Sue's quilt & zucchini (surprised???)

Sue won these blocks at the Binbrook guild quite a while ago. With fall on it's way the colours are perfect. We've added a blanket AND another quilt to the bed already. I think we can take down the umbrella this week - the forecast has NO RAIN for 5 whole days.


Zucchini added to the freezer this weekend: 13 cups shredded.

Zucchini Loaf count: 10 (and probably more to come).

Today will be green beans day - there are tons to be picked. I also need to make Plum Sauce. If you look at a jar of commercial plum sauce you'll see that it's usually made with pumpkin. huh? So in an effort to be avant-garde I make my plum sauce with plums. And it's very very piquant.

I love my cutting garden

Need I say more? And they come with bonus ants that run all around the kitchen until the Great White Bwana (that's me) kills them.

Teeny Bag

edited to add a link to the pattern
I whipped up this cute little bag yesterday. The pattern is on the MODA website. I made the bottom too square - it should be rectangular. Although, it fits a vodka bottle better this way. I think it will make a nice theme for a Secret Sister swap.



My plan:

• have interested guild members sign up
• give them the pattern and have them pull someone's name
  
• have them bring their teeny bags to guild in February with a little gift inside. MODA thinks you should put a charm pack of MODA fabrics inside.
  

Morning Out Class Quilt, Outdoorsey Quilts

I have Floyd unplugged for a while because it is pouring rain with thunder & lightening AGAIN. Hubby got the patio bricks finished this week - yippee!! Now we have our outdoor dance hall back. Not that he'll dance. But the dog & I....

Here is the actual sample quilt for the Morning Out classes. This is a 48 x 60 - I've also written the pattern to include a single size and a double size.





It seems to be the season for outdoorsey quilts. I did the two fishing quilts a couple weeks ago. Now I've done a bear quilt and a wild animal quilt. I also have another moose quilt in the lineup.







I quite enjoyed quilting the snowflakes in this blue border because it was about 100 degrees at the time. Cooled off my mind, if nothing else.

A few of my favorite things

Sadie.

Volunteers that come from the bird seed.









My trug.







Being spoiled by DH on Sunday morning. 'D' stands for darling. (today)

Quilt, Trouble with the Universe, Zucchini (yes again)

Pat's quilt turned out really nice.

Apparently, the Universe is not done with us yet. Last week it was the washing machine. It was going 'clackety, clackety, clackety' but it was not spinning. After I wrung (by hand) all the water out of my laundry DH took the beast apart and replaced a small $25 part. We're back in business for the time being. But seriously, that washer doesn't owe us a penny. I bought the washer AND dryer used, from a quilting buddy of mine about 6 years ago for $300. DH has repaired the dryer once and the washer twice.

Yes mummy, I really really want more zucchini.

Tonight, in preparation for shredding much zucchini for the freezer I got out the mix-master, which has the meat grinder/veggie chopper attachment. This was a wedding gift from my inlaws. See previous post about us recently celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. OK, have you put 2 and 2 together? So, I turn this baby on and all it will run at is HIGH speed. I mean REALLY HIGH. Crap. Now I have to shred all this stuff by hand. I always get a wee bit of protein in the mix when I inadvertently shred my knuckles off.

Zucchini added to the freezer today: 9 cups.

DH: "D" is not always for 'darling'. Sometimes it is for dingbat. I have my email set up so there is an automatic signature. It says "Helen" and has my blog address. DH sends out emails and changes the "Helen" to Helen and her good for nothing fat lazy useless Assistant. However, he neglects to indicate the the email is actually from him. I get an email back from my sister in law asking me if he (DH) knows how I am talking about him. Huh??? Well, I guess now he knows I call him a dingbat sometimes. heh, heh, heh.

Horoscope, new CDN magazine, Zucchini Loaf Recipe

It makes me nervous when my horoscope starts my day like this:
You could be feeling a little opinionated at the moment, but just try to avoid saying whatever pops into your head if you want to stay out of too much trouble right now.
What would make today different from any other day? I must find the duct tape.

Here's a beauty.
I love the orange.

We have a new CANADIAN quilting magazine coming out. First edition will be September 1st. Here's a link that will give you a chance to win a free year. Here's a link to the newsletter signup which will give you a chance to win an issue.
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Zucchini Loaf v.2.0

3 c. flour (2 c. unbleached, 1 c. whole wheat)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
3 tsp. cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 eggs
1/2 c. veg. oil + 1/2 c. milk
1 c. packed brown sugar + 1/2 c. white sugar
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. grated zucchini
1 c. pecan pieces, or your nut of choice. I don't mean your little sister.

• grease & flour 2 loaf pans 8" x 4"
• preheat oven to 325 f (165 c)
• sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, spices in a bowl
• beat eggs, oil, milk, vanilla & sugar together in a large bowl
• add sifted ingredients and beat well
• stir in zucchini & nuts until well combined
• pour into loaf pans
• bake 60 minutes (give or take) until tester inserted in the center comes out clean
• cool in pans for 20 minutes, then remove from pans and finish cooling
• wrap for 24 hours before slicing. If you can wait that long. Mmmm yummy.