Blog Anniversary and a Give Away

My blog,
Timeless Reflections,
has been my opportunity
to create an online diary.

Nothing earth shattering
or world changing.

Just a glimpse into me

my family,

my passion about quilt making

and life around me.

Writing is not my career,

and, yes,

the only C I ever received 

was in

Freshman Creative Writing at

Western Michigan University.

I appreciate all of you

for taking the time to 

follow along,

and leave a comment or two.

As a thank you,

it's time for a give away!

I have 3 origianal

booklets printed by McKim Studios, I think,  in 1931.

 I'd like to share these with one lucky follower.

These are a treasure with patterns, history

and the cutting edge of quiltmaking.

"The friend who sent us this lovely design to copy

also sent a helpful suggestion as to patterns:

She suggests using blotting paper

instead of cardboard for the cutting units,

as they stay placed so firmly on the cloth.

A wax crayon is excellent with which to trace

around these."

We've come a long way since then.

***

So leave a comment.

I'll draw the lucky winner next Saturday,

Sept. 1.

Thanks as always.

Just a side bar:

Notice how my hair style really hasn't changed 

since 1956!

 Until Next Time-
 

Tomorrow's, today?

When I'm working on a project,

 I try to mentally divide it up into doable sections. 

 I never have large segments 

of time to just sew.

 So I gather small slices of time through

 out the day and

 try and get my quota done.

 A typical day is NOT

completing the planned part

 and

then moving  it forward to another time.

 

 As Scarlet says, "There's always another day".

I don't put pressure on myself.

 But sometimes I do finish what I've had planned!

 Then I'm in a quandary.

 Do I do tomorrow's, today? 

Or do enjoy a serendipity moment? 

Does that make sense?

 What I mean is, 

do I keep going forward on the project of the day 

knowing that I have more days

 when I don't get what I want accomplished 

so for a moment I would be ahead

or

 do I celebrate the fact 

that I completed my stint for the day

 and can work on something I hadn't expected to? 

What's your approach?

 To be honest, 

I usually take the first road, but

yesterday I took the path least traveled

and it was a nice thing.

  Until Next Time-
 

Mary Janes

I bet we all can remember when we wore

 

black patent leather Mary Jane shoes,

 maybe even a new white pair for Easter.

They were so shiny and they made you feel like a princess.

The name, Mary Jane's

 came from a cartoon character who was the

 sister of Buster Brown,

the character used by The Brown Shoe Company.

They both wore the little strapped shoes.

The style and the name continues to

describe that style of shoe since it's start in 1904.

I did make it to the shoe store this past weekend.

Keen's summer shoes are in

and Mary Jane's are popular again.

 Aren't they cute.

HA HA I just noticed the picture. 

No, I don't wear them on the wrong feet!

They are

So summery,

So scrappy, 

like a pieced quilt.

I feel like a princess.

Until Next Time-

Oatmeal

When I was a kid I don't remember ever having oatmeal for breakfast.  I lived in Michigan, the home of Kellogg cereals.  I didn't like the way oatmeal looked, all lumpy and pasty.  Why would anyone eat that stuff. My mom was sweet , we had Rice Krispies or Corn Flakes.

My first experience with oatmeal was in 1959.  I was just starting 4th grade and I had to have an emergency appendectomy.  

Don't I look pitiful.  During my recovery, I was wheeled to a communal dining table with other little sick kids and was served oatmeal.  I took one look at it and thought, no way. I quietly whispered "I don't like oatmeal".  "I'm sorry", the nurse said," but it is what good little girls eat if they want to get better".  I took one bite and promptly threw-up all over the table.  Immediately the nurses wheeled me back to my bed and served me jello.  Victory was mine.

The next time was in the summer 1962 when I was a camper at Camp Cedar Lake. 

Because we were near Battle Creek, the home of Kellogg Cereal, most of the time for breakfast we had a choice of those cute little boxes of different cereals that Kellogg made.  But one day they decided to serve lumpy, pasty oatmeal.  I told my counselor, Stormy, I didn't like oatmeal and would I be able to just have a bowl of cereal instead.  " No, she said, "all the campers must eat oatmeal today."  That didn't seem quite fair to me.  So I just sat at the table and didn't' eat my oatmeal.  Another counselor finally noticed and was very stern with me about not eating.  I said, " I didn't like oatmeal."  She told me I had to eat it before I could leave the table. Well, she made me sit there for what seemed for hours, while the rest of my group when on to do something else.  I was in tears.  Finally, she did let me go, but I didn't have any breakfast that day.  

In 2003 Ed started to make the steel cut oatmeal.   It took me a long time to try it.  It smelled toasty and wasn't lumpy or pasty.  Hey, everyone she likes it!

Eddie's Famous Steel Cut Oatmeal *
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup steel cut oats (you can find this in the bulk aisle of the grocery store)
3 cups of boiling water
1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/2 cup buttermilk

Directions:
In a large saucepan, melt the butter and add the oats. Stir for 2 minutes or until lightly toasted. Add the boiling water and reduce the heat to a simmer (take care when adding boiling water).  Keep at a low simmer for 25 minutes, without stirring.

Combine the milk and the buttermilk with the oatmeal.  Stir gently to combine and cook for an additional 10 minutes.  Spoon into serving bowls and top with additional buttermilk, brown sugar, dried cranberries, toasted almonds or cinnamon.  Your choice.

*adapted from a Food Network recipe

On most Sunday mornings, Ed makes this oatmeal.  It is so yummy especially on a cold  January day.  Hope you will try it.  You won't be disappointed.

Until Next Time-Kyle

The Year of the Tiger

According to the Chinese calendar 2010 is the year of the tiger. I can't help but be awestruck by the size, strength, and elegance of this beautiful animal. The tiger  is easily one of the most awesome, and one of the most endangered great animals in the world. 

According to tradition, people born during a Year of the Tiger (1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, and 2010) are said to exhibit that animal’s attributes.

They are:

charismatic,

fearsome,

generous

unpredictable,

intelligent,

enthusiastic,

unafraid of exploring new territory,

protective of those they love.

And have been known to have mood swings

Does that sound like me?

Today Ed and I entered a new culinary arena, Chinese Dim Sum.  For Christmas Ed got the bamboo steamers, a couple of recipe books and a few other gadgets.  We had fun exploring the local Asian market buying sorted bottles of strange dark liquids, making the dough and a couple different fillings, and then trying the different pinched-edges to make these cute Chinese dumplings.  This is the a Barbecue Pork Dumpling.

 

                                                                           

And these are a steamed Chinese Pork Dumpling.

Look pretty good,  and tasted great.  It certainly was an opportunity to explore something new.

Like all felines, Tigers always land on their feet, ready for whatever comes next in life, pursuing it with gusto!  Grrrrr!

Until Next Time-Kyle, the Tiger

Did You Know?

You may have known someone a long time, but do you really know them?

Here are 5 new things about me that you might not have known.

1. I have an excellent sense of direction. Tim Allen of "Home Improvements" explains why some people know where they are going.

Wilson: Tim, don`t sell your stupid instincts short. Do you realize that people have a tiny compass in their nose? Tim: I was never aware of that. No. Wilson: Yes, people have a tiny iron deposit in their nose. And that gives them directions to magnetic north and since men have more iron in their bodies than women, it only follows that they would make a better compass. Tim: Then how come I couldn`t find the wedding? Wilson: Well, Tim, a map is a little more accurate than your nose. It`s also a heck of a lot easier to fold. Tim: [Later; to Jill] I just got all disoriented, even though my nose is filled with iron boogers.

2 When Ed and I first where married, I couldn't find a teaching job so I sold Avon.

Ding Dong Avon Calling

3.  I have a waffle iron that I never use.  I got it as a wedding present.  I love waffles. OK, occasionally I do use it. In fact, I keep a paper towel inside the griddle and keep a list of dates written on it of when I actually use it.  Let's see...last used...November, 2001, pumpkin waffles, dud.

4. I played the flute and oboe in Jr. High and High School.  I played the flute during marching band season. Too hard to march with an oboe!

5. I am a romantic, pretty naive and believe in happily ever after.

Until Next Time-Kyle