Taco Soup

Today was a blustery day and we just needed some good old hearty soup.  I made Taco Soup with homemade garlic bread and avocado slices, cheese and a dollop of sour cream.

This soup changes as ingredients are available.  I get told to "make that taco soup" and I have to think what did I put in it.  So this "taco soup" I wrote down.  The vegetables vary.  I use whatever leftover veggies I have in the fridge.  Tonight was potatoes.   I used my homemade Taco Seasoning Try this soup, it's yummy and hearty.  See the recipe below.

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"Domestic" treadle

This was the treadle I got from my mom.  This was posted 3/11/2014.

I received my Domestic Treadle from my mother.  It had been stored in her silo for about 15 years.  Prior to that in storage elsewhere.  I never knew she had one until we were talking one day about me buying a sewing machine so I could start teaching beginning sewing.  I wanted my student/s to be able to have a machine to sew on in order to determine whether they were really interested in sewing.  With the knowledge of a sewing machine, they could then have a bit more knowledge when purchasing one for themselves.  In this conversation, she told me of her grandmother's treadle machine.  She said she had it and it was in the silo.  At that point I confiscated it and took it home with me to Oregon.  It was a couple of years later that I began reading a blog from Bonnie Hunter and saw all her vintage sewing machines. That was the fire that got me thinking of having my treadle serviced.

I've named her Belle after my great grandmother.  Mom told me that she received this machine as a gift from her husband shortly after they were married.  I looked up in our family history and they married in 1891.  This machine is at least 123 year old.

My service technician was having a hard time getting the screws to come loose that he said "We may just have to let this one go".  I said "Really"  Then he asked me what the story was and I told him.  I think at that point he tried very hard to get "Belle" working for me.  He did it and I'm so happy this machine can be kept for my second granddaughter.  She has a real passion for sewing so I think this has her name on it.

I'm Back!

I'm back to using this blog again.  I'm in the process of copying the important parts of the other blog into this one.  I don't want to loose some of my best posts.  We'll start with Potstickers, which was dated 4/7/2012.

I have made these Potstickers several times,  They are a hit with company.  Great finger food for parties.  Start by preheating a medium a large frying pan with about a quarter inch of oil.

Combine all filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Lay your wrappers out on a floured board.

Fill each wrapper with about a tablespoon of mixture.  Wet with water top and one side along the edge.

Fold and pinch together with fingers.  Place on floured surface until ready to fry.
Fry in oil turning when browned.  Brown both sides.  Place on a wire rack with toweling underneath rack.
The filling can be made a day ahead of your event.  They can even be put in the wrapper.  Cover with cloth and place in fridge.  The day of your event, take the potstickers out of the fridge and let them come to room temperature.  
Enjoy.  These are wonderful.  Make the dipping sauce and don't eliminate anything.  The taste is wonderful.

I Have Moved!!

Carmi's Quilts has changed her name to Carmi Quilts. Lots of things to see on Carmi Quilts.  Sign up for the free EBook and you will be automatically entered to received newsletters, specials and more.  Don't forget ,Carmi Quilts also finishes those precious quilts you you have taken time to piece.  Carmi even will baste the sandwich for handquilters. Pass the word along!

What's Been Happening in My Realm

Since I posted last, I have had foot surgery and hired a website designer.  She has been developing a website for me for my longarm quilting business.  I never realized what a long road this is.  We started in January.


In July, I got a new do, retired and moved back  to Montana, my homestate.  I am now in the same state as most of my relatives, Mom, Brother, Daughter and her family (4 grandkids), uncles and aunts. So far I am enjoying it.  I am also looking for a place to live that can house my longarm.  Seems that with all the Balkin activity the housing is a premium here.  I have a few people looking for just the right place.

I hope to be blogging more now that I am more or less settled.  Packing a household took me 5 weeks along with working.  That is something I had said I never wanted to do was move.  It's so painful.

I said goodbye to some friends.

Also in July, we had a family reunion.  My daughter and her husband helped me to pull it off.  It had been in the planning stages for a year.  We had 60 people show up for the weekend.  It had been ten years since I had seen everyone.  New additions, husbands, wives and children had grown up.

My second granddaughter putting chalkboard fabric name tags on some aprons.

My oldest granddaughter tyedying a couple of t-shirts for our white elephant exchange at the reunion.

On my last drive to Montana in July, I took the scenic route, took my time.  I wasn't in a hurry.

I followed part of the Lewis and Clark trail out of Kennewick, WA, heading toward Lewiston, ID.  This trail was also labelled Nez Perce Trail.  The scenery was wonderful.  Such a contrast to I-90 through Washington.
   
I headed to Kamiah and on up thru Lolo, Montana.  This was a great drive.  I've only taken it one other time in the winter.  It was night and I didn't appreciate any of it.

Well that's the last few months in a nutshell.  I hope to be posting more often.

Thanks for visiting.

A Quilting Retreat

Wow I can't believe it's the middle of April!  How time flies.  I've been busy with my website designer on my Website.  It should be launched in a few weeks.  I never knew how much goes into the design.  Michelle is a superwoman with all her knowledge.

We've gotten our tree trimming done and just in time.  The blooms are spectacular.

This is one of our apple trees.

I've had to thin the rhubarb as it had already started to bolt. I hope I get lots for pies, coffeecake, freezing and canning.


I can taste it now.

I spent last weekend at the Tualatin Valley Quilt Guild Retreat.  I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery, food, camaraderie and quilting.  Our long weekend was held at Tilikum Christian Camp outside of Newberg in Yamhill County.  I snapped a couple of pictures of some of the gals....

There were 37 quilters.  We took up two floors.  We had a white elephant exchange which was great.  The competition for a couple of the gifts was extreme.

In the mornings I stepped outside and just enjoy the dawn.  Across the highway from the retreat was a farm.  The roosters were crowing from dawn till dusk.  You can't see the farm from the video, but the scenery is wonderful.

I've got bread in the oven so I need to get it out.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.  Our weather is suppose to be beautiful.

Making Kahlua

Edited:  I can't believe I spelled Kahlua wrong.  

As I reached for the Kahlua last night to splash into my hot Black Mango Tea, I noticed how in need I was of replenishing my stock.

This is an emergency.  If I make Kahlua, it's recommended that it age for about 3 weeks.  Even if I make it today, this supply will not last.

Even so, I decided not to wait any longer.  You can see how I make Kahlua on this post.

Ahh, it's made so now I need to mark my calendar.  March 8th.

I save all bottles with a screw cap.  I even used the Clear Springs bottle I just poured into my mixture.  I didn't even wash it.  I'll bet that one will be just a little better than the others.  If you make Kahlua, I would love to hear how you make it.