Peanut Butter Pie

Be careful about reading health books.  You may die of a misprint. 
                                                              ~Mark Twain

After spending most of yesterday (8 hours) sitting in waiting rooms at the hospital, the above quote gave me a chuckle.  My Mom is doing well after surgery - groggy, sore, and complaining.  She was in recovery for over 4 hours and was finally moved to CCU where she spent the night.  She will be moved to a room today, if one becomes available.  And she thought she would be going home last night after surgery!  Where do the elderly come up with some of these ideas anyway - wishful thinking I suppose. 

Photo Of The Day:

Another Gerbera from my yard

Since I have run out of facts about Gerbera daisies to share with you, here are a few quotes about flowers that I enjoyed reading:

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.  ~Henry Beecher, Life Thoughts, 1858

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"

If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.  ~Andrew Mason
 
God loved the flowers and invented soil.  Man loved the flowers and invented vases.  ~Variation of a saying by Jacques Deval (God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.)
 
A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.  ~Terri Guillemets
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A definite bright spot in my day yesterday was the mail when I arrived home.  My swap partner, Shawna (of That's Sew Shawna),  from the Brown Bag Quilt Contest sent me the most fabulous fabric.  I think I know what pattern I will be using but I will share more on that later.  Here is the beautiful fabric she sent from The Fat Quarter Shop:
 

True Love Birds by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake Designs

She was so sweet to send the entire 12 fat quarter collection when the contest only calls for 8.  Shawna also enclosed a wonderful little note.  Thank you, Shawna!!

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How about a recipe today!  Something sweet and delicious?  I found this recipe on one of my favorite blogs From The Kitchen Of: Mrs Bettie Rocker - she shares some of the best recipes around! 

Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

9 inch deep dish pie shell

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 cups milk

2/3 cup sugar

dash salt

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs, separated

4 tablespoons corn starch

whipped cream

Directions:

1.  Bake empty pie shell according to directions.  In a small bowl, place powdered sugar and peanut butter.  Cut sugar into peanut butter with a fork until mixture is crumbly.  Place half of mixture in bottom of baked pie shell, reserve remainder.

2.  In a pot, place egg yolks, milk, 2/3 cup sugar, vanilla, salt, and cornstarch.  Cook over medium to medium low heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Pour over peanut butter crumb mixture in pie crust.  Sprinkle half of the remaining peanut butter crumbles on top. (The rest goes on top of each piece after topping with whipped cream)

3.  Bake at 325 for thirty minutes.  Refrigerate for several hours before serving.  Top with whipped cream and remaining crumble mixture to serve.  Enjoy!

Personal Notes

1.  I thought I had done something wrong with the egg mixture as it seemed to take forever to start to thicken.  When it first started to thicken there were big lumps.  Just keep stirring and everything will smooth out and thicken very quickly.

2.  I don't care for peanut butter, but the DH, DD, and SIL absolutely loved this pie!!

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Reminder

I haven't been able to keep up on my blog reading the last two days :(  I do so miss reading all of them as I learn so much, enjoy the stories, and marvel in the creativeness of everyone.  So, I am not up to date on any giveaways.  However, you won't want to miss the Fall Into Fall Quilter's Giveaway that starts tomorrow.  I will be participating with a giveaway!  Last I checked there are over 140 bloggers that will be hosting giveaways!!  I can't wait to check out all of the blogs and finding some new ones that I haven't visited before.  Doesn't it sound like fun?!?

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Final Thoughts

Thank you all for your prayers and wonderful thoughts while my Mother goes through this health ordeal.  I'm confident that she will come out of this the same cantankerous 82 year old that she was when she went in - lol!  She really is a wonderful woman but she certainly is opinionated, she is always right and you might as well not argue with her because you will NEVER EVER get her to change her mind.

So I leave you with this final quote:

If you do everything you should do, and do not do anything you should not do, you will, according to the best available statistics, live exactly eighteen hours longer than you would otherwise.  ~Logain Clendening

B is for.............

May your bobbin always be full! 

                                                                              ~Author Unknown

Wednesday.  What can be said about Wednesday?  It's wacky, wonderful, weird, wordy..... and any other word you can think of that begins with W.  I have been wondering what to write about today (three more w words there).  No, I'm not going with W but I will be thinking of B words in sticking with my alphabet blogs.  I know it's been awhile since I did the post on the letter A but today I am really bogged down and so it's on with B.

But first, The Picture Of The Day

Birds at the feeder

Birds are winged, bipedal,  warm blooded, egg laying, vertebrate animals. There are around 10,000 living species, making them the most varied of tetrapod (having four limbs) vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic.  Birds range in size from the 5 cm (2 in) Bee Hummingbird to the 2.75 m (9 ft) Ostrich. The fossil record indicates that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs during the Jurassic period, around 150–200 Ma (million years ago). 

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Before I start with the letter B, I would like to share my hexie flower for One Flower Wednesday.  It's a good thing it's only One flower since that is all I seem to produce in a weeks time!

Still bright!

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Beginning with B - I thought I would stick to sewing terms and items

Bobbins and bobbin keepers - as the above quote says - May your bobbin always be full!

Bags of kits - why do I feel like I never have enough?

Basting and Bobbin Thread - a must have for machine embroidery

Basting and basting pins - I like the bent basting pins the best

Batting - this is Warm and Natural

Binding and Borders - A quilt should have a binding but doesn't necessarily need a border

Blades - Those rotary cutters don't work well with out a nice sharp blade!

Block - so many quilt blocks, so little time!

Books - So many ideas, patterns, and ideas (can't have to many of these either)

Boxes - for organizing.  Bought these recently at about 1/2 price and should have bought more (sigh)

Batik - and brown batik at that.  I haven't sewn with many batiks but I love the look of them

Buttons - great for clothing but also for embellishing quilts!

Blog - where would we be without the world of blogging - Thank you for reading mine!!

That's the end of B.  I hope I have bored you too much browsing through B!

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Giveaways

There's a great giveaway over at Cotton Cocktails.  She is giving away four fat quarters and some wonderful precut flower shapes that are already fused.  The winner will be announced October 3.

Don't forget the Fall Into Fall Quilter's Giveaway!  Today is the last day to enter your blog as a participant, entries close at 6:00 pm CDT.  The blog starts Friday and I can't wait - the list is of bloggers participating is huge - I'll be joining in the giveaway so remember to check back here to enter.

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Reminder

Don't forget to check out the Fall Into Fall Designers Blog Hop.  This is the third day and already there has been so many cute patterns and ideas.

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Final Thought

Today I will be spending part of my day at the hospital as my Mom will be having vascular surgery.  She has had a few TIA's (mini strokes) and needs to have the carotid cleaned out (she had the other side done two years ago).  Send up a few prayers if you would please.

Wednesday, the middle of the week once again.  Time flies by much too quickly, there never seems to be enough hours in a day ...... I think, at times, I worry too much that my goals will not be accomplished.  But, if I think back, most of my goals have been obtained.  Life is too short to worry and be stressed all of the time.  At least with the time in the waiting room today I will be forced to sit (I will have my crocheting with me), to be still, to listen, to think, to remember.  The quiet will be good.  

Have a wonderful, woven, wacky Wednesday! 

Who Is The Winner?

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself. 
                                                                  ~Benjamin Franklin


Today is Tuesday and time to announce the winner of the giveaway.  So, thank you to  random.org, a number was selected. 

And that number is 89.  Congratulations to CRAFTY PUG!   I will be emailing Crafty Pug to get her snail mail address.

Photo Of The Day:

Succulents on my back porch

Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants, are water-retaining plants adapted to arid climate or soil conditions.  Succulent plants store water in their leaves, stems, and also in roots.  The storage of water often gives succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance than other plants, a characteristic known as succulence.  The best known succulents are cacti.  Virtually all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.  My succulents should be very happy today as our temperature is supposed to reach 102*.  I told you we weren't through with summer!

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I was able to get a little sewing in yesterday.  I finished the top for my Paganini. 

This is a sample of the some of the fabrics I used

Here is the top. 

The lighting wasn't very good for taking the picture so the different fabric prints didn't show up well, but you can at least get an idea of what it looks like.  I plan to get it sandwiched today and maybe even start quilting.

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I am sharing a recipe for chicken that can either be prepared in the oven or grilled on the barbecue.  As usual, this recipe comes from allrecipes.com.

Lemon Barbecued Chicken

Ingredients:

2/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup cider vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

1 (3 1/2 pound) broiler-fryer chicken, cut up ..... I used 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Ingredients (minus the chicken)

Directions:

1.  Whisk together the first 10 ingredients. Add onion; set aside 1/4 cup if barbecuing. Pour remaining marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Chicken marinating

2.  For barbecue:  Drain and discard marinade. Grill the chicken, covered, over indirect medium heat for 45 minutes or until juices run clear, turning and basting with reserved marinade every 8-10 minutes.

3.  To bake chicken:  After marinating, place chicken in a greased 15" X 10" X 1" baking pan. Pour all of the marinade over it. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 1 1/4 hours or until juices run clear, basting occasionally.

Ready to eat!

Personal Notes:

1.  I used 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2.  I put the chicken in a 9" X 13" baking dish. Then added the marinade, turning the chicken to coat.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

3.  I used the same dish that I used for marinating to cook in - straight from the frig to the oven (plastic wrap removed, of course)

4.  We found the chicken to have more flavor when baked that when barbecued.

5.  Reheats very well!

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Reminders

Don't forget about the Fall-O-Ween Quilt Designer Blog Hop.   Today's host is Sandy Gervais!

Another reminder, Friday is the start of the Fall Into Fall Quilters Giveaway (the scarecrow link on the right hand side)!  If you would like your blog to be part of the giveaway, tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to enter.  You should see the list of blogs that are participating!!  The giveaway starts Friday, October 1!!!!!

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Final Thoughts

Even though there was only one winner today, we are all winners in the game of life.  As long as we are able to breathe, think, love, and feel we are all successful and should feel proud just to accomplish those four remarkable gifts.  Remember, the next winner could be you!!

Have a tenseless, tireless, tremendous Tuesday!!

A Trip To The KC Fair and Blog Hopping

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted. 
                                                                                         ~John Lennon

Happy Monday!  Today is the day to start of the Fall-O-Ween Quilt Designer Blog Hop!  Make sure you check it out.  Gudrun has organized a fabulous 10 days for all of us starting with herself today.  She is including a great Halloween pattern, a giveaway, and some gorgeous pictures for us to view.
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Picture Of The Day:

Waterfall in my backyard

I had this waterfall created in my backyard about 10 years ago.  It is so soothing to be able to sit out back and listen to the sound of running water.  The visiting birds love to come and take their daily baths not to mention quench their thirst.  No interesting facts or ideas today - just a little view into my world.

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Friday the hubby took a day off work so that we could attend the Kern County Fair.  We hadn't been to the fair in about 13 years.  Why you might ask?  Our kids showed animals at the fair for approximately 8 years and we were both on the livestock committee causing us to be at the fair 10 very long days, many days from before sun-up to way after sun-down.  This caused what I commonly refer to as "fair burn out".  We had absolutely no desire to see any part of the fair until this year.  Of course, being able to park and get in for free (our first 'senion' qualifying event) was a big enticement!  I thought I would share some of the quilts that were entered there this year.  I was a little disappointed to see that entries in the arts and crafts were down considerably from when I used to enter cross stitch pieces.  Sorry, I digress........here are the pictures:

Please click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see the details!

This was the first picture quilt as you entered the building.  I loved the colors and the fmq.

This picture quilt won a special award.  Doesn't the lion look like it could just walk right out of there. 

This grandmother's garden quilt was unique with the appliqued edging.  Loved the scene at the bottom.

Another blue ribbon winner - the colors in this were beautiful

The applique work on this was gorgeous.  I think it only received a 2nd place ribbon because the colors were rather disjointed.

I have seen tie quilts before but thought the interesting center in crazy quilt style was a little different

One of the few Christmas quilts entered

This is a close up of the Christmas Quilt above.  I couldn't believe the minute stippling that was done on this one.

This was first place winner plus it won two separate specialty awards.  The quilt was adorable.

There was a combination of quilting, machine embroidery, and fmq.  The awards were well deserved.

This was the Best In Show Quilt.  Absolutely stunning!

I hope you enjoyed the trip to the fair with me and weren't too horribly bored.  Besides the quilts, we also had to visit all of the exhibit buildings and some of the livestock.  Ran into some friends we hadn't seen for quite a while.  Ate some good food and left before the heat really set in for the day.  All in all, a good time and I'm glad we went.

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Very little sewing was accomplished this weekend.  I did make a hexie flower which I will share on One Flower Wednesday.  I also received the background fabric for the GFG quilt in Friday's mail and started making a few hexies to begin the flower connections. 

Saturday we were out looking at carpet - a process we have been working on for 2 1/2  years!  I think we have it narrowed down to a couple of selections.  We are to get a couple of larger samples to bring home to help in our decision.  Can you believe it is taking us so long?  First it was to decide if we wanted to continue with hardwood through to the bedrooms and office/sewing room or if we would go with carpet.  Back and forth, undecided, not sure which way to go.  Well, price was the final deciding factor.  Hardwood is much too expensive (sigh!) so carpet is the direction we are heading.  Then, what color? texture? padding? etc.  Our aim is to have it installed by Thanksgiving.  Wish me luck!

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GIVEAWAYS!

A giveaway for some cute FQs is happening over at Me? A Mom?.  This one ends October 5th.

Cranberry Samplings is have a great giveaway to celebrate her goal of attaining 100 followers.  Hop on over and check this one out as it ends Oct 1.

My friend, Leona, is having a super giveaway over at Leona's Quilting Adventure.  She is giving away One Braided Bucket Purse Kit and one copy of Simply Stylish Bags, by Dorothy Wood.  This ends October 1st!

Me? A Mom? is hosting a giveaway for CSN Stores.  You can win a $35.00 gift certificate!

And, don't forget my giveaway ends today at 6:00 pm PST.  Enter HERE!

There are probably more giveaways out there but since I am way behind on reading all of the blogs I follow, that was the list I could come up with.

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Final Thoughts

Monday - a fresh start to the week.  So much planned, only so much time to get it accomplished.  I will do what I can and try not to stress over what I can't.  We all, at one time or another, stress over time restraints, time deadlines, budgets, family, and more.  I am taking a vow to just do what I can with the time that I have for the day.  I will try to remember to take a deep breath and relax as the day passes followed by the weeks, months, and years.  I will do my best to remember my mantra - One Today Is Worth Two Tomorrows.  How about you?

Giveaway Reminder

This is just a quick post to remind you that you have just over 24 hours to enter my giveaway!

Enter  HERE  now!

Have a super Sunday and see you tomorrow!

Goals, Meanings, and a Little Christmas

"Goals are dreams with deadlines." 
                                                                      ~Diana Scharf Hunt

Another week is almost over - can you believe it?!?  The days seem to fly by - and I have so much more to do!!  It's hard to believe that Christmas is really just around the corner.  How many more shopping days?  You sure couldn't tell it's near by the weather here.  By early next week we are supposed to up near 100* again!  But, it is no surprise as it always heats up one more time for the Kern County Fair (runs for another 9 days).  Hopefully this will be Mother Nature's last heat raising hurrah.

Photo Of The Day

Another Gerbera Daisy in my yard

Throughout history, lovers have given flowers to each other as a token of their longing, devotion, and love. The language and meaning of flowers has evolved through the years.

When choosing a flower as a gift, consider how special the flower is to your lover and what message it communicates.  Here is a sampling of what some plants/flowers mean when given as gifts:

ALMOND, FLOWERING: Hope.
ALYSSUM: Worth beyond beauty.
ASPARAGUS FERN: Fascination.
BABY'S BREATH: Innocence.
BIRD OF PARADISE: Magnificence.
BUTTERFLY WEED: Let me go.
CARNATION, STRIPED: Refusal, No, sorry I can't be with you.
DAFFODIL, SINGLE: Misfortune.
but then a BUNCH of DAFFODILS, :Joy, happiness
HEATHER, WHITE: Protection, wishes will come true.
HYACINTH, YELLOW: Jealousy.
MONKSHOOD: Beware, a deadly foe is near, danger.
OLEANDER: Caution.
PUSSY WILLOW: Illness recovery.
SPIDER FLOWER: Elope with me.
TULIP, VARIEGATED: Beautiful eyes.

So be careful what you give or receive - there may be a hidden message in there somewhere!!!
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Yesterday I finally assembled all of the blocks for the Paganini.  After all there were only 16 blocks, you wouldn't have thought it would take me so long.  Well, maybe I did get a bit distracted with other things (sew along blocks, reading blogs, taking pictures)

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The other day I was visiting Sherrie's blog, A Quilting Life, and she posted pictures of some Christmas blocks she was making.  They were from The Fat Quarter Shop's 2010 Designer Mystery Block of the Month.  They were so cute, bright and cheery, that I just had to buy them too!  It actually started back in May and will run until May 2011 so I was starting out behind - but, then again, what else is new - lol!  The first Four blocks arrived today.

Isn't the fabric enticing?  I can't wait to get started but promised myself I would complete at least three of my other projects first - quilt the brown and blue (it's all pin basted and ready to go, at least finish the Chubby Stars Quilt top, and definitely finish the Paganini - it will be first on the list since it has to be finished by the end of October!  Another selling point was the description "Each block finishes at 12" and will be an easy to intermediate pieced block (no templates, applique or paper piecing), making this block of the month suitable for all quilters."  I didn't think the price of $9.99 a month (shipping included US) was a bad price at all.  The finishing kit will be on my Christmas Wish List for the hubby!
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GIVEAWAY

Here's another chance to enter a GO! giveaway. Millie's Quilting is hosting this one and it ends Oct. 2!

Patches and Pieces is having a great giveaway.  Rhonda is giving away a Super Gripper and a decorative basket with 15 coordinated FQs.  This one ends September 28th.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Just go HERE to enter.  This ends Monday!
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Final Thoughts

As the days pass and little seems accomplished, just look back at the quilt top that is forming that was previously just a pile of blocks, or the blocks that were just a pile of fabric.  See, you have done quite a bit.  Especially if you are sandwiching in between work, kids, meetings, and other obligations.  Before you know it, you will have achieved the goal you were aiming for - another job completed.  Smile :)  You will get there.

Have a fantastic, frivolous, fiber Friday!

Little Sewing But More Projects

"There's nothing more exciting than starting a new project"
                                                               ~author unknown

Yesterday morning started as just a normal day, first computer time and then breakfast.  After breakfast I headed back into the computer and on the keyboard was a folded piece of paper with my name on it.  My first thought was "Uh oh, what did I do wrong?".  When I opened it I was very much surprised to have a love note from my dear, sweet husband!  How very special I felt!  It certainly put a brighter light on my day.  It was so indescribably wonderful to read how much he still loves me after 35 years of marriage.  I am such a lucky lady!!  Okay, so much for the mush.............on with today.

Photo Of The Day

A partial branch of a Japanese Maple in my side yard

Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan (go figure!), North and South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. The first specimen of the tree reached England in 1820.  Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf shapes and colors. When Swedish doctor-botanist Carl Peter Thunberg traveled in Japan late in the eighteenth century, he secreted out drawings of a small tree that would eventually become synonymous with the high art of oriental gardens. He gave it the species name palmatum after the hand-like shape of its leaves. This would hardly surprise the Japanese who for centuries referred to their group of maples as kaede and momiji, references to the 'hands' of frogs and babies, respectively.  As you can tell from the picture, my tree has yet to start any kind of fall color change.  It is showing signs of sunburn after a long, hot summer. 

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Pay It Forward

I'm joining my friend, Lana, of It Seams To Be Sew, in a new way to share the joy of crafting.  Here's what is involved:

The idea is that 3 of you join my Pay It Forward and then I will send a hand made gift (made with love!!!) to each one of my THREE within the next 365 days!  ( I am one of Lana's 3)

Then, those 3 people must also host a PIF on their blogs and ask for 3 people to join their PIF - To Pay It Forward!

You may send anything homemade (and you get to choose what you want to make)- a small quilt, wall hanging, tablerunner, bookmark, pillow case, mug rug, cross stitch item, embroidery item - well, you get the idea. 

So, this is me, asking for 3 people to join my PIF - just leave a comment to this post stating that you want to be one of my 3.

That's it....No Catches!  Now, I only need THREE.....will you be one of my three?

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Yesterday I also joined in the Quilting Gallery's Candle Mat Swap.  The pattern is Candlelight, by Sandi Anderson, and they provide a free download for this.  It's super cute and easy to make.  One charm pack will make two candle mats, plus you'll need a fat quarter for the backing (two FQs if you are making two) and a scrap (or two) of batting.  Registration closes October 5 and partner info will be sent by October 8.  If you are interested, just click on the link above.
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Can you tell I didn't get much sewing done yesterday?  I did manage to get a few more blocks made for my Paganini, but for some reason, the computer kept calling my name - could that be because my sewing started out with ripping out the first three seams I sewed for the day!?!  So I have decided to share a recipe with you today since I certainly don't have any progress pictures to share.  I snatched this recipe up from my daughter, Megan, over at Kitschy Suburbia!

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Toss

Ingredients

6 oz dried fettuccine or linguine
2 cups broccoli or cauliflower florets
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons olive oil or cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon, crushed, or 1 Tablespoon snipped fresh tarragon, crushed

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli or cauliflower for the last 4 minutes of cooking;  drain well.  Return pasta mixture to pot; cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine broth, lemon juice, honey, cornstarch, and white pepper; set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet stir-fry chicken in hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes or until no longer pink.  Stir cornstarch mixture; add to skillet.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Add tarragon; cook for 1 minute more.

To serve, spoon chicken mixture over pasta mixture.

Personal Notes:

1.  I used broccoli

2.  In the future, I would begin cooking the chicken while the pasta is cooking.  The pasta cooled a little too much by the time the chicken mixture was prepared.

3.  I used multi-grain linguine

4.  When reheating leftovers, add a few more drops of lemon juice as the lemon taste seems to dissipate over time in the fridge.
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GIVEAWAYS

Here's a chance to win an AccuQuilt GO! Jump over to Jane's Fabrics and Quilts to enter (or don't - maybe I will have a better chance that way - lol!).  This giveaway ends Friday!

Don't forget to enter my Thank You Giveaway!  This will end on Monday.
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Final Thoughts

How has your week been going?  I think I have figured out my future quilting plan - once I get through the 5 projects I'm currently working on (way too many to be working on at one time - I'm usually a one thing at a time kind of gal)  I think I need to be working on at least one sampler quilt at all times.  While working on Cheryl's Sew Along, I decided it is a great way to keep boredom at bay.  I'm even looking into making a Dear Jane quilt.  I think that would be anything but boring.  Any suggestions from you, my friends?

Have a thoroughly thrilling Thursday!