Saturday, March 12, 2011

Simple Comforts

Look what I just pre-ordered from Amazon!
Kim Diehl's new book is coming out in mid May. I am so excited! Her stuff just keeps getting better and better!!! I want to make just about every one of her quilts. I guess I had better get busy! CJ, get that credit card ready! I think that you are going to want this one!

I am working on some applique right now using her method. Once you try her way, it makes applique not so overwhelming. It is time consuming, but so worth the effort.

This will be going around the border of a quilt for our granddaughter, Karlee. She brought this picture to us last week. Look at that little pointed foot. Too cute!
If I might say so myself, she is one of the most beautiful little girls that I have ever seen, inside and out. :~) This is the little sweetheart that bought me the oil warmer for Christmas.

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Doing My Part

A little while ago Kim/Kim's Big Quilting Adventure challenged us all to help the economy and get out there and shop!!! So being the good American that I am, I took that challenge and let my fingers do some shopping on the internet. Here is some of the things that I found to add to my stash. Now remember this was all just to do my part in saving America one box at a time. :)

Does anyone have a really good jelly roll pattern? I have a few of these now and I am not sure how I want to use them. The first 2 are Shangri-la by Three Sisters. I think that this collection is just glorious and scrumptious!
This is Fall Back in Time by Sandy Gervais. I bought some yardage that was on sale to go with this one.

I love this quilt kit!!! I love red, white, and blue. But, I guess you already knew that, being the good American that I am. lol It is Prairie Paisley, by Minick & Simpson. This is my first kit. I love this pattern!!! I am sure that I will make this one more than once. I can see it some of the darker, richer colors of Kansas Trouble Quilters and of course, it would be fantastic in Thimbleberries fabrics.I am going to make my daughter a new diaper bag. The one she has needs to be condemned. When I showed this to her, she didn't know what sock monkey's were. I thought that I was a good mother, but I guess not. I had neglected to teach her about sock monkeys. Well, it is never to late and now she knows!! Maybe I should make her children some sock monkeys to make up for my neglect of her. Can you still get these brown socks? hmmmmm I will have to go on a search for them.So as you can see, I have been having quite a bit of fun, clicking my mouse, and enjoying that chocolate that Andrea sent me. YUMMO!! Is there anything more satisfying than shopping and eating chocolate, all while in your comfy jammies? It has to be right at the top of the list!!!

I have some more things to show you, finished projects. But, that will be another day and another post. When I first started this blogging thing, I wasn't sure I would know what to talk about. But, I am having no trouble at all.

Gummy Worms!!

I love gummy worms! They are one of my favorite little treats that aren't chocolate. :~) Kristy loves them too! When I seen this fabric, I just knew that it would be perfect for her. I made her a new scrub top for work. This should help to cheer up her patients, don't ya think! She works on the surgical floor of the hospital. Her newly operated on patients could use a little brightness and a smile always helps in the healing process.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

More on Summer Vacation


I just had to share another pic from our vacation. This is our youngest grandson and his mommy (DD #2). He is 3 1/2 months old in this picture and was loving every minute of it. The water is so warm up next to the shore, it feels like bath water. Aren't baby bottoms just about the cutest thing that you have ever seen? Oh, if only mine could be so adorable? LOL
Yeah, I know, that is not a picture I should be putting in your head. *s*

Gratitudes for today----
1- Much cooler weather, we are sleeping with our windows closed now!!!
2- Celebrating the birth of our youngest son tomorrow, he will be 7.
3-A new wallhanging, I will post pics tomorrow.
4-A wonderful shopping trip with youngest son today for school and birthday.
5-All of you, my blogging, quilting friends!!!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Apple Goodness!!!!



Yesterday morning was one of those perfect, crisp, fresh fall days. After dropping Ethan and Karlee (granddaughter) off at school, I went for a walk around this little lake not to far from Ethan's school. This is a picture taken from a little bridge that crosses over the river inlet. It is about 2 miles going all the way around it.

On Monday when I walked here, there was about 100 or so Canadian Geese in the water. Of course, I didn't have my camera with me. I brought it with me this time thinking that I could get a picture. Well, here is all that I seen. :~)No geese! I am not even sure what kind of water fowl these are. The little squirrel posed very cute for me though. :~)

When I returned home I spent the rest of the morning in the kitchen. After browsing around on the internet the other day I came across this recipe for making applesauce in the crockpot. Yummy and oh so easy! We all love it!!!!!! I will be making more of this and freezing it. Take some time and check out all of her yummy recipes for the crockpot! Very worth your time!

























I made this too! It is from an old family recipe. One of our fall time favorites! Not sure where it got it's name though, as it is more like a cobbler.
Apple Pudding
Cream together --- 2 cup sugar
2 eggs
4 T butter
Add -- 4 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg (I like to use the whole nutmeg and shave off my own using my micro-plane)
1 1/4 tsp salt
2 cups flour
Mix well with a large spoon and press into a greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes.
I like to squeeze the juice of a lemon over my apples slices before mixing in the other ingredients.

Let me know if you try this recipe and how you like it.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Friday, March 4, 2011

Summer Swap has arrived ---


My 4-seasons summer swap quilt has arrived at it's new home all the way to Portugal! How
exciting is that! Luisa posted about it here. I stressed a little more over this one. Took me quite awhile to decide what I wanted to do. But, in the end I think that she is happy with it and I know that I had a good time making it.

Thanks again to Margaret for hosting this fantastic journey! Are we going to do more Margaret?

Hugs & Stitches, Julia

Thursday, March 3, 2011

I haven't fallen off of the planet........

I have just been riding the huge wave called life!! Things have been way out of the ordinary here. Some of them good, some of them not so good.

First school started and that is always a little chaotic for me until we get a routine developed. Everything is going nice and smooth on the school front now. Maybe, I shouldn't say that out loud. I might jinx myself. :~)

We had company on Labor Day. My brother and his family came up from Utah. It has been a couple of months since we seen them, so it was nice to spend the day visiting with them.
But, after they went home, my Dad had some mild, emergency medical issues and I spent the next couple of hours with him and Mom in Urgent Care. Without going into details, he is fine now. This past Tuesday he had a colonoscopy done and everything is o.k. Nothing was seriously wrong. Just needs to quit taking aspirin, his blood was way to thin.

Last week was the Eastern Idaho State Fair. We spent a couple of days wandering around there. Riding the carnival rides, eating, looking at the animals, eating, watching the free entertainment, eating, looking at quilts (sorry no pics). Did I mention eating. :~) We did way to much of that activity. lol

On Sept 6, this sweet, handsome young man was baptized.

We are so proud of Ethan and the choice that he has made. It was such a special day. We saved his birthday party for this wonderful day. I made him a cake in the shape of an eight. I am not a very talented cake decorator, so no pictures of that one. ;~) Isn't he handsome, all dressed up in his Sunday best?

During the middle of all of this activity, I had the stomach flu for a couple of days. I am feeling better from that. But now, I have a miserable head cold! Argh!!!!! My nose looks like Rudolph and my sleep is being interrupted by fits of coughing. I thought the cold and flu season was in the winter months, not now! Maybe, I will get it all over with and be germ free the rest of the fall and winter. Ha! I have also been daycare for daughter's 3 darling children the past 2 weeks. Thank goodness, their Daddy will be home for the next 2 weeks and I get a break. Chasing after 4 children between the ages of 8 and 1 1/2, can be exhausting and stressful!

I have some really exciting news to share with you but, I want to take some pictures first. I will try and get some good pics today and tell you all about it later today or tomorrow.

I am going to be freezing up some of garden bounty today. So nice to enjoy the fruits of your labor all winter long.


During all of this excitement and chaos, there are those special, tender moments, that make you step back and count all of your wonderful blessings. Who can't find peace and comfort when looking upon a sleeping child. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him, all cozy and zonked out on my pillow. Sure wish his Mom had taken his shoes off first though, that's my side of the bed! For Pete's sake! ;~)

Hugs & Stitches, Julia

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Enjoying Time with Family

Hi all! I thought that I would just pop in to say hi! I am enjoying time with my family. Kristy and the grandbabies have been staying here a lot through the holidays. We have been playing with the children and their new holiday toys.

I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas!

Ethan has one more week out of school, so I will be pretty busy until life gets back to a schedule. It is fun to take a break from "regular" life though and enjoy the little blessings (children) in my life.

I am kind of getting the itch to get back in the sewing room though. I have big plans for the rest of the winter! I want to spend lots of time quilting in the next couple of months. :~)

Hugs&Stitches, Julia