JSS Retreat!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by

I’m sewing.  I know that’s an unusual event for this blog these days.  But I’m at Retreat!  And sewing is a must.

Apparently this year, blogging is taking second fiddle to actual quilting.  Because I left my laptop at home.  Horrors!  But I do have my new tablet along that Dear Hubby gave me for Christmas.  Have I mentioned that there’s a big learning curve for a person of my age when you get new technology?  And who has time to learn a whole new photo editor anyway?  Not this gal.  And certainly not while actually at my quilting retreat.  Hopefully I can figure out how to get a few unedited pics on here.  It could open up a whole new world for me, eh?

In the meantime, I need to tell you about The California Girls.  We have a bunch of them here this year!  And they apparently have formed their own Bee.  And have taken Mt. Calm by storm.

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They even have a flag.  A quilted one!  Hey, LaLa is a part of this group.  You expected anything less than their own quilted flag?  Then you don’t know LaLa.  And word on the street has it that she just gave instructions to Sister Connie that were something like “make us a flag for our JSS West group” and then hounded encouraged her until she got it done.  By the way, left to right they are: LaLa, Vicki, Connie, Patty, Cindy & Kathy.

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The back of the flag has California fabric on it.  Leave it to these California gals to find that.  And we all got some!  Late last night they came down the hall from their bedroom (where apparently really fabulous things are brewing) clapping and carrying on and handing out goodie bags to the rest of us.  With all kinds of fun goodies.

But I failed Blogging 101 last night and didn’t get a picture of them doing that.  I’ll try to to do better, really I will.  Later today I’ll attempt to remember to take a pic of the bag and describe the wonderful contents for you.  No promises.  I stayed up until nearly 4 because…. did I mention I was quilting?  And I was on a roll.

Some things never change.  Not the quilting, silly…. the staying up until 4!  And today binding is on my agenda.  I’m gonna finish a quilt at this retreat if it kills me.

There’s a first time for everything, eh?
Hugs,
Barb

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Sadie

Posted on April 14, 2013 by

We have been dog-sitting for the past 4 days.

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Meet Sadie.  She’s a long-haired chihuahua.  I know, I know.  We are a cat family.  But sometimes it’s OK for the cats to have a dog around.  It gets their hissing throats cleared out.

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Sadie made herself at home the first evening here.

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And she has tried out every favorite cat napping spot.  I think she is part cat!  She sleeps on the quilts on the back of the couch (Panda’s favorite spot) and on the backs of chairs in the living room and the big red chair in the sewing room (Boo’s favorite spot.)  She has not tried to climb Panda’s cat tree yet.  Panda is very happy about that.

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She likes to be right in on the action – like when Dear Hubby was cracking peanuts to eat the other night.  And she sleeps on the bed with us and Boo.  Panda decided it was too crowded and stayed away.

Boo and Panda have accepted Miss Sadie as a part of the family.

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And when it’s time for treats, everyone lines up in the kitchen.

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Notice who finishes first.  Panda keeps an eye on her.

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At this particular treat time, Panda decided to watch from a distance.  Notice her little pile of treats….

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And when Sadie finished her treats, she walked right over and ate Panda’s too!  Did I mention that I think Sadie is part cat?

Boo and Panda are having fun with Miss Sadie.  I think they will miss her when she is gone.

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So if Sadie’s parents are reading this, all I can say is, Don’t bother coming to pick her up.  We’ve decided to keep her.

Hugs,
Barb, Dear Hubby, Boo, Panda & Sadie

Posted in Boo, Panda | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Inklingo 101

Posted on April 8, 2013 by

I considered titling this post Inklingo for Dummies. But I don’t really like what that implies. I actually think it’s more like Inklingo for Intellectuals. Because Inklingo is so crazy easy that it’s the intellectuals that try to think it to death who take awhile to get it.

My friend, Linda, who is the genius behind Inklingo is doing lessons on the Inklingo blog. They just started today so you can jump right in on the ground floor. Sort of a reverse mystery because you know what the end result will look like.

Remember the mystery we did just recently? Well, of course mine isn’t finished yet. You do know me, right? And the fact that I have 4,328 projects started and none of them finished? I’m trying to set a record for PHD’s.*  I think I can stop trying now. But I am still working on the mystery quilt. I promise you will see it again as it progresses. And in case you want to view some completed ones, Linda featured a bunch of pics of them on the Inklingo blog recently. Go ahead and go look at them. I’ll wait.

Tap, tap, tap………

Oh, you’re back? Good. Aren’t they gorgeous? I can’t wait to show you mine. Christmas 2015.  Hang in there.  (That’s me… talking to myself.)

So, as I started to tell you, today Linda started lessons on the Inklingo blog.  For the Inklingo Periwinkle Quilt.  And it’s just gorgeous.  And I’m desperately trying to restrain myself from working on 4,329 PHD’s. I mean after all, there’s a point where people stop being impressed by your genius at working on so many PHD’s simultaneously and just think you’re absolutely crazy. Do you think I’ve already crossed the line?

Earlier today I fixed another Fresh Veggie Hummus Pizza. This time with a white corn tortilla at Tammy’s suggestion yesterday.

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But the tortilla was much smaller. So I had to pile the ingredients high. It was challenging, but I was able to get my mouth around it.

I know you’re not surprised.

Hugs,
Barb
*PHD – Project Half Done

Posted in Inklingo, quilts | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Vegan Hummus Pizza & Ginger Ale

Posted on April 7, 2013 by

This is my new favorite lunch. And since I’d posted the breakfast that is my fave a while ago, I thought you might now be ready for lunch. I also haven’t done food for quite some time. And I figured Lani was anxiously awaiting some more recipes, right Lani? Not. She gave me a hard time before about too much food. So lately she must be pretty happy with the blog. Well, when I’m actually posting, that is.

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This is my new favorite lunch. Dear Hubby likes it too. I don’t think it could be more healthy! It’s like salad turned into pizza with loads of fresh veggies. Yum.

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You start with a whole wheat tortilla. Or two if you’re making a pizza for Dear Hubby too.

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I used these. And I don’t even want to hear about the unhealthy properties of them. They probably have loads of preservatives or something. La-la-la-la-la. Not listening! (That was for my friend, Cyndie. I think she knows all about healthy and unhealthy things. Like toothpaste. Just ask her!)

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Here’s what I used for toppings. But you pretty much can use whatever you want! Just like regular pizza. Only I stay away from all that stringy, messy melted cheese. Besides we’re not actually going to cook these. Remember? Salad turned into pizza.

By the way, I got this recipe from a blog called Repurposed Life. I learned about this one from Pioneer Woman. This gal actually won a trip to the Ranch one time. Very cool.

Two huge keys to success: hummus and red pepper flakes. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

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You bake the tortillas in a 425 degree oven for about 5-7 minutes. Jerilyn at RL said 3-5 minutes, but I found I needed to leave mine longer to get them crunchy. I also flipped them over a few times while they were baking.

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Then you spread a generous amount of hummus on the tortilla. I made my hummus fresh. I love hummus. I could eat it every day. Wait. I do eat it every day! Well, almost every day. It’s yummy, filling and good for you. And great on a veggie pizza.

In case you can’t quite tell from my picture, here’s what I piled on mine. Baby spinach, zucchini, golden tomatoes, mushrooms, red onion, red pepper, shredded carrots & cilantro. Then I sprinkled salt, pepper and red pepper flakes on top.

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Yum.  I think you need a closer look.

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Double yum. Triple yum. Quadruple yum. You get the idea. I love this stuff!

I should mention that Dear Hubby watched a show about how they grow mushrooms while we were eating this. I may never eat another mushroom as long as I live. Yuk!

And how many of you knew there was such a thing as Homemade Ginger Ale? I learned about this one on a vegan blog that is a super fave of mine.  It’s called Oh, She Glows.  And she has fabulous recipes. The link is to her “recipage” with the recipe for ginger ale. That actually wasn’t her recipe but one that she was sharing. Her blog is definitely worth surfing around if you’re at all interested in vegan things. In fact, I’d subscribe if I were you.

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You use fresh ginger grated into a piece of cheesecloth to make the ginger ale. There’s a lot of juice inside that ginger! I squeezed it into my measuring cup and then just added the club soda, lemon juice and maple syrup (I went with Angela’s suggestion) and stirred it up before pouring over ice.

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It is very refreshing and quite delicious! And I’m thinking it’s oh, so much better for you than regular soda with all the added high fructose corn syrup. It satisfies my craving for a Dr Pepper. Because really all I want is a carbonated drink. And now someone is probably going to inform me of the dangers of carbonation or club soda in general. Seems everything is going to kill us these days. I have a feeling we’re going to die anyway, no matter how healthy we eat. But I guess I’d rather not have the struggle with heart disease and a host of other things in my older age. If that’s at all possible. (I have a birthday this week – older is right around the corner!)

So try a healthy Fresh Veggie Hummus Pizza. And while you’re at it, make some Ginger Ale!

But stay away from those shows about how they grow mushrooms. Unless you want to leave the mushrooms off your pizza.

Happy Eating!
Barb

Posted in food, healthy, recipes | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Easter!

Posted on March 31, 2013 by

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He is risen indeed!!!

Just in case you don’t have a church home and/or would love to hear a great Easter Sunday message, here’s the link to my Pastor’s sermon from the service on 3/31/13.

Pastor Robert Morris’ Easter message 2013

Happy Easter!
Barb

Posted in just stuff | Tagged | 4 Comments