Welcome to My Cabin Quilt

     I made this Welcome to My Cabin Quilt as a block of the month with my Persian Pickle Quilt Group.  We found the pattern in the book Welcome to My Cabin by Nancy Smith and Lynda Milligan.  I tweaked the pattern some to make it my own.  The original had fish and a boat in water instead of the snowflakes.  The background is quilting cotton, nearly all from my stash.  The snowflakes, leaves, flowers, and animals are of felted wool.  I machine pieced the patchwork and hand-appliqued the wool, using perle cotton. 

A Colorado Christmas

Written by my son Drew when he was in 5^th grade

        On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a chickadee in a pine tree.

        On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me two chipmunks and a chickadee in a pine tree.

        On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.


Drew took this picture behind our home.

        On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.



Drew took this picture on our front porch.

        On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.

        On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.

        On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.

        On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eight deer running, seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.

         On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me nine turkeys squawking, eight deer running, seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree. 



My husband took this photo in our backyard.

         On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ten bobcats crouching, nine turkeys squawking, eight deer running, seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.



I took this photo of a bobcat under our granite boulder - from a great distance!

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me eleven raccoons peering, ten bobcats crouching, nine turkeys squawking, eight deer running, seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me twelve foxes leaping, eleven raccoons peering, ten bobcats crouching, nine turkeys squawking, eight deer running, seven rabbits hopping, six squirrels scolding, five columbine, four hummingbirds, three black bears, two chipmunks, and a chickadee in a pine tree.



The fox we named Filbert, who loved to sit on our deck and look at us through the glass door.

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/not-just-for-christmas.html

Not Just for Christmas

22" round, counted cross stitch, hung up all year in my living room. 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/colorado-pass-quilt-block.html

Colorado Pass Quilt Block

This 12" Colorado Pass block is the 13th block of my Starwood Sampler Quilt, made to tell the story of my home and community.  It was made as a block of the month with my quilting group, the Persian Pickles.  Another member and I chose all of the blocks for the quilt.  We found this pattern free on-line at:
http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ColoradoPassBlock.html.  I alternated blocks set straight with blocks set on point.  This block is set straight.

 

A mountain pass is the location in a range of mountains that is lower than the surrounding peaks.  It's the easiest way to travel through a mountain range.  Travellers today go through passes via paved highways, improved roads, unimproved roads, and by foot trails.  Some Colorado passes have interesting names: Slumgullion Pass, Lizard Head Pass, Hard Scrabble Pass, Rabbit Ears Pass, Cinnamon Pass, the Notch, and the Keyhole!   

When I was a 4th grade teacher, my students discovered that many states had an official state cookie - but not Colorado.  When I mentioned this to my friend, chef and restaurant owner Pat McClelland, she created this cookie recipe:

Colorado Oatmeal Cookies 

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon salt

1-3/4 cups flour

3 cups oats

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 cup pine nuts

 

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Beat butter and sugars together until creamy.

3.     Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. 

4.     Mix in baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.  Add flour and stir just until blended.  Do not overmix.   

5.     Stir in oats, dried cherries, white chocolate chips, and pine nuts. 

6.     Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

This is a true Colorado cookie.  The flour, oats, and sugar represent our beautiful wheat, oat, and sugar beet fields.  The butter and eggs represent our many dairy farms.  The dried cherries are for the many fruit orchards throughout our state.  The white chocolate chips represent our beautiful, snow-capped Rocky Mountains.  The pine nuts are our native nuts, found in the southern part of Colorado.  The pumpkin pie spice honors Nick Venetucci, the farmer and rancher who gave away thousands of pumpkins every year to schoolchildren in the Pikes Peak area.  Please take a moment to view close-up photos of a wonderful statue of Nick "The Pumpkin Man."  The $100,000 statue was funded by area schoolchildren donating millions of pennies.  Pumpkin plants are grown around it each year.  http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?record=usco25&webpage=ST 

 
You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-simple-womans-daybook.html 

The Simple Woman's Daybook



Our 10-week-old Grandpuppy Royer


Outside my window . . . It is already dusk at 5:00 P.M. on this 7th day of winter.  Sunset was at 4:44 P.M. today.  I can see the outline of the trees against the darkening sky.  It is 18 degrees, and a light snow is falling on top of the snow that's already on the ground.  

I am thinking . . . of our first Christmas without children in 32 years.  But we got to celebrate with our dear friend, Doris, and a cute grandpuppy, Royer, who was celebrating his first Christmas ever.  We had good phone calls from our children, who were celebrating Christmas with their in-laws, and my parents, who we'll see later.    

I am thankful . . . for my warm home on this cold night.

In the kitchen . . . there are homemade Sweet Petals on the kitchen counter left from Christmas morning and Cheese Soup in the refrigerator.   

I am hearing . . . Christmas carols on Pandora Radio and the hum of the furnace keeping our home warm. 

I am creating . . . a high school graduation quilt for my nephew Andrew.  My mother has made a quilt for every grandchild to take to college with them.  She has sewn the 5" blocks into 9-patches, and I am sewing the 9-patches together for her.  

I am going . . . . to enjoy the rest of my Christmas vacation from teaching.

I am reading . . . The Shapeshifter by Tony Hillerman for my Raspberry Mountain Readers bookclub meeting for January.  We're all reading different Hillerman books from his Navajo Tribal Police mystery series set in the Southwest.  My bookclub is made up of twelve retired teachers and parent volunteers who I know from teaching.           

I am hoping . . . for a wonderful 90th birthday celebration for my dad, with my mom and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  I am hoping that everyone will be healthy and be able to travel here for it. 

I am looking forward to . . . having my three sons here for their grandfather's birthday.

I learned . . . how to make Chrusciki with my friend Doris on Christmas Day.  Chrusciki are a non-yeast dough, bow-tie shaped pastry that is fried and then dusted with powdered sugar.  They're also known as Angel Wings.  Neither of us had ever made them before, so it was an interesting experience!

Around the house . . . all of the Christmas decorations are still up - including stockings over the fireplace, our nativity sets, the advent wreath on the table, and a beautiful, 10-foot Fraser fir Christmas tree.  The outside white icicle lights shine through the windows as I write. 

I am pondering . . . my next long-term quilt project.

One of my favorite things . . . is spending time with my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . get my hair cut, work on my nephew's quilt, take down the Christmas decorations, and prepare for my dad's birthday party.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:
 http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-sweet-grandpuppy.html

A Sweet Grandpuppy

I have not been sewing lately.  My husband and I have been taking care of a puppy.  Specifically, a grandpuppy.  Our son and his wife visited her family over Christmas.  They were going to take the puppy with them, but at the last minute worried that he wouldn't fit into the carrier allowed in the tiny, under-the-seat-space on the airplane.  A phone call: "Would you consider taking care of Royer?" 

Now, my husband and I are not dog people.  But it is a big commitment to care for a 10-week-old puppy, and no one else was available during this busy time of year.  So, of course, when a wonderful son and wonderful daughter-in-law ask you to care for their beloved puppy, what is there to say but "Yes, we'd be happy to." 

We drove up the afternoon before their early-morning flight to watch Royer's usual routines and write down our list of instructions.  Then we brought him home.  It felt like bringing a baby home from the hospital.  You have no idea what you're doing, but you have to learn quickly - and you do. 

Royer quickly took over the house.  His food and water bowls were placed in a corner of the kitchen.  Toys and bones were scattered about the living room.  His crate sat next to the piano.  The stairs were blocked off with a large suitcase.  Glass doors to the sunroom were shut to close off access to the Christmas tree and all those wonderful ornaments.  We learned to shuffle everywhere because Royer always followed CLOSELY, and we didn't want to accidentally step on one of his cute paws. 

The toughest part, of course, was bathroom duty.  In December.  With snow and cold and wind.  At midnight.  At 7 in the morning.  Whenever we were sure he wanted to go out and whenever we were unsure that he wanted to go out but weren't willing to take the chance on being wrong.  (We were wrong a couple of times and regretted it.)

But what feels like a chore to a human is a source of delight to a puppy.  Oh, the wonderful things to be found in the snow!  Pinecones and pine needles and dead leaves!  All waiting to be dug up and sniffed at and wrestled with and explored.  I'm usually snugged up tight in my warm house after dark, so it's a new experience to be scrambling through the snow on a clear, crisp night with an excited puppy on a leash - who should be making a quick job of going to the bathroom if there weren't so many exciting distractions.   

Royer is back with his parents now.  There is no suitcase blocking the stairway.  Doors are open.  Cuckoo clock chains are hanging low to the ground.  We have plenty of time to sew and read.  But we miss the soft fur of a golden doodle puppy, and those big, expressive eyes.  And the way he always liked to lay right at our feet and have his tummy rubbed.  

My husband and I are not dog people.  But we are definitely grandpuppy people. 

Puppy Chow

4 cups (24 ounces) chocolate chips

2 cups peanut butter

1 cup (two sticks) butter

1 box (23.5 ounces) Wheat Chex

4 cups powdered sugar

1.  Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a 3-quart saucepan.

2.  Pour cereal into a large bowl.  Pour chocolate mixture over the cereal and mix well to coat.

3.  Put powdered sugar in a brown grocery bag.  Dump in cereal mix and shake well.

4.  Put in freezer to cool.

           For humans - not puppies!

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/silent-night-quilt.html

Silent Night Quilt

I made this Silent Night Quilt several years ago with my teacher quilting group, the Persian Pickles.  The pattern comes from Thimbleberries.  This throw is quick and fun to make.  I love the pattern of stars and evergreens scattered among the plain blocks.  It fits my country mountain home perfectly!

I serve these Sweet Petals on Christmas morning with scrambled eggs, link sausage, and oranges (from the stockings). 

Sweet Petals

1 package yeast

1/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup warm milk

3 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

2-1/2 to 3 cups flour

1/2 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3/4 cup chopped nuts

1.  Add warm water to yeast.  Stir and let the yeast soften.

2.  Combine warm milk, 3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt.  Stir to melt butter.  Cool to lukewarm.  Stir in yeast-water mixture.

3.  Gradually add flour to form a stiff dough.  Knead on a floured surface until smooth and satiny.

4.  Place in a greased bowl.  Cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour.

5.  Line a cookie sheet with foil and spray with Pam.  (The cookie sheet should have sides.).

6.  Melt the butter and place in a small bowl.  Combine the 3/4 cup sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts in another small bowl.

7.  Pinch off a small piece of dough.  Dip in melted butter, then in cinnamon mixture.  Place round dough ball in the center of the cookie sheet.

8.  Continue with remaining dough, going around and around the center piece with strips of dough to make a flat pull-apart sweet bread. 

9.  Cover.  Let rise in warm place about 45-60 minutes.

10.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool.

11.  Drizzle with a glaze of powdered sugar mixed with a little milk.  Decorate with red hots. 

Serve by placing in the center of the table.  Each person pulls off as many pieces as they want.   



I'm in the kitchen helping Grandma.

 You might also enjoy my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/mountain-peak-quilt-block.html

Mountain Peak Quilt Block

This Mountain Peak block is also known as Snowflake and Snow Block.  I found the pattern free on-line at: http://www.jinnybeyer.com/quilting-with-jinny/design-board/detail.cfm?blockid=82.  This block is set on point.  It is the 12th block of my Starwood Quilt, made to tell the story of my home and community.  I made this quilt as a block of the month with my quilting group, made up mostly of teachers. 

Colorado has more 14,000 foot mountain peaks (14'ers) than any other state.  There are 53 peaks that are ranked.  (My husband, the mountain climber, explains that "ranked" means the peak must rise at least 300 feet above the saddle that connects it to the nearest 14'er.)   

We are taking care of our ten-week-old grandpuppy while his parents are out of town.  It has been awhile since we've had a baby in the house.  Tablecloth corners are folded back up over the table to prevent an accident.  The stairs are blocked.  There is a squirrel (with an acorn that squeaks), an elephant, and a raccoon scattered around the house, along with dog bones and a ball.  Bowls for water and food are in the kitchen.  Both grandpa and grandpuppy are in the living room taking a nap.  Playing in the snow is tiring!

You might also enjoy reading my previous post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/redwork-snowmen-calendar-quilt.html

Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt

I made this Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt a few years ago.  I found the patterns on the internet (although I can't find them there now.)  I had originally set these blocks differently but wasn't happy with it.  So I did some ripping and arrived at this sashing and border arrangement instead.  I purchased the handmade, crocheted and heavily starched snowflakes years before.  I had originally used them as Christmas ornaments but think they now add the perfect three-dimensional touch to this quilt. 

Even though it looks like a winter quilt, I actually keep it up all the time.  In Colorado, we can get snow most any month of the year! 

  
Here's another recipe I got from my mother that makes a festive, easy gift. 

Sand Painting Brownies

1/3 cup cocoa
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1.  Layer all ingredients in a quart canning jar.
2.  Wrap the jar with a ribbon and don't forget to include the recipe!
3.  To make cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
4.  Place ingredients in a mixing bowl and add 1 teaspoon vanilla, 2/3 cup oil, and 3 eggs.  Mix well. 
5.  Pour into a greased pan and bake for 32-37 minutes for a 7" x 11" pan or 30-35 minutes for a 9" x 9" pan. 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-angel-wallhanging.html  

Christmas Angel Wallhanging

This machine appliqued Christmas Angel Wallhanging looks down on the beautiful ceramic nativity set that my mother-in-law made.  The pattern for the wallhanging came from an old book, Collections Two, by Gerry Kimmel, Linda Brannock, and Jan Patek.  The white pitcher holds a chalkboard sign that says "Joy to the World."    



My Willow Tree nativity set sits on my piano.  The watercolors, by my aunt, are of the home and barn of my maternal grandparents.

Here's an easy and delicious candy recipe from my mother:

Pecan Bark

1 cup butter, no substitutes

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

24 graham cracker squares

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2.  Line a 10" x 15" cookie sheet (with sides) with aluminum foil.  Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.

3.  Place graham crackers on the cookie sheet in one layer.  24 graham crackers should fit exactly.

4.  Sprinkle pecans evenly over the top of the graham crackers.  Set aside.

5.  Melt butter in a small saucepan.  Add brown sugar and stir until the mixture boils.  Boil for 1 minute.

6.  Pour the mixture evenly over the graham crackers and pecans.  Bake for 10 minutes.

7.  Remove from the oven, let cool, and then chill in the refrigerator.  Break the bark into pieces and serve.



My husband came upon this snow angel in the forest behind our home.

You might also enjoy my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-stockings.html

Christmas Stockings

I began making these stockings years ago.  At first, there were just two.  Then three more were added, one for each of our sons.  Recently, I've made three more as three daughters-in-law have been added to our family.  The ninth one is for a sister who spends Christmas with us every year.  The cuff as well as the heel and toe patches are made of fine-wale corduroy.  I did not think about how many stockings I would end up making when I first began these nearly forty years ago, so not all of the corduroys are the same!

The stockings are lined, with batting in between, so they are sturdy enough and large enough to hold a lot!  There's always an orange or tangerine in the toe followed by a chocolate orange.  These days, everyone usually gets socks as well as personal hygiene items like toothpaste and practical items like tape, stamps, and glue sticks.  

And what's Christmas without Christmas cookies!  Here's another recipe from my mother, who is Swedish on her father's side.

Swedish Ginger Cookies

1 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
3-1/2 cups flour
Blanched almonds

1.  Cream shortening and sugar.  Add egg and beat until light and fluffy.
2.  Add orange peel, molasses, and water and mix well.
3.  Add baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves and mix thoroughly.  Stir in flour.
4.  Chill.
5.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
6.  Roll dough into 1-inch balls.  Dip greased glass in sugar and flatten.  Top with almonds.
7.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  Makes 8 dozen. 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-aprons.html

Christmas Aprons

 

I made these six Christmas aprons to have on hand for whomever might be helping me with Christmas cooking and baking.  I found fun Christmas fabric at my local quilt store and made the pattern by tracing around an apron I already had.  I enjoyed mixing and matching the different fabrics to create six unique aprons.   

Here is another traditional Christmas cookie recipe from my mother.  Enjoy!

Christmas Sugar Balls

1 cup shortening

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 tablespoon water

2 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts

Red and green sugar

1.  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2.  Cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy.

3.  Stir in water.  Add flour and mix just until combined.  Stir in nuts.

4.  Shape in one-inch balls and roll in red or green sugar.

5.  Bake for 20 minutes or until firm to touch.  Cool before removing from cooking sheet.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:

http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/disappearing-9-patch-christmas.html



Disappearing 9-Patch Christmas Tablecloth Quilt



A friend and I each made one of these Christmas tablecloth quilts together.  To make this Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt, I cut nine different fabrics into 8" squares and made 9-patch blocks, with the dark green fabric in the center.  Then I cut each completed 9-patch block into four equal parts, by making a horizontal cut and then a vertical cut through the center of each block.  Next, I took the upper left quadrant and the lower right quadrant of each 9-patch and had them switch places.  Finally, I restitched each block to create the Disappearing 9-Patch block.

Here's how to make a tablecloth to fit your own table:  If you begin with 8" blocks, each Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt block will measure 22" square when finished.  (You lose 2" in seam allowances with 1/4" seams.)  Measure your table in both length and width and then add the amount of drop you want.  If you want a 6" drop, for example, you would add 12" to your length measurement and 12" to your width measurement.  I wanted my tablecloth to fit my table with all of its leaves, so my tablecloth is 3 blocks wide (66") by 6 blocks long (132").  Therefore, I made 18 Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt blocks.  (In the photo, my table does not have any leaves in it, so I've tucked part of the tablecloth under itself.)  
   

 

Close-up views of my Christmas tablecloth.

I backed my quilt with muslin.  Then, each Christmas, whoever is sharing Christmas dinner with us signs their name and the year on the back of the quilt in permanent black marker, creating a Christmas guest book!  The quilt tells a story of our Christmases through the years. 

Here's a recipe for some cookies that my mother always makes at Christmas.  I grew up with homemade cookies always in my home.

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2-1/4 cups flour

Sprinkles in Christmas colors or shapes

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Mix shortening, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until light and fluffy.

3.     Sift together baking soda, salt, and flour and add to shortening mixture.  Mix thoroughly.

4.     Drop on ungreased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with decorations.

5.     Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/chocolate-lover-variation-quilt-block.html  

Chocolate Lover Variation Quilt Block

This Chocolate Lover Variation block is the 11th block of my Starwood Sampler Quilt, made to tell the story of my home and community.  This quilt was made as a block of the month with my quilting group.  We get together for a potluck before sewing, and someone nearly always brings a chocolate something or other!  We don't assign dishes.  We just bring whatever we feel like making.  Last time, we had four different chocolate dishes! 

I found this pattern in Judy Martin's Ultimate Book of Quilt Block Patterns.  She designed it to be a 10" block, and we wanted a 12" block so changed the block slightly.  (Keep in mind that this block includes the sashing.)  You can compare this block to the original pattern here:  http://starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/05/chocolate-lover-quilt-block.html

Here's the recipe I brought to our last get-together:

No Bake Cookies

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups oats, uncooked

1/2 cup peanut butter

1.  In a 3-quart saucepan, mix milk, butter, sugar, cocoa, salt, and vanilla.  Bring to a rolling boil for 1-1/2 minutes.

2.  Remove from heat and add oats and peanut butter; mix well.

3.  Place wax paper on a cookie sheet.  Drop dough by spoonfuls onto wax paper; let cool.

This recipe came from my grandmother, Harriet Woodbury George.  Enjoy!

You might enjoy reading my previous blog post:
http://www.starwoodquilter.blogspot.com/2012/12/completed-farmers-daughter-sampler-quilt.html