12/1/14

Monday Mews

Looking for the November NewFO Linky Party?


Sunday we awoke to frigid temperatures and a cold east wind. It was 25°F by the thermometer, but the wind child undoubtedly brought us into the teens. It didn't make this guy very happy.


He'll go outside when its raining and come in soaking wet. Then he shakes himself off and throws water everywhere like a dog. And don't even get me started on those muddy paw prints everywhere. But cold? No way, Jose. And wind? Perish the thought.

Anyway...we were all pretty slug-like yesterday. I did a little embroidery, but no other sewing. That's kind of unusual for me, and I only bring it up to emphasize that I'm talking one sluggish slug here. Instead of sewing, I spent time on Pinterest...a social media time sink that I've resisted up until now.


So far, I've resisted because, good grief, there are only so many hours in a day, and mine are already used up in both worthwhile and worthless pursuits. Nevertheless, I'm getting much more interested in inspiration for free motion quilting, and I'll admit that Pinterest is a good place to save that kind of stuff for future reference. And all of that to say that I wasted hours perusing Pinterest yesterday. (Hanging my head in shame...sort of.)

In December, I'm going to have to do some boring utility sewing. For one thing, I'm going to have to sew a hanging sleeve onto the Blooming Sunflower quilt 


because I'm entering it in the Stitches in Bloom quilt show in January. This is an exhibition show only, although there is an award for "viewer's choice." I have absolutely no expectation of winning anything, but I've realized it's still very much fun to enter and see one's quilt hanging in a show. If I can finish up a Gardener's Journal in time, I'll enter that one too.

As long as I was thinking about hanging sleeves, I got interested in quilt labels too. Blooming Sunflower may already have a label, but I made another one anyway. I'll have to check the quilt back to see if it already has one. And I can always switch it out too.


Also, I'm participating in a UFO Challenge that my guild does annually, apparently. It works like this: If you want to participate, you write all your UFO's on a list and then turn the list into a committee (check). Then you work to finish as many UFO's as you can. Next August, we'll have a show and tell of our finished projects, and you win a chance for each one you've completed. Then three winners are drawn for cash prizes. A quilt isn't deemed finished unless it has a label. (Sigh. Don't you hate it when you're forced to do that which you should be doing anyway?) So, with that in mind, the Peppermint Star table topper was the first finished quilt from my list of (ahem) 20 UFO's. (I hear you laughing. Stop it.) And so I spent some time making a label for it yesterday too.


And, of course, both labels have yet to be sewn on. Utility sewing. Somebody's gotta do it, I guess. I suppose I could run an ad in Freecycle offering up opportunities for a "feel good" project. No money will exchange hands, but you'll get that "feel good" feeling of having performed a service that will make someone else "feel good". That oughta get some takers, don't you think? And while they're at it, they could divide my iris rhizomes for me. Good for six attaboys. (Do you think that's being overly generous?)

So after I'd wasted about an hour messing around with those, I got busy canning some Cranberry Orange Chutney. I was all set to put this out as an appetizer on Thanksgiving. It's good on turkey sandwiches, but it makes a nice appetizer when served up with cream cheese and crackers. Anyway, I went to the pantry to get some and discovered that I'd both eaten and given it all away. Shoot.


Since I have chutneys in all flavors, I saved the day by putting out the apple-pear chutney, but it was disappointing not to be able to serve up the pretty red stuff. Anyway, now I have 12 half pints. That ought to hold me for a week or two.

And, let's see...what else is going on?

Well, I've been working away at my Vintage Tin stitchery. I'm almost all of the way across now.


I'm getting close to the Tiger Oil.


"Wait...what? Did somebody mention tigers?"


My cat, always there helping when he's not needed...at all. Right now, he's helping keep the computer mouse under control while I write this blog post. If only I could get him to help me clean off my desk.


"Mom, I swear I'm going to die of boredom if you don't get off the computer."

So that's about all that's been going on at this end. Thanksgiving weekend is over, and it's time to try being a little more productive. Today I'm going to the grocery store. I have a few recipes to use up my Thanksgiving leftovers. Of course, I'm going to toss my turkey carcass into my stock pot and make some turkey stock. I do it the way Sara Moulton does it, only I just use the turkey carcass instead of the chicken wings. Then, I can use up leftover mashed potatoes in my Cottage Pies, one of Mike's absolute favorite dishes. 

Also, last year I tried this recipe for Portobellos with Herbed Stuffing and Sweet Potatoes. When I made this last year, I used leftover roasted sweet potatoes and four cups of leftover stuffing, rather than making more of either. 

Finally...and this is one of my favorites...this Warm Turkey and Spinach Salad with Crispy Bacon and Cranberry Vinaigrette. It's a good way to use up leftover turkey and cranberries. The recipe is written as if this will be served up as a side salad, but I make it for two and serve it as a one dish meal.

So, time's a wastin' and I must be on my way if I'm going to accomplish more than yesterday. What's cooking at your end?

7 comments:

quiltzyx said...

Brrr! I don't blame you at all for your Day of Slugness. It rained here yesterday. Of course, *they* said it would start on Tuesday! That's OK, we need any drops we can get. I made 2 more white & red Happy Bowls while at work.
Today I had a job interview at 9am. Since I don't travel often in that direction (south on the 57 fwy), I gave myself 1.5 hours, just in case. Good thing because I was pulled over by an LA County Sheriff before I even got to the freeway...because my license tags were expired. Sheesh, I am such a dunderhead at times. I renewed them back in APRIL before they were due & when they came I tossed the reg in the glove box & forgot about it. So when he asked for my license & registration, I handed it to him with that pretty, shiny, clean & brand-spankin'-new 2014 tag still attached! Luckily he didn't give me any kind of ticket at all, just told me to put it on before my car got towed. As soon as I got to my interview & stuck it on. What a way to start the day!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

We have had some temp extremes - from cold to warm and back to could - all within a day. Moe decided today was a good day to tag around with my brother who was trying to put up the outside lites and decoration - he wasn't a huge help. Bella was smart and stayed indoors snuggling on the couch - we both vegged today.

Quilting Babcia said...

As we finished our hot turkey sandwich supper tonight I was lamenting the end of the cranberry salsa. It always runs out before the entire turkey is gone. Then I read your blog post and realized we still had that jar of cranberry chutney you gave me for Christmas last year! It came all the way to WNY with us and will grace our table tonight when we finally finish off that turkey. Hoarding can be fun!

Diane Wild said...

I've had those sluggish days..usually on Sunday. My day of rest. After my workout, Minnie went to get her kennel cough vaccine, I donated some Christmas items and tree to the local thrift store, updated the security software on the computer (which seemed like it took forever), ate lunch and will now do a bit of sewing before I head to the library to attend an author visit. By the way, I purchased a pair of Yaktraxs and they are wonderful. I always trust your endorsements.

kc said...

Brrrr! Don't blame the boy a bit, not one single bit! Tho, I don't do rain much either, must admit.

Loved seeing the sunflower again - you really did a good job on that puppy!

Ya know, if you lived closer, well, first off, YOU'D BE WARMER!! and secondly, I could certainly help you with that hand/utility sewing. I don't mind that a bit, I'm fairly decent at it, and right now, it's so much easier than easing a wheelchair through doorways that are only an inch wider than the chair, then wheeling & dealing with it in the sewing room, among all the cabinets & table legs. Seriously, I'd do it for ya for nuthin.

Soooooo, maybe you should think about packing up & heading south east?

MOMCAT14C said...

Oh, Pinterest! I blame my coworker for my addiction. I wasn't impressed at first; now, I have 87 boards, and 14,600 pins. Oy. Most of them are cats, quilts, and food. I do find it's a good way to organize my recipes, and quilts that I want to do (although I'd have to live to be 400 to do them all!).

Still, on an off day, Pinterest is a good place to hang out, and I've gotten some really good ideas and inspiration, and I think I'm actually finishing more quilts and projects these days!

Kate said...

Oh I do hate the cold. We aren't quite as cold as you are, but it's been close. The cranberry chutney is very pretty, it just screams "holiday" to me.