Getting into Autumn

Ohhh listen to that thunder rumble! There is a bad storm going on outside as I type this post. The skies are dark like late evening just before darkness takes completely over, the rain is steady and hard while the thunder is making sure his presence is not overlooked! As long as I don't have to go anywhere, I enjoy a day like this once in a while.

The trees seem to be changing colors this Fall much sooner and quicker than in the past. DH did not believe me when I told him the mountain colors were near peak until I pointed out the trees already changing colors here. We had planned to take a day trip to the mountains for the show but he got bronchitis and needed to stay home and rest. Maybe next year.

I fixed Beth's Rustic Sausage Dinner the other night with a few of my own variations added. Oh wow! I do believe we have a new Autumn favorite! By the time I thought of taking a picture, it had been devoured by my group of bottomless pits so once again I used Beth's picture.

The next night I fixed seared chicken strips with a salad, corn on the cob and some delicious parmesan tomatoes! Another winner! I trimmed the chicken breasts (the number you use depends on your family) then I cut them up into thin bite size strips. I used my trusty cast iron skillet with about 3 Tablespoons of oil. While the oil is getting nice and hot, season the chicken strips generously with salt and pepper. Place chicken in hot oil in the skillet then sprinkle Worsterchire sauce on chicken as it cooks. The chicken is small and thin so it doesn't take long to cook and the seasoning along with Worsterchire really packs a flavor punch! You can saute some complimentary veggies in another skillet to add in with the chicken before serving.

The tomatoes were delicious. Preheat oven to 425° F. Place sliced tomatoes on a baking sheet. Top with shredded Parmesan, dill, salt and pepper. Drizzle with oil and bake until the tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

I can definitely see these two meals being made again! Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

When the first sweatshirt chilly day of Autumn rolls around, my taste switch over to more hot drinks instead of all the cold sodas and iced tea of the summer. With those chilly days comes coffee, flavored coffee and different flavors of tea! Have I mentioned lately how much I love my special coffees? Spiced Pumpkin, Hot Buttered Rum, Southern Pecan and so many more flavors! I don't know which I enjoy more - actually drinking these flavored delights or the wonderful comforting aromas they provide! Fleece sweatshirts, sweaters, flannel pj's, fuzzy slippers, a quilt, my stitching and flavored coffee! Ahhhhh - life is good!

  I made a big fat stupid, stupid mistake a few months ago. It all started when I decided I needed a stitching chair in our bedroom (which I haven't gotten yet but still want) and that meant moving things around. Part of what got moved were my stitching supplies. Fabrics, patterns, floss. The patterns and floss are fine where they are now but the fabrics were put in a case and stored in the closet. Not good. I need to put them in a place much more accessible and easy to get to. That mean more moving around but I think it will be worth it in the long run. In the meantime, the search continues for that perfect chair (which includes the perfect price tag) to tie it all together!

The mailman brought a nice surprise for me over the weekend. Baby, It's Cold Outside by Heartstring Samplery! Yea! It's been busy around here so I haven't pulled my fabric and threads yet but soon. I just love love love this design and can't wait to start on it.

I have read several blog posts recently by stitchers who are no longer worried about the "right" way to stitch and are free of conforming. Thank goodness there are others out there who feel this way. I have done it my own way for a while but never said too much about it because, afterall, who needs the criticism or that one lone raised eyebrow? As I noticed others were changing floss colors on designs, I admitted to doing that. Once I saw that not everyone was using the recommended fabrics, I confessed to still using Aida. Some posted photos of past WIPs show that I often use masking tape to keep my fabric edges from unraveling while I stitch. I fuss at myself for not being a faster stitcher and for not getting more done but I would rather get my measly handful done each year than none at all! I keep reminding myself of all the years I was unable to stitch until I found the right magnifier and I need to be grateful for that instead of trying to catch up on that lost stitching time! I usually leave my WIP in their hoops from start to finish. This would make some stitchers cringe but my pieces have been none worse for the wear and until I hear them complain about it, I am good.

To quote Mick Jagger (Mother's Little Helper), "what a drag it is getting old"! I hear ya, Mick! Another stitching break for several days. For almost a week, it seemed that each time I held a cup, made a fist (which you do for more things than you realize), opened a jar or held a needle my hand would cramp up and continue to do so (off and on) for several hours. Ouch! I think I have finally come to accept (not like, mind you but accept) that there will be aches and pains of old age from here on out. Instead of getting online and looking for fashion tips, I now get online and search for arthritis remedies! Instead of bragging about the great bargain I found at the shoe store, I want to shout from the roof top when I have a day without any aches. My new best buds are Ms. Heating Pad and Mr. Heat Rub. Neither one has much in the personality department but like a good friend, they know how to make me feel better when I need it! C'est la vie!

Sorry but no pictures this time. The weather has been too rainy and overcast to bother with pulling out the camera and the inside of the house has just been too messy and I don't care to show that off! lol. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Autumn in the Air

Where did Summer go? Where did September go? I feel like I missed a good bit of both while being sick and staying cooped up in the house. No sooner did I begin to feel better from pneumonia and I treated myself to a "no cooking, let's eat out" night and I got a mild dose of food poisoning. No one else got it. Just me. Guess it was my punishment for not wanting to cook! Even though it was mild, it still knocked me for a loop and I was unable to cook the next night because of it! It took awhile to build my strength back up from it all but after I finally began to feel like myself again and stepped out to run some errands something was different! The seasons had changed from Summer to Autumn and the weather along with it! Our mornings are sweater cool then it warms up to Summer temps later in the afternoons.

  It just isn't Autumn until I set out my Spiced Pumpkin candle along with a few others but this year I picked up a new candle to add to the collection. Blackberry Jam. Oh my gosh! If only my blog had a scratch and sniff option! Close your eyes and imagine walking into a kitchen where someone has been canning blackberry jam all day! It really makes you want to spread some fresh BB jam on a buttered muffin! I can't help but take a whiff of it each time I walk past. Whether it is lit or not!

Once I got some energy flowing again, I decided to do some blog reading and catching up. To my surprise I found that Blogger had finally gone and done the dirty deed by switching over to new format and no longer allowing those of us who fight change the option of which to use. I hung on as long as I could to the old format though. At least until Blogger made the decision for me. Once I get the hang of something cyber related (or basically anything), I don't like having it changed on me and re-learning how to use it! Oh well. C'est la vie!

I mentioned before that I was working on an oldie but goodie from my stash so I will let you in on what piece that is now. Backyard Birds by La D Da. I have changed a few colors in it and I have been hopping around with my stitching. A little border then some letters then some birds and plants, more border and so on. I can't help but wonder if I am meant to stitch this piece though since each time I begin working on it, I fall ill to one thing or another and just can't find the strength or desire to pick up the needle! One more try!

  These cooler mornings have me in the mood to stitch some Autumn and Winter pieces. I mentioned in a previous post that I was waiting for a certain pattern release from Beth at Heartstring Samplery. I had only seen a sneak peek of it but was intrigued by what I saw and the theme. Once again, she did not disappoint! It is a must have and will be ordered with my last gift certificate. I hope she doesn't mind my sharing her picture of this wonderful design! It will be perfect for my Christmas/Winter wall that holds designs with verses, poems or sayings of the season.

  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!