Saturday, October 30, 2010

IT'S A CHILLY CHILI DAY-GREAT RECIPE FOR HALLOWEEN!

Start with 2 pounds lean ground beef and one package of beef kielbasa sausage
Brown in a cast iton skillet (I use my Great Grandmother's pan)
While the meat is browning, cut up two yellow onions,2 green peppers, 2 red peppers )grown in the USA preferably-unless you live in another fine country with good agriculture rules),5 cloves garlic cut fine, 5 ribs of celery (I like using the middle ones), Take cooked meat and put in large crock pot or large simmering pan, Put vegies in cast iron pan and saute, then add to meat along with the tomatoes -sometimes I add frozen corn though I didn't this time
Add one can of mild chilies for flavor and as many jalapeno's as your family can take-I only used a tablespoon of them cut finely-we are wimps
Add two cans (not the little one shown-bigger)of tomato sauce, two cans of Italian chopped tomatoes, and two cans of the petite cut tomatoes
Vegies, don't they look pretty? And do they ever add flavor
Ok, I add alot of stuff for flavor- I usually add about 2 teaspoons of each except the pepper. I only shake out a nice amount and with the beau monde I can usually use more-I just cook like my Grandma and add until it tastes good=then add 3 beef bouillion cubes and 2 cups of hot water-we don't drink here at the house but if I had leftover red wine, a little would go in also Worchestershire sauce is delicious in every kind of stew or chili-a must! And a good healthy pour of about 3 tablespoons or so of honey-it makes a huge difference! I also threw in a bit of tabasco but kept it light for my family. I like what it does to chili-read on and see what my husband said.
After all of this is stirred up, then add these beans and a package of chili mix. It sounds like alot but it is well worth it! Now, when I dish up the chili, I serve it with crushed tortilla chips, olives cut up, sour cream (low fat), sharp cheddar cheese and cut up avacado.
You can put the leftovers on baked potatoes and it is like a whole other meal and you can share with your friends, neighbors or family. I am taking half of this to Montana to share with my Aunt and my cousin along with cornbread and maybe cider. Bon Appetite!My husband said to tell you it was delicious but he liked the sour cream because it cut the heat-if you love heat then add some tabasco to your own dish of chili
VEGETARIAN? I make a good soup style chili without meat that is delicious and just right if you don't eat meat. I don't eat much of it and my daughter works for an organic healthfood store. I make it like this and instead of meat, I add cut up red potatoes, a small head of cabbage shredded and cut up carrots. I happen to love turnips in there as well but not everyone loves turnips. It is just as good and fits the bill if beef isn't your thing. :0)
Winning Fabric- if you did not read my posting about God's amazing design, please do and if you comment you will be in the drawing for fabric-I am choosing 6 names out of a hat or someone here is.......we do this very fair.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Part 2-Tahoe has so much to offer and beauty isn't the only plus there

Our friend Candy from Oregon did a story quilt. I think it was her Grandmother that used to say "Full Moon, Full Moon, Fill My Empty Purse." She has the yarn, the books, the cat and dog and nothing but fun and happiness and a memory saved for generations to come. I think this is a true winner for so many ways. If you have a story, make a quilt! By the way, the money on the quilt above is from fabric. Candy did not print her own money. :0)
Below,Tina is working on a Flower Power quilt so she can teach it at her local shop. Loved the colors and the fun-isn't that bird a riot? She has been doing Hoochy things for a long time and she is good at it and the story quilts she makes.
In case you missed the last post, one of my classes had a friend named Cherise who moved to Tahoe and suggested another get together. She made the arrangements and contacts and joila! A week to remember. Thank you Cherise!
Kathy C. worked on her Halloween cat quilt with hoochy pieced stars-very vintage and funI loved the border in Candy's story quilt-I think her flower pot is excellent and fun!
I have never seen such clear water as at Lake Tahoe-all the way around you can see the bottom and it is so lovely.
This is a quilt I am working on about my family flying to South Dakota for vacation one summer
This room was so colorful with everyone's projects and it looked sad when we all left
Below is Miss Candy putting her GrandMother together for her wonderful story quilt! Below are Mel's blocks for a cowboy quilt-Her Dad always calls the little kids "cowboy" and so she took that theme and is doing a wonderful story quilt of memories
Below is Deb's stash to work with. She is the tidiest quilter I know and always has a fab stash too!
This was the beginning of Molly's wonderful Halloween quilt- she ended up doing hoochy letters all the way around the outside and it made this a cool quilt to be used over and over!
Here are Kathy C. from Atlanta and Candy hard at work....and in the back De and Sue
Kathy Sandling with one of her beautiful Flower Power blocks
Linzee packs up to leave on the plane to Iowa.
Every one of these girls makes dozens of quilts a year and do alot for charity. It is lovely to be together with people who have good hearts, find the positive in each other, refrain from gossip,
appreciate others, bring recipes, love family,stay positive, love God's gift of beauty in nature, give freely (information, borrowing and a neat fairy gift that doesn't have to break the bank), laugh, enjoy invention, love "aha' moments, and just enjoy being. And you know, a hug and a backrub now and then was pretty special too! What else could you want?
Is it any wonder I had a nice time too?

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Part I- A Reunion at Lake Tahoe with Friends (Classmates) from the Past-Perfectly Wonderful in Every Way


So, last week fifteen nice girls all got together for a Mary Lou reunion class. Our friend Cherise moved to Tahoe and suggested we have a class reunion to get everyone together again. I loved the idea.
It is always easier if someone gets the group together and does the leg work and then I show up.
All of these girls have taken several story quilt classes. It was great fun being together with all positive NICE girls who had a ball sewing and laughing and enjoying our passion for quilting, fabric and joyology.
The block above is a piece from Cherise's story quilt about a girl and her collections.
Here is our happy group all together and hoping to do this again sometime.
Below is Candy's wonderful dog quilt! Her dog and husband love it!
Below is Debby's quilt of wovens and some prints...I love this and want to make one too! Think of this quilted with cool quilt things on it!
Kathy is making three of these quilts for friends-the centers are polka dots-hand dyed-I want on her list!Here Miss Deb suggests we replace our tiaras with a daisy........hmmmmmm
Below is Kathy's quilt which I took before she made more changes-it is a story quilt about her dogs, her garden and a blimp-Kathy S. also did all of the flower power flowers in great fabrics!
Here is Carol working on one of the many projects she brought. Carol does many good deeds and makes charity things as well as darling things for herself. Isn't her smile enchanting?
Here is Deb's story quilt that is all ready to go with the freezer paper fitting the places perfectly. Now she will take each piece and iron it on the right side of the fabric and stitch! Wonderful! Here is Lynn having a granola bar for a snack-she is cute even when she eats-note the leopard skin pin cushion- it is a fairy gift from Tina (who had a gift a day for us)-she out did herself Is it any wonder we love the Red Hut in Tahoe? They are joyologists too! This is the ice cream section of the restaurant.This is Judy at the Red hut-Judy is a story quilter and does many other quilts well and she is a total ham and she really makes me and all of us laugh!
Here is Linzee with her flower quilt all put together and sewn and ready for the borders.
Molly did the Happy Jack quilt in the background and she did the hoochy lettering that will be in the "Out of the Box Blocks" book by Mel McFarland and I in July!Linzee added a lovely border and it makes a lovely finish to this great quilt!Mel's Flower Power story quilt that is a gift for her sister! Lovely
De shows off her baby quilt she made- darling use of fun fabric! De's a dollThis is Sue with her computer bag she made with all of the bells and whistles
Carol made many sets of these darling little booties for a baby and family in crisis Lynne, Nancy,Kathy C. ,Candy and I went for a walk...beautiful day, happy girls!
Debby shows off her Kaffe quilt and the other side was equally as wonderful
Surprising Cherise with a photo of her working on a project
Miss Tina provided us with cherry napkins-guess who loves cherries!

By the way, if you live close to Wisconsin, Michigan etc., then next October I am doing a five day story quilt class on Madilyn Island in the Apostle Islands in Northern Wisconsin. It is going to be beautiful there and I will have all kinds of new ideas and things to show! Watch for information here soon.

Monday, October 25, 2010

This says it all doesn't it?

This week we had a class reunion for 14 people who took a class from me a long time ago. It was fun to be reunited. Carol Baker and several others in Tahoe (where the reunion was held) found this darling pattern and made it. I didn't make one but I sure to like it.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

This is what a good swap can create!

Quilt above by Mari Linfesty using the Flower Power book....and look what she is using for her borders below! This is what Mary Lou's chatroom swaps are all about! Well done Mari! So I often talk to my students about what all they can create using the Hoochy/flower power books. And I give patterns out sometimes for fun. Well, in my chatroom, I gave out a bee pattern and 12 girls signed up to make 12 bees and to swap them. Then the idea was to make a one of a kind quilt with the bees. Mari Linfesty my friend who I often brag about took her 12 bees from chatroom friends and bordered the quilt above. I think it is wonderful! We just completed sign up's for fall Owls from a pattern I gave out. In a couple of months or so, I will have a winter pattern to hand out. If you are interested in our fun and most creative chatroom, You may join us by going to Yahoogroups.com and typing in Marylouweidman or MaryLouandYou. And give Mari a big hand for being quick and creative and fun!
Please read the post below for great information, something to think about and a chance to win something if you comment.