THRIFT SHOPS AND SANTA

Yesterday we had a super busy day - lots of errands to run - lots of things to pick up. I have been gathering donated yarn to take to the volunteer center so more hats, mittens, scarves and afghans can be made for those who need such things to stay warm in the winter. We picked up three big garbage bags full of yarn - what a delight it was to see the generosity of knitters and crocheters.

Then we had to make stops at the thrift stores - there are three in town and I found some fun things. One of the things I got was a quilt kit - for a Friendship Sampler. This is a primitive design and quite charming. The kit is complete - and has 100% cotton fabric for the background, the blocks and the appliqued flowers and vines.


And a quilt pattern - A Town Without Kitty - for making a birdhouse wallhanging. A cute primitive style pattern also. There are directions for making a WH, placemats or pillows.

And some rolls of ribbon - featuring sports

All of the above items are going in my Etsy shop - but not what I found next!!!!

I discovered some Santas - and bought several for my Santa collection - well actually they are almost the start of my Santa collection. I have a wooden Santa that I made several years ago in my tole painting phase - four vintage light up plastic santas in different sizes - and several ceramic santas that are holding up their hand in the peace sign. We had one of those from when our kids were little and one year Don decided that no one really liked them so he sold them at a yard sale. Wrong decision!!!! The next christmas the kids all asked, first thing, where is the Peace Santa? (they were all adults by this time) - and they were shocked that he had been sold. So began the search for another vintage Peace Santa. A couple years ago we found two - S&P - and bought them, - then we found three or four more (not S&P) and bought all of them at a thrift shop. Now we have Peace Santas (about 2" tall) everywhere - I like to put them in among the dishes in the china cabinet. So this christmas we will have a lot more Santas to add - and I think I'll continue right on collecting - it is such fun. And last night, when Ben came over, he had a great time playing with the Santas - especially the "pirate" santa - can you figure out which one he was calling a "pirate" santa?

A cute roly poly matroyshka Santa

And look what was inside Santa

The little angel is too cute



And here is everyone - on the buffet. I took down the fall decorations - so glad to be done with that - and the Santas took over. I can't wait to add more - I might try making some this year - and I'll definitely keep looking at the thrift stores - it is fun to discover another Santa.

Merry Christmas - very soon.

BUSY DAY AT HOME

I am just full of energy today - so got up early and started some homemade bread. Once that was on its first rising I got out the ingredients for banana bread, to use up those spotty bananas. I made two batches of banana bread - the freezer will be nice and full - I got four loaves out of those two batches. This is the best banana bread recipe I've ever used - everyone loves it.


BECCY’S BANANA BREAD
3/4 cup margarine
1 1/3 C. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. mashed banana
1 C. sour cream
2 C. flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt

Oven 350; pans greased (one 9x13, 2 loaf pans, or 4
mini loaf pans)

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy; add eggs and vanilla. Combine banana and sour cream - 2 cups total. Stir into creamed mixture.

Stir in dry ingredients.
Bake. They say 60 minutes for full-size loaves. I baked the minis for 50 minutes only - toothpick did NOT come out quite clean and the loaves were VERY soft and squashy when I turned them out, but wow were they moist!


Four loaves in their pans -right out of the oven - heavenly!!



Meanwhile - the bread dough had risen two times - and was ready for the pans. I use an Amish recipe given to me by a friend many years ago. I don't even look at the recipe any more - it is in my head. The dough rises twice in the bowl - and then the third time in the pans - so I have to plan ahead to have enough time at home to get through all three risings and then the baking. Of course after that comes the eating - but I always plan ahead for that.



Now the banana bread it out of the pans and cooling on the drainboard - do we still say drainboard? Or do we always have to call it the counter? I like drainboard.

So - time to wash up the dishes - but we have our hot water heater on a timer - and a late shower took all the rest of this morning's hot water, and no more will heat until 8 p.m. Usually this arrangement works fine - showers early - before 7, and then the hot water has time to heat again and we use off that tank the rest of the day. Then days like today happen and I'm without hot water. Doesn't happen often - but today it did. If I load the baking dishes in the dishwasher it will be too full - and there is no hot water anyway to run it until after 8 tonight, and I want the baking mess cleaned up NOW.

I was thinking of moving all the stuff from in front of the hot water closet - taking the panel off, resetting the timer to heat once again - and then when it was done, resetting the timer, then putting the panel back on and putting all the "stuff" back where it belonged - when a great idea hit me. I'd heat water and wash the dishes like we used to when I was a kid growing up in Alaska. We used a dishpan - hauled the water from a waterfall a distance from the house - heated the water on the stove and usually scalded our hands getting the temperature just right in the dish water. You can just imagine what wash day was like - with three kids and a fisherman to do laundry for.



So I got out both teakettles and set them to heating water. The one in front is my favorite and I use it every day - the one in back whistles like a train when the water boils - and it gets used when the grandsons are here and want to hear it. I heated them both full of boiling water - poured some in the baking dishes and added cold water from the faucet - we have PLENTY of cold water - and washed everything up. Then I put the clean dishes in the drainer and poured more hot water over them to rinse - just like in the "good old days". It was fun to do this one time - but I like the "good new days" when hot water pours forth from my faucet when I need it, and I don't have to lug it in buckets, up the stairs. And in winter we had to lug ice when the waterfall froze - and melt that for water.

I am grateful for the hot water heater timer though - we have saved over 60.00 a MONTH by not running it all the time - quite a savings I can use for crafting, or buying toys for the grandsons - or even baking more bread.

And speaking of bread



Here it is - out of the oven and smelling so good it can make a strong man cry. Ahhhh the sweet smell of home baked bread!!!

In between the mixings and the washing up and the straightening up the kitchen, I had time to finish this cute little needle case, made of felt.






This was fun to make - think I'll make a couple more. In just a little while we are off to Mt. Vernon where Don has an appointment for a little laser eye surgery. The appt. isn't until 3:30 and takes a couple hours. I will be driving home, and then he will be back to work tomorrow - oh the marvels of modern science - and the joys of hot water!!!

YIPPPEEEE HURRRAY WHEEEEEEEEEE

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY


HOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

WHOOOOOOOOOPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

OH GOOOOOOOOODIE

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CELEBRATE!!!!

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

SUUUPER!!!!

You may take the above celebration to mean whatever you'd like it to mean! I KNOW what it means to me!!!!!

MY WONDERFUL MAILBOX - MY WONDERFUL BLOG FRIENDS

Yesterday was a fun day - the mail carrier came by TWICE - seems he forgot one package the first time he was here.

Ben was here and we had so much fun opening the packages. First came a package from Judy - she had a drawing for her 200th post - and I won it!!! If you haven't been to Judy's blog yet - do stop in and visit a bit. She has wonderful quilts to show you - and some of the prettiest fall colors I've seen this year.

The package was a suprise - she didn't tell us what would be in it - and she stuffed it full.



There was a big stack of things - fun stuff from her craft and sewing room - oh what fun I'll have. Under all of the pretties was the loveliest knit dishrag - I just adore using them, but don't make them for myself - I could, but I just don't. :-)

And she included a packet of lacey note cards - perfect for those holiday notes.

A package of bits and pieces and embellishments - each thing prettier than the next - so many possibilities.


A little reindeer cross stitch kit - I haven't done x-stitch in years, my fingers are just itching to get at this and get it finished up by the holidays.



A bag of buttons and beads - and one little angel face in there - under the center blue button so you can't see it very well. Judy makes the faces herself - she also makes button fairies and here are some of hers
I can't wait to start on making some of my own - the buttons and beads are a good start. Aren't her button fairies darling?

Just about the time Ben and I got settled down from digging through Judy's box - here comes the mail carrier back - with another box - now we are excited again.

This box is from Julie at A Celtic Lady Blog - and we know, sort of, what is going to be in it - a punkin headed girl. Oh the fun - tear open the packaging, take out the packing - unroll the bubble wrap (snap a few bubbles) and there she is - Punk Headed Girl, with a cat!!! Julie had a drawing for those who voted on her Fire Fancies Challenge - and again - I won!!! How can I be so lucky.??!!


Here is my Punkin Headed Girl - with her kitty with a bow. Ben just loves her - and I do too - and he has taken her to show to anyone who comes in the door. He's extra careful when he holds her - he said because she is so special and she came in the mail from Miss Julie. What a sweet little boy he is.

So our happy busy box-opening day has come to an end - but I will have all these fabulous things to play with and enjoy for a long time to come. The Punkin Headed Girl will be the firs thing I put out each fall - she is so very sweet.

I'm off to make some button fairies - I have the wire - and now I have buttons and a face and beads - and I got some wings the other day when I was out.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME PICKLE RELISH?

Every year or two I make huge batches of sweet pickle relish, bread and butter pickles or jam. I make enough for us and for our kids and their families. When I make one of the items I make enough to last for several years - then I don't have to make the same thing over each year. This year it was sweet pickle relish - made with zuchinni. The original recipe was for green tomato relish - so if you have a lot of extra green tomatoes you can also make it. You could even make it all of cucumbers if you wanted - whatever you have on hand makes a great relish.


For this recipe you start with four of the biggest zuchinni you can find. It is never hard to find them, someone always has them growing in their garden and are happy to get rid of them. If you aren't careful you will find some on your porch.



You chop everything and let it soak overnight. Even longer is ok - if you don't get to the relish right away the next morning. By this time your house smells like pickles - and will continue to do so for about a week.



Wash up your jars and lids and rings - you can put them in the dishwasher on "hot dry" if you want to - to heat them up - but make sure they are very clean first.



Gather up some other ingredients - plus sugar, and you are ready to start.



Once you have the relish in the jar, turn it upside down for a few minutes.



Then back right-side up and you have relish!



GREEN TOMATO RELISH – OR ZUCHINNI RELISH

1 flat green tomatoes or 4 huge zuchinni
(approx. 12 cups chopped)
5 1/3 c. onion (chopped)
5 c sugar
1 tsp allspice
1 t turmeric
1 1/3 t cinnamon
1 1/3 t celery seed
3 ½ T cornstarch

½ c salt
1 quart apple cider vinegar

Chop all vegetables (food processor works fine – chop in several batches – do not use blender)
Add ½ c salt and let chopped vegetables sit overnight – stir occasionally

Drain slightly – do not rinse – cover with vinegar. Bring to a boil and boil for 10 minutes. Add sugar, boil for 30 min. Mix cinnamon, cornstarch and allspice, add enough water to make a paste. Add to hot mixtures (do NOT add dry cornstarch – it will clump up and you will never get the clumps out). Boil 10 minutes. Add celery seed and turmeric. Put in sterile jars – fill almost to the top – put on lids. Turn immediately upside down for 5 minutes. Set upright and let jars seal. Makes 5-6 quarts.

Enjoy!!

FUN STUFF FOR MY ETSY SHOP

I have a new Etsy Shop - SqueeziePeas - and it is such fun. I've been making pincushions, decorations, angels and bags. I love crafting as much as I love quilting - and finding new patterns and making new crafts is so exciting. I recently found a pattern for a cloth bird that I want to make - so many ideas, so little time.



I've used some wonderful vintage embroideries and linens for pincushions. This one was a set of four that I cut up to make small pincushions. I love the bee in this one.



The hedgehog pincushion is one of the cutest I've ever made - he looks so prickly but he's very sweet and considerate - he'll take good care of your pins.





Thumb pin cushions are so handy - and really take no getting used to. I have one on most of the time now when I'm working on projects. The hardest part was photographing my own thumb.



And my little lacey crocheted heart pincushions - I am having the best time making these. They are minature - and so lovely. Just the thing for that special Victorian quilter - or as a holiday ornament - they could be either.

And my angels - or they are so precious. I make them from vintage hankies, with lace and buttons and ribbon. Some of these angels have travelled all over the country, and some even out of the country. They live in 11 states now - and four foreign countries.
They especially like to fly around to give special cheer to someone who is lonely, or sad, or just needs a little lift.

I've got a Primitive Angel coming along - as well as many other colors, my favorite being a pink angel with a vintage pink polka dot hanky for a skirt.










So stop over to my Etsy shop - the link is on the top right side of this blog - I'm sure you'll have a great time there - and don't forget to look at the Orange Jello pincushion - my own clever idea - if I do say so myself.

Thanks for visiting!!!