HALLOWEEN CALLS FOR BLACK CATS AND PUMPKINS

 Its Halloween time and time for fun with wallhangings or in my case doorhangings.

I find my ideas in many places.  Sometimes from kids' coloring books, sometimes from greeting cards and sometimes from other patterns that have something I can use.

This is coming along nicely.  I have all the bits tacked into place but the larger task is the satin-stitching around all the pieces.  This is my "Halloween Kitty in a Pumpkin Patch."\

This is my "Halloween Bats Aloft."

I hope I can at least make a start on this one before Halloween this year, but if not, next year will do.

I got a recent idea from a comment on a TV show.  The question, from an old Match Game program, was "It was so cold last night this morning my goldfish were wearing.......blank."

The first thought in my head was Earmuffs.  So I did a drawing of 2 in a bowl wearing earmuffs.  That will do for a winter door hanging, like my birds with their mufflers.

I will post a picture of the Goldfish for you soon.

Other good news for me is I am holding to my new eating plan pretty well and keeping those pounds off my waistline and elsewhere.  If I indulge a little more than I should one day, I cut back the next.  So far its working for me.

Keep a positive thought for me I remain faithful.

Have a good day.

MY LATEST DESIGNS READY TO GO

IT'S FALL ALREADY AND TIME TO GET BACK TO MY SEWING PROJECTS.

SINCE I HAVE LOST 20 LBS IN THE LAST 5 WEEKS, I FEEL LIGHTER AND MORE ENERGETIC.  IT WAS ALL DUE TO A BROKEN TOOTH THAT I HAD TO WAIT ON TO GET EXTRACTED SO I LIVED ON SOUPS AND SOFT FOODS AND FOR MY PROTEINS ONLY SARDINES, POACHED EGGS, AND TUNA SPREAD.  AFTER A TOUGH TUESDAY MORNING AT THE DENTAL CLINIC TO HAVE THAT ONE EXTRACTED PLUS A ROOT FROM A TOOTH LOST 4 YEARS AGO, I HAVE TO ADMIT TO FEELING WEAK AFTER EATING SO LITTLE PROTEIN.  BUT NOW I AM BACK TO EATING BETTER, IF A LITTLE CAREFULLY FOR NOW.

WITH THAT NICE LOSS OF WEIGHT, WHICH I WANT TO KEEP OFF FOR GOOD, I HAVE COME UP WITH A NEW EATING PLAN PLUS A DAILY EXERCISE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD HELP ME.  FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS NOW ITS GOING JUST FINE AND I DON'T FEEL HUNGRY YET FEEL LIGHTER AND BETTER ABLE TO EXERCISE.  PLEASE KEEP A GOOD THOUGHT THAT I CONTINUE.

NOW BACK TO MY SEWING........I HAVE DRAWN A COUPLE OF SKETCHES ON PACKING PAPER TO MAKE 2 HOLIDAY PROJECTS.  I LIKE TO KEEP MY ORIGINAL SKETCHES IN CASE I WANT TO WITH MAKE ANOTHER PROJECT WITH THE SAME CHARACTERS IN SOME FORM OR OTHER. 

HERE IS MY KITTY IN A PUMPKIN PATCH.  I FELT I NEEDED A NEW DOORHANGINNG THIS HALLOWEEN.

AND THIS ONE....

THIS IS A BABY DRAGON THAT WILL SOMEHOW WORK INTO A WINTER OR XMAS SCENE. I JUST ADORE BABY DRAGONS.  IT WILL MORE PROBABLY BE FOR WINTER SO I CAN USE IT LONGER THRU THE SEASON AND NOT JUST FOR XMAS.

IT FEELS GOOD TO GET BACK MY SEWING MOJO.  IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.  I MISS BEING CREATIVE.  ITS PART OF MY DNA I THINK.

IN MY LITTLE GARDEN PATCH, THE TOMATOES ARE ABOUT DONE THOUGH WE HAVE NOT YET HAD A FREEZE.  YESTERDAY I ONLY HARVESTED 5 CHERRY TOMATOES AND NO SLICERS THOUGH THERE ARE STILL GREEN ONES GROWING.  THE NIGHTS HERE ARE DROPPING DOWN TO THE 40S SO A FROST MAY BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THEN NO MORE FRESH VEGGIES FOR ME.

HAVE A GOOD DAY EVERYONE.

ROASTED MY FIRST TOMATOES

My first batch of tomatoes was frozen yesterday.  The house smelled divine.

The recipe is simple.  

Wash tomatoes

Cut in Half.  If very large, cut in quarters.

In large bowl put tomatoes, adding crushed garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Stir gently.

On foil-lined cooking sheets lay tomatoes out skin-side DOWN.

Roast at 275* for one hour only.

Turn tomatoes so they are skin-side UP.  Very important for removing skins when done.

Roast another hour.

Lift skin off tomatoes with tongs.

The skins lift right off easily.  

Allow tomatoes to cool then place in freezer bags.

These are great added to tomato sauces, chili, casseroles calling for tomatoes and even eating as a side dish fresh from the oven.

ENJOY!

 

MY FIRST TOMATO HARVEST

 YES, I HARVESTED SOME TOMATOES AT LAST.

ON THE 12TH I HARVESTED THESE BEAUTIES.  THE LARGE ONES ARE ALL EARLY GIRLS AND THE SMALL ONE IS THE ONLY HUSKY CHERRY THAT WAS RED ON THE VINE.  

I AM A HAPPY GARDENER.

TOMATOES ARE PINKING UP

 FINALLY, THERE IS SOME PINK ON A COUPLE OF MY TOMATOES.

MY FIRST HUSKY CHERRY IS SHOWING PINK.

AND HERE'S A PINK EARLY GIRL TOMATO.

YES, ITS FINALLY SHOWING COLOR.  I EAGERLY AWAIT THE REDDENING.

WE GOT 4 1/2 INCHES OF RAIN THE LAST DAY AND A HALF.  THE RIVER IS RUNNING RAPIDS AND EVEN THE RESERVOIR IS CHURNING.  LUCKILY OUR RIVER EMPTIES INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN ABOUT 20 MILES FROM HERE SO I DOUBT WE WILL HAVE ANY FLOODING PROBLEMS.

THE SUNSHINE IS BACK AND SO PLEASANT OUTDOORS IN THE MID 70sF.  EVENINGS ARE STILL DROPPING TO THE 60s SO NICE WEATHER IN GENERAL.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

A LOOK AT MY 3 TYPES OF TOMATOES

 I TOOK A FEW PHOTOS OF MY TOMATO VARIETIES, THOUGH STILL GREEN, LOOKING VERY GOOD.

EARLY GIRL IS A SLICER.  THESE ARE LOOKING FINE.  I HOPE TO SHARE THEM FRESH WITH MY NEIGHBORS HERE IN MY APARTMENT BUILDING WHEN THEY RIPEN.

HUSKY CHERRIES ARE ABUNDANT ON THE VINES BUT STILL GREEN.

MY THIRD CHOICE FOR THIS YEAR ARE PLUM ROMAS.  THEY WILL MAKE FINE ADDITIONS TO CHILI AND MY TOMATO SAUCES AFTER I ROAST AND FREEZE THEM.

THIS WAS TAKEN FROM THE BACKSIDE OF MY SMALL GARDEN BED MEASURING ONLY 4 FEET BY 8 FEET.  THE PLANTS HAVE GROWN TALL AND ARE VERY GREEN.  I AM GETTING A BIT OF BLIGHT AT THE VERY BOTTOMS, BUT NOT MUCH YET.  MY TOMATOES SHOULD BE ABUNDANT BEFORE FALL THIS YEAR.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

JULY 27TH AND STILL NO RED TOMATOES

 Its July 27th here in southwestern Maine and still no red tomatoes in my garden.  I have lots of green ones coming.

Here are some Early Girl tomatoes.  Getting some good growth but still green.

I have been seeing a bit of early blight and have removed the leaves.  So far it's been manageable.

Here are more green Early Girls growing.

My Husky Cherry and Romas are doing well but smaller and still all green.  It will be nice to see some red ones soon.

I hope you are having a good summer.  Our days lately have been in the 80sF and 70sF in the daytime but drop nicely to the 60sF in the nite.  I love our Maine summer temperatures.  

As for rain, we have been lucky.  I watered my garden this morning for the first time in weeks.  We have been getting enough rain but not too much.

I am thankful so our forests are staying healthy and there is less danger of forest fires.

Have a nice day.