Visiting with Isabel

Sam dropped me off for a visit with Isabel, Brook, and Cody while he attended a wedding.  I enjoyed being with sweet Isabel so much more than I would have enjoyed the wedding. :D

Puleeze!  Can't you see that I'm reading?!

After her nap, Brook dressed Isabel in the dress I made her.  It was a bit large, but Brook left it on for us to go visiting and to eat supper.  Isabel walked down the hall and stopped.  She patted her ruffles, then did a spin for us.  Sooooo cute!  No picture. :( I did get a photo on my cell phone at the restaurant, but just the bodice shows.

This little girl is a parrot.  She has a pretty large vocabulary and will repeat just about anything you say.  First rattle out of the box...I pointed to Sam and said, "There's Pawpaw." She looked at him, pointed, and said, "Pawpaw."  Sam just beamed.

Colt's ABC Quilt Top Finished

Colt's Top Finished

Names machine embroidered on one of the plain blocks.

Concussion Under the Pear Tree

I'm telling you! It's dangerous out there gathering pears!!!

When those hard pears hit you in the head they just about knock you out!! I swear I have a bruise on the back of my right shoulder where one got me this evening...I haven't look yet, but I KNOW that there's a bruise!! Believe me!

Went out early the other morning to gather up what hit the ground and still had my glasses on (I wear contact lenses 99% of my waking hours)...pear hits me in the face and hits my glasses. I looked around and couldn't see out of the left lens. The lens was on the ground.

I need a hard hat and a pair of safety glasses just to gather pears! You know...a Kevlar vest might be needed...think I'll talk to one of the deputies at work. Or maybe just take the Smith & Wesson out and start target practice on those little hard devils!!!

Wednesday Bruise Update:
Well I NEVER!  I just knew that there'd be a bruise on my shoulder.  Harumphf.  No sign of being in battle with a pear tree at all!  How do you like them...pears?! ;-)

Baking and Sewing - Part Two

Another batch of pear cakes.

CHOCOLATE pear cakes this time.

Ummm...shame we don't have scratch 'n' sniff! (Yep...one stuck because I tried to dump it out of the loaf pan too soon.)

Lesson learned: After squaring two blocks, remove each from the cutting table instead of stacking on the cutting table. This is what happens when you square block 3. Colt will be glad that I have plenty of blue fabric.

Cain's quilt top finished!

CHOCOLATE PEAR CAKE

2 1/4 cups Flour, unsifted
2 cups Sugar  
2/3 cup Cocoa, unsweetened
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda   
1/2 teaspoon Baking powder   
1 teaspoon Cinnamon   
3/4 teaspoon Salt   
3   Eggs   
1 cup Oil   
1 cup Buttermilk   
2 teaspoons Vanilla   
2 cups Pears, shredded
1 cup Pecans, finely chopped

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl; set aside.  Combine eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla in large mixer bowl.  Beat on low speed until blended.  Gradually add dry ingredients; stir in pears and pecans until evenly mixed.  Pour into greased and floured tube pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 65 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes clean.  Cool 10 minutes.  Remove from pan; cool completely.  Drizzle with Chocolate Glaze.

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

2    tablespoons Butter   
2    tablespoons Cocoa, unsweetened
1    cup Powdered Sugar  
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla   
2    tablespoons water   

Melt butter in small saucepan over low heat; add unsweetened cocoa and water, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.  Do not boil.  Remove from heat.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and of glazing consistency.  Add additional water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, if needed.

Let Them Eat CAKE!

I made another double batch (4 loaves) of pear cakes yesterday evening.  This batch had pecans in it.  Oh my!  Even better.  Of course, I cut the first slice while it was still warm and shared with Sam while we watched more of the Olympics.  

This morning, I cut a few more slices to share at work.  I've also been taking bags of pears with me and dear friend, Gary (who is also a county commissioner), grabbed today's bag.

Another trip to the grocery store after work for more eggs because I had only enough for one recipe last night but didn't realize it until I was already halfway through the process. *eyeroll*  The cakes still worked!  Just not quite as dense as the other four yolks would've made them.

Tomorrow evening - another baking date! ;-)  Maybe a double batch of chocolate pear cakes...

I thought the dress would've been delivered to Isabel today, but I've heard nothing from Brook or Cody. I'll check the tracking number tomorrow because it was left at work...

Sewing and Cooking and Other Stuff

Saw three of these pretties on the way to work one day this week.  Drove the back way to town intending to go by Mama's house.  Instead, I turned left to the highway.

A dress for Isabel sewn on Shirley Ann with fabrics and trim from my stash.

I now wish I'd used blue gingham for all three ruffles.

Button-up back.

Found some blue trim in my CQ chest.

Everything gathered but the pears.  They are shredded in the food processor.

Butter, sugar, and eggs all creamed together.

Instead of baking in two tube pans, I bake in four loaf pans...easier for freezing.

Fresh out of the oven.

Delicious!

My next two projects.  ABC quilts for the grandsons. Cain's ABC blocks are already sewn together (on the right). Colt's blocks are different ABC fabric from Cain's, and I will be using blue fabric instead of the green.

Fresh Pear Cake

 2 cups Sugar   
 1 cup Butter   
 4 large Eggs   
 2 teaspoons Vanilla   
 3 cups Flour, sifted
 1 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon   
 1 teaspoon Allspice   
 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg   
 1/2 teaspoon Salt   
 1 1/2 teaspoon Soda   
 3/4 cup Buttermilk   
 1 cup fresh Apples, finely chopped
 1/2 cup Pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla. Mix well. Sift flour, spices, salt, soda, and add alternately with buttermilk. Fold in apples and pecans. Blend well. Pour into a 10 inch tube pan that has been greased and dusted with flour. Bake 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. DO NOT overbake. Remove from pan.
NOTE: I bake in two loaf pans for about an hour. 
The four cakes above is a double recipe.

Project Finished

But I can't show you!  So sorry but it's for a FQ challenged during the COF (Circle of Friends) quilting retreat in Branson Missouri.  It has to arrive in a brown paper sack and identity of the maker remains anonymous until after the judging.

I can show you how much fabric was left from the FQ though! 

Chicken Express Today

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:20

No Matter How Small the Project

It's still called "sewing." ;-)

Mug rug for Nancy

Siggy squares for a quilting retreat (COF) in Branson MO.

PS Pool is clearing up!!!  Sam ordered new filters which he'll install next week sometime.  I decided our pool brush was too soft so bought a firmer brush today and it's knocking the last of the algae off.  Gotta get the swimsuit dusted off! 

Pool Update

The pool is FINALLY starting to look pretty!  The water is blue - just a bit murky - but we can SEE THE BOTTOM!  Woot!  Woot!  There's still some algae growing in 2 or 3 areas close to the top of the water.  Sam's been diligent about the daily maintenance as "prescribed" by the pool chemist at the place in Longview.  Maybe...MAYBE...we can be in it sometime next week. :D

I made a batch of pimento cheese this evening.  I always share with Da Judge. She's always doing nice things for me.  AND she really likes my pimento cheese. For the recipe, scroll down the right tool bar - "Labels" - and look for "Pimento Cheese."