Thursday, March 15, 2012

100% Whole Wheat fresh ground Bread!






Yesterday I made homemade bread using wheat berries that I ground up myself to make flour. It was delicious! Now I need to decide if I want to spend the money on a grain mill and to order the wheat berries! Expensive initial investment.

Til we meet again,
Terry

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Cabin Fever




I am going a little stir crazy. It's one thing when you just want to stay home and hiberate because you are tired and want some quiet time. It's another when you are forced to stay home. Eww wee! I can't wait to venture out into civilation. Grateful for modern technology and being about to see what the REST of the world is up to.

I am not complaining...just bored. I am grateful that the water is in the road and not in my house like many of my neighbors. Please keep Carencro in your prayers. Many homes and business sustained damage from the flood Monday and are cleaning up and trying to put their lives back in order.

So, when you can't leave your neighborhood, you baste and quilt.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Ugly as Homemade Soap









I now understand that saying. You will too when you see some of these soap bars. Your soap making inspired me, T. Well, you legitimately make soap. I do not. I just melt small bars and make bigger ones. Does that count?

Here are all the hotel soaps that we ground and turned into bigger bars. Much. Bigger. Bars. You can see that Scotty's method worked much quicker than the old-fashioned way. We had all the soaps ground to a dust in about 10 minutes. Next time we will do this outside as there was white dust everywhere. Our sinuses were going crazy! I thought for sure he would break the blender but he didn't. His method was better for sure!

The second batch is prettier, I mean less ugly. We smoothed out the second batch after we poured it into the dish. We didn't even bother with the first batch. I think we were so excited it was actually working.

I am sure we broke all the rules of soap melting, but it worked. And that's what counts. It's ugly soap, but it will do its job. I was gonna trash all those little bars anyway. What did I have to lose?

You are the real deal my friend. I can only walk in your shadow! Thanks for the inspiration!

Au revoir,
Vanessa

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Not Much Productivity Here





...and certainly not anything near what you've been up to!

I had a package from Connecting Threads on my porch when I got back home from school today. I was very happy with what I bought. The colors were just like what I could see online and I was glad I liked everything as much as I did when I ordered it. First, I will quilt the "Lavender" quilt and then work on Cameron's. It's daunting looking at yardage to be cut. I usually work with Fat Quarters so this is some big-girl cutting!

Here is a little pillow I made for the bed. It is raw edge petals cut from fabric that I used in the quilt. They are basted down at the points and secured with a French knot at the opposite end. What is it? I don't know. Just started cutting and working. I think it's kinda cute.

With all the rain this weekend I may get a quilt basted and quilted. Hopefully.

Til We Meet Again,
Vanessa

Yesterday!







15 qts of carrots for the freezer. 5 lbs in fridge for use now. 10 lbs to give away to family. So tired after doing all of this but it felt good to get it done. Now what to do with the VERY LARGE turnips still left in the garden?? Good question!!

Til we meet again,
Terry

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Easy Like Sunday Mornin'


I slept until 9:45am. Nine forty-five!! It was glorious. I feel incredible! Sleep. Such a natural thing, yet it doesn't happen naturally for me.

Having a great day. The weather is beautiful. Scotty and the boys are working outside. That means that I got to dip out and do some shopping. It was nice to go alone for a change. I got so much done without the distractions.

In the quiet of the trip home from shopping, I was thinking about that little quilt I am working on without the borders. All your talkin' 'bout piano key borders Friday gave me the envie to make them for this little quilt. Also, I will delve into my scraps!

What do you think about piano key borders? Any other ideas?

Have a Super Sunday!
Vanessa

Next on the agenda:
1) Baste, quilt and bind the "Lavender" sashed quilt. Ha!
2) Get started on Cameron's quilt.
3) Make foundation pieces for string quilt. This is for my imaginary Saturdays that I will get to go to Sew Bee It. Hopefully, soon!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Handmilled Soap



Made soap balls and cakes yesterday. I had some BIG BARS of basic goat's milk soap that I had bought from Pennsylvania years ago. The soap was really hard so April helped me grate it and we added hot water and essential oils to it then squeezed it together to make soap balls and cakes. They need to dry out for a few days then we can use them. We have Peppermint, Citrus (which was a blend of Tangerine and Orange essential oils) and Jasmine (which is our favorite).

Funny thing, the Jasmine smells like honeysuckle. I had a perfume in high school that smelled just like it. Brought back memories of drivers ed and high school days just smelling it!



Til we meet again,
Terry