Best/Worse/What did I learn today? Come sit a spell, chat with friends,newcomers always welcome!

My son on Stanley, my retired racehorse. I have more photos with him sitting in front of me in the saddle. We'd walk around the arena like that, and never thought anything of it!!

Too cute Deb
Beautiful horse
Are you still riding?

The wing is so strong right now i keep waiting for power to go out
Sound like Niagara Falls coming in sump pump

Had our strawberry jam session today. Got 12 quarts done. That should hold us a while.

Love the photo Deb.

I made 12 st. Patrick's day masks for my neighbors daughter who is in college.

VERY cute Linda!

Morning, snow storm warning on for the day…i keep thinking few more weeks,few more weeks.

Those masks are just adorable Lindakay, no question they will love them.

Ohhh Karen, you feeling better? Must be to be making jam, fresh berries or frozen?

You all did something more exciting than i, lost my energy and stayed on couch all day.

Cute masks Linda! And, homemade strawberry jam sounds yummy!!

No, haven't ridden in probably 20 years, Betty. But, always loved horses.

We use fresh berries...the band had a sale, but make freezer jam. It's so good and fresh tasting because it's not cooked. We also use the liquid pectin instead of the powder. Powder needs cooking and it's just an extra step we don't need to mess with. Used the food processor to mush up the berries, used to mash them but this is easier. I'm only allowed a tiny taste once in a while, but oh it's so good. All in all it was a fast and easy process.
All the kids were jealous. We used to have a huge jam session fourth of July up north every year. Everyone had a hand in it and every one took home enough to last nearly a year. They all miss that. I keep reminding them of how easy it is and to have a session of their own. I know it was the all of us together that they miss, so do I.

Did not take long this morning for the storm to blow through, Shinsei blew through because it’s coming down like crazy.

At one time are used to make freezer jam as well don’t know what I did with my recipe

I bet they miss a lot of things Karen, How many jars do you get out of a batch?
Fairies here are so expensive and when you do buy them half of them are rotten or completely green I often wondered if I bought a bag of frozen strawberries if that would work?

Deb, was it because of an injury that you gave up, I was young when I did some writing but I Had to quit because it was aggravating my kidney the up-and-down bump

I thought I had made 24 paws so I could finish the border around the kitty cat but for some reason I’m short a couple maybe I put too many on one side so I’ll start sewing and see where I end up wanna get that done it won’t be long Darlene will be coming home.

I used to live on 1 acre with horses, our long driveway was bordered with raspberries. I used to make raspberry freezer jam, only a couple of batches at a time. I froze the rest of the berries and made the jam as we needed, couple of batches at a time. I made raspberry mousse pie with homemade graham cracker crust.

Betty, I can't wait to see the finished cat quilt! I have a simple pieced Sock Monkey quilt I am working on. Part of the donated fabric from a friend, Sydnee. My step daughter Rebecca just sent me home with 2 bags of fabric. Leftover fabric from when she was making masks, all are least a yard and many are more. The black is yards and yards. First, I have to get all her kitty hair off it! .

Ohh Pat, raspberry mousse pie, yummy
Love all those fabrics, lucky lucky you..

Dianne are you getting this storm? You had asked about shopping at Foodland, don’t unless it’s something i need right away. I used to think All Canadian superstore was expensive bit think Foodland is the most expensive

Mesmerized watching to snow, tree branches are heavy with snow.. see so many birds today, they came home too early.

Had a early supper, there is enough for tomorrow as well. Thought I’d get ahead of the game and started to make a hamburger mac and tomato goulash..

Spent afternoon on couch most of the day but did get up and put paws around the puppy throw, should have put binding on it but tomorrow is another day.

Sharon finished yet another dog quilt, she did one about 2 weeks ago and now another..they are gifts, one is a donation for the Nationals and one for rescue.
Just chatted, she started a dod panel for her vet..Lordy at $20-$24 a meter they are costly gifts not counting time quilting and she spends a lot of time quilting them.

Betty those quilts are beautiful.
All those jams and sweets sound delicious.
Pat, those fabrics you got are very pretty. Can't wait to see what you make with them.

Our high temp today was 54 and very windy all day. I spent the day in an extra bedroom going through another box of Vern's treasures. Mostly cards. A few letters from his father and older brother. Many cards from daughter requesting money. Vern's son was in there with me and we had a good laugh when we found another letter asking for money.

All is well here. Condo is still getting torn down at a snails pace.

I have no appointments this week. Emma has a grooming appointments and on Thursday she needs to stop by the vet' to get her stitches out. She had two cysts moved.

The roses and trees are budding out and some bulbs are pushing above ground.

Betty, so pleased you got to take a day off and just chill. I do know how hard that is to do. Love your quilts.

Karen, my daughter makes her jam all the time. And she uses frozen berries. They say they are better because they are quick frozen when they are ripe. Vern never met a jam or jelly he didn't like.

Hugs to all of you.

First photo is owl in greenbelt today when Emma and I were taking our second walk. Second photo are my peppers planted and protected. Third photo is my tomatoes planted and protected by their homemade greenhouse surrounding them to protect from the cold and wind. They are just square tomato cages with thick plastic tied around with top tied off and bottom buried in the soil.

Betty, the recipe for the freezer jam is in the Certo package. I use fairly large containers so only get a couple per batch. You can use frozen strawberries or what ever fruit you want. Right now ours are from FL but since we are so close, they can pick them riper. I think we will have local berries in late April or May. We will probably make more jam then. I like to get enough done to last through the year. When we were up north, Amelia really liked making jam so we got frozen berries and made it often. It really doesn't take long if you are just making a few batches 15 to 20 minutes a batch once the berries are ready.

picture perfect postcard kind of morning.sun is glistening on the snow, zillions of look like diamonds sparkling..

Garbage day, dreaded going out and getting the bins from the pine trees to the road..but had an email at 9pm from Joe… sure made the process an easy one

Pat is coming this morning, not sure about June seeing Alex can’t be left for long.

Sharon that owl is spectacular… great idea with plant coverings, means a lot of extra work setting it uo or do you leave it up for a few months. Can be emotional going through boxes of the past, did you get rid of any? When are they expecting his apartment to be finished? Is he getting anxious?

Be back in a bit

Sorry to hear Emma had to have surgery. Love the owl too. Beautiful photos.
Betty, Joe has been a godsend to you. You just don't find people like that anymore.
We were just watching our weather, and this weekend they are saying our Temps will drop to freezing again. I don't ever recall Temps like that in March.

The darn temperatures here are plenty adequate for weeds to develop with LOTS of moisture so all my gravel in the parking is GREEN with little weeds everywhere. It's been too wet and cold (per instructions on chemicals) to spray for weeds, but I am about to test my luck.
I would NEVER have been able to fix a whole years' worth of freezer jam, not the way my kids went thru it. It was more space effective to freeze the raspberries and fix jam as we needed it. I used to make some as gifts as well.
The owl is magnificence! What a wonderful opportunity to see something like that in the wild. We used to drive by a home of some ground owls. We loved seeing them all standing outside their burrow.

Going to be an "at home" day. Appaently the ice is treacherous, and several of our Social Group members live out of town. One member lives in town here, but shes gone to a Dr appointment. That would leave about 2 of us coming, so I called everyone to cancel. That means I won't be bowling again this Tues.

Betty - you are so talented with that adorable cat quilt.

bummer about the no bowling but better to bowl next week than not for 6 weeks while recovering in a cast due to broken bones!
I guess I don't remember there being that many paw prints on the pattern, it sure is cute!

Here I am all cuddled in bed, thinking of getting my soni reader out and pick a book..sure didn’t enjoy the one i bough, finished it but enjoy NO

Susan, Pat is right, if you have ice like Dianne and I had last week it’s best not even open the door.

Drats, thank goodness i had copied the above, didn’t lose it but lost all i posted after.

Think I had asked Pat what she was using to spray her weeds and that I don’t look forward every year to edging all those patio stones on the back area nor around all those rhubarb leaves but always has to get done so I do it.

Linda Kay I think I Telling you how right you are that you don’t find young people to be so helpful. He sent me another message saying that as of now no more charge for the rest of year I told him he better behave and he knows how stubborn I am as many times he didn’t want to take money and said he best not argue with an old lady and he started to laugh. I’ll include a photo of him and his wife. Think that is where I went wrong I went to look for the photo and zap lost most of my post.

You all have me hankering for strawberry jam, not homemade but I think I’ll get up make some toast and make myself a strawberry jam sandwich, craving for it now that you’ve been talking the last day or so about the gym, might help the crave until I make a batch myself.

Not going to look at the top of my thread but I think I was telling Pat that there were 24 pieces around the Quilt that had six Pauze in each, guess I could’ve not put them on but went with the program.

The girls were here today that I made a big batch of macaroni tomato hamburger goulash, enough to freeze then I went downstairs and made a couple of bunnies, fill them up with chalk. I’m proud of myself only had one little chocolate Easter eggs and the rest filled the two bags although there’s enough to fill one more and guess who might get into the stash. I cut one close to the edging and one with pinking shears the next ones I’ll make will be all cut with pinking shears. They turned out cute I’ll make maybe 20 of them and just have them filled in in a bowl when is the kids or someone comes in that wants one they can take one. Thank goodness I have ribbon tied around the top and then made a bow otherwise I know who would eating the treats.

Forgot a post Facebook from Joe

That's was a beautiful message from him. So sweet.

Love those bunnies. Where did you find the pattern.

Sunny for next few days, where snow is melting i can see i will have quite a mess with grass from plowing, means lots of grass seed needs to be bought

Bunnies, Think i bought them on Etsy for around $5 i managed to put 2 in a hoop so saves a lot of time

Just vacuumed downstairs, now to wash the floors
Big sigh, still in my jammies

Those bunnies are just the cutest. I could NOT survive with all that chocolate in the house!! and this time of year, the malt ball Easter eggs. Those are another temptation LOL. You can have all the Cadbury eggs; those don't do it for me.

It's a shame there are not MORE gratitude posts and less whining/ugly ones on Facebook.

Malt ball Eggs....Now your talking. BTW if you can find them the best malted Milk balls are Brach's...double dipped.

You gals, first it’s fresh strawberry jam and chocolates…my favourite Is chocolate rounds with juicy cherries inside

I did get up last night and made 4 slices of strawberry ham toast but I’d be lucky if i found 3 strawberries in it.

This message was edited Mar 12, 2022 7:05 AM

It all sounds good.
I have never heard of strawberry ham toast.

I finished another one block wonder top today. This one is made of 6 of the panels cut into hexagons. Then placed around the original panel. I need to order some backings fabric.

Overcast today but that is ok

Oops Lindakay, should have read strawberry jam, I’ll go and change it..
Beautiful colours and quilt is very nice..is that the Texas flower? You sure haven taken to the one block wonder, if i can ever finish what is on my list i will have to try one.

I’ve got into a rut, couch has been my best friend can’t seem to get energy, wondering if it’s the new pills I’m on..guess I’ll stay listless vs shoulder pain.

Took containers out to fill with macaroni/tomato/hamburger goulash and freeze..I’ll never eat all of it in a week so better freeze or garbage it will go.

What are you all up to today?? Maybe if i had your weather I’d be off couch and into the gardens like many of you are doing

Texas state flower is blue bonnet. Flowers in the quilt are morning glories.
I know you don't like sitting, but your shoulder and body needs the rest. Sure hope you hear from the specialist soon.
A couple of us quilters are gathering at one if thier homes. 2 of them are busy cutting pieces for a double wedding ring quilt.
Not for sure if I will do it. Too many small pieces to sew.

I especially like this latest one-block-wonder! ONE of these days, for now, I need to plow thru what I already have fabric for. My resolve to reduce my stash is NOT being helped by the gifts of fabric that other sewers have thrown my way! HOWEVER, I have 2 new quilts almost finished and when the tops are at least finished, I will post pictures. One used the Sock Monkey fabric, the other a kids dinosaur print.

Pat I’m sure with what you have in fabric and what has been given to you projects can be made for many a year. I almost hate opening a drawer or container afraid to find another project.

Lindakay, I did know that, not thinking, just saw little blue flowers, will go and look again.

Well this day is moving quickly, Lenny my BIL had a blanket that about 1 for had come apart so he dropped in, was going to leave it, i said no i will do it right away and you can take it home along with another blanket Suzanne dropped off 2 years ago.

Then Pat asked if she could come for an hour while Don went and washed their car, she wanted to do 2 bunnies for the great grand so Don was quick at car wash and had to wait til the bunnies finished being embroidered.

Just came upstairs and Dianne, an very old friend called and asked if i was up to company..sure am so she will be here in an hour. Don’t have any baked goods but i did have some of those frying pan balls in freezer, sure hope they are still tasty..haven’t been buying a lot of goodies as I’m trying to lose another 10lbs. And meet my goal of 110…doesn’t help when visitors drop in and there are no sweets to feed them.

Maybe I’ll make bread putting, only takes about 15 minutes in micro

Hoping to cut out 3 kits to make a little Easter hanging for the boys to make.that likely will take all afternoon, Pat brought me her little stash so am sure the boys between what was given to me and what i have can get a project done.

Eyes are getting heavy

ah.......... Minutes. working on 3 sets. Two sets of AGM minutes, and one regular monthly minutes. Busy, Busy....... especially as one set is with people whose names I'm unfamiliar with. There were 22 at the meeting, and I only have 17 names. Ah well. The other two were the Wellness AGM, and the Silver Willow regular monthly meeting. Next Thurs, the 17th is not only St. Paddy's day, but the Silver Willow AGM, a potluck, and the election of officers. That's the one where people are nominating me for President. It's also a potluck for one of our members that's hoping their property will sell here, so they can move to NB in the Miramichi River area. It's been 1 1/2 years they've been trying to sell. They've had a lot of tire-kickers, but it looks promising for this couple to buy IF they can get the financing. It's tough to get financing for a mobile home, even a double wide on a double lot. Week after week they've been trying, and it's leaving Ruby & John waiting for an answer

That is a lot of minutes Susan..i used to take all the minutes for township and was told not to be so exact, guess some didn’t want their comment go out to associations lol

Here is hoping they do sell Susan, Miramichi area is breathtaking..

Take time to unwind though Susan, that is a lot going on…all iamsurearevolunteer positions? how is your weather?

Got the bread pudding in the micro, big glass pan..watchdiannenot,like bread pudding and i get to eat it all

Trucks and vehicles next door moving RootsCafe, i will miss them, they were so community minded.

Best I check on my bread pudding.

Didn’t burn it, Dianne doesn’t like much sweets but al least I’ve something to offer her

Marie & I used to make bread pudding for our Dad. We also both liked it, but it was something special we did for him. I have not made that in over 5 years at least.

If Dianne is not into sweets, maybe next time, some crackers and salmon cream cheese, or something else more in line with savory, rather than sweet. A little meat platter, Chinese BBQ pork with hot mustard? Kevin used to be so good at picking out the best packages of Chinese BBQ, me? Not so much! LOL

She loves sweets, must have been another friend..we had such a nice visit..haven’t seen her since Covid, her husband Paul has been battling cancer for 5 years and I certainly didn’t want to visit just incase but i promised I’d drop in next week and visit with Paul.

As for the alternatives you provided, not a lot of it i keep in the house so wouldn’t have been able to make up a platter unless it was bologna lol

Dianne rides horses, her horse she rode for years was getting older so she boards him just down the road, has an indoor riding area..she bought another, somehow her hand got caught while saddling it and broke her hand, she is going for physical therapy but says along with arthritis he pains terribly so i loaned her my dr, schools hand wax unit to try, she said no she would go buy one but i said why buy one if it doesn’t help she she took it with her… hope it helps..

The day sure went by quickly, like days before Covid, really enjoyed it.l did everything but what i should have been doing..my task fir the day was cleaning under the zinc, big job so rarely do i put a chore aside but will today.

Dianne brought peanut butter cookies, so here I am with half a dish of bread pudding, dozen of frying pan balls and peanut butter cookies.

By the way Pat, most of bread puddings were baked in oven, this recipe is done in microwave so from start to finish about 15 minutes. Could have dug in the freezer for ice cream but whip cream did the trick..was still quite hot and so tasty.

3:30pm, what to do, what to do??

When Pat was here she did bunnies for her granddaughter, then i put another set on to do in blue before Dianne called, guess i can go finish them off and finish the top/bottom border on the kitty throw.

Ziggy is laying beside me, looks so comfy, ‘now i will disturb him when I get up but a must or i will do nothing

How did your visit go with the sewing girls Lindakay, was it today?

Those look delicious. Don't think I have had bread pudding.
I just got home. Girls were still cutting and counting fabric pieces for the double wedding ring quilt. Don't think it will be one I will try.

Good pastime if you don’t mind taking months to do..there are easier methods of doing it i believe

Wonder if i still have the wedding ring cheater quilt or if I gave it to Sharon

It’s my go to desert, people think you really get bread taste but you don’t

Just did 2 little boy bunnies and brought borders upstairs to pin, by the time i finish should be bedtime