A new, old, quilt...

While in Nova Scotia I was gifted by my husband's family something that I think is pretty cool.

As it turns out my husband's paternal grandmother loved to quilt, and she was notorious for gifting these quilts to her daughter in laws for holidays and occasions.

My mother in law was never particularly fond of these items and kept them stored in cupboards.  Over the years she has given them away to charity or to use camping etc.  

One has remained though, and is now in my possession!

Although it is not something I would make, I have to admire and appreciate the talent and work that went into the making of this quilt.  All stitching, even the sewing of the blocks together, binding, applique, embroidery and quilting are done by hand!!!

It has been washed now as it was stored in a garbage bag for the past several years, and sitting on my bureau right now as I am not sure where to put a quilt made by hand more than 40 years ago!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Socks on a Plane!

So very bright and early this morning we left Halifax headed for home.

Late last night I cast on the stitches for a new sock using one of my new yarns.

By the time we landed in Edmonton here is what I had managed to complete:

I LOVE knitting.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Lace Socks DONE!!!

So, I stayed up late last night (well, not really if we consider I went to bed at 2300 hours Edmonton time, only I was in Halifax) and finished my lace socks:

TAH DAH!!

Now, I can get some of my new yarns cast on for the flight home tomorrow.

Have been singing the good old Farewell to Nova Scotia all day.

Although I am a ready to go home, it is also sad to leave here as I have no idea when or if ever I will return.

My husband flies home every one to two years to see his mother, but due to the cost of flying across the country, my trips and our son's (since he can't fly for free any more) are far more infrequent.  

Today we went to see my father in law's grave.  I have not been there since he passed almost 7 years ago, and I could not stay long, as although my mother in law has aged since the last time she came out to see us, it was not right to know that six feet below us, he was laying there.....  ugggghhh.  I hate death.

Hope this inspires your own creativity, and give everyone a big hug....

 

Kathy

Gourmet Field Trip...

No trip to Nova Scotia would be complete for me without a trip to Pete's Frootique!

Going to let you in on a little secret here; first I love food, and I love to play with and cook with it!

Here are a few of the things I just could not go home without:

Now, yes the cookie box is slightly crushed, but that is because the store wanted me to pay for a bag, and I just don't roll that way!

I'm sure the cookies will still takes DELICIOUS!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Peggy's Cove and Yarn !!!

Today we decided it was time to make the trek out to Peggy's Cove.  Every time that I go to Nova Scotia I insist that we must go there.  Not sure what exactly I find so fascinating about the place, but I do.

After a good climb on all the rocks, no whale spotting, my assisting a downed (old man who fell) tourist and the critical care RN in me could not leave him since no one seemed to know what to do, we had lunch at the restaurant there and headed back to Dartmouth.  

Since my brother in law had been kind enough to borrow up his truck (yes, it's a real truck not an SUV or some kind of hybrid car, cross over thing), we were able to get into parts of the city that a motor home would just be not a good idea to get into.

So, my husband let me go to Dartmouth Yarns.

Here is what I emerged with in under 15 minutes:

 Better get that pair of lace socks finished so I can start on one of these wonders!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

PEI Pottery

Yesterday we had lunch at a lovely little restaurant at the Stanley Bridge Country Resort.  While there we went to the gift shop (of course), I am kicking myself now for not purchasing a hand bag they had there that was leather and shaped like a dog!  I simply cannot describe it in good enough detail and now wish I had purchased it  : ..(

Oh well..

I did pick up this beautiful plate though:

 I LOVE it.  I has the beautiful blue of the sea, and the red sand as well.  PERFECT!

Hope this inspires your own creativity, and a trip to my favorite island...

Kathy

Quilting in PEI Day Two...

Yesterday I showed some of my fabric finds from the Bargain Fabric Outlet, and today I will show you the rest of my treasures!  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Quilting in PEI ???

Today we visited the only quilt shop that so far I have been able to find (other than the one that I found in Dartmouth the other day).  This shop is called Bargain Fabric Outlet.  Now, the prices are not that great compared to prices back in Alberta, but they did have some things that I just cannot get at home:

Yes, it is an Anne of Green Gables quilt, and the whole entire quilt including backing and batting is in the kit!

I simply had to get it!

Hope this inspires your own creativity, and a trip to my favorite little island...

Kathy

Still Playing in PEI!!!

Today we spent most of the day with our son at the Sandspit Amusement park with our son.  The line ups were minimal, so he took most of the rides several times before the day was out and thoroughly enjoyed himself!

Then, because it was Friday and it is PEI we had dinner at a little place called "Little Skippers" (there is no web page for it : (  , but here is my halibut dinner with of course fresh baby potatoes (what else would one get in PEI:

It was DELICIOUS!!!

Hope this inspires you to visit my favorite little island...

Kathy

Playing in PEI

Today was another "playing" day.  

We got up this morning and went to The Cows Factory Tour!

We got to see how their T-shirts are made, along with their ice cream, butter, and cheese.  Of course we got to sample these products!

Of course we got T-shirts, and ice-cream, but for sure we had to have some:

It was delicious!!

The of course we stopped at the Factory Outlet stores near by, and although taxes in this province are ridiculous, I ended up buying myself a new pair of Rockport beach shoes because the price was RIGHT:

and, they came in super handy for going to:

The Beach!!!

What a great day, again the temperature, wind and sun were just right!

Hope this inspires you to visit my favorite little island!!!

Kathy

On Route to PEI!!!

I LOVE PEI!  I am not sure what exactly it is that makes me love this little island, but I love the red sand, the farm lands, the cows (everywhere), and the beautiful old farm houses.

Since this was my son's first trip to PEI, we took the best way to get there: 

The Confederation Ship!!

While on route I did a bit of knitting on my second sock, but the scenery was too beautiful, the wind and sun were perfect and so:

 Leaving Nova Scotia

 Sailing across the Northumberland

Arriving in PEI.

Hope this inspires you to make a little trek to my favorite island...

Kathy

Lace Sock

This morning we left Halifax and headed towards Prince Edward Island.

Since we stopped at almost evey touristy thing along the way, we will stay in a campground on the Nova Scotia side of the Northumberland Strait.

I finished one of my lace socks late yesterday.

Here's hoping I can go to the sheep and wool farm up here tomorrow ; )
We went for a walk this evening as there are some beautiful walking trails behind the campground here:

 Good night from the shores of the Northumberland Strait!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 19

I really love this particular block.  I loved the fabric when I bought this bundle of fat quarters, but the true reason I bought it was because of these colors:

SEW (spelling intended) pretty!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 18

I am now finished Block # 18!   YAY.

Apparently it needs to be pressed before I take pictures, but, here it is:

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 17

Okay, if I keep up the pace I have been going at, I actually might be able to finish this quilt when we get home, and have it shipped before.... October???

Another pink block!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 16

How appropriate today is the 16th and this is my 16th of these blocks!!!

Pink is not my favorite color, but this block is kind of fun...

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 15

Okay, so there's NO chance in Halifax that I will get this quilt done in time for the wedding, but I am putting in a good appearance.  

Meet Road Trip Block # 15!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Block # 14

I decided I better at least sew a few more of these blocks before we leave.  At least look like I am trying to get it done.  But, really, it would still have to go to the long arm quilter to get completed and I am pretty certain no one is magically going to quilt this between now and Friday evening.

Oh well,  here is Road Trip Block # 14!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Dinner?

It's that time of the week again!  What's for dinner.  

On the drive home today, my son and I decided we would have pizza.  Now, you may have by now figured out that I am not the order pizza in type of mom.

When we got home, I got my Kitchenaid mixer, and got the dough started.  While the dough was mixing, I cut up the mushrooms, peppers, grated the cheese, and got out a jar of pizza sauce.  Heated the oven to 170 F and turned it off.  Then I put the Kitchenaid bowl with the dough in it, into the oven, and left it there for about a half an hour while my son and I rode our bicycles to the park.

When we got home the dough was ready to be shaped, toppings were applied, and into the oven went the pizza.  Thirty minutes later dinner was served along with a green salad!

There was a little dough left over, of which I made two small, individual pizza's for my son's lunch on another day!

Pizza Dough:

1 1/2 cups very warm water in the bottom of Kitchenaid bowl

1 cup flour

- mix together on medium speed for 1 minute then add:

2 1/4 tsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

2 tbsp oil ( I used Wild Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil that I get at Evoolution)

2 tsp salt

- once mixed add another:

2 - 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour until dough is no longer sticking to side of bowl, and mix for another 8 - 10 minutes until dough is soft and spongy.  

Place in pre-warmed oven for about 30 minutes.  Punch down and roll into pizza shape.  Add desired toppings.  I bake my pizza at 350 F for the first 25 minutes and at 425 F for the last 5 - 10 minutes just to brown the cheese.  Enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Really.... There's No Way in Halifax...... Road Trip Block # 13

One of my default expressions in daily living is "There's No Way in Halifax"!

Well, that literally applies to my project today.

Remember I am supposed to be making a quilt for the wedding of my husband's brother, and the quilt is supposed to be ready to leave with us this week for Halifax.

I don't really think that is going to happen, since I will now introduce you to Road Trip Block # 13!

I have not told my husband yet (shhhhhhh...).  This quilt will be making its arrival in a nice cardboard box via Canada Post in a few months!
Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Stamp of the Month Club

I realized today that I had forgot to post my Stampo of the Month Club that my friend Karina offers.

Here are the cards for August.  I chose a different stamp set because I already had the one for which was being showcased this month!

These cards are so FUN!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake

I was going through some of my old recipes in my rather tattered shoe box where I keep these yesterday, when I came across a recipe from my childhood.

It was for a giant baked cookie that was sponsored by some baking company for the local country fair.  Of course I entered and won! ; )

Today, I decided I would make this again, but rather than use the difficult to cut pizza pan, I would use a 9x13" cake pan.

Here is what I got:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake

Cream together:

2/3 cup non hydrogenated margarine

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

add in and mix together: 

1 egg (room temperature)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

add in:

2 1/4 cups four

2 cups chocolate chips

Bake in greased 9x13 cake pan for 25 - 30 minutes until golden brown.  Let cool in pan before cutting (if you can).  Enjoy!

 Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature: Happy Birthday Card!

I am meeting my friend for lunch today again at Duchess Bake Shop, and it's her birthday on Sunday.

I decided to make her a cupcake card (because I LOVE cupcakes), for my Friday Feature Project on Krafting Krew.

I hope she likes it!  My son wanted to know why I was giving a card with a "moldy" cupcake!  I explained that I thought the green icing was pretty, and he just shrugged.... } : (.....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Strawberry Adventure # 3

The last thing that I did to finish using up all of the strawberries from the weekend, was to make Strawberry Marmalade.   I LOVE the taste of this marmalade, and love making and gifting it because no one really knows what to expect the first time they taste it, but after that, you are addicted to it!

I have not included a recipe for it, because it is a kind of you have to see how to make it and what it should look like, to know how to make it sort of things.... really.

Here are the jars straight out of the canner!  Apparently I forgot to wipe the tops before I took the picture!

I can hardly wait to try some!

Hope this inspires your own creativity....

Kathy

p.s. the jars on the right just have the light shining through the window straight on them, all jars are really the same color ; )

Strawberry Adventure # 2

After making the Strawberry Shortcake, we got a little more adventurous today with out strawberry baking.

Today we made Strawberry Pie!

I forgot to take a picture with the whipped cream on top before dinner, but you will just have to trust me, it was DELICIOUS!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Strawberry Adventure # 1

On the weekend, my son and I visited Billyco Junction Gardens to pick strawberries.

Now of course, something has to be done with these berries.

So, the first thing we made was....... Strawberry Shortcake!

So YUMMY with whipped cream of course!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Oh S"crap"! it's Monday...

And it's also HAPPY SASKATCHEWAN DAY!!!!

I have finally finished my second version of the Plenty of Fish Facebook Mystery Quilt.

Here is the before the borders picture:

and the after the borders picture:

This entire quilt is made from my scrap basket!!!  No new piece of previously unused fabric was used to make it.  I am quite proud of the fact that I used up some of my fabric scrap stash!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Breakfast from a box???

Well, kind of...

I was not feeling that great this morning, maybe over did it yesterday?

Sunday morning, is usually a morning, I go all out and make something extra special. Today, not so much. 

Recently I came into the possession of a plethora of coupons for these Egg Creations products. 

Today seemed like the perfect time to try them out since I had picked up a package earlier in the week (used my coupon of course).

Along with fresh strawberries that my son and I picked yesterday at Billyco Junction, whipped cream and maple syrup, breakfast was served!

It was delicious, I will use this product again.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip Adventures!

Today my son and I set off from home with the intent of strawberry picking in Central Alberta.

Our first stop of course was at Prairie Points Quilt Shop in Ponoka.

Here is all of my "finds" from there:

I LOVE this store!

From Ponoka we headed to Billyco Junction to pick strawberries.  We had a blast.  The strawberries were perfect and in less than an hour we had a full bucket.

Then we headed to the Ellis Bird Farm that Lynn from Prairie Points Quilt Shop had told us about.

This was a wonderful place to spend the remainder of the afternoon.

My son got to see:

 and play with:

 

and as we drove away:

It was a great afternoon!

Hope this inspires your own creativity, and sense of adventure...

Kathy

Friday Feature: Card making and Percocet???

Yup, the title is correct!

Thanks to a lovely form of matter called a kidney stone I have spent the last two days in bed eating Percocet to deal with the pain of this object migrating slowly through my body!!!  

It is without a doubt the WORST pain ever.  I have up until now considered myself extra privileged to  have had an emergency C-section at 34 weeks and have no idea the terror of labour and delivery, but I think at least most people don't vomit continuously throughout labour, so it can't really be that bad????  can it????

So, in between moments of "calm" I have lay in bed with my Samsung Galaxy Pad 10.1, and watched You Tube.  One of the videos I came across was for this Bandana Technique Card, and the Saskatchewan

farm kid in me just had to make it:

I did not have a fancy stylus like she does in the video, so improvised "farmer style", and used the end of a paint brush to dip into the acrylic paint I had on hand (I did not have any left over white)!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Road Trip

On Tuesday my son and I made a little road trip to Vegreville.  Now, my son is a very sweet little boy, who told me that he wanted me to go to Vegreville for the BIG quilt sale at The Quilt Rack (everything is 50% off), but I am pretty sure the real reason is because a certain big box store in Vegreville has the best supply of Skylanders in the greater Edmonton area.  It's like no one buys them in this town!

So first we went to The Quilt Rack, and here is what I brought home:

 One medium green is missing from this picture, but here is my version of fabrics for the Cracked Pots Mystery Quilt.  Left is border fabric, two darks, three greens (one is missing), light green, cream and of course since it is MY quilt there is musical fabric in it, and far right is the blender fabric!

 Minkee from "the basement" because it was 50% off, top fabric will be for the Cracked Pot Mystery Quilt backing, and bottom fabric is for my "Happy" version of the Plenty of Fish Facebook Mystery Quilt.

The red I just bought because it was pretty!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy