Quilting and How To Make a Pinwheel Square

Inspiration...This mag inspired me...first my Sister Ginger bought this magazine....I wanted it...She refused to relinquish it...so I had to go buy my own. I love the quilt on the front.  It's not so perfect, and  I love that!

I'm not a fan of those matchy matchy quilts that are all even and perfect. They make me feel...well...uncomfortable. Like being in a living room where everything matches...and you know...where no one ever goes.

Well there isn't a room like that in my house. Never will there be.  We use every inch in our house.  I like quilts like that.  Not a hang on the wall quilt...A snuggle under quilt is better.

So I'm attempting to make a similar quilt using scraps from some sewing projects.

You make the whole square from 2 inch strips of fabric.  Starting with 2" X 2" squares and going out from there until you form a roughly 12 1/2" X 12 1/2" Square.  I iron each seam after sewing.  Hopefully that will help make it look nice.  I don't know,  somewhere I heard ironing is the key to good sewing.  Sooo....I've been ironing ever since.  At least my seams.  As anyone who knows me... knows I hate to iron.  My husband just forced me to buy a full sized ironing board.  I've been using a little traveling one forever.  I'm kinda glad he did....don't tell him!

Looka how sweet!

I do like this look.  The colors are fun and unpredictable.  Makes you wanna stare.

Started the next one!  Here you can see the layout of a square before it's sewn.

This is a not so good pin wheel square.  I like this one too.  It's really easy.  I'll show you how.

Cut out four squares.  These are about 4".  I just stack the fabric up and use a template and rotary cutter.  Just discovered these rotary cutters and I like them a lot.  You can cut out four squares lickity split.

Yep...there they are.  Four lovely squares.  I like using unexpected fabrics and colors together.

Put two squares top side facing one another and draw a line diagonally down the center.

Sew a seam on each side (not on the line) of the line.

Then cut along the line to divide the squares in half and into triangles.

Iron them flat this way.....

Then iron them open.  It will form four squares of two fabrics each.  Assemble in the pattern you want...

 Sew two squares facing each other together...iron flat.  Sew the other two squares facing each other together...iron flat....(Is this confusing?)  Then sew the two pieces together facing each other...iron flat.  It's really easy once ya get it....and fast (Which I like).

The second one turned out much better I must say.  Not content to start one quilt...I started two.  Not smart.  Now I'll have to finish them......smiles and smiles!

Dead Dishwasher

Well....not exactly dead, but might as well be.  I'm at a turning point in my relationship with dishwashers.  I've committed to so many of them and they've done nothing but let me down.  It's not me I promise.  I really do stay with my appliances until "death do us part"!  But,  my dishwashers all start doing a lousy job after just a few years of doing an ok job, but never really a great job!  Yes,  I've cleaned them with all the cleaners...to no avail.

I've just about decided never again to buy a dishwasher.  Then....sometimes when the dishes pile up and I've a lot of other responsibilities demanding attention...then I think about getting a new dishwasher. 

But for what?  Just to be let down again?  I've also thought, "Maybe this is a nudge in the right direction.  You know, my decision to phase out appliances that perform chores I can do easily by hand or without electricity, like hang clothes out,  wash dishes, mix and chop things for everyday things....(I do use a food processor and mixer for the big stuff)....

Wellll....I've just about decided...No new dishwasher.

In case you don't know how to wash dishes by hand.  Here's a vid on how to, and which is better....By Hand or Dishwasher?  I think I know.

Ishsy Squishy Gushy Worms!

Remember my compost corral....
Warm...living...lucious....wiggling compost!

All of the organic household scraps I have been faithfully saving and toting ...

all of the leaves and clippings I dutifully hauled across the yard...

every shovel full of chicken droppings I tossed into the compost corral have finally settled, decayed and been converted into nutritious compost teeming with earth worms for my garden. Truly gardening requires and teaches patience, but the joys experienced are well worth the wait. Yes, I even love the feel of squishy worms in my hand.

Compost

Here is my compost corral. You might remember when I first built it in this post: Compost Corral. I must admit I'm really a lazy composter. I figure why do too much work when nature will do it eventually any how?

Pretty much everything finds its way to my compost pile: Grass clippings, leaves, any organic house scraps that I don't feed to the chickens, and most importantly the droppings from my chickens. I use the deep litter method in my chicken coops. In the evenings I let them free range when I am working outside. There has been too many large roving dogs to leave them unattended.

This gumbo of yucky stuff makes for really great nutrition for my soil. Most of the time I do not get into all the technical details of gardening. I just like to let nature do what it does since it does it so well. It seems to rain enough here to keep my compost corral sufficiently moist and I turn it rarely. Still my compost pile delivers the prettiest darkest yummiest compost you ever did see.

I think the pile is kinda pretty itself. Yes, you can see I haven't turned it recently by all of the mature tomato and luffa plants that volunteered! The mulberry trees by the chicken coop and the compost corral are twice the size and a much darker green than the mulberry trees I planted elsewhere on the property.
The compost corral concept is fairly simple. Throw all the good stuff in stir it and wet it every now and then.....

Scoop from the bottom underneath the bottom slat (it's raised on cinder blocks for this purpose) and you got....
The best nutrition for your soil - Compost! Healthy soil makes veggies more nutritious and easier to grow.

Here's some close ups of the luffa blossoms. The little ants fascinated me for quite a while. I'm not sure what they were doing. I didn't see any aphids. So I don't suppose they were carrying on something symbiotic. What ever it was they seemed to be enjoying the happy yellow of this flower.

Monique & Melba On Picking The Best Campsite

My sisters Monique and Melba are pretty much experts on everything- car repair, cooking, sewing, housekeeping, brain surgeon, accounting, music,....so when they speak it pays to listen.

On our recent Sister Biking trip with our extremely awesomely incredibly (all words I learned proper usage of in Maryland) worthy guide and body guard, Byron, I finally learned the art of choosing the best campsite. It may take a long time to do it Melba and Monique's way, but in the end it is well worth the effort.

Being thorough is a must to ensure a good nights sleep. So, examine every inch of ground that could possible do without the tent sliding down hill. Picking the optimum spot ensures you wake up with only one crick somewhere in the body that lasts all week instead of four or five that lasts months.


Here is a pictorial example of Monique and Melba's method, which we will refer to as MMM hereafter.
Melba started seeking the best spot immediately, but not having perfected MMM Monique kindly stepped in.
Monique, "No, No, No Melba, it's never a good idea to pitch a tent downwind of the camp fire. It may help keep the mosquitoes away, but even they know smoke is toxic."

"Now listen to me. Grab the other end of this baby and I'll show you exactly how the MMM is done."

Since this was Melba's first camping trip and Monique's second she happily complied. "OK NeeKee (our shortened version of Monique) grab your end."

Monique, "See how nice and flat the trail is? And, we'll be ready in the morning to take off. No riding or hauling those heavy bikes up a hill. I think this is perfect"

Melba, "But, NeeKee my sleeping pad is too thin to keep those rocks from lodging underneath my shoulder blades, and you know some people ride their bikes at night and maybe even their horse. I'm sure a horse shoe in my ear would be even worse than a rock lodging underneath my shoulder blade and causing a crick all week! "

Monique, "Hmmmm....how about here? We're still Close to the trail with the added benefit of not having to traipse half an acre to the port-a-potty in the middle of the night."

Melba, "Yeah, but that kid who's sharing the campsite with us has just been sick in there and it stinks. The way he looks I'm sure he'll be back during the night..."

Monique, "Geez you're picky Melba! Such a perfectionist. I thought that last site was perfect. I'm tempted not to even help you carry this dumb ol' tent to another spot."

Melba, "Maybe this nice thick grassy spot upwind of the campfire will work. I sure don't need a crick in my neck that lasts all week."

Monique, "Hey Mel, this spot is pretty nifty. I just hope when I lay down my feet aren't higher than my head. Let's stop here. MMM Rocks!"

If the MMM method is a little too time consuming for your taste you can always try the Byron method. Get there first, snag the best spot, set up, get the camp fire going and brew some coffee then watch everyone else arriving minutes later glare at you.

Using The Garden's Bounty - Squash

It's that time! Zucchini and yellow squash are coming in by the bucket loads! Sometimes you just don't know what to do with all the bounty the garden gives, besides giving away so much people avoid you.

It wasn't long ago that I didn't know much beyond smothering it with onions on top of the stove. Still yummy, but not very creative. So before you resort to the proverbial stealth give aways at the neighbors doors and unlocked cars, try cooking them in a new way. Here are three recipes I love.
Zucchini Muffins

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup veggie oil
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cloves
2 cups shredded unpeeled zucchini
1 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl cream eggs, sugar, and veggie oil until light and fluffy. Mix in flour, salt, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. Add cloves, zucchini, nuts, and vanilla extract. Stir until well blended.

Fill muffin tins lined with muffin papers 1/2 full and bake until fork comes out clean. About 30 to 40 minutes.

Yellow Squash Casserole

1 lb peeled shrimp cut in halves

1/2 pack of Jimmy Dean Breakfast sausage

1 med. onion cut in thin strips

5 lg yellow squash cut in chunks

2 cups Italian bread crumbs

salt and pepper

2 tblsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large pan, fry sausage and onions in olive oil until sausage is done. Add shrimp and cook until orange. Add squash and cook a while longer. Until squash starts to soften. Turn off fire and add bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well. Transfer to an oven safe casserole dish and bake in oven another 30 to 45 minutes. I find this dish is even better then next day and makes a great lunch the next day. So make extra.

This next recipe is a dish my neighbor gave to me. I'm not sure if it has an official name, but I'll call it....

Summer Garden Squash and Veggie Bake (I know a little long!)

3 yellow squash cut in chunks

3 zucchini cut in chunks

1 red onion cut in lg pieces

1 Orange bell pepper cut in chunks

1 large tomato cut in chunks

salt

pepper

olive oil

seasoning blend (We like Tony Chacerie's Cajun Blend)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine yellow squash, zucchini, orange bell pepper, onion and tomato chunks. Spread evenly on cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings. Cook until warm yet still crunchy. Tastes great with grilled burgers.

If you have any yummy squash recipes please post them in the comment section!

New Potholders...What to do with...

...old stained ugly pot holders that still work? Once you've decided to live a principle, it's not always easy to stick to it. Numerous times I've walked past the kitchen aisle at Tuesday morning and picked up, held, put in the buggy, taken out of the buggy and put back up, brightly colored crisp new potholders.

But no I couldn't buy them, My old ones still worked. I had to stick to my promise. Do not buy anything unless we need it or for a very special occasion. In my defence, all but three of my pot holders I received as wedding presents almost 16 years ago! Purchasing a few trendy new pot holders wouldn't break the monthly budget.....but....I didn't NEEEEEEED them.

Take a look at these things though! Who would want to look at these every time a beautiful loaf of bread needs to be removed from the oven? It was getting a little depressing. So...
I had some bright squares of fabric left over from my Sister's baby shower decor.....and a little pink crochet thread left on a spool.....
a few pins and a pair of scissors....

a small steel crochet hook....and.....

no more depressing! Bright and adorable!

First cut two pieces of fabric 1/2 an inch larger than the pot holder. Place the potholder between the two pieces of fabric like a pillow case (pretty sides out). Then pin the potholder in place by pinning around the very edge of the potholder leaving an over hang. Trim the overhang even to about 1/4 of an inch.

Next using a small steel crochet hook, crochet around the edge with a contrasting cheerful colored thread. I've read that some people use their sewing machines to make the holes around the edge first before crocheting. (I'm either too impatient or to lazy to drag out my machine!) I just poke a hole in the fabric with the crochet hook as I go. It goes through most fabrics just fine.

If you don't crochet and would like to, don't be intimidated. The basics are very easy to learn. Get a kid's book on how to. The kid's books break it down in simple terms and usually have great drawings or pictures of how to. Or just go HERE to learn!

Sowing Seeds

I've begun sowing my seeds for this spring. Some seeds can be given a head start on the season by sowing indoors. All of my seeds are heirloom varieties. Buying heirloom varieties is extremely important. Seeds are the key to feeding yourself and many varieties have been bought up by large companies, destroyed and replaced with proprietary seeds. Which means if you save and grow these seeds you are breaking the law. Here is an interesting post on the matter. Do You Know Where Your Seed Comes From?

I bought my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Hopefully I will have better luck with the tomatoes this year and be able to give a report. I'm excited to be growing Pineapple tomato. It's gotten really good reviews from other sites. Supposedly it's the best some have tasted. Hmmm.....Hopefully we'll see!
I've been saving the bottoms of my milk cartons for a while now. Last year I used egg cartons. I didn't like this so much. I found the egg cartons were too shallow. The milk cartons are deeper and usually I only use them for transplanting cuttings or individual plants. We'll see how it goes. I bought my seed starting mix this year. I've been reading up on how to make my own, but I'm just not ready for that yet.

Once they sprout and develop true leaves, I'll post on how to transplant. The brown carton like material you see in the picture is the packing material for the Cricut my brother-in-law bought the girls for Christmas. There were several pieces and they are really working out well as seed starting trays. Hey there's a use for most everything if you think hard enough!

(I even keep used disposable plastic bags that stuff comes in. When I clean the cat's litter box I put the clumps in one and throw it away. That way it serves one more purpose before being ditched. Also I don't have to purchase bags for this purpose.) Remember though, the best way to cut down on trash is to not purchase things that have an excess of it anyway.

These are free trees I got at our last New Orleans Garden Club Council meeting. The state forestry director was there and gave them out. I got five overcup oaks, six river birches and three bald cypress, all native Louisiana trees. I will be planting them tomorrow.

List of seeds that I planted:

14 Tomato Varieties:
S. Marzano
Cuor Di Bue
Riesentraube
Egg Yolk
Pink Accordion
White Currant
German Red Strawberry
Cherokee Purple
Henderson's Winsall
Orange Banana
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Dr. Carolyn Yellow
Great White
Pineapple

6 Eggplant Varieties:
Black Beauty
Rotonda Bianca
Ping Tung
Louisiana Long Green
Thai Long Purple
Early Long Purple




7 Peppers Varieties
Sweet Yellow Stuffing
Purple Jalapeno
Sweet Chocolate
White Habanero
Purple Beauty
Thai Red Chili
Emerald Giant

Other Varieties Planted:

Tomatillo Purple
Ground Cherry

My Neighbor Sandy

My neighbor Sandy owns the beautiful orchard on the left side of my property when facing the Mississippi river. From October to the end of January she has a roadside stand. Unfortunately ordinances are making it difficult to have a permenant roadside stand by making requirements that are too cost prohibitive for local farmers to afford.
Small farmers also have difficulty selling to larger stores because of their own expensive requirements. Where does that leave a small farmer? Farmer's markets are a great answer, but there aren't enough of them. Local small farmers have the freshest produce available and still it is difficult to get it to the people who live close by.

Fortunately Sandy's stand has been there for many many years and is excused from much of the ordinances. It was originally her father's and citrus farming and tree grafting was all she knew as a child. Now her stand has a faithfull following during the citrus season. She sells all manner of Louisiana citrus, citrus trees, produce, nuts, and canned items. She also offers local crafts and gifts.

I love "shopping" at her stand. It and the people who come are always interesting and fun. I say "shopping" because Sandy never lets me pay for anything. "Oh, just take it!" and if I insist, "Oh you're so silly! Go away!" So I like to think we've worked out a sorta bartering thingy. I bring her eggs, crocheted dish rags, arugula, parsley, or whatever I have in my garden that she doesn't already sell at her stand. I offer to water her plants when she goes out of town...you know stuff like that.

Each year I like to stock up on lemons from her stand. Lemons out of season are expensive in the store and usually have these thick peelings and are not too juicy. The lemons Sandy has at her stand are big, thin skinned and juicy. So I "buy" a bunch, juice them, pour the juice in ice cube trays, freeze, and store in the freezer in a ziplock bag. This bag gets used forever. The last one I threw away was when my freezer defrosted after Gustav (hurricane). Luckily we had used most of the lemon cubes.

Then we have enough lemon juice for summer lemonade, lemon bars, fish, guacamole, marinades, etc...until the next lemon season. You just take out how many cubes you need! Not only are we using local food, but we have a superior food and are saving on our family's food cost.

Louisiana lemons!

Don't forget to eat your greens! This batch I cooked from the garden had: collards, turnips, green onions, beets, parsley, carrot, broccoli, curly mustard, arugula, and another green that came in a seed mix. I haven't identified the last one yet. I seasoned it with onion, bell pepper, garlic, celery, cayenne, salt, pepper and smoked sausage. Extremely yummy.