Friday night dinner, Charles & Mary

I headed to the grocery store early on Friday (3/28) and ran into Beth while there…she needed some knitting ripped out, so she stopped by later in the morning and we also got to talk a good bit (we haven’t seen each other in several weeks!)  I spent the early afternoon working on a new project that I hope to get done while Michael is in Myrtle Beach.  I got a few samples made before it was time to head upstairs and get dinner ready.  I made 2 quiches (mushroom & spinach and broccoli & carmelized onion), a pan of rolls and a fruit salad:

notice the beautiful flowers at the end of the island,
a gift from Mary & Charles

Mary and Charles showed up at 6

and I think we all had a wonderful time.  We talked for a bit, then played LCR, then SCREWED and then golf.  And through it all we talked and talked and talked…it was wonderful.  They left around 10 and I read for just a bit before heading for bed.

blueberry coffee cake, Loree's tumbling blocks fabric

I was up early on Thursday (3/27) to get a blueberry cake baked (recipe coutesy of BG) to take to quilting:

It got really good reviews and I will definitely keep this recipe, but I may turn it into muffins instead.  The thing I screwed up was that I didn’t thaw out the blueberries overnight, so when I put 4 cups in the coffee cake, my batter seized and I could barely put it in the pan…..and since it was so cold, it took an extra THIRTY minutes to bake!  Needless to say I was a bit late to quilting.  Anyway, we had a good time and Loree kindly brought her tumbling blocks fabric so that I could take a picture and send to BG (the 3 of us are going to do the same wall hanging at the same time).  Aren’t they beautiful?

 

When I got home, I just had time to put all of my stuff away before heading over to Marcel’s for a massage…HEAVEN!!!  I used to get a massage once a month when I had more ‘disposable income’, but haven’t had one in quite awhile….it was WONDERFUL!!  I came home and Michael and I spent a bit more time on the tumbling blocks layout.  We decided to do a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for background fabric, and ate dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s while we were in Rock Hill.  Once we got home I worked for just an hour in the studio before joining my honey for TV.

charity quilt, necklaces

Tuesday (3/25) was rainy and overcast and Michael and I spent the morning in the studio…he had some new ideas for the tumbling blocks, and I was working on binding a charity quilt for Scrap Happy Quilters.  A group of us made the top during our last charity day, Loree took it home and quilted the entire quilt, and I told her I was happy to put on the binding.  I went to Stitch & Chat in the afternoon, and in addition to trying to sign on to pay bills on Michael’s computer, I also tried to sign on to 4 different computers at the Lake House….no go!  Based on this, when I came home, I called the bank support group and told them that I believed the problem was on THEIR end and not on mine.  In the shocker of all time…the guy agreed with me.  He said their DP department had figured out that their system was having a problem with the word ‘soap’ in my sign on (I was signing on as dreamsoaps)…he said that several other customers were experiencing the same problem, but the bank didn’t know what had changed in their system to cause the problem.  I said ‘who cares, let’s change my logon id’….and that successfully solved it J.  Now I just have to remember the new logon id.  Anyway, I made creamy chicken & wild rice soup for dinner (and it was yummy) and then Michael went to the movies with Larry, while I visited with Jan for the evening.

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Wednesday morning (3/26) I was up early to pick up Rose, Jan and Loree to head off to Mary Jo’s.  Loree got all of her fabric to do a second tumbling blocks quilt, Jan got green fabric for the borders and binding of her green quilt and Rose got some needles.  I decided once I got there that I would like to use my leftover hand dyed, and just fill in with tones/shades I needed…but of course I didn’t bring it with me, so I’ll have to come back in a couple of weeks (so sad J).  After that we made a stop at SEW MUCH FUN and I got a piece of fabric for a jacket I want to make, then it was a delightful lunch at SCHLOTZKY’S and then home at 2 PM.  I don’t know why I was so tired, but I immediately took a nap while Michael took the dog for a walk.  In the afternoon and early evening I finished up the binding on that charity quilt:

 

then it was TV and bed.  Oh, and a day or so ago I finished up 3 of my beaded necklaces.  I didn’t realize how low my inventory on them was (I sold a lot over Christmas) so I knocked out some:

 

 

 

Cookie, Elsie

Michael was up at 6 AM (these guys are CRAZY!!!) for golfing at Redbridge and I eventually made my appearance, did my emails and blog stuff and had a lovely breakfast of a fried egg on Jim Northrup’s sausage bread!  I tried to pay some bills on line, couldn’t get it to work and spent AN HOUR on the phone with the bank, and it still isn’t resolved L.  Someone is supposed to call me back eventually….I’m not sure I’m holding my breath for that one.  I felt a tiny bit at loose ends in my studio because all of my blocks are done and now I must wait for Michael to lay them out….but I got an idea for what I could work on…and proceeded to drag out fabric.  Nancy H came by for a FABULOUS visit….we haven’t seen each other in FOREVER and had to talk extra fast to get everything in J. 

Cookie & Elsie were both funny today….Cookie spent ALL morning on her blanket in the bedroom (totally unusual for her):

then in the afternoon, Elsie decided to make it into a cave, and she spent all afternoon there:

snug as a bug in a rug!

Michael got home around 4:30 and wasn’t hungry because they had a late lunch, so we just had nibbles for dinner and watched a bit of TV before bed.

Elsie & Cookie a duex, Cookie, last block!

We got to sleep in a bit on Sunday (3/23) and after breakfast, it took me most of the morning to get 2 days worth of blog entries posted!  Then….finally…it was on to my last tumbling block.  I spent all afternoon in the studio….sometimes with company

sometimes with a critic,

look closely, Cookie decided she needed my 'cheaters' to REALLY
inspect my work

but finally before dinner, the last block (and of course my favorite…..LOOK at the colors J) was done: 

Michael and I got cleaned up and picked up Susan and Judith and went out to dinner yet AGAIN!!!  This was our every other month neighborhood dinner and we went to TERRACE CAFÉ.  There were 13 of us and the talking never stopped for a minute.  Michael had a vegetarian linguini with added shrimp, and I had crab cakes with a small salad, broccoli (from Bryce because he hates it) and FABULOUS roasted asparagus.  After dinner we all headed back to Ann Mary & Jim’s for berry cobbler, brownies and vanilla ice cream.  What a lovely evening; I can hardly wait for the next one.  Michael and I came home and watched TV for just a bit before bed.

tutorial on ruebenwich, some guests at potluck

After breakfast on Friday (3/21), Michael took the dog for a walk, while I put together 2 ruebenwiches.  I thought I’d do a tutorial on them, since they are a popular offering:

you can start with Pillsbury Itaian/French bread in a can (spread out onto
greased cookie sheets),but I had a new
dough recipe I wanted to try.  And of course, I always make 2 'cause
it's just as much work to make 1 as to make 2 (the anal Debbie method
in action!!)

next a layer of mustard down the middle 3rd (any kind you want...I used
some honey mustard as well as Dijon)

then I heap on the thinly sliced (pratically shaved) corned beef

next goes the well-drained sauerkraut...and by well drained I mean 'put
it in my salad spinner and give it several strong whirls'

next, slather on the 1000 island dressing

a yummy layer of swiss cheese

next, slice the sides and braid over the top

the final touch.....caraway seeds!

I covered with plastic wrap and they rose all day in the fridge

one of the reasons I love to make this is that it can be (and should
be) made well ahead, then it rises for 6 - 9 hours in the fridge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After I was done we headed over to the accountant’s to drop off our taxes, then the bank and then home.  I got all of the plates/napkins/silverware set up for the party before it was time to leave for a routine appointment at the heart doctor for Michael.  He had a monitor on last week to check out things and the doctor gave him a clean bill of health, although he does want him to have another stress test (Michael’s last one was 3 years ago).  When we got home, there was just enough time to take showers and get ready for our guests:

Tony & Linda

new friends Lois & Richard

old friends that we haven't seen in AGES....Nancy & Chuck

 

Of course I started to take pictures, then got distracted so I didn’t get everyone, but they all seemed to have a good time and there was plenty of potluck food to choose from

hot from the oven.....YUM!!

before we all left to see WELCOME TO MITFORD at the Fort Mill Theatre.  Although the play was good, there were WAY too many scenery changes that some of us felt could have been done with just changing the lighting.  Regardless, we had a good time and were home by 10:30.

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Saturday (3/22) Michael left early for golf  (he really didn’t keep score as he was practicing several new things he learned during his lesson on Thursday) and I headed to the Lake House to sort food, as our food drive ended on Friday.  I picked up Nancy A afterwards and we got to talk all the way to the bank and back (I had deposits from the food drive) all about ME BEFORE YOU, the book I HIGHLY recommended.  As a matter of fact, Paula came for a visit on Saturday as well, just to talk about the book (she finished it that morning) and I was SO GLAD to finally be able to talk about it J…have you guys read it yet!?!??!

Jan and Donna both came for visits (and that was terrific) and I managed to get Jan to stay for lunch, and served her a piece of ruebenwich (yum!)  Michael came home from golfing and we got cleaned up and picked up Gale & Phil and headed off to 521 BBQ…it was heavenly…I got a pulled pork sandwich, Gale & Phil both got pork chops and Michael got the ribs.  He let me taste the ribs and Gale & I both think we will order them next time J.  We headed back to their house and spent a pleasant hour drinking out on their back deck, then it was home to popcorn and the movie WAIT UNTIL DARK.  This will be the November play at Fort Mill and we partially watched it so that Michael could see if there were any parts he could play.  I started a new baby sweater and we finally fell into bed at 11.

Elsie & Cookie, blueberry quick bread?

Although it was drizzly and cold on Wednesday morning (3/19), Michael still left for his golf tournament at 7:30 AM.  I had a nice breakfast, read the paper, read my book for a bit, then headed to the studio to begin my last block for the tumbling blocks.  I had company while I was there:

not snuggling yet but thinking about it

 

I got all 3 of my stratas done before it was time to stop and make 2 runs of roll dough for the church dinner.  Michael came home while I was upstairs and he was frozen to the bone, so he hopped into the whirlpool tub for an hour to get warm, and I took him something warm to drink as well.  By then it was time to get cleaned up and head to the church for family night.  The Scrap Happy Quilters (my Thursday group) host family night at the church once a year and that was Wednesday night.  I went back and forth on making the rolls; I couldn’t decide whether that was a stupid idea or a good idea…so finally I called Loree and she said they rarely had bread, so I made 40 rolls and baked them at the church.  There was tons of great food there, and I got several compliments on the rolls.  The program was the husband of one of the quilter’s singing Irish and other tunes, and he was really good.  By the time we got home, we watched just a bit of TV and at 10:30 started to head to bed.  I wanted to take a blueberry quick bread to quilting, but couldn’t find my recipe, so it morphed into peanut butter chocolate bars (but there were a lot of jokes Thursday about where the blueberries were)

Thursday morning (3/20) I was up early to get the car packed and to head off to quilting.  I got all of my 1/2 triangles cut for the last block before heading home at 1.  I took a nap while Michael took the dog for a walk, Paula came for a nice visit and then Michael and I headed to Wendy’s to try out their fish sandwich for dinner (we both really liked it, although I took a tip from Paula.  She had one and they put the tartar sauce next to the lettuce…she didn’t like that, and I knew I wouldn’t either, so I asked for tartar sauce on the side and put it next to the fish.  I’m glad SOMEONE ELSE out there is as discriminating about their sandwiches as I am J)  When we got home, I got to work on 3 knitted necklaces I am finishing.

fudge-icle boy, tumbling blocks so far....

Jan had an extra coupon for crab cakes at Earth Fare, so Michael headed down there on Monday to get them.  He was excited to go because Earth Fare generally has lots of flavors of his soy ice cream…and he has been craving ice cream lately.  Well, he was totally disappointed that the only flavor they had was ‘cookie dough’….which we both think is yucky.  Monday night after dinner he mentioned again that he was craving ice cream, so when he took the dog out after dinner, I ran downstairs to find a recipe I wanted to make for him.  I got this recipe months ago (and was really excited because it would use up these cans of coconut milk I had in my pantry), but never got off of my butt to get it made.  Anyway, using a can of coconut milk, I whipped up 5 fudge-icles and put them in the freezer.  They still weren’t set up by the time we went to bed, so we didn’t try them until Tuesday (3/18) at lunch time.  I made pancakes for breakfast, then Michael headed to CVS and when he got home we broke one out.  I was dying to check out the texture, because if he liked it, I was ready to make a double run and just put it in a quart container.

They were really good and he’s still deciding whether he wants them in fudge-icle form, or just in a quart.  I got cleaned up after that and headed up to the Lake House for Stitch & Chat.  I took a picture of my tumbling blocks to put in a letter to a friend, and made a second copy to take to S&C.  I think it is safe to say that people didn’t know how to react to it.  Many people thought it was a picture from a book that I was going to make…some people thought it was painted….when they finally understood….they were in awe….as I think Michael and I are every time we turn around and look at the design wall:

 

I only have 1 more block to go! 

Anyway, I came home from S&C, we both read our books for a bit, then had the last 2 crab cakes with leftover butternut squash pasta…another heavenly meal.  Michael wanted to watch a movie in the evening, so I made a big bowl of popcorn and headed over to Jan’s to solve the problems of the world….we had a wonderful time talking and I crashed into bed around 10:30.

block # 5, charity baby sweater

HAPPY ST. PAT’S DAY!!!  Michael cancelled his Monday golf on Sunday, knowing it was going to be rainy and cold L.  He took off for breakfast and errands by 9 AM Monday morning (3/17) and I got a bit of paperwork done before Rose picked me up at 10 for volunteers.  We had a rather short meeting (YAY!!) and when I got home,  I immediately headed to the studio to finish up block #5.  Michael came home and decided to play some pool while I was down there…and pretty soon the first block #5 was done:

I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing up the other 8 #5 blocks.  We had a terrific dinner of baked potatoes and crab cakes for dinner, and watched TV in the evening….when I finished another baby sweater:

Elsie & Cookie, blocks!, Chuck & Mary Jo

Michael and I had a leisurely breakfast and read the paper Sunday morning (3/16) then I headed down to the studio and spent the rest of the day and early evening there.  I got all of my triangles done for the next block, but didn’t get them sewn together.  I had furry company for part of the time:

and non-furry company as Michael started to play around with the layout of the blocks I have finished so far:

This thing is HUGE….and just looks so incredible every time we look at it.  Finally at 8:30, I headed upstairs to watch TV with my honey and work on the latest baby sweater.

So…my friend Inez worked at Travelers before she retired to THE VILLAGES in Florida, and she really appreciated seeing pictures of all of the Traveler’s people at the party Janice had in Connecticut.  That got me to thinking that I had another picture I never shared.  My friend Mary Jo got married in December of last year…it was a very small wedding (only the immediate family) and so I probably never even talked about it…but I should have because Mary Jo made an absolutely beautiful bride.  I saw several pictures from the wedding…but one really stuck out and I asked her to send me a copy….here’s the beautiful bride on her wedding day:

 

Elsie & Cookie a cinq, newest block

Michael had a 10 AM tee time on Saturday (3/15) and after breakfast, I immediately hit the studio.  I had lots of company while I was down there almost all day:

Michael was home around 3 PM (with an 86) and we got to sit out on the deck and read for a bit in the afternoon, butbefore dinner, I was back on the board with the newest block:

first row on the left is the newest block

I made a butternut squash/sage/pasta dish for dinner, and Michael and I settled in with popcorn and an after dinner drink to watch THE PHILADELPHIA STORY.  We’ve both been reading the Jimmy Stewart biography and it was cool to watch the movie just after he talked about it in the book.  For some reason, by 10:30 we were both falling asleep (hmmm…maybe the new, fun after dinner drink???), so we put the movie on hold and stumbled into bed.

deer

Michael had another off-site golf date on Thursday (3/13) and I slept in a bit, then got a few things done before heading to quilting.  It was a quiet day as there were 2 classes going on…and 4 of us left around NOON to have lunch at IHOP.  It was really fun to continue all of our discussions for another hour or 2 J.  I was finally home by 2 and I read a bit in the afternoon until Michael got home.  Jan came over to pick up some new library books and we got to chat a bit.  Then it was leftovers for dinner and TV in the evening.

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When I came downstairs to say good-bye to Michael on Friday morning (3/14) I snapped a quick picture at the back of our backyard:

Then I left to try to score beads to complete my necklaces…I have run out and I had to hit both Michel’s and Joann’s, and still didn’t find exactly what I was looking for L.  I got home around 11 and had a quick breakfast/lunch of a grilled cheese sandwich and finally headed downstairs around 1 to continue working on my 4^th tumbling block.  I got all of my triangles done and started to sew them together…but had to stop, have a quick dinner, shower and then head into Charlotte with Michael to see MEET VERA STARK….a play at Actor’s Theatre.  It was a very interesting play, about a black actress starting out in the 1930’s and continuing through 2003.  We were home by 11 and in bed by 11:30.

 

Cookie & Michael

Michael got me up at 7 on Tuesday (3/11) for an ob-gyn routine appointment and my butt was DRAGGIN’!  While I feel really good, I am still coughing a lot (and it wakes me up several times a night) and that will probably keep up for awhile (as everyone says).  I guess it really disrupted my sleep last night and I’m one pooped pup.

After the appointment, I stopped at TARGET looking for COMBOS for my honey….no luck with that, so I bought him some peeps, as well as some chocolate candy that BG and I really like.  I hit WALMART on the way home to return some things (does TARGET really pay their employees that much more than WALMART does?  I find it hard to believe that’s true, but the different in attitude between the 2 stores, which seem to basically sell the same stuff, is staggering).  Then I hit GNC and finally got home after 11.  I was pooped and read my book and had a quick lunch ‘til Joanne picked me up for Stitch & Chat.  One of the other ladies had made me a copy of a really sweet baby sweater pattern that I can’t wait to try.  I got a bit of ‘sewing together’ done on the baby sweater and a lot of chatting done with various folks before we headed home.  As soon as I got home, I made another cup of tea and sat with my newest book.  I finally finished it right after Michael left for the movies.  The name of the book is ME BEFORE YOU and the author is Jojo Moyes.  I don’t want to say anything about this book, because I don’t want to give away anything, but this book was truly incredible and I urge everyone to read it.  How these people can create such a powerful story out of ordinary events, and make the reader care SO MUCH….I cannot comprehend…..guess that’s what great writing is all about J.  If you’ve already read the book and want to know what I thought, leave me a message on the blog and I’ll write back to you direcly.It’s a good thing I finally finished it, as I had to spend the evening filling out forms and gathering up crafts for a meeting Wednesday morning.  Michael didn’t get home until after 10 and we watched just a bit of TV before heading to bed.

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Wednesday morning (3/12) I was up early and after my terrific weekly phone call from Janice, I headed to Rock Hill to meet up with someone interested in displaying and selling my crafts.  Christia and I talked for several hours, and I turned several samples over to her for display in her shop.  I was home by 1 (totally STARVING as I never picked up anything for breakfast) and my honey had made me a grilled ham & cheese sandwich….YUMMMMM-O!  He headed out to get in 9 holes of golf, while I took a nap!  I felt like I’d been on the run ever since Monday morning, and I needed a bit of extra sleep.  When Michael got home from golf, we both got cleaned up, then got to relax a bit:

hanging with dad

 

before Joanne & Larry picked us up for dinner.  We headed to Red Lobster (where we haven’t eaten in well over a year) and had a FABULOUS dinner.  Michael got King Crab Legs and the morsels he shared with me were totally delectable.  I had tilapia with a crab/shrimp/butter sauce, preceeded by a Cesar Salad that was excellent.  When we got home, we were both very full and sat on the couch and watched TV.  I started knitting on a beaded necklace, since my inventory on those got so low over the holiday sales.

Michael left at 8 AM for golf on Monday (3/10) and I jumped up (at 20 til 7…which was really 20 til 6 AM!!) with more energy than I’ve had in days and days!  It was exciting.  I whipped through all of my emails and a blog entry, and yoga and showering and breakfast and reading the paper by 9AM…giving me time in the morning to get a few more chores off my list before picking up Nancy A around 11 AM for lunch.  What can I say about lunch?  I didn’t get home until after 2:30, and was only that early because Nancy needed to get to Tai Chi (she was late as it was)….we talked about everything at least twice and had wonderful food as well.  I had a message from Ginny when I got home, so I gave her a quick call and we talked for quite a bit as well.  By then my voice was totally shot and I sat out on the sunny deck finishing up a library book.  I have been reading a charming series of murder mysteries set in a tea shop in Charleston…lots of local history about Charleston in the mix, by author Laura Childs.  I’ve finished the first 3 (Death by Darjeeling, Gunpowder Green, Shades of Earl Grey) and have ordered the next 3 from the library.  I’m happy there are lots more to go.  They’re a light read and as usual, I NEVER figure out who the murderer is.  Michael finally got home at 5:30….a little sad about his 49 on the back nine, but really glad about his smokin’ 36 on the front (only 1 over par)…for an 85 overall.  A late lunch was part of his golfing deal, so I just ate the second 1/2 of my lunch for dinner, and we settled in to watch the boob tube.  I finally got my baby sweater bound off.

garlic rolls, charity pillow cases

Wednesday morning (3/5) Michael left for golf and I got laundry started…then spent an hour talking to Janice….then spent an hour and a half getting first, post-vacation blog entry done, then an hour visiting with Anne (across the street neighbor), then an hour eating lunch and reading just a tiny bit, and then an hour redding up the kitchen/living room/bedroom.  I tried to take a nap (still tired from the trip I guess) but Cookie wouldn’t cooperate, so I finally just got up. Michael came home around 3 with an awful score (as he said) of 91….he said Jim came home with a terrific score of 92….perspective is everything, isn’t it J.  We read in the living room for a bit, then Michael took a long soak in the whirlpool tub to get warm (it never got out of the 40’s on Wednesday and it was very windy).  We had leftovers for dinner…I got a bit of cutting done (working on my 4^th block) and made garlic roll dough (and garlic butter for our Italian themed lunch at quilting)

hot from the oven at Thursday quilting

to rise overnight in the fridge, then watched TV with my honey before going to bed.

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I got up early on Thursday (3/6) because I couldn’t stop clearing my throat….I think I picked up a little bit of a bug on the plane on the way home L.  I went to quilting and got my pillow cases ironed (I got 18 charity pillow cases done while I was in Connecticut).

 

But by the time I got home it was obvious that something more than tiredness was going on with me.  I headed to bed as soon as I got home, and basically didn’t get up until Monday morning (can you say FLU???  Well – I’m calling it the plague, because flu seems like such an innocuous word for what I have barely lived through over the past 3-1/2 days!!)  Even my hair hurt and I really think there should be a waiting period for buying a gun because if I had been able to get one easily…I think I would have used it to end the misery.  OK…sorry for rambling…brain still not 100% (and stop laughing you guys who are saying ‘when was it EVER 100%?)  Oh, I did get up a few times to eat Campbell’s chicken noodle soup (the soup of choice when I am sick) and on a rather memorable Friday morning.  I got up and took a shower and got dressed and spent the rest of the morning trying to convince myself that I could still go out to lunch with Paula.  We planned this lunch weeks ago, and I really didn’t want to miss it (I’m not sure that we have EVER gone to lunch together in the 7 years we have known each other)….but I finally called her to say I couldn’t go, and crawled back into bed.  Michael took my temperature Friday afternoon, and as it was almost 102 degrees, that explained the railroad-spikes-being-driven-into-my-head feeling.  Some aspirin calmed that down somewhat.  Saturday morning (3/8) Michael left for golf and I got up and had a cup of tea, read my book for a bit, and headed back to bed.  This pretty much was the pattern through Monday morning….when I got up feeling somewhat human again.  Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes…I think I’m back on track again J.