In the kitchen with Peggy!

The only part of being single I don't enjoy is "cooking for one".  With my sewing, reading, biking, walking, working, etc,  (and visits to/from family and friends)  I stay busy and happy,  but the cooking . . . blah!!!  As many of you know I love to cook,  just not for one.

Cooking Away!!!!

Basil & Rosemary

When I was at Janet and Nick's on Mother's Day, Nick had been cooking most of the day!  He cooks ahead so during the week they have food that is quick and easy to prepare.  The past couple of weeks I have been trying to do the same thing.  For some reason, I had thought of this for families but not for "singles".  It is working great - I cook several things and freeze them for later.  Today is a cooking day.  Right now I have mini-meat loaves in the oven (my sister's recipe); purple hull peas simmering; a couple of chicken breasts poaching for chicken salad; a couple more chicken breasts grilling to add to salads or for whatever; the left-over ground beef is seasoned and cooked for tacos/salad; and bowtie pasta is boiling to be used with the basil pesto I made yesterday.  My herb garden consists of basil and rosemary in a pot and this was my first harvest!  I have tons and should have taken some to Huntsville yesterday - next time!!

The down side of all of this cooking is the clean-up!!!  But with all the cooking and the goodies from the Farmers' Market, I am set for a while!   I'm also going to be on the lookout for some "cooking for one" blogs.

Dog Days in Ardmore, AL

A small portion!

I met Janet and Nick bright and early Saturday morning at Dog Days in Ardmore.  It is a HUGE garage sale:)  We wandered around for a while and bought a few things.  Janet scored some great decanters and some old canning jars.  I bought a pair of suitcases but my negotiating skills were not as good as Nick's.  I had to pay the full asking price.

My new suitcases:)

John Deere Tractor

The negotiators!

There was tons of stuff!  We decided it was over-priced (meaning we weren't paying that much) or it was junk.  Good thing one man's junk is another man's treasure.  There were even kittens and puppies for sale - that did not come home with us!  We did see a John Deere Tractor - just like the one Doug had has in my storage.  The price - $200 and it didn't even have the wagon.  There was also a Farmer's Market and we came home with fresh peaches, tomatoes and cantalope.  Yum!!!

After Dog Days, we went to see Janet and Nick's house with a stop for Mexican food.  No progress this week but it is supposed to be finished the end of August.  Sun was in the wrong place but they are standing in their future garage.

Wow!! Time to catch up!

It's been a long time!  Since I posted last, its been busy.  For the first time ever, I got to experience a computer "hard drive crash".  No fun!  Fortunately, I had backed up recently so while it was a pain I didn't lose much information.  My Mac is 3.5 years old and this was my first ever problem so I won't complain.  My previous computer didn't even last this long.  Yes, I am one of those "Mac" converts!!

Sewing news  - I have been busy in my studio!  So far this month, I have made several items with more on the cutting table.

Spa Wraps

1. Marcy Tilton Vogue pants - revisited this pattern.  These are finished but were not my most successful with this pattern.  My fabric was a little too stiff for the style.
2. Apron - this was fun to make.  It is on display at The Quilting Squares right now and will then be Janet's.   
3. Spa Wraps - my niece, Amy, graduates from high school next week and these are for some of her friends.
4. Oliver + S Family Reunion Dress - This is another shop sample.  So sweet!!!  I have two more of their patterns I am working on.
5. Hemming - Not my favorite project but it was for my daughter!  So she has four pairs of pants she can wear.
6. Started a new knitting project - super simple scarf with some gorgeous yarn.

In other news, I have a new ride!!!  A Cannondale hybrid bike (and helmet) are now in my possession.  If it ever stops raining around here, I'll start riding more.  There is a park with a bicycle path that is a good place to ride.   I went there and rode 6 miles the other day.  Too dangerous to ride in Franklin - all roads lead to Sweet CeeCee's (local frozen yogurt shop).

And, I also have a new "do".  After letting my hair grow longer, I finally admitted that it wasn't working for me so . . . it is short, short, short!!!  This happened in two stages.  The first cut was really cute - it reminded me of how I wore my hair for a while in high school.  Ardell even wanted to know if I still had my hot pants!  But it drove me crazy hanging in my face so chop! chop! chop!!!  It is now super short and I love it!!!!

Stage One - Cute style but it hung in my face:)

Short! Short! Short!!!

 
(I will update this with pictures when I find my camera.  Honestly, I had it yesterday!!!)  Found - and I am too embarrassed to tell you where it was:)

Happy Mother's Day

Ruth Lamond Chance
1922-2001

Happy Mother's Day!  My five siblings and I were blessed with a truly wonderful mother.  Which also means our children had a super grandmother who taught them lots of games.   Mother was known for her great sense of humor among other things.  All of her friends requested she bring her famous brownies to all events and she was well known for making the best crab cakes and fried shrimp anywhere.  My children called her "Brownie Grandma" which meant she rarely visited without bringing them brownies.  Smart kids.   Even at my age there are still days when "I want my Mommy"!!!  

As for me, I love being a mother and have the best children. Thanks for making me feel special today.  I have had calls, cards, flowers and will be having dinner tonight with Janet and Nick in Huntsville.

Tulips from Doug and Leigh Anne

Happy Birthday Janet! Happy Birthday Sarah! Happy Birthday Doug!

It's that time again!!!   Happy Birthday to my three great children. This may be the last time I post their ages (29, 29, 27).

Doug

Sarah

Janet




Leigh Anne's birthday (26) was April 24th so a Happy Birthday to her as well.

Leigh Anne

Going back to Houston!

After Betty and I drove to Houston, I spent a few days with Barbara and her family.  The countdown is on!!!  She has one more chemo treatment and six weeks of radiation and then she is DONE!!!!   Barbara's family is coming to Nashville sometime in late summer.  One of the main side affects of the chemo is extreme fatigue, so I volunteered to drive Barb to work in the morning.  While she worked, I ran errands, etc. - and ate:)

Becki and I

My car had the oil changed and a professional wash job.  My income tax return was filed for the first time as a "single" person in 35 years.  A couple of new patterns were added to the stash from the Joanne's pattern sale. I went bike shopping.  My hair was cut by my favorite hairdresser.  And, I ate!!

Jackie & I 

One morning I met my friend Jackie for a four hour breakfast!  We have been friends since our girls were in kindergarten but she nows lives in Florida.  Since we would both be in Houston at the same time, we planned a meeting.   Next I met my sewing friend, Becki, for lunch at a Greek restaurant near her office.  We both had on garments we had made.  Fellow sewers always have plenty to talk about.  That night Barbara and Jim took me out for a Tex-Mex fix so I was well fed that day.

Biker Babe

Not me!!

It was fun!!!

Sunday I met my sister, Ardell, for lunch and to look at bicycles.  We then went to Maynard's house to see his new "bike"- a Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited.  Not in the same league as the one I am planning to buy:)  Ardell and I decided we needed a test ride so we "geared up".   Maynard's usual companions are obviously a size or two smaller than his sisters.  I had to suck it up to get the jacket zipped. When he asked if the helmet fit, my answer was "if I take my earrings off".  I am not kidding!!!!  But, please note the stool in the picture was not for me.

Monday morning I packed up to go, met some friends for lunch and then headed back to TN with an overnight stop near Lufkin at Diana and Jim's.   Tuesday's drive back home was a tough one - super windy as well as a couple of accidents on the interstate.  I knew a big storm was a few hours behind me and it hit Franklin a couple of hours after I got home.

Elizabeth and Jan (taken with my iPhone)

Cathy and Kathy watched Sissy for me while I was gone.  She is totally spoiled and is waiting for me to leave again.  Thanks!

Another B&B Booking!

My friend, Betty, made a booking at the B&B and came for a visit.  Even though her husband is from Knoxville and she has been through Nashville many times, she has never played "tourist".  We solved that and went to The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's Home) and The Grand Ole Opry one day.  Great fun!   Trace Adkins was the "star" the night we went.    And, yes, Little Jimmie Dickens performed at the age of 90.  The next day we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame and then on to eat bbq and check out the Ryman.  I am quite proud of myself that I could find all of these places.  Definitely learning my way around.  We got to the Ryman just as they closed but at least Betty got to see the outside.

TN BBQ

Coconut pie at Dotson's

Janet came over Sunday and we all went out to lunch at Dotson's.   I had not been there before but it was highly recommended by Kay & Kathy so we checked it out. It was so good we went back a couple days later:)  Other things on the tour list were walking around Franklin, Merridee's, The Puffy Muffin, The Quilting Squares, etc.  Betty spent lots of time working on my computer while I did embroidery.

We were planning to leave on Monday and take our time driving to Houston but the weather did not cooperate.  Instead we stayed in Franklin and did it all in one day on Tuesday - long day.  We took turns driving so it wasn't too bad.  Besides that extra day in Franklin gave Betty time to set up my TV so I can stream from Nexflix now.  Love it!!!

Do you notice a theme when I have visitors?  Lots of great places to eat in this area!!!

Janet and Betty

Sewing/Embroidery Update

For Janet & Nick's Aliner

For my sewing friends - I haven't done any garment sewing but did get a couple of things crossed off the ever-growing "to do/make list".    Janet and Nick asked me to make them a couple of pillows for them to use in their camper with matching pillowcases.  The idea is to put the pillowcases on at night and limit the amount of stuff in their little Aliner.  The two pillows and pillowcases are done as well as a few kitchen essentials.  The cute camper fabric came from The Quilting Squares.


My friend, Betty,  has been visiting from Richmond/Rosenberg, TX.   Her daughter (a close friend of Janet's) is expecting a baby girl, Emma, in early May.  While she was here,  she worked on my computer and I embroidered things for her granddaughters.  My computer is in great shape and I can now watch Netflix on my TV!  Emma is pretty well fixed up, too.

Quilting Squares - Grand Opening

Kay, Jodi Barrows, Kathy

The Quilting Squares moved into a new location right before I started working.  The new location is quilt shop perfection - bigger and brighter with lots of free parking, etc. not to mention the great fabric.  This past weekend was the Grand Opening celebration.  Jodi Barrows, founder of the "Square in a Square" technique presented a program and inspired us all.  It was great fun!

Jodi showing her new "Pony Express Quilt"

Kay and Kathy who own The Quilting Squares are both certified teachers.  Monday morning I took my first class to learn this technique.  As Jodi refers to it, I caught the "quilt pox virus".   It's going to be fun learning these new to me techniques.

Class time.

In other news, following an absolutely gorgeous weekend we are faced with this today.  Honestly, I left hurricane country for this????  Scary stuff as it moves in and I am just waiting for the tornado sirens to go off.  When that happens you are supposed to get in your "safe spot".  Right  -  like my townhouse has one:):)   And off they go!!!!  Sissy and I hid in the downstairs bathroom until the sirens went off.   Scarier than a hurricane because you don't have much warning.  Fortunately, it passed through quickly but it left lots of damage in the Middle TN area.

Funky Finesse

Funky Finesse, my entry in the Pattern Review Mini-Wardrobe contest is finished!  Being involved in this contest was lots of fun and I love all my new pieces -especially the "finished" part.  There is always lots of "talk" and encouragement on the PR message board during the contest.  It's a great way to make internet sewing friends and everyone that finishes is a "winner".

Front - three fabrics used.

Back w/silk screening

My pieces included two pairs of pants.  My Marcy Tilton lantern pants sewed up quickly and I have worn them several times.  The Sewing Workshop Urban Pants were another story.  The problems with this pattern were all my own fault!  Even though I did a muslin, I just did a partial one and didn't realize how big these were on me.  After abandoning them for several days while I made the Liberty Shirt, I went back and did the necessary adjustments to "make it work".  Next time (and there will be a next time) I will go down a size or two.  The Liberty Shirt went together quickly and easily and I have already worn it to work.  My fun piece was the Marcy Tilton t-shirt.  I used a pack of Cool Combo fabrics that were on Marcy's site earlier this year and combined the fabrics and then silk-screened the shirt.  This is only the second time I have tried silk-screening and it is so much fun.  The silk-screening seems to meld the various fabrics into a unique piece  - or something:)

The contest requires a composite picture of the six outfits created with the four new pieces and one piece previously owned.  My previously owned piece is a white shirt I made about 1.5 years ago (before divorce).  It never got reviewed, but it is the Perfect Shirt from Petite Plus.  Since I live alone, I bought a tripod and took my own pictures.  Interesting to say the least!  Peggy W is responsible for that little venture.  The final requirement was a "composite" picture showing the six outfits.  Whew - had to figure out how to do that, too.  I probably could have sewn another garment in the time it took me to figure out all the technical stuff - and it would have been more fun!

I'm sure my sister, Ardell, is asleep or has quit reading by now.  When she was here, she told me she skipped the sewing posts:)  That's okay - that's how I feel about "teacher talk".

Spring has still not sprung around here.  It has been cold and rainy - the high today is in the low 50s!!!