Rotary Cutters & Mats.....

A few of my favorite things from the sewing room...

I think these were designed for quilters when the strip quilting method came into play however many years ago it was, and while I did purchase my first mat & cutter to cut y2k quilt charms(that's a whole other story),  I've used these tools in so much more... from quilt cutting to clothing construction & alterations to crafting.

I love the ease of cutting multiple layers, not to mention the speed and the smooth even edges for more precise construction of the project.

I'm getting the itch to do a little quilting project, but I have some alterations to do first.  I've got a suit coat that needs sleeves shortened.  Not my most favorite thing to do....if only they could invent a tool to make that easier and faster!

Enjoy your day!

Family.....Sunday.....

So I've been searching for a photo to share with you today but I can't find it....I guess I thought I had it on this computer when saving pics from the other  one.  I thought wrong, apparently.  Glad I haven't gotten rid of that old thing yet!

I've been so sporadic in blogging lately, mainly because I can't decide what I want to blog about, that I decided to give myself some guidelines...finally...it took me how long to figure this out.  Yeah, I had topics planned for Friday and Saturday but, it was a matter of getting the time at the computer.  Generally, if I don't get/take the time early of a morning, I don't get much chance later in the day.

Okay....I found the pic!

So this one was taken a few years ago.

It's my Grandpa & Grandma Summers and my Mama....she was probably 5 or 6? I love this picture.

Grandpa was a construction worker/carpenter/truck driver and knew his way around the kitchen.  Grandma was a seamstress and there wasn't anything she couldn't make.

I don't have to wonder why I can and like to do the things I do.....

Enjoy your day!  

Favorite Places...Thursday...

A great mix of old and new as well as some handmades tucked here and there...

Hwy 24 West, Moberly, MO

660.263.8087

Monday - Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Saturday 9am - 5pm

Sunday 10am - 4pm

Getting ready for spring open house.....

March 2nd, 3rd, & 4th

Check us out on Facebook!

What's Cookin' Wednesday...

It's Double-Cheese Beef Pasta and Cheesecake with a chocolate, caramel and pecan topping.

Yep, it's tonight's supper.  The cheesecake is done and the pasta dish is ready to pop in the oven as soon as I know John is headed towards home.  Garlic cheese biscuits will be mixed up and ready to go in the oven when the pasta is done because they are best served HOT right out of the oven!

I found this pasta recipe in the Taste of Home Potluck & Parties book...submitted by Marilyn Pearson of MT.

This is my first time making it.....but hey, if it's pasta and there's cheese....it's gotta be a winner!

DOUBLE-CHEESE BEEF PASTA

2-1/2 cups UNcooked medium shell pasta

2 pounds ground beef

2 medium onions, chopped

1 jar (14 ounces) spaghetti sauce

1 can (14-1/2 ounces)stewed tomatoes, undrained & finely chopped

1 jar (4-1/2 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 cups sour cream

1 package (6 ounces) sliced provolone cheese

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile,in a large skillet, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.

Add the spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, garlic, salt & pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta; place half in a greased 3 quart baking dish.  Top with half of the beef mixture.  Layer with sour cream and provolone cheese.  Top with remaining pasta then beef mixture.   Sprinkle wiht mozzarella cheese.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

GARLIC CHEESE BISCUITS

2 cups Bisquik

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Combine to make a soft dough (if seems too stiff, you can add a little more milk)

Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minute or until slightly golden brown.

Melt 6 Tablespoons butter, add some garlic powder to taste, toss a little parsley in there for some color...Brush this over the biscuits when they come out of the oven. Enjoy!

CHEESECAKE

For the crust:

1-1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 Tablespoons sugar

4 Tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Combine crumbs sugar & butter.  Press into bottom of springform pan.  Bake 10 minutes.

While it cools prepare the cheesecake batter.....

2 packages (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup (scant) flour

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Place cream cheese in bowl and whisk til soft and creamy.  Add sugar and flour & whisk til well combined.  Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla, whisk til smooth.

Pour batter over slightly cooled crust.  Bake approximately 45-50 minutes at 325 degrees.  Remove from oven and let cool 20 minutes.  Run sharp knife around edge.  Cool to room temperature then cover with foil.  Refrigerate til chilled.  Release clamp and remove collar.  Top with whatever topping you so desire or leave plain.

***Drizzle with caramel or chocolate sauce or both.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Top with fresh fruit & cool whip.

You can see I chose to melt a little bit of chocolate and caramel to drizzle over the top & gave a generous sprinkle of chopped pecans!

Well, I need to go do some chores before it gets dark.....Enjoy your evening!

Favorite Things Tuesday.....

My Keurig single serve coffee maker!

Not only do I use it for an afternoon or evening cup of coffee.....if I'm feeing like a cup of tea or cocoa, even though they make cocoa and tea k-cups, I'll just run a cup of water through rather than put a kettle  of water on the stove and use my own teabags and cocoa.

Enjoy your day!

What I've Been Working On...

It took me longer than planned, but I've finally finished Mothie and her cat and they will be making their appearance on Etsy later today.  As I look at the photo, I think I want to make a couple slight changes/additions to them before I list them in my shoppe though.

The last time I was at a fabric store, while there were many bolts of fabric calling my name, I decided that I wasn't going to buy anymore until I made a serious dent in the stash I already have. (And with the stash that I have, I think it's going to be a long while before I'm buying anymore fabrics) ..... So, Monday, I took some time to use up several pieces by cutting out three aprons and I hope to start sewing on them today. 

There are some generous scrap pieces leftover, perfect for some small quilt projects.

I did finally get the spare room revamped, but  I'm still tweaking so no photo's yet!

I don't know how I got everything to fit in there!  A large three-door cupboard that stores my fabrics & some supplies, a queen-size bed, a baby bed, small chest of drawers, sewing machine cabinet and work table.

It is a little cramped  but I can work in there and that is "sew" much nicer than dragging it all out to the kitchen table.

Time to get busy.....

Enjoy your day!

Tuesday Ramblin' & a recipe to share...

Things have slowly gotten back to "normal"....Rylee and I are settling back into a routine of our days.

She's getting more and more vocal...as she's sitting in her swing just a talkin' to her babydoll.

She is such a joy and I am SO blessed to get this time with her!

We have been having some amazing weather here with unseasonably warm temps, however, Mr. WeatherMan just said that this could be our last nice day for a few days.....20's & 30's with a chance of flurries on Thursday?

I made a chicken pot pie for supper last night....I haven't made one in years!

I don't remember where I got the recipe and I only followed it to a degree....

Here's my version.....

Chicken Pot Pie

single pastry

4 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 tablespoon butter

1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 can sliced or diced potatoes, drained

1 can sliced carrots, drained

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 1/2 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

3/4 cup chicken broth

1 egg, lightly beaten

Place chicken in a larger casserole dish (I used my 12" pasta dish)

Add potatoes and carrots.

In small skillet, melt butter over low heat.  Add the mushrooms and onion and saute' til heated through or lightly browned.  Add this to the chicken.

In medium saucepan, whisk together cream, flour, paprika, salt and pepper over low heat; cook until thickened.  Whisk in the broth.  Pour sauce over the chicken and veggie mixture.

Preheat the oven to 400*.

Prepare the pastry by rolling to fit the top of the casserole.  Place on top of pie; trim and seal the edges.

I poked a few slits into the pastry.  Brush top with lightly beaten egg.

Bake until filling is bubbly and crust in browned, approximately 30-35 minutes.

Cool slightly.  Serve warm.

***************

Cook your own chicken or buy already roasted.  Use potatoes and carrots or whatever veggies you prefer or none at all.  The actual recipe called for mushrooms only.

Use prepared pastry crust or make it homemade.

Make the recipe your own!

*************

Well, time to move along....Rylee and I are going to start on one of my favorite Netty LaCroix dolls today....

Mothie & her cat.....and she will be appearing in my Etsy shoppe soon!

Enjoy your day!



The Ups & Downs.....

...of working at home.

Do you work at/from home? 

Would love to hear from you and how you manage your  time.

I love being able to stay at home and work from home.

Whether it's housework, alterations work or the fun work as I call it,

I NEVER lack for something to work on.

Most days are productive.

Some days aren't productive at all.

It is easy to have just one of those lazy days.

You know, the ones when if you work outside the home, you'd  call in because the motivation just isn't there?

That's one of the down sides to working at home.  The up side to that is, I don't have to "call in".

Today I am struggling.

What to do?

I have a small mountain of alterations to do.

I have the usual household things to do.

I have a "spare" room that needs to be revamped.  (Yeah, I know, I've whined about that here before)

I have closets that need to be cleaned out.

Chores outside.

So what do I do?

I sit down here with my cup of coffee. 

 Putting it all off a little while longer. 

SO many distractions.

Another down side to working at home.

When I work away from home...I do just that...work.

I'm focused on the task at hand and it gets done.

It's not put off because I've been distracted by any number of other things.

I think it was easier for me to keep up on household things when working outside the home because I knew my time at home was limited.

Now that the holiday hoop-lah is over, we are gradually getting back into a somewhat normal routine.

Two more days of Christmas break before Rylee is back.

Everyone else that lives in this house is at work for the next several hours so it's

time to get busy...I'll start with picking up the house...

what doesn't get done today will be here waiting tomorrow.

Yeah, that's another up and down to working at home.

Thanks for "listening"!

Enjoy your day!