Fall is coming!

I'm sure of it- I am craving Fall foods and ready for the chilly air. I am not ready for snow-so if we can just have some Fall colors, a nip in the air, and an apple cider slush I would be a happy girl!
Scott and I are still in curtain buying mode (one set at a time because they are so expensive) last weekend we bought one more set. Actually, the curtains we picked for the dining room were on clearance so we bought all the panels we needed but we still have to buy one window sheers and hardware. My friend Heather sent me 20 Bed Bath and Beyond coupons! She has been saving them for years! Yes, they take expired coupons and you can use one per item and don't have to check out separately for each one!

Dining room needs one more set

This is what they look like

In the study - need one set for this room still

We got a great deal on this tool box a few weekends ago. Scott just finished repainting it.

Before

After

 I am going to use it for napkins and silverware when we get a buffet for the dining room!

Scott put beans in my bowl-clever monkey!

We got two of these little cabinets at Michaels for 80% off

Except the aspen and cinnamon this is stuff collected from the ground in Ohio and here!

That is all the home improvement pictures for today.
You know I love love love Skinnytaste.com I made three new recipes from her site in the last two weeks that I really loved. I was going to post links to each of them like I normally do but her site is so full of advertisements that it freezes my Kindle every time I use it. Grrrr! The link is on the left side of my blog but you will have to look the recipes up! I also failed to take ONE picture of any of the dishes! I'm losing my touch! I made "baked penne with Pecorino pumpkin sauce" I really liked it -may be because I have been craving Fall foods but it was really good! I made "naked salmon burgers with Siracha mayo" my avocado was moldy so I didn't use it. They didn't keep their burger shape so it was salmon crumbles - still very good! I made "crockpot minestrone" but I did the stove top version and I made meatballs. I will be making all three recipes again -very soon! I love my meatloaf recipe- I think we all have one we use and we don't like to try new ones but I will share mine anyway...
My meatloaf-
2t olive oil
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves garlic minced
Saute the onion and garlic in the oil until browned. Set aside
Mix together
1lb lean ground beef
1/2 lb ground turkey
2/3c quick cook (not instant)oats
2 large eggs
1Tblsp Dijon mustard
2t Worcestershire sauce
1t oregano
1t salt
Add the onions and mix well. Divide in half. If you are making loaves then make two uniform loaves. Mix 1t Worcestershire sauce and 1/4c ketchup and spread on top. Bake 350° for 35 minutes. Makes 8 servings. If making meatballs it makes 56 small meatballs. Bake 350° for 20 minutes. I used 3 1/2 per bowl of soup and froze 28 for the next soup batch!
Old points 1/4 of one loaf is 4
3 1/2 meatballs is 2
I usually serve meatloaf for dinner and cut the second loaf into 4 pieces and freeze them individually for a low-fat lunch if we don't have any good leftovers or a quick dinner - meatloaf sandwichs are good.
I am still working on Renato Parolin's Noel and Little House Needlework's Orchard Valley Quilting Bee, handquilting a quilt and the Charming House of Lindy Mouse. I will have pictures next week. I did have 2 small finishes this week

Bracelet- free download from Cross Stitch and Needlework

Charmed tree by Mill Hill

 

Last but not least my daughter has an etsy store - kitzy knits she makes fantastic dishrags you even get to pick your own colors! I made her make a bunch at Christmas when she was here because I love them.If you need good dishrags check her store out!
I'm off to stitch and drink some tea. Hope you all have a lovely day!

auf wiedersehen

For my Aunt Debbie 

Those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
- Anonymous

I will miss you so very much.

funny friends and craft projects

Shocking that I am already back again right?! It was a month absences so I have a lot to say! I only finished a few things but my friends did something so fun that I Had to mention it! Jessica and Sharon did the shop hop in Colorado and they were sad that I couldn't go-so they figured out a way to take me with them!!

  Headed to Wyoming

Guess I had an accident

Trying to get a dispatch job with these guys

But hung out with an outlaw and ended up in the hoosegow

This better be ice cream because I am NOT ready for snow yet

Made it!

Sharon and I liking at the menu at the Mad Cow in Greeley Colorado

Mmmmm ham(I think) the pop is Dr Pepper so I refuse to drink it(I'm a handful as you could see from my jail photo!)

Country Crafts and Supplies in Greeley Colorado

Fancimats and More in Littleton Colorado

Worn out!

Sharon me and Jessica

Wasn't that fun! I wish I could really have been with them! They got me a surprise-don't know what it is yet! Fun! Aren't they adorable?!
I am still working on Renato Parolin's Noel

Turns out they are HUGE! Yes, it said so on the pattern but I was so excited to have another of his patterns that I didn't think about it. There are four and they are 11x11 yikes!
On the trip to Colorado I took Quaker Turtle by With My Needle. I'm not gonna lie to you- I hated working on them. Over one on 32 count takes some getting used to plus little glasses and lots of light. Then I had to put them together. They turned out cute. I didn't like the needlebook cover so I made the pocket into a needlebook. Also, there was some crazy loop directions that I couldn't understand so I used a robin to bow for the buttons. Works great.

Ribbon attaches to the 2 buttons -Damn it the trail is on upside down

Backs- see how small they are!

 Jessica put together this t-shirt quilt for me. I tied it and added the binding. There will be two quilts-Scott has been dragging these shirts around for years. There were 5 shirts left over I made into pillows

Scott framed this for me.I made it last year. Chessie and Me -Buzzing Round You.

I am currently working on four projects.I am working on an ornament on my lunch breaks. I am quilting a small quilt by hand 2 nights a week. I am working on a WIP 2 nights a week-to get my WIPs down-Little House Needleworks "Orchard Valley Quilting Bee" is the one I chose. I am working on Noel 2 nights a week. I just bought the limited edition Just Nan "Charming House Of Lindy Mouse" Yeah I KNOW - I didn't need another project. I BOUGHT IT ANYWAY -adorable.
I guess that's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a stitchy day with fun friends!

house projects

Didn't think I'd be back so soon-huh? Ha! We have been working on house projects - Scott does most of the work! I have some pictures to share....

Before

After

Moved the birdhouse to the back- too much poo on the porch!

The top is a work in progress- got the quilt hanger for less than $45!

Always wanted one of these - this one was a great price!

Adorable cabinet-bought from a store going out of business-another steal!

Cherries in rum - small one is cherries in whipped cream vodka mmm

July 4th decoration!

Before

After

Perfect spot

Lasagna rolls from Skinny Taste

There were so many chipmunks we were sure one would climb up us while taking this picture!

We got this 5 and a half foot garden door to put on the wall for quilts or wreaths. I LOVE it! If I could find the key I'm sure it would open to a magical garden!

Thanks for stopping by- I hope you enjoyed the pictures! Have a wonderful day!

KAPUT!!

Yeah, my computer is broken.....has been for a month now. Scott says I should try to blog from my Kindle or I might never blog again! I do have a ton of pictures to share so I will do two posts instead of taking your whole day with my chatter!
We ended up in Colorado over the 4th of July. We were supposed to go in September for a wedding but my Aunt who has been fighting cancer for a few years was given some bad news and we wanted to go see her. I am traditionally not a flyer but we didn't want to spend four days on the road so I got some Xanex -wow! That stuff really works! Now I want to fly to all of our destinations to save time! I do enjoy a road trip but I never want to drive across Kansas or Nebraska again (we've done it at least 25 times) We had a nice time in Colorado -saw our daughter, our friends Joanie and Al, our letterboxing friends, my dispatch buddies and our families.

Scott, Taylor and I

Feeding chipmunks on the Grand Mesa

My uncle Joel

Uncle Joel and Aunt Carol

View from Grand Mesa

Cousins Chase and Sheafer

Scott, Joel and Carol

Our birthdays are both in July and kind of got lost in the shuffle. I got Scott some CDs and shirts.I baked him a cherry pie -which I pitted cherries for- turned out AWFUL! I've mentioned that I can't bake -right?

None of the sugar melted.....we still ate it. Scott made me a pumpkin praline tort -wonderful! He bought me the organic soft lips - I think I have every "flavor" lip stuff they have. Scott also bought me two more signs for my hanger.

It's backwards but not for long

It has a battery operated candle!

He bought the signs at Doc Holidays.
I think we are worn out from all our travels so we've been doing home projects! I will post those pictures tomorrow. I'm really excited about a garden door we bought- but you'll have to come back for that.
Thanks for coming back after all this time!