2013 REFLECTIONS

We are on the eve of entering a new year.

I am like many that make resolutions for the new year.

But as I sit and ponder on what 2013 has been for me,

I realize that I have been blessed beyond measure.

 

This year my youngest son graduated with his

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.  He is

an intern for Campus Crusade for Christ at Ball State University.

 

My daughter-in-law received her Master's in Student Affairs.

Her husband, my oldest son, received his Master's in Computers.

They will be living in North Carolina as he will be working there.

This change makes me happy and sad at the same time.

 

My husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage!

Wow, I can't believe we've been married that long.

We did celebrate by going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

 

I did not put out a vegetable garden out this year.

That makes me sad because I miss my fresh veggies.

I did make several changes in my other flower gardens.

 

I'm so grateful that I can still teach Spanish to homeschool students.

Each year is different and fun.  They have made me laugh.

 

Quilting still takes a lot of my time and I love it.

I just wish I had more time to do all the projects

that are in my head and not have to deal with the

responsibilities I have, like cooking and cleaning.

 

What do I want to accomplish in the 2014?

My list is endless.

My first and foremost goal is to have

a better relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that I can do better this coming year than

what I have been this year.

 

I want to be a better wife for my husband.

I want to be a better mother for my sons.

I want to be a better mother-in-law for my daughter-in-law.

I want to be a better friend.

 

So as I say goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014,

I look for opportunities to be a better person

and be open to the possibilities that will come my way.

 



CHRISTMAS MINI QUILT DAY THREE

This is the block that will be made today.

You will use three fabrics.

Take a 4-inch square and cut once on the diagonal.

 

 With your other two fabric choices, cut them to three inch squares.

Cut them once on the diagonal.

I make my squares a little larger to give me 

enough room to square them off.

 

Sew your pieces as pictured below.

 

Square the block to 3 1/2 inches.

INFINITY SCARF

One of the things that I love to do is knit and crochet.

If any of you would come to my craft room,

you will see I have a eight drawer dresser.

In six of the drawers I have it filled with yarn.

Most of the yarn has been given to me

and the rest I have bought.

I had forgotten that I had two skeins of alpaca yarn in my drawer.

With the latest craze of infinity scarves, I decided to make one.

I chose the alpaca yarn.  I'm so glad I did because it's nice and soft.

It's a really fast and easy scarf you'll finish in no time.

The stockinette stitch keeps the fabric thin which is the best 

to roll it several times around your neck without being uncomfortable.

DIRECTIONS:

Using your favorite cast-on, cast-on 30 stitches.  Work the pattern as follows:

Row 1:  Slip one stitch purlwise, kfb, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, knit 1

Row 2:  Slip one stitch purlwise, purl to last stitches.

When you have about 30" yarn left on your last skein, or when your scarf is the length you want for the scarf, take your tapestry needle and sew the ends together with the kitchener stitch for an invisible join.  That scarf is long enough to be rolled 2, 3 or 4 times around your neck.

Stitch Guide:

kbf= knit into front and back of stitch (increase 1 stitch)

k2tog= knit two stitches together (decrease 1 stitch)

Needles= US 6 

Tips= Regularly count the number of stitches onto your needle because it's really easy to forget an increase or decrease.

CHRISTMAS MINI QUILT DAY TWO

Here is the next block we'll be making for this mini quilt.

Cut two pieces of fabric that measures 4 inches.

On the wrong side of either one of the squares, draw a line in the center.

Draw another line either to the right or left of the center line.

The second line should be 1/4" from the center line.

Sew on the second line that was drawn.

Cut the square on the center line.

Iron toward the dark side.

Square off the block to 3 1/2".

CHRISTMAS MINI QUILT

For the next several weeks, I'll be posting

on a project that is easy to do.

There is a catch to it.

This quilt is based on a Christmas carol.

The person that figures out what the carol is,

I will give them a packet of fat quarters.

There will be twelve Christmas fat quarters in the packet.

So here's the first block:

Cut one block at 3 1/2"

MUG COASTER COZY

I've been battling a cold that has been hanging on for a while.

Needless to say, I don't have much energy to do anything.

So I rest on my sofa, I crocheted this cozy.

The coaster portion is worked in continuous rounds; 

do not sl st to join.  At row 7, you begin working

back and forth in rows.  The coaster cozy will

fit your standard 10-11 oz. mug.

SUPPLIES:

• worsted weight yarn, approximately 40 yards
• US H hook
• yarn needle
• button
• thread and needle for attaching button

INSTRUCTIONS:

Round 1: 6 Sc in a magic circle. (6)
Round 2: 2 Sc in each st around. (12)
Round 3: ✽ Sc in next st, 2 sc in next st ✽ repeat around. (18)
Round 4: ✽ Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st ✽ repeat around. (24)
Round 5: ✽ Sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st ✽ repeat around. (30)
Round 6: ✽ Sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st ✽ repeat around. (36)
Row 7: Sl st in next st, ch 1, sc in same st, ✽ sk next st, 2 sc in next st ✽ 16 times; ch 1, turn. (33)
Row 8-16: Sc in first st, ✽ sk next st, 2 sc in next st ✽ repeat across; ch 1, turn. (33)
Row 17: (Sc, ch 1, sc) in first st, sc across to last st in the row, (sc, ch 1, sc) in last st; sc evenly down the edge, across the 3 base sts and up the other edge. Sl st to join in the first sc, ch 14, sl st in same st; fasten off and weave in loose end.

Finishing
Sew your button on the corner opposite the ch-14 loop you made in row 17. Fit a mug
into your cozy, slip the loop over the button, and pour yourself a nice hot cup of coffee or
tea. Enjoy!

To make the magic circle, click video for a youtube tutorial:  VIDEO

CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

In my house, chocolate rules!

But at this time of the year, pecan joins in.

My husband loves it when I make pecan pie.

He has told lots of people that mine is the best he has had.

That makes me so very happy.

So this year I decided to combine both his favorite ingredients.

Here's the recipe:

1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust
1/3 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.) In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in sugar, and set aside to cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs well. Stir in salt, corn syrup and melted butter mixture. Add coffee powder mixed with 1 teaspoon water, if desired. Stir in the chopped pecans. (I didn't chop my pecans, I left them whole because that's how my husband likes it)
3. Spread chocolate chips evenly over the bottom of the pie crust. Pour pecan mixture over the crust.
4. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes, or until set. Cover and let stand at room temperature about 8 hours before serving. Pie will be soft. 

HOLIDAY MUG RUG TUTORIAL

It has been several months since I posted anything on my blog.

With Christmas right around the corner,

 I wanted to share a couple of gift ideas.

Since I had hand surgery a week ago,

I was limited to what I could do.

I had heard so much about mug rugs that I decided to do one.

I found the instructions for this one online and 

I'm going to share with you how this was made.

It took me less than an hour to make one.

So if you want to make one, it is quick and easy.

Assorted fabric scraps for mug rug and 9″ x 12″ piece of batting and backing
You’ll need to cut the following pieces:

• (1) 5 ” square (snowball center)
• (4) 2″ squares (snowball corners)
• (1) 2″ x 5″ rectangle (bottom of snowball unit)
• Tree pieces:  (1) 2″ x 3 1/2″ rectangle, (1) 2″ x 4″ rectangle and (1) 2″ x 5″ rectangle
• (1) 1 1/2″ x 2″ rectangle (tree trunk)
• Tree background pieces: (2) 2″ squares, (2) 2″ x 2 1/4″ rectangles, (2) 2″ x 2 3/4″ rectangles (2) 2″ x 2 1/2″ rectangles

Step 1:  Make the snowball:  Draw a diagonal line on the (4) 2″ snowball squares and pin to each corner of the 5″ square.  Stitch just to the right of the drawn line.  Press towards the outer corners and trim.

 

Step 2:  Make the tree.  Draw a diagonal line on the remaining background squares/rectangles.  For the rectangles, place the background rectangle on top of the green rectangle so that the top edges line up and you can see where the bottom edges intersect.  Draw the line from top corner to bottom intersection as shown.  Do this for both sides of the tree.  Trim making sure all the segments of the tree measure 2"x5" and the snowball block measures 5"x5".

 

  

Step 3:  Assemble the mug rug unit.  Arrange the tree rectangles in order. Stitch together the tree pieces.  Press seam of tree trunk unit up towards tree. The other tree seams can be pressed either way.

Step 4:  Stitch the two halves together, nesting the lower rectangle seams and pinning first.  Press seam to either side.

Step 5:  Layer top, batting and backing together and quilt as desired.

For the binding, I decided to wrap the backing fabric around the edges to form the binding.  I do not have the Quick Easy Mitered-Binding Tool but I used my ruler and placed it on a 45 degree angle.  You can find a tutorial for that here.

Here is the finished product.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES DAY TWO

Jorge and I decided to go to Cades Cove Loop.

It's an 11 mile trip where we saw many

log homes from the original settlers of the area.

The drive was absolutely beautiful.

We met a couple from North Carolina that were

celebrating their 30th anniversary just like us!

We had a wonderful time talking with them.

As we drove home, Jorge wanted to stop

at Zaxby's in Sevierville for a chocolate shake.

We ended up having dinner there.

Sadly, we weren't impressed with the meal.

Jorge did like his shake.

We made our way back to our cabin

going through Pigeon Forge.  

One thing I do have to say about

this place is that it is very family oriented.

There are lots of attractions geared just for families.

 John Oliver's home.  He and his wife were the first

white settlers in the area.

 Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church established June 16, 1827.

 An old Methodist church.

 Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church established 1839.

 Elijah Oliver's home.  He was the son of John Oliver.

Before we started our trek on Cades Cove,

we spoke with one of the rangers and she told us

that bears love coolers because of the taste they have.

It's sweet to them.  Go figure.

This pitcher was destroyed by a bear.

 King Kong at Pigeon Forge.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES

My husband and I planned to celebrate our

30th anniversary in September instead of August

because of the heat.  We remember how

hot it was when we got married 30 years ago.

We chose our destination to be Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

 The cabin that Jorge and I are staying in.

We were told that black bears are in the area.

The garbage cans are in bear proof cages.

 Our anniversary dinner.

Steaks, salad, rolls, and wine.

Brownies for dessert.  

We have to have chocolate.

 On Sunday, Jorge and I were on our way to church.

I'm so glad I had my camera ready because out came a bear cub.

I saw the second cub rolling down in front of our car.

Jorge had not seen him and I told him to stop.

They both rambled on but we didn't stop or come out

because we did not see momma bear and we didn't want to see her either.

Jorge and I went to church in Gatlinburg.  

We learned that this church was formed in the

early 1800's on Baskins Creek.  It was moved

to its present location in 1991.

 Not very often do you see signs like this.

 Jorge and I asked a local which restaurant we should go for dinner.

He told us that to go to Riverstone Restaurant.

Boy was he ever right!  The food was delicious.

The restaurant is located in Townsend, Tennessee.

 Look who Jorge and I bumped into but Santa Claus!

He was awesome!  He said he was on vacation

before Christmas came.  

 Jorge and I are Clingman's Dome, the highest point of the Smokies.

You can see why they're called the Smokies.

Sunset.

How do we end our evening?

We go to Starbucks and we have coffee.