...........................................................

...........................................................
Blessed by everyday blessings

these are a few of my favorite things

~smiling faces~

~hugs and kisses from grandchildren
and hearing the name Nanny from far away places~

~mostly old sometimes new~

~quilts with love stitched through and through

~Babies and butterflys and all things created~

~To know you are loved makes life sweet with grace traces ~























recipes

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The road traveled by a Creative Soul .



 2012
I see a sign of opportunity....


A free Craftsy Block of the Month class.  It is an opportunity to learn some new skills
  The-Craftsy-Block-of-the-Month/

Do I turn here .... I'd like too.
Learning new skills would be a good thing for me....
Oooooh  much excitement......

But I should really finish some old projects first.  :(

Put it on my list.  Watch a year roll by.

Time to jump in...  It is now or never. I can't wait forever.

Drop everything else I have already started and not finished.

Start a new project!

Feels like I'm going on vacation.....fun fun!

Justify it by saying I can use some fabric in my stash.

Dig through fabric piles ... Make a mess.

Make one quilt block .... fall in love


It is January 2013.

Stand back and admire my new creation.

"That makes me think of snowflake." .

Make another block..... add a snowflake.


(click on any picture to enlarge)


I have always wanted to make a blue and white quilt.

The time is now :)

A blue and white snow theme quilt is born.


Winter is in full force....
BRRRR.....

A winter quilt sure would be nice on the bed.

I don't especially like winter weather.....

But I do love quilts in winter.

And  who doesn't love snow angels....

Bunny Hill Designs "Snowbound" Block # 12   modified.


The weather man says it is below zero.

Time to Hibernate.....  and SEW.

Somewhere about month 3 or 4 of the Block of the month...

I had this great idea!   Add the word SNOW :)




I would need more blocks.

20 blocks turns into 36.

Summer .

January 2014. Back to sewing more blocks.


Dresden Plates


Ohio Star and Amish Star

Each new block gets a celebration.

I've modified patterns.

                           Bunny Hill Designs "Snowbound" Block #11

I use to pray for snow days as a child!
Mostly because I didn't have my homework done :)





I've made my own applique pattern.  

Because I wanted to remember this moment forever.



After saying
 "Being together is Snow fun"
 a few times I decided it didn't sound like 
what I wanted.  It sounded like it's NO fun.
 So I changed it to 





Being together is SNOW much Fun!

 In  2013.....
When Emerson was 5, I took her sledding for the first time.
This block was created as a memory
 of our first trip together down the snow hill
of which we went down much of the hill backwards,
Screaming and laughing the whole way!

It still makes me laugh when I think about it.

When I showed this block to Emmy for the first time
 I asked her if it reminded her of any one.
?????

After a little bit of thought,
her eyes light up...
"That's You and me!"

and then she said,

"I wish I could sew as good as you Nanny"

Melt my heart .



Do you see my face.... I'm the big one in the front!


I've turned down roads that Stretched my skills.

Should I mention stretching your skills takes a bit longer than you might think?

I can now do Paper Piecing without cringing at the thought of it.


Meet Miss Iowa, Miss Wisconsin and Miss Arizona
Places I have lived.


I have traveled the Hexagon road. 


And now you know why my snowmen blocks are also hexagons.

May 2014.... 27 blocks down. Just 5 more blocks to make.



I'm weary....  I'm loosing my enthusiasm.

Summer.

January 2015.

Time. to. finish. this.

Why is this taking so long????

Because this is a BOM detour.... I keep adding to the project.

I've had a few do overs.

I've taken a few unexpected turns.



was my first snowman block. 

I think it needs something.

For the longest time
I thought I might add the words,
"Good morning Frosty"

Sharp Left turn idea here......  
A Completely different thought enters




In reference to this verse.....

"Surely goodness and love will follow me 
all the days of my life and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever"

Psalm 23:6

I think I can make it work.


This stitchery is a sentiment of this verse, not a direct quote.

I found it as I was doing a search for winter stitcheries. 

Sorry I don't have the link.  
I was just jotting down thoughts 
as quickly as I found them.
Double sorry if this was your thought that I am using.

I debated whether or not to put on the Bible reference 
because of it not being a direct quote.
.

In the end I decided I wanted to remember where
the thoughts came from.



Life isn't always a bowl of cherries.
I wish it were.
 I do love cherries.

But
I do have plenty of reason 
to sing of God's goodness
to me!

Psalm 23   
For all of my days on this earth
the Lord has been my Shepherd.




I have only seen one real bluebird in my life.
I like that this little bird has found a place 
singing away on my quilt. 


Now it is March 2015.

I have added embroidery to blocks I made long ago.





My wonky log cabin block has gained a bit of love.


Spring is here.


Wow, 3 winters have passed.



Many of the extra blocks tell a little story about my life.

I have 3 sisters..... I decided to include a Sister's Choice block.
This was my last pieced block.



After the excitement has climaxed and waned more than once....


 Lots of visits from little people offering slight distractions....




I am finished with piecing the blocks!




I have a bit of embroidery that I want to do yet.
My snow letters still need to be appliqued.
It is on my  March list :)

But at the moment....
Happy :) is in my Heart!

If you are interested in more posts
you can find more of the story of this quilt here

Janita


















Monday, March 2, 2015

Copycat recipe for Chipotle's Rice


Nothing like Fresh Cilantro 
to Perk Up Your Day!

After a small little suggestion by one of my daughters while eating at a Chipotle restaurant,  "We should learn how to make their rice that they put in their burritos. "  In total agreement as I was savoring every bite, the challenge was on.

So I snooped around the internet to see if I could come up with any direction.  Most of what I found called for  just a few ingredients and it seemed easy enough.

Last summer I tried it,  I loved it and I have been making it ever since!   It has gotten a 2 thumbs up rating with my family and so I am sharing it with you.  Because we all need a perk me up as we patiently wait for Spring and Summer.   A little green goodness will do it for you every time!




This is my version of: 

Copycat recipe for Chipotle's Rice


 2 1/2 cups of Water
1 cup  Natural Long Grain Brown Rice
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive oil
1 teaspoon  Jane's Crazy Mixed-Up Salt
1 Tablespoon Lime juice
1/4 cup chopped Cilantro

Add water, rice, olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to medium sauce pan.  Set timer for 35 minutes. Bring rice to a boil then turn down to lowest possible setting and let simmer.  I have a special burner for simmer that works great.   At 35 minutes I check the rice to see how much water is left in the pan.  You need to watch it carefully the last few minutes of cooking so that it doesn't burn.  I have found  My rice usually needs about 5 more minutes to cook until it is tender.  If there is still water covering the rice I let my rice cook for  2 more minutes and then turn off the burner and let it sit with the lid on for the last 3 minutes to finish cooking.  

When rice is cooked to perfection,  remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon of lime juice,  remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stir gently.   Place rice in a glass dish and place in refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes to cool slightly.    Add chopped Cilantro and gently stir again.

Taste test to see if you might need another little sprinkling of salt.

Enjoy with your favorite  Taco meat, Cheese, toppings and  tortillas.  


 


AddThis

Share |
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...