What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

The cooler and crisper days of autumn are perfect for a bowl of hot, delicious soup. I know I have my two favorites – my own recipe Butternut Squash soup with its wonderful fall flavor and the soup I have most often, Creamy Tomato Basil. But looking over the latest cookbook from Milk Street, I found a fabulous new idea for a savory soup made in under an hour. The best news for my readers with special diets, it is gluten and dairy free.

This recipe is so easy, with few ingredients and made all in one pot. It uses a ...

This morning, I was able to sleep in. At 3 am, I took some night meds to see if I could get my ear to clear a little better. Then I went back to sleep to wake up at 9:20 am. Felt good though. 

I decided to do some bread baking. I wanted to try a couple of things that I saw on TikTok or Instagram. I liked the new way of getting a design on a bread roll. I even thought of doing a couple others, but that can wait. 

I should know better than to get Patrick ...

With Autumn in full swing, why not gather the family together for a Sunday brunch will all the warmth of a holiday without the pressure? With food that can be made ahead, inexpensive tableware and simple decorations, you can enjoy the day. On this post, I have a new recipe for you, and a reworked classic to scale up from two servings to 8. My mother and I once hosted an Autumn brunch for 15 guests with an all day affair starting with a tea breads course and working our way through more hearty dishes. We brought out courses as ...

Good morning, my friends. We'll be heading down the dusty trail again in a little while. Our next stop will be Winthrop, Washington, just up the road, and on the other side of the national park. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's talk about yesterday's activities. 

We're nearly out of ice cream, but since we still have enough vanilla, I was motivated to bake a Skillet Cherry Cobbler for Two. These are cherries from our own trees, and my adaptation of my mother's recipe to make it a skillet cobbler for two ...

Good morning, my friends. We'll be heading down the dusty trail again in a little while. Our next stop will be Winthrop, Washington, just up the road, and on the other side of the national park. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let's talk about yesterday's activities. 

We're nearly out of ice cream, but since we still have enough vanilla, I was motivated to bake a Skillet Cherry Cobbler for Two. These are cherries from our own trees, and my adaptation of my mother's recipe to make it a skillet cobbler for two ...

This morning, I was up and dinking around. I knew Phil was coming later in the day. 

I went downstairs and cut backing and batting for 2 quilts. I did cut backing for 2 but need to cut batting for those 2. I washed the backing and now they are ready for a quilter, once I get the other 2 battings cut. 

I played my war game at 1 pm with my group. It was a tight game, and I think we did lose at the last minute. I need to get my castle on that group higher.  

Phil arrived ...

This has been one of my busiest weeks of the year, with several cooking contests in the evenings. I got my first ribbon of the season with the blueberry contest. I made a Blueberry Breakfast Parfait with vanilla Greek yogurt and homemade blueberry compote. It is really easy to make. I found some individual serving cups with lids, which meant I could make each one perfect for judging with a garnish of a mint leaf.

It is always a thrill when your name is called as a winner. This time I got third place. The other winners looked really yummy ...

 Today, I really didn't want to get up, so I slept till 10 am. Then forced myself to get up. Patrick was already up and watching TV. 

I got moving as soon as I was up. I worked on getting Patrick what he needed or wanted. He said she wanted to have the tomato sauce I made the other day, and I really didn't want to use it up that fast. So, I went out to the garden and got a few more tomatoes, luckily enough to make a small batch of sauce. I put that in the ...

Good morning, my friends. The past couple of days have been busy, but I found some time for sewing yesterday. So, what have I been up to? Oh...thanks for asking! 

A lot of my time has been spent cooking. I made some Frozen Breakfast Burritos, Egg Salad for sandwiches, a lasagna for dinner on the road, and some Jumbo Breakfast Cookies. They're essentially a peanut butter cookie, but they contain raisins, oatmeal and multi-grain Cheerios. We like them as an alternative to Clif bars when we're driving.

Good morning, my friends. The past couple of days have been busy, but I found some time for sewing yesterday. So, what have I been up to? Oh...thanks for asking! 

A lot of my time has been spent cooking. I made some Frozen Breakfast Burritos, Egg Salad for sandwiches, a lasagna for dinner on the road, and some Jumbo Breakfast Cookies. They're essentially a peanut butter cookie, but they contain raisins, oatmeal and multi-grain Cheerios. We like them as an alternative to Clif bars when we're driving.

This has to be my second favorite weekend of the year behind Thanksgiving!! Autumn is on the way, football season has started and the Mountain State Fair is in full swing! I get to bring out the fall quilts, change the wall hangings and get ready for the next three months of cooler weather, wearing sweaters, and seeing the leaves change to glorious color. Settle in with a cuppa for a long and picture heavy post! I hung the Welcome Pumpkin on the wall near the front door to start the change of seasons in decorating. I like these flat ...

This morning, I wanted to be up to see Patrick early. So, I was out the door by 9:00 am. I was supposed to stop at the church but forgot. I headed to Safeway for a doughnut and got one for Patrick as well. Wonder if he will want another one tomorrow. I stopped and got some iced tea at Dutch Brothers then headed up there. 

I hate driving up there, but I've been pretty lucky so far. Some of the drivers don't want to let me in, but I get there anyway. I hate driving like ...

Good morning, my friends. It's been a couple of days of this's and thats's. I've been keeping up with my slow-stitching each day. On Tuesday, I stitched far enough to decide to move my hoop up.

For Tuesday's trip into town everything took longer than I thought it would. Happily, I was there early for my haircut and color, and ...

Good morning, my friends. It's been a couple of days of this's and thats's. I've been keeping up with my slow-stitching each day. On Tuesday, I stitched far enough to decide to move my hoop up.

For Tuesday's trip into town everything took longer than I thought it would. Happily, I was there early for my haircut and color, and ...

Good morning, my friends. We were both a little slow off the starting block yesterday morning. It was nearly lunch time before I managed to do anything productive. Usually, I’d be making pancakes on a Sunday morning, but Mike made waffles instead. We thought our weather would be better, but it rained a good part of the day. Smitty sat looking longingly outside, wishing he could find the door that leads to summer.

Good morning, my friends. We were both a little slow off the starting block yesterday morning. It was nearly lunch time before I managed to do anything productive. Usually, I’d be making pancakes on a Sunday morning, but Mike made waffles instead. We thought our weather would be better, but it rained a good part of the day. Smitty sat looking longingly outside, wishing he could find the door that leads to summer.

Labor Day weekend is our local Apple Festival, the biggest event of our year. For four days, we celebrate our county’s apple orchards. North Carolina is the 7th largest producer of apples in the US, and Henderson county provides 85% of the state’s production. Downtown is closed to traffic and set up with orchard booths and vendors. Downtown merchants dress their window displays with fun apple scenes. Dozens of varieties of apples as well as treats of every kind imaginable are for sale. The orchards open in mid-summer offering additional fun to patrons such as picking apples, hayrides ...

 The teddy cushion panels have finally received the last of their big stitch quilting.  Not at all difficult, but this project got put aside more than once while I worked on other things.  I do find hand quilting nice and relaxing, especially doing big stitch quilting.   These pretty cushion panels came from the  Sew Wots who often bring along items looking for a new home to our get-togethers.  I gladly picked them up to take home, they will be perfect for cushions for the foster kids, I decided.  

I outlined the teddies with big stitch quilting

Then it was a ...