Quilted Squirrel

2011-11-24T21:35:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving. The word implies being thankful for what you have, what you have not, and for those people in your life who make life worth living. Today is bittersweet for me. In one respect, I will be able to meet the bills, the emergency expenses that were not foreseen. But to do this required a sacrifice. That which was sacrificed was given to me by my father, and has been instrumental in my efforts make beautiful things that have been enjoyed by others.

Thanksgiving for me, is the kickoff into my favorite time of year, the Advent and Christmas season. I love everything about it. I'm not one of those people who observes Black Friday with a list and an obsession to acquire everything on it. I love the hustle and bustle, the decorations, the music, seeing the best in people peeking out behind their day to day facades ... groups of strangers getting together to sing their way through Handel's Mesiah ... but I miss my father. In the fullness of time he was snatched from this life into the next, which was best for him. Selfishly, I wish he could have stayed with me. He loved Christmas. He loved sending things unexpectedly to unsuspecting folks ... he wore his stocking cap and bundled up to sing carols on the street corner with the Salvation Army team ... he was a "bell ringer" every year for nearly twenty five years. He drove me nuts at times, yet I miss him more than I can say.

Having to part with something he gave me wrenches my heart. He took such interest in things I made, was my biggest fan. He thought I was an "expert" and bragged about me to many. I would tell him I'm anything BUT an expert, but in his eyes ... well, you get the picture.

I see him in the faces of people he knew and came to love here in this little town. You know who you are. I know he made a difference to a little boy, one who has grown into a young man. I see him in the house, I hear him as I drive through town looking at the decorations, he's always with me even if I can't reach out and touch him. I'm thankful he wanted to rescue an orange cat one winter ... somehow it's as though that cat is a link between us.

As I prepare for the holidays, I look around me for pieces of myself I can give to others. It's not about the stores, or the shopping, or the lists, or the commercials ... I think about the carols that talk about the gifts given from the heart, not bought in stores. "I, said the donkey, all shaggy and brown ..." or the Little Drummer Boy who "played his best for Him, rumpapum pum ..."

A little opossum came to my feeding area tonight, and dined on table scraps and other goodies. The squirrels got walnuts for Thanksgiving. The birds got granola and other delights. I can't fix the world, but I can see to it that the lives of those who live in my little woods are made better somehow ... I think it's what Daddy, and my Heavenly Father would have wanted me to do.

For what are you thankful? the thorns as well as the roses? What will you give for presents this year, something you've bought or something that is a part of you? Will your gifts be humble and from the heart? Just some things to ponder ... and if my words helped you, then for that I am also thankful.

Peace.

new blog in town ...

2011-07-21T21:55:00.003-04:00

Yup, a new blog has hit the "Net"! http://sunshinequiltshop.blogspot.com/ to see what's going on in Oscoda's quilt shop!

Today we had record breaking heat/humidity. We're trying to be good sports about it, but I don't do well in the heat any more. But I am reminded that our soldiers are in hotter places, with no fans or air conditioning ... and ...

New Blog in town ...

2011-07-20T20:46:00.003-04:00

There's a new blog in town!!! Be sure to check out http://sunshinequiltshop.blogspot.com/ and follow the blog! It's the quilting happening here in Oscoda. You can also visit the website at www.sherriejaqua.com!

It's really hot here, unseasonably for us ... a week or so ago I still was wearing sweaters. I'm not wearing a sweater NOW, that's for sure.

quiltedsquirrel Artisan Studio ArtFire Buy & Sell Handmade

2011-07-12T20:31:00.000-04:00

quiltedsquirrel Artisan Studio ArtFire Buy & Sell Handmade

Quilting Fabric
Over 200k yards of quilting fabric from discount to designer. Shop by category, or designer. All fabrics are discounted 20% -70% off the suggested retail price.
Fabric.com

yawn ...

2011-06-16T03:07:00.001-04:00

I don't often write about health issues, but I will this time ... it's three a.m. and i haven't been to sleep yet. Got up at 7 ... made a round trip to Ann Arbor and back with a friend ... four hour drive one way. She's beginning reconstruction surgery post mastectomy (double). I'm along for moral support, and after next Friday, she'll not be allowed to drive for three weeks. I am reminded of the Biblical admonishment to "take the beam out of your own eye before attempting to remove the "mote" from someone else's. In a nutshell, take care of yourself or you're no good to anyone else. Today was a classic example. A four hour stretch in the car is too long without hourly pit stops to do a few laps around the car. Consequently, both of us were stiff and sore. And now, being overly tired, I can't sleep. I'm sharing this with you as a "wake up" call ... are you doing all you can to take care of your own selves, so you CAN be there for someone else ... ? Be good stewards with your own health and well being.

Introspection

2011-06-12T19:50:00.028-04:00

Wow. I just watched all three hours of movie called Merlin's Apprentice. Quite thought provoking, actually, in that the return of the Holy Grail would only happen if Camelot was once again noble and pure of heart. I think, in many ways, the message is very timely. As nations struggle against one another, as they are rent with schism, we've lost our way. Things have come to being "about us", rather than be "for the greater good".

Let me warn you, it's a three hour movie! I put the DVD in my little player, headphones on, as I sat at the sewing machine working on another quilt. That took up the first hour and a half. The second part I devoted my entire attention to, despite the hopeful feline who wished me to fix her dinner!

Incurably romantic at heart, I have always loved the legends of Camelot, of the Knights, the Round Table, and the Holy Grail. I'm not entirely sure just what the Grail is really, I only AM sure that attaining it (or all that it implies) is that we must prove to be worthy of being in its presence. Are we worthy? Are we motivated by greed, or by goodness ... of wanting things for ourselves rather than trying to help others have them. I did a Google search on the Holy Grail, and read the following from a Wikipedia article:

"The Grail plays a different role everywhere it appears, but in most versions of the legend the hero must prove himself worthy to be in its presence. In the early tales, Percival's immaturity prevents him from fulfilling his destiny when he first encounters the Grail, and he must grow spiritually and mentally before he can locate it again. In later tellings the Grail is a symbol of God's grace, available to all but only fully realized by those who prepare themselves spiritually, like the saintly Galahad."

So, for that reason, I recommend your viewing of the film (which is in two parts) ... and giving some thought to what your own personal motivations are in your daily life. I think it would be time well spent.

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT ..

2011-05-23T21:56:00.000-04:00

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING ....

A message every adult should read because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be..

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say,' Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'

LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT ..

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

2011-05-20T11:14:00.002-04:00

Special gift ....

2011-05-18T22:08:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share something with you. I've kept it close to my heart since Mother's day Eve, but I'll share it now... From a dear friend-extended-family-member, totally unexpected, came some treasured positive strokes. Someone who watches from afar, who seems to know what my daily challenges are, gave me some really positive support. Things like that are treasured, are priceless. Just words, on my email monitor ... but it felt like a warm hug ... and I cherish every word.I think what I want to share with you is that people need this. No matter how "competent" or "together" a person might be on the outside, there's always that sense of self doubt, of "have I really done all I could ...". Let's face it, it's a negative world. "That's a no-no" ... we hear it from our infancy. "Go to the 'stop' sign." Do we ever say "go to the 'go' sign?" "Do Not Enter". "Do Not Call list". "Go to the Red Light". never "go to the Green Light". There are "warning labels" on things, "disclaimers", you name it, the list is endless. Even, when someone DOES give someone else an "atta-boy" there's that element of doubt, "what was the motive for that".

The words sent to me were simple, from the heart, and knowing the writer, I took them as Gospel. And I cherish them. In the middle of the night, when I'm alone with my thoughts, and sometimes wander through the house in the silence ... I'll stop at the keyboard and type my thoughts, as though putting them in print somehow tames them ... and send them in the dark to the one who listens ... not for answers necessarily, but just so that I know someone ELSE knows my dragons ...

... so the Mothers' Day note was especially priceless.

My challenge to you? Is there someone who could use a positive stroke, who carries a load, someone you care about but don't see all that often ... someone who's often taken for granted as just "being there" .... I'm sure you know such a "someone". Take the time. Take some time from your own pursuits and give that time away. It's a gift that is priceless.

Catching Up ...

2011-05-16T22:18:00.003-04:00

, ,

Some Interesting Stuff here .... from Barnes & Noble, Personal Creations, Abe Books,

I've been busy. I set some goals for myself this year, and so far I'm definitely "in the ball park" of achieving them. One of the things I wanted to do was to really challenge my quilt making, and so far I'm up to 15 or 16 tops since January 1! Some are new projects, some are "UFOs" (unfinished objects), and I've tried to maintain a balance between them. My sewing room (a 9 x 9 building outside of the house) is full of projects started over my 39 years of quilt making. Yup, I found my FIRST quilt project, begun in 1972 ... one of the blocks for the quilt has the date embroidered on it. Two other blocks bear the embroidery of my two grandmothers. That quilt is a hodgepodge of fabrics, left over pieces from clothing, aprons, you name it, and a lot of my father's white shirt sleeves! Even if I manage to finish the thing, I doubt it will ever be used as a quilt, more as a recording of a time past.

Another goal was to move my friend's quilting business further into the successful lane. She's a fascinating person, a true genius with cloth, but my organizational skills were certainly needed. As I watch her grow, publish her first book (even a 2nd edition of it!), and work on her second, I find a sense of accomplishment in myself as well. I want her to succeed! She has a gift to share, and I'd like to see it given time and time again. What's in it for me? Lots of things, most of which are intrinsic. Obviously my own skills in quilt making will improve, and no quilt maker alive can ever say she has no room to grow. Check her out Here.

SO, my challenge to you, check the goals you set in January, and see how on the mark you are. Adjust if necessary! Believe in yourself, because I believe in YOU!

Um, and if you'd be so kind as to click on some of the links in my blog, you help to keep my web site free. It doesn't cost YOU anything (unless you shop!), but it helps to put some pennies in the coffers for me. Your help is greatly appreciated!

How you think..

2011-05-16T19:47:00.000-04:00

While never having studied psychology, nor any of its applications, I realize that knowing "how" you think, how you process information, and what you do with it is a powerful tool. My answers were very enlightening! This kind of thing is especially helpful if you have children, so that you can provide appropriate avenues for THEM to process information. As a child in grade school, I excelled at geometry. I could SEE it! It made SENSE!!! But algebra defeated me. My father even stormed into the school to pound on my 7th grade math teacher, because I had brought home As until we switched to Algebra, at which point the best I could come up with were Ds, and I think I only got those because the teacher liked me! His answer was "I see it all the time. Kids are coming to my classes without basic arithmetic skills." Hmmmm. So why, I ask, didn't I "get" it. Probably because the wrong side of my brain was approached by the instructors. Could this have been changed? Perhaps, but more likely I could have been taught skills to compensate for my "sided" brain!

SO, sit back, give yourself the test below, and then go read this article! I think you will learn something! I did!

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz
The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.
Left Brain Dominance:	(7)
Right Brain Dominance:	(15)
Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

eagles live ...

2011-04-11T10:23:00.000-04:00

something I think you will enjoy. The only bad thing is you can waste a lot of time with it.

www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Living ...

2011-04-05T22:55:00.001-04:00

An older person once said....There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living

2011-04-05T22:54:00.001-04:00

2011-03-31T12:04:00.002-04:00

Albert Camus

2011-03-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

"In the midst of winter, I found there was an invincible summer."

Ah yes! I think we are given "winter" to regroup ... and to prepare for what comes. In just a few more days it will be April! Already the male robins have arrived ... some of the hardy souls didn't even leave. The sand hill cranes are back ... and blades of grass peek through Mother Nature's sense of humor left over from last week.

I'm anxious to paw through the snow to see if the crocus are poked through yet!

Today's "spring cleaning" was in my outlook email basket. I tend to hang onto "hair shirts". You know the type, the emails that re-reading only dredge up old issues and rip open old scars. I made a statement in January, that this was the year I kicked the bad habit of "victim mentality" and moved into a more productive place. Well, hanging onto all those old emails wasn't "productive", so I deleted them. I'm sure my computer heaved a sigh of relief. I AM, after all, a dedicated pack rat!!!

My challenge to you? Cut your ties to old hurts. Let them go, blow them away. What's happened even just five minutes ago is over and done with and there's nothing you can do about it. Live in the moment, and look forward. Not backward!

Growth ...

2011-03-27T15:32:00.002-04:00

You will not grow if you sit in a beautiful flower garden. But you will grow if you are sick, if you are in pain, if you experience losses, and if you do not put your head in the sand but take the pain and learn to accept it, not as a curse or punishment, but as a gift to you with a very specific purpose.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

I have been naughty. From December until now, I have been in a sort of emotional limbo. I have thought nearly every evening that I have been remiss in writing, and yet I have come up with enough excuses not to. "I didn't have anything profound to say", or "i'm too down in the dumps to be uplifting for anyone else" or a host of other "would-ofs, should-ofs, and could-ofs". I'm quite sure you get the picture.

Yesterday I connected with a cherished old friend, with whom I had lost contact. What a gift! Of course we had to first get through the "bs" of what have you been doing, where are you now, yadda yadda. And then we got to the sentence that reminds us "but this is the here and now, and all that is past" ... and now we can reap the benefits of the gift of this connection to each other.

It's not a matter of getting on a plane and meeting somewhere. It's not a matter of impressing each other with how well we've kept our looks. It's not a matter of ANY of that stuff, which is utterly worthless in the grande scheme of things. It's a matter of understanding. Of saying, "Hey, you ... this is me ... remember? the guy who doesn't judge you, just loves you for who you are." What a gift that can be. What a gift this person is to me!

This weekend was also the "Shop Hop" at the local quilt shop where I spend most of my waking hours it seems. The week before was a case of "all hands on deck" while we readied the shop, completed the sample quilts, cut kits, dusted, cleaned, loaded the printer with paper and ink, prepared the food we offered, and then held our breath when the weather gods decided we needed one last blizzard. Again, what a gift!!!

Yes, the blizzard too was a gift. We appreciated those who braved the elements and came to the shop despite the snow and howling winds. As the ladies came and went, stopped to sit and have lunch with us, or watched the demonstrations, I thought of how rich I truly am to meet these other women, who like me take bits and pieces of this and that and make lovely things of them. One of the gals who worked with us this weekend is a "long arm" quilter, and hosts a retreat house. She has been difficult for me to make friends with, probably because both of us were somewhat intimidated by the other. But in the lull of Saturday afternoon, I sat with her, and explained how her website will go together, the one I'm going to build for her. She was concerned about the cost. I told her, it isn't going to cost you ANYthing. She rebelled, so I said "then quilt one of my tops for me". We agreed to that. It's not about dollars and cents, it's about sharing what each of us is good at with the other.

My challenge to you ... go reread that first paragraph again. Think about the last few months, and the growth that came of your pain, your losses, your illnesses. Look out the window at the first few efforts of Spring. All winter long the flowers were gone, the trees were bare of leaves, the birds were silent. But they were growing all that time! And now, as April arrives in a few days ... that growth will shine through in the sights and smells of nature's enthusiasm.

Take down a project you abandoned for what ever reason. Make a phone call to someone you've not thought about in months. Maybe it HAS been "all about you" when you thought it wasn't. I spent the past weeks and months helping someone else achieve HER goal, when at times I pouted because MY goals weren't being addressed. What about MY goals. But this weekend, watching her bloom as folks picked up her first book that's finally been published, as she taught new techniques to other quilters, as folks broke out into happy smiles as they sampled the foods she had prepared, I felt very satisfied. It wasn't the goal I'd chosen, but it was a very good achievement. As I watched HER take wing and fly, I was complete.

Missing someone?

2010-12-02T21:30:00.000-05:00

I apologize for not writing to you for a few days. Have you lost someone you loved since last Christmas? I have. And for a bit, it's been really difficult to get myself around Christmas this year. Daddy lived with me the last five years of his life, and he died February 9, at the age of 93. He lived a full life, was full of wonderful stories to tell, wisdom, and wit ... and despite the normal amount of "parent-child" angst, was my hero. He was one of those people in my life, who loved me unconditionally, no matter what dumb thing I might have just done. For months, I wondered how I was going to cope without him, and then I realized I was doing it ... and that I was okay. Oh don't get me wrong, the hole is still big, and the empty place still hurts. But as all the Hallmark and American Greetings cards say, he really isn't GONE, he's just out of sight.

But then it was time to dig out the Christmas things, and gear up for the Thanksgiving turkey ... and that crippling feeling came back in spades. Thanksgiving came and went, and since my silly turkey didn't thaw out until Monday of this week, it was a rather "oddball" observance of "Turkey Day". In the middle of all this, there was a medical emergency, so I found myself making a hasty phone call to a man who presides over a homeless shelter here in town, to come get the turkey carcass, legs, thighs, wings, and veggies for soup. I wasn't going to have time to make it. I always made "Thanksgiving Soup" after the big feed, and Daddy was my best customer. I found comfort in making sure SOMEONE would have warm filling soup, even if I wasn't up to making it.

Now that the medical crisis has past, and I'm settled in my big blue chair (which was HIS big blue chair), with the Christmas Tree in the corner in all its splendor, I realize that though I miss him, and decorating the tree without him was indeed a lonesome experience, he IS still here. I can hear what he said about the ornaments as he unwrapped them. He marveled at the choices I've made over the years, in ornaments or other trinkets I collected, and why they were important. I remember his grin when he unwrapped the pipe ... "that's for Bing Crosby, and the White Christmas movie!" ... his questioning eyes when he unwrapped a sheep ... "the Lamb of God" .... birds, fox, fish, a tiny Bible, angels, train cars (his dad worked on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad years ago) ... kitties, photos of kitties now gone from my house but not from my heart. Everything on that tree has some significance to me. One ornament is of a little bird dressed as a letter carrier, sending "air mail". That was when one of my children wasn't with me for Christmas. As I put each ornament on the tree, he was there with me. I realized I was smiling at them as I unwrapped them.

Yes, I miss him. Far far more than I ever thought I would. If there's someone missing from your life this season, take comfort in the reality that as long as you have your memories, that someone is NOT gone ... just "out of sight". Open your heart, do something productive in your loved one's honor. Sign up to ring the Salvation Army Bell for an hour or two. Fix a food basket for someone you know who might not have a full pantry right now. Wrap a gift for the Toys for Tots program the Marines spearhead. Take heart. Have hope. and ... be at Peace.

Holidays ... holy days ..

2010-11-18T00:03:00.000-05:00

I love this time of year. Autumn leaves, harvests, Thanksgiving, with Christmas hot on its heels. Making lists, checking them twice, fishing out the decorations and laughing over the ones that were forgotten in last year's packing them up ... the glass pizza slice Sara bought for her dad after his heart attack, when all he wanted was pizza and it wasn't on his menu ... a bell, or a star ... putting away the normal clutter to make room for the delightful clutter that goes along with these holidays ...

... but this year is different. Daddy lived with me the last five years of his life, and those five years were a gift I cannot describe to you. Idyllic? Heck no!!! He drove me NUTS!! I would go out to the woods when he got the better of me, and rant and rave ... even called my first born and told her to come get him, I'd had it! In those five years, the lines were blurred. Parent - Child, Parent - Parent, Child - Child. Our roles overlapped, changed places, evolved. It was a time with him that let me know him better, let go of some of my childish angers which were unnecessary .. gave him time to understand me as I have become, rather than as the little kid that helped him build a garage, or shovel snow.

He was the last of the parents. Mother died in 1999, my in-laws died in 2008 and 2009 ... but Daddy was still there. My kids are grown, with families of their own ... lives of their own ... but Daddy was here. And he's not here any more.

I feel more than just a little ... lost. I'll be unwrapping the ornaments myself, and putting them on the tree. He won't be looking at each one as he unpacked it, hearing me tell him why this one or that one was important. Part of me is terrified to face the holidays without him, the glue that kept our little rag tag family together for my entire life. He was there for my kids when I wasn't. He was there for mother, when I wasn't. He rang the bell for the Salvation Army on the corner of 9th and Market in Wilmington for 30 some years ... heckling his friends on payday to pony up some money for the pot. He'd rake in more in that hour than all the other bell ringers did in weeks. He'd sing, too, he and his buddy would harmonize Christmas carols as they stood there in the weather. Long after he'd retired he could still be found at 9th and Market, ringing that bell.

But maybe, just maybe, as I go through the motions of digging out the Christmas things, making turkey stuffing the way Nana did, I will find that he's NOT really gone. He's in every little bit and piece of it.

If you're looking at the holidays and thinking how will you cope with someone missing, stop and look again. Those people are NOT gone. They're in every fiber of all you are. Smile, even through tears, and realize without all that they were, you wouldn't be what you are. That is the most perfect gift of all. That is the gift you will have forever.

A Thanksgiving Recipe for You!

2010-11-14T18:52:00.003-05:00

Since I was typing this out for a recipe swap, I decided to put it here for the rest of you as well. My grandmother "Nana" always made her stuffing this way, and it was absolutely yummy. I really can't remember what my mother did, as we always had TG at Nana's house. So I'm the 3rd generation. My daughters would make the 4th!! Anyway, enjoy!! The soup is my concoction. YEARS ago I remember seeing a recipe for "turkey frame soup". I have no idea what went in it, or even where it came from ... but after years of practice, this is what I do, and I've had many satisfied customers!

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸❤¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

Thanksgiving, before and after!!!

Before:

1 bag crumbled Peppridge Farm herb stuffing (NOT CUBES)
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced
1 cup white raisins
.5 cup chopped walnuts
2-3 strips crispy bacon crumbled
diced celery hearts (all the good parts out of the middle of the package) and leaves
diced mushrooms (if your family will eat them)
diced turkey liver
chopped chives (I add these, freeze dried, in addition to onions)
diced scallions (those long skinny green onions, cut 'em up all the way into the green)
1 tsp freeze dried garlic
1 tbsp "poultry seasoning"
egg/butter/liquid (see below)

while you're doing all this, put the turkey "innards" in a pot to boil ... save the stock, and the liver. I usually let the outside critters have the rest. And they know it.

put the bacon on to cook, and make it crisp.

dump the bag of PF into a bowl. Using their guidelines, add butter,egg, and instead of water use 1 cup white wine (no whining here, you can drink the rest) and any additional liquid needed from the pan of turkey innards. Add the goodies from above.

stuff the bird cavities, and bake. I found it better not to tell people what's in it. They enjoy it more that way. Most folks can't figure apples and raisins in with onions and celery!

WHEN DINNER's OVER:

clean off the turkey carcass of whatever meat you can, and deposit the ENTIRE CARCASS into a huge pot. Cover with water. Add to it:

the big pithy leftovers of that package of celery
the long green tops of the scallions
the rest of the innards from that earlier pot, if you didn't already make gravy out of it.
if you can get it, buy a box of Turkey Stock. If you can't find it, cover with water and add a tablespoon of poultry seasoning.

Put the pot on the stove on the lowest setting (unless you have a reeeeeally big crock pot), and go to bed.

The Next Day:

you need a second large container, and a large colander. Gently pour contents of pot-that-cooked-overnight thru the colander into the new pot. Set that aside for a bit. Gently paw thru the contents of the colander for any meat you might want to use in the soup pot you set aside. This is a good job for husbands. What you don't want goes (in my house, anyway) outside for the critters.

Now. into said soup pot you set aside, add:

any turkey you wish, diced
any diced onion or celery you have left (or a bag of frozen if you don't)
some more freeze dried onion, chive, poultry seasoning (I'm heavy handed with the freeze dried spices. garlic is good too if your family likes it. I use a brand called Litehouse, they make a whole raft of freeze dried stuff. Lighthouse offers a variety of freeze dried spices and even mushrooms and you can check out the full line here : http://www.litehousefoods.com/products/freeze-dried-herbs or at your local grocery store. ( I found mine with the refrigerated salad dressings)
a cup of that stuffing left over from dinner
a cup of barley (be careful with this. when it cooks, it SWELLS!)
and if you wish, a package of frozen vegetables for soup, or leftover veggies from TG dinner.
cup of white wine

Simmer that a bit until the barley plumps, then fill freezer containers and label 'em "Thanksgiving Soup"!

"blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape"

2010-11-13T22:25:00.001-05:00

"blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape." It's an expression of which I do not know the origin, but certainly one out of which I get a lot of mileage. This weekend is a perfect example of that. Unexpected medical "urgencies" (as opposed to emergencies), which could very easily louse up the next few months, domino style. I'm sure you're familiar with such things. You get all the dominoes lined up ... have your plan set. And then something knocks over the first domino. And down go the rest of them.

What's your "cure" for that. What do you do to "cope" with things. I have a few things that come to mind .. one of course is obvious to a quilter. Another quick fix is to spend some quality time with my cat. I look at his eyes, his whiskers, listen to his purr, rub him the way he likes best ... Or I tend to my violets. All of these things may remind you of your GRANDMOTHER, but they work. That, and I think about "blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape."

It really doesn't matter what your faith perspective is (I like that commercial where the gal who plays the part of Divya on Royal Pains says "I believe that all paths lead to God") ... the bottom line is the same. Be flexible. Let go. Let God (He's going to be up all night anyway). Take a deep breath. Go for a walk. In the overall scheme of things, does what you're upset about, does what upset your dominoes, really change the world? Maybe it alters your short term plans, or even your long term goals. But then you really have no guarantees as to what tomorrow will bring anyway. Today's all we really have. A friend of mine takes his dog for a walk on the beach. I have a photo of him standing in the water, maybe a bit more than ankle deep, at dawn, with a cup of coffee. What an incredible start to a day. I watch my little furry buddies come for dinner after dark, and smile, and think "what a neat sight for the end of the day".

SO, be flexible. Bake a pie with the lemons you were served. Remember that the bitter makes the sweet all the more sweeter . Instead of shaking your fist at the snow, close your eyes, tip your head back stick out your tongue and be a child again, catching snowflakes as they fall. Favorite TV show get pre-empted by a sporting event? Go curl up with a book. Fix a pot of tea. NOT in the microwave, but in a pot. Properly steeped. with a pretty cup. Take care of your spirit, and let it be flexible, so it doesn't break.

Emmerson ...

2010-11-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like Emerson. I like Thoreau! I'm learning to use a quilt frame system, ideally it would have a mid or long armed sewing machine on it, but for now it plays host to my Bernina. I have doodled with it, and was pleased with how easily I segued from moving the quilt to moving the machine! But I can tell, there are a LOT more capabilities with the second method. Shapes, designs ... quilt a little here, and a lot there ... And each time I remove the project from the frame, and look at it over all, I'm pleased with myself. Of course, the REAL "feel good" came when I dragged my first attempt to the Quilt Shop to show Sherrie. She positively glowed at me! THAT felt good. It was the "reward of a thing well done, that I actually DID!"

It's true of so many things, when you get right down to it. Not necessarily limited to a craft, or a hobby. It could be true of a long awaited letter you finally sat down and wrote; it could be the new recipe you wanted to try on your family, but were afraid of their reaction to "change". There are no limits! Last week, when I went through some of the boxes to find things for the new resident in Oscoda who is starting over, I was pleased not only with what all I amassed for her, I was also pleased with having succeeded in moving things to the new shed, out of the garage. I need to do that again. There's still far too much chaos in the garage. As I moved the boxes, and sorted through them, I located photos friends have been nagging me for; I found things that have been packed since our exodus from Arizona five years ago. What fun! I was reunited with possessions, and felt enriched. Memories were renewed and refreshed, and I felt like I had accomplished something at the end of the day. Big deal, you say, I moved 6 boxes. YES! BIG DEAL!!! It was well done, and I felt the reward!

Tackle something tomorrow. It doesn't need to be a world changing thing, choose something you can achieve, and DO it! And then bask in the glow of the reward for a job done!

The best gifts can't be bought ...

2010-11-03T19:17:00.001-04:00

Magazine Sale - Save $5 on over 100 titles! Offer expires11/30/10! Fall Blockbuster Sale- Save up to 45% on New Big Fall Releases! Save up to 45% - Visit our Holiday Gift Guide Collection today!

There you go, here's some nice links to help you with your Christmas Shopping! I have to say, though, the best presents to give are the ones you don't have to buy. Is there something you're good at? something you like to do? From Bird Houses to wall art, place mats to quilts. Several years ago, my son was then a college student, and as all college students are, broke! That year he made a barn for a Nativity scene, and his lady made the figurines. I treasure that to this day. In fact, it's time for him to make a bigger one, for the bigger Nativity figures I have! (yes, I put out several Nativities, and half a dozen trees ... I just love everything about Christmas.) Every year my firstborn makes Christmas cookies for me. I look for those first, they're special, and then I HIDE them from the overgrown rodent in my house who would eat them all up!! One year when my middle child was still in grade school, I was gifted with a rosary she made for me. Yup, still have THAT too.

Do you have a family member who loves to feed the birds? Make him or her a bird feeder, or a bird house. There are many patterns and designs on the internet there for the searching. Do you knit? How about a pair of arm warmers! They look like mittens, but the fingers are open, and just a hole for the thumb. I saw a pair I loved for 18 bucks in the mall, and then came home and started looking for a pattern for them.

Are there little grandchildren in your family? Buy a story book, and a blank cassette tape. Sit down in a quiet room, and read the story out loud, while recording your voice. Your grandchild will be able to follow along with you, and hear your voice, even if you're far away!

Just little things to think about ...

Carpe Diem

2010-11-03T02:27:00.001-04:00

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Lord Chesterfield (1694 - 1773)

For some dumb reason, sleep eludes me tonight. Maybe because I'm a few hours from finishing a quilt for a very dear friend who is facing surgery next week. Maybe it's because I feel guilty for neglecting my blog for a few days. Maybe ....
What it REALLY is, is a guilty conscience.
My friend is in his mid70s, and the surgery is for cancer. He's going to have a rotten few weeks, ICU, then a step down unit, then in-house rehab at a skilled nursing facility. He's in California, and I'm in Michigan. He told me months ago that the kitty kwilt I made him in 1992 is falling apart from daily use, would I make him a new one. I hunted thru my stash, and lo and behold I had enough of the original kitty print to make a new quilt. And every time I geared up to work on it, something or other would happen, and it would get postponed. Now I'm working long hours, because I want to get it to him before his surgery. I am ashamed of myself for putting it off. It was a simple request, and there's no valid excuse on my part.
Maybe therein lies my message to you tonight. (this morning? it's a little after 2 a.m.). Don't put things off ... it may turn out that you waited too long.
I have the most wonderful primary care physician. She has seen me through the loss of three parents, a sick husband, my own ills ... and a few weeks ago we sat together in the visitors lounge of ICU, where my husband had been admitted. We shared a tear or two, as we both lost out daddies this year, 6 months apart. She knew her dad wasn't in the best health, and wanted to get home to India to see him before he got worse. One reason or another, and she didn't go. Then she got a phone call that he was dying. She ended up sitting on someone's desk in Detroit, trying to get clearance to fly home to India, but there was a paperwork snag. During the 48 hours she camped in the airport, frustrated and anxious, the call came that he had died. i know the things in her mind, I know she's having difficulty forgiving herself for not going sooner, for not having her travel paperwork in order.
We never really know what lies ahead. We are promised today, yesterday is over, and no one knows what looms for tomorrow.
Don't do it. Don't put off making that phone call, making a visit, finishing a quilt you started with a particular recipient in mind.Think about it. My challenge to you today is to pick at least one thing you've been putting off, and GO DO IT!!

Luke 3:11

2010-10-28T22:24:00.001-04:00

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. (King James Bible).

Yesterday was amazing. It began with a wild eyed ride in a raging windstorm to Saginaw for a medical procedure for hubby, arriving there, being told the procedure wasn't expected to work, driving back home two hours later in the continued storm. While I drove, I was trying to figure out how I was going to come up with $200 bucks by the end of the month. I was tired, frustrated, worried, and scared. Pulled into my driveway, just as the friend who helps take care of things about the house that I cannot do was unloading her cleaning supplies. We talked a bit, then she asked if we had any kitchen appliances, or pots, pans, things we weren't using, that she had met a lady who just arrived in town, starting over, with absolutely NOTHING.

When Daddy moved in with me 5 years ago, almost all of his kitchen things remained boxed up in the garage. We certainly didn't need any of it, and I had just shoved it aside to deal with later. Here was the perfect solution. As I rummaged to find the boxes of corning ware, and other stuff, my spirits rose. Soon I was on the kitchen floor, digging in the cupboards. I don't need 4 pie pans, so two went in the pile. By the time my friend left, her car was filled with all manner of things, and we were thinking ahead to Christmas. Last year our family decided rather than to buy each other presents, we'd put the money in a kitty and spend it on a family in need. And I felt so much better. In doing as the Lord commanded, my spirits were lifted. My own problems didn't go away, they're still there. I'm still worried about that two hundred bucks. But there is a peace inside me for having been able to help this person who is worse off than I am.

Look in the closet of your own life. Do you have "two"?