Fall...

It's Crazy Good......

It's one of those recipes that's been shared on facebook. For starters, it's pasta! Add monterey jack cheese and bacon? It's for sure to be a good one. I made this for supper last night and it is a keeper recipe. I think the only thing I might change is add a little bit of milk to the soup to make the dish a bit creamier.
I'll share the recipe here but if you'd like, you can go to my facebook page where I shared the original...

Crazy Good Casserole
4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breast
6 strips bacon
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese
1 pound dry spiral pasta
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper to taste
Cook and crumble bacon. While bacon is cooking, cut chicken into bite size pieces. Set bacon aside. In same pan as bacon was cooked,  cook chicken. Add garlic, salt & pepper. While the chicken cooks, prepare the pasta.
Spray 9"x 13" pan with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 400°.
Drain pasta and return to pot. Add chicken, soup and only 1 cup of cheese. Mix well. Pour into prepared dish. Top with crumbled bacon and remaining cup of cheese.
Bake 20 minutes just til cheese is melted and beginning to brown on top.
Enjoy!

Never forget.....

Finally.....

Finished! While working the Mercantile open house on Friday, I found this little bench and decided that it would be perfect for this particular puncheedle design. It was unfinished so I gave it a coat of black paint, sanded it up, a coat of brown shoe polish then finished it off with a little clear coat. The design is by Lori Brechlin aka Notforgotten Farm from her Harvest of Primitives booklet. I just love this design and I feel like I've done it justice! I punched this in stained weavers cloth with dmc floss. I like to hide the edges where it gets turned under so I crocheted a chain from some black linen floss and stitched it to the edge. For a little contrast I gave it a background of tan wool before tacking it to the bench. I really like how it turned out. In fact, as I set up the display for the photo, I actually thought about keeping it! But, bills to pay so it will be going to the mercantile here in a few days. Until then, if you are interested in this piece, just shoot me an email cinlynhess@yahoo.com
I hope you are having a fabulous Sunday!

After the rain....

Woke to the sounds of thunder and rain this morning....much needed rain! We don't have a rain gauge so I don't know how much we got. Regardless....we'll take it and take some more!
Have a beautiful day!

Weekend Ramblin'.....

Whew! It's already Wednesday! I hope you all had a fabulous Labor Day weekend!
I had an "off" day on Saturday....tried working on several things but just couldn't stay focused on any of them. Do you ever have days like that?  I did get some flower boxes cleaned out though! They're not perfect but they look much better than they did! I don't know why I let them go so badly then find myself out there in the middle of hayfever season.
The weekend ended up being busier than expected. It worked out that John got to come home so we had that usual busy of getting things done for him to be ready to go back out. Supper with friends and a couple family gatherings. I ate more in this weekend than I've eaten in the past month!
I snuck in some punchin' in between this and that...ran out of black floss but Wal Mart actually had some in stock when we were there on Sunday...I bought 5 of the 7 skeins they had (yeah, sad isn't it? But I didn't want to take the last of it because too many times I've needed it and the space would be empty!) and wouldn't you know I ran out....again!(Next time I may reconsider taking all of it!) BUT!.....I found a skein in the stash of an unfinished stitchery and it was enough! So with the punching done, now what? How am I gong to finish this? I've been pondering this the whole while I've been working on it and I'm still not sure! This will be my task tonight so hopefully I will have something to show you tomorrow!

Punchin' right along...

This is what I've been working on this week. I'm finally to the background. Another design by Notforgotten Farm. I hope to finish this over the weekend and also get this same design made into a pennyrug as well by open house time next week!
Hope you have had a fabulous week and keeping cool!

Just sharing.....

...what has taken up residence in one of our trees down behind the house.
I've not been down to look at them yet this morning but from yesterday morning to the evening, this is how much they've spread out.
I'm not sure what we're going to do...if we'll just leave them alone and let them move on when they are ready or if we'll find someone to come collect them. Will have to do some searching as I don't know any beekeepers anymore.
Stay tuned....as long as they are here I will be keeping watch on them.

More stash fabrics.....

...being put to use. I used up the fabrics I showed you in my previous post with two Momma aprons and two toddler aprons....I'll have to show them to you later as I haven't taken pics of them yet. I'm now using what you see here to make some quilt blocks that will be finished into simple quilted mats....the prints I received in a swap quite some time ago and the cream I bought several years ago to use in another project but I changed my mind. I'll finish piecing these into Ohio stars and friendship stars then sandwich them together with batting and backing and hand-quilt them before binding them. I hope I have enough of the cream left to back them!
It's a beautiful morning here in my little corner of the world. I'm enjoying my coffee sitting under a shade tree in my backyard, looking out over the back pasture, which is quiet this morning. Horses are grazing elsewhere. We have several little families of turkey and rabbits in the area around the pasture but I haven't seen them for a few days.
Ahh....nice breeze this morning....I hope it stays this way all day!
And I hope you have a fabulous day!

What I'm working on...

Since I couldn't decide what to move on to, I just stayed in apron mode and pulled some more fabrics from my stash supply cupboard. I really didn't think I had a very big stash in comparison to some I've seen but it sure doesn't seem to be going down very fast! If fact, I think it's multiplying! As I take one cut out two somehow takes it's place!
After I get this worked up I think I'm going to move on to some quilting projects using up some homespuns and calico's.
Lil Miss Rylee is back with me during the day and we keep so busy....last weekend we found premade sugar cookie dough with Minnie Mouse at the grocery store so we just had to get them and we finally got them baked.....yeah, they're good! I made her an apron but she has it at home so I need to get another little one made to keep here.
Well, that sun is peeking up over that tree now and shining right down in my eyes so I guess that means it's time to get busy! Lots to do today! Hope your day is fabulous!

Now What...?

Instead of doing the usual household chores today, I decided I needed some more sewing therapy....so here are a couple more aprons....ready to go to the mercantile.
So now what?
Hmm.....calico's, homespuns, wools? Pennyrugs or mini-quilts? Ooo the possibilities!
Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Latest Finishes...

It's back to school week so baby girl is back here with Momo full time! Our mornings are busy with walks, coloring, building blocks and disney jr. That leaves me the afternoon during her nap to sneak in some stitches or get some prep work done for something to work on of an evening.
I guess I've been on a punchneedle roll lately...here are a couple finishes....both from Notforgotten Farm's Harvest Gatherings book. Mr. Owl and Witchy Pumpkin....applied to the lids of paper mache boxes that I've painted and stained.
Taking a break from punchneedle, I'm moving on to those fun fabrics that I got last week. Told you I had plans for them! LOVE how this apron came out. Later today I will be planning and cutting out more....using both the new cuts of fabric and some from my supply stash. With Randolph Mercantile fall open house being just three short weeks away, holiday open house is just a short two months after that so I have to keep stitchin' along to have plenty handmades available! One of a kind handmades make awesome gifts....to friends, family and to self!
Well...on with our day...it's Sofia the First time!
Enjoy your day!

Busy week...

Sitting on my front porch having my coffee and realize it's Friday already. It seemed to have started out a slow week even though it's been a busy one. It started with picking blackberries...a friend is in the beginning stages of a "you pick" blackberry patch. Well it's off to a very good start. Liz and I took Rylee and  our three small cousins (Michael, Zalan & Zoey) who she is keeping this week, to pick blackberries. We picked just 4 gallons and I got them all cleaned and in the freezer. But of course I had to hold out a couple of cups for a lazy day cobbler!
The owl is in my punchin' hoop and I've been punchin' on it when I get a few minutes inbetween all the other things going on.
Had a women's meeting at church this week, something I've not been real committed to the past few years and gonna try to do better this year.
And yesterday....oh boy! I had to go to Columbia. And I had time. I went to Hobby Lobby. I needed just a couple things to finish up projects. I made the mistake of looking through the bolts of clearances fabrics. Then while waiting for my selections to be cut some other fabrics caught my eye that I thought would make a really cute apron. I kinda broke my rule but yet I DO have specific projects in mind for ALL of these and they're not just going into my fabric stash.
So what to do today? I have a suit coat needing sleeves shortened and as much as I want to work on other things, that must be done before anything else.
What's been going on in your world this week?

Bread...

As I hit the publish button I remembered an entry that Aunt Evelyn made in her book about Bread.

"Nothing was better on Friday after school than to walk in the house & smell bread baking. The first thing you do is grab a knife & the butter, a loaf of bread and head for the kitchen table.
Bread making meant much kneading and working of the dough. Grandma made enough to last a week.
In the early 19 hundreds a bread maker put on the market. It was metal. The cover had a cross bar with a hook. You had only to heat the amounts of water, oil & milk & heat it. Pour it in the pail. Then add honey, yeast & flour. Then turn the handle for 3 minutes, then let it rise in the pail. Turn the handle once or twice so the dough would stick to the kneader. Remove the dough. Cut into 4 pieces. Place in bread pan. Let it rise & bake.
Now there are bread makers that you use. It is not as much trouble as the first. It does everything.
My grandmother didn't have the money to buy a bread maker so she did it the regular old way. With as much bread as she made I wish she could have had a bead maker had they had them."

Bagels...

Since seeing them being made on The American Baking Competition I've been wanting to try making them myself. I don't know why I thought they would be so difficult. They really weren't.  I won't share a recipe yet as I had one recipe but also done studying of others so I done a little adjusting and adding to the one I had. They taste good and the texture is good but I need to adjust the salt and work on my shaping.
While I like how these came out, I'll continue to research recipes and try different flavors.
Hmm...what next?

Halloween punchin'...

And making some progress...I'm down to the background and hope to have the punching completed tonight. Not sure what the finish will be so stay tuned!

Weekend Ramblin'..

What a beautiful weekend!
It started Friday evening with a little birthday party for the grandson of friends and while playing with the other kiddos and toys was really fun, Rylee enjoyed the birthday cupcakes just as much! Who doesn't like birthday cake?!
Saturday evening we celebrated the long awaited (10+ years) wedding of our nephew Zane and Jamie (aka Sissy).
Sunday was a quiet day spent at home and catching up...getting things ready for John to head back out to work and I finished up this Netty LaCroix heart make-do.
The weather has been just beautiful...we've gotten a break from the HOT temperatures and since we have been without ac this year (other than the small bedroom window units) we are so thankful for this break! Makes me a little more anxious for fall!
I think I'm going to spend part of this day working on a fall punchneedle.
Enjoy your day!

A finish to share & wool gathering...

Just finished and she will be available at Randolph Mercantile soon! 
She is a design by Olde Crows Nest Inn.....and actually was designed to hold a dolly of her own but I opted not to include that and I like her just as she is.

I also want to share another snippet from Aunt Evelyns writings....

Wool gathering..."Grandma Mag talked about wool gathering when she was a child.
As the sheep went by brush or under a barbed wire fence, some of the wool gets caught and is pulled off. So they went along pulling it off and put it in a sack.
A bar of lye soap was melted in hot water. There were tubs with sun warmed water-wool was placed in the tubs and left overnight. The next morning the wool was washed. Then you took a hand full and squeezed the water out and put it in a tub of water and rinsed. After squeezing the water out it was laid out on the lawn to dry. After it was dry it was carded. A carding comb was 2 pieces if wood about 3 x 6 with nails driven through them.
It was put away until they had a quilt ready and was used as batting."

Some finishes to share...

I've been working with wools, homespun and calico's this week.....
From Notforgotten Farm's American Folk an Americana pony made with wool and hand dyed wools. Hand stitched in place with wool floss and the stem stitching being dmc floss. It has been backed with homespun.
Next up are zinc lid make-do pinkeeps using snippets of calico's from my supply stash. The two on the left are filled with mohair and the larger and smaller ones are fiber-fil. I've added rusty t-pins, pins, buttons and a threaded needle to each.
Lastly, calico bird make-do's. Again using calico snippets from my supply stash and they are stuffed with fiber-fil. Use them as they are or at your sewing table as a pinkeep. As you can see they each have a different base.....an old door knob for the gold bird...a grubbied glass candle holder for brown bird and for blue bird a small glass bottle that I filled with buttons from my Grandmas button tin.
These will all be available at Randolph Mercantile later this week!
Hope you are having a great week!

Birthday party highlights...

All dressed and ready to party, waiting for the rest of her guests to arrive...
Can you tell we just love Sofia the first?
Happy 2nd Birthday Rylee....we love you so so much!

Mr. Doodle-doo

A little finish to share.....a penny rug designed several years ago by good friend Gloria of Barn Cat Primitives. It is now available, as well as the little crow punchneedle I shared a few days ago, at the local mercantile!
Hope you all had a great weekend. We celebrated a sweet 2nd birthday and I will share photos from that in the next day or two.
Enjoy your day!

Baking...back in the day...

I love my kitchenaid mixer and all the other little kitchen gadgets I've aquired over the years but there are some things that are just better left "old school" and as I watched the last of the American Baking Competiton the other night, I see I'm not alone in this way of thinking....I know...surprise surprise, right?....and it took me back to my aunt Evelyns book of memories. This time to an entry or two she made about Grandma Mag and her cooking. Shown below is a photo of her and my Mom....

"Grandma Mag Summer was a very good cook. She cooked by dollops & "by guess and by golly". That is why you can't duplicate her cooking. I remember her bread dressing & gravy. She would cook sweet potatoes, drain & let them cool. Then she would mold the sweet potatoe around a marshmallow-then roll it in coconut-place them on a cookie sheet placing it in the oven until the coconut would brown. You had to be careful when you ate yours that you didn't burn your mouth with the hot marshmallow.
When baking a cake she didn't use a recipe. She had a small pan and she put several spoonfulls in-baked it. She would break it-feel of it-taste it. Then she could tell if the batter needed more flour or maybe more milk.
My favorite cake was a burnt sugar cake. The white sugar was burned in an iron skillet. When as dark as she wanted it, she added water making a syrup. It was used in cake & icing. The only time we could make ice cream was in the winter. We couldn't afford to buy ice in the summer. She also made burnt sugar ice cream. Our neighbor Lady  Schooler could make Christmas candy just as good as Grandma Mag. Their nut date candy roll was the best candy I ever ate. The fudge they made was cooked and beat not like quick fudge you make now. The divinity was fantastic."

"I remember Grandma Mag getting up on Sunday morning early- make pies or a cake & dress a chicken to have for dinner. She would make it to church too."

Alot of her memories brings about some of my childhood memories.
I remember my Grandma Hazel Summer talking about burnt sugar cake and my Mom talking about Grandpa's divinity and I did find a recipe and tried it for the first time last year and was quite successful! I've not tried burnt sugar anything but reading about this cake I'm really wanting to! 
I like to cook....sometimes by the book and sometimes "by guess and by golly". Sometimes I take shortcuts using new kitchen gadgets and sometimes things are better left to the "old school" way.
Hope you enjoy your day....we have a break from the heat today I think I'm going to go bake something!

A finish to share....

.....and a wee bit of progress.
Whew-whee! It's a hot one today! So what do I do? I brew me a cup of coffee, grab my cross-stitch and come sit out on the front porch. Sounds a little messed up, right? There is a nice breeze coming across and I do enjoy sitting outside.
Just want to share this little punchneedle finish...a little design by Mosey and Me but with a little bit of editing. I wanted it to fit on this little iron pad. I found this at the mercantile for just a couple bucks and knew it would be perfect for something like this. I used dmc floss and punched it into weavers cloth. I gave it a walnut stain, attached it to a piece of black wool then to this little iron trivet. It will soon be available at the mercantile.
And just a wee bit of progress on Brown Egg Farm...I started this while out with John last week. I'm stitching it for me and no rush so no telling how long it will take. It's a fairly good sized piece and I'll work on it in spurts. I've been working on alterations all day so far and decided I needed a break from it!
Hope you are having a fabulous day and getting to spend some time sitting on your front porch! Time to get stitchin'..... before I have to get back to the alterations!

From the passenger seat...

On the road.....

I'm taking a little time off and jumped in the truck with John for a few days. Of course I never go anywhere without some sort of stitching so I brought along 'Brown Egg Farm', a chart by Notforgotten Farm. I've had my linen prepped (serged and stained) and floss collected for some time.....stitching with the recommended dmc floss and 32 count linen. It's not much of a start, but it is a start. Once finished, it will find a spot on the sampler wall in my sewing room.
I also brought along a couple of other stitcheries....much simpler and easier to see when these old eyes get to tired for the smaller stuff. Once they are finished they will be available either at the local mercantile or in my Etsy shop.
Hope you had a great week and on your way to a fun weekend!

The Front Porch...

I've been trying to spend more time out on my front porch. We used to do that alot but for whatever reasons we got steered away from it.
If I get up early enough I can take my coffee and reading out to the porch and enjoy before the sun comes up over the trees.
I premember spending time at my grandparents and every evening after supper we would go outside and sit under the shade tree...visit with neighbors and another aunt and uncle that lived next door.
Aunt Evelyn wrote about the front porch in her book, as she remembered it and I'll share that with you today, as well as a few pics of what I see from my front porch...

"The communication center of home. Every house today needs a front porch. It does more for the neighborhood than anything else. There were no tv's to watch so after the dinner dishes were done we all went outside to sit on the porch. You would visit with the people on either side of you and across the street. Children would play up and down the street. Finally we would all lay down to see who would see the first star. Then they would say...
Star light star bright
First star I've seen tonight
I wish I may I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.
Then we would find the big dipper, little dipper, north star, the bear, the milky way went all the way across the sky from north to south.
When a storm came up through the day we curled up in the porch swing. With the lightning flashing and thunder booming we felt safe in the swing. Grandma said 'the angels were bowling again'. Summer nights Grandma would tell us stories until we went to sleep.
We would spread an old quilt on the porch and play games, cut out paper dolls and dream about what life would be.
The world would be much better if we would visit with the neighbors  up and down the street. We don't want to come out of our nice cool houses and leave the tv.
The front porch sitting is a dying art, gone the way of the nickel cigar and 10¢ soda.
The lazy eveings we gathered on the porch the adults discussed new things-cars, farm machinery, prices of farm products, happenings in the nearby towns.
Sit on the porch in the evening, sip tea, watch the neighbor water their yard. Sleep with the front door open and screen door held with a simple hook and listen to the radio."
That's what Aunt Evelyn thought about the front porch.
I really enjoy sitting on my front porch when I take the time to do it, on an old, rickety, broken down glider,  that has seen many a better day but I can't bear to part with it. Maybe I'll give it a makeover this summer.
Take a little time out today and sit on your front porch.
Enjoy your day!