So Close...

I'm nearly there! Once I complete this part, I'll choose the fabric for the Monarch's body and draw it onto the fabric so I can stitch it. 

I still have a body from the class I took with Owen to use as the padding, which will cut out that step, but I'll still need to stitch the cover for it. 

I best not get ahead of myself, though. First things first, and right now, I'd better get ready for work so I'm not late.

Can you believe it's the last day of June already? We're half way through the year, and I still have so much to do!

 

Homemade Maraschino Cherries...

Such a simple recipe for big results. I pressure canned maraschino cherries. I saw bags of fresh cherries last time I was in the grocery store, so I bought a bag.

The recipe was easy. 1:1 water:sugar ratio, plus lemon juice, and vanilla for the syrup. Then add a small piece of cinnamon, three whole allspice, and a splash of almond extract to each jar before filling with pitted cherries.

Bring the pressure canner up to full steam and let it vent for ten minutes. Put the juggler on the vent, and once the gauge is up to 11 psi, set the timer for ten minutes. Then remove from heat and wait for the canner to depressurize. By bedtime all the jars popped.

Now I have these jars of tasty cherries for Wisconsin-famous Old Fashioneds (Handsome makes delicious mixed drinks on the rare occasion I indulge), or even better, in or on homemade ice cream!

I accomplished other things this weekend, too, so I'll share more tomorrow. 

Sunday Scripture...

1 Corinthians 3:16

 

Saturday Silliness...

Repurposing...

Years ago, I received this corgi piece from my dear friend, Denise. Originally, there was a candle that revealed a corgi necklace when it burned down. I still have, love,  and wear it.

Now I'm thinking I'd like to turn this container into a pincushion. I already have an idea for it, so I'll work on it this weekend and then show you what I've come up with next week.

Turning it into a pincushion will make it a useful tool that I'll always have handy when I'm stitching or sewing. I'm looking forward to this!

 

June Classmate Dinner...

Back row (l-r): Dan, Brad, Deb B, Handsome and me Front: Bruce, Deb N, and Lisa

Handsome joined us again this month for dinner. As always, we had a great visit, and shared events since our last get-together.

One of our regulars, Cal had surgery last week, so he continues to heal. We'll see him again next month.

I made two dozen cinnamon rolls, and with the exception of the four I kept at home, sold almost all of them to my buddies. Deb B. was so enthused, she opened her duo and tore one apart to let everyone know they were tasty. 

I was originally going to bring one two-pack back home until our waitress asked if I had any left because they looked so good. She ended up purchasing my last pack, so I came home with an empty tote. Yay, me!

I'm going to work on my Etsy shop today. My plan is to update current listings, and add a new category or two. I should have new items up by the end of the day. 

Now I'm going to pour a cuppa, feed the birds, and then get busy. See you later!

 

Baking On A Rainy Day...

As I write this, there's a gentle rain falling on the fields surrounding Hickory Hill. The birds are singing, and the crops are lapping up every bit of it. The forecast predicts this will continue all day.

This photo is from a previous baking marathon day, but I'll be making more warm cinnamon rolls just like these.

This afternoon is our monthly classmate dinner, and it was requested that I bring more frosted goodness to sell. So, I'm already in the kitchen with a fresh cup of coffee and cinnamon on my mind.

I wish you a day filled with wonderful things. I'll be back tomorrow with photos from my day today. 

I'm Getting There...

I managed to do a little needle dancing over the weekend, too.  I actually did the right top edge of the upper wing twice! 

You see, I'd thought I'd completed the area with the rusty red color until I stood back and assessed it. In fact, it looked as though the wing might belong to a different butterfly. You know what that meant, right. 

After I'd frogged all that area, I went back to redraw it. Then I began again...and was much happier with the results. Now I can proceed toward finishing this wing part, and I'll have more to share with it very soon. 

Well, not tomorrow actually, because I'm working today. I'll see you tomorrow though. Have a great day!

June ATCs...

I created my artist trading cards for June's swap over the weekend. This month's prompt is "Key".  You know how I love to think outside the box, and this month was no exception.

I immediately thought of Francis Scott Key writing the Star Spangled Banner, and decided to make him the focus of my cards in honor of our Nation's 250th Anniversary. These will mail out today, and I'll get back to my Monarch.

 

Sunday Scripture...

2 Corinthians 5:7

That'sMe!...

If you're looking for me, I'll be needle dancing...when I'm not spending time with Handsome and "the girls".  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

Second Try Success...

Our local Piggly Wiggly store is having their anniversary celebration sale. I needed to pick up a few things and saw a great price for chicken breasts, so I bought two large packages.

I canned them yesterday adjusting proportions, layering and how much I put into each jar to avoid ending up with underfilled jars. It worked like a charm. Just look at these jars.

Now we have seven more pint and a half jars of soup/stew/potpie/filling, ready to heat and eat. 

Teeny Tiny Stitches...

...take time.

 

Work went well yesterday, and I was busy the entire shift. I brought dinner home with me, and Handsome and I had an early meal after I changed from my work clothes into "home" clothes.

After dinner I made the mistake of putting my feet up and enjoying a hot cuppa. You know what happened next. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I spent the balance of the evening not stitching. 

I have a normal day today, meaning I'll get some needlework time in, too. I'll definitely make progress to share tomorrow.

Well, I got a last minute request to work today from one of my coworkers. I had PT in the morning, so I told her I'd only be able to help if I could start at noon. She worked from ten until noon, and I got there as soon as I could after my appointment. 

That meant no stitching all day, but I did manage a few hours while Handsome was at band rehearsal. I drew a few changes on the fabric to coordinate with the other upper wing. I'll be able to look at the other wing as I work this one. The markings don't have to match, but I try to get them close.

I'll be working my regular shift today, so I'll see what I can do after I get back home. I'll definitely be ready for a little needle dancing by then.

Three Done. One To Go...

It was a busy weekend at the farmhouse. I baked bread and rolls, we did some work in the yard, and I completed the third wing part for my butterfly.

I have PT this morning, but when I get home, I'll be starting the last wing part. I have a quieter week this week, so I'll have more stitching time. I'm hoping to finish the last wing part and then work on the body for my Monarch. 

I also decided to participate in the artist trading card swap for this month. The prompt is "key". I have my idea, so all I have to do is execute my vision. I'll do those this week, too, so I can mail them out.

Here's hoping we all have a creative and happy week. I'll be back tomorrow .

 

Sunday Scripture...

 

1 Corinthians 16:13

Good Morning...

My Views Yesterday...

I was making great progress, as I sat in my favorite stitching spot. This wing part will be completed soon.

I take frequent "stretch" breaks for the benefit of my legs, back, and hands. Sometimes I get up and make a cuppa tea (or grab a snack), and other times, I stretch in place and check to see what's going on outside our dining room windows.

Yesterday, I was looking out the window more frequently because we had storms rolling through and it got really windy and rainy. I noticed movement in one of the dark tracks you can see in the field. At first I thought I was seeing deer because of white tail flashes. I was wrong.

Handsome grabbed our binoculars and we realized I'd been watching two foxes playing with each other. Even as it started to rain, they continued running up and down the right side, chasing each other. It was adorable! 

Coincidentally, I'd also seen gophers running around in our yard, and had really just been wishing we had foxes.

I hope they're denning nearby, because those gophers are digging holes in our yard. You can just imagine how that could harm Bella or Carly if they stepped in a hole while running around. They could do catastrophic damage to a leg or foot.

I think these critters might be the perfect meals for the foxes, and a much better alternative to us trying to get rid of them (the gophers, not the foxes). I think we need to put up a sign saying, "Foxes Welcome". In the meantime, I hope they'll continue to hang out nearby!

Good and Plenty...

 

It was a very productive day yesterday! I canned Breakfast in a Jar (BIAJ), as well as ingredients to make a favorite sandwich (Emeril's Kicked Up Stuffed Garlic Bread), the venison that started all this, and finally, onions, and small jars of onion/green/red peppers for future use.

I'm disappointed that my quart jars of raw peppers, onions, and Italian sausage reduced to only half-full after they were processed. They were crammed full beforehand. They've all sealed, so I know they're safe, but I'll need to do something different next time. 

All in all, there are 3 quarts of Emeril's Garlic Bread Filling, 4 quarts plus 2 pints of BIAJ, 3 pints of sliced onions, and five small jars of onion/pepper mix. Everything sealed already, so I'll remove the rings, wash my jars, and place them on the pantry shelves. 

Today will definitely be a stitching day. I need a rest.

Breakfast In A Jar...

These are most of the ingredients for my current canning project. I also have bulk Italian sausage that will be browned and added to each jar. I'm making quarts of Breakfast in a Jar from My Basic Homestead on Instagram. I've been following her for a while and really like her recipes.

This is the recipe I'm using (in case you'd like to try it yourself), but I'm omitting the eggs. I'd rather add fresh eggs later when I prepare the jar contents for a meal.

I know that it doesn't take long to make this meal any day of the week, but I don't always have all the ingredients on hand. This way I can be assured of a tasty breakfast or brunch anytime, just by pulling a jar off the shelf.

I'll process these jars  along with the venison pints I prepared on Monday. They'll time out the same in the canner.

It got into the 80s yesterday, so I didn't want to heat up our non-air conditioned farmhouse. I'll do this early today before the temperature rises today, and will have them out of the canner by mid-morning. First my morning cuppa, and then I'll tie on my apron and get busy. See you tomorrow!

 

Enjoying Life...

 

I'd love to think this could be me, but who am I kidding? In case you're curious, yesterday morning began with me in the kitchen making two dozen homemade stuffed oreos to take to the physical therapy staff. (They were a huge hit, too!)

When I opened the little fridge to put the dough in to chill for an hour, I saw the venison loin I put in there to thaw on Saturday...and completely forgot. Soooo, once the dough was in the fridge, I had at least an hour to deal with the venison.

I sliced it into medallions and then browned it with onions and placed them in jars. I didn't have time to run the canner before PT, but I wouldn't have lit up the canner for three pints. I put the lids and rings on them and put them in the fridge until I can properly can them after work today.

After PT, I ran to the grocery store. I needed a few things for something else I'm going to can so the pressure canner gets filled. I'll tell you about it tomorrow. 

Instead, I made a batch of cinnamon rolls last night. Two 2-packs are going to my coworkers, another 2-pack to Andy and Shelly, and a 2-pack for Handsome and me. It was a good day (and night).

I work until 4:30 today, and then I'm going to do my batch of canning. I can't wait to tell you what I'm making to fill up my pressure canner! See you tomorrow.

Oh, and maybe this image will be my life next year. For now, busy suits me just fine. 

Working On Wing Part Three...

Even though my orange silk thread arrived, I need to work my way up to those areas first. I made great progress when I worked on my third wing part over the weekend, and am expecting to complete it soon.

I have PT mid-afternoon today, so I'm baking cinnamon rolls to take with me for the therapy department personnel. I'm hoping to do more needle dancing when I get back home.

I also work tomorrow, and I'll be doing more canning in a few days, so I'm looking forward to a fun-filled, productive week. Come along, and I'll happily share it all with you!

Sunday Scripture...

Matthew 6:26

Yes, You!...

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I'm Back In Business...

My order arrived right on time, so I'll be able to continue work on my Monarch butterfly.

The best part is that there was no discernible difference in color. Great news considering I purchased my threads in 2019!

I've been taking it easy the past couple days because my shoulder and arm have been giving me grief. That's why I've been going to physical therapy. We've determined nothing is torn - and thankfully, my shoulder joint looks great in the xrays - but some days it still hurts like the dickens, and no medicines help. So, on those days, I rest. 

The strangest thing is that it never hurt the days I was busy canning, or the day after, so the amount of activity isn't necessarily the culprit. Yesterday was a good day again, so needle dancing won't be an issue, and neither will work for a few hours tonight.

No time to feel sorry for myself. Now that my thread arrived, it's time to get busy again! Happy Weekend!