Family Day...quilt...South Africa

A very white frost this morning and now beautiful blue skies with a brilliant sun shining and the temperature is working its way to 0*C, with a high of plus 2*C.  A perfect day for those taking advantage of the holiday today--Family Day.  It is not a holiday for everyone so not sure what is open or closed.  There was no newspaper delivery but I did get mail..

Earlier this a.m. I looked out my patio door and my neighbour lady was outside doing her yoga stretching,  she was bundled up with a warm track suit and and gloves, so it was still be a bit chilly.  She is a very committed to her yoga,  and has said that it gets her moving so she can take on the chores for the rest of the day.

Visited my Mum yesterday, she is doing so well for her age, we have to be so thankful that she is so healthy, but we always know that it can change within a blink of an eye.  She is going to be 95 years old in August and wants to see Alaska!!!  So my sister, brother in law, Mum and myself are going on an Alaskan cruise later this year.  Will have to start eating wieners and beans and Kraft dinner, to stay focussed with my savings for my trips this year. (not really, just kidding)
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No sewing done during the past couple of days, however, I did sandwich the scrap quilt top, batting and backing together so now it is ready for quilting.  The only way I can get this task done is to tape the backing onto the hardwood floor of my living room  to keep it taunt and then add the other layers and pin.  Works very well actually but crawling around on the floor makes a few muscles shout a bit.  This quilt will be donated to the nursing home where my second daughter works.  They are having a bazaar in May, so hopefully this will raise some $'s for their recreational department.

For my readers that are interested in my South Africa trip, some of you are most likely asking the question, why South Africa?.  I have always been interested in seeing people, architecture, scenery, animals etc. of other countries, not just sitting on a beach and drinking rum punches.  But, the questions still remains, why S. Africa?  As my profile states I was born in England, my Father was a dairy farmer renting a council farm with little or no advancement during the time after WW 11.  He wanted something better for himself and his family of my Mum, sister and myself.  So the discussion of moving to another country arose and Kenya, Africa was the number one choice, and he started some preliminary paperwork. He would purchase a farm and grow a flower called pyrethrum.  The petals from this flower contained a substance used in pesticides.  However, at the time of this decision, in the early 50"s,  the Mau Mau terrorists were recruiting members who were required to take an oath to drive the white man from Kenya.  It became a bitter battle with white men, women and children being killed in the process.  Not wanting to become a satistic in this conflict,  we remained in England until Canada was decided to be the place where we would move to. So why do I want to go to S. Africa, I have always wanted to see what might have been, and of course the people, places and animals of Africa.

Patricia

I received an award..

The Liebster award is the first award I have ever received, many thanks to SFT at http://sftandthe101challenge.blogspot.com/  for giving it to me.  SFT has a fantastic blog in which she tells of the frugal life she is leading in the UK so that she and Mr. SFT can fulfill their dreams of travelling around this world of ours.

Here are the rules of the Liebster award,

1. Say thank you to the blogger who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
 
2. Choose five (5) blogs that you enjoy visiting and leave a comment on their blog letting them know you are giving them a Liebster award.
(You must give the award to blogs that have less than 200 followers).

3. Post the award on your blog.
    Right click on the award image and save it to the hard drive then upload on to your blog.

4. Enjoy the award.


Here are the five blogs that I have chosen to received this award.  I enjoy visiting them all and looking at all of the fantastic sewing, knitting, quilting ,cooking and reading the trials and tribulations of their daily lives.

http://vesuviusmama.blogspot.com/

I may not always leave a comment when I visit but enjoy reading about her sewing and quilting projects and her life of a busy Mum of two boys. 

http://pokeydotquilting.blogspot.com/

Pokey is always in the process of making some fabulous quilts.

http://hand-quilter.blogspot.com/

Sam is currently learning how to knit.  She also makes many of her own retro clothes and quilts.

http://bluebell-leicesterengland.blogspot.com/

Bluebell is currently working on a Crazy quilt and doing some fantastic embroidery on the blocks.

http://tarragonnthyme.blogspot.com/

Tarragonnthyme does some fantastic preserving of  all kinds with fruit and veg.  Also manages to make cordials and wines. 

Enjoy your rewards ladies.

Patricia

Winter...3,2,1 Cake......Scrap quilt.....Trip

Winter did not forget to come, it was just late getting here.  Woke up yesterday morning to about 4-5 inches of snow, and at the present time a flurrie is passing through and we are getting more snow. 

I received an e-mail recently that contained this cake recipe, it looks interesting but haven't tried it yet .

3, 2, 1 CAKE

This is perfect for those of us with just one or two in the house and hate to make a huge cake.
These individual little cakes are amazing and ready to go in one minute.

INGREDIENTS

1 Box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 Box Cake Mix - any flavour


In a zip bag combine the two cake mixes and mix well.

For each individual cake serving take out  3 Tablespoons of the combined cake mix, and put in a microwavable safe container.
Add 2 tablespoons of water  and stir until combined.
Microwave on HIGH for one minute and you have an individual cake.
Cool and top each cake with whipped topping and/or fruit or topping of your choice.

Keep remaining cake mixture in a zip bag or container on a shelf in the cupboard.
Try various flavours but one cake mix must be Angel Food.

Remember: 3 tablespoons of cake mix, 2 tablespoons of water and 1 minute in the microwave.

I am still working on a scrap quilt at the present time, and I could make another with all the scraps I still in my sewing room.  Because of my need to create original pieces I am sketching ideas for another pictorial wall hanging. 

A fellow blogger has also asked if I was going to blog about my "bucket list" trip.  Yes, I will and hope not to bore all of you.  Where am I going, South Africa, and on Thursday last week paid my deposit. Over the coming months I will let you know more about it.

Keep warm
Patricia

February ???

My calendar is telling me it is February 4th, however, it looks and feels more like the end of March or early April.   It is a lovely day, blue skies and sunshine and no snow or bitter cold temperatures in the seven day forecast.

I started two new projects, one New Year's resolution broken already.  The first is a scrap quilt. My saving ways have also migrated to my sewing room.  There are containers filled with small scraps of fabric that I just can't throw out, (my quilting friends know how small some of these pieces are) lol.   Some of the larger scraps have been cut and sewn and I am liking the way this quilt top is looking.  I did have to purchase some fabric to pull the whole top together, second New Year's resolution broken, it was on sale at $5.00 per yard, so it doesn't count, right?   For the second project I picked up my long forgotten knitting needles and have started to knit a shawl for my yet to be born great grand daughter.  Some pink yarn is going to be made into a sweater set.  I find that little girl clothes etc are so much easier to make than those for little boys.  

Have a great day.
Patricia