Spring Cleaning

Today I was doing some tossing out. I came upon this old scanner. It almost made it to the trash until I remembered I needed a light box. I found the light stick among the garage mess. A pair made for each other! By the end of the weekend I intend to get my son to gut the scanner and install the light bar for a perfect light box.

pillow bracelet's

I was asked about the bracelet's by several people. While searching for quilted bed runners the matching shams were tied in by using strips of blocks. I'm trying to make my bed easy for the summer. I didn't want to deal with full shams every night to use the pillows.  I had strips of blocks left over from the runner so I decided to make them into "bracelet's"...my own name for them. They do look like bracelet's! I used a ribbon on the center and made it just a little smaller to pull the pillow in a little just for a different look. I used batting in these but I don't think they really need it. They close with velcro.

Here is Aprils Chicken just in time to lay some eggs for Easter Bunny.

Another look

When I went to put the runner on the bed this morning I noticed I had another look and even the pillow bracelet's when turned over matched. This look is actually more like the one in the hotel. Their runner was one piece floral.

Summer bed runner

I bought a new cotton blanket in blue and a dust ruffle for my bed to change it out for the summer. I can't find the bag with the newly washed new bed blanket and ruffle...hope I find it before the summer is over! So this is my winter green blanket with the new bed runner.

I like to tie the pillows in with the spread but I didn't want to deal with full sham's for the summer. I made pillow "bracelett's" for one feature pillow instead.

Sunday walk around the neighborhood

Texas Bluebonnets

Shabby Houses

It was chilly in Texas today after the huge storm we had. I watched a movie and then looked for something to do.

 I have been printing out a shabby house block of the month. I'm trying to get away from making large bed size quilts now. I still have one to layer and quilt and that's enough for right now. I recently bought a cotton flannel sheet blanket for the warmer summer weather. I thought I'd make a foot blanket to dress the bed up and some pillow cases and shams.

In my scraps bin I had one piece of Kona white. This will be the center of the foot blanket. It's needle turn applique and embroidery. I don't have my tiny iron or applique glue to work with so I did a lot of pinning today. I did find my case of silk thread. So here is my start. I'll be adding some kind of blocks. Maybe pin wheels or stars or log cabin.

Fresh ground meat....Review

The first thing I noticed was the color of the raw meat, something I remember from Philly when we went to the butcher shop and he ground it in front of you. There was no red liquid running all over. I made a small burger just to see if it tasted different.

I didn't have any "gunk" oozing out of the burger as I fried it. The meat was flaky and tasted GOOD, instead of the rubbery meat we have been eating for who knows how long.  Yes, I see a big difference!

Today is Dave's last dental appointment. We will go shopping for more meat to grind today. I have a vac sealer which is great. The meat doesn't get freezer burn. I'm going to grind packages of one pound and burgers. If I can get organic veal and pork, I'll make up meatballs. It feels great knowing we won't have any Pink Slime in our house!
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REVIEW

Sherry, I have that mixer but if you read the reviews on Amazon, that grinder has a problem. The gears shed metal shavings sending gray stuff into the meat. Those who have complained to kitchenaid were told it's safe to eat. After I read the reviews, what stuck in my mind was a mother who said she just didn't want to feed her family metal shavings.

When I lived in Lancaster I had a hand grinder and loved it. Now, with my hands always ready to stop working, it wouldn't be a good idea to use one. But they do work great! This electric grinder surprised me. I never expected it to grind the meat cubes in seconds. It was a little expensive, but Dave and I shared the cost. It will pay for its self in the end. By buying a large piece of meat we figured it cost $3.79 a pound compared to $4.59 for extra lean already ground with pink slime. The directions did say you can use stale bread to clear the grinder but I had no trouble cleaning it without the bread. It came with a recipe book. You can also grind vegetables, fruits and also make sausage.