A Tuesday Posting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends it is the Tuesday before a long weekend!!!  Woo Hoo!!  Over the weekend I made a really terrific Carrot Cake, if I do say so myself!  I adapted it from a recipe I found on line.  I have already posted it with my changes over at Blacksheep Bakes.  Here is a snap of the cake....

It's a pretty easy cake to make and a great way to greet the Fall!!!!

I will be out for the next few days and back here posting on next Tuesday, September 4th.  Hoping everyone has a great Labor day Weekend!!!!   Stay Safe!!

Take care,

edgar

A Friday Treat

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I wanted to thank you all so much for all the kind comments and emails!!!  I love reading them  - and as I have said before - they are like little pats on the back and hugz from distant friends!!

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I had a couple of questions I'll try to answer, and hope I am not repeating myself,  The orange and black plaid Quaker kitty in the back is from a chart by The Workbasket and called "Quaker cat and Mouse" it is stitched 1 over 1 and finished as a floss holder. The Needle roll is, I think a JBW Design - but I am not sure.  The Owl ornament and Black "frightened" kitty pin pillow in front are both Prairie Schooler charts.  There was also a question I was asked in a few emails about all the stitched smalls....  these are all from Exchanges I have been in, I stitched nary a stitch.  It makes them that much more special as I can look at the basket and know it is a basket of friendship and kindness......  a little sappy but true!

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More kindness arrived through the mail yesterday..... a little back story...  a while back I was contacted by another stitcher asking if I had an OOP chart. I said I would check, and I did still have the chart and whisked it into the mail. 

 Well, yesterday the chart arrived back, but in a box and not an envelope...  Jane had included a treat she made... 

... a scrumptious jar of her homemade raspberry jam!!  Along with the jam was a great set of really cute recipe cards.  How sweet was that!!!!!  I know first hand how hard some charts are to find and if I can, I try to help out others - as I have been helped......  just passing along a kindness.  Thanks you so much Jane for your thoughtfulness!!!!

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That's about it for the week, still stitching on an exchange, hopefully I'll get it finished up this weekend - and then I'll have a finishing up evening.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again.... have a great weekend!

Take care,

edgar

Ready for the Fall and Hallowe'en!!!!!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you all for you kind words about yesterdays post and snap.

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Yesterday the FedEx guy dropped off a package I thought wasn't due to arrive until Friday - so lets give a cheer for early deliveries!!!!!!!  As you may remember I do love having candles, incense and things of that nature burning all the time.  I especially like Yankee Candles and when I saw the new candles for Fall I was beside myself with glee!!!  They made a totally black candle that has the aroma of black licorice for All Hallows Eve!!!!  I do not remember this from last year so it may be new - I knew the minute I saw it that one of these suckers was going to be in my home!!  They also made a topper that has black cats on it like the front of the candle....  of course I needed one of those...  and when I did my order on line this topper was on sale!!  Here's my new candle...

I couldn't just let it sit there with no other Fall/Hallowe'en things... so I hauled it upstairs and picked over my stitching goodies and came away with a basket of treats!

Here is my side table decorated with some fun things.....

The only comment I got from the peanut gallery was "you do realize it is still August?????"  I just went about my business!  I'm ready, bring on the Fall Fun!!!

That's about it for today sports fans, thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

A Quick Post

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks so much for stopping and as promised I did post the recipe for the Peanut Butter Cookies, over at Blacksheep Bakes.  Just click on over.

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I am still stitching away on Exchanges, but I think that will wrap up this weekend. 

Thanks again for stopping in, do stop again.

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I think I'll leave off with a snap I took of the Pacific Ocean a while back.....

Take care,

edgar

Mail and Magazines

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you so much for your kind words about the ornament I made for Kayona.  It was a fun piece to stitch and finish!!

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Yesterday the mail brought two super packages....

The first package was my ornament for the HOE Exchange....

... from Janet over at Home Sweet Home.  She adapted a poinsettia from the BBD 2011 LF Winter Sampler, and it is just gorgeous!!!!  It is stitched on Graziano linen using Belle Soie silk

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I was one of the winners over at Victorian Motto's - It was a Birthday Gift-a-way that Nancy was holding!!! - and I was sent 4 skeins of beautiful floss.....

... are these lovely colours for Fall!!

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Yesterday after work we headed to South SF City to make four stops (that turned into five stops)  The first stop was at Michael's.  I am kitting out a French chart that is charted for DMC and I didn't want to pull from completed collection, there are about 30 colours.  I grabbed a basket and headed to their very small cross stitch area and found that a majority of the little box-spots for floss where completely empty and those that did have a few skeins of floss were a complete jumble..... so it was on to target for a few things.....and then a quick stop at Carter's children shop to get some things for Rico's great nephew.  Then it was on to the next stop......  we headed up to Pet Smart for the puppy cookies we were after and then turned around and hit Joann's on the way back home  - they had all the colours I needed except for two - they have also jacked the price of a skein to .39 - just a month or so ago the price was hovering at about .34 - it is what it is guess!!  I still need to make a trip over to Needle in a Haystack for a piece of blue linen, but this is a project for next year so there is no hurry. Two things I had no intention of buying.....

The September Vogue at Target and the JCS Hallowe'en Issue at Joann's.  I always buy the September Issue of Vogue... but, I was not intending to get the Hallowe'en Issue - I changed my mind after browsing quickly through the projects, some of them look really cute.

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I am running out of time this morning so the recipe will have to wait until tomorrow.  Have a great one!!! - and - thanks for stopping by!

Take care,

edgar

Monday Posting

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends it is a cold and damp Monday here by the Bay - and it was a cold, foggy and damp weekend....  it was supposed to rain, but that never happened.  I spent the weekend doing the usual - and stitching like crazy on Exchanges.

I read over on the HOE that my BBD Ornament for the last round arrived at Kayona's - it got there pretty quickly!!  Here's a snap - 

It is from the 2010 JCS Ornament Issue - I used the recommend Belle Soie on 32ct linen.

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I got around to the thrift shops for my weekly fix!!  There was lots of stuff, but not much I wanted to bring home.  I did find...

 

... a nice little reticulated plate ca. 1900, and a Christmas book that looks pretty good!

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Yesterday I made a batch of Rico's favorite cookies.....

.....  peanut butter.  The recipe made a heap of cookies!!  I'll post the that in the morning.

There you go for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!

Take care,

edgar

A Quick Movie Post

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends just a quick post this morning.  Since I am still Exchange Stitching I have no snaps of any of that to show, just yet.

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Last night there was a Netflix DVD waiting for me in the mail - "55 Days at Peking" - 1963 - starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, David Niven, Flora Robson, John Ireland, Leo Green, Robert Helpmann, Kurt Kasznar and Paul Lukas.

Although the film is based on an actual historical event, as with so many Hollywood Epic Films it does stray from the actual Historical facts quite often.  But all that aside, I have always enjoyed this film and seen it many times.  Here is the overly dramatic period trailer....

The film is about 2 1/2 hours and with tons of over acting, mega-tons of costume changes there is still a pretty good story to found!

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Little Shopping!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you again for your kind comments regarding ATS, it is a monster stitch but a great piece to work on!!   I had a quick question about the linen I am using, it is a piece from LL, and is 36ct, Vintage Sand Dune.  I wasn't up to 40ct when I started it, but I am working myself up to 40 ct....  or at least I have a few cuts of it in my stash!  I also had a question about how I handle the linen as I stitch.  With this being a much largest piece that I have ever worked with - how I handle it is....  I am still using my trusty 8 inch Q-Snap and just move it back and forth and downwards as I stitch, the extra linen (and there's quite a bit) I just loosely roll up and rest in a heap on top of my knees and top of the Q-Snap and the bottom I roll up and rest in my lap - I sort of slouch when I stitch, but hey, that works for my.... bad posture!

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On Saturday I did get a chance to run around to my usual haunts, not much out there at the shops or Estate Sales, but I did find three things to add to my ever growing DVD collection.....

...  I found a two disc set of 16 episodes of "Petticoat Junction" - 1963-1970 - I have always enjoyed this show and the antics taking place at The Shady Rest Hotel, down in Hooterville!!  Here's the TV Intro......

 

 I also got a copy of "Designing Woman" - 1957 - a great romantic comedy, and the third film I found was "Spaceballs" - 1987 - a great parody of the Star Wars movie machine!  Here's the Theatrical Trailer...

 There were some other films I passed on - I usually pass on discs that are in iffy condition, smudges and dirt I can deal with, but scratches are another thing.

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Cake and More ATS

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thank you all for your kind comments about ATS and my less than stellar snaps.  I had an email request for an overall shot of ATS - which is getting harder and harder to take, the longer and longer it grows!!  So here is the effort from last night.....

I am not sure when I'll get back to ATS....  I finished up an Exchange last night  - and out it'll go this morning, but I have a couple more in the works and I want to get September Cottage done, boy there is lots to do!!

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On the baking front, Sunday I made up a great little recipe for Apple Cake - which was perfectly delicious!!!  I am thinking of adding it to my already groaning Thanksgiving Day menu!  I found the recipe over at Jolts & Jollies - "Apple Cake with Maple Frosting."  It's a perfect cake for Fall and so easy!!  Basic ingredients....

The only changes I made was to add quite a bit of Nutmeg to both the batter and the frosting - and - I baked it in a greased and floured 10 in spring form pan, lowered the temp to about 325 and baked it for about 43 minutes.  Other than that I followed the directions and came out with this....

The frosting changes I made other than the nutmeg was to use the whole 8oz block of cream cheese - I figured what was an extra 2 oz gonna do !

And - here is is in its final form....

I served it up on a platter and sent it off to work with Rico - and I heard that they really enjoyed it!

 

The apples and spices are very complimentary and with that little crunch of walnut - it makes a super cake!!

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That's about it for today sports fans - thanks for stopping by, do stop again.

Take care,

edgar

A Bit of ATS

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends our weekend here in the City by the Bay had some really great weather...  mid to upper 50's and bright and sunny.  I finished up an Exchange and rewarded my efforts with some stitching on ATS.

Here is a shot of the little bit I got done...

I am not sure why this is coming out so "green" , trust me the linen is not green...  but a vintage Sand Dune colour piece of linen.  I got the vines down to where they hit some trees so at least all the vine/leaf/vine/leaf stitching is behind me!!  

I think that's about it for today, it is running late and its gonna be a busy Monday morning!!  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

A Cookie Post

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends almost the weekend Thursday!!!!  Woo Hoo!!  I can't wait - we have been hearing for a few days about the weather getting warmer, but not here in the city...  I think we are going to get into the low 70's which is perfect weather.....  If i was inclined to drive east for about 30 minutes I could find some 3 digit+ weather, but why would I do that!!  I am sticking to the City for the next few days.

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Since I am not showing any of the stitching I am doing - just yet - I thought I would talk about something we found at Safeway last Saturday.  Let me start off with another tidbit about me and my weirdness'...  I am not really a fan of cookies.  There are a few I love, but as a sweet treat, not a fan.  Of the few cookies I enjoy most of them are homemade and family recipes - but, over the weekend we tried a New cookie from the Keebler Eleves.... "Fudge Stripes - Dark Chocolate"

These dark chocolate cookies with dark chocolate stripes!!  Just super for store bought!!   - and - they are really scrumptious with a cup of coffee or tea! 

You know how I love Dark Chocolate and now I add these to my very short list of cookies from the store that I like!!  They would be tied with my all time favorite cookie - Taffy Cookies from Mother's Cookies.  

Here is a commercial about Taffy cookies from about 15 years ago.....

What's so great about Taffy's is that they are coconut flavoured cookies with a slightly sweet vanilla creme filling!! These are also just super with a cup of tea or coffee!!

I think I'll wrap it up for today.  Thanks for stopping by, and remember to take time to enjoy a cookie!!!

Take care,

edgar

A Couple of Fun Movies!!

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends I do thank you so much for you kind comments and emails!!!!  They really make my morning and warm my heart....  although not cold but any stretch of the imagination it is windy and cool.

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I think today I want to talk about couple of really fun films I saw.  Since I am stitching on exchanges at the moment and so no snaperoos of them.

They were both Netflix Pic's - the first I got over the weekend - "Sherlock Holmes" - 2009 -

This first film stars Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong and Eddie Marsan. I wasn't too sure I would like this film, but after a few minutes I was sucked into the whole thing.  I found myself more than once just engrossed in the story and just the whole look of the film!!

Then last night I got "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" - 2011 -

Reprising their roles were Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Eddie Marsan.  I am often leery of sequels, but I enjoyed this as much as the first....  and hope for a third film in the series!!  I won't give away any of the story in either film, but it does keep you guessing right up to the end.  Each film is about 2 hours long with lots of visual delights - occasionally the fight scenes drag a bit... but that's what there is a fast forward button for!!  I would totally recommend either film.

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That's about it for today sports fans!  Thanks again for stopping by, do stop again.

Take care,

edgar

The Rest of the Post....

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends so sorry for the abrupt break yesterday, but Blogger was totally acting up in the oddest ways!!  Oh well, now to continue where I left off ....

Here is an overall shot of "And They Sinned".....

The snap is a bit crooked, but you get the idea.  It is really coming along, but now it must be put away while I finish up a couple of Exchange pieces I have going.

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Sunday being baking day, I baked up a "Bourbon, Pecan Pound Cake" - 

I found the recipe over on "Jolts and Jollies" it is a basic pound cake with the twist of Bourbon!!  I truly delicious cake!!!  The only change I will make when i make it again (and I will make it again!!) is to pull back on the glaze - and bit heavy with the Bourbon, but other than that, an excellent cake!!!  Thanks so much Maranda!!!!

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Last night I popped open the Hallowe'en candies, and found.....

 

.......  in the M&M Candy Corn, no "corn."  I guess that they are the colour of candy corn and made with white chocolate.  I really liked them, but I like smooth white chocolate.  They are bigger than regular M&M's and melt really well on the tongue!  I did a little digging on the Internet and find these are the "rare" white chocolate "exclusively at Walmart" type of seasonal M&M's - remember I picked mine up at Walgreen's, not very exclusive!!!  The white chocolate is supposed to be flavoured with candy corn flavour....  whatever, they are tasty and if you find some and like white chocolate, try'em.

The chocolate covered "pumpkin" Peep, was not as good as regular Peeps,  The chocolate was a bland milk chocolate and the marshmallow was orange coloured and pretty flavourless, cute idea, but not much taste....  

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I think that about wraps it up for today sports fans!  Thanks for stopping by, and for you continued kind comments and emails!!!  Do stop by again!

Take care,

edgar

Thrifting, Candy and ATS

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends it seems like the weekend just flew by and I didn't accomplish much except for the usual, laundry, vacuuming, and other household things....

We did make it to some of the thrift/consignment shops on Saturday Morning...  and I picked up a few goodies.....

From l to r...  a silicon mold to make ice shot "glasses."   Frozen shots are pretty tasty!!  I found this great Christmas Book, put out by the Minnesota Historical Society, a medium sized rolling pin, a small English creamer (matches a tea pot I have) and two copper over sized cookie cutters...  for $5 it was quite a haul!!

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I stopped off at a Walgreen's yesterday and although not "officially" out on the shelves, looking up a t the overstock area, they are already getting in Hallowe'en candy!!!!  I found these treats....

I have seen the chocolate covered Peeps before, but never the M&M's - I do love me some Candy Corn!!!  So I got them to try and I'll let you know.

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I worked some on ATS.....

 

Finishing up the Alphabet Band - I kept the odd lettering in places.  Now moving on the next section.

Well, Blogger is acting up and will not let me post any other snaps, so I'll sign off now.  Thanks for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

Some Trip Snaps

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends you are so kind about my crazy conversions!!  Thank you so much!  You do realize that as I start September Cottage if the colours aren't working i might just have to change them again, I held out some of the reds and pinks and even a dark brown that didn't make the cut.....  that may just work better.... we shall see.

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I spoke to my sister last night catching up before they leave on their trip to South Dakota... specifically for the 72nd Motorcycle run in Sturgis.  

A few years ago Rico and I drove out to Rapid City, SD, where Rico's family is from.  Sturgis is just north of RC.  Since I can't show any stitching snaps today, I thought I would dig out some snaps of the Badlands of SD.....

It was a super trip and the landscape was just spectacular!!!

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I caught two Myrna films last night...  "The Thin Man" - 1934 -

the film that started the series of Thin man films... and ... "Cheaper by the Dozen" - 1950 -

a great film that Myrna stars along with Clifton Webb and Jeanne Crain.  An interesting tid-bit about this film is that some of it was shot on the back lot at MGM, and was a 20th Century Fox film.... Fox didn't have a standing house set so they used the house the Smith's lived in in "Meet me in St Louis" on MGM's St Louis street.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  Thanks again for stopping by, do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar

September Cottage

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another week rolls by and it's almost Friday - can I get a Whoop-Whoop!!!!  Although the temps here is the City are hovering in the high 50's low 60's (depending on where in the City you are)  we are going to get a bit cooler over the weekend...  low 50's, lots of fog....  and unless I can find some great Estate Sales I gonna just stay in and stitch and watch movies!!!  After two weeks of nothing, zilch, Nada - I am not feeling it a the moment to hassle with the traffic and parking issues to go shopping....  but who knows, come Saturday morning I might just feel it and go anyway!!

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Anywho - the mail has brought me a little tasty treat - CCN September Cottage - and I pulled the recommended floss and then hauled out my over dyed stash floss and here is my conversion.........

On the right are the called for DMC choices (a bit on the orange side for me) I converted them to the following:

DMC 349 to GAST Geranium

DMC 351 to GAST Rhubarb

DMC 729 to WDW Marigold

DMC 3031 to CC Caterpillar

 DMC B5200 for the White

Keeping -

 WDW Pecan and WDW Grasshopper

I found I have 3 skeins of Rhubarb and each skein is very different - I chose the lightest of the three.  I like the idea of using a redder red - and Geranium will work nicely - since I presume that the "fruit" on "September" are apples, I think it will be nicer than the coral called for.

Last night I stitched a bit on an Exchange piece, but also stitched some on ATS...  no snap of either.

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Just a quick mention, TCM started of "The Summer Under the Stars" month long star a day festival yesterday with a day long tribute to John Wayne.  Today it is a day long tribute to that wonderful actress, Myrna Loy!!

This weekend the focus is on Marilyn Monroe, Saturday and Claude Rains on Sunday.  You can click on over to the TCM site for the complete schedule.  One of the Super Months at TCM!!!!

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That's about it for today sports fans!!  Thanks for stopping by, and for you great comments and emails!!  Do stop again.

Take care,

edgar

A Super Mail Delivery

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends another the weather is cool verging on cold here in City - at about 54 degrees with a light wind driving into work this morning was nice!!!  I do love the cold weather here, and I know we will get a few hot days in September/October - I am glad that when it gets "hot" it last for only a few days!

The mail yesterday brought a wonderful package from Italy yesterday.  I won a Gift-a-way over at The Grey Tail - Chiara's stitching blog.  She sent so many treats........  here's a snap....

From l to r - some great stitching post cards, three types of Italian honey (I do have to have my honey, and I love trying new types!!) a can of tasty Espresso, The Italian Kitchen in Italian,  piece of 28ct band, a super Black Sheep thread winder, some spaghetti, two stitching booklets, two PS Santa Cards and some Limited Edition GAST Floss.   So may great things, Thank you so much Chiara!!!!!

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Last night I started to work on one of my Exchanges, so no snaps.

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That's about it for today sports fans, thanks for stopping by!!  Do stop again.

Take care,

edgar