Twas a Merry Christmas indeed!

I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did.   It was a long drive, but worth it.  It is so fun to see the holiday through the eyes of children.  These photos were taken at the Hayes International Airport on my drive home Christmas Day.  I have driven by it for years and finally stopped to get some photos.  It is one of my favorite Christmas displays.

 

Bonnie's Bumble Berry Pie...

In case you haven't noticed, I love berries.   Needless to say, when my husband, in-laws, and I tried bumble berry pie at the Purple Pie Palace in Custer it wasn't a surprise to anyone I created my own version.  I'm getting ready for my trek across the state to my parents and decided to make it and a few other pies. 

First, I dug through the freezer and found my berries, apples and rhubarb.  It was the perfect day to make pies as we had snow flurries all afternoon. 

  

Bonnie's Bumble Berry Pie

 

2 c. Saskatoons (blueberries will do)

2 c. Raspberries

2 c. Rhubarb

2 c. Strawberries (I didn't have any, but I don't think anyone will notice)

4 c. Apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. nutmeg

dash of salt

2 T. butter

2 T. flour

 

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes



While it was baking, I got a few gifts wrapped and rounded up some things to take home.  Now if I can just remember to load everything. 

 

Kelly, Ella, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

Christmas Red Velvet Cake...

As the mean old principal, I feel it is my duty to make birthday cakes for my staff.  With some staff it boils down to whatever I feel like making, but some have specific cakes.  Barb's birthday is a few days before Christmas.  For some reason I have had it in my head that she needs a red velvet cake.  The problem is I have found most red velvet cakes to be somewhat tasteless. Sorry, but that is how I felt, until I found this recipe in the December 2009 Southern Living .  It is my favorite and comes out perfect every time. 

 

1 package Red Velvet Cake Mix

1 1/4 c. buttermilk

1/4 c. butter

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

 

Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.  Enjoy!

 

The frosting recipe comes from my Betty Crocker's New Cookbook

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

 

1 pkg. Cream Cheese

1/4 c. butter

2 t. milk

1 t. vanilla

4 c. powdered sugar. 

 

My staff seem to like it, but of course who is going to complain about free cake? 

 

 

 

 

I love it when a plan comes together...

As I have mentioned on more than one occasion, I quilt for the monotony of it.  I like being focused on lining things up and the repetition calms me.   Picking fabrics has the opposite effect.  I have a hard time looking all the colors and seeing the end result.  I tend to over think pattern combinations and get overwhelmed.  My loving husband comes to my rescue when I start a project.  He is able to find the perfect combinations. This quilt is a great example.  I was so worried that there were too many creams and the circles would get lost.  My husband stayed the course and kept telling me it would be fine.  He was right.  I couldn't wait to piece together these runs.  Lo and behold, there are circles.  If it wasn't for him, I'd probably still be in the fabric store driving the sales people nuts.  Thanks to him I sit in my new quilting nest with the machine humming away, pleased with the results.

  Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret

 

Something old is new again with a quilting nook...

Funny how things can change in 10 years.  When we first built the cabin this corner of the loft was set up for the computer.  Back when computers were huge.  Now I have a little laptop that is wireless.  I can sit on the couch and click away.   

When I started my quilting project this fall, I took the sewing machine from the guest bedroom to the computer table.  There was still a bunch of computer things up there, but not anymore.  I spent the morning rearranging.  I took the unused computer stuff to the basement.  Then I cleaned everything top to bottom.  I brought in some crates for shelving.  Brought up all of my sewing stuff.  Then I added little things from here and there.   I am very happy with the results.

 

If you look closely above, I can pull the machine forward while I'm sewing and the keyboard table gives me all sorts of room to keep my material.  Below, I can push the machine back and I have plenty of room for cutting. 

The nice thing with this move is if somebody comes to visit (which rarely happens in the winter) I don't have to move all of my sewing stuff out of the guest bedroom.

My little nook is right next to the window.  I get plenty of light and anytime I want I can just look out at that wonderful view.

 All and all, I'm happy with my little weekend project.  It turned an old computer corner into a new quilting nook.   



Wrapping Roses...

I love roses.  But there is a problem, we are in a zone 3.  If I want roses to survive, I need to baby them.  In the fall, I cover the bases with compost and after it freezes I wrap them.  I finally wrapped them a few weeks ago.   My husband took a photo tutorial for me. 

First, you need: Straw, stakes, twine, scissors, and small mesh fencing.  I love my stakes.  They are old door handles on metal stakes.  Easy to push in and easy to pull out. 

Earlier this fall I cut the roses way back and surrounded the bases with rich compost.  Now I take the straw and wrap it around the base, making sure the straw is between the fence and the rose.

Then I tie the cages shut, tie them to the stake, and finish filling them with straw. 

It doesn't look like it is going to be a real cold winter, but better safe than sorry. 

I always feel better knowing my roses are tucked in for the winter.

 

Oh the possibilities...

 Last year my husband shot a moose in Alberta, Canada.  A year later we are still eating moose meat.   Also a year later we got the hide back.  Yippee.  It is amazing.

 I am extremely excited about the potential for this beautiful piece of leather.  If you see the little triangles, they are used by the tanner to identify the taxidermist that sent the hide to them.  The top is smooth and you can see from the photo below the back is rough.

 

If you are wondering what my plan is.  the possibilities are endless.  The photo below from the Prairie Edge website looks like the direction we are heading.  I want the hide to tell a story.  I am going to do a lot of research before I start this endeavor.

 You probably won't see an update on this project for awhile.  I have a quilt I am determined to finish.  I also want to make sure the plan is perfect before I start painting it.  Don't worry I will keep you posted on its progress.