Tin Cup Memories

This is a little painted tin cup that belonged to my mother's mother. This grandmother was born in 1900, and has been gone from this earth for over twenty years.
I love the rooster chasing the little boy. See, he's lost his hat in his haste to escape.

Frankly, I don't blame him for running. A big rooster can do a lot of damage to a little boy.

This grandmother of mine never quite approved of me in my adolescent years. I was too rebellious. (And way too much like my daddy, of whom she definitely did not approve.)


I like to keep this little cup where I can see it - for a lot of reasons. I'm glad my grandmother and I finally made our peace with each other. I like to think that she would be proud of the woman I have become (even though it took me a lot of years to get here).

I'm thankful for all the things she taught me - both directly and indirectly. She was a wonderful cook, seamstress and housekeeper.


Isn't it funny that it takes us most of our lives to finally learn to see the humanity in others, to see that they have their own pains and struggles. And hopefully we learn to be kinder to each other, too.

It's a beautiful, sunny, cold day here. Hope your day is pretty, too. Have a good one!

Hugs and kisses,

Flowers, Quilt and a Book. Oh, my!

I was taking a little walk around the yard today looking at the remains of our flowers. I'll take them any way I can get them. We still have not had enough cold here to kill any but the very tenderest of vegetation.

I saw this little camelia about to bloom on Friday

and here it is today in glorious flower! If you look carefully you'll see that Bruno is supervising from inside the house and not at all happy about being left there.

My mother has such pretty camelias in her yard in Mississippi that have been blooming almost as long as I've been alive. I've tried rooting some of hers more than once with no success. Maybe next time........

I have no idea what the Latin name is for this plant. I only know it as "Donkey's Ears". That's a pretty apt name! Every winter it has these strange flowers that bloom atop a single stalk.

The cool thing about them is that they grow their own little "babies" on the edges of their leaves, which then fall off into the soil and make new plants.

Our daughters' friend Mandy and her husband are having a little boy next month, so I made this little flannel quilt for him. I hope they like it!

This is the back side. It's simple, but still pretty.

I've started reading "Little Heathens" by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. It appeals to me because she writes of growing up during the depression in a loving family. I'm sure there are lessons there we could all stand to learn.

Have a wonderful evening!

Hugs and kisses,

Do I Have a Spoiled Dog, or What?

I gave Bruno a bath tonight and after he was dry he really NEEDED to get up on the bed here in the sewing room. My computer is here and I am taking some time to catch up on favorite blogs and investigate a few new ones. Bruno likes to be where I am.

So, I had to put a fleece blanket over my quilt to protect it. I love my dog, but not that much! :)

Have a great evening.

Hugs and kisses,

Adding to My Sewing Room

I've added a single bed to my very small sewing room. Never know when you might need it. And it's a pretty good place to spread out bits of things to see how they will look together.

That's one of my grandmother's cathedral windows quilts on it right how. I miss her every day, and this just reminds me all the more.

As you can see it didn't take long for interlopers to move right in and make themselves comfortable!

Here's a little peek at the quilt I'm working on now. It's for my sweet sister-in-law. Her color choices were purple and black with lots of vibrant colors, too, and I think we've hit that pretty well.

Susan over at Homespun Quilts has tagged me for a Sixth Picture Meme. So here it is.

Pretty boring, huh? I just posted this picture on my last post. I know that's not the way it's supposed to work out, but this is a fairly new computer and that's just the way my pictures get organized. I'm not going to ask anyone else to do this, though I'm sure you could each and every one have a more interesting sixth than I just did. :)

And now an important news flash::: FRIDAY, JANUARY 23rd IS NATIONAL PIE DAY!!!

Hey, nothing like an excuse to make a pie. :)

Have a great evening and get that pie planned.

Hugs and kisses,

New Fabric, New Projects

I got a great deal on some new fat quarters on ebay. (Have I said lately that I love ebay?:)) The lady selling them (and some other fabric) is moving into a smaller house and had a LOT of

really great fabrics she needed to sell. I did my duty and bought some of them. :)

I know a lot of people don't, but I like to wash most of my fabrics and iron them before I cut and sew them. So, now they are washed and I have started the ironing. There are some really pretty pieces and it will be interesting to see what they become.


There's just something about freshly ironed brand new fabric that is very satisfying.

I also bought these Christmas print charm packs from Material Girls ebay shop. I'm gathering some other Christmas fabrics, too, and thinking that I'd like to make a Christmas quilt for Mr. Sweetie Pie and me for next year.

And this little cutie is now guarding my oven door.

I did mention that I like chickens, didn't I? :)




Hugs and kisses,

Comfort Food

Last night was a bit cool for us. So, it seemed a good idea for some warming comfort food - namely chicken pot pie!

First I gently simmered some vegetables with a couple of nice big chicken breasts. Then I took the chicken out and cut it into cubes and added it back to the cooked vegetables and broth along with a can of cream of chicken soup and a handful of egg noodles.

This I poured into a 9 X 13 inch baking dish.

I topped it with some homemade biscuit dough and baked at 400 degrees until the biscuits were golden and the mixture bubbly.

While this was baking I made one of our favorite side dishes - coleslaw. This is such a colorful, tasty and easy thing to prepare.

First, coarsely chop some cabbage and red cabbage, too, for extra color.

Add grated carrot.

Chopped green onion.

And sweet pickle relish, Miracle Whip, and mustard.

Yummy!

Have a good evening!

Hugs and kisses,

Elaine