Singer

My husband got me a new fancy camera for my birthday.  It is way too much technology for me, but it does take great pictures!  He was testing it out while I was quilting and got some great photos of my Singer 99 hand crank.  A class 99 machine is a 3/4 size of a class 66.  My Redeye and my lotus decals are both class 66 machine which means all three machines take a class 66 bobbin.

Look at that cat hair!  I need to dust!

The camera takes great pictures!  The picture from the other day with me and Cupcake was also taken that day.

We spent Saturday in Branson playing miniature golf and shopping.  I found a huge fabric store I will need to visit next time we are in Branson!  My birthday is actually today, but he gave me my camera early!
Missy

Canning Jar Blocks

I signed up for a another block swap months ago and in true procrastinator fashion, I waited until the last minute to make my blocks.  I worked on them all week and Saturday I had to cut some more black (it had to be Kona black to match everyone else's) and would you believe I ran out of black and was short by two blocks being able to make three sets?!  Since it was Saturday night I could not get any more fabric until Monday morning.  So sad because I really want a big variety of veggies and fruit!
I sent in four brussel sprouts, four carrots and four peanuts to make two sets of six, a total of twelve blocks.

 That leaves me two completed sprouts and carrots, with six cut peanuts, and two cut carrots and sprouts and some other small pieces cut out.  I totally forgot that I also have a lot of oranges fabric!  I think after I get my exchanged blocks back I'll have to see if anyone wants to trade for any of these blocks because I still have uncut fabric of all three also.

I sewed my blocks on my Singer 99 hand crank sewing machine.

 I set up in the living room because right now my sewing room is a mess, I will actually be staying home on Saturday so I can clean it up and maybe work on some sewing!

Have a nice day everyone!
Missy

Bible Tote Bag

 I finally finished my Bible Tote bag!  I started it back in April before we moved.  You can see it here.  I started writing down the directions, but lost them in the move.

 For some reason, when I sewed the inside, I must have cut it wrong because it is smaller then the outside of the bag which makes the sides wonky when filled.  But that's okay, I still really like it.  I can keep my notebook for ladies Bible study, spiral notebook for prayer requests, and my hymnal for church and of course my Bible and Bible highlighters all in my bag!

I love this print material I found, it is so much fun!

I have to share this picture my husband took of Cupcake and me, she loves sitting on the back of the chair.

 All of the cats like the back of the chair and as soon as I stand up, one of them sits in the chair.  I love the look on Oreo's face!

Missy

Blue Ribbon Baking From a Redneck Kitchen

I was sent a cookbook to review this time!  It is Blue Ribbon Baking form a Redneck Kitchen by Francine Bryson.  My husband actually looked through it before I did and he asked me to make the crock-pot pull-apart monkey bread.  The recipe calls for biscuits and is very easy to make.  It was nice to be able to have the meatloaf in the oven and dessert in the crock-pot at the same time.  I made it for dessert for lunch after Bible Study on Sunday.  I programmed my crock pot to cook on high for two hours and then it automatically turns to warm.  I forgot to take it out until after we finished eating and it burnt, but everyone still loved it!  I forgot to take a picture until after we had eaten some of it - LOL.

I can't wait to try the chocolate cobbler or the peanut butter, chocolate, bacon pie!  I think this is a very good cookbook for desserts, it has everything, cookies, pies, cakes, cobblers and more!  You can find more information on the book here.

Chris bought me the programmable crock-pot because I kept burning stuff in the crock-pot when I would work late!  I'm the only person I know who can burn stuff in the crock-pot!  Yesterday I made my classic roast and potatoes and of course that turned out great.  I'm still looking for more recipes though, I have not been thrilled with the ones I have tried so far, so if you have any suggestions please share!

Missy

 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

So true!

Need I say more?

Missy

Ecclesiastes 3:12-15
12  I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15  That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Courthouse steps

I finally finished the August block for the Sew Sweet Bee. This block is for Nanette at Freda's Hive.   I feel really bad that I am so late with it!  However I am glad that I finally had time to do some sewing, even if it was just one block!  The problem is that I leave for work around 11ish, so in the morning I get busy and forget to to quilt, then when I get home I'm too tired to quilt or I have "homework".  I really like this block and want to do one sometime.  I am really enjoying teaching though, I have really missed it!


I had to take a picture of my Muffin and Pippi all curled up together on the bed.  I really need to put a quilt back on the bed, it's getting cold now!

What is the weather like where you live?  It was cold the end of the week and is starting to warm back up now.

Missy

New Basket Block!

 I got another block from the Sew Sweet Bee!  I am loving the fabric everyone used!  This one came from Nanette at Freda's Hive.  She makes the cutest things on her blog!  She also sent me a little treat bag with some 2 1/2 inch blocks and strips and other fun stuff!

I could not help but take a picture of Custard, she looked like she was posing while sitting there!

Have you ever made a basket quilt?  This will be my first!

Missy

Question for you!

I am trying to get caught up on my block from last month for the Sew Sweet Bee, this one is for Nanette and she is making a red and white courthouse steps quilt.  She asked for one side to be red with a fussy cut flower in the middle.  I had the perfect material for the flower!

 and the other side to be white or light.  Do you think there is too much green in the cherry?  I still need to pull three more fabrics for it.

Here is her sample block:

Any suggestions would be helpful, I'm always so scared of messing up someone else's block!

Missy

When is a cake not cake?

Or when is dirt not dirt?  When it is dirt cake!  This is one of my most favorite recipes, good old fashioned Southern dirt cake!  This is the first recipe I put in my cookbook when I was 16!  I got the recipe from Mrs. Virginia Cook, a dear sweet lady from my church.

Dirt Cake
1.  Mix together:
     1 8oz package cream cheese
     1 stick of butter
     1 cup of powdered sugar
     1 small container of Cool Whip

2.  Mix together in a separate bowl:
     1 small package instant vanilla pudding (last time I used white chocolate, or plain chocolate is also         good.)
     1 1/2 cups cold milk

3.  1 package Oreo cookies
      - crush in food processor (or ziplock baggie using a rolling pin)

*  Mix 1 & 2 together.  Keep Oreos separate.  Layer the filling on the bottom and Oreos on top, one after the other.  I made a total of four layers, make sure you end up with cookies on top.

*  This looks really good either topped with gummy worms or in a flower pot with a fake flower stuck in it.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Missy

A little sewing here and there

This cute cat planter was in a "mystery box" I bought at an auction.  I have been super busy with school work so I have not had hardly any time for sewing.  When I saw this cat I knew I wanted to make it into a pin cushion.  It has been three weeks and so far it has not happened.

 I had a leftover piece of fabric and batting from my cat quilt, so I literally just shoved it in there for now!  LOL  I'll sew it up one day!

 Monday I was able to get two blocks sewn on my scrappy trip around the world quilt.  I got another two sewn up one evening this week.  That makes four more done.  I think I only have 15 left to sew!

I went to sit down to write my blog post and this is what I found.  They are so cute!

I hope you are having a great day!

Missy

With Every Breath

I love Elizabeth Camden, she is a great author!  I have several of her books.  I read With Every Breath  and I could not put this book down!  The underlying story is about tuberculosis and a doctor who is fighting to find a cure for it in the early 1900's.  I really learned a lot about this disease that I did not know before.  Of course you have to have romance and Elizabeth does not disappoint!  Kate and Trevor are being brought together but Kate has misgivings.  Can they admit their true feelings or will an unseen threat destroy them first?

I highly recommend Elizabeth Camden's books to read!
I found the book at a good price here!

Missy

This book was provided to me for free to review by Bethany House Publishers.

The Pursuit of Tamsen LittleJohn

I just finished a book by a new author for me, Lori Benton.  The name of the book is The Pursuit of Tamsen LittleJohn.  It is a very good book and I really enjoyed!

It is about a young lady who is being forced to marry a man she does not know.  Another man she has just met helps her escape.  For the first time Tamsen has a chance to learn who she really is.  Does she want to get married and who does she want to get married to?  What does she want to do with her life?  Does she want to be a the wife of a rich plantation owner or a penniless trapper?  She learns to lean on God for her direction.

You can read chapter one here:  http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/SneakPeek_PursuitofTamsenLittlejohn.pdf

I found a good price on the book here:  http://www.christianbook.com/the-pursuit-of-tamsen-littlejohn/lori-benton/9780307731494/pd/731494?product_redirect=1&Ntt=731494&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP#curr

I recommend getting the book for a good read!

Missy


 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."