Log Cabin Quilt - Repairs

Log Cabin Quilt - Before

I had written about this Log Cabin quilt earlier, when I first started to mend it, in August 2023!  Above is the photo I posted of the quilt, then, before I started mending it.  Below is the photo I took today, after I mended or patched over the majority of the torn pieces.  I say, "the majority" because, when I spread it out, I noticed that there was one blue square that needed to be mended!  LOL.  

Log Cabin Quilt - After

As I had mentioned in the earlier post, this was the second quilt I had ever made and it was done in 1977, when my mother, step-father, and I lived in Florida.  The individual blocks were hand pieced, using fabric I had on hand, including two of my blouses, two of my step-father's shirts, and a black floral print blouse (which has since faded to grey) I bought from a thrift store for a dollar or two because I wanted more dark fabric.  At the time I made this quilt, I had no spare money to buy new fabric, especially for a quilt.  When I ran out of blue for the light furrows, I used some pink fabric that we had.  After hand stitching all the individual blocks, I persuaded my mother to sew the blocks together in her sewing machine for me and she machine sewed the top to an old bedsheet which became the foundation for the quilt top, because, by that time, I had found out that traditionally, log cabin blocks were pieced onto a foundation fabric!  Oops!  It was a bit too late to do that, but, I tried to rectify it by attaching the foundation piece afterwards! 

I used a wool blanket we had bought in Hong Kong, in 1973 as the batting and one of my mother's cotton saris for the backing fabric, which also formed a border.  The sari fabric tore and I removed it several years ago, leaving just a very narrow binding.  I removed the blanket, too, as it, too, had torn, after many years of use.

True to my patchwork piecing "traditions" I used scrap fabric I had on hand for the new patches.  Most of the red fabric I had were Christmas themed fabric, leftover from some of my daughter's childhood Christmas dresses and/or what I had bought to make Christmas crafts and gifts.

I plan to put some new batting and a backing to this old quilt top, eventually.  But, that's another project for another day.

Today, I am grateful for:

- Old quilts made with fabric from old clothes
- My mother's help with putting the quilt together
- Memories of those old days - I won't call them the good old days because, in many ways, they weren't so good.  They were, actually, hard, difficult days, but, we got through them.  
- Being able to mend my old quilt
- Piecing new memories to the old quilt with each new patch

I'll post more pictures of the quilt once I've put a new backing.

On Wednesday

 

Osteospermum

The osteospermums are flowering.  They've sort of taken over this part of the planting bed where we planted some succulents!  The succulents are still there and you can see one or two of them under all the osteospermum!  

Once again, I've got my days and nights completely mixed up!  I went to bed at 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, so slept most of the morning, waking up once at 10:00 a.m. to take my morning medication and sleeping for another hour to wake up at 11:00 a.m. when my alarm went off.

Gardener friend M was here in the early afternoon to tend to the garden.  He had germinated some blue morning glory seeds which he shared with me, planting them in various places in the garden.  We are hoping that some of them will grow!  We had tried growing them a couple of years ago with very limited success.  

I skimmed the fat off the turkey broth and added a diced carrot, a small piece of tomato, a bay leaf (picked from the newly planted bay tree), some seasonings (garlic and onion powder, black pepper, half a green chili, and some lemon juice) and simmered everything and then, blended it smooth.  It's in the fridge waiting for when I might want to have some broth instead of ice cream after the oral surgery.  

I also continued to mend my quilt and I watched some online videos while I sewed.  

Brunch was a slice of bread with peanut butter, followed by grapes.  Dinner was chicken curry and indiappa (stringhoppers), with seeni sambol.  I had yogurt for dessert.  Daughter had banana bread for brunch and a banana.  For dinner, she had zuppa Toscana, followed by rice, chicken curry, and sauteed cabbage (and peach chutney).  She had another banana with peanut butter for dessert.  

On Wednesday, I was grateful for:

- All my blog friends who leave such lovely, kind comments 
- A warm, sunny day (high of 79F)
- M's help with the garden and sharing the morning glory seeds
- Water for the garden
- Online videos

My joyful activities included spending time in the garden, sewing, and watching videos.

Plans for Thursday include a fasting blood test in the morning.

How was your Wednesday?  What are your plans for Thursday?

February Grocery Shopping Part 4

I ordered and picked up groceries, today.  I double and triple checked to see if the correct pick up store address showed, both when ordering and when I replied to the order ready for pick up text to let them know that I was on my way!  Each time, the correct store address showed up and there was no issue! 

I wanted to get milk and half and half, some fruit, bread, the flavored sparkling water my daughter and I like (which keeps us both from drinking soda), and ice cream and gelatin for after oral surgery.

I also considered (very briefly) buying some unsalted chicken stock or broth for after the surgery.  But, the only unsalted stock/broth came in 32 fl. oz. cartons and the stock was priced at $4.65 and the broth was $4.99.  No, thank you!  Not going to pay that!  Instead, I pulled out a turkey carcass I had in the freezer, covered it with water, and kept it to simmer.  I will strain the liquid and keep it overnight in the fridge to separate any fat and use it to make myself some free broth!

The store was low in stock on two of the items I ordered (including the half and half) and I specified the substitutes for both, but, both original items were included in my groceries, so that worked out just fine.

I decided not to get the salmon I was going to buy, after all, so that will mean that this week's meal plan options will have to be revised a bit.  But, that's OK, too.  I was getting it for daughter's birthday, which is next week, but, she wants to wait until I've recovered from my oral surgery so we could both enjoy her birthday meal.  

Here's the receipt:

Order Summary

Original Item Total$49.78

Item Coupons/Sales-$9.80

Fulfillment Fee+$0.00

Other Fees+$0.30

Sales Tax+$1.36

Order Total$41.64

---

Item Details

13 Items

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

CA Redem Val$0.60

1 x $0.60 each

Edy's/Dreyer's Vanilla, 1.5 Qt, 48 oz$2.99

1 x $2.99 $6.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$3.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Fresh Bunch of Bananas – 5-7 Bananas, 1 bunch$1.86

2.7 lbs x $0.68 each (approx.)

Fresh Strawberries – 1 LB Clamshell, 1 lb$5.18

2 x $2.59 $4.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$0.80

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Item Coupon/Sale: -$2.00

Kroger® Grade AA Large Cage Free White Eggs, 12 ct$1.99

1 x $1.99 $2.99 each

Item Coupon/Sale: -$1.00

Kroger® Half and Half Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$5.79

1 x $5.79 each

Kroger® Lime Gelatin Dessert Mix, 3 oz$1.00

1 x $1.00 each

Kroger® Strawberry Gelatin Dessert Mix, 3 oz$1.00

1 x $1.00 each

Kroger® White Sandwich Bread, 20 oz$1.99

1 x $1.99 each

Ralphs® Vitamin D Whole Milk Half Gallon, 1/2 gal$2.99

1 x $2.99 each

Sparkling Ice® Summer LTO Lemonade Variety Pack (Pack of 12), 12 ct / 17 fl oz$13.99

1 x $13.99 each

---

Other Fees

$0.30

Bag Fee$0.30

3 x $0.10 each

My total came to $41.64.

My February grocery budget is $250 plus $57.42 carried over from January = $307.42

Total spent to date = $99.37 + $0.49 + $42.29 + $49.99 + $41.64 = $233.78

Balance left in the budget = $307.42 - $233.78 = $73.64

I don't anticipate grocery shopping again this week.  So, the balance of $73.64 will be carried forward into March and I will use it to stock up on some items for the pantry and to splurge on salmon for daughter's birthday meal.  

I'm grateful for:

- Being able to order groceries online
- Having the items loaded into the car for me
- The availability of groceries and sales/coupons
- A safe drive to the store and back
- Daughter helping to bring the groceries in

What do you think?  How are you doing with your grocery budget?

February Week 4 Meal Plan Options

 

Pork Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of my favorite things to make with leftover rice.  Especially when there isn't enough rice for two portions.  Somehow, by the time I add some frozen green peas and frozen corn, a grated carrot, a little bit of onions, the last bits of leftover roast pork, a scrambled egg, and a handful of peanuts, there's enough to make two portions of fried rice for us to enjoy.

Last week's meal plan options worked out quite well.  I didn't keep track of exactly what we ate, but, we kept to the meal plan options for the most part.

It's a new week and it's time to make a new list of meal plan options.  I am scheduled to have oral surgery on Friday, so, I am anticipating needing some soup and other soft food for a couple of days.

February Week 4 Meal Plan Options:

Brunches:  Leftover French toast (Monday); bagels; tuna salad or egg salad sandwiches; soup; yogurt; milkrice (on Sunday, March 1)

Dinners: Pasta with chicken (Monday; me; daughter had leftovers from her dinner out with friends from Sunday); Soup; Chicken curry and rice; Salmon with vegetables and rice; Mashed potatoes; Leftovers

Snacks/Desserts:   Tuna salad on crackers (Monday); peanuts; yogurt; fresh fruit/smoothies; gelatin dessert; ice cream; sugar cookies

I plan to order and pick up groceries on Tuesday and I will buy a container of ice cream and a couple of boxes of gelatin to have after my dental work.  

What's on your meal plan for this week?

When the Garden Gives You Lemons

 

Lemons

According to the famous saying, when life gives you lemons you are supposed to make lemonade.   But, when the garden gives us lemons, we like to share them.  Daughter picked two dozen lemons from this one tree to share with her friends when she went out with them on Sunday.  And I picked another two dozen or so of lemons on Sunday afternoon to share with one of my neighbors.  There are still more lemons on the tree!  I will make some lemonade with some of the remaining lemons and maybe some lemon marmalade if I feel up to it.  My mother used to salt and dry the lemons and make lemon pickle with the salted, dried lemons, but, neither my daughter nor I like pickled lemons, so, I don't make them.

Sunday was another lovely, sunny day, and it was warmer than it has been recently.  Daughter spent the day out with her friends, doing escape rooms.   I opened all the doors and windows to air out the house, took lemons to my neighbor, did a little more mending on the quilt, watched some videos online, read a bit, and watched the Olympics Closing Ceremony.  

On Sunday, I was grateful for:

- Lemons from the garden
- Being able to share lemons with friends and neighbors
- Daughter had a good time with her friends
- A sunny and warm day
- Time to relax

Sunday's joyful activities included sewing and watching the Closing Ceremonies.

Plans for Monday include a trip to the library to return a book that is due, meal planning for the week, and more quilt mending!

How was your Sunday?  What are your plans for Monday?

Peaceful Days

 

Monarch Butterfly

At least, I think it is a monarch butterfly.  This photograph was taken earlier in the month, on the 20th anniversary of my mother's death.  I started to write a post on that day, but, didn't get beyond the first sentence and later, I deleted it.

Butterfly on the Lantana

We had more rain on Thursday, but, it cleared in the early evening.  I had spent most of the day mending my quilt and watching online videos and news.  Later in the evening, I watched some of the Olympics coverage.

Aeonium Flower Stalk

Friday was a sunny day and, once again, I spent a good part of the day mending my quilt and watching online videos.  I also watered the indoor plants.  The rose cuttings I took didn't survive and I tossed them.  We will try again in the summer.  Gardener friend M was here to tend to the garden in the evening and he bought me a bag of potting soil and a bag of fruit tree fertilizer.  He weeded under the peach tree and fertilized it.  

Later in the evening, I cooked a chicken curry, sauteed curried cabbage, and rice for dinner.  I also made chocolate pudding (from a mix) for dessert.

The First Daylily

Saturday was another sunny day.  I did some "random acts of cleaning" and vacuumed the filters of the air purifiers - something which should be done on a regular basis, but, I haven't been doing.  Later, I vacuumed the living room and the dining area.  Daughter vacuumed part of the family room and cleaned her bathroom.  

I made French toast for brunch and we had rice, sauteed curried cabbage, beef curry, and peach chutney for dinner.  

I am grateful for:

- Butterflies and flowers
- Memories of my mother
- M's help with the garden
- Rain and sunshine
- Peaceful days

My joyful activities have included spending time in the garden, mending my quilt, watching videos and the Olympics games, and spending time with my daughter.

I've no special plans for Sunday.  Daughter will be spending the day out with her friends doing escape rooms.  I will continue to mend my quilt, do some reading and watch the Olympics Closing Ceremony.

Torn Quilt 

Just one of the quilt patches that are torn.  The fabric that is torn was one of my stepfather's old shirts.  I am replacing each torn patch with a new patch handsewn over it.  The pieces are 1 inch by 3 inches.  The smallest pieces are 1 inch square.  

What are your plans for Sunday?

We Had Rain

 

Raindrops on Aeoniums

We've had quite a bit of rain this week.  It rained almost all day on Monday and part of the day on Tuesday.  The garden got a good soaking.  Several roads and intersections in my neighborhood got flooded, but, we were okay.  I was glad that I didn't have to drive anywhere, though.  Wednesday was a sunny day, but, there is more rain in the forecast for Thursday.

Things have been pretty quiet at my home, so far, this week.  I've been taking it easy due to sciatica pains, doing minimal housework when I feel up to it.  My current project is mending an old quilt.

On Monday, daughter had the day off (Presidents Day holiday) and she did some cooking and I cleaned the kitchen a little bit.  In the evening, during a break in the rain, daughter took the trash cans to the curb for pick up in the morning.

I brought the trash cans back in on Tuesday afternoon, when the rain had stopped, and took the above photo of the raindrops on the aeonium plants.  There weren't any raindrops to be seen on the one rose that was in bloom, but, the rain had beaten down on the flower and it had gone from this:

Rose - Before the Rain

To this:

Rose - After the Rain

We had very heavy rain on Tuesday night, but, Wednesday was sunny.  Gardener friend M was here to tidy up the garden a bit and he did some weeding and clearing.  He brought us a slice of his homegrown pineapple he harvested:

M's Homegrown Pineapple

It was delicious.  I served him a bowl of the zuppa Toscana daughter had made and he enjoyed that.  

I baked another loaf of no-knead bread:

Bread

I really need to lower the temperature when I'm baking because my oven tends to get too hot!  

I also baked some sugar cookies:

Sugar Cookies

We had bread and beef curry for our evening meal and cookies for dessert!

Bread and Beef Curry

I am grateful for:

- The rain!
- M's help with the garden
- M sharing some of his pineapple with us
- My new Dutch oven to bake crusty bread
- Making cookies with my daughter

My joyful activities include baking and gardening.

Since Thursday is forecast to be another rainy day, I plan to stay indoors and do a few things around the house.  I have been tidying the linen closet, on and off, recently; maybe I'll finish tidying it on Thursday.  There is just one last shelf to do.  

How is your week so far?