MY PINK IRIS GARDEN IS FINISHED.

It took me quite a while to get this finished, but I did it.  My "Pink Iris Garden" is hanging on my door at last.

PINK IRIS GARDEN.

It measures 20 by 22 inches.  It took me months.

Now I am working on my "Baby Dinosaur n Friend."

I took it to Morning Crafts this week for an opinion.  What should I add to the upper right-hand side, maybe a butterfly?  My neighbor suggested a dragonfly.  How appropriate.  So that will be added by next week, I hope.

Wish me luck.  Have a good day.

EASTER EGG TREE WH IS DONE

 I finished it just in time for Easter.  This is my door hanging, "Easter Egg Tree" 14 by 19 inches.  

I added a little fairy on the left by an egg.  Fairies are a favorite of mine and I often add them to my works.  I am pleased because now I can work on other things.  I have my "Pink Iris Garden" WH to finish and I am working on a baby dragon with friend rabbit WH.  I adore baby dragons.

It's very spring-like today hitting the 60sF and sunshine.  Love this weather.  

Have a good day.

CARDINAL WH FOR A FRIEND.

 I FINISHED A CARDINAL WH FOR A FRIEND WHO WANTED IT FOR A GIFT FOR HER COUSIN.

THIS IS THE CARDINAL  IT MEASURES 14 BY 16 INCHES.  

I HAVE FINALLY STARTED TO SEW FOR SPRING.  I ALSO WORKED ON AN EASTER EGG TREE FOR MYSELF.

I HOPE TO HAVE IT DONE IN TIME.

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE.

E-Z -UNIVERSAL 4-LAYER CASSEROLE

 ITS SO E-Z AND YOU CAN USE WHATEVER YOU HAVE ON HAND AND GET A NICE MEAL FROM IT.

THIS ONE IS 4 LAYERS OF GOODNESS. THIS RECIPE IS FOR AN 8 BY 8 OR  9 BY 9 DISH.  FOR THE LARGER 9 BY 13 DISH, DOUBLE THE INGREDIENTS. 

INGREDIENTS...

BUTTER OR SPRAY YOUR DISH.

LAYER ONE:

MEAT

1/2 TO 3/4 LB. YOUR CHOICE OF PRE-COOKED MEAT.  BROWN GROUND BEEF WITH ONION AND BELL PEPPER IF YOU DESIRE.  THE SAME FOR GROUND SAUSAGE MEAT.  BE SURE TO DRAIN IT.  DICE COOKED CHICKEN BREAST OR THIGHS AND TURKEY OR COUNTRY SPARE RIBS OR PORK CHOPS WHICH WILL WORK TOO.  YOU WANT ENOUGH TO COVER THE BOTTOM OF YOUR DISH.

LAYER TWO: 

YOUR STARCH

6 OZ. EGG NOODLES OR  8 OZ PASTA AS IN ELBOWS OR SHELLS.  PRE-COOK THEM TO AL DENTE STAGE AND DRAIN.  YOU CAN ALSO PRECOOK 2-3 DICED POTATOES, ADDING SOME MELTED BUTTER AFTER THEY'RE COOKED AND DRAINED. JUST POUR THE POTATOES OVER THE MEAT IN YOUR DISH. 

LAYER THREE:

YOUR LIQUID MIXTURE

IN A SMALL BOWL, CHOOSE 1 CAN OF CREAM SOUP AS IN CREAM OF CELERY, CHICKEN, OR MUSHROOM SOUP.  ADD 1/2 CAN MILK OR BROTH.  AN ADDED OPTION:  ADD 4 OZ. SOUR CREAM TO ADD TEXTURE AND CREAMINESS.  STIR TOGETHER.  POUR OVER THE NOODLES EVENLY. 

ATOP THIS LAYER ADD YOUR SEASONINGS AS DESIRED.  SOME GARLIC AND ONION POWDER, SALT, BLACK PEPPER, AND EVEN PAPRIKA.  WHATEVER YOU PREFER.

LAYER FOUR:

YOUR CHEESE TOPPING.

4-6 OZ. SHREDDED CHEDDAR, COLBY, MONTEREY JACK OR MOZZARELLA.  YOU WANT A GOOD MELTING CHEESE.  IF NONE ARE ON HAND, YOU CAN EVEN USE AMERICAN CHEESE SLICES.  BREAK THEM INTO THIRDS AND LAY THE SLICES ACROSS THE DISH EVENLY.

BAKE IN PREHEATED 350-DEGREE OVEN FOR 25 TO 30 MINS. OR UNTIL CHEESE IS MELTED.

OPTIONS:

YOU WANT VEGETABLES?  YOU CAN ADD DEFROSTED FROZEN AND DRAINED AND RINSED (TO WASH OUT EXCESS SALT) OR CANNED VEGETABLES LIKE PEAS, CARROTS, CORN NIBLETS, OR GREEN BEANS.  JUST POUR SOME OVER YOUR STARCH LAYER.

I USED CHICKEN, EGG NOODLES, CREAM OF CELERY SOUP,   AND CHEDDAR CHEESE FOR MINE.  IT WAS DECLARED EXCELLENT BY 2 NEIGHBORS WHO TESTED IT.

AN OPTION:  INSTEAD OF CREAM SOUP ADD A 14 OZ CAN OF DICED TOMATOES.  

THE BEST THING IS YOU CAN TWEAK THIS ANY WAY YOU DESIRE.  AND ITS EASY TO MAKE.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR CASSEROLE.

I FINALLY STARTED A COUPLE OF WALLHANGINGS.

 YES, I AM BEGINNING TO SEW AGAIN.  SO FAR I HAVE CHOSEN FABRICS AND STARTED TACKING TWO OF MY PROJECTS.

THIS IS A CARDINAL A NEIGHBOR WANTS AS A GIFT FOR HER FRIEND.  SHE WANTED TO COMMISION THE ITEM BUT I DO NOT DO COMMISSIONS.  TOO MANY IFS ANDS AND BUTS WHEN ONE PAYS FOR A WORK.  THEY DON'T LIKE THIS OR THEY WANT TO CHANGE THAT.  I TOLD HER I WOULD MAKE A CARDINAL FOR HER AND SHE COULD TAKE IT OR NOT.  MY GIFT TO HER.  I HAVE GIVEN OTHERS AWAY TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS HERE.  I DON'T MIND WHEN I HAVE THE TIME AND THE ENERGY.  NO PROMISES.

THIS IS FOR ME, AN EASTER EGG TREE.  LUCKILY EASTER ISN'T UNTIL APRIL 20TH THIS YEAR SO I HAVE TIME TO MAKE IT.  THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT SMALL-PATTERNED EGGS HANGING FROM THE BRANCHES, SORT OF A DRESDEN PLATE LOOK.

I HAVE ANOTHER, WATERNG CAN OF TULIPS WITH A BUNNY BESIDE THEM BUT THAT CAN WAIT.  ITS A GOOD ONE FOR SPRING AND I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THAT'S IT FRIENDS.  WISH ME LUCK GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF SEWING AGAIN.  

SNOW, SNOW, AND MORE SNOW

ITS FEBRUARY.   WE HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE SNOW.  THIS YEAR IT SEEMS THAT TWICE A WEEK WE GET FROM 2 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW HERE IN SOUTHERN MAINE.

LAST YEAR IT WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY WITH ONLY ABOUT 3 STORMS OVER 3 INCHES.  WHAT A CHANGE.

I HAVE BEEN IDLE FOR THE MOST PART.  I COOK EVERY WEEK AND ENJOY SHARING MY CASSEROLES WITH MY NEIGHBORS.  BUT AS FOR SEWING, ITS BEEN ON HOLD FOR A LONG WHILE NOW.  I JUST DO NOT HAVE THE URGE TO SEW LATELY.  I HAVE 3 PROJECTS ON THE DRAWING BOARD FOR SPRING, BUT HAVE YET TO START THEM BEYOND THEIR SKETCHES.

THAT'S IF FROM ME TODAY.  I HOPE TO POST MORE SOON.  HAVE A GOOD DAY. 

LATEST QUILT DESIGN IS A BLUEBIRD

SPRING IS COMING.  I NEED TO GET SOME SPRING WALL HANGINGS DONE.  FOR THIS PURPOSE I AM DRAWING SOME BIRDS.

THIS IS BY BLUEBIRD SKETCH....

I WILL BE CHOOSING SUITABLE FABRICS FOR THIS ONE.

I ALSO DREW A RED CARDINAL .

MAY WAIT FOR FALL TO WORK ON THAT ONE.  ITS MORE A WINTER ONE.

I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

ENJOY YOUR DAY.