Monday Mews

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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?