Friday, September 30, 2011

Trip down Memory Lane

My trip in the country today also took me down memory lane.  This little run down shack is where I lived as a 19 year old newly married girl.  Back then, 33 years ago, it was a cute little box of a house, with a freshly painted exterior, a very neat yard, and a little wooden deck, built around the tree, for a porch.  It was probably less than 400 square feet of living space, but it had all a young couple needed - a tiny bathroom, kitchen, living room, and bedroom.  I don't think anyone has lived there in about 30 years.

I spent many a day in this yard.  We used to put walnuts in the driveway and run over them to hull them.  Then my Mother-in-law would sit on her steps and pick the "goodies" out of the shells. Such a beautiful view.

Quilt Blocks on Barns

I spent part of this beautiful East Tennessee day taking my son's Grandmother to see her sister in Sweetwater.  We passed by these barns with the quilt blocks.  It was a perfect day for a drive in the country.




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Exciting News

I maybe having my first blog giveaway soon!! I am so excited. More info to come. Stay tuned.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Cooking Shows

After watching The Pioneer Woman cooking show today, I decided to do a little pot roast for us tonight. I found a small half roast in the freezer.  Hers only had carrots and onions for the veggies.  I added celery, mushrooms, and a little minced garlic.  Looks good! we will have this with mashed potatoes and green beans. A hearty meal for my hubby after a long day of fishing (yeah, that is such hard work!)




Pumpkin Muffins

This recipe comes from my DIL, Katie. These are wonderfully heavy and taste very yummy.
Recipe:
I moist yellow cake mix
1 15oz. can pumpkin
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
(I didn't have the nutmeg and cloves, so I added all spice and some vanilla)

Mix together (batter will be very thick); pour in muffin cups or tins and bake about 20 minutes at 350.  You can top them with cream cheese frosting, but they are yummy even without it.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Scrappy Stars

I found this pattern ages ago and really love the traditional look of it.  I am using shirt plaids (still have many leftovers from my other shirt projects).  I've been putting off starting it because I know it is going to be a booger.  So many tiny pieces and I am not a precision cutter or piecer.  Over 1200 1 1/2" squares if I make it the size shown.  Nah.  I am going to make a lap size.  The hub has been wanting a new lap quilt.



Here is tonight's progress.

Can you see the little "Polo" emblem?  That shirt was one of my $1 thrift store finds.


Another picture

This is probably my favorite of the ones I took of Elijah and Katie last weekend.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Visit to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary


This is where Elijah and Katie live.  I had a great visit with them!




They took me geocaching while I was there.  It was fun.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Turkeys in the Yard

These guys/gals live in the woods around our house.  There is a flock of them!  They were having a heyday digging underneath our neighbors bird feeder.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Lake

We were supposed to go to our church picnic this evening but we backed out at the last minute.  I went walking and hubby went fishing.  Then later, he picked me up for a ride.  It was nice.




Saturday, September 10, 2011

Little Quilts

I found these today and thought how nice they would look layered on our breakfast table.


Another picture of my handsome model.....

Friday, September 9, 2011

How to remove scuff marks from shutters

I am posting this because I've looked and looked on the web to find out how to clean those tiny little gray scuff marks off of faux wood shutters.  Sometimes when I am closing them, my ring will make a tiny mark along the slat.  Regular soap and water, and even a Magic Eraser doesn't easily get them off.  This morning I tried Soft Scrub (without bleach) and with very little pressure, took them right off.  So there you go.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Picture Label

A friend merged a picture of myself with a picture of one of my quilts.  I thought this would work great for the label.  I hope to enter this quilt in our local Country Fair. I love making labels.  I can imagine my great grandchildren one day saying, "so that's what Mamaw looked like!"

Shutters

The "shutter man" finished up today.  I am thrilled with the results.



By the way, these were purchased through Lowe's and the installer did an excellent job.  We have been very pleased with the quality and the workmanship.

A favorite

This is one of my all time favorites.  Made from Elijah's shirts.


After supper the hubby took me out riding around to snap a few pictures.  This is the Sugar Grove Valley bridge.


Monday, September 5, 2011

For our little guests

Some friends are coming over tonight for a fish fry.  They have four children.  I thought the little ones would like this.



Glorious Rain!

So thankful for the bountiful rain we are getting today.




Pillow

I made this last night using curtain material.  I have more of this beautiful silk.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Tonight's festivities

We had a good time tonight with our friends from church.


And after everyone left we had this little guy flying around our nasty florescent lights in the garage - a hummingbird!
Think I need to dust the garage ceiling?  Well, I chose not to so no one would think our place is too perfect......lol


Another ruffled tank top

I think I like this one better than the last.  Again an old tank top, and this time I used a rarely used white t-shirt for the ruffles.


Hospitality

It seems hospitality is a lost art.  Why?  Are decorating shows/blogs making us feel like our homes don't measure up?  Are we too busy?  Has my home been "too perfect" and made others feel like they couldn't have a group over at their home?  I hope not.  Truth is, for most of us - working or not, there is no way our home, our food, our kids, can be perfect.  Yet, some of us strive for that. And in doing so, we neglect others - others who don't have family close by - others who don't have close friends - others who are craving some friendships but don't know how to start - younger couples who need mentors.

I am so thankful for those in my past who have opened their home for casual get togethers, drop-ins, and planned church get togethers.  I remember couples that had several group events at their homes.  I was a young married woman who needed that friendship with mature Christians.

I need to do more of this.  We are having our Sunday School class over tonight.  I hope my home isn't too perfect.  Maybe I won't worry about getting the bird poop off the porch.  A sweeping will be good enough.


Friday, September 2, 2011

Trying something new

Sometimes, I just have to make something.  I don't have a quilt going right now, am waiting on some shirts. Today I read so many neat blog posts about making ruffles for old t-shirts or tank tops, I had to try it.

So I turned this....

into this...



Not much has survived this heat


Oh....those aren't real anyway....