How to choose fabric for a quilt

One of my favorite things to do is to make quilts.  More specifically I like to make quilt tops.  I like the designing process more than the binding process.  So therefore I often have a stack of beautiful tops that need to be backed and bound.

When I am feeling particularly low I find myself searching desperately for fabrics.  Perhaps the quilting or the planning becomes a form of therapy for me and allows me to release my frustrations.  Life has been very chaotic recently and I have spent many evenings after the children went to bed searching for fabric on the internet.

I have begun to plan a new quilt.  Here is how I choose my fabric -

1.  Choose the main colors to use.   Select monochromatic, complimentary, or analogous.
2.  Chose fabrics of different intensity.  Select light, medium, and dark shades of the colors to make the quilt balanced.
3.  Choose fabrics of different scale.  Select small, medium, and large prints.  Too many large scale prints in a quilt will be too busy; too many small prints will make the quilt dull. 

Hot Milk Sponge Cake

We were planning a barbecue yesterday when I realized I had not made anything for dessert.  And then Hot Milk Sponge Cake popped into my head!  I always have everything on hand to make this cake.  The recipe was given to my mom when I was just a child from an elderly lady at church.  Of course I use a microwave to heat the milk instead of the traditional stove method.  It is delicious warm or cold, needs no frosting, and would be great paired with fresh strawberries.  Here is the recipe -

Hot Milk Sponge Cake
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

1.  Cream the eggs using a mixer for 3 minutes.
2.  Add the sugar to the eggs. Scrap the sides of the bowl to be sure all of the sugar has been mixed into the eggs.  While this continues to mix for another 4 to 5 minutes do steps 3 and 4.
3.  Measure out the flour, baking powder, and salt.  Stir together and set aside.
4.  Heat the milk and the butter in the microwave until it is hot.  Be careful that it doesn't bubble over.
5.  Dump the dry ingredients into the egg mixture and mix well.
6.  Stir in the hot milk, butter, and vanilla into the mixture and blend well.
7. Pour into a 9 inch greased pan and bake at 350 degrees F (325 for dark non stick pans) for 20 to 25 minutes.

Roasted Radishes

Yesterday I harvested the remaining radishes.  They were real beauties and I am so proud of my first feed my family kind of garden. The only way I had ever eaten radishes before was sliced thinly in salads.  So today I decided to do something different!  I decided to roast them.  After all they are similar to potatoes and carrots.  So why not?  Here is what I did -

Radishes
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Lemon Juice

1. Wash the radishes and cut in half.
2.  Toss with olive oil and put into a bake dish.
3.  Salt and pepper to taste.
4.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 450 degrees F until tender. Flip once during baking.
5.  Drizzle with lemon juice for more flavor.

What is your favorite ...?

"Mom, what is your favorite book?"  my daughter asks as we ride down the road.  Moments later more questions - What is your favorite land animal?  Who is your favorite author?  What is your favorite color?  and on and on.

It is wonderful to know that she is interested in me, but it makes me sad that I never have an actual answer.  The only reply I ever have is, "I don't know."  Am I this indecisive?  Am I so busy I don't stop to think of my own likes?  Am I the only one like this?

So I have decided that over the next few weeks I need to figure out my favorites.  Just how does one go about this?  Is it the first thing that pops into my head?  Is it a feeling I get when I say a certain thing? Or is it something else?

Now, which to tackle first? 

The Box

Can anyone say treasure hunting?  I know this sounds absurd, but that is just what happened to us.  My uncle, who had been operated on for a brain tumor and was still recovering from surgery had his nurse phone my mother.  He was quite upset and determined that we needed to get a box he had left behind his shed.

It was pouring heavily.  The nurse had told my mother she thought he was confused - that he just wasn't making sense.   BUT, we had to go and check! So we drove the half hour to his house.  With a rainbow colored umbrella and coats pulled up tight we searched behind the shed.  No sign of a box!  We even looked around the sides of the house and the garage.  Still no box!

We left his home knowing that the nurse must have been right and that he was indeed confused.  This didn't bode well for his recovery.

The next day came and my dad called me.  He had just hung up from my uncle again.  When my parents had told him there was no box he became quite upset and said, "Then you aren't looking in the right place!"  He then gave very precise directions to my dad as to this box's location.  Now we knew that it was under a red brick, six feet behind the shed, and buried.  Buried???

This was seeming to be a bit odd, but then again, my uncle is a bit eccentric.  So, this time my husband and father made the trip again to his home.  They went to the shed with my husband carrying a shovel.  They walked six feet behind the shed which led them to the edge of the woods.  Looking down at the ground there was indeed a red brick.  No way!  Could this be so?

They moved the red brick and began removing shovel fulls of dirt.  There in the hole was a small box!  It was a cardboard box which had been wrapped in layers of gray duct tape to prevent water from damaging the contents.  They covered the hole and replaced the brick.  Upon turning around, my husband noticed that there were other red bricks laying scattered about the yard.

"You don't suppose there are other boxes, do you?" my husband asked my father.
"Maybe,"  he replied. "We'll have to go treasure hunting again some day to see."

Well, the box did hold treasure, not the kind of usual treasure which is money or jewels or even a treasure map.  It was treasure to an old man whose memories were fading fast.  The treasure was my uncle's memories and notes about his mother carefully written on page after page, folded neatly, and tucked inside this small box.

I don't know why he buried them.  I don't know if the other bricks are really markers to other boxes, or if they are just bricks lying in the yard.  BUT what I do know is that my uncle was definitely not confused, because here is -
THE BOX!

Radishes - the easiest thing to grow!

 

Yesterday, I started pulling radishes.  It had been a few days since I could get out to the garden.  So when I parted the leaves and saw these beauties I was really excited.  I had successfully grown Burpee Cheery Belle Radish seeds.  With life being so crazy right now this one simple thing made a huge difference in my day.  I sliced a couple and added to our lunchtime salad.

Radishes are quick and easy to grow.  I planted the seeds so that there would be 16 plants in a square foot, 4 x 4.   The seeds sprouted in less than a week and then seemed to grow to maturity overnight.  In less than a month the radishes were ready to be eaten.  Wow!

Three Sisters Planting

Last summer we visited Jamestown because we knew our daughter would be learning all about its history in school this year.  We had a wonderful time!  Now that I still have seed packets left to plant and seem to be running out of steam in building raised beds, I remembered something we saw there about the way they gardened.

It was called three sisters.  Basically, the interpreter explained to us, that the indians had shown the settlers how to grow their own  food in this way.  Weeding was kept to a minimum and the plants are good companions for one another.  The squash kept the soil shaded which helped to keep the soil moist.  The corn stalk supported the growing beans.   Here were the directions -

1.  Mound up the soil with a hoe.  The mound should be about 12 inches tall and 2 feet in diamater.
2.  Plant corn in the middle of the mound.
3.  Plant beans around the corn.
4.  Plant squash around the beans.

Today I am going to make one mound.  I will plant corn, pole beans, and zucchini.  I am anxious to see how this method works for us.

Getting ready to wait

I am up, have had a cup of coffee, and am preparing to leave for the four hour drive to Johns Hopkins hospital.  I have to say, my stress level is pretty high.  I don't like driving in these wee hours of the morning on just a few hours of sleep.  I am not sure yet how long my uncle's' brain surgery will take nor do I have any idea on the prognosis.  The unknown has always been a source of tension for me.

Today I will pray and try to be the strength that my mother and uncles need to help them through the day.  I will read a new book I downloaded onto my Kindle, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail.  I will try to remain positive and hopeful.  It is all any of us can do.  My Spanish instructor said once in class, "I woke up therefore it is a good day!"  Well, I woke up and now it is time to go.  I do hope it is a good day.

10 Ways to Deal with Stress

This week was teacher appreciation week at school and I won a 20 minute massage.  It was absolutely very relaxing.  But then it was over and that wonderfully relaxed feeling generated by the massage soon slipped away.  Let's face it - life can be very stressful, whether it is job related, health related, family related, or all of these combined!  Here are 10 of the ways I have found to deal with stress personally without paying $50 for another massage-

1. Drink a cup of hot herb tea.
2. Go for a quick walk or run.
3. Listen to music that includes sounds of nature.
4. Crochet.
5. Breathe deeply for one minute.
6. Rub the pets.
7. Pull weeds in the garden.
8. Write.
9. Stretch arms, legs, neck, spine.
10. Close eyes and lay a warm herbal pack across forehead.  I especially like the smells of spearmint and eucalyptus

Checking eggs

Life has been chaotic for our family this weekend.  My daughter was having a friend sleepover Friday after school when I received a phone call from my mother about my uncle being taking to the hospital.  We immediately had to change plans and my husband took over the sleepover. 

My mother and I hurried to the hospital which was an hour away.  It was determined that my uncle had a brain tumor and would be transfered to John Hopkins hospital over 4 hours away.  So we came home, grabbed a few hours of sleep, and then headed for Baltimore. 

Needless to say that with everything going on the eggs had not been collected.  My daughter brought them in this evening.  I knew the eggs should be good, but I am really careful with the eggs.  So we decided to be safe and test them.  There is an old saying that goes - if it doesn't sink it will stink.  We checked each egg in a cup of water.  Every single egg sank to the bottom and laid fully on its side.  From what I have read as long as part of the egg touches the bottom it is fine to eat.  And the fresher the egg is, the more it lays down.

My egg basket I got myself for Mother's Day is really neat.

Egg is laying down on its side and is therefore good to eat.

How many kittens did Cally have?

My husband and I went back to the shed yesterday.  I carefully handed out to him one kitten after another.  There were eight in all.  He placed them into a box and we carried the box and Cally to my parents' screened in porch.  We placed it in a dark section against the wall.  Mom brought out food, water, and milk for for Cally.  Then my daughter and I retrieved a litter box from Dad's shop.  Then we left Cally to care for her kittens, which she promptly did.

Upon returning from school however, I noticed that most of the kittens were all snuggled on top of one another.  All except one.  This one was smaller than the others.  I carefully moved her to the others.  Cally jumped back into the box and started nursing everyone.  Everyone that is except the little one.  I kept trying to put the little one up to Cally to nurse, but it never tried.  It would end up being pushed away by the others who were furiously trying to drink.

My husband rushed to the farm store and returned with some kitten formula.  I had sat quietly by the box for a long time observing.  The little kitten was continuously pushed to the side and it was apparent that Cally had not even washed her like she had the others.  Finally I checked the little one again and she felt so cold.  I wrapped her in my hands to warm her and snuggled her close to my chest.

When my husband returned, we mixed formula and gave a small bit to the little one.  It was apparent that the kitten didn't know how to suck.  After a bit of milk it seemed to have a bit more life - a small sound, a little movement.  We hoped that after a few more feedings the little one would make a turn for the better, but that was not to be.  At midnight, when we checked, the little ones life had passed away.  Such a short little time to be on earth. 

Now Cally has seven kittens.  They appear to be healthy and crawl over one another to reach their mother to nurse.  We will wait and hope that all will be well.

Kittens

Near the end of winter, my parents' cat passed away.  He was a stray that had found his way onto their back deck and stayed for many years.  He was good-natured and enjoyed the family.  My parents had made a place for him on the back deck where he was protected from the weather but could come and go as he pleased.  He was so old that he had lost most of his teeth and sometimes wobbled when he tried to jump up into your lap. 

It had not been but about a week since his death that another cat arrived it seemed to take over this spot in my parents lives.  This time the cat was a female.  They named her Cally since she was a calico.  She was also very affectionate and stayed.  Well, time passed and Cally kept getting plumper and plumper and plumper.  Finally,  I looked at my parents and said, "I don't think she is fat; I think she is pregnant!"

Much to my surprise my parents got very excited.  Mom ran and got a bowl of milk.  Dad grinned from ear to ear.  And then mom gave her a long lecture on the birds and the bees and see how that man had up and left.  Three more weeks passed and Cally looked as if she was about to burst.  We were beginning to wonder if she would ever have those kittens.

Then, at dusk yesterdayday, my daughter had gone to feed up the chickens, and came running back into the house.  "Kittens! I hear meowing coming from in our shed."  Out my husband and I went.  Mom came over from next door.  We stood at the ramp to the shed while my husband went in to have a peak.  At the very back, lay Cally still in the process of birthing kittens.  There were at that time two very wet little bundles!  We quietly left and closed the door so that Cally could finish in peace, but just how many did she have?

We will just have to be patient and see this afternoon.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Life has been very busy, but my son and I took the opportunity to make some yummy cookies.  Waiting for them to get done was definitely an exercise in patience for him especially since they had to be refrigerated before baking.

Here is the recipe we used -

Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup of butter softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1.  Cream the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar.
2.  Add eggs and beat again.
3.  In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt. baking powder, and baking soda.  Stir to mix.
4.  Add in small amounts to butter mixture and continue beating.
5.  Refrigerate for one hour.
6.  Shape into 1 inch balls and place about 2 inches apart onto a non greased cookie sheet.
7.  Use a fork to make to flatten the cookies making a grid pattern.
8.  Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees Farenheit.

Hidden Eggs

 

Road Runner, our Araucana hen, had never once laid an egg in the nest box.  We figured she must be laying them somewhere in the yard, but we had never come across an egg.  The thing about Road Runner is that she would promptly  leave the coop at dawn through the roof and return at dusk.  

The roof had been on for 20 years, but time had taken its toll, and this past winter the snows had burdened it too much.  Two sections of roof had caved in. Road Runner decided that it was the perfect door for her.  Of all the chickens we have had, she is our best flier!(In a manner of speaking)

When we fixed the roof this weekend we discovered her nest.  Wedged between a blue tarp and the chicken wire on the outside of the coop, we found 21 eggs!  Their color had faded from a pale aqua to almost white. 

Now that the roof is fixed, we find an aqua colored egg in the nest box daily.  She is definitely a good layer.

My First Lettuce

Yippee! Today I snipped a bit of leaf and mesclun lettuce to go with dinner. It was absolutely delicious.

To make the lettuce crisp I rinsed it in cold water and then refrigerated it for about an hour. I can't wait for more to grow.

Saturday Chores

We are hoping the rain holds off today because there are many projects that need to be done outside.  We will start the day by going to Lowes for some needed materials.  Plus I have a $10 off coupon that I will put to good use there.  Plywood, landscape timbers, and a battery charger are just some of the things on our list of things to buy.

Here is the to do list -
1.  Fix the chicken coop roof.
2.  Trim some low lying branches.
3.  Mow the lawn.
4.  Start laying out a garden bed next to the house.
5.  Take pictures of the garden.

Remembering Hurricane Sandy Part 2

The wind was picking up and the rain was beginning to fall in earnest.  My mother and I drove out to the high school and parked our cars.  My father then picked us up and drove us back home through the rain which was slicing sideways against the car.

As we neared home we drove on down the road toward the shore.  We wanted to check on the height of the water.  We didn't make it to the end of the road because the tide had already begun to rise.  The water lay across the road at the corner so much so, that there was no sign of the usual marsh.

At home, we hurriedly pulled the final two vehicles up onto the small hill in our yard.  The cars were safe there the last time it had flooded.  I then stacked the rabbit cages and turned our goat, Bella, loose to find high ground.  I tried to get the last two chickens back into their coop where they could would be able to get high up on their roost, but it wasn't to be.

I headed into the house thoroughly drenched.  And prayed that all would be safe.  And then the water rose!

Eggs Eggs Eggs

Well, last week we started with one egg per day.  This past weekend brought the excitement of 2 eggs per day.  But Monday and Tuesday were absolutely WOW - 5 eggs per day!

Finally, the chickens that I had begun to think were simply duds have begun to lay.  If they keep this up we will definitely have enough for our family, my mom and dad, and perhaps enough to sell a dozen per week to a co-worker.  That would be a nice way to recoup some of the feed costs.

Total Egg Count - 19