Favorite Things Friday, the Finale

Eek, it's Friday night!  I say that not that it's a bad thing, but because I've been meaning to do a Favourite Things Friday post, probably the last Favourite Things Friday post ever, because our fabulous hostess Shay at Quilting in My Pajamas has declared it to be so, in that she's been doing the Friday linky for two and a half years and has decided it's time to put her baby to bed, which I totally understand, and this is hands down the longest run-on sentence in the history of this blog, I guarantee!

Whew.

So while Norm is out gathering necessities for the weekend, i.e. good coffee and chocolate at our neighborhood Walgreens, I am going to try and do a post real quick.  Because when he gets back, we've got some Netflixin' to do.  No, that is not code for something, we're going to watch a movie!

So I had some things in the freezer—namely, last year's rhubarb—to do something with before it's rhubarb time all over again in six weeks or so (emphasis on the "so").

I love rhubarb, but because you need to sweeten it to make it palatable, and I have been trying to avoid sugar (and kinda failing at it lately), well, let's just say the rhubarb has been pretty safe in the freezer for almost a year.

But then last weekend a friend (cleaning out his own freezer, I suspect), gave me several packages of strawberries from his garden last year.  And raspberries.

I also had a frozen gluten-free pie crust in there left over from holiday baking.  Pretty much all the main ingredients for a rhubarb-strawberry pie.  Look out sugar, here we come!

But you know what?  Turns out you don't really need all that much sugar for this pie.  I admit I like a tart pie, and my taste buds have adapted to eating less sweets, so factor that in.  Most recipes call for about 1-1/2 cups of sugar in a pie of this sort, but I cut it down to 1/3 cup...and then added in another tablespoon or so as insurance an afterthought.  So essentially I used a scant 1/2 cup sugar total, and it was just fine.  So fine and so yummy that I am declaring it my favorite thing!

Rhubarb-Strawberry Pie 
(Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Lower Sugar)

2-1/2 cups chopped rhubarb (½-inch pieces)

2-1/2 cups strawberries (sliced into halves or quarters is probably best;mine were whole frozen so I didn't bother)

Zest of half a lemon, freshly grated (I pare off a thin part of the lemon rind and chop it very fine)

½ t. cinnamon

3 T. arrowroot and/or tapioca starch flour

1/3 cup + 2 T. sugar (or around a scant ½ cup)

Mix everything together thoroughly in a bowl and spoon mixture into prepared crust* in a pie plate.  (Fits nicely in a regular/shallow Pyrex pie plate).  I didn’t want a top crust, but if you want one, feel free to pop another crust on top and crimp the edges/cut slits.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, then decrease to 375 for 40-50 minutes, or until it's bubbling nicely and the rhubarb is soft. You may need to cover the edge of the crust with foil if it’s browning too much. Cool at least one hour before serving (or longer, if you can stand it).  Enjoy!

*I use this gluten-free pie crust recipe but substitute either cold ghee or coconut oil for the butter.  Ghee is clarified butter, but the casein and lactose are removed in making it, which works for casein-intolerant folks like me.

99 Shades of Crazy

Norm comes into the house last night after work, talking about a tune he'd just heard on the radio.  He wonders if it's an old Grand Funk song.

"What's it sound like?" I ask.  I'm a Grand Funk fan from way back.

"Something about 99 Shades of Crazy."

Hm, I don't remember that one.  But considering my reading list this past week and the parallels thereto, I had to check it out.

And (funny enough), it's a new release by JJ Grey & Mofro from an upcoming album to be released in April. 

YouTube had just this live amateur video, but it was enough for me to know I like it.  A lot. 


You can stream some of the band's other music here.  I'll be checking out more of this Mr. Grey.

Here's another one that makes me want to dance on this Favourite Things Friday.  Turn it up and shake what your mama gave you!

Favorite Things Friday - Free Time!

One of my employers was on vacation this past week, so I had some extra free time, and that is my Favorite Thing!

I kept plugging along on the sailboat blocks for the shirt quilt.  While catching up on episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, What Not to Wear, and Love It or List It, I (simultaneously) got all these done.

Originally, the plan was to set this 9 x 9, so it'd be about 81 inches square.  However, I am approaching the bored out of my mind stage with these, which just so happens to coincide with the running low on some of the shirt fabrics stage.  So I have decided to set it 7 x 8 and maybe/maybe not add a border.  That way I can squeak out a finish with the materials I have and move on.

I do like it quite a lot, though!

I also did some reading and dreaming about quilts.  

(If you really want to get your quilt geek on, you may enjoy the academic discussion in the nearly inch thick, The Natural History of the Traditional Quilt.  Google it and you should be able to read several pages online to get an idea of the analytical nature of this book—or enlarge the photo below.  I think it's extremely interesting, but I have to take small bites of it at a time when I have an adequate attention span.)
 

Trying to decide on what kind of drunkard's path quilt to make.  Will it be a sampler like this one, perhaps?

From 65 Drunkard's Path Quilt Designs by Pepper Cory

Or this snake's trail?  Both would satisfy my desire for variety.  The snake's trail has scrappy/string quilt appeal as well.

From 65 Drunkard's Path Quilt Designs by Pepper Cory

Then there is this "Diamonds Are Forever" string quilt.  So many quilts, so little time!

From String Quilt Revival by Virginia Baker, et al.

But it was great to indulge in dream time, which is important for creativity.  Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, calls it "filling the well."

I also attended to the long-procrastinated task of putting my estate planning documents together in a binder.  It's been two years since we had our wills and powers of attorney done, and the thought of anyone being able to find these and other important papers in the upside-down space that is both my sewing room and "filing" area had me concerned (apparently not concerned enough to take care of it for two whole years, however).  So there's that.

And I made an impulse buy with what I thought were soon-to-expire eBay bucks.  They were, in fact, expired (by a day) when I went through eBay checkout, but I still bought half yard of Type!

 I'm also linking with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?  What have you been up to this week?

Favorite Things Friday 1-11-13

It's ba-ack!  Favourite Things Friday, hosted by our fearless leader, Shay, at Quilting in My Pyjamas.

Just a quick one this week.  It'd be twice as long if I could remember the other commercial I thought was so hilarious.  Alas, I had an almost-senior moment.  Technically, I did forget, but I'm not quite a senior yet.  That is, I don't yet qualify for discounts.

Here's the one I did remember, which made me cackle perhaps a bit too loudly the first time I saw it.  I think Norm was caught off guard.  I could feel his eyes staring at me like I'd lost my mind.

Enjoy!

Favorite Things Friday ~ Four Things

I have more than one favorite thing this week.

First, this bar from Harry & David.  It is really, really good.  Smooth, rich dark chocolate, with nary a hint of charcoal, which is what the hubs and I joke that the ultra-dark stuff can sometimes taste like.

The wrapper says it's "Deeper and more satisfying."  Well, I don't know about that.  Are we still talking about chocolate here?

I don't usually shop at Harry & David.  You all probably know that discount and thrift stores are more my scene, but here is where I tell you why I ventured into H&D in the first place:  Free coffee sample.  Try to act surprised.

However, I am glad to have found this chocolate (on sale) which does not have dairy ingredients, as that kind is hard to find.  Both Walmart and Target have recently stopped carrying the two other brands I really liked and could eat, darn it.

Number two favorite this week is—no surprise—another thrift store vintage fabric.  This one came from St. Vinny's.  One yard of 27" wide vintage Christmas fabric for, are you ready, 75 cents.  I know, right?

I love that vintage green!  The words and snowflakes are in a silver print.  It reminds me of the old glass ornaments with white or silver writing we had on the tree as a kid.

Third favorite is this old computer desk hauled up from the basement last month, which is now functioning as a nice potting bench in the garage.  Slide out the keyboard drawer and you can fit a whole flat of flowers on it.  And to think we were going to put this out at the curb.

Fourth, the new album by Band of Skulls.  I about wore out their first CD a couple years ago.  You might recognize their music from this Ford Mustang commercial.  For a three-piece band, they can both rock it out and do mellow, sweet harmonies.  Here's one of the softer tunes.  If you make it to the four-minute mark, there is a blasting 30-second guitar solo, followed by some smooth fretwork that soothes everything out once again.  I love surprises like that in music.

This post has been brought to you by Favourite Things Fridays at Quilting in My Pyjamas.  Drop in for a visit or link along!

Favorite Things Friday ~ Cream of Asparagus Soup

What do you do when you have been blessed by a friend with several pounds of fresh, homegrown asparagus?

You steam some for dinner a couple nights in a row, and then you take a whole bunch of it and make cream of asparagus soup.  At least, that's what I did.

I used this recipe, which is the first one that came up when I Googled "cream of asparagus soup."  It was simple and had a lot of good reviews, so it seemed like a winner to me—and it certainly was!

I tweaked the recipe by adding a minced clove of garlic, using ghee instead of butter (which many with a milk protein sensitivity can tolerate) and instead of heavy cream, I used a tablespoon of full fat coconut milk in my bowl.  Everyone else stirred a little moo-cow cream into theirs.  It was, in a word, divine.

I snipped some chives from my garden for a garnish.  Did you know chive blossoms are edible?

Favorite thing:  Homemade cream of asparagus soup.

Also, this new song, which I heard on the radio on Tuesday.  I predict good things for this band, Alabama Shakes.  Brittany, the singer, has a unique voice, sort of (but not entirely) like Etta James meets Macy Gray.  To be honest, when I first heard it on the radio, I thought it was a male singer.  The video set me straight, and I loved it all the more.

Favorite Things Friday ~ Good Thrift Finds

I have a confession.  I went back to the thrift store to see if that Singer 503 was still there.  And just what was I going to do if it was?  Stare at it some more?  Try to find a good reason to justify me not buying it?  I wasn't sure, but like a criminal returning to the scene of the crime, I went.

And it was gone.  Whew!  No longer an option.  It had found a new home.  Good!

But since I was in the store, I may as well have a look around, right? 

"Oh, look!"  I said to Norm in the dishes aisle.  "Aren't these cool?  Only 49 cents apiece."  I pushed aside the price sticker on the bottom of a cup to reveal the mark beneath.  "Well, will you look at that, Georges Briard."  No wonder I liked them.  His stuff has caught my eye (and Norm's) before.  This particular pattern is called Carousel.

When I got to the checkout, the clerk said there had been dinner plates as well, but someone else bought those earlier in the day.

I also found some fabric.  I get such a kick out of finding good fabric in the thrift store.  It's a different thrill than regular fabric store shopping.  Sort of like spotting a rare bird where you don't expect to see one.

The top four fabrics are batiks, about 3/4 yard each, except there's probably a couple yards of the purple.

So I'm joining Favourite Things Friday today, because good thrift finds are my favorite thing this week (and any week!).

And because my mp3 player shuffled up this song for me on my walk tonight, I'm sharing it as well.  I always want to stop what I'm doing and start dancing when I hear it.  Start the weekend early and sing the "Woo-hoo-hoo!" part out loud!

Favorite Things Friday ~ Cars and Drivers

I went car shopping with my daughter M. on Monday.  I don't mind car shopping, actually.  I've negotiated for and bought every car we've ever owned.  Norm doesn't like haggling about cars, but it doesn't bother me in the least.

I also like hanging out with my daughter, so any day we get to do that is a very good day.


She has a great, wry sense of humor.  Take, for example, this exchange.  

We're heading out of town where a new building is being constructed, and we both muse over what it might be:

M:  It looks like a vet clinic. [Daughter is a veterinary technician]

Me:  [On seeing the sign out front]  Oh, it's a funeral home.

M:  Same thing.

Now, see?  That might make some people groan or gasp, but it cracked me up.  Dark humor?  Yes, please. 

The day ended without a car purchase, but a possibility on one of the lots we visited.  And I got to drive a sporty black Saab, which was fun.

But the icing on the cake came when we were in the drive-through at Wendy's at the end of the long day.  We were behind a car with the Coolest. Bumper. Sticker. Ever (if you are a Twilight fan).  I made M. take a photo with her iPhone.  "Augh, you're such a fan girl, Mom!"

And here is Edward Cullen himself (or his stunt driver).  This is the best clip I could find; it's dubbed in Spanish, but the words aren't important.  What I really want to know is how to make that 180 turn at 30 seconds in.  Put your seat belt on.

Favorite Things Friday ~ Fab Quilts and a QAL!

I've seen so many beautiful quilty things on other people's blogs lately.  You know how inspiring you all are, right?  Well, you are.  Talented too, my goodness gracious.

Here are two recent favorites, the first of which is Liftoff by Sandi at Piecemeal Quilts.  

"Liftoff" by Sandi of Piecemeal Quilts (with permission)

This quilt just takes my breath away!  I get a feeling of awe and wonder, just like when I'm watching a huge flock of birds rise up to fly in formation.  Some of that awe and wonder is also in regard to the number of HSTs in this quilt, something like 672 of them, all perfectly pieced.  Sandi and her mother worked together on this.  You can read the touching story behind the quilt here.

The second quilt is Gong Show by Lesly at Stitch Literate.  Another stunner!  I love the positive/negative thing happening in this quilt, the use of the brown as the neutral solid, as well as the clever configuration of multiple sized drunkard's path pieces.  Anybody else oohing and aahing?

"Gong Show" by Lesly at Stitch Literate (with permission)

A drunkard's path quilt is on my bucket list, and "Throw Me a Curve" is one of the categories on my 2012 NewFO Challenge list.  I'm just sayin'...  ;)

Also on my NewFO list is a category called "Oddly Inspired," which is where the Hubcap Diamond Star Halo quilt is fitting in, inspired by song lyrics.  But I'm obviously not the only one who thinks "Quilts Are Everywhere."  Sandi (Piecemeal Quilts) was recently inspired by a drawing of iron window coverings from a 1930s building.  She transferred the drawing to EQ and came up with several colorways.  Now she's agreed to do an Ironwork Quilt Along based on that design.  I am excited about that! 

Ironwork* Quilt Along at Piecemeal Quilts

I have been wanting to do something in solids, and this lends itself well to that (though prints would be cute too).  She is offering instructions for two sizes, a bed-sized quilt and a 40-inch quilt.  I'm going to make the smaller version.  

I've ordered my fabrics from Connecting Threads.  Instead of black for the ironwork, I chose Rosewood, which is dark enough to appear almost black (I think), but it's, well, rosewood-y.  Think possibly rusty ironwork?  I dunno, just being a little different in that one detail, seeing as I'm totally copying one of her EQ colorways, otherwise.

Want to quilt along?  Visit Sandi's blog for the details, grab the button, pull together some fabric, and you'll be all set!

Today's fab favorites brought to you by:

Friday!

I am so glad it's Friday and officially the start of the weekend.  I did a lot of sitting in front of the computer this week (working, or otherwise known as growing my bum).  So what am I doing still sitting here on Friday night?  Uh, you got me there.  I guess I feel like I've been neglecting things around here, though there really isn't much to report—but I'm sure I'll find something!

I did sew another string Dresden ring together.  This one features a bold blue print.  I hope to knock another couple of these out in the next week (though I'll be happy with one, at the rate things are going).  I have some new scraps from Jenny that she tossed into an Etsy order for me this past week, and I'm looking forward to playing with those and working them into the string Dresdens.

Jenny was de-stashing and putting some fabrics in her shop, so I had to go have a look.  I can't believe she was selling this piece of Michael Miller fabric.
But it's mine now!  

Is it possible to be in love with a piece of fabric?  Because I think I at least have a serious crush on it.  And I'm pretty sure fellow Pyrex fans would agree that everything looks (even) better in Pyrex!

Here are a couple other pieces I am the new owner of.  I didn't buy these with the intention of using them together, but it would totally work.  Love the little vintage floral!  Anytime you want to weed through your fabric stash, Jenny, just let me know. ;)

What's for Dinner... and Breakfast
I made some fantastic barbecued chicken in the crockpot yesterday, and I wanted to share the recipe, which I cobbled together.  In former times, I may have just dumped a bunch of Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce on the chicken and called it good (and there's nothing wrong with that, if that works for you).  But as you may know, I'm trying to eat less sugar and refined stuff, plus I am gluten and dairy intolerant.  I know there are others who may have similar issues.  Even if you do not, this goes together in under 5 minutes and tastes wonderful!  So good, I also had it straight out of the plastic container, cold, for breakfast this morning.  It's one of those things that is even better the second day.

But before I get to the recipe, I have to tell you something.  My husband, when it comes to chicken (let's get that clear before I complete the sentence), is strictly a breast man.  In all the years I've known him, I have yet to see him eat any other part of a chicken, or turkey for that matter.  He claims it's the only part he likes.  End of story.  

So I sort of tricked him with this chicken dish (though I haven't fessed up to it yet...well, except for admitting it here to the entire internet), because I made it with chicken thighs.  Shhhh!  I thought for sure he'd notice something "fowl," but I was willing to take that chance because all it would mean was more leftovers for me.  See how that works?

So when I asked how he liked the chicken (with as much nonchalance as I could muster), he said it was GREAT!  He ate his shredded on sandwich buns, I ate mine with rice, with steamed asparagus on the side.  Yep, it was a winner of a chicken dinner!

I will tell him...eventually.  I'm going to make it at least one more time before I do, though, and see if the response is still the same.  Then I'll give him the full disclosure.

And let me apologize here for what may be the most unappetizing food photo in the world, but it was an afterthought, right before the leftovers went into the fridge.

(Now, even with those prettier dishes and photos above, what do you want to bet this'll be the photo Google/Blogger features in the preview?) 

Crockpot BBQ Chicken 
1/3 c. tomato paste
1/4 c. soy sauce (I used low-sodium, gluten-free San-J brand Tamari)
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce (Lea & Perrin's is gluten-free)
2-3 cloves minced garlic
1 t. dried onion flakes
1 T. honey
1/2 c. water
1/2 t. black pepper
1 t. smoked paprika
1/2 t. dry mustard
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
1-2 t. chili powder
1 pkg. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (6-8)

Lay chicken in crock pot. (I used a brand of chicken with "Healthy" in the name—sorry for lack of specifics—which I found at Walmart, which packaging said there were no additives and the critters had all led happy and free lives before they came to live in the refrigerator case of the big box store...or words to that effect). 

Whisk all the above ingredients together and pour over chicken.  Cover and cook on Low setting for 4-6 hours.  (My generic crockpot cooks a little faster than most, even on Low, so it was already falling-apart done after 3-1/2 hours, but I let it go for a total of 5.)  Serve as is or shred for sandwiches, if desired.  Enjoy!

The chicken dish was my Favorite Thing this week, so I'm linking to Favourite Things Friday.  And I think the Dresden, though not much, is still something to Whoop about!

Favorite Things Friday ~ Downton Abbey

Season 2 of Downton Abbey is well underway on PBS's Masterpiece Classics, and that is my Favourite Thing this week!

This means you will find me tucked under a quilt in front of TV at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night, unless I have procrastinated on getting my weekend work done, in which case I'll be gone doing that, but then later in front of my computer watching it online.  But I digress.

For those unfamiliar with the series, it is a period drama that takes place in the early 1900's around the time of the first world war.  The Masterpiece synopsis says it better than I could:

It's 1912, and life in the Edwardian country house of Downton Abbey is idyllic and bustling for the Crawley family, aided by their cadre of servants. Robert, Earl of Grantham, his American heiress wife Cora, and their three daughters, along with Robert's mother Violet, have lived largely uncomplicated lives. But the sinking of the Titanic hits home in an unexpected and dramatic way — Lord Grantham's heir, James Crawley, and his son Patrick have perished. It's personally agonizing (momentarily) for daughter Mary who was supposed to marry Patrick. On a grander scale, suddenly all the predictable succession plans have gone terribly awry, and unheard of questions now loom large — Who will be the new heir to the earldom? And what will happen to this distinguished estate, now in jeopardy?

I love a good costume drama, and this one ranks right up there with many other BBC produced gems, like Pride and Prejudice, Cranford, and Little Dorrit, to name a few.

My favorite character in Downton Abbey is the Dowager Countess Violet Grantham, played by Maggie Smith.  It is such a treat to watch such a master of her craft, sprinkling her peppery lines on what might otherwise be a bland scene.  Watch her here in action and enjoy!

Favorite Things Friday - Thrift Score!

It was a good week for thrifting, despite the frustrating experience described in yesterday's rant.  At a different thrift store on Wednesday, I hit upon several really cool things, and those thrift scores are the subject of my Favourite Things Friday post this week!

First up was this vintage Stetson platter, which dates to probably the late 1940s.  It appears to be hand painted.  In fact, it looks like one of the stems is missing the rest of the leaf.  Maybe that's the way it was supposed to be, who knows?  And whoever might know the name of this pattern, please tell me.  I did some brief research but didn't come up with anything definite.

I love the colors!  It's in really great shape too, no cracks or crazing.

Sometimes it's nice to be on eye level with the higher shelves on the racks at Goodwill.  That's where I spotted six of these Missoni for Target mugs!  I bought every last one.  I may sell a set of four on eBay and keep the other two for us to use.  I could not believe my luck finding these.

In the fabric area, there were multiple yards of a couple vintage pieces.  This flannel:

And this funky-fabulous turquoise, pink, and green piece: 

Underneath it is an aqua colored vintage muslin flat sheet which was still in its early 1970s package.  It's a poly-cotton blend, but it feels pretty stable.  I'll wash it a few times and see how it goes.  I'm hoping it will work as a quilt backing.  If not, I'll just use it as it was intended.

I also scored a new queen-sized bed skirt and matching pillowcases still in the package.  I thought the pattern would go nicely with a scrappy quilt and the dark wood in the bedroom.

I *heart* thrift store shopping, and a fun day of finds is one of my favorite things!

Pop over to Quilting in My Pyjamas to explore some fine folks' faves and link up too, if you're inclined!

Favorite Things Friday ~ Pins

I suppose the more accurate, fancy word for them is brooches.  But I have a hard time with the word brooch.  For one thing, it doesn't sound like it looks, although why that should bother me, I don't know; the entire English language is filled with words that don't sound like they look.  

So to keep it simple, I just call them pins.  I like them.  They're my favorite thing this week!

I'm not big on wearing jewelry, in general.  I wear no rings, and necklaces only occasionally.  I'd rather put a pretty pin on my sweater.  Here are a few from my jewelry box.

A lot of these are old, as in outdated (maybe most), but I still keep them.  I wore the pink one on a fuchsia sweater set to work last week.  It's one of my favorites.

Some are old, as in antique.  This one on my wool dress coat, for instance, came from my late mother-in-law.  

The green one is also one of my favorite antique pins.  It the only one I've bought from an antique jewelry vendor.  

None of these are expensive.  I just like them for one reason or another and have kept them to enjoy now and then.

If you're old enough to remember the late '80s or early '90s and big, poufy shoulder pads, you might also remember pins that looked like medals.  Was the military look in back then?  All I can think of is Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation.  I played the heck out of that CD.

The fish pin is another from my mother-in-law, but it's not that old.  I love the colorful enameling—cloisonne, if you're fancy.  (Miss Jackson, if you're nasty... I've got that song lyric in my head now.)

The swan pair is a set I think I got for Christmas probably 30 years ago.  Does that make them (and me) antique too?  Don't answer that!

Here's another real cheapie (but blingy) snowflake from mom-in-law.  No, I haven't pinned the family pet, silly, that's a fake fur collar on a sweater vest.

That's it for my last Favourite Things Friday linkup of the year.   Thanks for visiting!  Feel free to head over to Quilting in my Pyjamas for a look at other fab faves!

Edited to add:  I just had to add this.  Still love it!  I like her pins too!