C*H*O*C*O*L*A*T*E and Other Less Important Stuff

Sam won a bag of goodies at the last HOG (Harley Owner's Group) meeting. The bag contained HD straws, napkins, beer bottle opener, coasters, and a HD ice cube tray. Of course the tray was not in the shape of cubes, but the HD emblem.

I have an ice maker so wasn't too enthused about the ice tray.  That is until I thought CHOCOLATE!  I melted a bag of dark chocolate chips, spooned it into the compartments, jiggled the spoon around hoping to fill all the crooks and crannies. I tried to unmold one at room temperature...that didn't work so I popped the tray in the refrigerator. That worked! They popped out perfectly! 

I told Sam that I'd make some for the next meeting he attended for a door prize.

WHAT? Someone had to take care of the QC department! 

Yes. It is a sacrifice but somebody's gotta do it. :D

I made English muffins this afternoon.

And finished my COF table topper by adding some decorative machine stitching to some select rows.

COF Quilting Retreat in Branson MO

 I had a blast in Branson MO at the 2012 COF (Circle of Friends) quilt retreat. We met, visited, talked, played games, learned new techniques, attended the Springfield MO quilt show, won door prizes...so much in just 3-4 days. 

I finished my Prairie Points...but that's it.

I did learn the basics of the Chevron Placemats, but finished sewing them together (quilt-as-you-go) this evening after I got home. Just need to make seven more and bind them...and hope I have enough fabric for a table runner.

I got the Table Topper sewn half together...finished it when I got home too...except for the backing and batting.




How about some Missouri clouds?

 

This Evening

 It's been quite awhile since I pulled out the camera for cloud photos. These were on the way home from work this evening. We've had rain for a couple of days now. The result? Great cloud formations!

For supper: Texas Gulf brown shrimp on a bed of mixed greens. Half a sliced avocado. Drizzled with Sam's homemade red sauce. A dollop of homemade tartar sauce.

ANY Weekend Spent with the Grands...

Is a GRAND weekend!

Pool Time Can be Tiring...

Isn't Cain just THE sweetest little boy?! Poor baby...I think he's being starved. ;-)

BIRTHDAY Time!

Grand niece's birthday. Brianna is now officially 6 years old!

This is poor preemie Ty. He turned a year in June. Awful skinny isn't he?! ;-)

He is in therapy to help develop his motor skills.  Looks as if it's working!

Here's Isabel in the dress I made...showing one of her many tricks.

Dehydrating and Quilting

 That dehydrator full of pears yielded this much:

Last night's supper - pork tenderloin marinated in Italian dressing.  Perfectly cooked.  Deliciously juicy!

Isabel's curtains...

Isabel's quilt top for her Christmas quilt. I still have to machine embroider her name in the bottom square on the left - in red of course.

Yep. I think it will look just fine with her curtains. Rather proud of myself. :D

Now Tell Me Again...

...that this country was NOT founded on Christian values...

Christianity in the Capitol

I love my country!  The Constitution of the United States of Amercia was set up so that you can worship God as you please.  The document and laws that enforce it protect you against a government run religion.  The document and laws that enforce it protect you against being forced to worship at all! 

The Constitution and laws that uphold it give you rights even if you do not believe in God. If the words in the motto of this country - IN GOD WE TRUST - means absolutely nothing to you...then they are just that...words. When the pledge to the flag is recited with hand over heart, if you do not believe the line "One Nation under God," then you can either not recite the pledge at all or not recite that one line.  When heads are bowed in prayer, do not bow yours.

I will defend your right to worship God OR NOT. I will always be appalled that some madman walked into a Sikh temple and killed innocent people.  I will always be angered that a so-called Christian blew up an abortion clinic.

HOWEVER, do not infringe on my rights as given to me by the Constitution of my country to worship my God as I please.

ALSO, do not move to my country from yours where you are escaping persecution by your government and try to turn my country into a country like yours.

More Pears and a Special Birthday

Sam peeled a bucket and a half of pears while I quartered and  cored. We filled the dehydrated with quarters.

Grated enough for another double batch of pear cakes.  One to eat and three more for the freezer.

The remainder was sliced and sauted in butter with brown sugar and just as they got tender - a considerable :D splash of rum.

Perfect by themselves, in crepes, over pancakes.  What about a scoop or two of Blue Bell homemade vanilla flavor ice cream?  OR what about a slice of toasted pear cake topped with a scoop of ice cream, covered with sauted pears AND a dollop of whipped cream. Think that's too much?  NAH!  I don't think so. :D 

I bought some pretty fabric yesterday for placemats.  I hope there's enough for a table runner too.

This is for a table topper. (Photos of finished projects to follow in late September/early October.)

And last but definitely NOT least - Happy 84th Birthday to my Sean.  A rose for you.

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.