Reservoir Improvement

The reservoir right outside my windows is being improved upon today.  They are building up the barrier today.

Can you make out that wooden fence about the middle of the photo?

This will make the area deeper.  In the background you can see the river rushing over the boulders beyond the waterfall.

In this shot you can see Little Falls rushing with whitewater today.

In our back garden some flowers are starting to bloom.

And here the greenery of the tulip leaves are sprouting.  All sure signs that spring is on its way.

Lovely day here today with sunshine and nice temps.  My windows are open for the comforting breezes today as they have been for the last few weeks.

Have a good day.

Some of My Quilted Art Works

I thought I would post some pictures of some of my quilted art work thru the years.

I enjoy making seasonal art works like Autumn Wind which I display over Halloween and thru the fall.

Birches By the Sea (51 by 41 inches) is a large artwork that hangs in my bedroom.  Its the last thing I see at night and the first thing in the mornings.  I just love this huge work.

In many of my works I add a fairy or two.  I adore fairies and love adding them to my works.   You can find two of them here in Birches By the Sea.

Another favorite of mine is Carousel Prince.  I have always loved carousel horses and at one time had a rather large collection of carousel figurines.  I have very few displayed these days in my small apartment, but this Prince  (31 by 39 inches) I will always keep.  I won a blue ribbon for this in a Texas quilt show.

This Hummingbird wall hanging was my first venture into Replique (upside-down applique) and I fell it love with the technique.  It, too, took a blue ribbon.

This Cat Under the Birches is another Replique wall hanging.  In spring I display these smaller ones on my front door.

A full view of the cat.  As you may have guessed, I also love birch trees and use them in my works when I can.

I don't just do artworks, I also designed a Big Pocket Tote and have made some for friends as gifts.  This one I made for a gal who loves snowmen.   There are two huge outer pockets and 4 to 6 inner pockets depending on which way I wanted to go.   The patches on both sides of the big pockets are snowmen.  I made another for a friend who loves Holstein cows and her pockets feature those.

I am displaying this one on my door right now because Easter is next week.  Another Replique project.

I like to make miniature quilts as well.  This one is made with hexagon stars. I love the technique and since I have always loved kaleidoscopes (I have only 2 left from my collection I'm afraid) this suits my need.

Another love of mine is Victorian Ladies along with Victorian Architecture.  I may not be able to build a house, but I can make Victorian Ladies.  This is one of them.

This Replique is in tribute to my corgi Penny, who left this Earth for a trail Over the Rainbow in December of last year.  I miss her dreadfully.

I will have to come back another day and show a few more of my art works.  My days of large bed quilts are over.  I do not have the space nor the tables I need to make them.  In my years past I think I have made at least one bed quilt for each of my relatives along with Holiday quilts for close family.  These days are reserved for smaller projects like door hangings, totes, table runners, and a few small things I give as gifts at Christmastime.

Have a good day.

Perfect Mashed Potatoes

If you hate the lumps and the gumminess that some mashed potatoes have, then you need to make your potatoes this way.
You will need Russett potatoes
Unsalted butter,
Half and Half, or cream, or milk with an addition of some sour cream for creaminess
Salt and Pepper to taste.  Some folks do not like the black pepper showing so you can buy white pepper if that bothers you.
Tools you will need besides a pot and potato peeler are:

A wooden spoon, old-fashioned masher, whisk, paring knife, butter chunks, half and half and a bowl so you do not mash in your pot and ruin the coating.  Also a serving spoon.

You can exchange the half and half for cream if you like added richness or you can use whole milk and a spoon or two of sour cream.  Try them all and see what you like best.

I start by peeling my Russetts and washing them.  I use Russetts because they are never mealy.   Slice them lengthwise and then cut them in angles about 1 1/2" to 2" big.

This is how I slice mine.

  Place them in a pot, add cold water just to cover them...

and add 1 teaspoon salt to the water.  Bring to a boil then turn down the heat to medium and boil gently for about 10 - 12 mins.

Use the sharp tip of a paring knife to test for doneness.  If the knife enters smoothly, the taters are done.

Turn off the burner.  Drain the taters thru a colander.

If you do not want to ruin the coating on your good pots, be sure to have a large bowl handy.  Heat the bowl on the stove for a minute or two.  You want some heat to evaporate the water in your taters.  If you are not worried about your pot, place it back on the burner (unlit) and that will work just fine.  Add the drained taters.  With a wooden spoon, stir and break up the taters while they evaporate.

Whichever way you choose, the step here is to evaporate as much water as you can. Use a wooden spoon to stir and break up the taters as they heat.  

When the taters are dry as you like them, remove from heat and mash.  Work it like a clock.  Start at noon then mash down once at 1 o'clock, then again at 2 o'clock, then once again at 3 and so forth all around.

I like to go around a second time.  No lumps.

Add the butter and mash that into the taters gently.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Now its time to add the liquid.  I heat about a cupful of half and half in my microwave for 45 seconds.  Add some to the taters and with a whisk, whisk in the liquid.

Whisking in the liquid further smooths your potatoes.  When they reach the consistency you like, stop.  You are done. 

Never, never, never use a blender to mix them.  They will break up the cohesion of the taters and make them pasty or gummy.

Perfect Mashed Potatoes.  Serve as you like them, with or without gravy.  You can keep these in a covered container in the fridge for a few days and they will be fine to eat as leftovers.  Just add a bit of half and half or milk if they seem too dry.  Easy, peasy.

I often get asked to make my mashed potatoes for a pot luck or dinner.  You can have them all ready and put them in a crock pot.  Deliver to the site and plug it in on low to keep the taters warm.  They will stay nice and warm for serving thru the meal.  If you leave them plugged in over an hour, they will start to dry on the edges so either unplug for a while and replug later or if all have been served, just unplug the crock pot (slow cooker).

Enjoy!

Spring is Here but Snow is Still Falling.

We are having strange weather.  For a few days our temps were in the 50sF so there was lots of melting.

A view of the rushing waters over the boulders hidden below.  Our river is taking on snow melt from further north which from here runs to the open ocean about 12 miles away.

Our waterfall was running pretty full for a few days and the reservoir in the forefront was full to the brim.  

Then we got a couple inches of snow yesterday much to our surprise.  The poor robins that have been hunting over our lawns were out of luck I'm afraid.

As for me, I have been re-reading the Jan Karon series of books.  I haven't read if for some years and a friend got me the first 3 books in the series for my birthday last week.  I am enjoying myself immensely reading them again.  I have forgotten most of what happens so its like reading a brand new series.  One of the joys in my life is reading.

  Another is Britcoms and Brit Mysteries which I get regularly now that I signed up online for Britbox and AcornTV.    Both carry British series and except for maybe one or two, they are different from each site.  Now I do not have to wait for Sat. nites on PBS to watch my Britcoms.  I can watch them anytime.

My third love is my quilt projects.  I can no longer make the large bed quilts due to space and equipment which I lack here in my small retirement apt.  But I can make small items, like artistic door and wall hangings and tote bags and table runners and microwave pads, etc.  Those I can fit easily under my sewing machine and on my small kitchen table.

So one or the other keeps me off the streets every day and quite content.  I always have something to smile about. 

Have a good day.