Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Shall We Say "Boring"?


Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day.
 ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like if you could just put your head down for 5 minutes, catch a little cat nap, then everything would be better?  That's the kind of day I had yesterday.  I felt tired from the time I got up and it continued right on through the entire day.  My body didn't feel tired so much as did my brain and eyes.  Something tells me I didn't get a good nights sleep.  But I know if I had tried to take a quick little snooze that I would have ended up taking a loooooong nap.  And then I wouldn't sleep good at bedtime.  So I just kept chugging along.  Surprisingly I only had to rip out two seams on the table mat I was sewing.  No cutting errors occurred and I didn't have any trouble reading patterns.  So the brain was still working, it was just fuzzy.  Made me feel like I was sort of moving in slow motion all day.  I think it has something to do with the much warmer temps that decided to arrive in earnest yesterday.  Hopefully today will be better.  I can let you know be 7:30 this morning - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Candied Orange Peel

Today is National Candied Orange Peel Day!  Yes, really!!  Have you ever peeled yourself an orange, looked down at the pile of peels and thought, 'Gee, what a waste'? No? Well some people look at it that way and they've found the perfect solution for those bitter rinds. Candied orange peels are made by placing peels in heated sugar syrup. Over days or even months, the peels become preserved and then you have a whole new snack to try.  Here's a recipe you might want to try from Bon Appetit:

Simple Candied Orange Peel
makes about 2 cups
By Damon Lee Fowler 

Ingredients
•2 large oranges, 1/4 inch of top and bottom cut off
•4 cups sugar, divided
•3 cups water

Preparation
•Cut peel on each orange into 4 vertical segments. Remove each segment (including white pith) in 1 piece. Cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Cook in large pot of boiling water 15 minutes; drain, rinse, and drain again.
•Bring 3 cups sugar and 3 cups water to boil in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add peel. Return to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until peel is very soft, about 45 minutes. Drain.
•Toss peel and 1 cup sugar on rimmed baking sheet, separating strips. Lift peel from sugar; transfer to sheet of foil. Let stand until coating is dry, 1 to 2 days. DO AHEAD Wrap and freeze up to 2 months.

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7 HEXAGONS = 1 FLOWER

Today is One Flower Wednesday.  This is actually a flower I started last week.....

I'm not much for cherries or anything with cherries on it but I thought these two little cherries looked cute for a flower center.  I just realized when looking through photos to upload that I used the same petal fabric just a couple weeks ago.  Time to put the red fabric in another bin so I won't be tempted to use it for awhile. 

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BEE BLOCK

Yesterday I also made a block for one of our Let's Bee Together hostesses, Kate. 

Kate was actually the hostess for April but life got in the way and she was a little late sending out her fabric to her Bee members.  Kate requested a block made with pinwheel(s).  I really like the crisp, clean look of this block.  I'm going to remember this one for future use.  This will go out in the mail to Kate tomorrow.

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FOR INQUIRING MINDS

Remember the little blue and white block that Lynette sent me that I shared yesterday?  Well, I had several of you ask the same thing I did "What was the name of that block"......

Lynnette was kind enough to share the following information with me.....
"It is A Dandy and the link is:  http://www.quilt.com/BlockOfTheMonth/1997/ADandy.html.  The site is good because it gives several different sizes of the same block."

Thanks, Lynette, for sharing that information and for providing a link so that we can all use the pattern :)

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will finish the table mat for my mom's Mother's Day gift.  I hope to also start, or at least prepare, the May Birdie BOM.

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GIVEAWAYS

It's Sew Kiki is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a flannel layer cake from Connecting Threads.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 9, at 8:00 am.

Sew 4 Home is having a huge giveaway.  You could win 28 one-yard cuts of Silent Cinema, 2 Heather Bailey patterns, 1 Emma Day Bag pattern, 2 adorable 4¼" x 6" sewing cards by Valori Wells, 2 Free Spirit fabric swatch cards, and 3 Westminster Fibers Design jelly rolls.  This giveaway ends Friday, May 27, at midnight PT.

Boutique Uniquely is celebrating moving into her new home with a giveaway.  Victoria is giving away two 1/2 yard cuts of DS Quilt Line in polka dot.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 8, at 9:00 pm PST.

Freckled Whimsy is having a giveaway.  She is giving away a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume #3.  KarrieLyn will draw a winner on Friday, May 6, at 8:00 pm CST.

P.S. I Quilt is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a set of Cutting Edge Rulers from Dewberry Lane.  The winner will be drawn Friday, May 6.

Quilt Happy, Quilt Often is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 3.  Not sure when this one ends.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Final thoughts.  A place where I'm supposed to wrap up my posting for the day.  Where sometimes I give amusing anecdotes and leave you with something to think about.  So let's see - final (ˈfaɪn ə l) — adj 1. of or occurring at the end; concluding; ultimate; last.  Thought –noun  - the act or process of thinking; mental activity: Thought as well as action wearies us.   Can you tell I'm gasping at straws?  My word or final thought for you today?  Smile!  Let people know you are happy.  Smile!  Because it produces less wrinkles than frowning.  Smile!  It can become contagious - you just might start a something that will make at least one person happy today.  Smile!  Because you can!!

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
~Phyllis Diller


32 comments:

Donna said...

The Bee Block is so pretty! Keep smiling! I am.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I had already looked up the block and came to the same site, but how nice of her. I really like this one. Your hexie is stunning, the red setting fabric just so pretty. I'll forego the candied orange peels - too much work and too many calories. I hope to get one of my Raggedy Ann/Andy blocks together as I have the stitcheries done (The Painted Quilt) and then play in my scraps again. Sending smiles from one coast to another.

Linda said...

The sleep quote really fits me today!
I remember making candied orange peel with my mother at Christmas as a child. I also made it with my sons when they were little. Yummy!

Melissa Corry said...

I love the cherry in the flower!! So cute!!

Barb said...

Hope today is better for you....

That cat does make one want to smil!

Staci said...

Wow! Was it something about Tuesday? I had the same kind of fuzzy day after a lousy night's sleep. I pulled out my Supernova to work on, read the instructions about four times because I just couldn't make sense of them, and put it all away. I hand stitched binding instead. It was the safer choice. Sadly, I don't feel much better today. I think Supernova will rest in it's box again. I need a project today that requires less brain power!

Impera Magna said...

Spring pollen can cause one to feel heavy-headed and/or tired. Certainly does that to me...

Hope today is much better!

Staci said...

I was looking over this post again, and realized that your blue block we were all wondering about, is the block I did for BSA this month! I didn't recognize it done in two colors! LOL
Now I feel silly!

Joanna said...

Your bee block does have a fresh and crisp look to it, and I do like your cherry hexie. I'm not much for pinwheels after making a quilt of them, but a few in quilt is nice.

Miss Hillbilly said...

My husband loves oranges. I wonder if these could be made with splenda? I might try it for him.

Needled Mom said...

I hate days when I feel like that. Everything seems to be in slow motion....very unlike me!

LOVE the cherry hexie. Sooo cute.

Your pinwheel block is so pretty too. There is something about pinwheels that I find so charming.

I thought about you yesterday as our temps soared to 94*. I hope you were able to keep cool. Guess we have a cool down for the weekend - back to the upper 60s. ;(

annemieke said...

Nice flowers you made. Have a nice day.

Gr Annemieke.

Maria said...

As usual I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for the link which I have put in my favorites.
Your kitty did make me smile Thank You.

Lynda said...

Once again...love the Hexie. How many of those flowers have you got now?

PolkaDotClassic said...

I really enjoy reading your blog every morning!
it made me smile :)

Love your Red/Cherry flower :)
The candy oranges recipe sound sooo good.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday
Marta

Kathy H said...

I really like the pinwheel block. It looks so crisp with the white in it.

Leslie said...

If I wasn't smiling before, I'm smiling now just looking at that kitty.

Karyli said...

I love the cherries... and the petal fabric is perfect... why not use it again and again.
Have a wonderful day.

Catskill Quilter said...

I love the pinwheel block! I have not thought about them in years, and all of a sudden they are everywhere! I especially like the white sashing -- so clean and crisp!

Barbara said...

Love that smile photo! Your cherries are very cute. Leaving with a smile. :)

Anorina @SameliasMum said...

I love your cherry flower and that bee block is so fresh and lovely.

rosie said...

The cherry flower is beautiful, good enough to eat. Have enjoyed visiting..

JustPam said...

What an informative and interesting post!

I just wanted to mention that you might want to get your thyroid checked. That is quite often a source of fatigue.

Janet said...

My mother made candied grapefruit peel as a special treat every Christmas. I love it. I haven't had candied orange peel but I'm sure it would be equally lovely, and perhaps a bit less tart. I am thrilled to know that it has a special day.

Pat said...

I love your 'cherry' flower! You do such a nice job of fussy cuts!

Unknown said...

You always have such great info. on your blog. I love dropping by and seeing what you are up to.

I love the hexi. I think the cherry in the center is great.

Love, love, love the pinwheel. I have never seen it with a border like that, I really am in love with it.

Karen said...

Cherry pie anyone!!! What a delicious flower.

Quiet Quilter said...

Yawn...what did you say?....

I'm smiling, I'm smiling..

Unknown said...

Linda, I can totally relate to needing another 5 minutes of sleep... of course often times it turns into 2 more hours. :)

I think the candied orange peels would be good.

Great job on the Bee block!!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

sunny said...

My goodness, where do you find the time and energy to write such long, thoughful, informative posts each day? I'm so glad you do! I like your cherry hexie.

Kate said...

Thank you so much for all the great posts,,,even though you may not be feeling 100% you do a fabulous job...love your Hexie flower with the cherry...Yum...xx

Wendy said...

What a cute cherry centered flower!

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