Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...March 9, 2009

Outside my window..there is stillness, once in a while the sound of a car racing to work or school. The mountain top is clouded by heavy fog which is supposed to turn to snow by noon. I suppose March is known for it's changing weather but I would be very happy when the sunshine and warmth overcome the chilly days.

I am thinking...what a wonderful family I have and how nice they are. Two of the grandchildren reset all the clocks in my house yesterday. Jeff replaced three lightbulbs that had burned out and broken in the sockets. Hannah and Ella spelled and replaced my ever changing border of words. Jennifer helped me with my blog and brought dessert. And for all of this I only had to pay them with dinner.

I am thankful for...friends. I had a dear friend come Saturday and stay Sunday with me. We had fun going to dinner and then TJMaxx and such. We caught up on each other's lives. She is taking classes to be a life coach so she practiced on me. It was fun.

From the kitchen... tidying the cupboards and putting away all the dishes from yesterday.

I am wearing... the oldest things I could find--grey sweat pants, and a pink top I don't like because I plan to paint this afternoon while it snows outside.

I am reading... I have just finished Sara's Quilt (the sequel to These Is My Word) and am now going to catch up on a little church reading but looking for a new novel too.

I am hoping... to spend time with each of my grandchildren this week.

I am creating... a wrapping room in my basement.

I am hearing... clocks ticking right next to me.

Around the house... lots of laundry, lots of tidying, lots of library books, lots of plans for yard work that soon will begin

One of my favorite things... having a clean, organized, warm and cheerful house.

A few plans for the rest of the week... painting the wrapping room, hair cut, mall and gelato with grandchildren, sewing quilt tops for church, dinner with friends on the weekend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Loving Stitches!

I have been stitching my heart into several quilts lately. Two of them for my daughter and her soon to be born son.
This one is made of 6" squares of cotton, flannel and silky on one side with minke on the back and binding. One of the squares has the words "Oh Boy" written all over it. The machine quilting is done with stars and moon and clouds. It turned out nice and very soft. It will keep him very cozy! I can't wait to cuddle it around his cute little angel face!I like to sew a label on the back side.

This one is minke on this side with ivory fleece on the back side. The two pices are sewn together all around then top stitched close to the edge and a big X sewn diagonally from the corners to keep it in place. It is crib size.I love these labels from Susan Branch. They come all printed on the fabric, so for about 1/2 yard you get about 20 labels all different designs.
This is a very bright and colorful quilt made for a dear friend of mine who has gone through two surgeries since December and is having chemo now. I wanted it to be fun and happy for her.

I used jumbo rickrack to make the flower stems on half of the rectangles.I hope it brings a smile to her face when she uses it and helps make the chemo a little more bearable. I enjoyed making it for her. I love you both!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a happy day!

A Baby is Coming!

Guess who is pregnant! My youngest daughter is having her first baby! The family is so excited for her and we were all able to be with her for two baby showers over the weekend in California. Ashley is so beautiful and even more so during this special time. I love being with all my daughters and so enjoyed our short time together.

These were part of the decorations at the first shower given by her wonderful mother-in-law, Nancy. She also made cute table decorations that I will post another time. We played games and ate delicious food that was presented so beautifully.

Thanks Nancy!
What a wonderful time this is!

To Paint or Not to Paint that Color

I bought a gallon of paint yesterday because I have on my to do list- painting a laundry room. But, this morning I found this kind of neat site that might have been useful before I bought the paint. If you are trying to decide what colors to use in a room BH&G website has a fun way to help http://www.bhg.com/app/coloraroom They have several rooms to choose from and then you can change the colors of items in those rooms. For example--a diningroom. You choose from a color palette the wall color, chairs, tablecloth, anddraperies color etc. That way you can kind of get an idea of whether you would feel comfortable with strong colors in the room or if you lean toward a more neutral color scheme. You can also do the same thing with window treatments. You choose from different kinds of windows or french doors, then choose window treatments. Or, if you are not even thinking of changing any room (is there such a person?) you can waste quite a bit of time having fun! When I get to painting that room I will post about it. Have a good day whether you paint or not today!

Climbing Mountains and Chocolate Cake

Anyone who knows me knows that anything that has to do with sports, feet off the ground, REI, or wild movements, climbing mountains etc. are things or places where you would never find me. This is a person who has never in her life been on skiis (Oh, I did water ski once, and got up, too! but I digress--) Give me HOME, gardening, sewing, cooking, pleasant and graceful things that's where I am most comfortable. So, how in the world would I be diagnosed with a torn meniscus? It is the weirdest thing but that's where I am right now--waiting to schedule a surgery for this unexpected ailment. So, in keeping with my personality, and at home with feet planted firmly on the ground, I am sharing with you this most delicious, dense, moist chocolate cake that I made for the Oscar party Sunday.

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake

2 Cups sugar

2 Cups flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 oz Unsweetened Chocolate

1 c. water

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

2 beaten eggs

Grease or line two 9 inch cake pans or one 9X13 inch pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Melt chocolate with butter and water. Add melted chocolate mixture to flour and mix well for 2 minutes. Pour batter into pans and bake until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, approximately 30 minutes. Cool on rack 10 minutes and unmold cake to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8ox) pkg cream cheese

1/2 cup butter 1 tsp vanilla

powdered sugar to taste (about 2 cups)

Mix all together and frost cake.

Enjoy!

13 Reasons

Hayley has been practicing being a teenager for at least a year. Now it is officially here!

13 Reasons Why I Love Hayley!

1. She has a great smile and sense of humor. She makes me laugh!



2. She is outgoing and not afraid to try new things. She'll volunteer to speak in front of others!



3. She has the most beautiful, dark, shiny hair.



4. She is sensitive to others. She reaches out to be a friend to someone who is by themself.



5. She is a good babysitter and in demand each weekend. She is saving all that money!



6. She has a good memory and can memorize things easily.



7. She always has a hug for me!



8. She is musical and plays the piano, flute and guitar!



9. She is independent and does all her own laundry!



10. She is very stylish and always looks cute.



11. She is a good friend.



12. She makes great popcorn!

Happy, Happy 13th Birthday Hayley!

10 Minutes to a Room You'll Love

I decided to join The Nesting Place in her 10 minutes to a room you'll love today.

I have two little areas in my house where I put seasonal items just for fun. So, since I can't wait for Spring to show it's head here, I decided to put a little spring in my house in these areas. The first place is in my kitchen. It is a built-in hutch with drawers on the side and an oven below the shelf. This is the before picture:

I added birds to the area with-- the three on the branch with tea lights which my daughter gave me for Valentines, the ceramic bird in the cloche and a ceramic bird by the simplify sign. I had a couple more birds that I tried to put with this arrangement but then I decided to heed my own sign and I "simplified" them off the area. Here it is after:

The second area is in my front entry hallway. Here it is before:I added a large ceramic bird and let him rest on some green moss. The white apple(?) blossoms are in an antique watering can.

There you have it--10 minutes to Spring! Check out other 10 minute makeovers by going to Nesting Place.