Shopping Small Business

I am a big believer in shopping locally and at independent stores.  Yes, I shop at Safeway, Costco, and The Bay, but for a lot of things I try if at all possible to shop from local merchants.  I appreciate the customer service and that a lot of these retailers have loyalty programs for my shopping there.

Today Chartreuse Decor in Sherwood Park had their Annual Open House.  This is the second year I have attended this event.  My friend's aunt works there and my friend and I 

go and sample the delicious treats, and look at all the beautiful things that they have.  Lots of the decadent foody things find their way home with me.  The gift bag was so adorable I had to get it, I think I will make some of these for gift giving this holiday season.  

The white bird in front was my son's contribution to the adventure as was the almond soap (wrapped in the bird paper).

Just think of the tasty things I can make with all these ingredients - Crafting With Food!

While my son was at art class, I ventured over to another classic Edmonton establishment, the Bon Ton Bakery.  If you are in the Edmonton area, I encourage you to check this place out.  The mini cinnamon buns are AWESOME.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

On Friday We Eat Fish

and on Sunday, and Tuesday, and anytime we need a quick dinner.  

Growing up on the prairies I hated fish.  It always tasted like swamp!  Now that my husband has tried it, he agrees.

The first time I traveled to Nova Scotia with my husband to visit his family, my mother in law cooked salmon for me, and since I had already not eaten her roast beef, for which she then cooked a ham (even a worse choice), I had not much choice but to eat "the fish". It was awesome!!  Ever since then I am able to eat fresh fish (not canned) three times a week.

I buy the large piece of Atlantic Salmon at Costco twice a month.  Once home I cut it into thirds, and freeze between sheets of parchment paper.

On nights such as Friday's when we need a quick dinner I take a piece out of the freezer.  Place in a Corningware baking dish.  Top the fish with something - tonight I used a bit of mayonnaise and mustard and added some dill weed.  Baked on high for 10 minutes in the microwave and TAH DAH!

Dinner is served along with rice, vegetables, and a side salad.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Mmmmmmm, Candy

When I saw this fabric a few weeks back at a quilt shop in the Edmonton area I new I had to get some it.  The shop will remain nameless, because every time I go in there the staff annoy me.  Of course the obvious solution would be to stop going there, but they have the best selection of flannel in the greater Edmonton area, so, alas I do go in there (sad face here).

I made  a pillow case with the fabric.  At this time of year I sew a lot of pillowcases, because not only are they awesome gifts, they can also be used to gift wrap presents.  Therefore I feel that I am cutting down on the amount of paper that is making its way into garbage bins on Christmas morning

Now, off to to find some kind of chocolate munchie.

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Blogathon Canada: Alberta Day

Welcome to everyone participating in the Blogathon Canada sponsored by Sew Sisters Quilt Shop.  Check out their website (I have - found some things I had to "have"). 
Make sure to stop by  Apple Pie Patchwork and comment on Shena's blog as she is the Alberta Host of this Blogathon!

Today's red eye craft was finished at 2330 hours last night at which time my blog/computer was crashing, so I am a little late in the posting for today, but I hope you enjoy your look around.  This blog is all about the  creative adventures that I embark on to keep my hectic life "balanced".

This quilt is for my son.

Last fall he picked out the fat quarters and border fabrics used in it at Woodland Quilting in Spruce Grove, Alberta.  It is a fun little shop, and if you have the chance, check it out.

The assembly was quick, and the quilt was then taken to Sewing with Class in Stony Plain, Alberta where Melinda did her magic and got the quilt back to me.  Then.........the quilt with it's wonderfully lush black minkee backing sat on the bureau in the spare room until now!!  OMG.

It was placed on my son's bed early this morning and he and the cat were delighted to find it this morning - I think cat had likely been sleeping on it for most of the night!

The pattern for this quilt is by The Rabbit Factory a Canadian company which I thought would be perfectly appropriate for today.  The pattern is called Under the Stars.  

Hope you enjoyed your visit to my part of the blog world, and Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

Slow Cooker Split Pea Sausage Soup

"What's for dinner" is a question that is often asked around my house.  Well, yesterday I decided to be proactive in regards to this question.  While rummaging (yes, I do that) in my cupboard I found a good Saskatchewan staple - yellow split peas and red lentils!  Not quite enough for any particular recipe, but if I combined them (oh what a pun! - okay outsiders will not get it, but it is funny), I could make soup.  

A quick look in the other cupboard for my Pulses Cooking with beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas booklet and dinner is served.  I of course substituted the smoked sausage with some turkey sausage that I found at Safeway, and topped it off with cheese just before presentation on the dinner table.

My son loved it and ate it all, and even my husband had a second serving!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy

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

Well, it's that time of week again, time to use up some scraps!

Of course last night it was also time to make muffins for lunches so I got out my Mostly Muffins cook book and made the Basic Oatmeal Muffins.

However, there was this bag of left over wild blueberries sitting ever close to the precipice of the refrigerator freezer and rather than have a casualty with my accident prone brother I added the blueberries to the muffin batch.

Fresh from the oven, these muffins taste just like a bowl of warm oatmeal!

Hope this inspires your own creativity....

Kathy

Blush Table Runner

I finally finished my Blush Table Runner last night.  I got this kit last spring from The Quilt Patch, and after numerous "starts" I finally got it done.

The top piecing came along easily enough, it was the quilting that got me stuck.

Last week I finally just decided that I would free motion quilt it myself, and I did.  By the time I was done, I was quite proud of myself because I did an all over stitch between the flowers, and then outlined, and highlighted all of the flower parts.  It turned out to be quite fun, and when we were in Canmore last week, I spied the new toy that I want:  HQ Sweet Sixteen!

Hope this inspires your own creativity...

Kathy