May Redwork Snowman and May Snow!

Click here to view two completed Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilts.

May-Time

There is but one May in the year,

  And sometimes May is wet and cold;

There is but one May in the year,

  But before the year grows old.

Yet, though it be the chilliest May

  With least of sun, and most of showers,

Its wind and dew, its night and day,

  Bring up the flowers.

Anonymous

We had a foot of snow and a delayed start to school yesterday!  A crazy May!

What has your May weather been like so far?  Snow?  Rain?  Flooding? Tornadoes?  Windy?  Hot and dry?  Balmy and pleasant?  Inquiring minds want to know!

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Traveling by Wagon Train in These Is My Words. 

April Redwork Snowman and A Splash of April

 

A Splash of April

 

When you chance upon a

water puddle,

left behind after an

April rain,

do you carefully detour

around the obstruction

and go hurriedly

along your way?

Or do you smile with

not-so-secret glee,

loosen your tie,

kick up your heels,

and let loose

your inner child!

 

Merry Lu Pasley  April 2, 2011

 

 

April is National Poetry Month.  Do you have a favorite poet or a favorite poem?  Inquiring minds what to know!  By commenting, you'll be entering this month's give-away of Marie Bostwick's newest book APART AT THE SEAMS, coming out the end of this month.  Three lucky people will each win a copy, courtesy of Kensington Publishing!  If you are reading this via email, you must click on the title of my blog post to be able to comment and read the comments of others.  The winner will be announced on May 1.



March Redwork Snowman and Spring Daffodils

 

Our March weather has been very strange, even for Colorado!  One day it's snowing, the next day it's blue skies and sunshine.  Yesterday, I even received two warnings on my phone about a dust storm, which was definitely a first.  I never saw any dust, but we certainly had a snow storm!  Today, we're back to blue skies and sunshine.

Solution

When I went out to play

  The day had just begun.

“Put on your coat,” said the wind.

  “Take off your coat,” said the sun.
 

Now who was in the right?

  And which advice was better?

I solved the problem for myself –

  I just put on my sweater.

by Leland B. Jacobs  

No daffodils outside but two bunches on my dining room table!

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

that floats on high o’er vales and hills,

when all at once I saw a crowd,

a host of golden daffodils;

beside the lake, beneath the trees,

fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

William Wordsworth

What is your favorite spring flower?  Inquiring minds want to know! By commenting, you'll be entering to win a copy of A Time for Peace (Quilts of Lancaster County) by Barbara Cameron. If you are reading this via email, you must click on the title of my blog post to be able to comment and read the comments of others. The winner will be announced on April 1.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Tall Ships Quilt Block and an Irish Tea.

February Redwork Little Birdies and Quick and Easy Lasagna

February Redwork Little Birdies Pattern Information

"Life, like a coin, always has two sides.  If I turn the February coin over, I find that we have had time for many pleasant things while the weather was bad.  Trying out a new recipe which is one of the fancy, time-consuming ones, for example.  Or re-reading a favorite book which we already practically know by heart.  Or writing leisurely letters to friends." 

                             Gladys Taber

 

On a snow day from teaching school last week, I made Nona's Spaghetti Sauce.  I let it simmer over four hours and ended up with 9 quarts of sauce.  It was fun to have a day to fix a time-consuming recipe. 

 

 

I used one of the jars of spaghetti sauce to make lasagna.  This recipe is quick and easy, so you have plenty of time to re-read that favorite book or write leisurely letters to friends!

 

Quick and Easy Lasagna

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Soak 10 uncooked lasagna noodles in hot water in the sink.

3.  While the noodles are soaking, brown 1 pound of hamburger in a 3-quart saucepan until no pink remains.  Drain excess grease.  Add a 32-ounce jar of chunky-style spaghetti sauce and 1/2 cup water to the browned hamburger.  Stir until mixed. *

4.  In a bowl, combine two beaten eggs, 2 cups cottage cheese, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.  Stir until mixed.

5.  Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with Pam to prevent sticking.  In the dish layer:

  1-1/2 cups sauce

  5 noodles

  ½ of the cottage cheese mixture

  2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

  1-1/2 cups sauce

  5 noodles

  ½ of the cottage cheese mixture

  Remaining sauce

6.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Uncover and top with 2 cups mozzarella cheese.  Bake 15 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Make sure all the noodles are covered well with the cheese mixture and the meat mixture so they won’t be hard. 

*If your spaghetti sauce already has meat in it, you do not need to add any extra meat.

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Linoleum Quilt Block and Nona's Spaghetti Sauce.

Redwork Birdie Stitches for June - Only Eight Months Late!

This block is part of the Birdie Stitches Block of the Month by Little Miss Shabby available free online here.  When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect project for me.  Instead of using several colors of embroidery thread, I chose to use just No. 8 perle cotton in red.  I have done redwork on a single layer of fabric, and the knots show through from the back. I've tried backing the fabric with very lightweight iron-on interfacing, but the interfacing wrinkled. This time I used a double layer of the Kona cotton. I ironed the layers together and used an embroidery hoop. I didn't baste the two layers together, but it has not been a problem. I've been very pleased with the results.

I finally finished all the blocks of this quilt!  I kept up with each month except for this one.  I left the June block to last because its design was very different than the other months' designs.  I found this June Birdie Stitches block designed by Vikki Bowles and really loved it.  (Hers had a sun, and I substituted a moon and the stars.)  I had a bonus Snow Day off from school, so I traced the design and got it stitched!  

The view outside my sewing room window

Now I need to decide on how to put the blocks together and what fabric to use for the sashing and border.  These are whimsical designs, so I don't know whether I need to choose a whimsical fabric like this:

      

or a fun polka dot:

or maybe use a color other than red

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Hole in the Barn Door Quilt Block and What's on Your Nightstand?

Galaxy Star Quilt Block and a Song for Sunday

Galaxy Star Quilt Block Pattern Source

 

 Our Great God

 

Eternal God, unchanging mysterious and unknown

Your boundless love unfailing in grace and mercy shown

Bright seraphim in endless flight around your glorious throne

They raise their voices days and night in praise to You alone

 

CHORUS

Hallelujah!  Glory be to our great God!

Hallelujah!  Glory be to our great God!

 

Lord we are weak and frail, helpless in the storm

Surround us with Your angels, hold us in Your arms

Our cold and ruthless enemy, his pleasure is our harm

Rise up, O Lord, and he will flee before our sovereign God

 

Let every creature in the sea and every flying bird

Let every mountain, every field and valley of the earth

Let all the moons and all the stars in all the universe

Sing praises to the living God, who rules them by His Word

 

by Fernando Ortega

 

You might also enjoy my previous blog post Star of Hope Quilt Block.

January Redwork Snowman Quilt Block, Tea Time, Banana Bread, and a Cow Creamer

January Redwork Snowman

It's a cold January afternoon - perfect for a cup of tea and a slice of banana nut bread!  Join me!  Here's the recipe that I got from my mother:

Banana Nut Bread

1-1/3 cups sugar

2/3 cup oil

4 eggs

6 tablespoons milk, soured by adding 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar to it

2 cups mashed bananas

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups flour

1 cup chopped nuts

1.  Mix together the sugar, oil, and eggs.

2.  Stir in the soured milk and mashed bananas.

3.  Add the baking powder, soda, and salt and mix well.  Next, add the flour a cup at a time, stirring well. 

4.  Blend in chopped nuts.

5.  Pour into two well-greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pans. 

6.  Let stand while you heat the oven to 350 degrees.  Bake 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.

7.  Remove from pans and let rest on a cooling rack.

 

 

This is some of my Polish pottery.  I love the cow creamer as well as the mug's shape.  The snack tray is perfect for tea. 

 

 

My tea is from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and was a gift from a son and daughter-in-law.  This Winter Dream Tea is a rooibos and black tea with licorice root, cinnamon, and cloves.  Delicious and perfect for January!  Did you know that January is Hot Tea Month?  During this month, you're encouraged to try new and different types of tea. 









Outside, it's snowy, but inside it's cozy and perfect for tea time!

 

What's your favorite type of tea?  Mine is Earl Gray, but I'm having fun trying other types as well. 

 

I'm linking up with the following posts:

A Return to Loveliness - http://www.adelightsomelife.com/
Tea Cup Tuesday- http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/

Tea Cup Tuesday - http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ 
Tea Time Tuesday - http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Cuppa Tea -

http://www.antiquesandteacups.info/
Friends Sharing Tea~ http://blog.bernideens.com/
Share Your Cup Thursday~ http://jannolson.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home~ http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Windblown Square Quilt Block and the January Wind.

December Redwork Birdie Stitches

 

This block is part of the Birdie Stitches Block of the Month by Little Miss Shabby available free online here.  When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect project for me.  Instead of using several colors of embroidery thread, I chose to use just No. 8 perle cotton in red.  I have done redwork on a single layer of fabric, and the knots show through from the back. I've tried backing the fabric with very lightweight iron-on interfacing, but the interfacing wrinkled. This time I used a double layer of the Kona cotton. I ironed the layers together and used an embroidery hoop. I didn't baste the two layers together, but it has not been a problem. I've been very pleased with the results.

 

I have nearly finished the redwork portion of this quilt.  I still have the June block to make.  The design for June is very different than the other months (you can see it here) so I'm still up in the air about what I want to do.

 

I have really enjoyed having a little redwork project to work on each month.  This particular block of the month is not overwhelming yet gives me something to do if I'm watching a movie at home or sitting by the fireplace.

 

 

 

 December's Waltz

Winter orchestrates the dance

In chilling winds and biting air.            

Snowflakes whirl and skip and prance,

Waltzing wildly without a care.

Bowing swiftly to their mates.

They turn and glide in perfect time.

Spinning on their magic skates,

Across the frozen fields they climb.

Lilting measures rise and fall

In time with flakes of white,

While all God’s creatures watch the ball,

Bedazzled by the sight.

When gradually the music dies,

There’s not a single sound

As small white dancers from the sky

Take rest upon the ground.

by Ava M. Plover

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post For Unto Us a Child Is Born and a Song for Sunday.  You can check out my redwork and counted cross stitch projects here.

For Unto Us a Child Is Born and a Song for Sunday

 

Joy to the World

 

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

 

 

  Sing Laugh clap-your-hands

Shout-for-joy Give-Praise

Applaud exult proclaim

Take-cheer FEAR-NOT

 Be-joyous be-glad celebrate

Delight-in-what-God-has-done

REJOICE IN GREAT ABUNDANCE,

       For the manger holds a lad.

Justice seeks his guidance,

And mercy his command.

Let your heart invite his residence,

And your years his guiding hand.

                                by George R. Pasley (a wonderful pastor and poet and my cousin)

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post Christmas Stockings for New Family Members

December Redwork Snowman

 

December is the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar and the first month of winter.  It gets its name from the Latin word “decem,” meaning “ten,” as December was the tenth and final month of the oldest Roman calendar.  The Saxons called it “winter-monat” or winter month, and “heligh-monat,” or holy month from the fact that Christmas fell within it.

 

December’s Waltz

Winter orchestrates the dance

In chilling winds and biting air.

Snowflakes whirl and skip and prance,

Waltzing wildly without a care.

 

Bowing swiftly to their mates.

They turn and glide in perfect time.

Spinning on their magic skates,

Across the frozen fields they climb.

 

Lilting measures rise and fall

In time with flakes of white,

While all God’s creatures watch the ball,

Bedazzled by the sight.

 

When gradually the music dies,

There’s not a single sound

As small white dancers from the sky

Take rest upon the ground.

 

by Ava M. Plover

 

 

What is your favorite part about December?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Answer in the comment section below.  If you are reading this via e-mail, you must click on the title to comment and to read the comments of others.

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post December House Quilt Block.

 

November Redwork Birdie Stitches

 

This block is part of the Birdie Stitches Block of the Month by Little Miss Shabby available free online here.  When I saw it, I knew it was the perfect project for me.  Instead of using several colors of embroidery thread, I chose to use just No. 8 perle cotton in red.  I have done redwork on a single layer of fabric, and the knots show through from the back. I've tried backing the fabric with very lightweight iron-on interfacing, but the interfacing wrinkled. This time I used a double layer of the Kona cotton. I ironed the layers together and used an embroidery hoop. I didn't baste the two layers together, but it has not been a problem. I've been very pleased with the results so far.

 

T for time to be together,

     turkey, talk, and tangy weather.

H for harvest stored away,

     home, and hearth, and holiday.

A for autumn’s frosty art,

     and abundance in the heart.

N for neighbors, and November,

     nice things, new things to remember.

K for kitchen, kettles’ croon,

     kith and kin expected soon.

S for sizzles, sights, and

     and something special that abounds.

 

That spells THANKS - for joy in living

     and a jolly good Thanksgiving.

 

by Aileen Fisher

 

Who will you be spending Thanksgiving with?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Please answer in the comment section below. 

 

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.

Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt - Two Versions!

 

Here's my Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt. 

It hangs on a wall in my home all year long. 

 Here's another Redwork Snowmen Calendar Quilt just completed by Margaret Dunn of the UK.  You will notice that she revised her November snowman to reflect their celebration of Guy Fawkes Night.  She's going to bring it to school to hang by her Advent Calendar and then will bring it home for the Christmas holidays.  Isn't it fabulous?

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.

November Redwork Snowman

 

 “Novem” means “nine” in Latin.  November was the ninth month in the old Roman calendar, which named only ten months and which began in the spring with March.  November 11 was considered the beginning of winter. 

November Comes

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.

- Clyde Watson

 Caramel Popcorn

5-6 quarts popped corn
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine
2 cups brown sugar
½ cup white corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups raw peanuts
1 teaspoon baking soda

1.  Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

2.  Place popcorn in a large, oven-proof container.

3.  Combine margarine, brown sugar, syrup, salt, and peanuts in a 3-quart saucepan and bring to a boil.  Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add soda.  Pour over popcorn and toss gently to mix well.  Bake for 1 hour, stirring two or three times while baking.

4.  Remove from oven and pour on cookie sheets or wax paper to cool.
 

 

 You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.