Here We Go Again!

 I spent New Years Eve and New Year Day with my journal, my Book of Days (stitching calendar) and a WIP.

 

My journaling prompt for today is about stitching. Do you like to stitch borders? When I first started stitching years ago, I did not like to stitch borders and usually tried to leave them off but over the years, I have come to appreciate these as a big and important part of the design. I still get frustrated with them but am happy I took the time to stitch them after all is said and done.

 

 Have you ever lost a WIP? I have misplaced several before but eventually do find them except this time! I had been working on A Virtuous Woman by Carriage. House Sampling earlier in 2020 and set it down. I looked and looked for it and it was NO WHERE to be found! I had to re-order the chart, the threads and pull some fabric to start over! This will make me think twice about setting my work aside for awhile! LOL

 

I get so excited when I find a shop with an OOP chart that I had wanted but never got around to buying! This doesn't happen as often as I would like but it still makes me happy. I recently found Worthy Brown by Carriage House Sampling and had to bring her home!

 

In between the holiday rush and things going on around here, I decided that I would stitch on a WIP for the remainder of the year and until it is finished!  I have been stitching on Mary Eliza McMillan by HATS. I started on this when it first came out but I put it aside because of a bursitis flare. I thought about starting over with different colors but I like it with the called for colors. She is being stitched on 18 count Aida Beige by My Vintage NeedleArts over at Etsy in the called for DMC colors.

 

I decided to stick with stitching my samplers (and a few Christmas) this year. I have a bad habit of getting caught up in other peoples work and wanting to stitch the same thing only to end up setting it aside. No fancy wild hairs messing up my rhythm this year! I am going to stay within my comfort zone for a change!

 

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Short and Sweet but No Pictures

Once again, it has been a dull and uneventful week around the ol' homestead! But as I like to say, Dull Is Good!  We did have several days of excitement! It snowed but still no accumulation! It was nice to have at least one snow this season. Of course, it never snows unless I need to make a trip to the store then everyone else has the same idea! LOL

I put Quaker Bluebirds aside after 10 hours of stitching with the intention of pulling out  A Virtuous Woman to work on. It was her turn for 10 hours of attention. Well you know what they say about good intentions! I had an allergic reaction to some new medicine the dr. gave me and I was broken out in a nasty red and very itchy rash! I put that medicine away and got out the Benadryl but I still could not stitch because I was still itching so badly! Hopefully this will be gone soon and I can give A Virtuous Woman some me time!

I did sign up for Scattered Seeds Little Wren club. I loved her sneak peeks and Tammy designs such beautiful pieces. What really won me over tho was the fact that I have a soft spot in my heart for wrens.

How are you liking the new designs for Market? Seeing anything you can't wait to get? I have only seen a couple of smalls that may end up in my basket so I spent most of my Market money on The Little Wren club instead!

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

MoJo in the House!

Hello again! I hope everyone had a good week. I can't say that anything super exciting happened around here. We had some more snow showers but no accumulation. One thing that has been a constant is rain!! Everyone around here is so tired of muddy yards along with up and down temperatures!

Infusions are over for a while, anyway. I can't say that I will miss getting up extra early and dragging myself over to the center.

I have been working on A Virtuous Woman and Quaker Bluebirds (using red). Here is an update on Quaker Bluebirds.

Last time I mentioned rotations and have thought hard on it since then. I know myself. If I have too many in the works at once, I get overwhelmed and stop all of them. If I only work on one at a time, I get bored, want a new stitch and put it aside! Right now I am working on two. I have been working on one for 10 hours then I switch over to the other and do the same. So far it has been working fine for me. No less than 2, no more than 3.  I may have found my rotation mojo! I am hoping to have at least one finished or close to a finish by the end of the month! I have even picked out the next several pieces that will be worked on!

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.

Trying to Catch Up

I was able to get in some stitching this week but not as much as I would have liked because of doctor appointments and other errands. Virtuous Woman is coming along though no matter how slow.

My infusions are in full swing. I am at a new infusion center so it will take me a while to learn the layout of the place. I thought about a special start for this but I already have several things going so I decided to just take Virtuous Woman in and work on her during the infusion hours afterall, she is the same inspirational theme stitch that I like to work on during infusions.

I even made a start on Quaker Bluebirds. I think I will re-name it Quaker Redbirds hence the color change. I am using 18 count Aida Irish Cream by My Vintage Needlearts over at Etsy. The threads are Gentle Art Sampler in Mulberry. It's a small start but it gives you an idea of how the thread color will look on the fabric.

I also pulled out Pomegranate Santa by Plum Street Samplers over the weekend and started on it. I am using the called for threads and I am using Evergreen by Fiberlicious fabrics. Maybe I should get the nasties more often! After I feel better, I seem to get a good bit done! LOL

I fought the urge but I just could not contain myself! I ordered another BBD design with threads. Oh Joyous Day is just too drool worthy to pass up! Like Little Birds by BBD, it is out of stock at the moment but they will send it as soon as more arrive. I am fine with that!

Who doesn't love a pan of steaming hot cornbread? While it is still good and hot, I like to slice a piece, slather it with butter and drizzle some honey over it. After it cools off, I have my beloved glass of cornbread with cold milk! Something I have enjoyed since I was a child. It makes a great side or an even better snack!

Ingredients

• 2 cups self rising cornmeal mix not just plain cornmeal
• 2 eggs or 1 extra large egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil for the skillet if using cast iron
• 1 3/4 cups buttermilk or regular milk Start with 1 cup of liquid if you are using regular milk and add the rest as necessary

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• If you are using cast iron, place the 1/4 cup oil in the bottom of a 9″ skillet and place over high heat on your stovetop while you make the batter.
• Pour the cornmeal into a bowl and add the oil, egg, and buttermilk.
• Mix until combined and drop a small amount into your skillet.
• If it sizzles immediately, go ahead and pour in your batter to within 1 inch of the top. If you want a thinner cornbread, just don’t pour in as much.
• Transfer the skillet from the stove top to the hot oven.
• Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and set.

Notes

If you are not using cast iron, grease your pan with nonstick cooking spray and do not preheat the pan. Bake as directed.

Until next time may you have simple days and an uncluttered heart.