In the Hive

The clues have led up to quilt top construction but I must confess, I need a break from this project!!  I think I will start some of Bonnie's squares for a bit!

One to clue # 6.  I still haven't managed to start Bonnie's Double Delight!

Clue # 4 done.

I thought I would be starting Bonnie's mystery, but clue # 3 came up very quickly and now part 4 is up!!!

First part of the NYE mystery is done!  Now I should do Bonnie's first part.  That will take much longer since this one also has tiny pieces!

I didn't get too much sewing done the past two days.  Just some milky way blocks and log cabin blocks.  I did start one of my mysteries this morning though!

Linguine Stir-Fry With Green Beans & Garlic Ingredients 1   lb.   linguine, spaghetti, or thin spaghetti 2   teaspoons   vegetable oil, divided 1   lb.   skinless boneless chicken breast, slivered 1   lb.   green beans, trimmed and halved 2   red bell peppers, seeded & diced 4   cloves   garlic, minced ¼   cup   teriyaki sauce 1   cup   low-sodium chicken broth Method Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. In large nonstick wok or skillet over high heat, heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Add chicken and stir-fry about 4 minutes until firm and opaque. Remove chicken and set aside. Add the remaining teaspoon oil to the pan. Add green beans; reduce heat to medium, cover and cook 7 minutes. Uncover, add red bell pepper, stir well and cook an additional 5 minutes. Add garlic and stir-fry 30 seconds. Stir in teriyaki sauce and chicken broth. Heat to a simmer; toss with chicken and pasta.  Serve immediately.

My old flowers were started to get a bit faded.  Michael bought me a bunch of Gerbera daisies today. They are one of my favorites, if only we lived somewhere where I could grow them year round!

"A twist on potato salad. Green beans and potatoes are served in a Dijon mustard and balsamic vinaigrette." Ingredients: 1 ½ lbs. red potatoes ¾ lbs. fresh green beans, trimmed and snapped ¼ cup chopped fresh basil 1 small red onion, chopped salt and pepper to taste ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 clove garlic, minced 1 dash Worcestershire sauce ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Directions: 1. Place the potatoes in a large pot, and fill with about 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Throw in the green beans to steam after the first 10 minutes. Drain, cool, and cut potatoes into quarters. Transfer to a large bowl, and toss with fresh basil, red onion, salt and pepper. Set aside. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and olive oil. Pour over the salad, and stir to c...

I must be crazy because I decided to do Bonnie's new mystery quilt on NYE even though I already have a mystery quilt scheduled with another group!  I used this photo I took in my garden this past summer to pick colors from.  I will be using random greens but the other colors will stay the same so it's a more controlled palette.

I have not lost my mind - it's backed up on disk somewhere.

"This is a delicious recipe for ham and potato soup that a friend gave to me. It is very easy and the great thing about it is that you can add additional ingredients, more ham, potatoes, etc and it still turns out great." Ingredients: 3 ½ cups peeled and diced potatoes ⅓ cup diced celery ⅓ cup finely chopped onion ¾ cup diced cooked ham 3 ¼ cups water 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste 5 tablespoons butter 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups lowfat 2% milk Directions: 1. Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper. 2. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allo...

Michael was caught eating vanilla crescents today - see the powdered sugar on his nose???? Our christmas tree is very pretty, until you realize Karl stuck skeleton garland on it! Click for a closer look!

I went to the Wooden Bridge and found these two new fabrics today!

Got butter?

Michael surprised me with two new fabrics out of the blue!

Yummy!!!! I made up a plate of cookies for a friend today.   Also busy baking poppyseed roll and nut roll.  I have to start the vanocka next, but that usually comes out of the oven around midnight.  I made the potato salad and chipped beef ball this morning.  Got my walk in when I walked downtown for the Bailey's for Michael and for a bottle of riesling for tomorrow's dinner.  So, no sewing today so far!

Not much sewing today...I had a lot of planning to do for the Christmas holiday and the boys had a dentist appointment.  I also had a nice conversation with my Dad who was snowed in at his house in Oregon!  Merry Christmas Dad, Sue, and Stella!

Drexel University has offered AJ a slot in their honors college and named him a Dean's Scholar - they are also offering him some scholarship money.  Today he got a letter from Kutztown inviting him to join their Honors Program.  Great job Andrew!!!!

Last year Michael got me a new kitchenaid mixer at christmas since my old one was headed down hill (truth be told, I now use both of them when I am baking a lot though the old gal sounds TERRIBLE).  This year, we replaced my Cuisinart food processor - I have already replaced the work bowl on it once to the tune of 100.00 and the base is now 12 years old.  The new work bowl only lasted a year or so before it cracked again.  So, we read up and got this one from Kitchenaid that Consumer Reports rated the best!  This should help me make the chipped beef ball for christmas eve quite easily!

Michael bought me this lovely purple bouquet to bring some cheer during this cold snap!

I finally got done baking and cooking today and finished my prep work for a New Year's Eve quilting mystery!

Mike took this shot today after the storm.  Click on it to make it larger, the tree looks like it is glowing from the ice on it!

Andrew sang with the jazz ensemble, show choir, and concert choir this year.  He sang the beginning lines of "Do You Love Me" during the concert.  It was a great show!

Every year, we go out to Beck's and get our Christmas tree and snag a cup of hot cocoa in the barn!!

I just got done making some apricot sandwich cookies, I have not made this in a while, but AJ requested them.  I have been really busy in the past two weeks and have not got to posting that much.  I still have to upload the pictures from Andrew's christmas concert and our christmas tree expedition.  See more photos of our week below! Michael had a birthday on December 11! Karl had his Christmas concert this past Thursday!

I am making more cookies today.  I just finished the czech linecke cookies with currant jam.  So far I have made fruit cake, vanilla crescents, clove snaps, rosemary and lemon cookies, ginger bread men, macaroon kisses, lemon poppyseed, italian pizzelles, and chocolate truffles.

I have been busy with school concerts, baking, stormy weather, and tidying.  Found some good quilt funnies today!

started blocks for a new sampler club we are running at the shop so the participants can see what we will be making.   I had to make more biscotti, the vultures (Mike and the Boys) finished all of them from the batch I made on Sunday.  Today I made Gingerbread biscotti, it was okay, but I will find a different recipe next time!  I have one that uses candied ginger that I would like to try!

The kids sounded great and did a really cool dance they made up while singing the song "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus".

I was feeling down about Mom not being with us again for Christmas, so I went for a walk this cold, cold, morning. Michael suggested I take the camera and snap some pictures of things on my walk.  

We'll not much sewing, but lots of cooking this weekend.  I made vanilla crescents and cloves snaps for christmas.  I made some apricot biscotti for our own snacks and a yummy pot roast today!

Before quilting, I used to do paper scrapbooking.  Now after seeing my online friend Mary's pages, I really want to learn to do the pages digitally!  I tried making my first page using an old picture of Thomas from 2003!

I saw a new catalog from wolferman's and it had an advertisement for an english muffin sampler. I never expected it to arrive in it's own basket!!! The flavors are: Apple Orchard, Cheddar Cheese, Cherry Jubilee, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon & Raisin, Cranberry Citrus, Honey & Oats, Multi-Grain & Honey, San Francisco Sourdough, Sweet Harvest Wheat, and Wild Maine Blueberry.

My friend's husband got me this bold red print on a recent trip! It is from the Jinny Beyer Over the Rainbow Collection. Thanks Rick!

My photos are blech tonight, I hate taking pictures at night inside the house! But this is the sewing I did today. I got 4 more Be Square blocks made, a few log cabins, and a few more stars for my milky way quilt!   On another note, Thomas won a prize today at school but felt bad that his friend did not - so he gave him his prize.  What a sweet little guy he is!