{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

{Post #936} More Ivy and Surprise

After Elisabeth's contribution to the ivy removal, here is how it looks:

...now for my surprise.  I guess everyone likes their decorations for their own reasons.  I have never had an above-the-bed decoration that I really, really liked.  I've had wreaths, purchased artwork, etc.  After seeing some different ideas, I decided to take some of my wedding pictures (that were 4 x 6 actual photos...not digital) and did this:

I had to take this from the side so there would not be any glare.  The photos are 8 x 10 and mounted on artist canvases.  I spray painted the edges black and used Mod Podge to adhere the photos to the canvases.  In our wedding, I had the veil down over my face until "you may now kiss your bride", so my face is fuzzy in the top picture.


I hope my husband likes it!!


~Joan

{Post #935} Ivy: Halfway Finished; Me: Completely Finished

Well, I am kaput.  Don't know how to spell that, but the definition is "all done in", "worn out", "can't pull up another ivy leaf".  Did I mention I've been awake since about 4 AM?


My son, Ben, has a karate tournament in Raleigh today.  He actually should start competing in about 2 minutes.  It's over 3 hours away.  I didn't go, but I can't stop thinking about it.


Here's the "after" pictures.  Wish there was no ivy at all in the pictures.  Elisabeth offered to help.  What a blessing!

I have a surprise for my husband that I will be working on later this afternoon.  Truth be told, rolling up that ivy tumbleweed just did.  me.  in.  

Hope I can get the project finished.  It is something I've been wanting to do for a while, but my idea never came together.  I have it partway finished, and may I just say that it is looking VERY promising.

~Joan

{Post #934} Ivy Be Gone!

Ivy, we need you no more.  At least where the flower beds will be.  


My camera was on its last ounce of juice, so I brought it in to charge.  I took 3 of these pics and Isaac took 1...guess which one he took?

This ivy is the most tenacious stuff.  That can be good and that can be bad.  I want to pull/cut/dig up what will be under my future flower bed (which will be right up against the house).  It is so green, lovely, and verdant.  See how the fat lady in the last picture is rolling it away from her?  Much to her my surprise, it is only rooted in a couple places.  The key is having the strength and dexterity to roll it away from you while ripping out the root without having it throw you back into the front of the house.  I know--I make it sound like a piece of cake.

Better get back to it.

Lord willing, the flower bed construction will begin on Monday and I can plant this little beauty after it grows all big and strong...it's a Shasta Daisy seedling.  I only sowed the seed 5 days ago.  This little overachiever is ahead of schedule!

~Joan, hopefully with "after" pictures in no time!!