Just Wow!!!!

We have had a lot of overcast days, and snow showers off and on. Chilly winds that are telling tales of winter to come. Thursday morning my side kick Donna and I headed for Vermont. We stayed with our sweet friend Dayle and our other friend from NY Bonnie for a few days. 

On the way to Vermont we hit a wonderful church thrift store and wow did I hit it!!! The cloth I stitched while I was in Vermont. (Dayle gave us each a little kit to stitch while we were there.)

The salt glaze Santa is from Eldreth 8.00!!

The painting is from a very well-known local painter who has her pieces in a few art co-ops here. It has an original 150.00 price tag but I paid 15.00!!

and a brand-new Christmas candle for 1.50.

The dishes in the top pictures I got at another thrift are English and I got 8 for 8.00.

I got these two vests and the Irish wool sweater (made in Ireland) for a total 6.00!! 

And the frosting on the cake!!! is this Christmas Pyramid! I have always wanted one. New in the box 10.00!!! I was so excited by it all!!!!

Dayle also took us around to a few gift shops. This is the sparkle barn I would say it's a good name.

They had the sweetest children's section, but a sweet little girl was playing in it so no pictures. I purchased a few gifts and we headed for an afternoon tea. Really could you ask for a better day in the whole world???

I never would have guessed I would still be having sleep overs at this age but so glad I am so much fun!!!!

So, I will close with something very special. My sweet B got a clutch bag free, and she decided to make it her own. She is not done with it at this point but what a start she has made!!! My amazing talented Grand. 

                        *****************

I am sorry I have not been around to visit I will be soon. I just got back from Vermont yesterday afternoon.

     Have a great week!!!

First Flakes

We got our first flakes of snow this morning. It did not last as the rain came behind it. But it felt good to be tucked in..

Warm and cozy with a cup of coffee watching it fall. 

Now on with a few more rugs. I think I need to do a landscape next.

Amazing fine shading I love it but have no interest in learning it. 

Such a wonderful job on this piece.

This is my partner in crime's rug she is working on. 

This is my table mate's rug. She is one of the talented Vermont ladies.

I believe this is one of the fairy tale rugs. 

I won a couple of things from the raffle. The scissor case and the pin cushion. 

In our goodie bag was this amazing snip-it bowl. Made by one of our amazing rug hookers. I won a set of her mugs a couple of years ago. 

 

I also won this stack of art books and magazines all older. I see a junk journal in my future. I have grand plans maybe if I get off my phone long enough, I might be able to accomplish some things I am itching to do. 

I spent the better part of the day yesterday outside raking up the driveway and walkways so they will not be slippery with wet leaves. But who should show up after I went in the house? 11 turkeys, I think I may have turned up a lot of good bugs. 

                           ************

I have more rugs to post and a busy week ahead.

Thursday I am headed to Vermont for a girls (woman's?)  few day days together. We always enjoy our time together. Laughter, wine, food, and great craft inspirations. 

                 Have a wonderful week!

The Fun Is Done...For Now

The moon last night when we were on our way to dinner. 

Such a joyful time with really lovely people. 

It was the uncommon hook in. Led by our fearless leader Pam Bartlett. The teachers were Jonanne Page (my teacher), Brenda Anderson, Davey DeGraf, Jyl Blauvelt Robbins, Cyndy Duade. There was talent galore!

Three amazing days of inspiration. 

Great food and beautiful wool who could ask for more! Except for more time. 

I did not keep track of the names of the rug hooker or the pattern designer so very sorry. But just enjoy I will be posting more amazing work the next few days.

I could commute from home as I was 5 miles from the venue. My side kick Donna stayed with me which made it all the more fun!

Now back to reality.  

Happy Halloween

Fog lifting off the lake.

I did not get my sampler finished but there is always next year. 

I did get my rug hooked and bound. 

Husband had his back surgery on Tuesday. I am managing pain and getting him moving a bit. And now we wait up to 3 months to see if it has worked. He is spending some of his time doing a puzzle and resting. 

       ●●●●●●●●●●

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Recipies

These recipes are from a very old, falling apart church cookbook from Downeast Maine. These cookies taste like my childhood, and I cannot stay out of them! Bake 9 to 10 minutes better under than over.

This bread is delicious and makes 2 loaves. 

                        **********

       Cheeseburger Chowder

I do not have a picture of this sorry and I make this by the seat of my pants lol. But here goes....

I lb of hamburger and 1 small onion chopped cook until no more pink.  

 Add beef broth to cover hamburger and onion by an inch or two.

add one pk of onion soup mix and a couple of dashes of Worchester sauce. 

I then add a bit of instant potato to thicken. (Try a tablespoon at a time) If you have left over mashed potato that works also.  

 Now I add whatever cheese I have grated or chopped fine. At least 1to11/2 cups.  I also add about 2 oz of cream cheese in to melt. Now I add about a 1/2 to 1 cup of cream or milk and if needs to be thickened I add a heaping tsp of cornstarch to the cream before adding it. 

My husband likes it thick so if you prefer thinner then you do not need to add the cornstarch. 

I wait until the end to add any salt or pepper after tasting. 

Truly you cannot fail at this, and it is a great way to use up cheese and maybe left over potatoes. 

                    ***************

                    Let me know if you make any of these and how it went. Have a wonderful week.

                                                                                                                                                    

The Golden Hours

The leaves have all turned mostly golden. They will fall soon and then the long wait for spring. 

I woke up early to the sound of rain again. Beautiful beautiful rain.

  Last night I took some time to go through my mother's recipes. I found a bread recipe and a cookie recipe that sounded very much like my grandmother's. I got to work this morning making molasses cookies.

And bread, oatmeal bread...

I used my pullman pan and it came out pretty good. Next time I will cook it an extra 5 to 6 minutes but it's a keeper. 

There is nothing better on a rainy day to have a full cookie jar. The memories these cookies brought back were warm and wonderful. I miss my grand still after all these years. 

I have made a deal with myself for this winter. If I do one hour of housework, I am free to hang out in my little studio with no guilt. (I am the only one who puts pressure on myself). That housewife guilt.

I vacuumed and changed out the curtains for the winter yesterday and besides cooking today I wiped down my cupboards and my yellowware on top of my cupboards. (Boy did they need cleaning).

Every window you look out of you see these beautiful trees. I will miss the beautiful color.

                    *******************

    I tried bone builders again it was a bit better, and they agreed to let me use bigger weights. 

A quiet weekend ahead husband is being operated on, on Tuesday. 

                   Enjoy the last of this beautiful fall. 

 

Fall Chores

Finally rain is coming in tomorrow! There is wind coming with it so I am guessing we will loose a lot of leaves.

We worked and got our firewood in. We burn about a cord just cold evenings usually. 

A little store near us bundles over ripe bananas and sells them for .59 cents. This bunch had 8 in it. What I don't use right up I will freeze for bread later.

I made a chocolate banana cake with peanutbutter frosting. I will not use that recipe again it needed more bananas in it.

My grocery store had this wonderful butter on sale. Made in Maine and 2.00 off a lb a deal! I stocked up. Christmas baking is coming. 

While with Sweet B I took full advantage of their Netflix. The great British baking show. We don't have Netflix, so it was a treat to get caught up on my favorite baking show. 

         ***********

I started bone builders last week I am trying to reserve judgement. It was pretty slow paced. 

      Have a wonderful week everyone!