School's Out!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was my son's final day of the 2015-16 school year!

Of course in typical Kathy fashion I started his teacher gift a little late.  Thankfully though due to days off from working the weekend (it was a long one, over time every shift) I finished the gift at just after 0200 hours this morning and had a thank you card made by 0300!

Gift:

Side pockets with apple buttons for the teacher:

Thank you card:

TAH DAH!

Now, it's off to bed as I have to work in the morning!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's She Doing Now???

Good Evening Internet Friends!

My blog title is probably often asked of me because what I am up to on any particular day is always a mystery!!

Today I got up early and made a Lemon Square to take to work with me because it was so well received the other day that seconds were asked for.

I packaged up and returned all the recycling.  

Stopped to visit my friend who has ended up in hospital due to complications of her pregnancy.  I packed her a little care package as well ☺

Afterwards took an afternoon nap to be ready to work tonight.

Arriving at work the smell in the underground parking garage was pretty intense.  Apparently the lines in the parking garage were painted today and there is no way to air the garage out.....the entire building smells of paint fumes.  By 1.5 hours into my shift my chest was tight and the cough was starting....other staff were complaining about nose bleeds and headaches but I got sent home cause I looked worse than every one else....getting home I doubled up on all my puffers and then took a nap.  Waking up the puffers had kicked in and I am super shaky and jittery.....chest still hurts but air can pass.

So since I am up and probably will be for a while I decided to do something productive.

First off I decided to bake mint chocolate chip cookies and knit while each batch was baking:

Since I was still feeling the effects of the puffers I decided to start on my son's end of school year teacher gift:

That's right....I have had this fabric for a really long time, but decided to start on it tonight!  For those of you who are not into quilting or sewing this is the Professional Tote.  It is an awesome bag and yes, I have even put magnetic snaps into the pockets!  This is the first side completed.  Have to be finished for Tuesday morning ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

FORE!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I'm finally dropping by my blog for the first time this week!

What started out as a perfectly normal work week has become a very long week.  I have worked double shifts and am now picking up an additional day shift tomorrow before starting nights on the weekend.  Today was my only day off!

I did manage to bake a Lemon Bar for a potluck at work on Tuesday.  Albeit, I baked it at 2300 hours (seriously) as that is when I was reminded of the potluck:

Hubby decided that he and I should go golfing today and so that is what we did.  We golfed an astonishing 18 holes!  I think I will be sore tomorrow as it has been years since I golfed:

It was a lot of fun.  Neither of us are particularly good at the game but it was fun.   ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Weekend at the Farm

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Saturday afternoon we headed out to the farm.  I stayed up late/early Saturday to make marshmallows as the fire ban is off and we could have a camp fire ☺

So Delicious in s'mores! ☺

I set up my sewing machine and a couple of quilt kits and supplies that I brought for my summer farm projects:

Then I spent the rest of the time in the garden.  This is the garden I planted 2 weeks ago:

The potatoes are up and doing well.

Beans

Purple Mustard Greens

Onions

One pumpkin as the gopher appears to have eaten the other,,,,,I found the root and the original seed, but nothing else!

Spaghetti Squash

Kiddo and puppy trying to dig a hole to China ☺

After dinner we headed home.

Good night from the farm and hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

ME Day

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was ME day.  I decided that it was about time that I had one of those.

I went for a massage.  Now of course I am sore from all the muscles I did not know I had.

Afterwards I met a friend for lunch.

Then I went to the quilt store that was having a big sale today.  I did not get too much because I actually realized that no only do I not NEED anything, but I will also be cross border shopping in a month ☺

Had a nap this afternoon and of course woke up stiff.

Hubby decided that since it was ME day that I should not have to cook dinner so he ordered pizza!

This evening we all did a bit of work around the yard and then I spent some time in my craft room.

Meet Block 7 (apparently I cannot count as I thought I was at 6) of my Star Block Challenge that I am participating in with A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop:

Block 7, and all of the little 6.5" cuties:

Once again, I am so happy with this project because I am using up scraps for this quilt as well!

Hope this inspires your own creativity... now off to make marshmallows at midnight!

Kathy

Fishing for Lake Trout....

Good Late Evening Internet Friends!

Well my work week is officially finished!  It was a long one but that was my fault.  I did a lot of yard work on the weekend and earlier in the week which caused my allergies to flare up.  I have looked like a cast member for an allergy commercial all week.  Eyes watery all day long and so of course I have to take Benadryl then fight to stay awake for the rest of the day.

Every evening after dinner I have taken my son to the fishing pond as well.  So far we have caught all the weeds off the bottom of the pond :

Since tomorrow is going to be a "ME" day I spent a few minutes this evening knitting:

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Monday Madness

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I somehow survived a day at work with my allergies today.  I literally looked like I should be on an allergy commercial!

Arriving home from work since it had not rained today and I already looked like a wreck I decided to mow and trim the law and clean up the flower beds which kiddo and I did before dinner!

After dinner I took my son to the Trout Pond.  He did not catch anything tonight but had lots of fun and we got to see goslings:

They were so cute!!!

Lots on the pond as well:

The park looked so pretty with all the green foliage:

After kiddo was in bed I went to my craft room and made Block 5 of the Star Block Challenge:

Now, it's off to bed for me as well!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

I CAN do Anything.....Possibly...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I cannot believe the weekend is over already.  It rained most of the weekend so I did not get a lot accomplished.

I found these in my garden pots this morning and my son ate them with his morning oatmeal:

The sun came out for about an hour this afternoon so we went out and cleaned and vacuumed  the Highlander and the Focus.  Then it started to rain again.

Arriving back in the house I decided that the dog needed a hair cut.  My son decided to call me Hairy Potter and we set about trimming the dogs hair.  The electric shears got caught several times in the curls so I gave up and got out a pair of scissors from the junk drawer...seriously.  Well, one hour and one grocery store shopping bag full of dog hair we have:

Now, I know what you are thinking; that's terrible!  It looks like the person who cut this dogs hair has no training in dog grooming, has not read a book or watched a video or anything!!!  To that I will say, " you are correct".  I have no qualifications to cut dog hair at all, but have appointed myself as my own go to expert!  So far dog seems okay with it.....and he can see better now ☺

After dinner and getting kiddo to bed I went to my craft room and made block # 4 of my Star Block Challenge hosted by A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop:

Now to get myself off to bed too!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

It's Raining...It's Pouring...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Woke up to the rain that had been forecast this morning.  Kid and I decided it was a day to just stay in doors and home!  That is exactly what we did!

We had oatmeal with fresh blueberries for breakfast and watched Saturday morning cartoons while we ate it.

Then I decided to make Cottage Cheese Dill bread (used the last of the left over cottage cheese in the refrigerator) for lunch:

While the dough was rising I decided that I would clean the living room; dust and orange oil the blinds, wash the windows and sills, dust and wood oil the furniture, oil the leather furniture, vacuum everywhere and wood wash the floors!  My son thought I was nuts and so he decided to "escape.  I suggested he might want to clean his room before I decided to clean it....well, this is what occurred...

Budderball is still wearing his leis.

The bread turned out great:

After lunch I spent the time cleaning up the craft room and organizing things.

Right now I am working on the Star Block Challenge from A Needle Pulling Thread Quilt Shop.  I think it is week 23 currently so today I made Block 3 (a little behind I know).  The good news is that these blocks go together fairly quickly and I organized my scraps into one space for these blocks today:

I love these challenge quilts because they are easy enough to not get overwhelmed with when you work, have extracurricular activities for both you and kid, have a husband who works away from home 2 weeks at a time, and have all the mundane things like dinner, lunches and laundry to deal with.  The quilts are always really pretty and that makes me happy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Not on Task....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Today was the start of my three day weekend!

After getting kiddo on the bus I took the dog for a walk. Went for a hair cut.  Stopped at Real Deal Meats for beef ribs and dog bones.  

After dinner I decided to de-clutter my craft room.  

The only problem is that I think I have some really awesome treasure in my craft room.  One of which is this Saving Grace Block of the Month offered by Woodland Quilting:

"Sew" now I have one block done and my craft room is not clean.....oh well.  This was FUN though ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Thunderstorm..

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I had my evening all planned out before I left the house this morning.

Upon arriving home I made beef stroganoff, pasta and green salad for dinner.  Then just as I was about to take the dog for a walk the thunderstorm started!  Well, no sense in getting wet with the dog and or getting wet grocery shopping which was to occur after dog walking, so kiddo and I stayed home.

Since we had the evening "off"  we put on our jammies early and did fun things.

I decided the first thing I wanted to do was bake Lemon Bars:

OMG these are delicious....I put the pan away otherwise there might not be any left by morning (seriously).

Then I added the fifth row to my Raise the Roof quilt:

I LOVE this quilt!  I think I might have to make another one of these in a different color way!

Lastly, when I was getting ready to take puppy out for a walk I took at look at all my flower beds and container gardens an look what I found:

I LOVE strawberries so I am super excited about these containers of strawberries in the back yard!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Getting Closer...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Two days of work down, so officially half way through the week!  Getting closer.

This evening I did not have a lot of "me" time; dinner, laundry, walk the dog, homework and piano practice with kid, find out at 2000 hours that the dog food is gone.  Into the car to go pick up dog food.  Pet the fuzzy cute kitten at Pet Valu, stop for Benadryl Spray on the way home and take a Benadryl when I arrived home.  There is just something about long furry haired cats that my body does not like!  Arriving home I realize that my neighbors have their trash out because trash day is tomorrow!  I forgot.  

After getting the trash out I had about 20 minutes of free time before getting ready for bed so I decided to put another row on my Raise The Roof quilt:

TAH DAH!!!

Now it's off to bed as I still have two more full days of work ☺

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

What's For Dinner?

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Yesterday evening when we got back from the farm I wanted to make rhubarb sour cream muffins.  That of course meant going to the freezer to get some sour cream.  While I was looking for the sour cream I found cottage cheese.  Now, as you may already know I am what is fondly referred to as Saskatchewan Ukrainian cheap so when I shop at Costco weekly for groceries and see either of these products on sale I purchase them and put them in the freezer.  The cottage cheese is fine because I use it for cooking purpose.  The sour cream does have to be completely defrosted and then I use a wire whisk to bring it back to consistency.

When I found the cottage cheese I decided that I would make Syrniki for dinner this evening.  

Delicious!

So here is how I make these treats:

2 cups cottage cheese

4 eggs

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vinegar

- Mix all of these ingredients together and then add:

2 heaping tablespoons of ground flax seed

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat or multi grain flour

I add all of the flour at once to make a stiffer dough:

By having a stiffer dough I can use an ice cream scoop to "plop" these into the frying pan.

Heat frying pan with canola oil (I use Co-op brand).

Using an ice cream scoop I portion out batches of the dough to fry.

I let these sear for about 15 seconds just until the base is set so that I can flip them over with the pancake flipper and press flat to about 1/2".  Then I let the base fry til golden brown and flip back to the first side.  The reason I do it this way is I find it too tedious to pat into patties with the flour. ☺

There you have it!

After dinner a quick walk and get ready for bed for kiddo.

I did actually take a bit of time to go to my craft room and make:

A Skateboarding pillow case for my son!  I think he will like it!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

But I need MORE time.....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I am NOT ready for tomorrow to be Monday.  

Friday evening was spent getting everything ready to head out to the farm on Saturday to plant the garden.  We left Saturday afternoon as my son had a school performance to do Saturday afternoon and I agreed to be a parent volunteer for the morning.

After his performance we loaded up the car with that all the stuff for the 5th wheel, the garden,and the dogs and headed out.  

Saturday evening was a bit of organizing and cleaning up the 5th wheel and transplanting the tomatoes, pumpkins and zucchini.

Today the garden got planted with assistance of some helpers....

Puppy decided to take the potatoes out of the holes I put them in and put them in the holes he wanted to...might have some cross breeding or genetic modification potatoes happening....

Three hours later the garden was planted.  We have, onions, garlic, dill, lettuce, purple mustard greens, carrots, purple carrots, beets, green beans, yellow beans, purple beans, peas, purple potatoes, red potatoes, corn, zucchini, spaghetti squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, purple tomatoes, and lemon tomatoes:

TAH DAH!  Garden planted!

Just before we left I picked some rhubarb.  I just love that stuff and am so happy that the plant has really taken off:

There is enough here that I am able to give two friends each 4 thick stalks of rhubarb and have 4 left for myself as well.

Arriving home we mowed the lawn, I planted more grass seed where the lawn is looking thin, weeded the flower beds and pulled off the dead stems from my flowers, made dinner, started laundry and took a bike ride.  

Still have to make some muffins for lunches tomorrow so it will be a late night and I work 4 days this week!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

A Slow Crafting Week

Good Evening Internet Friends!

This has been a rather slow crafting week for me as I have had so much to do.  

Monday was a waste of a day getting back to real world hours.

Tuesday was more fun.  I went for lunch with a friend to the Soup Sisters Eatery close to her work.  On the way back I stopped at Local Meats for some ground beef.  I also stopped at Real Deal Meats to pick up Beef and Bison smokies for the weekend and bones for the dog!

Then it was on to Quilter's Dream.  I had not been there in a really long time, so I stopped to see what treasures they had:

Just could not leave these behind!!!

Arriving home my shipment from Sew Sisters Quilt Shop had arrived.  I do online shop from Sew Sisters because not only are they a Canadian small business, but the postage rates are reasonable (sometimes free shipping), and the prices are competitive (cheaper than some of the home based fabric businesses), and lastly since they are a a small business my order arrives sans cat hair and smelling like three day old dinner!

At lunch time today I decided to take some time to myself and go for a walk in Borden Park:

It's always so pretty here.

Part way through the park I came upon this vista:

I loved it for the symbolism; which path to take.  

Right now I am trying to remember to take time for myself rather than just always doing and helping others.  So this evening after dinner and walking the dog the only thing I did was bake cookies because that seemed like a fun thing to do!

Yummy!  Chocolate Cream Cheese Cookies!

Tomorrow will be a long and hectic day so for tonight I eat the cookie and enjoy!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy