Four done, twenty-eight to go......

Good Evening Internet Friends.

The weekend is over already and time to head off to sleep in preparation for the week ahead!

Today was laundry, housework, got a few Christmas decorations out, some baking and a wee bit of quilting this evening after my son went to bed.

I am still working on trying to get my Raise the Roof quilt done.  So far I have four of the thirty two blocks done, but I think that they are really pretty:

Quite pleased with how well these are progressing so far.  Fingers crossed this keeps up ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

COOKIES!!!

A few weeks ago my dear friend Brandy hurried off to Duchess Provisions to get for her any myself the Duchess Cookbook.  We were seriously worried that we might not get a copy !

Well, not only did we get copies, but we even got signed ones!

Today I took the book very carefully off the self and made:

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies!

Of course they were delicious.  So, this afternoon, I will be headed off to Duchess Provisions for a few other items I "need" to make some other wonderful things from this cook book.  Plus it is Small Business Saturday so a good reason to shop there and other places along 124 Street ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Snow Day!

Good cold evening Internet Friends!

Yesterday the what seems to be annual Snowmageddon rolled through Alberta.  It started snowing sometime during the night and just kept coming!

The drive home was slow and there were cars stuck at almost every intersection.  My front yard cedar looked like:

Yes, that is snow coming down in the picture.  The snow continued over night and this morning there were 6" drifts on my car!  Seriously!

Since travel was not being recommended I decided that I would take a snow day with my son.

After lunch when it was likely it's warmest today we set off the 1 block walk to Highlands Park with sled since there is a hill there.  Well, after a very long walk (the snow was to my knees), and although I am only about 5' 2" in shoes, this is still really deep ☺ only to find the snow too powdery!  The sled simply sank in the snow!

We sat in the snow pile for a few minutes contemplating this and then decided to trudge home via another street for hot chocolate ☺

This evening after my son went to bed I finished the 32 star blocks for my Raise the Roof quilt:

Now off to bed, to see what I can get into tomorrow!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Work In Progress Wednesday

Good Evening Internet Friends!

My Work in Progress for participating in The Needle and Thread Network Work In Progress Wednesday is a toque that I started in the middle of September!

Progress has been slow on this pattern as it has multiple colors on it and I am frequently getting the yarns knotted around each other:

I ordered this kit from Knit Picks this summer in the hopes that if I knit the hat myself I would be able to wear a toque.  It gets really cold here in Western Canada come winter and I have a really big head (seriously, not just ego) that makes wearing most head gear very difficult.  

This is as far as I have gotten.  Hope to be able to get it finished soon as the temperature is dropping quickly ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Whole Wheat Waffles

Good Evening Internet Friends.

I have been fighting a head cold for close to a month now!  Occupational hazard I guess, all the sick people come to see me at work ☺

Felt very tired when I got home this evening and really did not know what to make for dinner.  So, I decided since I was not feeling well, comfort food was the order of the day.  So, my son and I made waffles:

Yummy warm waffles.  Made me feel a bit better for a little while.  

Waffles:

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- mix ingredients together and add:

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all purpose flour

- mix until all ingredients combined and pour into waffle maker as you usually would ☺

Good night!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Another day, Another set of blocks...

Good Evening Internet Friends.

Worked a little later into the evening last night than I should have on my quilting, but with a little time after dinner this evening I managed to get the 36 quarter square triangle center pieces ready for my Raise the Roof quilt:

TAH DAH!

Now it's time for some lemon tea and I am going to crawl into my cozy bed and maybe do some knitting before I fall asleep thanks to some cold medications.  Still fighting a head cold!  Achoooo...

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Still Quilting

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I tried valiantly to get caught up on my Raise the Roof quilt for the final session of class today (I attended the orientation session - did not pick out fabrics til 55 hours, ago, started cutting about 50 hours ago), missed last weeks class due to work, and showed up today with what I had so far:

96, 2.5" half square triangles.  

Did some work on the center part of these blocks in class which hopefully I can finish this evening!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Quilting Up a Storm!

Well, not exactly, but yesterday the temperature was + 4 C and the snow was almost all melted and you could see the grass and this is what I woke up to this morning:

I think winter is here : (  However the temperature today was only about - 4 C, so if Western Canada winter was only this bad it would not be too bad.  The dilemma is I know what is coming!

I am still madly trying to get my Raise the Roof quilt done.

So far today I have manage to get the light flying geese done:

This is probably not a Quilt In a Weekend type of thing, plus I do not have the ability to just sit down and quilt for hours on end with interruptions and things to do.

"Sew" shall see how far I get before class.....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Shhhhh, Don't Let the Cat out of the Bag!

Good Evening Internet Friends.

It's finally Friday!  I thought today would never come.  After working the weekend, being in Charge one night, and then Triage the next night, followed by one day off I am super tired.

I did however have to sit down and actually do some quilting as I am enrolled in a class of which I have so far only attended 1 class (have missed 2) due to work.

So, first of all don't let the cat out of the bag, but this is as far as I have gotten on my Raise the Roof quilt!  There was a lot of cutting though...

My son's cat Hello Kitty sitting in the bag that I had used to sort out all of the colors I would use for this quilt after doing some closet shopping.

Now, for a progress update:

Here are 64 Flying Geese Blocks!

If you are visiting from the Sew Sisters Blog Hop, WELCOME!!  ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Potluck Dilemma

Good Late Evening Internet Friends.

As most of you will know (or not if you are like me) today is Universal Children's Day.  My son's school has chose to celebrate this occasion by hosting a potluck after school honoring all of the student's varied cultures.

When my son asked me what his culture was I told him he is Canadian.  He again wanted to know though where his ancestors came from, and this was quite a tricky question for me.  Sure, I have a grandparent on either side who is a first generation Canadian, but the others are 4 -5 generation Canadians.  As for my husband's family I think they probably were sent ahead to welcome everyone coming, so at least 6 -7 generations there.

My son wanted to take pyrohy but I did not have time to make the dough and boil and mash potatoes and add filling.  There are a few desserts that are very uniquely Canadian, but I chose to make a Maple Cake (I did not add the walnuts, and the butter I substituted to canola oil):

Then I did my very best version of late night cake decorating!  Butter-cream icing with Maple Leaf sprinkles left over from Canada Day!  I tried my best to make the cake look like the flag, you can likely discern that I do not draw well, and my son was already in bed!

Everyone seems to have enjoyed it, there was none left in the pan. 

The whole day of course reminded me how much I love my country and after having this song stuck in my head all day, I will attach it here for you, so it can stick in your brain for a while too!  ☺

I am Canadian

if you're visiting from the Sew Sisters Blog Hop, WELCOME!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Howdy!

Good morning Canadian Bloggers!  

This is my third year participating in Blogathon Canada.  I am always amazed by the talent of all of the fabric artists here and I love reading what each blogger contributes for their day and from their region ☺

I started my blog a few years back as a way to record and also present the things that I create.  I love to make things and my blog reflects all of my varied interests; knitting (I LOVE wool), quilting, baking, cooking, scrap booking, cake decorating, gifts, card making, cross stitch, canning, pottery and just about anything that can be imagined (except for crocheting - I tried it once, it and I agreed to never speak to each other again) } : \

I fully intended to have something AMAZING to show you all today, however, overtime, homework, dinner and laundry all slowed anything "Top Drawer" from being completed.  This is the front of a Professional Tote I am currently making with intent of having completed before our vacation to Southern California this winter.  

A pair of socks that I am currently working on while at my son's extracurricular activities:

Thanks for stopping by for a virtual visit.  I always have some kind of virtual baking to share with you and since it's virtual, it's Calorie FREE!☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Night Shift Food!

Hello Internet Friends.  To be perfectly honest it is my second day of night shifts and I really do not know what to call this time of day ; {

When I got up this afternoon for a bit, I was craving chocolate, so I made a brownie to take with me to work this evening:

Just what I needed!

Okay, so here is how to make it:

Chocolate Brownie (Kathy style)

1 1/2 cups milk chocolate (I use Lindt Couverture)

1/2 cup butter

- combine ingredients in a double boiler to soften, stirring frequntly

add:

3 eggs (whisk quickly)

add: 

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 heaping tablespoon ground flax seed

mix until combined and pour into a 9 x 13 buttered pan 

top with:

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Bake in a 350F oven for about 25 minutes

Drizzle with caramel sauce while still warm (I purchase mine at Duchess Provisions).

Enjoy!

Off for another nap before dinner.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Lunch???

Good Day Internet Friends!

It is super cold outside today and I am working night shift tonight.  Since it is the weekend, everyone is home, so I still have the important question of "What's For Lunch"?

I looked in the refrigerator and what I found was a great big bag (Costco) sized of broccoli.  So, I made Broccoli Cheddar Soup for lunch:

It was delicious!

Now off for a nap....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

A Paper Pumpkin First!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

This is a Paper Pumpkin first for me.  When I arrived home last night the November issue of Paper Pumpkin was in the mail box.  

After dinner I opened it and made it!!!!

Eight Christmas cards.  There are some tags that coordinate with this as well, but that can be a next week project.  Feeling super accomplished right now that this month's box has not just been added to the other pile of boxes ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Step # 3 ...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Of course today is Remembrance Day here in Canada, so I was off of work and my son had no school.  We watched the ceremonies on television this morning and it was especially somber due to recent events.  I think it was the first time that my son really understood what this day means, partly due to his age now, as well the recent events in our country.

That being said, we did not really do a lot today, and my crafting mojo was not present either.  

After dinner I did manage to get the last few of my 96 flying geese units done for Step # 3 of a mystery quilt I am currently working on (Step 6 will likely be posted this week) with likely NO chance of catching up!

TAH DAH!

That's it folks!  Off to work tomorrow, so crafting time will be rationed for the next few days ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Back Home

Good Evening Internet Friends.

We left Canmore this morning headed home.  The weather did not cooperate for the first couple of hours:

No, the camera is not out of focus, that's really the visibility...

Yesterday of course I had to stop at The Sugar Pine Company.  Here's my haul (I wanted more, but paced myself):

I recently used up 32 fat quarters for a quilt class I signed up for and rather than buying new fabric I went shopping in my stash.  So, I have rationalized that this purchase was necessary to keep the stash well stocked ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Snow....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

We woke to SNOW this morning here in Canmore.  Guess I just can't drive away from it.

After breakfast we decided to hop over (or should I say slide) to Banff.

Banff was really pretty to walk about in the snow:

The snow was coming down very thick!

We had lunch, then headed back to Canmore to shop at Rocky Mountain Soap and of course, The Sugar Pine Company.

After dinner I finished my scarf, rinsed it and am currently blocking it:

This is The Fisherman's Wife Cowl.  I loved making it so much, and it worked up really quickly that I have a mind to make a couple more of these for Christmas presents!  Just have to put on the buttons when I get home.  I think it will be awesome with my red pea coat!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

YEG is Frozen Over!!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I woke this morning to:

Snow and a temperature of -10 C (14F).  COLD!!!!

We packed up and left for Canmore.

The roads were not great leaving Edmonton, but by Red Deer it was just raining and soon after the sun was shining:

On the drive down of course I KNIT and so by now I have finished:

It's my July yarn from sock of the month club of  Sweet Georgia Yarns.  

The forecast is for snow here tonight, so I guess not escaping....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Friday Feature Card

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was a great day of NOTHING!  I actually had today off from work ☺

After taking my son to school I ran some errands for a few groceries, stopped at Cobbs for a Cinnamon Scone and a loaf of Marble Rye for road trip sandwiches tomorrow!

Then I decided I would stop by a quilt store.  Spent close to two hours in there, but came away with a few awesome purchases.  Afterwards I decided I had better wash the car since I have not done that all summer while driving it.  Was supposed to get my Highlander back this weekend (my husband's friend does all the service work on our vehicles, unfortunately, we are on his schedule and that is a looooooooooong one), so it looks the Focus and I will be cruising around a while longer.  It has been great for the summer costing half of what it usually costs me to fill and being able to drive for eight days between fill ups rather than six, or seven at best.  

Stopped at a few of the "Big Box" stores (craft and home) on the way home.  Picked up a few things I decided I "needed".

Picked up my son from school, and stopped by Cookie Love for two bags of cookies.

This evening I have talked with both my husband and brother who are both out on different parts of Highway 43 giving reports of the snow and freezing rain out there.  So, I guess HE!! will be frozen over soon : (....

Since winter is apparently coming, I decided to dig out some of my winter stamp sets to make some more Christmas cards with this evening.  Here is what I made:

I stamped the snowflake on first with silver ink, then over top with the coordinating color from the card base.

My silver ribbon has not yet arrived, so I used some from my stash (shhhhhhh, it's not approved product), cause I thought it looked good!

I took a picture of the flower bed beside the doorstep this afternoon:

I have not had the heart to take them out yet, because they were not totally dead, and still had some color.  I thought today that they looked regal standing there considering it is the 7th of November in north central Alberta.  Chances are tomorrow they will go into a bag and be put to the curb....

Hope this inspires your own creativity...  

Kathy

Work In Progress Wednesday

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Wow, it's Wednesday, and somehow I have not had time to blog yet this week ☺

So far other than work this week (no extra shifts this week), I have managed to get Step 2 of my Prairie Quilt Militia quilt done (I think I'm supposed to be on Step 6).  

Here is Step 2:

Once again, all of the fabrics for this quilt are coming from going "shopping" in my stash!  I love "shopping" in my stash.  I seem to be able to find just the "best" fabrics there ; )

Since it is Wednesday I am going to participate in Work in Progress Wednesday over at The Needle and Thread Network.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Step 1 of ANOTHER Mystery Quilt

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was the first day in I don't know how long that I have a two day weekend in front of me, and on top of that have only worked my regular number of shifts in the past two weeks, albeit eight were in a row!!!

Today my son and I decided it was a do NOTHING kind of day.

We watched television on the couch under a pile of quilts.  Ate popcorn and Halloween candy most of the morning (after breakfast), watched movies all afternoon, and then had pizza (homemade) for dinner.

After dinner I decided to work on a Mystery Quilt that I signed up for in August that started in September.  This morning clue #5 was released, and I started on clue # 1.  Was hoping to get caught up before HE** freezes over, but alas, I live in Edmonton, so that's like next week.  Somehow, there is still no snow on the ground!!!!

Here is my accomplishment for today:

TAH DAH.  

The great thing about this quilt is that I went shopping in my stash for all the fabrics that I will use in this project.  Not sure if I should be proud of myself for this or be sheepish about the amount of fabric I have squirreled away ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy