What's For Dinner?

I am starting to feel better.  Thank goodness for antibiotics!  But still feel tired and somewhat weak.  Have not really been eating much as no appetite, and it's really hard to chew and breathe at the same time since I cannot breathe through my nose.  Bummer.....

As for dinner tonight husband and son were running out of left overs in the fridge to heat up, and so the pestering questions as to dinner started early today.  I think they might have been getting hungry ; )

I decided that some kind of soup in the crock pot was the way to go.  After comparing what I had in the freezer and the pantry against a few recipes I came up with a Kathy version of Corn Chowder:

It was not quite as comforting a chicken soup, but almost, and I feel a little better after having eaten.  Go figure!

Corn Chowder

2 12oz cans of canned corn (drained)

1 can creamed corn

3 medium potatoes

1 package lean ground turkey cooked with onion

24 ozs of water

3 cups milk

Salt/Pepper/Poultry Seasoning/Garlic Powder/Chili Powder - all sprinkled in to taste

Cook on low for several hours.  Just prior to serving I fried up some turkey bacon, grated some marble cheese and chopped some green onions to garnish the top.

Served with garlic toast on home made bread I found in the freezer it was quite filling.  A little heavy on the carbs tonight, but hopefully it helps me feel better soon!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature Card

I'm not very creative feeling today, still battling this upper respiratory thingy..... I have germs.

So, I used Mojo Monday 312 for my inspiration for today's Friday Feature card:

Now off for some more lemon tea with honey.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Attic Windows Halloween Quilt

Last night I attended a class at Sew Divine to learn how to make these attic window quilt blocks for a Halloween Quilt.

Here is what I have so far:

Ironically, so far I have 13 blocks done!  I need to make 24 in total.

Still not a fan of these blocks, maybe the next 11 will convert me!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For DInner?

Yesterday by the time we got home from piano lessons it was getting late.  A quick look in the fridge and there is a bunch of random ingredients.  Broccoli (big bag from Costco), some random cheeses, and some left over chicken that was not enough for anyone.

A quick trip to my favorite cooking website and a recipe for Chicken Broccoli Casserole was found.

I did have to make a few substitutions: mayonnaise was replaced with ranch salad dressing, and the curry powder became chipotle seasoning.  The bread on the top was left over french bread that I had not decided what to do with it, and so it became the topping!!

I will make this again, because served with a fresh green salad and glass of milk it was warm and delicious along with really quick and easy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

It's DONE!!!

I have actually managed to finish the quilt that has caused me no end of angst as you know.  I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry or just admit myself to somewhere.

Here it is:

The 2 14/16" border is the only new fabric in this whole quilt.  All of the pieces are left overs from other quilts and projects I have made.

I cannot wait to get this out of the house for long arm quilting.  I might even keep it, because I think it is beautiful!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

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

This weekend I resolved to finish a couple of projects I had started, but due to these projects "ganging" up on me and trying to frustrate me to the point of a mental hospital admission had managed to stay in-complete and continue to frustrate me!

Well, one sock is complete the other is started and darn it, the pair will be finished by the end of this week, put in a box and posted to Saskatchewan to grandma.

As for the quilt, I finally decided to just do it!

The problem with this quilt was that I was doing fine with it, until at the last step I was instructed to make 6 more of the most awful, tedious blocks as the quilt pattern had modified from the beginning!  WTF!

I had persevered in making the original number of these blocks.  Now what?  So, I sat on it for a while.  The whole point of this quilt was originally for me to use up my scraps.  Eventually I decided that I would just go buy a border fabric and call it quits.  Lots of other people had done that so why couldn't I just do that too?

However, my Saskatchewan Ukrainian cheap conscious kept reminding me that these blocks were already made and what was I going to do with them?????

Long story short, I have made not just an additional 6, but 10, to make the quilt work with the 2 14/16" border I am adding to it!

I WILL get this done!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

 

Kathy

One Sock Done!

Well, so far this weekend has proved fruitful in finishing those projects that just don't want to get finished!

I have managed to get one of the April Sock of the Month from Biscotte & Cie.  I was able to finish it yesterday while my son was at art class.

Here it is:

I am actually thinking that I might send these socks on to my grandma.  I don't think she has had hand knit wool socks since she was a child, and because of the number of stitches in the leg required to make the rainbow pattern the socks are rather big on my leg.  I think that for someone with CHF and swollen legs that these socks would be at least somewhat loose on her legs, and I am certain that she will like the pretty colors on them, and not call them the politically incorrect names everyone else who has seen them does....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Another Block of the Month...

Back in July it seemed like a really good idea to participate in another block of the month that Woodland Quilting was offering.  I LOVE this store.  It is full of wonderful quilts and ideas and I now see they have a pretty website up and running.  Check it out!

The block of the month is for the Plum Pudding quilt on their kit page now.  So far this week, I have managed to complete month 1:

Now, off to finish that sock that I started again, earlier this week (secretly, I still think it has a plan to put me in the mental hospital, [although that might not be a bad idea there is a really good quilt shop in Ponoka] as does my second Plenty of Fish Facebook Mystery Quilt).  Both of these projects have ganged up on me and are taunting me!  Seriously!  I really hope I can prevail over both of them this weekend.  I may not get laundry or baking done this weekend, but both of these projects I will PREVAIL upon.  HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature Card!

Alright, so some of you have sent me emails wondering what the in world I am up to as my blogging has fallen behind.  Trust me, it's not that I haven't been doing things, but rather have not had the time to sit down and blog about it.

Firstly, I have worked 13 out of the past 15 days.  I am off for the weekend (unless everyone else at work is sicker than I, in which case I better screen calls tomorrow, but alas I will feel guilty, so better leave the house).  On top of that I have been battling a TERRIBLE head cold.  I cannot remember the last time I had one of these, I either get bronchitis or good old pneumonia : ), and to top all of this off I still have all the "mom" things like laundry, nutritious breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and of course piano, violin, and swimming lessons, and PLAY TIME!

Today of course is time for my Friday Feature card for Karina's Krafting Krew Group.

I am again using a Mojo Monday sketch sort of, (this one is Mojo Monday 311), because ever since my very first entry into the group won a prize I am a FAN of this group!

Here is my card for this week:

I am going to a baby shower tomorrow for the baby of a scrapbooker friend, so of the course the card MUST be made.  Now, here's a little known secret....I am not a very "girly" person at heart, and all of my child/kid stamps since I have a boy are of little boys and puppies etc.  So, this is as "girly" as I can get!  I even tried.....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

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

Normally on Monday I post something that I make out of my scraps.  Well, today's project is not exactly a s"crap", but it has caused me so much grief that numerous times it has almost been thrown into the s"crap"s, just to get rid of it!!! 

 Alas, my conscience, thriftiness and or pride (not sure which) will not let me to that!  Bother!

Allow me to introduce to you my April version of Sock of the Month from Biscotte & Cie.

I do not know what it is about this sock, but no matter now many times I re-start it, it still looks terrible.  The pattern was for a toe up sock (I hate these), but I really tried to follow the pattern.  Several times I have given up on the project (#$%^&*(^%^). One of the main things I did not like about this pattern was the overall pattern/texture of the sock.  There are so many make a stitch and knit 2 together that the yarn starts to get hard, and that is very uncharacteristic of these yarns.

So, after many starts, I have finally decided to modify the pattern and work backwards (from cuff to toe). I present you with:

The Kathy version!

So far this is what I have got done on it since after dinner.  I think this will work out much better, but......

Now off to conquer that quilt that is taunting me (must have forgot to take some meds somewhere along the line..... ; )

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

The other day I had to go to my LEAST favorite grocery store only because I could get everything there.

While waiting in the always long and tedious check out line I discovered these little treasures:

DELICIOUS!!!!

So, of course I got a package and today my son and I made:

I used the good old standby Chipits cookie recipe except swapped the chocolate chips for these, and a couple of drops of peppermint extract.  I wanted to add some green food coloring, but my son asked "who eats green cookies?"  Good question.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Dartmouth Socks Done!!!

This morning while I waited at my son's art class I finished my second socks that I started on the flight home from Nova Scotia!

I cannot tell you how super cozy these socks are on the feet, you'll just have to trust me, they are!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Yarn Mail!!!

My favorite type of mail arrived the other day!!!  Yarn mail.  :  )

While in Prince Edward Island I kept looking for yarn from the Island.

I was not successful in finding any until just before we left, and it was conveniently located near the Confederation Bridge, but alas by the time we went deep sea fishing, and had lunch we were  going to be late for dinner with his family, so we did not have time to stop. 

Not to be detoured in my quest for yarn, I simply placed an online order from Julie's Yarn Shop, and had it posted to me.  Here it is:

The colors are just beautiful, and I can hardly wait to start on all the projects that these yarns are meant for!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Where were you???

I participated last week for the very first time in Mojo Monday and found out yesterday that I was one of the monthly contest winners!!

So, I decided today that I would also participate in this weeks Mojo Monday 310 challenge.

As I looked at my stamps in my craft room and listed to Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning for about the hundredth time today, I decided what my card would be:

 I do not have any fireman stamps, but I do have this one that I ordered from Close to My Heart back in June, but never got around to using.

I used my Copics to color this stamp, and used Illuminate Glimmer for the stars in the background.

A fitting tribute to today I think, as it is a very deep and somber day for those of us that remember it.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mmmmm & Mmmmm Cookies!

Yesterday after school my son and I made cookies for his lunch box today.

A quick stop at Bulk Barn for the key multicolored  ingredient and we made:

Yummy!

M & M Cookies:

1/2 cup non hydrogenated margarine

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

- mix together until smooth

- add in:

1 room temperature egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 tablespoons Bird's Custard

- mix together until smooth, then add:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup mini M & M's

-fold these ingredients together and form into balls or use scoop.  Bake at 350F for 10 minutes, allow to cool 5 minutes on pan before moving to cooling rack.  ENJOY!!

 

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Still Hiding Swisschard : )

Alright, so little secret...I am still hiding swisschard in everything!!!

For lunch today my son got:

Swisschard and cheese quesadillas!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Dinner???

If you remember my son and I went to the market garden last week and stocked up on a whole bunch of vegetables, one of which was swisschard!

Now, have you ever tried to get a child to eat this stuff (really, I can barely tolerate it, it has a gross look and texture to it, but I know it is REALLY healthy, so I eat it)?

So....it has become like a zucchini product in our house.  What can't I hide it in?

Hence, dinner last night:

 Lasagna Rolls with swisschard inside them!

These were really easy to make:

12 lasagna noodles (I put them in the casserole dish with boiling water and they were soft by the time I was ready to roll them

1 large (4 cup I guess) package of creamed cottage cheese

1 egg

1 large bunch of swisschard chopped small

4 fresh mushrooms chopped

2 green onions chopped

1 branch of fresh dill chopped

salt and pepper to taste

-I mixed all of these together, then spread across the lasagna noodle and rolled up.

- Once all 12 noodles were in the casserole dish, I covered the rolls in pasta sauce, and grated cheese found in the refrigerator.

These turned out very tasty and I will experiment more with these creations!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Another Sock Done

I started this sock last week for something to do on our flight home.

Well thanks to having a long flight (half hour longer than the original five hours it was supposed to be), and an asthma attack earlier this week which left me sitting on the couch because walking was too much effort....

I have the first sock completed.  

Let me assure you it is super cozy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature Card!

I made this card yesterday for my Friday Feature entry into Karina's Krafting Crew weekly group.

There is no stamping on this because I spent the better part of early yesterday morning at my favorite local Emergency Department for my asthma (it's fall againnnnnnnn).

I needed to make something with NO STAMPING as even the mild scent of the ink would probably have sent me back to the Emergency Department (and no there are no rewards for frequent visits), so this is what I came up with:

The design for this card came from Mojo Monday 309 which I found online while sitting around waiting to breath.

I think this card is FUN!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Raspberry Jam

One of the things that my son and I also did this past weekend was go to Horse Hill Berry Farm.  It was their last weekend of picking.  We were able to get a full pail, although it did take almost 2 hours, but it was the end of August, so....

 Anyways, we ate raspberries in our morning breakfast cereal, and then made:

Raspberry Pear Jam!  Altogether we made 6 of these jars.

The pears were on a really good deal at Costco, so we got them, and used some in the jam.

I recently purchased these Weck canning jars at Duchess Provisions here in Edmonton.  

These jars are a little more pricey than regular canning jars, but I am totally in love with these jars and the way that they work and that they are only made of glass!!!  I will be getting more of these.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Zucchini Cupcakes

Back on the weekend when my son and I were at the market garden we of course got zucchini.

I love baking with zucchini, so at this time of year I buy lots of it and put it in one cup sizes into freezer bags for use later in the winter.  

But, of course before I could finish this task, I had to make Chocolate Zucchini cupcakes.  Which I did:

No, not this one, but isn't it the MOST fun cupcake container ever?  I found it at the Paderno Kitchen Shop in Edmonton recently.  I LOVE Paderno, and yes I did check out every one of the stores while in PEI.

Okay, so these are the cupcakes that my son and I iced, and yes there is one in his lunch box today (I laced these cupcakes with Chia seeds).

Yummy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pickled???? Agan!!!

Late last night I started on my second picking attempt of the season; pickled yellow beans.

Eighteen jars by the time I was done!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

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

By now many of you know that I participated in the Plenty of Fish Facebook Mystery Quilt.  The plan was to use only scraps to make this quilt and in the end I made two very different versions of the same quilt using on scrap fabric that was left over from other projects.

The second quilt has always been my favorite, even though the other one was what eventually became known as the "Happy Hippie" quilt because of all of the bright fun colors in.  

Here is my second one almost done:

The reason it is "almost" done is that I like this one enough that I am going to get tomorrow some navy fabric for a zinger border and then put on a border of some fabric I bought with originally the intent of backing of this quilt, but since that time found some flannel that will be wonderful on the back of this with a wool batting!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Pickled???

I went to my local market garden yesterday as I did not have time to go to the St. Albert Farmer's Market for fresh vegetables, and the fridge was rather empty.

While at Kuhlman's I found too many things that I just could not leave behind: pickling cucumbers, yellow beans, swiss chard, baby potatoes, garlic, dill, and zucchini.

Any guesses as to what will be in my blog posts for the near future??

Today my son and I made dill pickles:

Twenty two jars in all!

Can't wait to try them!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy