{Post #940} Machine Quilting AM

Bow tie quilting began!  I made up two new-to-me designs.  One is for the border:

Here is how I quilted the center...I made up a neat continuous design:

I made a newby mistake...put the backing on the frame sideways.  I wondered why I had so much fabric on each side, then I got to the bottom and ran out of backing fabric.  From now on, I'll be marking the top edge of the top, batting, and backing with a safety pin.  This is only one row longer than it is wide, so it was easy to do.


~Joan

{Post #939}

Little work done on the flowerbeds today.  They dug down to level out the area and picked up the railroad ties that will be used to build the beds.  My husband put two vent wells together to put around the gas meter.  


This week I hope to fill and repaint the wood where our old railings were taken off.  I will also dig up more of the ivy as time allows.  

{Post #938} Granola Bars

GRANOLA BARS


2 cups old-fashioned oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup sunflower kernels
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup pecans chopped 
1/2 cup almonds, slivered
1/4 cup coconut
1/4 cup raisins


Spread oats, wheat germ, sunflower kernels, pumpkin seeds and pecans on a jelly roll pan.  Toast at 325 for 12 minutes.


Meanwhile, put almonds, coconut, and raisins in a large bowl.


In a saucepan, bring to a boil:


1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt.  


Simmer 5 minutes.


Add toasted ingredients to bowl.  Pour "syrup" over it.  Stir very thoroughly.  Dump into a 9 x 13 pan.  With non-stick-sprayed sandwich bag, press ingredients down into pan firmly.  Allow to cool.


***The original recipe called for peanuts, but Susie is allergic, so I subbed pecans.***


These were the first ones I made that I liked so much as far as flavor.  Plus--they stick together really well.  Of course we tried them as soon as they were cool enough.  They kept their shape even better after they were completely cool.  These would be great for traveling.


  

{Post #937} Railing Removal

I have hated this railing since we moved into this house 6 years ago.  Every spring I would scrape and sand it down and repaint it (and that took some doin', let me assure you).  No matter how perfectly it was primed and painted, it still peeled every spring.  


One of our house upgrades this year is removing the wooden railing and replacing it with a new black wrought iron one.  Our flower bed installation might be happening Saturday, so my husband graciously removed the railing today.  Soon I will fill in the nail holes and repaint the wooden trim.  Tearing the railing off did not damage it too badly, which is nice.  At least we don't have to replace whole pieces of wood.  


Our house has changed so much since we moved in.  I wish I had a picture from way back then.  We had an ugly white storm door that I removed.  There were 6 large hardwood trees we had removed (don't worry--there are plenty left!).  One completely blocked the view of the front door from the street.  I painted the door and shutters this lovely red.  Halfway gone: 

Here is the new look without the chunky, peeling railing:

I saw some lovely bushes at Lowe's today.  I was there to get a vent something or other (it's on the left side on the ground in the last picture).  It is to put around our gas meter so the dirt won't get onto it.  I have to get another one as this one does not come out from the house far enough.  When I go back to get the other vent thing, I'm going to get two of the bushes I liked.  There weren't that many of them, and if they're like any other bushes and flowers, once they are gone, they are gone.  


I am going to post separately about a scrumptious granola bar I made this afternoon.


~Joan