come up with something exciting!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJdwtj3hFVwaMzYoxhlaRsGTHSnUyD8ZlTXJg4yqaNtAT5lZX1b4arHgA7JBIFxH306COVeYXcoxGpvKFX3pqCuWeYkOhULzNQ8u_SELTkXHljUxq892KvIrlzAymlqE3HNI2pb59hH4/s1600/IMG_0483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJdwtj3hFVwaMzYoxhlaRsGTHSnUyD8ZlTXJg4yqaNtAT5lZX1b4arHgA7JBIFxH306COVeYXcoxGpvKFX3pqCuWeYkOhULzNQ8u_SELTkXHljUxq892KvIrlzAymlqE3HNI2pb59hH4/s320/IMG_0483.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I started to have some better times yesterday. Two fifteen minute windows that I was able to use for working on a quilt! (How exciting is that?) The quilt that I've been working on is OLD. One of the oldest quilts in my UFO pile, a stack and whack that I made in 1997! I like the floral fabric for the flowers but didn't like the border treatment I put on at the time. I took the blocks out a few years ago because I had decided I was NEVER going to quilt it as it was. This week I decided I would do something really easy to get the top finished and be able to decide whether I'll quilt it or ask Melinda to do it. I think I will use this quilt on my guest best in the future. <br />
<br />
The day I got very sick my sister Lauren was visiting from Hong Kong for a week. It was great to have her here, and very good to have her here that particular day because she helped me do the one errand I really wanted to do on Friday before my symptoms had gotten really bad while I was doing them, we went to Tiny Stitches during Shop Hop so I could find the right green fabric for the sashing in the quilt. I found it pretty quick, got to say hello to Maetha and Melinda who were of course both working and get out of there in what might have been my quickest visit to Tiny Stitches in my whole life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYSayJcNXd7xKAUAXrK9WjOKvm4xQNGmFEZgrwMTqyVZTB6Kj91t_abRebbQIHputM6TFtZAp_GjdnbDp0t1C6Va_zYbKaBNxYnJK6EO7cWlihGzvH3b5P70oTw7trs6UAn4LOM02Qnw/s1600/IMG_0486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYSayJcNXd7xKAUAXrK9WjOKvm4xQNGmFEZgrwMTqyVZTB6Kj91t_abRebbQIHputM6TFtZAp_GjdnbDp0t1C6Va_zYbKaBNxYnJK6EO7cWlihGzvH3b5P70oTw7trs6UAn4LOM02Qnw/s320/IMG_0486.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Yesterday I managed to cut the fabric into 3.5" strips and start playing with them. Turns out I didn't have enough fabric, of course. I was thinking why didn't I cut it to 2.5", or why didn't I buy an extra quarter yard while I was there. You know how these things go, and please, if you don't know let's just acknowledge your perfection and move on because I make these mistakes, plenty of times. LOL Melinda was going to get me another 1/2 yard but she couldn't find the fabric. I sent her pics but neither really got her to the right bolt. A friend came to visit me today and I asked her to take me back to Tiny Stitches. Melinda had asked another friend to look for it today, Mindy is awesome and surely she would have found it without my help but I walked in today and had a piece of the fabric and instead of going to the green section she went to the blue and said "it's here". Turns out she didn't think the fabric was very green at all and didn't even think to look there. Such a funny thing how we take in colors, isn't it? I'm just grateful that she found it and quick as you can think about I was in and out of there and on my way home again. It was an even quicker trip than Friday's! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDftDkcEld9IQrQV06-funUzQLQ77EwOMFa8u7nvyLG9XhCnCkglpy5BB9A_wXz_SDge21NKslQY5NqHyEOwyF2DL8j-r9wOMdrt-_cMYKrGDp-CZ2ovnvNncufAgX30MJz2y-LzYiXn8/s1600/IMG_0495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDftDkcEld9IQrQV06-funUzQLQ77EwOMFa8u7nvyLG9XhCnCkglpy5BB9A_wXz_SDge21NKslQY5NqHyEOwyF2DL8j-r9wOMdrt-_cMYKrGDp-CZ2ovnvNncufAgX30MJz2y-LzYiXn8/s320/IMG_0495.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
I came home and napped. I haven't had the opportunity to do more cutting and sewing but I will do it as I can. I bought a full yard of the fabric so that I could have some to do binding with which will be good, I think, since this green (which looks blue to some people) matches the green in the focus fabric quite well.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-81276078520581180722012-03-21T06:10:00.000-04:002012-03-21T06:10:09.824-04:00I might get to feel March before it's fully past...It has been an interesting month. So many of you have been encouraging, both here and in my email and I am incredibly grateful. I am glad for those who have been able to drop by and visit with me, drop off meals and red socks and mail cards and email. It is incredible, I will never be able to tell you all how much it made a difference in my healing but I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through March without it. Thank you very much.<br />
<br />
The truth is that this recovery has been much more challenging than I really was ready for. The surgery went very well and the success was exactly where the doctors had hoped it would be. I expected that would mean that my healing would go quickly, too. I was naive. The drugs I have been taking have been rough. They specifically try to make the healing happen slowly and completely which I will be very grateful for as my life regathers but it's been challenging in the meantime. Today is my last day taking the steroids which means (hopefully) one more week of my body saying "why are you changing the dose amount" and then perhaps I can get on with getting better. That would be awfully nice!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGOHfXlNR91rPLw8N2RHlOEQ029DQZ0jyz9Uix_6WAzJB_qr-XR8pHzGknP_XzxXFuedtgwBwWwfBuSClzxz03HnJfipE4UTl6Cg6NfMkR9nB4wZXMZmIf6g42K4Rnefvp34mmkvZYcg/s1600/IMG_0440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGOHfXlNR91rPLw8N2RHlOEQ029DQZ0jyz9Uix_6WAzJB_qr-XR8pHzGknP_XzxXFuedtgwBwWwfBuSClzxz03HnJfipE4UTl6Cg6NfMkR9nB4wZXMZmIf6g42K4Rnefvp34mmkvZYcg/s320/IMG_0440.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melinda and I have taken a pic together every year, even this one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last week I had a lovely morning with the Mavens. Every year we go to the Bullock Hall quilt show where many of us hang quilts, but I decided I shouldn't go so everyone else could go and not worry about having to take me home in the middle. Melinda talked some sense into me and said I was going and she didn't care if she had to drive me home. I'm so grateful for her love and encouragement and common sense. We went to the show and had a great time. Bullock Hall seems to have gotten smaller in the past several years which worked out well for me. I got to see every quilt which was lovely and then we even stopped for some lunch before coming home. I promise you I slept for the rest of Monday but it was such a special treat to get to go do something normal!<br />
<br />
Also last week I had to move some things in my studio because there was a roof leak that was seeping through the ceiling in there. It was interesting, my strength lasted for about 15 minutes or so and then I would rest for anywhere from 1 hour to 4 hours. Even so, over the course of several days I managed to make the room very livable which is great because I hope to start sewing again sometime as my strength improves! I even found two projects that need some help that I could do while not actually sewing. While sitting in the kitchen with Melinda and Lynda I managed to unsew a few seams. Not as much fun as sewing but the first sewing project I've turned to since 2012 started! I'll load up some pics of them when I get the chance.<br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-13001731987261861422012-02-28T12:27:00.001-05:002012-02-28T12:27:14.962-05:00A Quick Check-inIt is too much for me to write at length right now, but I know many of you have been praying for me and I wanted to let you know that my surgery was very successful. The surgeon got 99% of the tumor which is more than we had hoped for. I am worn out, with low energy and stamina but I'm going to be fine. The recovery from this surgery is very different than the biopsy in January. I hope to improve much quicker. I wish I could sleep more but I'm good for a couple of hours at a time. I'll get better, I'm sure. <br />
<br />
Thank you very much for giving me so much support and encouragement. The cards, notes, books, hearts, and all kinds of other goodies have made me smile. I can't wait to get home and hug my daughter, hopefully that will happen tomorrow or the day after. <br />
<br />
I have thanked God for each of you who have carried my name, I promise you, your prayers have been incredibly effective. Thank you again and again.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-88487807741506709232012-02-18T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-23T09:32:12.700-04:00Beef and Broccoli Recipe<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyOU8bB5zm0qaWhCIVHVxFwq3HbN_rFZBh72I_x9-BCAOku88IsknOT613pes1RcYhzcB43btthyrrqXF6nXdyAw23mOxKSnY7skDn3oPGEOaHrbFlDltEqj-51oX52qhu0ymma5qrfo/s1600/IMG_0173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMyOU8bB5zm0qaWhCIVHVxFwq3HbN_rFZBh72I_x9-BCAOku88IsknOT613pes1RcYhzcB43btthyrrqXF6nXdyAw23mOxKSnY7skDn3oPGEOaHrbFlDltEqj-51oX52qhu0ymma5qrfo/s320/IMG_0173.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Slam, butchering a whole tenderloin</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was well cared for after my surgery in January. My friend, nicknamed Slam, had already planned a visit before my great adventure disrupted my life. When he heard about it he decided he would still come and spend two days cooking for me, taking care of everything else he could see that needed help. <br />
<br />
One of the things he did was go to Restaurant Supply and he bought a whole beef tenderloin which he then butchered himself. he cooked some that night for dinner. The rest was vacuum packed, labeled and put in my freezer. He told me that the chain meat was particularly good for stir-fry. <br />
<br />
I had one Sunday before my second surgery which was the first night I really wanted (and felt able) to make a whole dinner on my own. So I decided I would defrost that chain meat and make beef and broccoli, which I love. I used the following recipe and I highly recommend you give it a try. It couldn't have been any easier and it is delicious. If you don't happen to have tenderloin chain meat on hand, use something else and the flavors will still be amazing, even if the meat isn't melt in your mouth tender. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlduhry_SZU3gdJMfGo9tk91GOmLkuwYq_WhuFvCiSm2AgwH2ixBSMRKVx9Uw6oV_46rmAf3nPWLFv4aJQKdFWBhwF2J6sJtNB57VT7XnYMYNSM_rYXUETJOVfsIo-UMcOgZiCxYMwco/s1600/IMG_0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlduhry_SZU3gdJMfGo9tk91GOmLkuwYq_WhuFvCiSm2AgwH2ixBSMRKVx9Uw6oV_46rmAf3nPWLFv4aJQKdFWBhwF2J6sJtNB57VT7XnYMYNSM_rYXUETJOVfsIo-UMcOgZiCxYMwco/s320/IMG_0259.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Beef and Broccoli a la Pixie</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Beef and Broccoli a la Pixie</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Step 1: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
3/4 lbs lean beef<br />
<br />
<b>Marinade: </b><br />
1 T. rice vinegar<br />
1 t. sugar<br />
1 t. soy sauce<br />
1 T. water<br />
1 T. cornstarch<br />
<br />
Mix together the marinade. Cut the beef into strips (I go for about 1" wide and as long as I can cut them, up to 4" long) and stir the beef into the marinade. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, a couple of hours can't hurt it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Step 2:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<b>Vegetables:</b><br />
1.5 lbs broccoli cut into florets, I use the stems, too, peeled and cut into 1" by .5" pieces<br />
1 large onion cut into slivers<br />
2 garlic cloves cut into slivers<br />
1 T. fresh grated ginger<br />
<br />
<b>Sauce:</b><br />
4 T. oyster sauce<br />
4 T. soy sauce<br />
2 T. water<br />
<br />
Mix all and set aside in a bowl<br />
<br />
<b>Seasoning:</b><br />
1/2 t. salt<br />
1 t. sugar<br />
<br />
Mix together and set aside in a bowl<br />
<br />
<b>Thickener: </b><br />
1.5 t. cornstarch mixed with 1.5 T water and set aside in a bowl<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Step 3:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Other:</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/2 c. vegetable or peanut oil</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3/4 c. water</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heat wok or large pan on the stove until it is hot. Add the oil and swirl it around. Dump the beef into the pan and spread out the pieces by the time they're all in a single layer it's time to turn them over. When they are cooked through (no longer pink) remove them to a clean bowl. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Add the onions and broccoli to the pan stirring constantly. After the onions begin to soften add the garlic and ginger. Keep stirring. When the broccoli is bright green but not quite cooked through add the water and sprinkle with the salt and sugar mixture, stir. Cover the pan until broccoli is almost done to your liking. I like mine cooked to just barely still crisp, by the time we're done with cooking it's just tender but not at all mushy.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
Add beef back to the pan along with the sauce, cook for 1 minute. Move the food to one side and pour the thickener into the sauce. Stir it in and then combine with the food. Cook for 1 more minute and your're done. <br />
<br />
Serve with rice and enjoy!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-69348724180462719762012-02-14T10:38:00.001-05:002012-02-14T11:42:35.196-05:00Happy Valentine's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglev9wBHPkbAbOviYy8tMYWxUA3V070PdeiUKgAC9-O75PDbqahMkRegVmtIRV1KpmjKMrq57fPCKAzPzAw2uHbr8CtQm5ScC3OFst-12JYp9huXk-7yciEEcDd_QHW4XO7cxN8tQzQ6c/s1600/IMG_0285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglev9wBHPkbAbOviYy8tMYWxUA3V070PdeiUKgAC9-O75PDbqahMkRegVmtIRV1KpmjKMrq57fPCKAzPzAw2uHbr8CtQm5ScC3OFst-12JYp9huXk-7yciEEcDd_QHW4XO7cxN8tQzQ6c/s200/IMG_0285.jpg" width="150" /></a>I have my suspicions, but nobody has really claimed responsibility for this little project, hearts just started arriving in my home. Sometimes carried in by a friend, sometimes delivered by the US Mail. It has been great fun. I have amassed quite a collection and I am so very grateful. It has been sweet to receive each and every heart, some of them took quite a bit of work, I imagine and they all carry with them the kind thoughts and healing prayers of the quilters in my life. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGPzNrwiU_cFMnvbbsUzwuPS9EgQphtP6ihiT_Wej7xANOjrSSMKoBZB2pbSXYACTTcQRyWqfdAp6kvP6EoZB0W9PhJiDqPjYnC_dgSp7bYucEeLthg_2kIpWWRDQnPY8YE3KbZrj6-s/s1600/IMG_0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGPzNrwiU_cFMnvbbsUzwuPS9EgQphtP6ihiT_Wej7xANOjrSSMKoBZB2pbSXYACTTcQRyWqfdAp6kvP6EoZB0W9PhJiDqPjYnC_dgSp7bYucEeLthg_2kIpWWRDQnPY8YE3KbZrj6-s/s200/IMG_0291.jpg" width="200" /></a>Melinda went out and bought me some ribbon (those of you who read her <a href="http://melinful.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> will NOT be surprised to hear that it is red with white polka dots) and teeny tiny clothespins with which to attach the hearts to the "clothesline". I am planning to take this with me to UAMS for my surgery. They may not let me hang it up in the ICU but Lynda will make sure it is hung up as soon as possible. <br />
<br />
Not all the hearts were signed, but I want to give thanks to the following ladies who have gone out of their way to encourage me since my last surgery:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_j6L2wGqAtzX1ilNKW5yXnmkLIHFhvvYNwcVtAYkJiz3MUb0CvTuwV0NsjEGgeHGhin9bftePZ8WzJWYDOV3uUyJo-cxgFqynNcK3hGqogD9mfDBMweNCwzzPeVPb4_KpOdGA2J0fvVs/s1600/IMG_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_j6L2wGqAtzX1ilNKW5yXnmkLIHFhvvYNwcVtAYkJiz3MUb0CvTuwV0NsjEGgeHGhin9bftePZ8WzJWYDOV3uUyJo-cxgFqynNcK3hGqogD9mfDBMweNCwzzPeVPb4_KpOdGA2J0fvVs/s400/IMG_0289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Stella (one she made herself and one that is from both Stella and her wonderful husband Charlie)<br />
Barb<br />
Michelle<br />
Karen<br />
Wendy<br />
Jan<br />
Pat<br />
Jo Ann<br />
Carol<br />
Barbara<br />
Carolyn<br />
Marty<br />
<br />
I am blessed, indeed. Thank you, all. <br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-4003701025474113842012-02-11T22:09:00.000-05:002012-02-11T22:16:58.594-05:00The Power of Red Socks<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKu0qffbtanHPowAxxMIEXgZf6G6eSKMFvhj0ybKmojHmMwQ10FrWcDvU6YHWmVRfyvv9aR6E0Vp7-5lKTTDbmWwU2MXcsyOXB3DeJokYOYUdMgPcAh7dRDOfhjFRNskZwJ6EepNRUlk/s1600/IMG_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoKu0qffbtanHPowAxxMIEXgZf6G6eSKMFvhj0ybKmojHmMwQ10FrWcDvU6YHWmVRfyvv9aR6E0Vp7-5lKTTDbmWwU2MXcsyOXB3DeJokYOYUdMgPcAh7dRDOfhjFRNskZwJ6EepNRUlk/s200/IMG_0258.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Slipper Socks from North Fulton Hospital</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have two sisters, The Funny Sister and The Beautiful Sister. (I'm The Talented Sister, in case you were wondering.) Now, the truth is that The Funny Sister wishes I would call her The Smart Sister, but The Beautiful Sister is pretty smart, and so am I, so she's going to have to live with being called The Funny Sister until the rest of us lose our minds. I'm working on it, but I haven't quite gotten there yet.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCPZ-Gjh7BRpwBF1VpZea-HiItDI-_nJdJ8D1rXSPqrFjA4NVc-L7PabG5kCF7mIgPV9WDs9HkUyhMMnUxumXLEO0ISj_miKya-R9En4-8XnJ5nq-t4x5ktoO3ojL6ui7Lqf7o7iTjX4/s1600/IMG_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCPZ-Gjh7BRpwBF1VpZea-HiItDI-_nJdJ8D1rXSPqrFjA4NVc-L7PabG5kCF7mIgPV9WDs9HkUyhMMnUxumXLEO0ISj_miKya-R9En4-8XnJ5nq-t4x5ktoO3ojL6ui7Lqf7o7iTjX4/s320/IMG_0254.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A gift from Maven Jan</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Funny Sister has a theory that she first shared with me when I was in my 20's, she was very insistent about it and at the time she held much more sway over me than she does now. She is still a power player in my life and I love it, I just don't let her tell me how to do everything any more. (Sometimes I wonder just who the older sister is.) Her theory was that red socks had healing power. Now, if she comes and reads this she may well correct me, but the fact is that I came away from that conversation believing that when one is sick, she should immediately don red socks. It's not a superstitious thing, or some kind of weird new age thing, she just believes one should put on red socks when sick. Almost my entire adulthood when I have gotten sick I have put on red socks if for no other reason than to think of The Funny Sister and laugh. Also, if I talk to her on the phone and tell her I'm sick, I know she's going to ask if I'm wearing red socks.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdQ8GL8-0YzFisvS525E-lB8AYswfyQVuMw9IjiOQe8H1X78iZs2j-jGCIGE_gzpHtnxtiiYH66WUSzfIxVPxLpKvrmfLS3wJ-JE5LHHEQe4gVuG6YOSoiNKJYW6mz1jXWAQmgoWtZTQ/s1600/IMG_0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdQ8GL8-0YzFisvS525E-lB8AYswfyQVuMw9IjiOQe8H1X78iZs2j-jGCIGE_gzpHtnxtiiYH66WUSzfIxVPxLpKvrmfLS3wJ-JE5LHHEQe4gVuG6YOSoiNKJYW6mz1jXWAQmgoWtZTQ/s320/IMG_0255.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Betty Boop always makes me smile</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You know when you're in the hospital they give you slipper socks to wear, they have little rubber bits on them to keep you from sliding. Guess what color my slipper socks were when I was hospitalized last time? Yep, they were red, you can see them at the top of this page. Guess North Fulton Hospital also believes in the red socks thing. LOL<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXcIxeVNbC9oXnx32DGjjniB3JmY7eD5WyE-GmgfmWM_B4wavaLwa9_rTcToAwwvAV6M1KbGwmqqNlk17P2mK3F0Q36krcAulzvXby3UraqVX3pqZkVOUFMSNMmZt8acC2QUpdVw1F48/s1600/IMG_0247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXcIxeVNbC9oXnx32DGjjniB3JmY7eD5WyE-GmgfmWM_B4wavaLwa9_rTcToAwwvAV6M1KbGwmqqNlk17P2mK3F0Q36krcAulzvXby3UraqVX3pqZkVOUFMSNMmZt8acC2QUpdVw1F48/s320/IMG_0247.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How could you not love ruby slipper socks? </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Recently, The Beautiful Sister (who lives in Hong Kong) told me she was very sick with some kind of flu bug. She couldn't even sit up to Skype. I asked her if she was wearing red socks. <br />
<br />
Imagine my surprise when I found out that The Funny Sister had never told her about the red socks thing. Now, The Funny Sister says that's okay because surely she has told The Beautiful Sister other valuable information that I don't know. (Now I'm wondering what I'm missing out on!)<br />
<br />
<br />
So many people have offered to help me since my hospital stay and in truth my needs are well met. So I began telling my friends last week that if anyone asks them what I need, to please tell them I need red socks to help me through my next surgery and recovery. I have a great love of novelty socks, and this being February, I thought cute red socks would be easy to come up with. Turns out I was right! So far I have received four pairs of socks, two of them from The Funny Sister. We have agreed that I will wear them into the hospital on surgery day and even though they will make me take them off for the operation, we will ask the nurse to put them back on me as soon as I am awake and allowed to wear them. I give you the most awesome red socks for getting better ever:<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8f4bFoyvcmzpTV9JDeMhyxQnvcPWk1rXkW5I1lSz4m86qWFvpFKfLGAg_vU5xCiXnjycxamL7lF1dyyTEH-Ge78QtO-O1VaMTKP605Sm98EsvcHdOV4fsYF6MDBVDmD6fs6nH0nO038/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8f4bFoyvcmzpTV9JDeMhyxQnvcPWk1rXkW5I1lSz4m86qWFvpFKfLGAg_vU5xCiXnjycxamL7lF1dyyTEH-Ge78QtO-O1VaMTKP605Sm98EsvcHdOV4fsYF6MDBVDmD6fs6nH0nO038/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The most awesome red socks ever</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-56481234419113966242012-02-08T19:53:00.001-05:002012-02-08T19:53:37.909-05:00Being Loved by Melinda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJE48pjLIplvNZ7u6euGvBNb1Ron7hRTnAt-pTqTVDmYxmp2znOaHVohbVgAzeKw-BfeqalyHaSahMUPe9Ef6YaIFJgqi5E3uJ_JtMWTcW6LTQhhVsTZPqtxGix2n0M_4lYN0CdrfnJA/s1600/IMG_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJE48pjLIplvNZ7u6euGvBNb1Ron7hRTnAt-pTqTVDmYxmp2znOaHVohbVgAzeKw-BfeqalyHaSahMUPe9Ef6YaIFJgqi5E3uJ_JtMWTcW6LTQhhVsTZPqtxGix2n0M_4lYN0CdrfnJA/s320/IMG_0238.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Melinda takes care of me in so many ways it would be silly to try and list them. But recently one of the most amazing ways is that she brought this quilt to me while I was in the hospital. I love it, and decided immediately that I would take it with me whenever I had to go back to the hospital again. I kept meaning to post a picture of it in the past month, but today I got the news about when I can expect to have surgery. I'm so grateful to be bringing this quilt with me when I go!<br />
<br />
If you don't know Melinda, btw, you should check out her blog at http://melinful.blogspot.com/ she is a much more faithful writer than I am!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-71892464259354375442012-02-07T13:59:00.002-05:002012-02-08T19:53:57.051-05:00From Under the Magnolia to Little Rock...What looked like a long shot, and certainly not a thing to be hoped for in the near future is going to happen, at least, at this point it looks like it will. <br />
<br />
One of the most, possibly the most prominent neurosurgeon in the world reviewed my files last week and as I was told by his wife he said "this tumor is absolutely operable". Dr. Weaver, my local neurosurgeon had thought it would be thus. What is impossible even for very talented surgeons is what Dr. Yasargil specializes in accomplishing. I am invited to visit him in Arkansas, be examined, have special MRI cuts performed and assuming that nothing new is found that changes his mind, to be operated on by him in the same visit. If all goes well I would be discharged from the hospital at most five days later and on my way back home to Atlanta within seven days of the surgery. <br />
<br />
The logistics are beyond my ability to comprehend. My husband has taken on the insurance piece, thank goodness there is something practical he can do. My friends have offered every kind of support including traveling along with us to Arkansas and taking care of my 11 year old while we're gone. While I can't quite sort every detail out in my mind at the moment, I trust that the pieces will fall into place. By the end of the week I should know the most important part, which is when Dr. Yasargil expects to see me in Little Rock. I'll keep you posted.<br />
<br />
Thanks to all of you who have posted and sent email messages. I am grateful for your support and prayers. <br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-14495940535966536072012-02-02T11:49:00.001-05:002012-02-08T19:55:05.276-05:00The Lost WeekendThe neurosurgeon, in his wisdom, said "Sure you can go to Amicalola Falls with the group from Tiny Stitches the weekend after you have brain surgery, if you feel like going." Now, let me just say this. In a week when I heard a lot of no, including "no, you cannot take a shower" and "no, you cannot leave your room" hearing yes meant everything to me. What he knew but I didn't, was that there was no way I was going to be able to go. He wasn't worried I'd get to the mountains and be far away from medical professionals because I wasn't going. No. Way. Have I mentioned how much I love my neurosurgeon? The things I like best about him include his sense of humor and his ability to empathize with my desire to live as normal a life as possible. (That and the whole "I can cut into your brain and not cause major damage" thing is pretty cool, too.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYmCbfB8hOUA1KuefZDrRHKJ6aYp-LAb1Tgyg-0h1yutzHm78xoIcQWgtChc3f5rdmiwBi2sTlKDv0lqIOGKt4BbvNUsuCSppV9_O4Z1grb9HQ5RjcqALyDocSI1aPkea3-qTBBuwAEQ/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIYmCbfB8hOUA1KuefZDrRHKJ6aYp-LAb1Tgyg-0h1yutzHm78xoIcQWgtChc3f5rdmiwBi2sTlKDv0lqIOGKt4BbvNUsuCSppV9_O4Z1grb9HQ5RjcqALyDocSI1aPkea3-qTBBuwAEQ/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
So... Melinda and Stella and all the other Tiny Stitches ladies went off to the retreat while I lay mostly unconscious and certainly too drugged and weak to care. I was looking forward to making the mystery quilt, which I have enjoyed every year that TS has been doing this event, but Maetha, who owns the shop always comes up with all kinds of fun side projects and goodies to give away and I was missing that too. Or so I thought. After the retreat was over Melinda came by and brought me a great stockpile of goodies. Stella had, in addition to everything else she worked on in the weekend made me an apron, I got a pattern and fabric for making some pretty napkins, too. A little bucket with my name on it that I know I will use for toting tools around in the future. Somebody made me a beautiful black and yellow thread catcher, plus Robin's pattern for that project. Quilting girl socks, a name tag made out of "Georgia" fabric printed by Hoffman for the Quilt Shop Hop last year. Melinda even brought me candy, which Maetha sprinkles around the tables a few times a day during the retreat. <br />
<br />
I feel so loved!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-21960001345271373732012-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:002012-01-28T08:53:33.194-05:00When You've Finished Dessert....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlF4T8gslGf2052nZ9LgSKt-mYCRuYFswxU8weY90HvzbeOwYL94oKAKkZrc8L-KX7oyy1LITL0YmAcOwUa0xhXEP8HgiA3f_pU_mULgfmmJh464RPvY245czi4YStnByXW3m0cc8dvo/s1600/IMG_1457.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693573846969680274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlF4T8gslGf2052nZ9LgSKt-mYCRuYFswxU8weY90HvzbeOwYL94oKAKkZrc8L-KX7oyy1LITL0YmAcOwUa0xhXEP8HgiA3f_pU_mULgfmmJh464RPvY245czi4YStnByXW3m0cc8dvo/s400/IMG_1457.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
...sometimes you get a bellyache!<br />
<br />
One of the big finishes in 2011 was Chocolate Covered Cherries. My plan for a background grid of diagonal lines was perfect for this quilt, but it turned out to be a much more challenging finish than I had intended. It is one of my favorite finishes ever, which is good because I don't know if I would have finished it otherwise. I learned a lesson about thinking things through. Melinda's blue tape method saved me a ton of marking, without it this quilt probably wouldn't have a stitch in it, even now. <br />
<br />
In the end a traditional quilt with a lot of white was a great place to try it. I'm cured. I won't need to do this again any time soon. :)Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-31870239820149703152012-01-25T12:08:00.000-05:002012-02-08T19:55:21.749-05:00I Got Word TodayDr. Yasargil, the very special specialist who is the best in his field, has expressed an interest in my case and asked to have my records sent to his office. This is a long road, there may be challenges and difficulties but as I see it, the first gate has been opened and I am grateful to not be kept waiting at this point. <br />
<br />
Thank you to those of you who have posted here and to those who have not but who are keeping me in your prayers.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-10577699384445767162012-01-22T09:52:00.000-05:002012-02-08T19:55:38.305-05:00The Awakening... Can I Go Back to Sleep?These past two weeks have been nothing short of surreal. Over the Christmas break I began to get ready to sew again. I have obviously not been sewing much but I was looking forward to getting back to it. I cleaned my house, I was planning on going the Tiny Stitches retreat at Amicalola Falls and I had an idea for how to deal with a UFO that bugged me all last year. Pretty cool stuff.<br />
<br />
Kay went back to school on a Tuesday. On Wednesday I began to clean up my sewing supplies. On Thursday I began to cut the fabric I needed for the retreat only to find I didn't think I had what I needed, so before I cut anything I decided to drop by Tiny Stitches on Friday morning (among other errands) and make sure I wasn't making a mistake. I went to bed that night and when I woke up, I was in my driveway. True story. It gets better. I was being loaded into an ambulance by a guy who looked like he belonged on a soap opera. Trust me, if you have to be loaded into an ambulance and wake up in the middle of the job it's a very nice bonus if the guy doing the work is not only nice to look at, but nice. He talked to me the whole way to the hospital explaining to me what had happened. I had no memory at all. It was not quite 5:00 AM. The only things I knew for sure was that Lyman and Kay were in the driveway with me. Lyman had woken Kay up to come kiss me goodbye, I honestly think he thought I might not make it and he didn't want her to not have a chance to say goodbye. They were staying behind so she could get on the school bus and then he would be along to the hospital to check on me. The EMT told me I had a seizure that woke Lyman in the bed. All I can imagine is that it must have been some seizure because there have been times when I have been unable to wake him when I am actually trying to do so. He called 911 when he realized he couldn't rouse me and they came right over (they are just 10 minutes down the street) I'll be honest, I'm glad I remained unconscious for all of that.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf3Y24mYpBBi6nLfE8ntQ5xSe-7qGwgSKxgG8Booeku3WIzheGasnUNXyLRt9wInEyQg2yPyfA8hyGiVrXDifdRmTTGk-M-Ozj1SYUJf4FpEUdGDovtnCL3k_WSiVnsq6CZwTXtwbmqM/s1600/North+Fulton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf3Y24mYpBBi6nLfE8ntQ5xSe-7qGwgSKxgG8Booeku3WIzheGasnUNXyLRt9wInEyQg2yPyfA8hyGiVrXDifdRmTTGk-M-Ozj1SYUJf4FpEUdGDovtnCL3k_WSiVnsq6CZwTXtwbmqM/s400/North+Fulton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
We got to the hospital and I was put in a trauma bay. I remember wondering to myself "Really? I feel fine, do I really need a trauma bay? I could go to a regular ER bed, I'm sure." Within what seemed like minutes they were telling me I had suffered a stroke. I did not believe them. I felt fine. I hadn't even wet my pants, aren't you supposed to wet your pants when you have a seizure? I wasn't trying to be difficult but the only part of this that indicated any of it was real is that I am a light sleeper and somehow I was removed from my bedroom, down the stairs and out of the house without being woken up. Apparently they were worried that this might not be the end of the trauma. They were admitting me for testing and observation. I really didn't care what they chose to do which was another indication that perhaps something was really wrong. You'd have to know how much I don't care for westernized medicine, hospitals or doctors to appreciate this. Just take my word for it now. Then someone came in, a neurologist I think, he told me I didn't have a stroke, I had a brain tumor. I'd like to go back to the idea of a stroke that hadn't done any damage, thank you. Nope. Brain tumor. Hmmmm. I was sleepy. Whether it was the drugs they were giving me or the results of the trauma or the shock of the news for most of the day I was in and out of consciousness as I was being driven around the hospital on a stretcher for this test or that and finally being moved into a room on the Cardiac Care Unit.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdVbdMKKhnEryKxObsWz07rT63gb6vj3tWUHvOkiPbQXFqEJz1F9kliTQVXtF53ak5MoD0MoQpokS2a4gZBco6xGdmZc9auSMpir1De18mVvmlLbJdMPIW_XkxAEq2hgBjB-t5iiEFHA/s1600/Weaver%252C+Charles+Jr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdVbdMKKhnEryKxObsWz07rT63gb6vj3tWUHvOkiPbQXFqEJz1F9kliTQVXtF53ak5MoD0MoQpokS2a4gZBco6xGdmZc9auSMpir1De18mVvmlLbJdMPIW_XkxAEq2hgBjB-t5iiEFHA/s400/Weaver%252C+Charles+Jr.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<b></b>
A neurosurgeon, Dr. Weaver, came to visit me. He explained the tumor was small but in a bad place. He wanted to do surgery to get a sample of it for testing. For the first time in twenty years I agreed to a serious medical procedure without question or hesitancy. It was still Friday, he would operate on Monday, no, I couldn't go home in the interim. When I woke up on Saturday morning I felt fine. Seriously, fine. I couldn't believe they were going to keep me in the hospital for two days when I needed no medical care except some tests that wouldn't happen until Monday morning and medicine that could be taken orally at home. Stay I did. They wouldn't even let me get out of bed unattended. I finally convinced a night nurse to let me walk the halls of the unit with my IV pole at 4 AM on Monday. I was going stir crazy and not having any sense of the place I was in was driving me nuts. Such a funny thing how getting out of my room and gaining an understanding of my surroundings helped to ground me.<br />
<br />
Unless you have been on this kind of journey there is no reason why you would have any kind of understanding about it, except compassion. We can all imagine this is not something we would want to go through. We can all appreciate that someone who has routinely sought to avoid medicine of all kinds would struggle with needing drugs on an around the clock basis. Nobody wants a tumor. And I promise you nobody wants a tumor in this particular part of her brain.
The surgery went well. They let me come home on Wednesday of that week and I slept almost non-stop for three days.<br />
<br />
Did you know that the effects of anesthesia stay in the body for 4-6 weeks and for someone with some the pre-existing issues I have that it could be 6-8 weeks? I have had some memory issues in the past week, unable to make the house alarm work properly, getting locked out of my bank account, forgetting my daughter's school i.d. number. They were all situational problems. As I sit here typing I can recall all this data now, but can't recall the name of an actor who was in a movie I have been thinking about this morning. The doctor assures me this is not due to the tumor which is not in a part of my mind that affects memory. It's not even because of the narcotics they gave me for pain (which I stopped taking as soon as I could bear to do so) but instead it is the combination of having my brain touched (which it does not like) and having the anesthesia. He assures me I'll be back to normal in about two months, total.
The results came back nearly two weeks later. There are some good things. I am relatively young and in the best physical shape of my life. The tumor is small and only a grade 2. I am asymptomatic except that I could have another seizure so I am on medication for that.<br />
<br />
The bad news is that the tumor is in a very very bad place. No surgeon in Georgia is willing to consider operating on it. If it were somewhere else in my brain they would take it out rather easily and this would be something to watch for the future but no real risk. I wouldn't even need radiation or chemo. But it's not. Have you seen Dr. Shepherd do an awake craniotomy on Gray's Anatomy? I can remember him doing it twice so far. Turns out that's what I need and there are, in real life, only a few neurosurgeons in the world who can get the job done. That's really the bad part. They can't attack it with radiation and they want to save chemo for when the tumor gets aggressive because there are only two drug choices and tumors learn from whatever attacks them and improve their defenses accordingly. So, we wait. I will go for MRIs every 90 days, it could take years before the tumor changes, or it could have already changed and we won't know about it until we take new pictures in which case it might be too late. The biggest concern it seems is if it engulfs an artery in which case I could have a stroke. That's not a big enough concern at this point to make them want to operate.<br />
<br />
Here's the amazing part of this (I'll bet you didn't know how special I am) my neurosurgeon has only seen a handful of cases like this. I'm the only case he's seen with such a low grade tumor. That's pretty cool. Of the handful of guys who can do this surgery, one of them, Dr Yasargil is the guy who invented the surgery I need. He invented the tools required for the job. He runs the most respected tumor program in America. In 1999 he was named Neurosurgeon of the Century. My doctor was placing a call to his office as I was leaving his practice on Friday afternoon. He hopes that Dr. Yasargil is interested enough in a young patient with a low grade tumor to want to operate. There are three programs in America that he recommends, but Yasargil's is the best and oddly the closest at the University of Arkansas. I am blessed that Dr. Weaver is committed to at least getting my case considered by this extraordinary specialist.<br />
<br />
If you are a praying person and are wiling to add me to your prayer list I would be grateful. I am praying four specific things. These came to me in exactly this order and yesterday I realized they deal with the body, spirit, heart and desire, in that order. The last one only occurred to me yesterday and it is my crazy, only a miracle could make it happen hope. Fortunately the guy I'm praying to doesn't find the impossible difficult.<br />
<br />
1. The tumor will not grow or change at all before it is possible to attack it.<br />
2. My faith will hold.<br />
3. That I will live long enough to see my 11 year old grow up and get married.<br />
4. That Dr. Yasargil will already have it on his mind to come to Atlanta to demonstrate his technique for the neurosurgeons here who have only seen this kind of procedure on video so far. That when he sees my case he will be eager to put his desire into action.<br />
<br />
I think God is pleased when we have the gall to ask for the impossible. I don't know that I'm going to get the pony I'm asking for, but if I do, I will know and every one around me will know how amazing it is. It's an opportunity to make an impact on people who don't always recognize the hand of God when it is moving in front of them.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-4237364123822389012012-01-03T10:19:00.002-05:002012-01-03T10:34:10.907-05:00A New Year, without resolutionsY'all know how I am about resolutions... I don't make them because they only become a tool I use to hurt myself with later on if I fail to keep them. I am perfectly willing to make a few goals for January, however. <br /><br />The Tiny Stitches retreat in Amicalola Falls is coming up in a couple of weeks. I will be making the mystery quilt again. In complete keeping with my nature, I got right on the shopping and got my fabrics chosen back when they first published the requirements. All of those fabrics have been sitting in a neat pile in a bag while the cutting instructions got wadded up in my handbag for a month. I cleaned out that bag this weekend (because while I won't make resolutions, I am superstitious about not carrying old trash into the new year) and decided I would get serious and cut the fabric this week. Pictures of the fabric selection are forthcoming, I promise. <br /><br />I also need to decide about what ELSE to work on during the retreat because the mystery by itself isn't really enough to keep me busy. It's not like I don't have a hundred UFO's to choose from. Two projects are speaking louder than the others at this point. I should make more blocks for my hunter's star quilt. Yes, I still have not finished that quilt, even though I sewed the blocks together into a quilt top! After getting it sewed together I decided it was not really large enough to be practical for use and I love it too much to not be able to use it. I hate it too much to make more blocks, apparently. I really SHOULD bring more browns and tans and get those blocks made. It would be a nice thing if I could get them all made. The other thing I'm thinking about working on is a sampler quilt I want to make after taking a class with Mary Kay Mouton earlier this year. I made several blocks from her "Flip Flop Paper Piece" book and would like to make a whole quilt out of batiks. It was a fun class and her technique is also fun. Stay posted to find out what I actually do. :)<br /><br />The Mavens will be having a sew-in on Monday next week, so if I were smart, I'd get serious about my projects and have something ready to work on that will make my time at the retreat productive. <br /><br />The good news items are these: Christmas in my house has been packed up and put away (got it all down on the 1st, thank you), the Gators won their bowl game, my husband has joined the gym, my daughter has decided to try out for the swim team and I am finding my footing after feeling as if I was simply moving from event to event without a moment of planning for where I want to be in the future. <br /><br />Happy 2012 !!!Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3034432351116930904.post-29331885177728270742011-04-14T08:00:00.002-04:002011-04-14T08:00:07.040-04:00Green Beans Delicious<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXo2JOXj2m5TEjjBaqoNrBLXR9Y0YJWU8exlqi0asNtiORkyfq9C9CTCWJD3AAjfsq7yy1FrVbIPkbJ1mAFO-GqBLzd1VvjW323FC_8o8GCtF4ZhWQzQTfWjIKN6rKOvPBZSCzPLHAqI/s1600/DSCN0632.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXo2JOXj2m5TEjjBaqoNrBLXR9Y0YJWU8exlqi0asNtiORkyfq9C9CTCWJD3AAjfsq7yy1FrVbIPkbJ1mAFO-GqBLzd1VvjW323FC_8o8GCtF4ZhWQzQTfWjIKN6rKOvPBZSCzPLHAqI/s400/DSCN0632.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592488275165374514" /></a><br />This is one of my favorite side dishes, and it's so very easy to prepare! I hope you try it and enjoy it in your house.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Green Beans Delicious</span><br />2 strips bacon<br />1/2 red onion thinly sliced<br />15 cherry tomatoes, halved<br />1 pckg Trader Joe's Thin Green Beans (frozen)<br />2 T. dijon mustard<br />3 T. cider vinegar<br />tarragon, salt and pepper<br /><br /><br />Cook the bacon strips over medium heat until crispy. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Sautee the onion in the bacon drippings until wilted. While you wait crumble the bacon. Add the tomatoes and cook just until they begin to soften. Move the food aside and add the mustard to the pan, whisk in the cider vinegar, stir to combine all. Add the green beans, a good pinch of salt, some pepper and tarragon to taste. Cover and continue to cook until the beans are heated through, just a few minutes. Return the bacon to the pan, toss and serve.Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13218388169983706999noreply@blogger.com1