Just Puttin' Around

What family doesn't love a game of miniature golf, especially in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. While finishing up another quilt for my Etsy Shop I thought I would share some more of our family vacation with you. This is the mini golf course at Massanutten Resort where we were staying.

Michie Tavern ca. 1784

On our vacation last week we drove through Charlottesville, VA and stopped for lunch at Michie's Tavern. I just had to share our experience with you. The tavern has been feeding travelers for over 200 years now!  All I can say is the food was great and the atmosphere was authentic.  We enjoyed a bountiful colonial midday fare of pork stew, fried chicken, field peas, green beans, tomatoes and buttermilk biscuits! Yummm!

The taverns of old were a great place to gather for the latest news from afar and to discuss the days current affairs.  As I was reading the history of the tavern I discovered such was the case here too.  The proprietor William Michie was politically active, and a crowded Inn afforded the opportunity to express his views. Earlier in 1779, when local countrymen were weakening in their support of America’s cause, William signed the Albemarle Declaration of Independence and most likely persuaded his patrons to follow suit. One can almost image the heated political discussions that took place over a tankard of ale or spiced rum.

Home Sweet Home

For the last two weeks I've been on vacation.  My husband and I drove from Texas to Virginia where we met up with the rest of his family.  I'm afraid it would be too much to share all our adventures in one post so I thought I would spread them out in between all the projects I've been working on also.

Road trips go by quickly with a good audio book and crochet project.  We listened to the award winning book, She Walks These Hills by Sharyn McCrumb.  Taking place in the Appalchian Mountains, policewoman Martha Ayers attempts to settle local superstitions about the ghost of a murdered 18th-century pioneer woman while tracking down a present-day escaped convict haunting the same Appalachian wilderness.  While listening I worked on a baby blanket for the newest member our family born July 27th. I hope to finish it this week while Im home unpacking. Here's a sneak peek.

Weight Watchers Week 7

Have you ever wanted something and knew if you would do just one thing it would happen?  Well that is how this weight loss journey has been.  I know I could lose this extra weight if I would just exercise.  Last week I was so good to get up and walk everyday but this week I've only got out the door once.  Our talk this week at meeting gave me an idea that might help.  When I get up, put on my walking shoes.

The Active Life

1. Do what you like
2. Pace youself
3. Set goals
4. Ditch the all or nothing attitude
5. Don't go it alone
6. Bring in a pro
7. Make it easy to exercie
8. Do different things
9. Keep track

So make your move and get active!

Ellis County Quilt Show

This was my first time to enter a quilt in a quilt show.  If you are a quilter and have never entered a quilt I strongly encourage you to do so.  There is a big difference in going and looking at a bunch of quilts others have made and looking at others compared to your own.  It really helped me appreciate the first place winners so much more.

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that I won an honorable mention especially when I saw the quilt that won first in my division.

Here are some pictures from the show.

Welcome!

 Our Boutique

Small quilt silent auction

This year's raffle quilt

Next year's raffle quilt

my entry called "Corn and Beans"

Our Community Service is making quilts for our veterans at the VA Hospital in Dallas

Our president showing off the first place in each division

Ellis County Quilt Show!

my winner

first place in my division

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you all for a wonderful show!

Finishing My Quilt Show Quilt

I have been working on my Lone Star Lariat quilt for some time now.

 I finished the top a few months ago and had a professional quilt it for me but I still had the binding to do and sew on a hanging tube and label.

So this weekend I got to work.

First the hanging tube.

Next the label

And finally the binding which took me about 4 hours.

And now I have it all finished and I'm ready to take it on Wednesday for the Ellis County Quilt Show this next weekend.  It's my first quilt show entry and I can't wait to see it hanging with all those other beautiful quilts!

Lamb and White Bean Stew

Posting recipes is fun!  Not very many people like the taste of lamb but the rosemary and wine really give this stew a delightful taste.  It's one of my husband's favorites. I found the recipe in Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross' cookbook, Desperation Dinners!

First start with sauteing a chopped onion with 2 tsp olive oil a stew pot.

Next add 1 lb ground lamb raise the heat to high.

Stir in 1 Tbs minced garlic

1 Tbs fresh rosemary or 2 tsp dried

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

one beef bouillon reconstituted in microwave or 1 tsp concentrated beef broth

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/4 tsp black pepper

Continue to cook, stirring frequently until all the lamb is crumbled and browned. About 5 or 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, rinse and drain 2 (15oz) cans of cannellini (white kidney) beans

Stir in a can of stewed  tomatoes and 1 cup of white wine.

Cover the pot and bring the stew to a boil.  When the pot boils, uncover it and cook at rolling boil for 5 minutes.

Gently stir in the  reserved beans and cook a few more minutes to heat the beans through.

A delicious fuss free meal in under 20 minutes!

Weight Watchers Week 6

Keeping up with my WW posts is a little more challenging than I thought.  I missed WW meetings 3 and 4 and last week I just never found time to make an entry.  With that said I'd like to say I hope to be more diligent in the future.  I am losing weight however slowly.  In the last 5 weeks I have lost a whopping 4 pounds!  People say, "that's great" "at least it's in the right direction" or "keep working the program, it works"  This is all very true but I must be honest with myself and ask am I really working the program?  The answer is no.  I do stay within my points most days but the part I struggle with is exercise.  One very key element to the program is activity points.  Each person has an activity point goal for the week which is determined by current weight.  My goal is 14 points which is 2 points each day or a half hour brisk walk.  Let's see if I can commit to this goal this week and watch those pounds drop a little faster.

What about you?  What do you find the most difficult part of weight loss?

Fall in July

I hope everyone had a wonderful forth yesterday celebrating our country's 236th birthday. After finishing my American Chevron quilt I made a few bibs and burp cloths for my Etsy shop.

Then it was off to the fabric store for more stash.   I was thrilled to see that they had gotten in a mess of new fall fabrics! For crafters July always marks the time to start thinking of halloween costumes and Christmas gifts. I couldn't leave without purchasing a few things so decided to start this adorable spider web quilt.  I found the pattern at Moda Bake Shop and couldn't believe how easy it is!

That is as far as I got yesterday.  Can't wait to finish it!