Ornament Exchange and Hetty

GR&DF I do thank you for the kind words about the Peach. She is a darling - very barky but still sweet. Now the Pete is more reticent about having his photo taken - he is our shy man-dog.

Yesterday the mail brought a package that has been en route for more than two weeks - it must have come the long way around the Cape of Good Hope and across the Pacific. We need not have worried as it has arrived safe and sound with no indication as to what the hold up might have been. Here is a rather wonky snap of the lovely piece -

Our townhouse can be so dark that it is impossible to get a decent shot - so I stood way back to flood the flash and it seems that while doing that I lost some sharpness. The closer I got the more washed out things became - so there you go. If you jump over to Carol's Blog she has a great snaperoo of this beautiful ornament. I do thank you so much Carol it is another beauty!!!!

I also tried to get a shot of the progress on Hetty last night - so for another rather poor snap...

As you can see I got the main motif completed - I was thinking this sampler wouldn't' be completed until after Christmas, but I just might have it done before - we shall see.

Last night the flicker was "The Draughtsman's Contract" - 1982 - starring Janet Suzman and Anthony Higgins. A sumptuous film with an Agatha Christie type mystery story. Worth viewing for the costuming and wigs alone. The film is beautifully shot inside and out at a country house called Groombridge Place near Tunbridge Wells.

There you go sports fans!!
Thank you once again for stopping by, do come again.

Take care,
edgar

Stitching up a Storm and a Winner

GR&DF we had a very quiet weekend with nothing exciting happening at all! We didn't go anywhere except to Pac-and-Save to do the weekly grocery shopping Saturday Morning!! Aside from the grocery store visit and 5 loads of laundry - I spent my time sitting and stitching!! Which allowed me to finish up the stitching on two more exchanges. I was going to focus on the finishing but it was the stitching that kept me going for two days. In addition to the exchange pieces I also put some stitching into Margaret's RR. Here is a snap -

I only completed the single flower/acorn motif, I think with time at a premium during the next couple of months I am going to spread the stitching out and do it in small bits. The floss Margaret has chosen is a gorgeous red from Threadworks.

I also got to do a bit on Hetty - but the snaps I took of her last night was just disgraceful so I will not show them this morning. I will try and get a better one for tomorrows post.

The comments from Friday where very kind and I do thank you all!! Jennifer asked about the puppies treat jar - yes that is exactly what that is and boy don't the hounds know if you come within about a yard of that sucker. If they aren't around looking they can hear the clink clink of the lid being lifted off!! and Lana - how funny that you would mention In-n-Out Burgers... with Thanksgiving coming on we are certain to make a pilgrimage to one for lunch over the Holiday weekend. This is my BIL's favorite place to get a burger from when they visit from Vancouver, WA. Expect some snaps of that treat after the long weekend!!.

One of the films from the weekend was "The Libertine" - 2004 - starring Johnny Depp and John Malkovich. What a very interesting movie - and what a great job Johnny Depp did in the role of the Earl of Rochester. Set in the world of Restoration England with Malkovich as Charles II we see the very seedy side of court life. I enjoyed this film an thought how very realistic it came across at depicting the late 17th century.

I also wanted to announce the winner of the DVD give away.....
with the Peach again supervising the drawing...

then the claw draws the name...... and the winner is.....


Dear Carol !! I have sent you an email and will send out the DVDs in the next day or so, Enjoy!!

I will leave off today with another snap of the Peach - since she is a totally sweet hunk of love!!

Thank you for stopping by and for the kind comments I do appreciate them!!

Take care,
edgar

Exchanges and EggNog

GR&DF - (gentle readers and dear friends) as that is how I think of those reading my blog/journal in the quiet early mornings here in San Francisco. I have made such nice friends writing here.

I did appreciate the kind words about the Crumbly Fruit effort. It warmed up wonderfully well last night - and a plop of vanilla ice cream sort of all melty on top didn't hurt it one bit!! Nicola asked what recipe I used. Well..... I was inspired by a really wonderful cooking blog - but in my "Mother Hubbard cupboard" I had to improvise up some ingredients. The basic recipe I followed or made up -

a bit of butter
2 Pears, cored and peeled - chunked up
2 green tart apples, cored and peeled - chunked up
2 or three ripeish plums with the stone removed - chunked up

1 cup of rolled oats
2 Tbls butter
dash of cinnamon
a couple of scrapes of a nutmeg
1/2 brown sugar

Melt a bit of butter in a pan and saute all the fruit until it has started to soften up. Butter or spray a shallow baking dish. For the crumbly top - take about half of the oats and grind them up until they are flour like. Pour the oats both ground and whole along with the spices, 2 Tbls butter, and sugar into a small bowl. Work this around with your fingers until it is crumbly. By this time the fruit should be done, pour the fruit in the shallow greased dish and then the topping on the top, spreading it evenly over the fruit. Pop this straight into the oven for about 20 mins or so, until it looks brown and bubbly. Let sit out for 5 mins before serving. Can be topped with whipped cream or ice cream.

Now my improvisation on the recipe was with the oats - of course there wasn't an oat to be found.... except some instant oatmeal packets of Rico's. There where two packets left of maple and brown sugar flavoured - I took both packets and sifted out the flavourings and extra sugar and ended up with some slightly mapley flavoured oats to work with - It wasn't bad - just a little desperate!!

I heard that Shay received the Ornament I made her for the Ornament Swap Exchange we are in - Here is a snap of the piece I made -

It is a Prairie Schooler Design - called "Summer /Winter." This is December from the months. I am so happy that Shay likes it - We both love PS and I thought what a perfect design for her!! I used the recommended DMC but can't remember the linen I used. Last night I was still exchange stitching. This weekend will be a marathon finishing two days getting stuff together for the mails next week.

Last night we went for adjustments with Dr Cindy and on the way home stopped at Jack in the Box - sometimes you just gotta stop!! They have out the Holiday Shakes - well, I am a sucker for the limited time flavour anywhere - and so I got me an egg-nog shake!

Lets just say it was a delicious taste of Christmas and the Holiday Season!! Happy Christmas!!

Thanks for stopping by do come again. A reminder about the DVD drawing today is the last day to thrown you name in the BOD - If you haven't then put a comment on Mondays post!! I will announce the winner on Monday!

Have a great weekend!
Take care,
edgar

Wonderful Fall

GR&DF it finally feels Fall like here in the Bay - nice crisp weather and beautiful produce at the Farmers Market. Yesterday was Wednesday Marketing and although there where fewer stands than normal it was still a joy to visit and get some produce. You know I took my camera and got some nice little snaps..... and here they are....

some beautiful Pomegranate's and persimmon's....


-and gorgeous collard greens - I took home a big ole bunch of these and will cook them up this weekend!!! Yummy!!! Rico really doesn't understand my love of the "green" and will eat a teaspoon full to be nice - but I just love them!!!


and these lovely fall flowers!!

I also picked up some fruit as I was getting a hankering for a buckle or crumble..... so when I got home I got to making one - Taking 3 pears, 3 granny smiths and 4 plums (they where smallish) pealing, coring and chunking ..... I threw them into a hot skillet with a pat of butter to get them cooking -


While they were cooking I greased up a dish and made a crumbly topping of oats, dark brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg (you can make a fruit dish and not put nutmeg in!)


and Yes - that is the Christmas cookie jar - I hauled that sucker out the other evening!! I haven't made any cookies yet so it only holds Vienna Fingers and Pecan Sandies for the time being.

Then 20 mins or so later out of the oven pops this....

A warm Fall dessert!! I love these homey delicious things!!

Yesterday's comments where really nice and I thought I should throw out some responses..... Yes, Nancy, I love those peppermint mocha's and had forgotten about them until I read your comment - I need to stop and get one soon!! Carol G works at Hershey's that place they make those delicious Reese's Pieces!!!. Dear Berit mentioned a Top Flicker Favorite of mine "Scrooge" the musical version from 1970. Although not well thought of critically I love this movie and it is a favorite of my mothers. I always play it while decorating the Christmas tree and watch it at various times during the year just to get a Christmas fix!! Did you know that Christopher Plummer and Rex Harrison where both offered the lead roll in this Scrooge but turned it down eventually the part went to Albert Finney. I saw this musical version done on the stage in London with the late Anthony Newley playing the lead. A couple of people asked about the newest version of "A Christmas Carol" coming out tomorrow from Disney - I can't wait!! I am not a big fan of Jim Carrey but it should be a nice movie to see. Bronny mentioned "The Muppet CC" another fun version of a great story.

Stitching is still exchange related and the flicker last night was a PBS Napoleon thing that really wasn't all that much. So I changed the channel over to TCM to catch the first evening of the month long tribute to Johnny Mercer. The flicker they started the evening off with was "The Fleets In" - 1942 - starring Dorothy Lamour, William Holden and Betty Hutton. An odd and contrived movie with some great musical numbers.

I think I will leave off with a shot from last night. Looking out across the Bay towards the Oakland Hills the moon was full and golden....

Using my little hand held camera made for a rather poor shot - but the moon was huge and beautiful!!!

Thanks you for stopping by - Don't forget to post a comment on Monday's post for the Marie Antoinette DVD Drawing - just click HERE.

Take care,
edgar

Tick, Tick, Tick..... 51 Days Left

GR&DF you were so sweet with your very kind comments about our "getups" for the party. As you can plainly see I am not one for the over the top outfit - Usually I am just a plain Jane wall flower when it comes to dressing up. I am a very casual person - jeans (be they blue or black) a clean pressed shirt, and a pair of Converse and I am good to go - and I mean for just about every occasion. If I get into a pair of chinos it is probably a white tie affair!! For the shoes - since I broke my foot in the south of France a few years ago, I can only wear comfortably Converse shoes - all my nice shoes gather dust due to how when I have on a pair the right foot is just this side of torture tight! Enough of that.....

I really haven't that much to say today - except that - can you believe that only a short 51 days and it will be Christmas!! Once again it is racing up with alarming speed. We where in Walgreen's yesterday and the seasonal aisle was jammed packed with treats - so of course how could I resist picking up this bag of cheer.....


Delicious minty M&M's. Now I am not a fan of the M&M, except the peanut butter ones. I prefer Reeses Pieces, but these suckers are minty chocolate and that sold me instantly! I love mint - peppermint is a favorite!! My favorite minty things would have to be in cocktail form and the top two cocktails are - a Stinger and Grass Hopper - mmmmm good and slurpity slurp!!!

Last night I was working on a Christmas Ornament and watching a Christmas movie - "Scrooge" - 1951 - a top notch version starring Alistair Sim. If you are longtime reader of my babel you may recall that a favorite story of mine is "A Christmas Carol." In addition to the written word I also enjoy the movie versions of the story. There are plenty variations of this story from just plain awful to very superior versions out there and I love them all. I probably have 12 different DVD versions in my DVD heap. I usually have a Scroogefest during the Holidays and I think there was a small Scroogfest last Sunday when I watched two different version so ACC (A Christmas Carol) - the 1935 and 1938 versions where screened - neither of these versions are all that but they do have their moments. I am sure that I will see them again before Christmas and I will have a major Scroogefest 2010 at some point!! I know that Rico just dreads this but tough toenails!!!

There you go sports fans!!
Thank you again for stopping by and leaving those sweet comments!! Do come again!

Take care,
edgar

Some Mail and a snap or two.....

GR&DF thank you for the kind words about Hetty - she is working up to be something really pretty. Last night while looking for a chart to loan out I came across a few more sampler charts that I had forgotten I had and thought to myself - "self you have way too much stash for your own good!!" So of course I pulled these lovelies together and added another sampler -

Miss Sarah arrived in yesterdays mail - isn't she a beauty!! such lovely colours - and the borders are just gorgeous!!! Now, when will I ever get the time to do this great piece?? I guess I am just a sucker for the sampler and it seems that it is an addiction that is quite near to out of control.

The stitching for the evening was exchange related so no snaps of that.

I did have some interest in our costumes from Hallowe'en Party so I thought I would post a couple of more snaps...... remember you asked for it!!

Filling the skull/fog machine for the extra creepy atmosphere...


Here is The Red Witch (Nicole) and Rico as Amy Winehouse...


Here is "Crazy" Paul dancing with Marvin the Martian (I am not sure who that was but I do know she made that costume) That's Kurt int he background.


and finally here we are towards the end of the evening - yes, that dress Rico has on is a shiny pleather/plastic - and you can't see them but, he wore thigh high pleather stiletto boots!! It was a great evening and I talked to Dale about it yesterday and he said they were still going strong into the wee hours of Sunday morning!! I am just way to old for that any more!!

The flicker last night was "To Hell and Back" - 1955 starring Audie Murphy - The true WWII story of Audie Murphy and his campaigns in Italy becoming the most decorated soldier in Army history. The film was based on the autobiography of Murphy. A pretty good flick overall.

There you go sports fans - don't forget about the drawing for the DVD's - go to yesterdays post to throw your name in the BOD!! Thanks for stopping by - do come again.

Take care,
edgar

Hallowe'en Fun, Sampler Stitching and a Movie Give-Away....

GR&DF this past weekend went a little different than most. There was no estate sale, consignment shop, thrift store or Garage sale shopping at all!! How odd is that - I think I am having withdrawals!! :)

We did however get to Dales Annual Haollwe'en Blow Out Bash!!! Once again it was over the top and lots of fun - Nicole and Kurt came over and went with us - Nicole as the Red Witch, Kurt as an Acid Rocker, Rico as Amy Winehouse and I in devil horns and mask - we where an odd bunch!! I thought the best costume of the evening was Dan - here is a snap

This was after a few hours and is makeup had started to smear a bit - but doesn't he make a great Beetlejuice - 1988. His girlfriend Amelia came as a great flapper - all be-fringed.

Before the weekend started we stopped on the way home Friday in the Mission to pick up some avocados (we brought some of Rico's delicious Guacamole to Dale's). Across the street from the produce stand is a super Panaderia we like and so we stopped to get some Day of the Dead Bread and couldn't resist some of the other fabu pastries they always have....

From l to r - DotD bread, almond muffin, custard horns, sponge cake with fruit and cream and a version of poppy seed bread.

On the stitching front I am still a'stitching on exchange pieces, but I also got in some time on Hetty - here is a snap of her progress....


She is coming along fine - at the moment I am not sure if I want to put Hetty Child's name and date on it or some other name and date........ decisions, decisions....

There were a couple of flickers this weekend - starting off with "Operation Pacific" - 1951 - starring John Wayne, Ward Bond and Patricia Neal. A pretty good flick about the submarine Thunderfish. The secondary story was an on again off again love story. Although I did enjoy the film it did get pretty hokey when you could see the wires pulling the torpedoes - not once or twice but every single time. I think they could have worked on this a bit - but what ever - it was still a good flick. The next film was also a war film - "Go For Broke" - 1951 - starring Van Johnson - This film told story was about the Japanese-American soldiers and their superior service during WWII in the European Theatre. I enjoyed this flick also as it showed the men from basic training in Mississippi to fighting in Italy. I also started rewatching the BBC mini-series "Brideshead Revisited" - 1981. I am once again enjoying this great mini-series!!

Now for the Give-Away..........I thought it would be nice to have a give-way in honor of the Birthday of Marie Antoinette -

She was born on November 2, 1755 - just a mere 254 years ago. The drawing is for both Marie Antoinette DVD's - the 1938 version starring Norma Shearer and Tyrone Power and the 2006 version starring Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman. If you would like to enter the drawing please leave a comment on this post only - the only requirement to enter the Give-Away is that you post a link on your blog about the drawing (if you have one). These are Region 1 DVD's but will play on any multi-regional player. I will have a name plucked from the BOD this weekend - so be sure to enter by 3pm PST Friday, November 6, 2009.

Thank you once again for stopping by and your very kind comments!! Do come again.

Take care -
edgar

A Spooky Weekend!!

GR&DF it is Hallowe'en weekend - and are we all ready with our scary costumes!! We have an annual Hallowe'en party to get to tomorrow night - It is usually very crowded and goes on to all hours of the morning - we get there on the earlish side and will usually vamoose by 10:00 or so. I am not one for crowded spaces and pushing on people to get through the crowd.

Not only is it All Hallows Eve but it is also - El Día de los Muertos - Day if the Dead. Living here is San Francisco there are the most interesting things to see, go to and buy that are connected to this Holiday!! Here is a snap of our little tribute to the weekend....

We got the sugar skulls in the Mission at Los Jallitos last week when we went to dinner. The little skeletal figures are hand made of clay - Rico has picked them up at a couple of different places. Being from the South I never even heard of nor imagined anything like the DoD Celebrations that go on in this City. The processions through the streets and alters that are built are truly works of art. We may try and get out to see some of the goings on - depending on the congestion in the Mission.

The mail yesterday brought me a chart I bought from Sadie's de-statshing.
It was a Prairie Schooler - 12 Days of Christmas - and is one I have wanted for a long time....


Now I am just itching to start this sucker!! Last night I dug around in my linen stash and found I hadn't anything appropriate for this. That means I will have to wait until I make a trip to NiAH for resupply the linen larder.

Last night was more exchange stitching. My Ornament Exchange is going out this morning. I am really happy with the ornament I made and hope my partner likes it also!!

The flicker last night was "The Last Sin Eater" - 2007 - starring Louise Fletcher and Henry Thomas. This was an odd movie that was recommended to me. It is a faith based movie set in the Appalachian Mountains in the early 1850's and deals with 2nd generation Welsh settlers. The basic story is about a 10 year old girl looking for redemption for something that has happened and along her quest uncovers a terrible secret about her little communities founding. I enjoyed it and the scenery was spectacular.

I got a snap of the mama stink eye and the last baby pidge -

This is opposite the windows where the flower box was - I think the first bird is the mama stink eye and the last one is baby pidge (the white patch is what gives her away) the middle bird I am not too sure but she could be from an earlier clutch. Sometimes there are 6 or seven birds on this pipe at night - lots of coo-cooing going on!!

That's about it for today and wraps up the week sports fans!! Thank you for stopping by and for the nice comments - the cake was good yesterday and the slice today is even better!!! Have a great weekend!!

take care,
edgar

A Cup of Coffee and a slice of Cake

GR&DF it is Thursday morning and I sit here with my morning cup of coffee and today I have a slice of Entenmanns "cheese filled crumb coffee cake." We stopped at the day old bread store on Monday on the way home from work. Picking up a loaf o bread and this coffee cake. They often have Entenmann products that are discounted so how could we resist- gotta save those pennies for more stitchity stash!!

I do appreciate the nice comments about my basket of stitching stuff - and did want to answer a couple of the questions - the piggy pin cushion was a Christmas Present from Dale last year - he got it on line somewhere, but I do not know where. Myriam mentioned the Brenda Keyes sampler "Kind Love" - a really a gorgeous sampler that I have seen on a few different blogs. Margaret asked about keeping my finished pieces dust free. Most of my finished pieces are wrapped in tissue paper and put in a drawer in my big secretary keeping them safe. The other ones that are the rolled pieces safe in a plastic bag in the large basket - they really don't seem to get dusty as this larger basket I keep in the coat closet with a large linen dinner napkin covering the whole basket.

Last night was more exchange stitching - and the piece I am working on now I know I will have to make for myself at some point as I really like the way it is turning out.

The flicker for the evening was "Blue Skies" - 1946 starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Billy DeWolfe and Joan Caulfield. This was a silly musical that seems to have been made to showcase Irving Berlin's wonderful music. Watch for the musical numbers.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Take care,
edgar

A Tisket a Tasket What's in My Little Basket

GR&DF thank you so much for the kind comments about Hetty - there are very much appreciated!! I did have a question from Melissa about the piece - "Who was the Designer of Hetty?" - She was designed by Brenda Keyes of the The Sampler Company. If you click over you can see other beautiful samplers and things - now I have my eye on "Red House Sampler" such a great looking piece and lovely border!

Now to the title of today's post. I really enjoy Miss Anna's blog Stitch Bitch - and on Monday she posted Monday Meme - "What's in Your Stitching Bag?" I don't use a bag, I use Baskets. My two main baskets are a small 10" everyday one and a much larger 16" project one. It is the smaller one that I think we will look more closely at....

How it looks day to day - pretty full!!

Here it is with everything spilled out....

Many of the things I have in here are gifts from stitching friends - I am really sentimental about the things I am given and do like to use them. They bring such happiness whenever they get pulled out and this examination of the basket was so very nice!! The things that I keep in here are..... 3 sterling thimbles (not that I use a thimble, I just like them!), 1 bag MOP (mother of pearl) floss rings, 1 Acorn thread holder, 1 Quaker thread holder, 1 pin wheel project, 1 BBD-LF #36 pin cushion project chart, 1 walnut base for the LF #36 pincushion, 3 skeins on NPI silk, 12 skeins of DMC, 5 bobbins of HDF silk, 3 needle books filled with 26 &28 gold needles, both reg and petite (I am really getting to like those little petite needles) 1 stitched work bag filled with antique MOP buttons and little brass accents - also in the bag are 5 books of various 26 & 28 needles, can you ever have too many needles!!, 1 antique darning egg, 1 pig pin cushion, 2 Thread Havens, 1 sheep tape measure, 3 extra knitted sheep, 1 white tape measure, 1 blue tape measure, 2 containers of seed beads, 1 package of various sized sharps, 1 Hetty Sampler - wip, 1 DFRR #2 - wip, 1 roll of Pearle cotton, 2 small embroidery hoops, sized 4" & 6". Quite a few things in this little basket.

Now the Big Basket....

This sucker has some of my finished pieces ready for framing, all my WIP's, and the next projects I will work on kitted up. You can see the next sampler piece I will begin after Hetty is finished - Memorial Sampler from Midsummer Night Designs. I also keep my larger hoops in here. What a great MEME. NOW, what's in Your Bag????

Last night the stitching was once again on an exchange and a little on Hetty- no snap.

The flicker for the evening was "My Reputation" - 1946 - starring the great Barbara Stanwyck and the ever wooden George Brent. Now don't get me wrong George is great as a 2nd banana leading man - but he really should have learned to loosen up a bit!! I enjoyed this flick as I do most of Barbara's movies - she plays a lonely widow trying to move on with her life after losing her husband. This of course leads to gossiping friends and family and a couple of really bitching moments!!!

That's about it for today sports fans!! Thanks you for stopping by!!

Take care,
edgar