Sparkling!

Can't wait until it is warm enough to clean the outside of this window.

It's amazing to me that I can actually see a reflection in this window.  It missed the window cleaning that went on in the fall and was pathetically dirty, so much so that a person might think it was a frosted window.

Amy said she loved the Sprayway window cleaner and was so pleased with it that she could almost justify the aerosol.  I agree!  I think the key to streak free is the buffing with a lint free cloth.  Another reason to find some Birdseye fabric.

These are difficult windows to clean as the sun is almost always shining in your eyes and of course that means streaks easily show up too.  I like the way Sprayway cleaner smells because it is amonia free.  I'm sold!

MLKjr Day/National Day of Service

One self-binding receiving blanket. I really had hoped to get three done today but perhaps that can be a goal for the week.  Before I left the store, I bought a lot of paired flannel pieces just for this purpose.  I would like to make that pile disappear this winter!

Here is a recipe I made during the blog blackout.  This is one of my favorite recipes ever and of course it is from my favorite new source, Barefeet in the Kitchen.  I love that this is a baked version.  This whole recipe makes way too much for one or two but after you make the meat mixture you can freeze what you don't wrap into rolls  As for the shrimp, I'm not sure a non-shrimp lover would even notice they are in there.  Sheila will vouch for that.

Baked Filipino Lumpia  recipe from Barefeet in the Kitchen
1 lb ground pork
1 can sliced water chestnuts, diced small
1 cup mushrooms, diced small
1/2 lb cooked shrimp, chopped small
1/4 cup green onions, diced
1/3 cup sweet yellow onion, diced
2 large cloves fresh garlic, pressed
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoon soy sauce
2 eggs beaten and set aside in a small cup
Lumpia wrappers  or spring roll wrappers or egg roll wrappers
2 tablespoons oil

Sweet and sour dipping sauce

Combine everything except the eggs, oil and wrappers in a large bowl, and mix together with your hands. After everything is mixed together, cover it and let it sit in the fridge for at least an hour or as much as 24 hours before making the rolls.

Cut wrappers in half to form rectangular strips or in quarters to make bite size rolls.  Carefully peel the wrappers apart and place about a tablespoon of filling on each one. Roll them up into little tubes and seal the edges by dipping a finger into the eggs and then running it along the seam of the wrapper.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the rolls on a greased metal baking sheet or use parchment paper. Brush the rolls lightly with oil and then place in the oven. Turn the rolls over after 10 minutes cooking and bake about 5 minutes more, or until they are golden brown.  Serve with sweet and sour dipping sauce. 

Chips and ...

One new to me dip recipe and one new to me dip version.

Dill Pickle Dip  recipe barely adapted from Barefeet in the Kitchen
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup chopped dill pickles, about 10-12 baby dills
1/4 cup finely diced sweet yellow onion
1/4 cup pickle juice, use less for to make a spread instead of a dip
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, adjust to taste

Place the softened cream cheese, pickles, and onion in a mixing bowl.  Press the pickles into the cheese with a wooden spoon until the cream cheese is soft enough to stir. Add all remaining ingredients and stir until evenly distributed. Cover and chill for at least an hour before serving. The dip will keep nicely in the refrigerator for at least a week, should it last that long!

BG’s Spinach Dip

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (not the green can)

1 10-oz. package of frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 small jar marinated artichoke hearts, chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced or pressed

Mix all ingredients together and bake in a 350° for 30 to 40 minutes.  Serve warm with sturdy chips or a baguette that also has been heated.  Just tearing off hunks of the baguette is fun.

This is the best spinach dip I have ever tasted.  Really.  Not one bit healthy.  Best made only annually.

Fun Sewing

Christmas/Winter Curtains

I bought this fabric on the after Christmas mark-down shelf.  I couldn't resist and this design in the collection just called out to be curtains!  I admit to buying enough of the rest of the line to make a quilt for my own bed but while the curtains went up after the holiday, I think I can wait for the quilt.  Not like I don't have plenty of other sewing to do.

The curtains were a perfect project for sewing the day after the cataract surgery.  I wanted to see what I could do and curtains are nothing more than pressing and straight line stitching and if the stitching is not quite straight line, well, no one will notice or if they do notice perhaps be kind enough not to mention it.

Amy put up the new rods.  This is the third rod location for these windows and I think I finally have it right.  Even more fun than the rods, she also strung up the lights using lots of wee clear Command hooks.

This picture was taken at night and every night we looked and admired how great those lights look!  They are one long string from Ikea, LED, and a snowflake design.  I will leave them up forever because I can pretend they are flowers in the summer.  Oh, they make me happy!

          Fabric - "It's Christmas" by Jennifer Heymen for In The Beginning fabrics
          Amount used = 6 yards

360 inches of Binding

First finish of 2014, Amy's long awaited quilt.  I think I started this one in March 2013, took it up to her in May for her opinion on the back, Sheila had it quilted by September and I had the binding finished last Tuesday.  There were some who thought maybe I wanted to keep it for myself and that's why it took so long. I do love it and am very pleased with it but it was totally a distraction delay.  Today UPS delivered it and I believe it will be on her (queen-sized) bed tonight.

The quilt is 90 x 90 inches and some day I will be brave and put both sides of the binding on with the machine but this binding was finished by hand.  360 inches equals 10 yardsticks which makes it seem even longer.
          Featured fabric = Mod Century by Jenn Ski for Moda
          Background fabric = Little Black Dress by Basic Grey for Moda
          Batting = Hobbs 80/20
          Quilted with Star Merc 30 wt. by Sheila

YAY! 1 down 13 to go.

LOA

Corporate speak for Leave Of Absence and in this case open ended.

The Morning Star Sky

Because it was so clear this morning when I stepped outside at 5:30 I saw an incredible number of stars.  So many stars that I wanted to identify some of them.  I first checked the weather page because I thought I had seen that kind of information there.  Nope.  On to googling and this was the most promising site but no luck there either as this was the page that appeared...

Notice: Temporary Shutdown of the Night Sky Network

We at the Night Sky Network regretfully has to pass the news that due to the lapse in federal government funding, this website is not being updated. We also cannot respond to comments/questions. We sincerely regret this inconvenience.

We look forward to resuming our activities once  federal funding resumes.

Your club's Calendars and resources will continue to work, as well as all resrouces and activities.

Thank you, and we apologives for the inconvenience.

The Night Sky Network Team

My first first-hand experience with the government shutdown.  (I think they were heading out the door as they typed this message.)