Maria to the Rescue!

Thank you Maria!  I also went back to look at Kelly's tutorial.  She made the comment-"Be sure your blocks are laid out correctly or you'll have to make friends with your seam ripper."

New lessons learned:
#1--Look carefully before sewing.
#2--Don't panic at night when you are tired.
#3-Be thankful for your blogging friends who are willing to help--Hopefully not too many thought, "Duh, Linda---Take it apart!"

I took the eight blocks apart and all is well!


Linda

Help! What did I do wrong? or Maria to the Rescue!!

I am working on a baby quilt.  I used Kelly's from Charming Chatter's pattern and tutorial.
  It was supposed to look like this:

However!!  I have 16 blocks one direction  and 8 blocks with an opposite pinwheel.

I haven't pressed the squares yet in case I have to rip.  But I can't figure out how I would resew them if I did rip!  Any suggestions?   The strip on the left and the three on the top  are going the wrong direction.

 

 Thank you!

On Thursday during vacation Tatum, 2 1/2 years, spent the day with me.  Who said you can't bake Christmas cookies after Christmas?  

Thank you Maria!  I just took one apart quickly and saw my problem!  New lessons learned:
#1--Look carefully before sewing.
#2--Don't panic at night when you are tired.
#3-Be thankful for your blogging friends who are willing to help--Hopefully not too many thought, "Duh, Linda---Take it apart!"

Wonderful Memories of Christmas 2011

My two  Daughters-I-L asked if we could celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve day.  Waiting for Christmas Eve makes it a late night for the grandkids.   Since there was no day off before Christmas Eve, I totally changed my normal menu.  Usually it is homemade Swedish meatballs and gravy, mashed potatoes,  fruit salad, and mixed vegetables with cheese sauce followed by French Silk or Pumpkin Pie.  I switched to my lasagna, lettuce salad, garlic bread, and pie.   I will admit it was much easier!! And fewer pots and pans to wash while cooking and cleanup was easier.

Santa came to visit that afternoon.  He wanted to remind Conner, Kasey, and Tatum to make sure they went to bed on time so he could visit that night.  He also tried out Kasey's cookies--he said he would be looking for them when he came to her house.  As always,  Santa took a Christmas picture of our family before he left.

That evening we all went to the Christmas Eve Family service at church.  My children sermon this year was reading the story,  "Silent Night, A Mouse Tale."  It is the story of how Straus Mouse ate through the bellows of the organ where Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr's carol, Silent Night, was first sung accompanied by guitar.  Who knows--maybe it really happened that way!

After church we all went to Great Grandma Joyce's for carmel corn, cheese and crackers, and time together. It was a wonderful day.  Celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!

How Many Kings?

Blessed Christmas Greetings to My Special Blogging friends.

 

I am Blessed! No Words necessary!

A finished wedding gift!

 Knowing that next week will be even busier, I finished the wedding gift for Keith and Stephanie.  The wedding is Saturday, Dec. 17th.   Something new for me,  I actually made a label for the gift. I haven't labeled many of my gifts.  One of my many strange quirks--maybe because I knew someone who wrote her name on everything she gave anyone.










I hope to spend some time sewing tomorrow night with another Friday Night Sew-in.   I have another skirt cut out using this pattern.  Also--I selected a runner pattern today to finish before Christmas as a gift.

Friday Night Sew In-December 9Heidi is hosting an extra Friday Night Sew In tomorrow night, Dec. 9.  There is an awesome give away to a lucky quilter!  Check out Handmade by Heidi!

Time for Me Friday Night

DIL-1 picked up Kasey and Cole shortly after 6:00 last night.  She stayed later at work trying to catch up on things.   After they left I pulled out the pieces I had cut for a Christmas Tree Skirt  gift I am working on for a December 17 wedding. I am hoping that once I sew on the inner green border and outer red border the red will pop.

View From My Kitchen WIndow

When Kasey and I walked to the mailbox this afternoon we saw two Bald Eagles in the trees behind the pond.  We went back to the house where Kasey asked for the binoculars and I took the camera. Look closely about 1/4 way down the tress.  Kasey and Cole are spending the day with me.  DIL-1 needed to work today and their day care provider wasn't available.

We tried a "kids' table this year!  It was 75% successful!  Jessica was content in the walker while we ate and Cole was almost happy in his booster seat at the table.   I am so very blessed to be able to spend time with my family!

We celebrated Kasey's 4th birthday last Saturday.  She already has great problem solving skills!  What else would you do to eat spaghetti
when your hair get is the way!
Since she is 4 now-she was able to go with her daddy to the deer stand for a couple of hours.  She didn't see any deer--but loved being in daddy's box with him.

 

On another note, Tuesday DH and I make another trip to Abbott Heart Institute to meet with an Cardiac Electrophysiologist.   This is a specialist who deals with arrhythmia's of the heart.  This time we are taking an overnight bag in case we need to stay for another procedure. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I borrowed this from a Facebook post of a gal I met blogging.  Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving with those you love!

I have two Pumpkin pies baked and one French Silk Pie in the refrigerator for  dinner tomorrow.  The "Make Ahead" mashed potatoes are in the refrigerator,  the turkey is thawed ready to be stuffed.  Grandma is bringing homemade rolls and sweet potatoes.  DIL-1 has the cookie salad ready while DIL-2 will have a baked cheesy vegetable casserole.  We don't make fancy foods--just the favorites that everyone will enjoy.  

Classic Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe  

Photo by: Taste of Home Classic Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe

These are the ingredients I use! ( The Taste of Home recipe calls for  reduced fat cream cheese and sour cream.) I bake it in a 9 X 13 glass baking dish.

• 5 pounds or more--(I usually use more)  potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
• 2 egg whites, beaten
• 1 cup (8 ounces)  sour cream
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted  (I use 1/4 cup)

Directions

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
• In a large bowl, mash potatoes with cream cheese. Combine the egg whites, sour cream, onion powder, salt and pepper; stir into potatoes until blended. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Drizzle with butter. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350° for 50 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 160°. Yield: 12 servings (3/4 cup each).

"All Mom Wants For Thanksgiving"

Thanksgiving is a time for family and for taking the time to count our blessings. But sometimes during the chaotic holiday, moms would just be thankful to get things back to normal.

Enjoy as you smile and laugh and RELATE!

FNSI Success!

Friday Night Sew-In was a success. All I have left is the binding.  One Christmas gift will be able to be checked off the list.  Yep!  I do see my mistake, but I decided not to rip. 

I will save the hand sewing of the binding until there is something I would like to watch on TV!

 

What a difference 24 hours can make!  The snow started about 12:30.  We are predicted to receive 3-6 inches. I guess it had to come sometime!!!

FNS

 I just realized tonight is Friday Night Sew-In!  No school today as a makeup day for two nights of parent teacher conferences.  So I spent today doing bill paying,  cleaning, and laundry.   So tonight I am going to head to the sewing machine! 

For my blogging family---my current total equals below!!!   For further explanation see blog from September 28!   20 lbs of flour,  10 lbs of sugar,  10 lbs potatoes,  and 1 lbs of butter. 

 

Sew-In Results tomorrow,