An Early Morning

 Since retirement, I rarely get up before the crack of 8 or 9 or even 10 am.  But today, I got up at 6:30!  I had to be in Crystal Lake for a class with Nancy Cucci by 8 am.  Thanks to all the people that forgot how to drive when there is snow on the sidewalk, I was a little late, but I got there!

 This is my piece at the end of the class (5 and 1/2 hours of class).  I am quite pleased with the progress!

The class was called Pacific Heart and was pilot class for Nancy.  She will be teaching this at the national seminar this summer, and we were the group that got to be her 'test run', we get to stitch the project and make sure there are no errors in the chart, etc.  We only found two very minor type-oes so far.  It is a lovely project, and all of Nancy's designs are a joy to stitch.

Another Cheesecake

This weekend's baking is a Double Decker Raspberry and White Chocolate Cheesecake.  It's a recipe I clipped from Bon Appetite Magazine at least 15 years ago, if not longer.  It is still available on line if you google the title. 

When I was going through recipes the other day, I realized how much I like this cheesecake (well, I never met a cheesecake I didn't like) and wondered why I don't make it very often. 

I baked it last night, and brought it to German School today, and there isn't a crumb left!  Between the teachers and volunteers, they just devoured it!   I will have to make it again real soon.

Fresh Berry Finish

I finished the stitching on Fresh Berry!  now I have 3 of the six parts done!  Buttons will be attached when all 6 pieces are stitched.

Baking Again

 Twins!  Well, almost.  My oldest daughter hasn't used her Kitchenaid Mixer since she got it 11 years ago as a wedding shower gift, so she decided to find it a new home.  I had been wanting to either upgrade my own basic Kitchenaid to a larger model or get a second one, and so the Artesian Kitchenaid found it's way to my house!  Now I can mix and bake twice as fast with out having to stop and wash the bowl and beater constantly.

 Here we have Bienenstich ( Bee Sting Cake).  I always thought this was really hard to make, but it really wasn't.  My taste testers really enjoyed it, they didn't leave a crumb!

I also made Almond Streusel Cherry Cheesecake Bars, ( a Betty Crocker recipe) which were also a big hit. 

Fresh Lime Finish

I finished the Fresh Line chart, which is part 2 of the Farmer's Market series by SamSarah Designs.  It was fun to stitch, and I am looking forward to finish the rest of this series soon.

February Progress, March Goals

February is a short month, so not as much stitching time, but I do feel like I got some things accomplished.  5 finishes, 2 other pieces worked on.  1 finish was a new start. 

February

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project 
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Small bargello ball  finished
Landon’s Stocking
Jen’s sled finished

Crazy January Starts

November Joyful World finished
SamSarah fruits  ( 6 of them)
                Melon finished
                Lime     
                Berry 
                Pear 
                Kiwi 
                Apple 
Afternoon in Paris
Afternoon in Rome  
Stitch-a-long sampler worked on it

Future New starts

Valentine Biscornu worked on it
Perforated paper ornament (2)
Large Bargello ball finished
Scissor fob
Ornament finishing sample piece
Ladybug pin
A Fall Heart
December Joyful World
Afternoon in New York
Afternoon in London
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
               Nathan
spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

March

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project 
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Landon’s Stocking

Crazy January Starts

SamSarah fruits  ( 6 of them)
                Lime     
                Berry 
                Pear 
                Kiwi 
                Apple 
Afternoon in Paris
Afternoon in Rome  
Stitch-a-long sampler

Future New starts

Valentine Biscornu
Perforated paper ornament (2)
Scissor fob
Ornament finishing sample piece
Ladybug pin
A Fall Heart
December Joyful World
Afternoon in New York
Afternoon in London
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

 

Faschings Krapfen

Where I come from, Faschings Krapfen (Carnival Donuts)  are made up until Ash Wednesday, as a special treat.  They are fried, and like a yeast donut, but they are not sweet.  They are either rolled in sugar when they come out of the fryer or dusted with powdered sugar, depending on the region.  They can also be topped with jam.  In Vienna and Berlin, they are filled with jelly or cream. 

 Legend has it that it is the creation of Cäcilie Krapf, a Viennese cook at the court, who is apparently responsible for its name.

I know someone is bound to ask me for the recipe, and since I have it handy, here it is:

1 package dry yeast

5 ½ cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
2 whole eggs
½ cup whole milk
2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons brandy
¼ teaspoon salt
 
1.     Mix together dry yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar and ½ cup milk that has been warmed
2.    Mix all of the ingredients together with a wooden cooking spoon until nice and smooth.  Let the dough rest for about 2 hours.
3.    After resting, flour surface, pour out dough and gently flatten out with fingers.
4.    Dust top with flour
5.    Cut into pieces
6.    Fry in hot corn oil

 

 

This Weekend's Baking Adventures

 Today we explored monkey breads!  First up is an Apple Pie Monkey Bread.  It turned out great!

Then next offering is Orange Vanilla Monkey Bread.  I must confess that this is not the first time I made this recipe )(courtesy of the Pioneer Woman) and the first attempt was prettier but I didn't take a picture of that one.

Never the less, both tasted great, and the taste testers finished them off, and didn't leave a crumb.

November Finish

I know, I am a bit behind, but I finally got back to the Joyful World Stitching-a-long, and finished up November.  On to December!

Fresh Melons

I completed the stitching on Fresh Melons recently.  This is the first of SamSarah Designs Farmer's Market series.  I will add the buttons when all six pieces are finished.

Finally, Something Finished!

 Well, the stitching is finished!  This is going to be a 2 inch Bargello Ball once it is ornamentified.    I taught this project at our ANG Guild this past week, and will teach the construction in a few months, so I didn't want to confuse people, so I didn't 'finish' the piece, I just completed the stitching.  This one is done on 22 count mono canvas, and I used some Kreinik fine braid and some Rainbow Gallery Sparkle Rays. 

For the 3 inch Bargello Ball, I used Fyre Works instead of Kreinik and also used Sparkle Rays.  This one is stitched on 18 count mono canvas. 

They both sparkle a lot more, the pictures don't do them justice.  I will also be teaching this project for our EGA guild in a few months.

More Cheesecake

This week's baking produced another cheesecake.  This one is call Hollywood Cheesecake from the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cheesecake cookbook.  I have made it before, but it has been a long time.  I wanted to use my heart shaped springform pan since it was still fairly close to Valentine's Day, and I knew this recipe worked in that pan, so here it is.  I guess it was good, my taste testers ate the whole thing.....and I didn't even get a tiny piece!

Baking again!

I finally found some motivation to bake again!  This time I made an Apple Crisp Cheesecake.  I have been wanting to try this recipe for quite some time, but something always got in the way.  The biggest obstacle was that it called for a 6 inch springform pan.  Since I love cheesecake, I have quite a collection of springform pans....2 10 inch, 2 9 inch, 1 8 inch and 1 heart shaped, but no 6 inch.  I check a bunch of stores that had baking pans and such, but one of them had 6 inch pans either.....until I checked JoAnn Fabrics....they had them!  They were on sale, and I had a coupon, so they weren't very expensive either (as opposed to the ones I saw on google)  So I bought two......

Well, I got some stitching done in January.  Not as much as I would have liked, but life keeps getting in the way.  I did finish all of my sample stitches for the ANG Guild, I had 10 left to do, and I had 20 Crazy January starts - 10 of which are finished.  Hopefully February will bring more stitching time.

January

WISPS:
10 hours Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project 
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Small bargello ball 
Landon’s Stocking

Crazy January Starts

November Joyful World worked on it
SamSarah fruits  ( 6 of them)
                Melon worked on it
                Lime      worked on it
                Berry  worked on it
                Pear  worked on it
                Kiwi  worked on it

                Apple  worked on it

Afternoon in Paris worked on it
Afternoon in Rome worked on it
Elongated Continental Stitch  finished
Slanted Victorian Step Stitch finished
Giant Diagonal Mosaic  finished
Double Diagonal Brick  finished
Caswell Stitch  finished
Puff ornament finished
Byzantine Variation Stitch  finished
Acacia Tree Flat Stitch  finished
Zig Zag Stitch  finished
Stitch-a-long sampler worked on it
Cushion Stitch  finished

Future New starts

Biscornu
Perforated paper ornament (2)
Bargello ball
Scissor fob
Ornament finishing sample piece
Ladybug pin
A Fall Heart
December Joyful World
Afternoon in New York
Afternoon in London
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

February

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project 
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Small bargello ball 
Landon’s Stocking

Crazy January Starts

November Joyful World
SamSarah fruits  ( 6 of them)
               Melon
               Lime     
                Berry 
                Pear 
                Kiwi 
                Apple 
Afternoon in Paris
Afternoon in Rome  
Stitch-a-long sampler

Future New starts

Biscornu
Perforated paper ornament (2)
Bargello ball
Scissor fob
Ornament finishing sample piece
Ladybug pin
A Fall Heart
December Joyful World
Afternoon in New York
Afternoon in London
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

Crazy January Challenge Day 20

This is Fresh Apple, the final piece of the Farmer's Market series by SamSarah Designs.

Crazy January Challenge Day 19

Day 19 start is the Fresh Kiwi from SamSarah Designs Farmer's Market series.

Crazy January Challange Day 18

Day 18's start was Fresh Pear, from the Farmer's Market Series by SamSarah Designs.  Only two more of these designs......guess what I will be starting the next two days.....

Crazy January Challenge Day 17

On the 17th day I started Fresh Berry, which is part of the Farmer's Market Series by SamSarah Designs. 

Crazy January Challange Day 16

 On the 16 day I started a stitch-a-ling sampler by Black Bird Designs.  This is a freebie, and we are doing it as a stitch-a-long project at my EGA Guild.  I have until October to get it finished.

Here is a picture of the finished sampler.  Mine is being done with a variegated blue floss, so I won't be using the different colors. 

Crazy January Challenge Day 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15

 Here are 5 more days of new starts (and finishes)  - the sample squares for the needlepoint guild. 

And here are all 12 of the stitches that I did  (the flag incorporates 2 stitches).  Happy to have them done!

This Weekends Baking Adventures

 It was a busy week, and time was short, so I went to my freezer and pulled out a box of Apple Strudel and a box of Berry Strudel.  I picked these up at Aldi for just such a time, and everyone enjoyed them.  Next weekend I will back from scratch again.

Here is what the boxes look like, and you can find them in the freezer section at your local Aldi Market.

Crazy January Challenge Day 10

On Day 10, I did almost all the stitching for this delightful new Christmas ornament by Handblessings Designs.  Ornamentification will occur at a later date.

Crazy January Challenge, Day 6, 7, 8 and 9

... I am a bit behind in posting.  These 4 days, I stitched some sample squares to go in a sample of stitches binder.  This is an ANG project, and if I get 12 stitches done, I get a charm from our guild.  It's all about the swag!

Adventures in Baking

T

This week's baking yielded a Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake with a Chocolate Ganache.......I love that word:   Ganache....and Chocolate...well, you get the picture.

It was yummy, and my taste testers agree, since there is nothing left, not even a crumb....

Crazy January Day 5

Day 5's start is the Fresh Lime from Sam Sarah Designs Farmer's Market series.  I started the melon a few days ago.  There are six fruits total.

Crazy January Challenge Day 4

Day 4's start is Afternoon in Paris by Little House Needleworks.  I am using the recommended fabric and fibres.

Crazy January Challenge Day 3

Day 3's start is Afternoon in Rome by Country Cottage Needleworks.  I am using the recommended fabric and fibres.

Crazy January Challenge Day 2

On Day 2, I started the November block of the Joyful World Stitch-a-long.  I made good progress on it, even though the thread kept knotting. 

Crazy January Challenge, Day 1

Day One of the Crazy January Challenge.  In this challenge, you start a new piece each day for 7, 15, or more days and then finish them during the year. 

Last year I started 27 in January (and an additional 15 in May for Stitch Maynia) and only have one left to finish.  I hope this year will be just as successful.

This is Fresh Melon by SamSarah Designs.  It is part one of six parts, all fruits.  (I did their vegetables a few years ago so it was time to get the fruits done so I can frame them both in matching frames. 

December Progress and January Goals

December

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project  worked on it
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Small bargello ball 

Crazy January 2016  starts (28 new starts in January 2016)

Landon’s Stocking  worked on it

Future New starts

Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge
Small cardinal ornament #5  finished


Not much stitching time in December, too much cookie baking..... but lots of ambitious plans for 2017!

January

WISPS:
10 hours on Rocky Mountain Christmas  
Antique Map and Needlebook
Heirloom Christmas Sampler
Oveture II 

In Progress

4 person RR Marguerite’s
Mini Embellishment Project 
French Alphabet Sampler page 3 
April flower of the month
Small bargello ball 
Landon’s Stocking

Future New starts

Stitch-a-long sampler
Biscornu
Mini stocking
Perforated paper ornament (2)
Puff ornament
Bargello ball
Scissor fob
Ornament finishing
Ladybug pin
A Fall Heart
November Joyful World
December Joyful World
Afternoon in Paris
Afternoon in New York
Afternoon in London
Afternoon in Rome
Candy Corn Heart
Gingerbread Heart
SamSarah fruits  ( 6 of them)
Winds of Grace (6 of them)
Towmater x 2
Lightning McQueen x2
Cupcake ornaments:
                Logan
                Natalie
                Owen
                Peter
                Justin
                Nathan
Spring
Summer
Winter
Crystal Violets
Peter’s stocking
Mark & Karen’s wedding sampler
Tony & Melissa’s wedding sampler
Carnival
Walking on Water’s Edge

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

Welcome 2017! 

2016 was a productive year.....lots of stitching, 86 finishes!  237 jars of jam (10 different kinds) and 11 kinds of cookies for Christmas.

2017 will be even better!

Another Ornament Recieved

Met up with some stitching friends today to stitch, what a great way to spend part of New Year's Eve.  Marguerite made this mason jar lid ornament for me!  I love it! 

Such a wonderful remembrance of my "year of making jam"!

Thank you Marguerite!

A Christmas Gift in the Mail

This came in the mail yesterday!  All the way from Italy!  It is a RICO kit to make this lovely bow, and the writing is in German.  My dear friend Rosanna sent it!  Thank you so much for thinking of me!

One of my Most Favorite Christmas Gifts

I received this lovely afghan for Christmas!  It was crochet by my daughter-in-law's sister, Christy.  It is soft and warm and so very pretty. 

I just love it!  I will keep it out all winter and not pack it away with the Christmas things.

He Likes It, Hey Justin!

 Justin received the framed Superheroes Alphabet for Christmas.  He immediately found Batman, who seems to be his favorite at the moment.

 But the piece needed very careful further inspection!  He seemed fascinated for quite some time.

Here is the entire piece framed close up.  I am quite happy with how it turned out.  I would have chosen a different frame, but Justin's parents wanted a black frame, so that's what we did.

An Ornament Received

At our yearly Holiday Party, the member of our EGA Guild, Needle's Nest, have an ornament exchange.  Most years I participate, and this year I received this stunning ornament from Jan Christiansen.  It is beautifully stitched (Over 1!) and finished.  It has a place of honor on my tree.

Thanks, Jan!

Cardinal Ornaments

 I stitched these over the course of the year, but didn't ornamentify them until Christmas Day, shortly before they were given as gifts.  I purchased them when I visited Dixie Darlin' in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a few years ago.  I recently called the shop to see if I could order some more, but was told they have been unable to get more from their supplies. 

I did 3 sizes.  The small and medium (shown above) and the large on the right.  One had already been gifted when I took the picture. 

A Christmas Visitor

On Thanksgiving Day, we had a Cooper's Hawk visit our deck and partake of his breakfast.  He returned on Christmas Day, and was probably hoping we would provide a bird for his breakfast, but alas, he came up empty handed.  We were too busy cooking and getting ready for the big family feast that was to take place later in the day.

Merry Christmas to all!

The Last of the Christmas Baking

 ....well, for this year!  First up are Honig Busserln.  Literally translated: Honey Kisses.  I am not fond of these, but one of my sons and my sister love these cookies. 

Lastly, Spritz Cookies.....these almost killed me.  I misread the recipe....twice!  This is the third attempt at the dough, and they finally turned out. This is my mother's recipe, but it is too stiff for my cookie spritzer....next year, I will have to use hers to get the desired effect.

Merry Christmas to one and all, stop by if you can, I have plenty of cookies!

More Christmas Baking

 First up, Kolatschki....the German Version.  they may not be pretty but they taste good!  I used my homemade jam, but it oozed out of some of them.  I need to work on this recipe a bit.

 Next:  Peanut Butter Blossoms.  I have never made this before and always thought they were hard to make, but they were quite easy and taste  good too!

This recipe is called Christmas Crack.  Homemade toffee pour over saltine crackers then baked, and topped with chocolate.  I forgot to add the sprinkles.