Grandmama's Stories

Friday, November 21, 2014

TWAS MY DAY ON THE BLOG HOP...COME TAKE A PEEK

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

MY DAY !!

THANK YOU, THEARICA!

Thearica, My Special Santa, sent a box filled with goodies!! Would you believe this sweet friend made the effort to track down my daughter by phone just so she could ask about my likes and dislikes!!? I was so impressed and even more so when my daughter shared with me (AFTER I received my gift) just how kind and sweet Thearica was over the phone!!!

Take a PEEK with me and see my Beautiful Gifts

Let's Take a Closer Look

Snowman Mini-Quilt (hand appliqued)

Hand - embroidered Needle Keep (Beautiful)

White Lace Vintage Linen

Hand -Embroidered Doily (I so love vintage linens w/ embroidery)

Super Big & Sweet Candy Canes & Suckers...1 for each Grandchild !!!)

Isn't this Thoughtful?!

Gorgeous Christmas Cookie Jar (filled with Peppermints)

One more Look at Cookie Jar bottom right.

Rudolph stole the Candy !!!

Beautiful Card with such Kind Thoughts...Thank You Thearica..from the bottom of my heart!

NOW....MY CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Christmas Apron

My Model is my 13 yr. old Grandson who Bravely allowed Grandmama put an apron on him.

He is such a sweetheart...none of this 13 yr. old smart mouth I used to hear when teaching.

He has such a heart for people in Third World Countries without Clean Water!!

PURSES

Truth: I still have to put in the lining. I've never made a bag before so this took me FOREVER!

I would watch a step on You-Tube, Sew, Watch You-Tube, Sew, etc....

Tissue Covers

This is my Go-To Quick Gift to give to my

Sunday School Class, Sewing group, etc...

I try to make most of them in NON-Christmasy

fabric so they can be used all year round.

BAG-ITS

Plastic bag holders

These are made to fit the receiver's "LIKES"

Christmas Card Holder

Disclaimer: My son makes these in his wood working shop.

He made me one out of cedar wood and background is Burlap.

Each one is custom ordered and my picture doesn't show the beauty of the wood.

AND Last But Not Least, My Ongoing Project to Remodel my Sewing Room... a small preview of the LARGE Ruffled Skirt that will go around the bottom of my Sewing Room Cutting

Table! Matches the Curtains only they are Black Gingham with Yellow Gingham Ruffle.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

MADAME SAMM LEAD VISIONAIRE

MARLENE, HEAD CHEERLEADER

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE HOP

SEW...PLEASE

HOP ON OVER TO EVERYONE'S BLOGS

FOR SOME EXTRA CREATIVE GIFT GIVING IDEAS

Friday, Nov. 21

Living Life At The End Of The Dirt Road

Pig Tales and Quilts

Grandmama’s Stories

Quilting Queen Online

Sew We Quilt

Blessings

Thursday, November 20, 2014

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP...

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP...

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Twas the night....Marlene has the schedule

i AM JUST NOW GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND PUTTING UP THE INFO CONCERNING "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" BLOG HOP.

TOMORROW IS MY DAY.

I have been without internet service for over a week. Needless to say, media Com and I have had SEVERAL conversations. Yesterday, I FINALLY got hold of a Tech that knew how to

~~jury rig~~ circumvent some issues and allow me to get online until the tech rep. makes a house call Dec. 2nd!! GEEZ..........

Here is the Complete schedule so you can go back and look at all the quick gift giving ideas all these creative ladies made. You WILL want to copy these for your own gift giving!

Monday, Nov. 17

Bea Quilter

Selina Quilts

Lakeshore Stitches

Lixie Makes It

Cucki Stitching Cove (Cucki was in an accident and is in the hospital - say a prayer for her)

Sew. Darn. Quilt.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Devoted Quilter

I Like To QuiltBlog

Geta’s Quilting Studio

How Art You?

Hill Valley Quilter

Sew Many Yarns

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Wednesday, Nov. 19

Quilt N Queen

I Piece 2 Mary

Kwilty Pleasures

Creatin’ In The Sticks

From This To That

Sew Me Something Good

Gracie Oliver Arts

Thursday, Nov. 20

Quilted Delights

Janes Quilting

Allthingzsewn

More Stars In Comanche

Pickles Quilting

Cate’s Linens

Friday, Nov. 21

Living Life At The End Of The Dirt Road

Pig Tales and Quilts

Grandmama’s Stories (ME)

Quilting Queen Online

Sew We Quilt (Madame Samm)

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Monday, October 27, 2014

MEOW....MY DAY on BLACK CAT CROSSING

BLACK CAT CROSSING

I'm Late Posting because our service provider has been out and just came back on.

WICKED WISHES

GO TO

MADAM SAMM

WENDY

FOR PUTTING TOGETHER ANOTHER FUN FRIGHTENING HOP.

HERE IS MY SMALL CONTRIBUTION TO

BLACK CAT CROSSING

12 X 17

MINI QUILT

PUNKIN PATCH PILLOW

BACK OF PILLOW

(THE RUFFLE IS SO PRETTY BUT I COULN'T GET A GOOD PHOTO)

YUCK, LOOK AT THAT UGLY CORD...I'M JUST NOT A VERY GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER...THAT WOULD BE MY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER DAUGHTER'S GENE POOL.

PUNKIN PATCH PILLOW

WICKED WANDA FROM A PAST

WICKED BLOG HOP

HOOTIE PINCUSHION & POCKET HOLDER

FOR

QUILTING TOOLS

AND AN EXTRA PICTURE

GRANDSON JAMES

HOLDING NEWLY ADOPTED

BABY BROTHER

R.J.

HERE IS THE SCHEDULE FOR TODAY.

PLEASE VISIT THESE GIFTED LADIES. THEIR CANDLE SHINES SO MUCH BRIGHTER THAN MINE BUT I LOVE BEING AMONG ALL THIS TALENT.

Monday, October 27

Ridge Top Quilts

Dancing Moon

Kwilt Krazy

Lydsfire Sewing

Grandmama's Stories

AUTUMN BLESSINGS

GMAMA JANE

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

BLACK CAT CROSSING BLOG HOP STARTED MONDAY

BLACK CAT CROSSING

WICKED WENDY AND MADAME SAMM HAVE BOILED UP ANOTHER GREAT "WICKED" BLOG HOP FOR THOSE OF US BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!

HERE IS THE SCHEDULE

MY DAY IS NEXT MONDAY

OCT. 27TH

Monday, October 20

Tuesday, October 21

Wednesday, October 22

Creatin' in the Sticks

Living With Purpose

Moose Stash Quilting

The Quilted Cat

Lines, Color, and Art

Thursday, October 23

VroomansQuilts

Lovelli Quilts

Pampered Pettit

TeaTimeCreations

Whims and Fancies

Friday, October 24

Just Let Me Quilt

Buzzing and Bumbling

Thimblemouse & Spouse

krislovesfabric

Quilt Doodle Doodles

Monday, October 27

Grandmama's Stories me!!!

Tuesday, October 28

Wednesday, October 29

That's Sew Julie

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilting Queen Online

Sew Peace To Peace

A Stitch in Time

Thursday, October 30

On the Banks of Frog Creek

How Art You?

Cucki Stitching Cove

Dancing Moon Farmstead

Life in the Scrapatch

Friday, October 31

From My Carolina Home

Monday, October 13, 2014

A LITTLE FALL BAKING and BEACH

FALL 2014

BAKING & BEACH & BUTTERFLIES

Buttermilk Quick Bread

This is such an easy peasy recipe that can be tweaked in SO many ways.

Put something in the crock pot and bake a loaf of this bread...VOILA!

You have supper.AND you can sew ALL day if you're lucky enough to be retired!

I thought I would share this recipe I found (don't know the source...sorry) with you

as well as a few pictures from our Fall Beach Vacation. My family has decided that October is THE PERFECT MONTH to go to the beach....Temps are perfect,,,warm days...cool nights...beach fires...smores...fishing is great....and prices are cut in half! It's a WIN WIN!

Our schools have returned to having a Fall Break after 3 yrs of none. Let me tell you, as a retired teacher, I can remember when Fall Breaks became a reality...OMGOSH...it was the Best Mental break I had ever had.

Three Terrific Grandsons

Meet RJ, 6 weeks old (isn't he precious?)

These Three are pretty tight.

13 yr. old Ryan with his new IPHONE and RJ!

Is this not adorable?????

Ryan has never had his own phone but due to soccer practice

and

security issues, a phone was a safety precaution, not a luxury.

GULF SHORES ALABAMA

2014

BABY RJ AT THE BEACH

Our Home for a Week! James loves the waves! (see PaPaw in the background getting his fishing rod all baited up? That man fished for 1 solid week morning till night)

Basic Buttermilk Quick Bread

Makes one loaf

2 cups (10 oz) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (4 oz) white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 oz) buttermilk
1 large egg
1/4 cup (2 oz) unsalted butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil

Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease or spray with nonstick cooking spray a standard 9x5 loaf pan.

Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Melt the butter, if using. Whisk it in a separate bowl with the buttermilk and the egg.

Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients. Gently stir and fold the ingredients until all the flour has been incorporated and a shaggy, wet batter is formed. Be careful not to over-mix.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and pat it into the corners. Bake for 45-50 minutes. When finished, the loaf should be domed and golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 15 minutes before removing and slicing.

Wrap baked loaves tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Baked loaves can also be wrapped in plastic and aluminum foil and frozen for up to three months.

Basic Variations:

• Sugar can be reduced to a tablespoon for more savory breads.
• Up to half the flour can be substituted with an alternative flour.
• Replace the buttermilk with a mix of yogurt and milk or milk and a squeeze of lemon.
• Use up to 1 1/2 cups fruits, nuts, olives, cheese, or other ingredients, added to the dry ingredients.
• Use 1-3 teaspoons of herbs or spices, added to the dry ingredients.

10 Variations:

1. Cranberry-Walnut Loaf (pictured above) - 1 c. dried cranberries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one orange
2. Apple-Cinnamon Loaf - 1 c. diced apples, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped nuts
3. Cherry-Almond Loaf - 1 c. dried cherries, 1/2 cup toasted and chopped almonds, 1 tsp almond extract
4. Blueberry Loaf - 1 c. fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tsp vanilla, zest from one lemon
5. Ginger-Orange Loaf - zest from two oranges, 1/4 cup minced crystallized ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of cloves, pinch of nutmeg
6. Herbed Sun-dried Tomato and Cheese Loaf (pictured below) - reduce sugar to 1 T, 1/2 c. grated cheese, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp thyme, 2 T minced sun-dried tomatoes
7. Onion-Dill Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 T, one minced onion cooked until soft, 1 T minced fresh dill
8. Pesto Loaf - reduce sugar to 1 tablespoon, 1/4 c. pesto, 1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese
9. Spicy Jalapeno Loaf - reduce sugar to 2 tablespoons, 1/4 cup minced jalapeno peppers, 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese, 2 tsp chili powder
10. Irish Soda Bread Look-Alike Loaf - reduce sugar to 1/4 cup, 1 T caraway seeds, 3/4 cup raisins SOURCE: Noshing with the Nolands

FALL BLESSINGS & REMINDER

GMAMA

Monday, September 29, 2014

SLOW DOWN...TO EVERY THING THERE IS A SEASON........

SLOW DOWN

I'm SEW glad you slowed down and stopped by to see my RUSH HOUR Projects. I really got into this lovely fabric and had a Plethora of ideas but not sew much on TIME.

Their Fabric is Red

Gray,Black, and White Too

I Love Studio E Fabrics

How About You??

I call this my TURN TURN TURN Quilt/Duvet Cover

Some of you may remember the song from the 60's

Rushing through our days made me think of this beautiful Scripture

Not very Professional, but I just couldn't crop out those sweet little Granddaughter legs peeking out at the bottom of this quilt.

She was trying so hard to help Grandmama show off the Turn Turn Turn Quilt/Duvet Cover. 9 yr. old Emma comes to sew with me most every Sunday Afternoon.

Hand Embroidered Scripture...Ecclesiastes 3:1

RUFFLES

Fabric Box & Pin Cushion

MORNING COFFEE CUP COZY

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

LOL!!! I HAD TO SHOW YOU MY FIRST GLASS COZY!!

It suits my personality so I'm keeping it just the way it is!

A lot more fun to look at, don't you think? It will make me smile as I drink my OJ.

QUILT BACKING & PIN CUSHION

Since I retired 6 yrs. ago after a 30+yr. as an educator, one thing I value the most is NOT having to RUSH. I can make my own schedule, take a nap, spend time with those I love, create items from fabric either by hand or at my sewing machine, enjoy a morning cuppa on the front porch swing, listen to the birds, bake treats for my family, sew with my Granddaughter, watch my Grandsons play flashlight tag at dusk all from the comfort of my swing, rock my 1 month old adopted grandson, read books with my James, share with you on my blog, or simply do nothing if I so choose.

MY GIVE AWAY...

TIME

TAKE 1 HOUR ....JUST FOR YOU

COMPLIMENTS

GMAMA JANE