Cats Have Dental Needs Too

Duncan likes to be held like a baby.  I mean, over your left shoulder, as if you were going to burp him. It's the only way he'll let you hold him, actually.  Last night I thought I'd pick him up and hold him while I was getting ready for bed and brushing my teeth.  Usually he'll just lay there and let me hold him, but last night he decided he needed to brush his teeth too.  

All I can hope is that he doesn't do this to the other end of my toothbrush, ever. 

The giveaway quilt is almost finished! It has helped me to realize how much I love embroidery, and how relaxing it is for me.

I wanted to keep adding and adding to this, but made myself stop after finishing the birds. It's now been quilted to prevent me from coming up with any more ideas of things to add, and it's the first quilt I've ever successfully stipple quilted too!  There was a lot I learned while making this, and I think that's a sign I need to make and giveaway a few more!

Dax the Snowbunny

I'm not saying that this is a professional quality video, or even a very good one by any means, but oh it makes me laugh.  Dax just LOVES deep snow, and he was more than happy to bounce through it the other day. Husband took a few great pictures of our little snowbunny, and I'll be sure to post those later.  Meanwhile, I hope you get a few giggles out of watching our pup!

Lazy Sunday

I love starting the morning off with vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon french toast....

And then working in time for quilting appliqué....

And buying new kitchen items just because they're cute.  

Plus, this little utensil crock made me realize I have seven wooden spoons, and I have no idea where any of them came from, or how they made it to my kitchen. 

What on earth do you do with seven of the exact same wooden spoon?

Memphis- It's Warmer Than Where I Live.

That was the main thing on my mind as we walked around downtown Memphis on Saturday. Being able to wear a coat, but no gloves, hat, or Appalachian hiking boots was awesome. 

 We decided to explore the city after a lunch of a-maz-ing BBQ:

The wife of one of the restaurant owners just happened to be dining near our table, and she took us in back to show us where they smoked the meat.  Let's just say three words I would use to describe that experience are huge, greasy, and delicious.

During lunch we began discussing the song "Walking in Memphis", because we were questioning some of the lyrics.  Particularly where myself and a friend thought the words were, "Walking with my feet ten feet off the pier".  It's completely wrong, but not quite as bad as "We built this city on broken glass"- which is what one of my old roommates used to think the words were to "We built this city on rock and roll".  

So after googling to correct lyrics, we learned it was "Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale", and made up our minds to go find Beale Street, and the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.  

We were awe-struck to actually see the hotel in person, rather than rely on the images we had grown up with in our history books. 

Beale street had so much character....

Neon signs.....

Mose the howling carriage dog......

Crumbling building facades held up by a network of steel so as to preserve them.....

On the way to and from Memphis, I worked on hand quilting a quilt top I made last year, and just never found time to finish:

Not that I'll have time to finish now either, but I thought I'd try to make a little bit of progress!  I'll start working on Emily's mini family tree quilt as soon as I hear back from her, and of course I'll post pictures of the quilt during it's creation. But now I'm off to make a tutorial for Lollychops on how to use freezer paper to make quilt appliqué!

And the Winner Is...

Oh the anticipation!  The excitement! The... the... I don't know!

I've been trying since 7:30 AM to write this post!  We left for Memphis, TN around 7:00 AM, and my mind was frozen from taking the dog for a walk in the -10º Indiana weather.  After realizing what I had forgotten to do, we spent most of the trip looking for areas with Wi-Fi, to no avail.  McDonald's, Starbucks, and a gas station all proved fruitless, and my iPhone was less-than happy with Blogger.

BUT- WE HAVE A WINNER OF THE MINI-FAMILY TREE QUILT!

After numbering all your comments and giving those who blogged about the giveaway extra chances to win- the winner is Emily, with the names Adam, Emily, Gianna, and Sehla!  Congratulations, Emily, and I will be in contact with you as soon as I return home!

Thank you to everyone who entered, and I do hope you'll stick around for future giveaways! 

And the Countdown Begins...

It's not too late to enter for the mini-family tree quilt-  I have had so much fun reading all of the comments and names you have left for me! I will choose and announce a winner on Friday, and then start your quilt on the long drive down to Memphis, Tennessee.  If anyone has any "you must go here" advice, I'd love to hear it!

Thank you for all of your advice on the sticker removal!  I received a few emails about using things such as peanut butter and olive oil too, but I decided to tempt fate with an ancient bottle of Goo-Gone.  I figured I would try it on one patch, and then try someone else's remedy on another patch.  

But, lo and behold, it worked, and it didn't even make the bright red color fade or run.  I still want to try all of the suggestions that were sent my way, and I'm sure I'll have the chance! After the disaster was averted, I cut up a few more scraps of fabric and sewed a couple of courthouse blocks:

And what's better to end a night of sewing with than a root beer float (in the dead of winter, mind you)?

But of course, there's someone who decided that all of the attention can't be on sewing and ice cream eating:

He's weird, but at least I'm pretty sure he knows it.

So Very Excited....

Wow!  That's about all I can say at this point!  It is so wonderful to read all of your great comments and visit your blogs and websites!  I am itching to get started on this mini-quilt giveaway, and I'm debating about whether or not to do two or three instead of just one....

Until I can get started on that project though, I'm cutting all of my pieces for our quilt top:

I'll be very glad when I have enough scraps to someday make a large scrap quilt instead of buying yardage.  Mostly because I don't appreciate when this happens:

I purchased a quarter flat at Joann's, and now I can't get the stupid sticker off.  Please help if you have any remedies for getting rid of this sticky gunk!  If you do, I may give you the recipe for a piping hot bowl of "Baked Potato Soup", complete with bacon, cheese, green onion, and of course, potatoes.

Now this is off subject, but I have to share a picture of Dax with his best friend ever, Charlie. Charlie lives across the street, and they love to do things that all dogs do, but playing tug-of-war is their speciality.  

Someday I hope to be able to post a video of Dax running across the street to go see Charlie.  My neighbor and I check the street for cars, and then I open my door and Dax runs as fast as his little bunny legs will let him to go play with Charlie.  

Hilarious, I tell you. 

Molten Cake

If you haven't discovered this delicious gooey treat yet, just google "molten cake".  I assure you that you'll be checking your cupboards for all of the necessary supplies to bake one (or four) after that.

We just had to make some up the other night:

I dust the dishes with baking cocoa so that they come out easier:

I wish I had a picture of the finished product to show you, but Husband and I inhaled our cakes faster than the camera could *click*. 

I promise this won't become a baking or cooking blog, but there are a few recipes that I think I have to share with you- I wouldn't want anyone to be deprived of molten cake! Just be sure to only cook it for the minimum amount of time (unless it looks way to gooey for you).  The more it cooks, the less "molten" your cake will be!

I will have a few sewing projects to show to you tomorrow, but right now I just want to remind you to register for the giveaway!  And note that if you blog about it, you will get 5 extra entries- and an extra treat in your package if you win!

Bourbon Slush!

Okay, it was requested by Dozer that I hand over the bourbon slush recipe.  I made you a fun little recipe card- although it isn't nearly as cute as the ones Lollychops makes! Although I haven't tried printing it out yet to check the size.... I suppose I should do that.

I am not responsible for any embarrassing stories that may occur after partaking in said bourbon slush! But feel free to blog about them so that I can say "See honey?!  I'm not the only one that does that!"

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!  And of course your fuzz butts should be on the quilt too- they are a big part of the family.  Now I'm even MORE excited to make the mini-tree quilt!  Remember that you have until January 16th to enter... and I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you blog about the giveaway!  Maybe I'll add another way you can earn entries  every day.... hmm... sending me chocolate will always work. 

Maybe another way you can enter is by volunteering to sweep all of the Corgi and cat hair off of my couch.  This is what Husband and I come home to most every day:

I think it's called "if we sit here and stare out the window long enough, maybe they'll come home".

How can I be mad at that face for shedding 24/7? Oh that's right, I can't be. 

Family Christmas

We headed up to northern Indiana on Friday night for a family Christmas that was on Saturday. Husband took a few pictures of my parent's house the night before the mayhem began.

I like this one because it just looks so warm inside...

And then there was Saturday- filled with tons of food and bourbon slush.  Bourbon slush is just amazing-I-need-three-glasses-of-this goodness.  I have a friend who introduced it to her family, and now they have it at all of their family gatherings. 

 

Instead of the usual name-drawing that occurs each year, we decided to each bring a few presents and then play games to win them, after drinking most of the bourbon slush.  About 20 minutes into a "game" of mass confusion, Husband ended up with earrings, and I ended up with batteries, which my Grandfather was very proud of bringing, apparently.  I think Dax hid upstairs during most of the games, because I'm sure his poor huge ears just couldn't handle our loud mouths!

I wish I had a picture of the family tree quilt I posted about last time.  *sigh*  After I gave it to my Grandmother, I had an "oh crap" moment, where I realized I had forgotten to take a picture of it. I'm sure I'll get one eventually, but until then, you'll just have to be surprised at what the mini-quilt looks like if you win it! 

Giveaway!

The guilt of not posting after mentioning a giveaway has finally gotten to me... oh the shame.  I promise there is one though!  I got a bit too busy with last-minute Christmas gifts that turned out to take a lot more time than I expected.  An entire quilt in three days?  All done by hand?  With everyone in the family's name embroidered on it?  Ah, why not!?  Nuts, I tell you.

Anywho, I would like to make a mini-family tree quilt for you too!!  All that you have to do is leave me a comment that lists all of the names you would like to have on the quilt.  You can enter up to three times, and you can enter on behalf of one other person also.  I mean, think of the brownie points you can earn here, geesh.  I'll give everyone (who ever may still be there after my hiatus, that is)  up to two weeks to enter, and then pick a winner randomly. Good luck!

Until then, I shall be having fun with a few books from a co-worker,

and, finally delving into my stash of favorite fabrics....

I can't wait! 

UPDATE:  Entries for this giveaway will only be accepted until 12:00 AM, January 16th, EST.