Romance Novels

 

Can't spend ALL my time sewing and cooking, so I have been reading more than usual. I almost always gravitate to Urban Fantasy, like Anita Blake or Harry Dresden. But, lately, I have become hooked on Romance Novels. The Billionaire Romance series and the Children of the Gods series are a couple of my favorites. 

NOTICE: if you are allergic to sex or violence, do not read these books!

Why do I find them entertaining? Well, as I said at the beginning of this series of blog posts, I am looking for things that do not make me sad or mad. What better to carry one away from reality than vampires, sexy vampires, and hunky men? 

That being said, you might notice that most, Dresden being the major exception, of my reading involves women with strong personalities, some women who can kick ass, and others who are strong willed. Then they fall in love. The authors seem to know how to write a woman in love who does not give up her strength. As several of the heroines claim ... they do not need a prince, they can rescue themselves. However that doesn't mean they can't give themselves to someone physically and emotionally. 

I find the interaction between strong women and strong men fascinating. Try it and let me know if you like it.

BTW, the picture at the top is from my bedroom. The sun is filtered through the slats of a folding door and reflects off the brass bedpost. I find it beautiful and fascinating.

Not much Denim Today

 Sewed a total of 5 squares today ... 😡 If that doesn't seem like much progress, it's because it isn't. 

Does going to see my trainer and a dentist appointment count for busy time? How about losing myself in Minecraft and Path of Exile for a couple of hours ... while the Vice Presidential debate was on! Gaming seemed like a much better way to pass the time!

Although I did remember that I could chain piece this quilt. I'd already started just sewing one square to another, cutting the thread, then sewing the next piece. At least tomorrow will go faster by chain piecing.

By the way, this is supposed to be happening in Albuquerque this week:

How busy was your day?

Denim Quilt - 2

 

Here's the layout. I tried for a somewhat Ombre effect because, as I said, I didn't want to have to deal with color pooling. I'm pretty pleased.

Now I have to start piecing. That's going to be interesting because not all the squares are exactly 4". Why not? You may ask. Well ...

I began cutting this during my visit to Dallas. My daughter's house consists of:

1. Two dogs ... one of whom is a great Dane who thinks she is a lap dog

2. Two cats ... both crazy, but one would come into my bedroom every day just to sniff the air coming out of the air conditioner window unit.

3. One 10-year old who is very ready to be all grown up. Ahhh ... pre-teens

4. One 8-year old who loves everything Minecraft and Pokemon and wants to tell you about it ... constantly

5. One spouse who can fix anything ... but yells at the TV during sports events

6. And my darling daughter.

Could you cut consistent squares in that household? I'm not saying it's chaotic ... no more so than mine was with two children about that age. But I wasn't trying to cut perfect squares then, either!

What do you do to ensure your cutting is accurate?

Making a Denim Quilt

 Of course, we have devoured almost all the yeast rolls from the last post! G reminded me that I could take half the rolls, just prior to cooking, and freeze them. I probably should do that, but where's the fun?

So, moving on, here's the start of a denim quilt:

My visit a couple of weeks ago with A and family resulted in a stack of worn and outgrown jeans that M wants to be a quilt. I determined that 4" squares produced the least waste and went to cutting. The first photo shows the approx. 300 squares I will use to make a 60" by 60" quilt. The dimensions were at her request and she is a very opinionated young lady, so 60 x 60 it will be. I have no idea how she decided on those dimensions!

I spent a good part of my visit cutting and then finished the last 50 or so squares upon my return home. Last night, I took the time to sort them into, again approximate, dark, medium, and light squares. Now the task was to figure out the layout so I wouldn't get "puddles" of color.

I decided to start with the light squares in the middle and spiral out getting darker. That leaves all the dark squares on the edges and I think it will look great. Am also planning an appliqued large M in red in the middle.

Next step is the layout on the dining room table -- since I don't have a design wall ... hint, hint, G!!

Also, please note the glass of wine in each picture. I will have to tell you some time about joining Naked Wines  If you take a look at their web site and want to participate, contact me and I can give you a coupon for a discount on your first order.

What is your Covid-inspired beverage of choice?

Becoming a Maker as a 2020-itis Solution

So, we all have our opinions about 2020, the Virus, Politics, etc. But I am trying to NOT focus on things that make me sad or mad. 

How? I make things! I have been sewing, quilting, and baking. I'll share the trials of trying to find bread flour later!

Here's my attempt at re-creating my Italian grandmother's buttery dinner rolls. Neither my sister nor I have been completely successful, even after watching Nanaw Mimi in her kitchen, with her hands coated in butter, shaping the rolls and then putting on MORE BUTTER. They were divine!

Well, I found a recipe in Fannie Farmer's cookbook . The recipe had had instructions following after the standard rolls for rolling the dough as if for cinnamon rolls, but using softened butter, rather than the cinnamon sugar. Had to try it! They are as close to hers as I have ever been able to re-create. As you can see from the second picture, George and I had to sample a couple!

Bread flour? Apparently, now, there is no issue. But back in April, May, June, there was none to be found in the Albuquerque stores or online. King Arthur flour even noted they didn't have any in stock, and didn't know when they would. Apparently the lockdown caused all of America to want to bake. 
 

Here is a really great, and interesting, article from Bloomberg Businessweek back in April that really discussed how King Arthur flour handled the huge surge in demand for bread flour. 

What's your strategy for staying sane during these insane times?

Getting ready for Holidays

Spent today busy, busy, busy. Baked cookies, delivered a Christmas gift, sewed on a quilt.

Delivered cookies and a bottle of wine to our hairdresser, Danielle. There was posole, cookies, and a wonderful young man playing the piano. I don't think it was their official Christmas party, just Nettie wanting the salon in a holiday mood.

Baked more meringue drops and peanut butter cookies today ... see >>>>>

I allow myself to bake during the holidays. If I did it as often as I wanted, we would both be as big as a house! The meringue drops are always a hit. And George loves peanut butter cookies. Depending on how many of them last, I will be taking them to Dallas. Although I still have a few people to see and deliver cookies to before we leave. You can get the recipes here

While the cookies were baking, I worked on my latest quilt. See >>>>

 It's not perfect, but it is getting close to finished. I am doing the echo quilting all on my Singer, so it's taking lots of turning and rolling. But it is coming along quite nicely. Two new year's resolutions ... learn how to use the long arm machines that Kokopelli Quilting will rent time on (I think they offer classes on how to use them) and learn to use the embroidery features of my Singer. See >>>

I have also been working on my sore knee. Greg (PT guy) gave me homework to use a rolling pin on my thighs and a lacrosse ball under them. The pressure feels like a deep tissue massage and releases the muscles, thus relieving the tension on the tendons connected to the knee. He did a very painful version of this on Friday and I have some pretty spectacular bruises to show for it. But my knee doesn't hurt any more. So I guess I'll keep doing my homework!

I am pleased with how the day progressed and feel like I accomplished quite a bit.

Cookie Recipes

Peanut Butter Cookies

1/4 cup Shortening
1/4 cup Butter
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 1/4 cup Flour
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt

Mix shortening, butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, and egg
Blend in flour, soda, baking powder, and salt
Cover and chill
Shape into balls and flatten
Bake 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes

Makes approx 2 1/2 dozen

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Meringue Drops

6 Egg Whites
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
2 cups Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
12 oz. Chocolate Chips
1 cup Chopped Pecans

Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until very stiff
Gradually beat in sugar and vanilla
Fold in chocolate chips and pecans
Drop by teaspoon on parchment paper cookie sheet
bake 225 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes

Makes approx 9 dozen