From Coffee To Cabbage

All the coffee in Columbia won't make me a morning person.
~Author Unknown

I usually don't have my first mug of coffee until I have already been up for about 3 hours.  Strange, I know.  I used to start every morning - and I mean first thing - with a Diet Pepsi.  Just another way to get my caffeine fix.  Coffee?  Loved the smell but hated the taste.  But now I start my day with a Diet 7-Up.  Refreshing liquid.  I don't want to give my brain too much stimulation first thing without first puttering through the early hours. First a shower, dressed, teeth brushed and into the kitchen to give the pups their treat.  Pop.....ssssssssssss.  The perfect sound in the morning.  After a couple of hours on the computer then I'm ready for that first cup of Jo.  I have a couple of mugs throughout the day but only the first one has caffeine.  And to think that I never touched coffee until about 13 years ago.  That first caramel latte and I was hooked.  Now it's just regular powdered CoffeeMate and 4 packets of Splenda.  Thanks, Brandy!  LOL!!  But I'm still not a morning person!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Coffee

Grind those beans to make your coffee.  Kona?  Brazilian?  Roasted?  Flavored?  Smell the aroma.  Drink that warm, dark liquid.  Now what to do with those nasty old coffee grounds?  Here are some ideas to put those grounds to good use.....1. Soften and add shine to hair. When washing your hair, rub coffee grounds through wet hair and rinse. For brown hair, coffee grounds add highlights......2. Fertilize plants. Old coffee grounds are nutrient-rich for plants that thrive in an acidic soil.....3. Use coffee grounds to repel ants.....4. Keep cats from using your garden as a kitty box by spreading used coffee grounds and orange peels throughout flower beds.....5. Remove furniture scratches with wet coffee grounds.....6. Grow mushrooms on old coffee grounds.....7. If you combine coffee ground extract with hot water, you can create brown dye for fabrics, art works and other applications. You can also mix the extract with henna to produce brown-colored henna tattoos.....Now isn't that better than just throwing them into the trash each day?

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BLOCK #8

Yesterday I made the most recent of the Layer Cake Quilt Along blocks.

This is block #8 in the series.  The block is called This and That and was designed by Mary Anne Ciccotelli.  There were a couple of layout options for this block.  This layout was the best for showcasing the Sweet and Sour line of fabric that I'm using from Connecting Threads.  Funny how the picture makes one of the blocks (purple right center) sort of odd shaped.  Must have been the way it was laying when I took the shot.

If you are interested in joining in on the quilt along, just pop on over to Moose On The Porch Quilts for all of the details.  This is a 'do at your pace' QAL and they present a new block every two weeks.  We are half way through and I look forward to the next half.

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PROGRESS

I did a little hand stitching on the wool table runner but nothing worth a picture.  I also quilted one of the candle mats that I stitched last week and hope to show you the completed mat tomorrow.

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RECIPE

Okay.  Since I have nothing else new to show you I think it's time for a recipe.  This is a great side dish that is easy to prepare.  It's a cabbage dish.  Now don't wrinkle up your nose and turn away.  I am not a cabbage fan but could eat this once a week - its that tasty.

FRIED CABBAGE II

Ingredients

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup real bacon bits

1/4 cup diced onion

6 cups cabbage, cut into thin strips

2 tablespoons water

1 pinch white sugar

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

**Sorry - the computer ate the picture of the ingredients as it was downloading off of the camera

Directions

1. Cook onion in olive oil until tender. Add cabbage, and stir in water, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook until cabbage wilts, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in bacon. Splash with vinegar before serving.

Personal Notes

1. I used Napa cabbage - I like the flavor and the texture of this variety

2. The original recipe called for frying up 3 strips of bacon but I like the ease of the bacon bits

3. The original recipe called for cutting the cabbage into 6 wedges instead of thin strips

4. I used a good strong wine vinegar instead of cider vinegar

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TODAY'S GOAL

I plan to start the first applique block for the Garden Party BOM being hosted by Sheryl of Quilting Tizzy.  Wish me luck!

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GIVEAWAYS

Amy's Creative Side is having a Sponsors Giveaway.  You could be the lucky winner of patterns, a kit, fabrics, and a makeup bag!  Amy will select a winner on Monday, February 14th.

Quilt n Queen is having a giveaway to celebrate being a guest blogger on Stash Manicure.  You could win your choice of a beautiful red and white table runner that Pauline made, or two charm packs of Lily and Will II, or your choice of two charm packs from Crazy Quilt Girl Fabric Shop.  Pauline will draw a winner on Monday, February 14th

1 Choice 4 Quilting is having another giveaway, as promised, to help celebrate the opening of her new store.  Shawna is giving away a Radiant Butterfly Quilt Kit in Ivy Featuring Chop Chop by Cottage Quilt Designs.  She will be drawing a winner on Wednesday, February 16th.

Lilac Lane is having a Love Is In The Air giveaway.  Melissa is giving away some wonderful fabrics from her stash, a darling key fob, and a $20 gift certificate to Above All Fabric.  This giveaway will end Sunday, February 13th.

Heartspun Quilts is having a giveaway.  Pam is giving away a luscious crochet afghan made by her Grandma.  The last day to enter is Saturday before midnight.  Pam will draw a name on Sunday.

I think it just might be time to have another giveaway.  Check back tomorrow for all of the details!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Stupid gnats.  Now that the weather is warming those tiny, pesky, fly up your nose gnats are back.  I just tried to squish one on the desk and was I successful?  NO!  Away it flew to become a distraction in front of the computer screen.  Can't smash it there because then I would have to clean it.  Wait!  Here it is again.  SWAT!  Darn! Missed again.  Now where did it go.  Probably off looking for its mate so it can make thousands of minute baby gnats.  I just read that the average life span of a gnat is four months.  How can that be when a normal house fly only lives 20 to 30 days?  Time to bleach the drain and check the house plants.  Those pesky little winged creatures do not belong in my home!

God in His wisdom made the fly

And then forgot to tell us why.
~Ogden Nash, "The Fly"

May your Thursday be full of good thoughts!