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.

Celtic Soltice Mystery Revealed and My Design Wall

The Mystery wasn't to be revealed until last Friday, but Bonnie couldn't wait.  I had just finished up all my clues and was looking forward to no sewing until Friday.  Well the group on Facebook couldn't resist showing how some of their tops were going to look.  So I gave in and put a few up on my Design Wall to take a picture.  Here's mine:

Some of the quilters are turning every other Birds in the Air block.  I kinda like the look so I'm going to turn some of mine and see how I like the look on my quilt.

Only the chevrons in the block are turned to make the new block.  I'll have to put more blocks up and get a bigger effect in order to decide.

Check out the other Celtic Soltice Mystery Designs and what other have on their Design Wall

The Blue Heron and Celtic Soltice and Miscellany

Christmas is over and we are awaiting the New Year.  I've been slowly recovering from my foot surgery.  I'm not having to rely on crutches or my knee wheeler.  I still have some swelling and need to keep it elevated.  I'm seeing the doctor on the 5th and I want him to see some progress.  My boot hopefully will come off around the 17th, then I'll be able to drive.  I'm just not use to relying on others for help.  I guess this is a lesson on humility.  I'm learning.

Sunday the chickens were free ranging and making a ruckus in the front yard. I went out there and I think they were worried about this:

This picture is a little blurry because I blew it up to see it.

Here's one as it was flying off

Pretty aren't they?

Celtic Soltice.  What can I say.  We are on Clue 5 of possibly 6-8 clues.  We're not sure, Bonnie's not spilling the beans. After all, she says it's a mystery. I have all of Clues 1,3,4, and 5 completed. I'm still working on Clue 2.

I've been using my Scrappy Triple Irish Chain as my Leader and Ender.  I like the idea of a Leader and Ender and eventually that becomes your main project.  I am working on my sister's quilt and have to put the borders on and sew the appliques on. I should be able to get that done by July, when I see her.

Here's the border design.  I cut them out on day a few months ago when we had a power outage.   This one is from the Fons and Porter magazine.

 Last of all but definately not least.  I won this Japanese clone on ebay last night.  I just not sure which Singer model it is a clone of.  I need to find out so I can get a manual and learn some about it.  I'm excited to get it.  I did send the Seller a link on how to package a machine for shipping.  She's mailed a couple but I just wanted to make sure this arrives in one piece.

This post is being linked to Celtic Soltice Mystery and Judy's Design Wall.  Check out the links to see what others are doing.

Part 4 CS Mystery

This Mystery has been slow going for me.  I have to elevate my foot often and it seems that I only last about 30 minutes at a time standing or sitting.  I've finished step 1 and 2 and have about half of step 3 and 4 completed.  I'm enjoying the Mystery so far and surprised to hear that we will be putting some of it together soon.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow and my family celebrates the Eve.  We will have our traditional pound cake with a bean in it ( from my paternal grandmothers side), goulash and lefse from my maternal grandmother's side.  I enjoy the traditions, it makes me feel close to my family, those here, out of state and not here.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.

This post is being linked to CS Mystery and Judy's Design Wall.  Go check out what everyone is doing with their Mystery or on their Design Walls.

Celtic Soltice Step 3

It's been a week since my foot surgery and I am slowly getting around.  I have been having to use an rolling office chair and now a knee walker.  I am horrible on crutches.

Step 2 Chevrons are still in the making.  I have 20 completed.  I think they are turning out great.

Step 3 Pinwheels are coming along, although I have only finished 6.  This is an exciting mystery.  I can't
wait until I can stand on my own and get to cutting, ironing, and sewing.

I am using the pinwheels and my scrappy Irish Chain as my L&E.  I think I'm liking this method of quilting 2 quilts at once.

This post is being linked to Celtic Soltice Mystery and Judy's Design Wall. Go and check out what everyone else is doing!

Celtice Solstice Step 2

We received our instructions for Step 2 of our Mystery Quilt on Friday.  Thursday I spent having a bunion removed from my foot.  I was able to get a couple of my fat quarters in to my bedroom and since I didn't have access to my rotary cutter or sewing machine, I marked and cut a couple of my pieces.  I marked my quarter  and hand sewed a couple of blocks.  I see where one is flipped. I can fix that when I can stand and move a round a little.  I've  never done any hand sewing except for binding so this was an experience.  I'm not sure how to start or stop.  So I started in from the corner and backtracked.  Then in the end I retraced a couple of  stitches.  I didn't tied off.  I hope this is good.

I linked this post to Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt and to Judy's Design Wall.

Don't forget, I can start receiving your quilts in mid January. See my special on the left column of my blog.  Now let's see what everyone is doing.

Celtic Solstice Mystery, Wk 1

I picked my fabrics, joined the Celtic Solstice FB group, printed my first clue and here I am!  I decided to make the Small size quilt.  I have all the orange backgrounds cut for a large, but I want to make some progress with this mystery.  I will probably use the pieces for the large as my leader and ender later on.  Now my leader and ender is my scrappy Irish Chain.  I have used mostly my stash for this mystery, only purchasing a couple of fat quarters in orange.  I have a great stash, that will most like last me a lifetime. Pictures?  Okay,

It's not to late to start.  Go to Bonnie Hunter's blog and choose the Celtic Solstice tab.  The mystery will only be up until June.  The facebook page is private but you probably can ask to join.  

My Leader and Ender project is the scrappy Irish Chain.  It comes from Bonnie's book.

Irish chain project

Order any of her books directly from her site and I've heard she autographs each one.

Go see what others participating in the Mystery are doing.  I have also linked this post up with Judy at Patchwork Times Design wall

Saturday Musings

I went hunting with Doug today. Actually I rode with him to Lakeside Oregon, dropped him off early this morning. Now I'm having breakfast and headed to the fabric store. Yes I brought my  sewing machine, camera, and kindle.  I brought a #quilting project with me to work in. It's a quilted hotpad. If it turns out they may be for our Iams Family Reunion white elephant event.   Life is good. 

It's cloudy by the lake so I haven't taken any pictures. Maybe I'll be able to get some at my friends place later today.   

Just a photo from my library. I just find it so boring to read a post without some color. 

Design Wall 10-21-2013

I have been working on a Leader and Ender project by Bonnie Hunter.  It will be a scrappy Irish Chain.  Right now I'm sewing the 2 in squares together to form the "chain" of the quilt.

                                                                  
I don't have a picture but I will in my next post.

My design wall has my sister's quilt on it.  I just finished putting a small border on it.  The final border will have appliques on a 6 in border.

The first border is hardly seen here.  It's 1 1/2 inches in a purple batik.  

I finished my son's Crown Royal Jean quilt and he's sleeping under it.  He really likes it. 

Now my children and grandchildren all have at least one quilt.  Time to start the cycle over.

My website is under construction.  I hope to have it up and running in the next two weeks.  I imagine that a couple of the pages will be "under construction" but it is a work in progress and I'm working with a gal who has a life also.  In the meantime, I am having a short Christmas Sale.  Any quilt (except king) that I received in this month will be quilted with a medium meander for 30% off.  See details on the left side of this blog.  I hope to be able to quilt your Christmas present for your special person.  

This post will be linked to Judy's Design wall in the morning.  Take a visit and see what others have been doing this week.

Design Wall 10-14-2013

My design wall has the same quilt top in progress on it that it did last week.  I received my additional fabric for the borders.  I have all my applique pieces cut out and ready to ramp up again.

I'm taking a break from it in order to finish my Get R Done project.  My Carpenter's Star.  Judy gave us the pattern and she also made a You Tube on quilting feathers.  Actually there are 8 or 9 videos.  I'll be working on that and then this will be the first month I've completed my list.

I attended MQX Quilt Festival in Portland last week.  What a fantastic show they put on.  I took classes with Jamie Wallen, Irena Bluhm, Claudia Pfeil, Linda Taylor, Lisa Sipes, and Angela Walters.  I barely had time to take a quick tour of the show quilts and merchandise.  I'm just sorry to hear that they the next time they will be back again is in 2015.

I'm trying to get some longarm work done today because I want to be able to join Bonnie's Quilt Cam tonight.  I'm not sure what I'll be working on during her cam but I'll get it figured out.  It's such a great way to get some work done with company.

This post is being linked to Judy's Design Wall.  Stop in and see what others are doing.

Get 'R Done October 2013

My list last month was light.

 Quilt Carpenter's Star - Not Done

Doug's Quilt - Not Done, Close

I was getting ready to work on Doug's quilt and found that the back was smaller than the top.  I had to order fabric to get it done.  Well with the thanks of Bonnie's Quilt Cam last night, I was able to get three borders on the back and the fourth is cut and ready to go.  That is getting done this morning.


I'm not showing this again until I have a finished bound quilt ready to give to my son.

October's Get 'R Done list:

Quilt Carpenter's Star
Finish Doug's quilt, enlarge backing, quilt, bind

If there is any time left, I will work on

Sew applique on Arin's quilt borders.

Please join me in seeing what other quilters are doing.  This post is being linked to Judy's Get 'R Done

Arin's Quilt

The quilt that I have been enamored with from Fon's and Porter is going to my sis.  She's so excited to be receiving it.  She'll have to pick it up when she comes stateside next summer.

Today, I'm working on the border but without the border fabric.  It's on order.  But I am preparing my applique for the border.

This is an alternate border design in the magazine for the border.  I love it and my batiks will look great in the shapes.

I really need to be working on quilting my son's quilt.  I found the backing wasn't large enough for the top.  The fabric was ordered and received.  I have no excuses.  Today, I will add the extra to the back and I have decided, after watching Eleanor Burns that the quilting will be only a single embroidery design placed strategically around the quilt.  I've decided which design I want to use already.  701.  That's so I won't forget or in case my post it gets lost.

I was looking for a picture and couldn't find one.  So I took on of the top and back.

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Today is GET 'R DONE

Have a great day everyone.