I took advantage of the rainy day to spend it inside working on quilts. And, yes, it is plural. I have this problem. I get an idea for a quilt and just have to drop everything in order to get the concept down in 'fabric'. Often, in the middle of the creative surge', another idea strikes and the first quilt gets set aside. Today, I actually finished a full-sized quilt and got two others pinned and ready for hand sewing. I did NOT start a new one today . . . although the temptation was there!
I decided one of the Lenten 'sacrifices' would be to finish up ALL my pending sewing projects before I cut into another length of fabric in the quest of a new idea. I have a feeling this will be much harder than avoiding chocolate and eating out.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Rainy days . . .
Almost two months into 2009 and the warmer months are soon to follow. Rain in the forecast today! It may be one of the last really cold days in which to do something to make the house cozy. Easy math - Cold weather plus heat times oven equals cookie baking! A fast, easy recipe that is a stand-by in my kitchen is cut out sugar cookies. They are easy to make and fun for the children to do. Add warm hearts and fun to the math to complete your answer!
Easy Roll-Out Cookies
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs with vanilla. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be stiff; blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough.
Roll out a portion of dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use. Bake coolies on ungreased cookie sheet for approximately 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.
Variations:
A teaspoon or so of peppermint extract makes a refreshing cookie when frosted with vanilla icing.
For chocolate cookies, stir in 3 ounces of melted baking chocolate into the batter before adding the eggs. If dough is too stiff, add water a teaspoon at a time.
Easy Roll-Out Cookies
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs with vanilla. Add baking powder and flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition. The dough will be stiff; blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough.
Roll out a portion of dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use. Bake coolies on ungreased cookie sheet for approximately 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.
Variations:
A teaspoon or so of peppermint extract makes a refreshing cookie when frosted with vanilla icing.
For chocolate cookies, stir in 3 ounces of melted baking chocolate into the batter before adding the eggs. If dough is too stiff, add water a teaspoon at a time.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Out of the mouths of babes . . .
When we say our family Rosary in the evening, we often sing the Credo instead of reciting the Apostles Creed. One night my then five-year old daughter was not being attentive and insisted we hadn't done all the prayers. I said we had recited the Creed rather than sing the Credo. "Oh," she replied, "No wonder I didn't understand it. You were saying it in English!"
My daughter was flipping through the pages of a telephone book one day when she asked me, "Mom, everyone has a telephone number, right?" I agreed. She went on, "Then I guess you can kind of tell who is who by their special telephone number, right?" I agreed. "Okay," she demanded, "So who is 985-4206?"
My daughter was flipping through the pages of a telephone book one day when she asked me, "Mom, everyone has a telephone number, right?" I agreed. She went on, "Then I guess you can kind of tell who is who by their special telephone number, right?" I agreed. "Okay," she demanded, "So who is 985-4206?"
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
All too true . . .
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -- Albert Einstein
Monday, February 2, 2009
Thank you thoughts!
As you rushed around during the holiday season, you probably heard many words said that didn't take in the actual meaning of Christmas. One person was heard to say, "Of course I didn't tell him what I wanted for Christmas! Just let him give me pots and pans again, however, and see what happens!" Another said that the part she liked best about Christmas were the small packages from her husband that always contained expensive jewelry.
The children lined up for miles to tell someone in a red suit what all they were expecting under the Christmas tree and forgetting St. Nicholas who believed giving was better than receiving when it came to happiness.
There was an undercurrent of worry about the economy and many overpsent in order to meet 'needs' that might not be available next year. I heard a lot of "Thank God!" and "Oh, God!" as I went about my errands but got the feeling God was just an overused expression rather than a heartfelt comment about our Savior.
Very little in the way of thanks was heard as everyone stampeded for the best bargain. And since the overworked clerks were getting very few words of gratitude for their efforts, it is hard to believe many were putting God anywhere near the top ten for thank yous. There are so many thank yous we can all find in our lives as we get into 2009. In between the gift wrap and post-holiday activities, I would hope there were some thoughts about what we have been given by God in spite of economic mishaps, elections, etc.
1. Our child's cry of hunger can be satisfied within minutes.
2. Warm clothing is as close as our closet.
3. Clean water flows into our sinks and tubs. (Do we ever give this luxury a second thought?)
4. If anything is missing from our dinner table, it is because we forgot to buy it, not that we couldn't afford it.
5. We have friends and relatives who care about us.
6. Medical help is just a telephone call away.
7. Mass and sacraments are there . . . are we?
8. We have God's help in maintaining a one-income way of life for our families.
9. Electricity lights up our homes even when we forget to let God illuminate our hearts.
10. God gave us His only Begotten Son over 2,000 years ago. Don't put His thank you at the end of your list!
The children lined up for miles to tell someone in a red suit what all they were expecting under the Christmas tree and forgetting St. Nicholas who believed giving was better than receiving when it came to happiness.
There was an undercurrent of worry about the economy and many overpsent in order to meet 'needs' that might not be available next year. I heard a lot of "Thank God!" and "Oh, God!" as I went about my errands but got the feeling God was just an overused expression rather than a heartfelt comment about our Savior.
Very little in the way of thanks was heard as everyone stampeded for the best bargain. And since the overworked clerks were getting very few words of gratitude for their efforts, it is hard to believe many were putting God anywhere near the top ten for thank yous. There are so many thank yous we can all find in our lives as we get into 2009. In between the gift wrap and post-holiday activities, I would hope there were some thoughts about what we have been given by God in spite of economic mishaps, elections, etc.
1. Our child's cry of hunger can be satisfied within minutes.
2. Warm clothing is as close as our closet.
3. Clean water flows into our sinks and tubs. (Do we ever give this luxury a second thought?)
4. If anything is missing from our dinner table, it is because we forgot to buy it, not that we couldn't afford it.
5. We have friends and relatives who care about us.
6. Medical help is just a telephone call away.
7. Mass and sacraments are there . . . are we?
8. We have God's help in maintaining a one-income way of life for our families.
9. Electricity lights up our homes even when we forget to let God illuminate our hearts.
10. God gave us His only Begotten Son over 2,000 years ago. Don't put His thank you at the end of your list!
advertising your quilts
Hi Barbara,
I was thinking, I've seen your quilts and they are beautiful, and I've tasted your wonderful baked treats, they are delicious to say the least, why not advertise? I know people who might be interested. Do you think it's worth a try? Let me know. The IECH group lets you advertise on Fridays. What about starting there? I think this could be very lucrative for you!
I was thinking, I've seen your quilts and they are beautiful, and I've tasted your wonderful baked treats, they are delicious to say the least, why not advertise? I know people who might be interested. Do you think it's worth a try? Let me know. The IECH group lets you advertise on Fridays. What about starting there? I think this could be very lucrative for you!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Quotes of interest . . .
"I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants." Whitney Brown
"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business."
Tom Robbins
"Disbelief in magic can force a poor soul into believing in government and business."
Tom Robbins
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