Homemade

Ever since I purchased Jonni McCoy's books about being frugal and cooking homemade I've been on this kick of trying new recipes. I made her pancakes and homemade syrup today. Great! The syrup is SO EASY. I mean nothing to it - water, sugar, maple extract. I put the pancakes in the freezer in little packages of 2-4. I also made her cocoa coffee creamer (haven't tried it yet). I also made a recipe for 1960's Catalina dressing. It was given to me by a friend! It was great - I'll never buy salad dressing again! I do love to cook and make new things. humm.....let me go see what else I can make today......

Me and Jim

I wanted to share a picture of my husband and I at my son's wedding. My friend edited this shot to remove a flower arrangement directly behind my head that made me look like I was wearing some kind of headdress. He also "removed" Jim's reading glasses that were hanging around his neck. If you look closely you can see that they are there, they just appear to be clear. Isn't it great what technology can do? The picture was taken at the wedding reception. That is my son and daughter-in-law on the big screen behind us. We had a video of them playing during the reception.

Done

Back in the groove

I feel like I am finally back to my quilting. I got an early start on all my errands today so I actually had time to start quilting my 5 yard quilt. I think it is pretty. I somehow misplaced my machine oil, so I had to make a few calls to find out just what kind I needed. Mineral oil with no additives. Got it, and now back in business! Here is a pic. I will get all the quilting finished tonight.



I picked up my first Civil War Tribute block of the month today. Are any of you doing it this year? I am excited about working on it. I also found another BOM that I would love to do. It is called Batik Nature (I think). I will have to think about this one. I am afraid both of these BOM's are going to be too big for me to quilt myself. Better get back to quilting!

Just not into it....

I think I've figured out why I have just not been into my sewing the last few weeks. I am working on a simple five yard quilt top. I bought the fabric as a kit. I thought they were kind of pretty and thought I'd make it up for a donation or gift quilt. Well, my husband did not like the fabrics at all, and ever since he told me that I have just not been into finishing it. But, being obsessive about finishing, I decided that I would get the top done today. I've made myself, and it really isn't that bad. I'll post a pic later. I also haven't worked on my cathedral windows quilt much because my fingers are so dry they are cracking and bleeding. It hurts! I guess I need to drink more water and use more lotion. We are having unseasonable cold weather here, as most of the U.S which doesn't help if you already are prone to dry skin! Hope you are toasty warm inside doing what you love!

Spend less, eat healthy

If one of your new year's resolutions includes spending less and eating more healthy, I highly recommend two books by Jonni McCoy, "Miserly Moms" and "Healthy Meals for Less." Both are excellent and give lots of hints on how to make almost anything from scratch. No only do you save money but you avoid lots of added salts and preservatives. I've made her fajitas, cappucino and hot cocoa mix (yummy), homemade pizza and spaghetti/pizza sauce, and now I am making homemade granola.

Batik beauty

I am quilting this one for my friend. Wow, I really love it. The picture doesn't do it justice. She picked the floating feathers pantograph for me to use for the quilting. I hope I do a good job.

Sewing Room

Here are a few pics of my sewing room -- my little retreat... This is my fat quarter and small fabric storage. Yes, shoe organizers from Target.



This is my sewing/cutting table which I love. A piece of laminate counter top 36 x 80 sitting on top of two wood kitchen cabinets. I had Lowe's cut a hole for my little Janome machine. The chair is a drafting chair I purchased for $5 at a business furniture sale. Perfect for the high table.



Next is my Gammill Premier Plus, which barely fits. Thank goodness I am not very tall. I also have a recliner and a double bed.


Part of my organizing spree I've been on included my sewing table cabinets. They were a mess. Here is about half of my leftover batting pieces, folded with labels for their size. The other cabinet has at least as much but they are smaller pieces I will use for dusting and cleaning. What do you do with your leftover batting pieces?



Now you've seen my little retreat. Not extravagant by any means, in fact, furnished frugally (is that a word? ha) but perfect for me. I even have a bathroom up here.

Happy New Year!!

To all my friends and family I wish you a very happy and healthy new year for 2010! Do you remember where you were when 1999 rolled over to 2000? Wow, time has flown by. I might just take a few minutes to watch my DVD of home videos. I always enjoy that. However, I also also want to take some time to evaluate my goals for the year - those improvements many of us want to make to ourselves and our lives. Spend less, organize more, give more, nurture friendships, reduce clutter, read the bible more, walk more, read more,....

Hope to do more organization today. Going to tackle the computer desk, hopefully the medicine cabinet, and then maybe my sewing room, maybe even my bathroom vanity! I am so thankful for a new year, new goals, new projects, and the love and care of a heavenly Father.

Shelves up in laundry room, cleaned and organized!

Got the pantry done, the buffet, a few of the cabinets......off to the laundry room!

Organization

I decided to stay home from work another day. Glad I did. The kids didn't go back to Louisville until mid-morning, so I got to visit with them a bit more. Today is going to be a day of organization! It is really shameful, all the food that has gone to waste. I cleaned and organized the pantry and filled almost three bags of old food. I need to make a commitment to do this at least twice a year, so I can get the food that we aren't going to use to a food pantry before it goes out of date. I've been counting my blessings this morning. It is truly a blessing to have more food that you can eat, a warm home, clothes to wear, family.

I purchased some new wire shelving for the utility room. I may get ambitious and try to put them up today. I would love to organize the laundry room after I finish in the kitchen. Such a great day to be at home! Probably won't do much sewing today, but today just seems like a good day to GET ORGANIZED! Hope you are counting your blessings and enjoying your day too!

McDaniel Family Christmas Photo

Here is the "normal" photo, at least as normal as we can get!


And here is the annual "goofy" photo....lol

Flying Squirrel

My friends on facebook have already seen this pic. This is a flying squirrel our cat, Jesse, brought in the house last night. It was fascinating. Jim managed to catch it in a dish towel in the laundry room, but not until after it "flew" or jumped from one shelving unit to another. We put it on the screened porch and it stayed a few hours. It was gone this morning (we propped the door to the deck opened). We read about how you can make them pets and they form bonds with their owners, and even will sleep in your pocket! I was so proud of Jesse, that he didn't maim or kill it, but just brought it in to show us!

Christmas Week

Ahhh...Christmas week. How wonderful. Off work. Visiting with family. Cooking. Cleaning (yes, I do love to clean). Walking in the 50 degree weather. What a blessing. Hope your week is just as wonderful.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phillipians 4:8