Christmas 2!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!

Quick post this evening as heading out to get doggie walked before bedtime.  Full work week ahead and back to school this week for kiddo.

Super busy the last few days, work, and all the other things that go along with running a household, doggie walks and throw in some Nordic skiing.

Today I prepped dinner so that it would assemble quickly after a trip this afternoon to Hawrelak Park for Nordic Skiing.

Earlier in the week I had not had time to do anything for Ukrainian Christmas.  Today I made a quasi Ukrainian Christmas Dinner.  Not the 12 dishes it should be, but.......

Freezer pyrohy, poached salmon with a sour cream dill sauce, green salad, sour cabbage cabbage rolls that I made when I got back from skiing, homemade dill pickles and an apple crisp!  

SOOOOOOOO full, but super yum!

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all a BEST Day EVER Monday.  Stay safe out there😷

Kathy

The Stockings Were Hung....

Good Evening Internet Friends!

The weekend is over!!  It was a very productive weekend and I feel a bit accomplished on top of that!!!  

Friday was my day off so I got EVERYTHING that needed to be done then so that I could stay home this weekend.

Yesterday was a bit of knitting, and the rest was housework.  Every surface in this house has been washed, vacuumed, dusted, oiled and in some cases more than one of these may have been done!  

There is a possibility that I may be ready for Christmas with the exception of baking that will take place on my week off before Christmas.  

I started the day by baking a loaf of Banana Gingerbread.  Used up cupboard bananas so a WIN!!  

 

Finished the hand binding on a table runner I made for my brother for Christmas.  I did attempt a machine binding but still not a fan of this type of binding.  Back to hand sewing.....

I picked up a Stocking Quilt Panel at Sew Divine recently with the intent of making the dog and cat their own Christmas Stocking.  The doggie stocking is really cute, but alas my dog is way TOOOOO big for his treats to fit in there.  I decided to use the other stocking panel with a dog on it for him and the smaller stocking will go to our family friend's new doggie who is that size:

Now it is off to walk the Montyster doggie for the evening and then get to bed as tomorrow will be a long day.

Hope this inspired your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there....😷

Kathy

Weekend...

 Good Evening Internet Friends!!!

Super Busy few weeks and this weekend was too!

Friday after work I did a wee bit of Black Friday Shopping and of course I kept it local and small business!  Stopped at Homes Alive and got doggie some treats for now and maybe some for the stocking as well.  I also found this really awesome silicone form for making frozen doggie treats.  Reading the fine print on the back I found that it is heat rated to 230  Celsius.  After checking with the staff who had not noticed that it was agreed that I could try it in the oven.  Sooooooo, last night I baked some banana/oatmeal/peannut butter treats for doggie.  He loved them:

TAH DAH!!!

Today was laundry, house work, meal prep, walk the dog across the community and then some cross country skiing.  

For dinner I made Jasmine rice, poached Atlantic Salmon, steamed broccoli and spring rolls.  Super yum and some left overs for tomorrow:

After dinner and between laundry loads I finished the applique on a Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern Kit that I picked up at my LQS Sew Divine:

Now to quilt and bind it....

Cooked some chick peas as well and made my favourite lunch; green pepper, yellow pepper, orange pepper, red pepper, purple onion, cherry tomatoe, cucumber, feta, and chick pea salad:  

Yes, the yellow Tupperware container is older than I am🤣.  It was made in Canada back then.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there,  😷

Kathy

Lazy Sunday...

 Good Evening Internet Friends.

Had a good Ole Lazy Sunday today.

Took doggie out for his walk at 0500 and then just puttered around for a bit.  Doggie went to sleep in front of the fireplace.  

Breakfast was toasted Blueberry bagels from Costco with homemade jelly, a poached egg, and a tall glass of milk; comfort food:

After breakfast I mixed up a batch of sour cream, and green onion bread.  While the bread rose I took doggie out for a stroll in the daylight and through some of the bush trails that are not yet developed here.  Found out that the lakes are starting to freeze over.  The ducks looked cold: 🦆

Back home I put the bread in to bake and made a batch of "Dishwater Soup" as we call it.  Basically it is all the veggies one has in the fridge along with the left over turkey and broth from Thanksgiving:

 

Nutritious and Delicious!!!

After lunch I spent a bit of time in my craft room and assembled this table runner kit that I bought for my brother about 8 years ago and just stare at.  Today I actually put it together.  Will stop at Sew Divine next weekend and see if I can get some kind of fusible batting so that I don't have to do too much quilting on this:

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there 😷

Kathy

Labour Day...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope that y'all had a restful Labour Day and are ready for whatever tomorrow brings.  I really tried hard not to do any kind of labour today at all!

I took doggie out for a really looooooooong walk this morning.  Quite chill out there and no doubt that Winter is on its way😰❄

I took several pictures of the Autumn Blaze Maple in my front yard.  It is SOOOOOO beautiful right now.  I was supposed to get a different type of red maple, but the supplier was all out so I got this type (this is the one I really wanted).  🍁

Late this afternoon I baked a Rhubarb Cake with the Rhubarb I got at the St Albert Farmers' Market on Saturday.  I froze 8 bags with 2 cups in each bag and kept the last 2 cups for use in cake today:

For dinner I made kiddo Spinach/Mushroom/Green Onion/Zucchini/Red Pepper/Boursin stuffed chicken.  Served with baby potatoes and fresh green beans it was a HIT with him.

This evening I spent a bit of time with my knitting and even watched a little tele (not something I do regularly).  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday tomorrow.  Stay Safe out there.  😷

 Kathy

Sunday FUNday...

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Started Sunday FUNday out with homemade flax seed oatmeal waffles and fresh strawberries:

Delicious!!!

Still had a ridiculous amount of strawberries in the refrigerator that I stumbled across yesterday while out so I decided to make Strawberry Jam:

Used my Weck Jars but still had jam leftover.  Remembered that I had purchased some cute little gingham jars at the Dollarama some time ago.  Decided I would give them a try and then use them as Christmas presents to neighbors and acquaintances.  They WORKED!!!

The temperature was kind of cool today so I also used the opportunity to bake a batch of Oatmeal, Coconut, Salted Carmel Chip cookies for lunch boxes later this week:

After dinner I took my bike out and rode 8.61 miles through the neighbourhood.  The old wives' tale of first full moon after my birthday being full frost is likely going to be true.  It is SUPER cold out there.  Hands were solid cold when I returned home.  Very beautiful night out there:

Hope this inspires your own creativity.  Wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday.  Stay Safe out there.

Kathy

 

Sunday Fun Day!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!

Did all my "mom" and "responsible" things yesterday so today could just be enjoyable.

After breakfast kiddo, doggie and I headed out to the lakes in and around our community. 

When we got home the bread dough I had put to rise before we left was ready to go.  I made a regular white loaf on the left and topped it with the Everything Bagel Seasoning that I picked up at Costco recently.  The other loaf I made in to a cinnamon loaf and topped it with caramel sprinkles from the pantry😁:

 

While the bread rose again I grated the last of the zucchini in the crisper with my Grate and Measure and made a Chocolate Zucchini Cake to bake at the same time as the bread.  Save on energy.😺

Did a bit of cross stitch and knitting as well this afternoon on the deck.  

Took my bike out for a long ride this evening.  Lunch ready for tomorrow and now to head out for last walk of the day with doggie.

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there.

Kathy

Saturday!!!

 Good Evening Internet Friends!

Rained on and off all day today so I decided I would stay home and get things done rather than go out and run any errands.  The forecast looks like rain for most of next week so I will be driving to work as I am not that dedicated to riding my bicycle🚴.

Did the vacuuming, floor washing, baseboards wiped, all surfaces dusted, wood surfaces oiled and 9 loads of laundry done so all clothes, kitchen and bed linens have been washed as of now.

Baked a loaf of banana bread:

After cleaning was done and between loads of laundry I did a few rows on my newest knitting project: 

 I bought this set of books for my birthday last week from River City Yarns.  I bought all three books and as a bonus 2 skeins of their Epic Yarn was included in the pack.  I chose Maritime and Snow for my colours.  

Kiddo wanted chicken for dinner so I marinated some chicken drumsticks that were on sale earlier this week at Costco and made some Parmesan roasted veggies to serve with:

 

 Took kiddo and doggie out for a long walk after dinner.

Will do a bit of knitting now and maybe get to bed on time....

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Sunday tomorrow.

Kathy

Friday!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!!

I baked bread today as the weather was cooler.  Used the Everything Bagel Seasoning I picked up at Costco this week:

 

Did a few errands this afternoon as today is the last week day before I head back to work on Monday.

Arrived home just before dinner and did not feel like a big meal so I made a mushroom, spinach, tomato, green onion, parmesan frittata for dinner to go along with the fresh bread.  SOOOOO Yum.

 

Knit a bit after dinner and then took doggie for a long walk.

No plans for tomorrow as planning to stay home and minimize my carbon foot print.

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Saturday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there 😷

Kathy

Happy Saskatchewan Day!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope that those of you celebrating Saskatchewan Day or Civic Holiday as it is called in other parts of Canada had a BEST Day EVER!!!

No I have not fallen off the earth (it's not really flat!), just be super busy of late.

Today I had a Kathy kind of day.

Took doggie for a walk and then went out with my bike for a few miles. 

Watered my plants as it did not rain last night.  Super happy with my lily plants.  Bought these easy grow lily pots last year at Costco.  They were beautiful last year but I wondered if they would survive winter in the garage at just around the freezing temperature.  They DID:

Picked the cherry tomatoes off my deck planter.  One for the bowl, two for me kind of picking:

Baked a batch of Zucchini Brownies with a zucchini I had dropped off by a neighbour:

SOOOO Yummy.

Keeping with the baking I baked a double batch of Coconut Banana Bread and will drop one of these off for my next door neighbours:

Used up some of the veggies from the refrigerator and made nachos for lunch with a sour cream dip I made earlier in the week:

Bit of a different kind of lunch but will have left overs for lunch tomorrow.

Laundry and some house work this afternoon. 

Ran the park and hills with a friend this afternoon while pizza dough was rising.  Used up more refrigerator veggies including the last of the zucchini with fresh mozzarella:

Pizza sauce was homemade and in the freezer from an earlier batch.

Heavy rain hit at dinner time so lawn should be good for a few days now.

Will do a bit of knitting now before heading out with doggie.

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there.😷

Kathy

Summer Vacation

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Day Four of Summer Vacation.  Still have not made any plans as non essential out of province travel is still not recommended.  Enjoying my time at home though.

Today I did some knitting and also spent some time in my kitchen.  My friend Lynn at No Regrets Ranch posted that she was making Pesto.  I have a planter of basil on my deck so I decided that I would make some too!!!  Nuts make my throat itchy so rather than nuts I use a 50:50 ratio of chick peas and sunflower seeds as a subsititute:

I don't own a large food processor but my trusty blender never fails me☺

I used the pesto on top of the Spaghetti Squash Parmesan that I made for dinner along with a Greek Salad (no olives - that is a taste I have yet to acquire).

For dessert I used freezer blueberries and strawberries to make a crisp.  So YUM!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity.  Wishing y'all the BEST Day EVER Friday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there.

Kathy

BEST Day EVER Sunday!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!!

I hope y'all had a BEST Day EVER Sunday!

Up early with doggie of course.  Checked on my deck full of plants (still waiting on the sod and landscaping) and found the first fresh strawberry!!!  I ate it and it was DELICIOUS!!!

Bake a Rhubarb Cake this afternoon with rhubarb my colleague brought for me from her mother's garden.  

While the cake was baking I knit on the deck with doggie keeping me company.  Mostly I think he just likes to smell the air. 🤣

After dinner I put the borders on my 2017 Flock of Geese 52 Week Block Challenge hosted by Darlene D'Eon Designs:

TAH DAH!!!

My 2015 version of the 52 Week Challenge is quilted with binding on.  Doggie sleeps in front of the fireplace on it daily.

2016 has borders on and ready for long arming.

2017 needs a backing piece and then ready for long arming.

2018 Red and White is currently being quilted.  

2019 & 2020 are a work in progress.  

Each of these quilts is made with scrap fabric left over from other quilts.  I would like to say that my scrap pile is diminishing......but....alas.....it is NOT!!!!!  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there!

Kathy

Making Do!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

I hope y'all had a fabulous Victoria Day Weekend.

Today was a stay at home kind of day.  I did walk the dog early this morning of course and took my bike out for a bit this afternoon but that is all.

My copy of the Butter Baked Goods cookbook was still out so I made a batch of Sugar Cookies.  I LOVE these sugar cookies; the recipe uses butter and oil and makes a perfectly crisp on the outside soft in the middle cookie.  Perfect for Tea Time:

Between Batches I knit on my XO socks that are from my January 2020 Biscotte Yarns Mystery Box.  Not sure what keeps holding me up on these socks.  Could be the circular needle that does not allow me to knit the left handed way that I want to!  Or....could be that the colour work requires attention:

I have now passed the gusset and so was able to try them on.  OMG are they comfortable!!!  Might spur me on to get this one finished so I can start on the other one☺

For dinner I used freezer food.  Since the 10th of March we have been eating what we have in the pantry and the freezer.  I have had milk and fresh fruits and veggies brought in.  Two trips to Costco since that time and both have been in the last two weeks.  I would like to say that we have made a dent in the freezer....but alas it is still full somehow.  Today I used some Bison sausages, perogies, and green peas from the freezer.   Sauteed onions and mushrooms from the fridge along with sour cream (will need to start a shopping list for this one):

I am not a fan or meat but on occasion for some red meat I will eat a wee bit of bison.  This is kiddos plate; I had a half sausage and might eat the other tomorrow with the leftovers we have.

Heading out to walk doggie now as tomorrow is work and I still have one more load of laundry to put through so that everything is clean!!!

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Tuesday tomorrow.  Stay safe out there!

Kathy

Marshmallows!!!

Good Evening Internet Friends!

Late last evening while out on doggie walk we stumbled across a marshmallow spill!  Seriously.  Not the first time we have come across this type of disaster.  So as my dog ate them I decided that I should make some.

Used the Butter Baked Goods recipe.  It's my favourite.  The marshmallows always turn out and the recipe is not finicky.

Kept some batter and made a batch of Rice Krispie squares:

For lunch I made Dill Pickle Soup using a jar of home made dill pickles:

Super yum.  Left overs for lunch for kiddo and I this week.

For dinner I grilled Lentil Burgers and we ate on the deck.  Felt like spring out there.

After dinner I made another 6 Flock of Geese Blocks.  Only 3 or maybe 4 more of these little cuties to go before I can start assembly of the quilt!!

Hope this inspired your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Victoria Day Monday EVER.  Stay safe out there.

Kathy

Happy Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day Internet Friends!

I spent most of my day in the kitchen.  Before y'all sigh,,,, I LOVE spending time in my kitchen.

For breakfast I made buttermilk waffles with fresh strawberries, and raspberries.  Served with whipped cream and Maple Syrup from Quebec:

For lunch I made my son's favourite lunch of Macaroni and Cheese.  I topped with deep fried onions for a different flavour:

For Dinner I made a roasted cauliflower/lentil dal:

For dessert I made a coconut cheese cake square:

SOOO Yummy!

Plan to knit a bit before I take doggie for a walk.  

Hope this inspires your own creativity and wishing you all the BEST Day EVER Monday tomorrow.  Stay safe.

Kathy