12/4/13

Wednesday Whiskers


Before I go on, I just want to remind you that there are just two days left to link up to the November NewFO Linky Party and Giveaway. If you want a chance to win the quilt block needle nanny, head over here, link up, and show us your new projects. And if you're new to this blog and don't know what a NewFO is, then click right here for an explanation of the challenge.

So here's what's been going on here today. I slept better last night, and so I had a lot more energy today. This morning I broke apart my turkey carcass and boiled it down for stock. Man, did that make the house smell good!


I ended up with six quarts of stock. I'll use three when I make some turkey noodle soup for dinner tomorrow. The rest went into the freezer for another time. I have used all of my Thanksgiving leftovers, and I am feeling pretty darned spunky, let me tell you. I already told you about the salad I made on Monday. 

Then last night, I adapted a recipe I found on Annie's Eats for Portabellos with Herbed Stuffing and Sweet Potatoes. I did what she said for the portabellos, but then just used my leftover stuffing and sweet potatoes for the rest. As a binder, I used the egg like she said, but my stuffing was already pretty moist, so I only used 1/4 cup of the chicken broth. Also, I topped it with a little Parmesan cheese to hold the whole thing together. It was quite good, and it used up the last of my sweet potatoes and stuffing. We had the last of the cranberries served on the side.

Tonight, I made Cottage Pies...one of Mike's favorites...and that used the last of the five pounds of mashed potatoes I had. Yes, you read that right: five pounds. You can find the recipe for Cottage Pies right here. Tomorrow we'll have the turkey noodle soup made with the last of the turkey and the stock I made this morning. Am I a frugal earth muffin or what? As I said, I'm feeling pretty darned spunky. So spunky, in fact, that I just said it again. In 38 years of Thanksgiving cooking (minus a year here and there), I don't think I've ever managed to use everything up without throwing something away.

I had physical therapy this afternoon, but before I needed to leave, I had several hours to spend in my sewing room. I finished making the label for my Snow Birds quilt. Then I went back to work on Wind in the Whiskers. I was considering changing its name to "Whine in the Whiskers", but today's effort wasn't so bad. I think I'm kind of getting the hang of it. Definitely, I'm getting better organized with it. Before I left for physical therapy, I fused the tree to the right side of the background.


The little house has been giving me grief. The roof and dormer piece on the right side didn't want to stay fused. I'm not sure why since everything else is working just fine. Today, I realized I was going to have to do something about it or risk losing the pieces.


When pressing them for the umpteenth time didn't work any better than the previous umpteen times I'd tried it, I decided to turn to this can of 606. You are probably familiar with 505, but I found this can of 606 at some point in time many moons ago. I have yet to use it. It was one of those products that seemed like a good idea at the time. Today, it earned its place in my sewing room. I simply sprayed the back of those two pieces and then ironed them down again. Miracle or miracles, they stuck. 


Okay, 606. You can stay.

About that time, my little furry helper decided that temperatures in the 20's were just no good at all for hunting and he decided to join me in the nice warm sewing room on his comfy little bed.


"Mom, Geez! Will you stop flashing that camera in my face, puh-leeze?!?"


"I want to take a nap."


Okay, Big Boy. Have a little snooze and stop walking on things.

Coincidentally, the next bit was to make the little kittens in the basket.


I planned poorly when I chose the fabric for the interior of that basket because there isn't any contrast. That's okay. It'll get top-stitched and that will give it more definition. Anyway...there are the kittens...and I fused them to the background.


And that was the last bit that I need to fuse to the background until I get around to Block 4. There are still leaves, blossoms, and the little chickadee to be fused across the top of the piece. 


The only thing left to do is to make all the little items that will hang from the clothesline. The boxer shorts and the quilt on the left side are all three dimensional. The rest will be fused to the background once I have the clothesline attached, but that will have to wait for later. Block 4 seems to be the linchpin for the whole project. I'm going to get those pieces ready to go, and then I'm going to move onto something else. That will be on tomorrow's agenda.

So that was my day. The only other thing left to do was to hand sew the label onto my Snow Birds quilt. I sewed the sleeve on it already, and so this one is ready for the quilt show next month. Now, I'm kind of excited about it!


Tomorrow I have just a little bit of housework to do, and I want to go swimming. My knee has been bothering me since physical therapy this afternoon. It was bothering me before physical therapy too, but it seems a little worse this evening. If it isn't better tomorrow, I'm afraid I'll have to bag swimming. Aside from that, nothing else to do but sew. Our temperatures are so frigid right now that the sewing room is the best place to be.

How's the weather where you are? I think most of us here in North America are experiencing cold temperatures. You folks down under must be feeling pretty good about your weather right about now.

20 comments:

Cath said...

If by down under, you mean here in Australia (as most folk do) then let me tell you it is pretty awful where I am today. I am draped on a chair directly under a fan trying to stay cool! The sewing room is way too hot and I would probably turn the ac on and retreat there but I have to be at work in an hour so not really worth it, hence, I will listlessly stay where I am and read blogs!

Sher S. said...

we are expecting freezing temps tonight here in So. Calif. and the high today was low 50's. We are having a COLD snap right now and my poor plants hate it. Ready to put on our winter comforter, even turned off the ceiling fan in our bedroom. I'm not roasting anymore. LOL!!

Junebug613 said...

Well the weather here is pretty pleasant. Today was warm and the night is comfortable. We don't get that a whole lot. WITW is coming along nicely! I hope your knee feels better! Is there any kind of warm wrap you could put on it? I was wondering if it would help during the cold times. I don't blame Smitty one bit! My but would be planted someplace warm too! Kudos on your efficient use of the leftovers!

Marei said...

Your WITW is looking wonderful...but we knew it would. You just needed to be kind to yourself and take it easy. Temps here are finally getting cold and I LOVE it!! The colder the better I always say. Now if we could just get some wet stuff I would be in my element. It won't, of course, snow here, but I'll take rain if I can get it. Sure beats the 115 degree summer heat!

quiltzyx said...

I think it was in the 60s here at home today. Judy said it was 31 when she got to work today - brrrrr!

WITW is looking so nice! I've never seen 606 spray before. Something to keep in mind.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

My, you whining whiskers is looking great and I have never heard of 606 either - will look for that for sure. We are average weather for our NorEast at this time, with scattered rain/snow depending elevation. But, I think your cold snap will be floating our way - hope the oil delivery comes this week so I don't fret on a run-out.

Dana Gaffney said...

Wow, it looks really good. Could the cold be the problem with your knee?

Snoodles said...

Your fusing efforts are awesome...that is looking good. I think Smitty has the right idea for this weather: snuggle down and nap!

lroghair/lparks said...

I absolutely love those little kitties on your quilt. Adorable!! The whole quilt is going to be so awesome! I haven't tried this, but I've heard good ole Elmer's glue works for applique. Have you heard or tried that? There was a presentation on it at one of the quilt guilds and they used a long narrow nozzle. I'm glad the 606 worked well. I haven't heard of that product. I'll be on the lookout for it though.
As far as weather, I'm in MN. Nuff said. :(

kathyinozarks said...

your kitty quilt is looking adorable! You'll love it when completed.
we finished up all of our turkey fixings this week too-I think the leftovers are the best part sometimes.
we are getting a winter storm here and frigid cold for a week-guess we will be feeding the wood stoves to keep warm-and may just pick up my handquilting again.
enjoy the rest of your week
Kathy

WoolenSails said...

That is so beautiful, I really love it and your work is beautiful, you really are mastering fusibles.

Debbie

Lou said...

We were wearing shorts yesterday here in Texas... oh but NOT today! Another cold blast has arrived:( This one is suppose to hang around a few days. May see some white stuff:) Nothing will stick but it is pretty falling from teh sky!

Brown Family said...

WE are just hoping that the roads do not ice up or the trees and highlines. If they do they can break and we loose power and warmth and cooking ability!

You have made great progress on WITW!

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Whine in the Whiskers is really looking good from my angle! Perseverance is paying off. Your knee is probably feeling worse because of the cold I know my wrists are giving me fits and the temps are in the 20's here in No. Cal., we're expecting snow tonight or tomorrow. No sewing at all going on as we've been working on the kitchen renovation but we're almost done with that - a record in DYI for us!

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

WTW is coming along swimmingly. Following the lead of the Smitty cat seems wise. Napping would be first on my agenda were it not for a small boy destruction-testing everything he gets in his clutches. Now that he walks-that's a lot of stuff !~!

Teresa in Music City said...

Looks like you've gotten some "wind" in your sails for this project - it's coming along beautifully!!!

Zizophora said...

Thanks for the 606 tip! Many moons ago I set aside a McKenna pattern because I was having the same trouble with tiny pieces unsticking.

Lyndsey said...

I like the sound of the 606 spray, I must investigate further. Sometimes for now known reason I find the fusible web just doesn't stick and that would be so helpful.

Thinking ahead to next year are you continuing the NewFO challenge. I do hope so as it is such fun.

Kate said...

Looks like you made lots of progress. Hope your knee is feeling better.

Sarah said...

It's actually been quite cool, wet and windy in South Australia this week. It was only about 16 Celsius yesterday (about 50 in your language) which is well below the December average. Next week is looking warm though which will be great for our first week of school holidays.