My Own Little Corner

So I'm sitting down in my workspace looking at the various projects that I have started. Each of them are in different stages. I count at least a half dozen projects and that doesn't include all the prep work for classes kits for the quilt festival.

Now with this new camera and so many projects in the works I think I have a number of ideas for upcoming posts to my blog.

I'm going to start out with the corner that is called "the reference area". It's my own little library that really is one resource that I can refer to for answers or some inspiration.

Off Day

Well, not a very productive day for me personally. Much of the day was spent traveling to Great Lakes Naval Station and back. We don't have to do it very often, only when Gramma needs to have prescriptions filled. It's a trip ... considering where we start from, and the tollway for most of the trip is under serious construction.

It didn't turn out not to be a complete loss of time for me, since we were able to purchase a new digital camera while there. So after returning home late this afternoon most of the time was spent reading through the instructions and taking some practice photos and learning how this new camera works.

So hopefully tomorrow I will be able to incorporate a photo or two using the new camera and a little more interesting post to read.

Prep Time Begins

The UPS and FedEx trucks have been making several stops out in front to the house lately. Today I have been moving the contents from those packages down to my work room. This week the serious prep work begins. Have a few things I'm still waiting for, but have enough now to get started.

Besides preparing the class kits, there is experimentation going on with new ways of using some of the mediums I will be using. That is always fun. Along with preparations and experimenting, I have four different creations started to take along to the festival and wear. I guess I will be a walking advertisement for my favorite products.

I have patterns to copy, lists to make, instructions to write, sample boards to make and I'm sure there is something I am forgetting. In the next days and weeks, as all this preparation will be taking place, I hope to share some photos and comments here. Just before I leave for the Quilt Festival I will post the projects from the classes.

Thinking Green

List of statements concerning our environment ... Read them and give some thought to them.

Think green ... Go green ... Live green ... Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ... Save the Earth ... Eco-friendly ... Love the Earth ... Protect the Earth ... It's not easy being green! ... Everyday is Earth Day!

Quotes that truly have some meaning ...

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children"

"There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet."

Saturday in Chicago

Today we traveled into the city to see our son Matthew preform. He plays guitar and sings with a friend on Saturday's at a neat place called "Rockit Bar & Grill". It was our first visit to this River North establishment and don't think it will be our last. The atmosphere was cool, the food very good and really great bloody mary's! It was a beautiful day to be in the city of Chicago. People were everywhere.

Special Ladies

A few years ago I created this "altered" book. It was one of two projects that I was asked to contribute for a book called, The Altered Book Scrapbook" by Susan Ure. I titled the project "Special Lady" in honor of my very sweet mother. Using a children's board book found on the bargain table at a book store, I created a wonderful memory of my own mother. It sits on display for anyone to enjoy the photo story of her life.

This evening we are going to be celebrating another "Special Lady" in our family. Today is the birthday of my mother-in-law, Marge. She turns 89 today! She is the mother of nine children, the grandmother of 21 and great-grandmother of 17. We celebrate her ... she is a Special Lady!

Blueberry-Sour Cream Pound Cake with Lemon Cream

Today we are meeting a group of teachers that my husband taught with for lunch. They like to meet for lunch during the week that school begins. It's like a celebration of the fact that they have put in their years of service. They will be coming back to our house for coffee and dessert. Nothing is better than something homemade! Great recipe - give it a try. I adapted it from a "Martha" recipe.

For 1 loaf cake:

1 1/2 sticks of softened butter

1/4 cup of sour cream

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large eggs

1 cup of blueberries

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

Sanding sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease loaf pan. With mixer at high speed, cream butter, sour cream and sugar until pale and flufffy. Reduce speed and add vanilla. Break eggs into a small bowl and lightly beat them. Add eggs into batter and mix until just incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour and salt, blend well. In a small bowl toss the blueberries with 2 tablespoons of flour. Fold the blueberries into finished batter. Smooth top: sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 60 minutes or till cake tester comes out clean. Allow to cool for 30 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely. Lemon Cream: 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and 2 tsp. of grated lemon zest. Combine in a bowl and beat until soft peaks form. Serve a dollop on a slice of cake. Sprinkle lightly with a bit of cinnamon sugar. ENJOY!

"Hat's On" for Jessica

Had to make a post concerning something that we did two weeks ago today. Our family was enjoying a wonderful week in the Wisconsin Northwoods at a place that has become a family tradition for 45 years. We are returning to the same place the week after Labor Day to celebrate the wedding of our niece Jessica to a great guy, Brett. Jessica enjoys traditional things but is a very modern young woman. So instead of the "traditional bridal shower" we celebrated by having a "tea". The photo is of the "Ladies of Nawakwa" decked out in our hats for this celebration with Jessica. It was a fun time.

The decor for the tea was rustic and simple and very unique! It's amazing what you can do with sand, rocks, leaves, wild flowers, ferns, birch bark and lake water.