TREASURES I HAVE

(Click on the picture to enlarge and see worn spots)

Another precious treasure made from the hands of my dear mother. There was no end to her thoughtfulness and creations for those she loved.

This colorful log cabin quilt was gifted to me by her almost thirty years ago, just a few years before her death in 1982. As you can imagine, it became very dear to me and has been used and loved through these many years.

Several years ago I had to fold it gently and tuck it away, for I had loved it down to many bare threads, until I was afraid that there would be nothing left of it with continued use.

(Embroidered initials, Barbara Quinlan and the year 1979)

I am not familiar with quilting, but hope, someday, to find a source to bring this special gift new life once again.

VENEZUELA

I´d like to share a little about the country where I have been residing for the past seven and a half years, and it´s capital.

Venezuela is the sixth largest country in South America, and lies in the Northwestern corner of the continent. It is divided into 23 states and within it´s borders are huge areas of the Amazon Rain Forest and fine stretches of the Andes. Miles of the Carribean shoreline borders Venezuela and it sits on vast reserves of oil.

The capital of Venezuela is Caracas, located in the Northeastern part of the country, and is the largest city in Venezuela. It is an interesting Urban city nestled in a long, green valley surrounded by lushly forested mountains.



My family and I have had the pleasure of visiting Caracas during a few necessary business trips. It is a noisey city with millions of inhabitants, traffic jams and dangerous areas, but there are some worthy and notable places in this large and busy city.

Amoung some of the interesting offerings in Caracas is the cable car rides that travel up a 7800 ft. mountain. And, though it is a breathtakingly beautiful ride, it is a lonnng way up and is literally breath taking while looking at the distance up the mountain and hundreds of feet below the car to the ground. Once reaching the top there is a beautiful park with gorgeous views, shops and restaurants. There is also a large hotel and ice skating rink that are currently in rennovation. We enjoyed the trip and the views, but thought that once was enough!




(View going up the mountain)

(Coming down the mountain. View of Caracas)

The underground transit system is one of the most modern in the world and we always use it while in Caracas to get around quickly from one part of the city to another. It is the best mode of transportation in the city and does get quite busy, but still more functional and quick than driving.

(Metro)

One suburb of Caracas that we have enjoyed is the small colonial town of El Hatillo. Though it seems to be swallowed up by the city it has retained it´s small town feel and we´ve enjoyed an afternoon quietly strolling amoung restaurants, craft shops and the small park center. It is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Anyone who loves arts and crafts will love this little town, which is only a half an hour from Central Caracas. There is one large shop there called Hansi that has handcrafted items from all over Venezuela. We spent a good hour or more going through the shop, with much pleasure.

(Small Town of El Hatillo)

Though Caracas is a large, modern city, it has many contrasts. All around central Caracas, along the hillside you will see shantie towns, there are hundreds of these communities. These are dangerous areas and ones that we have never entered, but have seen from along the freeways.

(Looks like a mosaic, don´t you think?)

Then you have Miraflores, the Capitol Building and offices of President Hugo Chavez. The property sits atop a hill and overlooks Caracas. We have only seen it from afar, but beautiful, of course.

(The Capitol)

Caracas is a city full of many interesting places, we have been glad to have had the opportunity to visit and know some of them.

(Daytime view of Caracas)



(Evening view of Caracas)

PRETTY PRINTS AND THINGS

I´m in love with my new fabric! They make me smile when I look at them. I have several ideas for sewing some of these pieces into something, but I first need to sort and combine the colors to my liking. I am hoping to get some time for another market bag, I´d like to try a different style this time, and another apron. I just can´t seem to think about anything else but this fabric right now. What can I say? With all this prettiness staring at me each time I walk by...I just can´t help myself. *smile*

Take a look.....

(I love the cheeriness of these colors...)

I also picked out a bit of Mary Flanagan´s hand dyed woolen pieces for some smaller projects I have in mind. Mary Flanagan and her husband Scott have an old 1920´s home in rural Wisconsin, where they make their business, of seven years.

(The wool is incredibly soft?)

I´ve also been challenging myself to give a try at hand knit socks. I purchased two varieties of yarn for trying this project. One, an import from Serbia and the other a hand dyed 100% Merino Wool, import from Wales. I am a little nervous with this project first, because it requires the use of five knitting needles at the same time and second, because the yarn is a fingering weight yarn, which is very fine. I am up for the challenge, but I have a feeling this might be a slow project, at least until I can get the feel of using five needles and such fine yarn.

I´m sorry for everything running together in this post. I realize that it is a bit distracting, but Blogger is not letting me edit.

PRETTY RUFFLES

Putting a few hours into this pretty, ruffley apron was just what I needed for some afternoon occupation yesterday . I had so much fun making this. The fabrics arrived via my logistics company, from the U.S. last week. I purchased them from Purlsoho, and I couldn´t wait to get my hands on some. These are beautiful cottons and each ruffle was cut using different color textures. A bit of Robert Kauffman, another bit of inspiring Amy Butler, with another small piece of Nancy Gere´s "Old Glory" make up this darling apron. I just love the fabric combinations, and can´t you just picture it? - a dainty little duster in hand, flitting about fluffing and foofing, ahh, so pretty!

Purlsoho is a wonderful yarn and fabric company that has been around since 2002 and has grown to include a variety of products. Their fabrics are of heirloom quality cottons and diverse patterns. You can find contemporary prints, historical reproductions and a variety of beautiful imports through their company. I truely love the large quantity of options and gorgeous fabrics they offer. In my next post I will show you some of the other pieces that I purchased.




(Beautiful Fabric)

Many dishcloths have been flying off the needles these past few weeks. I love making these because they take so little time. Whenever I have a few minutes here and there I can pick up my needles and stitch a few rows, before I know it another one is completed...These are the kinds of projects I truely enjoy making, because in such a short time I have the finished product.

(A bowlful of dishcloths)

Now I am off to embellish more bath towels with a touch of lace, another really fast and easy project. Hummm, what shall I do for the rest of the afternoon, maybe a little fabric sorting or organizing my lace and ribbons, looking through my button jar, maybe a good book, so many possibilities...

(More pretty lace)

Our water is off this afternoon, again! Therefore, the dishes will have to wait, no matter there are plenty of other occupations calling to me...

Mmmm mmm, Chocolate

A pleasant hour this morning spent preparing a batch of brownies for this afternoon, a quick and easy recipe. Today I did a variation of this recipe by adding a thin coat of melted chocolate chips and chopped pecans after they came out of the oven. I just throw a handful of the chips over the top of the hot brownies and let it set until they have melted, then I spread them around like a frosting and top with chopped nuts. A more festive variation than the plain brownie recipe, which itself is quite tasty. I like to bake them at just 30 minutes and am willing to underbake them just a bit--makes them moist and good. These might just be the best brownies ever. From a blog I often visit, Pleasantview Schoolhouse.

Schoolhouse Brownies

Melt over low heat:

3/4 cup of butter

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

Stir together and set aside to cool.

With electric mixer, beat until creamy 5-8 minutes:

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon of salt

2 cups of sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Gently blend the cooled chocolate into the egg mixture and add the following ingredients with a wooden spoon, until combined:

1 cup of flour

2 cups of chocolate chips

Pour into greased 13x9 pan and bake approximately 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

(Be sure not to overbake)

And look at these, don´t they just set your mouth a´watering? Chocolate Chip Cookie topped Brownies, hmmm, might be a new favorite. I just found the recipe and will give them a try the next morning I have for puttering in the kitchen.

Something New

(So Pretty)

For a busy woman who is halfway to 100, I thought it was about time to treat myself to some new and modern kitchen help. I´ve wanted one of these KitchenAids for a number of years, so when I saw the new colors they had and the price, I just couldn´t resist. Macy´s had a sale for $100.00 off, and another 10% in addition, plus a rebate worth $45.00. In the end, I paid just a bit over half the regular price. I love these kinds of bargins and it´s exactly what I wanted. Sometimes, to get these deals you have to settle. I saw some on Amazon that were a variety of prices, depending on the model, color ect., and I could have gotten one for a little bit less, but I would have had to settle for white, so to me it was worth paying $30.00 more and getting the color that I really loved.

It is on it´s way to my mailing address in Oregon and I will pick it up this summer while we are there. This little darling weighs over 20 pounds, but no worries I´ve carried heavier cargo before. I am just so thrilled. It will help me in so many ways, I will be able to make cakes and cookies in a jiffy, knead bread dough, and whip up cream in a snap! This one also comes with a chopper/shredder. Wow! I´ll be putting out some really tasty treats, don´t you think? I´ve been so wanting to make some of these:




or, how about these?

maybe this?

Mmm, mmm, mmmmm, yum me; coffee, tea or milk anyone?... Can´t wait!!!

Children and Life Skills

I am often thinking about how I can equip my children for the real world, of the pure simpleness of childhood and the day to day makings of a grownup.

There are many areas in which my children will need instruction before becoming adults in order to know how to take care of themselves and loved ones in the real world, academic education is not enough.

I have most always included the children, from very young ages, in the everyday activities of life, but I remember, at times, thinking oh, but he is too young, he can´t do that.

When we intentionally expose our children to the everyday skills we take for granted,  they  become equipped for adulthood.

As parents we desire so much for our children. We want the best education and the most enriching life for them, but often that means sports, dance, art classes and more activities outside the home. These things do have value, but are they preparing our children for the everyday life and challenges of adulthood?

When I pray for my children, first I pray that they will love God for a lifetime, and that they will be a reflection of Him in their lives. I pray that they seek Gods purposes and that He will give them vision for their lifes path in career, marriage and their own families. Yet, in times past, praying for them to learn the essential life skills of banking, grocery shopping, or cleaning a bathroom never crossed my mind. However, it is the small and the large life skills that will help them get along in adulthood.

God has shown us our obligation as parents and by training our children to be prepared adults, wise and responsible we are giving a gift to their future spouse, children, employers and friends.

The simple, practical lessons of life are invaluable to our children´s future.

April

(Pails of Pretty Tulips)


April

April is a rainbow month,

Of sudden springtime showers.

Bright with golden daffodils

and lots of pretty flowers.

(Sweet little Crocus)

(Graceful Camellias)

(Darling Daffodils)

Oh, how I miss the tenderness of Spring...

PLACES IN VENEZUELA

Nestled in the hills about 30 miles from Caracas, Venezuela is the small German town of Colonia Tovar. Germans founded it in the early 1840´s when arriving in Venezuela and were quarantined to the coast after diseases broke out on their ship. Once the quarantine was lifted the Germans moved into the mountains to avoid locals who were hostile to them. Actually, the town was relatively unknown until about 1960, but has since become a popular tourist attraction.

The houses in this small community are beautiful with red roofs, and the town is quaint and clean. There are many shops along the main streets and out of the way places with pretty pottery and souveniers for the tourists. I chose a small collection of simple kitchenware for my home, and a cute old fashioned candlestick holder. The price of these things are unbelieveable and if I had a way of transporting more I certainly would have. (I will update this post with pictures of these things when I can get a chance.)

Everywhere you look in Colonia Tovar there are lush, green mountains with farms cut out of it´s hillsides. The homes and buildings are immaculately kept, and the style of the buildings and homes are simular to those found in Southern Germany.

(Pretty views)





(These are some of the Chalets where we stay)

(Behind the children are street vendors that line the streets with a variety of things)

We have enjoyed a couple of trips to this sweet, quiet town during the early Christmas holidays, and all of the buildings and chalets are decorated for the season, which makes it all the more festive. The air is fresh and inviting, and the views are relaxing. I think this has been my favorite place to visit here in Venezuela.

SUBURBAN FARMING

(So Sweet)

I´ve always loved gardening and for years have had the notion that I´d like to have a small suburban "farm" with a sustantial vegetable garden and a few sweet chickens.

A number of years ago I purchased a wonderful book called "The Encyclopedia of Country Living", by: Carla Emery. It is full of practical advice and invaluable information for people living in the country, city or anywhere in between, who desire the homesteading lifestyle. I have found the book to be a worthy investment, as it shares a wealth of information, more than I will probably ever use.

Though, in the past, I have kept flower and vegetable gardens, I have never kept chickens, something that I find rather endearing. Chickens are the most common farm animal and relatively inexpensive to keep. A hen does not need a rooster in order to lay eggs, which is nice when living in suburban areas, those rooster will get to crowing at four o´clock in the morning and the neighbors may not be too happy! How satisfying it would be to walk out into my own backyard, reach into the chicken coup and pull out fresh eggs. There is something magical about that.

Besides their eggs, chickens have other benefits; they keep the lawn mowed, if you allow them to free range, their manure is rich in nutrients, and they keep the slugs and other bugs at bay. I´ve also read that they can make very nice pets for children.

(Aren´t they darling?)


I may never have the oppotunity to keep chickens , but I enjoy dreaming of the possiblity.