Dyes in your fabric?

 

The sage continues. Recently Heartspun Quilts wrote a blog post about fabric bleeding. Several years ago I wrote a blog post about reds bleeding. You can find it HERE.  

As we all may have experienced this at one time or another, I thought it was a good lesson to review. I hope this information is helpful.

What's been going on

The lovely pictures of snow have been screening the blogs. Most everyone is steeped in, with the cold weather bearing down. We, of course have not had any snow, but we have had brisk cold. The forecast is the mid to low 30's the next few nights.  It's been a crazy two months. I have been basically homebound, recovering first from a back injury, followed by a UTI and from Covid, enjoying my nice warm house. Not much fun as I'm not feeling up to doing much. Reading, doing lots of reading. 

So instead of snow, this is my view.

Starting my little garden plants.

I hope you are staying well and warm!

Shadows of Swanford Abbey

 

Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen is historical fiction filled with a flair of an Agatha Christie mystery. 

Set in the regency era, Rebecca Lane is to deliver her brothers manuscript to Swanford Abbey. She runs into Sir Frederick, the local magistrate, and their friendship is rekindled. Swanford Abbey is clothed in mystery, as a tragedy surrounds the many characters in this play. A murder, which takes place about half way through the book, is a mystery, which kept me guessing until the murderer is revealed.

The book is long and there seems to be a lot of descriptions and repeated explanations. But it is a clean novel and would be a great interest for those who enjoy regency era mysteries. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Bethany House. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Heary soup

Burrrr..... The US seems to be snowed under. While our lows have been 39 degrees and no snow (quickly going up to the mid 60's)  I thought I would share a great recipe for these cold winter days.

Have you ever had baked potatoes left over?  Or maybe you just like Baked potatoes.  Last year I found this delicious recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Soup, and I've made it several times, especially when we have potatoes left over.  I hope you enjoy this simple but delicious recipe.

8 russet potatoes

1 (16 ounce) package bacon

1 C butter

1 1/2 C flour

4 C milk

4 C half and half

10 chicken bullion cubes (or 10 tsp. bullion granules)

salt and pepper

cheddar cheese, grated 

 

I usually make this recipe with left over baked potatoes, but you can certainly make your own.  Wash and scrub baking potatoes, and bake for one hour at 400 degrees.  Be sure to let the potatoes cool before peeling them.

 

 Peel and chop potatoes into pieces.

 

 Line a large baking sheet with tin foil and lay your bacon onto it. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until crisp.

 

 Remove the bacon from the hot baking sheet to a plate lined with paper towels. Dab the excess grease from the bacon with another paper towel. Once the bacon has cooled, cut it into pieces. 

 

Melt butter in large pot.

 

Add 1 1/2 cups of flour and quickly whisk flour and butter together until it forms a nice thick paste.

 

Add 4 cups of milk, and 4 cups of half and half.

 

 

and 10 bullion cubes or 10 teaspoons bullion granules. ( I use Better Than Bullion Chicken Base)

Whisk the soup ingredients together over medium high heat. Keep stirring until the soup comes to a boil and gets thick, about 5 minutes. If the soup is thicker than you like add a little bit of milk or chicken broth to thin it out. 

 

Add the baked potato chunks and allow them to heat through. 

 

 Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the bacon crumbles and grated cheddar cheese.  

**** I usually make 1/2 half of this recipe when I only have 4 potatoes left, and it comes out great!  I hope you enjoy this tummy warming recipe.

Original recipe can be found HERE.

Children's quilts

 I've been trying to work up some children's quilts for donation for when  Hands to Help Quilting Challenge starts back up..

I figure it is better to work on them a little bit through out the year rather then putting the pressure on when they are due.

For a friend

 I have not been sewing/quilting in a while. But I decided that I would work on a quilt using this panel.

I bought the panel a few years ago. It looked so elegant. I've decided that I will make it for a friend who has had some health issues in the last few years. It reminds me of her style of decorating.

Now I just have to get enough ambition to finish it ;-)

A Helpful hint

 

Here's a little hint about using yardage for a charm pack pattern -  I always find this information helpful when trying to decide how much fabric to purchase.

1/4 yard = 8 squares
1 fat quarter = 12 squares
1/2 yard = 24 squares
3/4 yard = 40 squares
1 yard = 56 squares

Width = Strips Per Yard -

1.5" = 23 strips
2" = 17 strips
2.5" = 13 strips
3" = 11 strips
3.5" = 10 strips
4" = 8 strips
4.5" = 7 strips
5" = 7 strips
5.5" = 6 strips
6" = 5 strips

Happy Quilting!

Oh what fun

 We had a very special New Years day. Our son brought his two children over to visit. And what fun we had!

They both enjoyed opening their Christmas presents.

And then the sillies started :-)

These two grands are so delightful. They are happy, funny, energetic, and just makes us laugh. 

We are so blessed!

My word

Can you believe that a year has blown by. Where did 2021 go? It seems to have come and gone in an instant.  And what a year it was. As I reflect on everything that has happened over the last year I try to pinpoint lessons that I have learned. 

Each year I have chosen a word to live by. This year I had decided I didn't have a word to use, so I wasn't planning on having one.

But yesterday I was talking with a friend and she shared with me a word that had taken her heart. 

FAITHFUL

And that word resounded with me;

So I am using FAITHFUL for my word this year.

"... It is required of stewards that they be found FAITHFUL."

1 Corinthians 4:2

Happy New Year

 

Wishing you a very Happy New Year. May blessings abound for you and yours in 2022!!