Weekend so far....

Last night I made the most delicious biscuits....

 Becky's Biscuits

2 cups self-rising flour

Cut in -
1/4 cup Crisco (shortening)

Add -
A dollop of sour cream (about 1/3 cup)

Stir lightly then add enough milk to make a semi-sticky dough. DON'T OVER STIR!

Dump out onto a floured counter and kneed about 5 times; flatten to about 1/2 - inch thickness and cut with a biscuit cutter.

Bake in a 450*F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Our dessert was a biscuit with honey. We received this bottle of honey in a barter of sorts - Garlic for Honey. The Honey is AMAZING as well.

Speaking or barters - Wednesday I will be meeting Tracy from Our Simple Life in "REAL LIFE" to swap a jar of my Chow Chow for a jar of her Rum Apple Butter. We "met" because we connected through Rhonda's blog Down to Earth . So two South Carolinian's are meeting because of a blog out of Australia - small world huh? Should be loads of fun as we are meeting at Zesto's for lunch - good food and a new friendship - AWESOME! THANKS RHONDA!

This morning Scott and I went to the All Local Farmer's Market on Whaley Street in Columbia, SC - just across the Blossom Street bridge from Cayce. We took the camera but were having so much fun and were so enthralled with it all we forgot to take any pictures while there. We will definitely go again - hopefully next Saturday. I did take a photo of our "bootie" that we brought home...

Two types of humanly raised pork sausage; pimento cheese, two types of feta cheese, a mesculan mix, a head of lettuce and a half dozen of ginger snaps. The atmosphere was so much more fun than the local grocery store and the conversations that occurred were wonderful. No one will hardly speak to you in the grocery store. It was just so refreshing talking to the people that actually MADE the product(s) that we were buying. Next time I will take some photo's to share. And if you live in the central part of South Carolina you should attend one Saturday morning.

Potholders and Blackberries

Insul-Bright as it comes from the store.

Squares of Insul-Bright waiting to be made into 8 potholders - 2 per potholder

My first potholder; waiting for a square of batting to be added to the center before I close it up and stitch around the edges.

I am really enjoying making these potholders and yes one will be for ME. Perhaps I will make one to match the project for my friend as well.


This morning I decided to move a raised bed that wasn't producing a thing by the fence next to the driveway. I've moved it to the front yard and filled it so I could plant the blackberry plants that I got from Gurney's in that Grab Bag. I think the Blackberries look quite happy now...

Along the front of the bed I transplanted some straggly looking mint that was growing in this bed when it was by the fence. As soon as I can I want to add a top dressing of more dirt and manure but I will wait a bit to give the blackberries a chance to settle in.

Memorial Day at Mom and Dads

I had to work this morning 5 to 10 and so Scott did all the driving and I napped on the way up and a little more on the way back from my parents' place. I got a few picture's of some of the children and then the rest of the time was spent eating and chatting with family we have not seen in awhile. It was a good day!

Phoenix (My Brother Jack's youngest child)

Abby ( Jack's daughter)

Dougie (Jack and Nichole's Oldest - recently graduated kindergarten)

And the teens - "DON"T TAKE OUR PICTURE GIRLS!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kandise (Sister Hazel's daughter) and Kayla (Brother Charles' daughter)

 

Somehow I missed getting a picture of our youngest little fellow - Austin (Charles son). 

 

My sister Robin and Family were not there and were missed.

OH..... OH.... OH....

Before I forget today is the day I got Scott to pull a comment from a basket and.....

Drum Roll........

CONGRATS HEATHER!

If you will email me your address at playsinsoil1ATyahooDOTcom I will get it right out in the mail for you.

Duplicates

Today I bought some patterns at Jo-Ann Fabrics while they were 5 for $5 - thats right $1 a piece. Well when I got home I found I all ready had this pattern in my pattern stash and I did think about taking it back; but then I decided it would be more fun to offer it up as a give-a-way and this time it's open to everyone. So just leave a comment if you would like a chance to win this pattern. It is a size L - XL. LET THE FUN BEGIN!

I'll draw a winner on Memorial Day - Monday.

Lovely Outcome

Do you all remember the BUTT UGLY peachy fabric from this previous post? Well Diane in Maine worked her magic and sent me back the cutest fluttery little bag with many interior pockets for the odds and ends that we all carry in our bags and then can't locate because they've all "hit the bottom". 

I think it's an adorable Summer bag... now to make some clothes that it will go with; but no more peach - I'll focus on the other colors. Perhaps a sweet little white or purple sun-dress.

Diane also sent me some cute Eye Spy squares for that swap that we are doing together. 

I just realized I sent an 8" square instead of an 81/2" square to Diane and Carrolyn - I'll remedy that and send an extra 8 1/2" square to each the next go around. Diane sent 3 of each size so I owe her more squares too. Perhaps I will cut a bunch of squares today since I'm not up to anything to strenuous after yesterday's bout in the yard.

AWA Meet

We only sold a few things but all in all we had a wonderful time and so enjoyed the time together in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Antique Wireless Association Meet.

All anxious to get in the gate and set up....

AND THEY'RE OFF!

This is the lot from the Motel's back door.

It's a ship... no it's a clock... wait... it's a radio

Our friend Gerald with his "red wagon"

OH LOOK! James Brown!

Interesting!

I'm sure Scott will post more on his blog as I know he went "inside" and took photos of the "SHOW PIECES". Some real beauties to be sure all restored and looking brand new. We talked about all the families that sat in front of these old radios and listened to the WWII News and Reports. AMAZING! (Not James Brown to be sure but many of the others).

A FULL DAY of sewing

I've been in my sewing room ALL day!

This is where I started this morning a little after 10 o'clock; a few blocks nearing completion from another day and LOTS of strips and quite a few 8 1/2-inch paper squares waiting to be combined into these strip pieced blocks. I had to cut even more strips to reach the end of Roll Roll Cotton Boll Step 3.

This is all that remains of my strips tonight and here is what I accomplished....

32 BLOCKS.... Yes - I completed the remaining needed for this step. Tomorrow I will trim them to a perfect 8 1/2" square and add them to these....

for a total of 60 BLOCKS! Then on to step 4 which is MUCH easier and less time consuming. I'm almost to the half-way point in this Mystery and am getting so excited to see what mine will look like. Right now I'm exhausted!

 UMMmmmmm.... I didn't wait for morning - now I REALLY must get to bed. I'll remove the paper in the morning.

Progress on the mystery and OH WHAT A LOVELY SURPRISE

Before I went into work today I was able to get part 2 of the Roll Roll Cotton Boll to the point of pressing open and you can see the progress  in this photo as well as the strips I've been cutting from some neutral creams and whites for Part 3 of this mystery.  So much fun! Today Bonnie revealed what the quilt center will look like and it just makes me want to hurry up and get to that point. I'm planning to use this quilt on our bed. I'd love to have it completed before January 15th.

When I arrived home from work I was greeted with a tremendous surprise. Scott had installed the new fixture in the dining room and I'm thrilled with it. The light is so bright I could stay up all night quilting. I've been cutting at the dining room table these days as it's warmer in there than in the room I use for a sewing room. Mostly because we use a little electric space heater in the room we occupy the most (the living / dining room); to compensate from keeping the heat set at no more than 65* .

I had planned to stay up until midnight and welcome in the New Year but I was asked to work 9 to 3 tomorrow so I better turn in a bit earlier than planned. We went ahead and popped open one of the bottles of Champagne and announced... HAPPY NEW YEAR! At least I'm getting a few more hours and that will help with buying groceries. I also plan to sew tomorrow when I get home as they say what you do on New Years Day is what you will be doing all year long - sewing and working sounds good to me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

Fall/Halloween FUN!

I thought I'd share some picture's of some of my nephews and niece. I see these 3 the most the rest are leading VERY busy lives so I don't see them but about once a year. Kinda sad really; but I will enjoy spoiling these three for as long as they will let me. I wish I got to see the rest more often.



Dougie wearing his Spider Hat that I'm sure he created in school - he recently won an Art award and will have a "show" at his school featuring his Art work.



Abby - being a Super Model - HEY TYRA! - Check this future "America's Next Top Model".



And then there's our WILD-MAN in a pair of skelton PJ's that he refused to take off even when the sun came up.



These 3 are my brother Jack and wife Nichole's kiddos and we love them to piece's!