So, we headed for home yesterday, but not before spending a leisurely morning. With Mike newly re-retired, we're in training for "complete sloth level." It takes hours of practice to attain such a lofty standard of laziness, but we're working hard at it. The morning started with me filling my hand-quilting hoop.
Mainly, I'm just going to quilt up each side of the sashing, and then keep the quilting within the block to a minimum. Now I've moved the hoop to the right, and I did a little more stitching there before quitting for the morning.
For breakfast, we had this Blueberry Dutch Baby. This is a recipe from Food & Wine. I used frozen blueberries instead of the blackberries and raspberries. The little bit of lemon zest in the mix goes nicely with the blueberries.
While I was doing that, Smitty was relaxing on Mike's lap. The best part of RVing for kitties is the abundance of lap-sitting and the acres of quilts on which to lounge.
While I was making the Dutch baby, I marveled once again at the convenience of this little phone stand I purchased a while back. I keep my recipes on an app known as Paprika...which is marvelous, by the way. In the past, I've laid the phone on the countertop, but it's in danger of getting food splatters and water on it. On one particularly messy day, I went in search of a stand that would get it up off the counter and put it at an easier-to-read angle, and found this stand on Amazon.
It is fully adjustable and has a non-skid base...always appreciated in RV travel.
I liked it so much after trying it at home that I bought two more, one for each of the RV's. And just let me tell you, it makes me an even happier camper. If you think something like that would be helpful, you can find one of your very own right here.
After breakfast, we headed for home. It was a nice day, bright and sunny for most of the way, although we did get into some fog coming over the coast mountain range. Smitty was happy to get back to his kitty pole back home.
Since we're taking off again soon, I left the hand quilting project in the trailer and went to work preparing the supplies I'll need for this new Snowflakes project from Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread. Her 12 Trees for Christmas were so much fun to stitch, and I found myself itching for more. Mary Corbet obliged with this new series of snowflake embroidery patterns. The snowflakes come in 4 sizes, from tiny to this 6-inch size, which is what I'll be doing. Yesterday, I cut all the background fabric squares and the iron-on stabilizer for the backing. A few days ago, I printed all of the designs onto Sticky Fabri-Solvy. Yesterday, I prepared the first block for stitching. Fortunately, I still had enough of that snowflake background fabric to make these blocks.
This morning, I hooped it up and went to town. These are going to be so pretty. This first one is stitched in three shades of blue floss. The smaller circles on the pattern are filled with French knots. The larger circles will be embellished with tiny ice blue Swarovski pearls.
Today I'll be cooking. Christmas Eve is our traditional Christmas celebration. We gave up the gift exchange about five years ago since the youngest of our family is now 35. None of us really need or want anything, and so the gift exchange seemed superfluous. Now we enjoy one another's company around a festive table. On the menu is roast beast, Burgundy mushrooms, and roasted root vegetables with thyme and marjoram vinaigrette. I especially like the roasted vegetables because you can add some chicken or vegetable broth to them, puree them, and then have roasted vegetable soup from them. Also, garlic mashed potatoes (of course), and a couple of appetizers. Mae is bringing dessert and a salad, and so we should have one great feast!
It's a busy day on the horizon, and the week is going to get busier and busier as we make our final preparations to head south. I'll be back tomorrow to announce the winner of the giveaway and update you on anything else newsworthy. Until then, stay safe and warm and be of good cheer.
9 comments:
Have a fabulous Christmas with the family. Menu sounds fantastic. -:)
My daughter would love that little phone stand, thanks for sharing the link. Have a wonderful day tomorrow, the beast feast sounds positively delightful. My son is making his grilled Asian salmon for our dinner, and we're taking pumpkin pie and Mexican chocolate macaroons.
Merry Christmas! Earlier this year you talked about Paprika in one of your blog posts. I recommended it to my husband. He bought it both for his tablet and his desktop. He loves it! Thanks
Oh, those snowflakes are going to be gorgeous! Merry Christmas to you and your multi-species family :)
Those snowflakes are so pretty! I have the phone holder in my cart. Merry Christmas to you and yours - enjoy your time together!
I also use Paprika and love the idea of the phone stand! I actually bring my laptop into the kitchen for recipes since it will stay open and upright, but that is not a handy solution when traveling or visiting. And it comes in colors!! Already added to my wishlist. Love your hand quilting, And LOVE the roasted veg to roasted veg soup tip -- why have I never thought of that? Freaking inspirational. :)
Merry Christmas! Believe it or not, it is sunny and warm - 60 degrees - where I live in Ohio. Thank you Santa Claus and Mother Nature! I fear we will be in for it later in January, but today we will take it! Thank you for sharing your tips and talent and patterns. I am getting back into embroidery and have sincerely appreciated your design transfer tips.
I like that phone stand, I have been on the lookout for one that I could put by my armrest in the coach. That one looks like it might fit the bill; I was searching for an adjustable one, and that might work
At your suggestion, I used Paprika too, and I also loved it. Right up to the day I got a new phone and none of my recipes transferred over, even tho the app itself did.
Himself looks right at home atop his tree, where was Sadie all that time?
Can't wait to see how you bling up those snowflakes!!
Travel safe when you get going!
Reading your past posts about Mary's patterns and seeing your start on the snowflake embroidery has finally persuaded me to purchase the e-book. I've never done a project of hers before, and I've never attached beads to a project, but with your posts to guide me I should be OK. ;)
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