Grandbabies and Quilts

Tonight we enjoyed dinner at Lonn’s with the family.  It was  both a happy, happy evening as we celebrated the cowboy’s birthday a day early and a sad evening—we are leaving soon and won’t see baby Brooks or his Mom and Dad probably until spring.  And the really sad leave taking was with Laci and Lora—John has received new orders and will be stationed in Germany starting in February for 3-4 years maybe longer—!

Chocolate cake for the birthday boy!

Note the weird things on the cabinet doors—happens when you have a two year old in residence!!

Stop taking my photo, Meme!!

We had a few snow flurries this morning but nothing sticking—the mountains surrounding us are another story--

Even seasoned quilters have bad days—I didn’t like the design I quilted onto the star quilt—time to rip, rip and rip some more!  You would think I could decide I didn’t like something before I finished the whole quilt??????

Ahhh—much better!

And the placemats—ready for their binding.

We are expecting a hard freeze tonight so I picked the last of the roses—the rose bush decided to bloom profusely late this fall--

Life is good!

Countdown Begins

It’s wet around here—rain through the night and all day today which means our fall colors are probably finished.

Sunday we went to Big Timber spending a couple hours with Nat who has been a little under the weather.  Back home Michael packed and I quilted—I am determined to finish a stack of my own quilt tops before we leave!  I finished a small lap sized quilt Sunday afternoon and am stitching the binding in the evenings. 

But—time is drawing near and the countdown has started!  I packed a few crates today then quilted the rest of the day.  Several years ago I pieced eight Christmas placemats and in the cabinet they resided until today.  I put all eight placemats on the frame at once and straight line quilted them—looks great!  Binding is in the dryer—I will probably take a bunch of these tops and the bindings with me and stitch my way to Arizona.  Another quilt top went on the frame late this afternoon—a star wall hanging I made at a long ago quilt retreat.  I’ve quilted two of these same wall hangings for other quilters and now it’s time to quilt mine. 

So, a few more sleeps and we are heading south—we are both ready.

Home Alone

Last night the bed and breakfast was full—Ainslie and Beryl were of course out in their fifth wheel and our guest bedroom was occupied by Michael’s cousin Pat.  A young woman in our community was married today—Pat’s daughters were part of the wedding party and Pat is a close friend of the family.

Tonight Joe and Tammy who own our former ranch were here for dinner and we enjoyed a fabulous meal and good company—it’s been a long time since we could just sit and talk to them.  They are planning some extensive remodeling for our former home—exciting!  Pat left first this morning followed by Ainslie and Beryl--

It’s kind of quiet tonight!

Friday Tammy, Jill, Jeane and I went to Red Lodge for a spectacular day of shopping and eating—we had so much fun!!  The fall colors were stunning, the company fantastic—it was a great day!

Red Lodge is a quaint Montana town with a year round tourist population—the town is a gateway to the scenic Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone Park plus there is a ski resort up on the mountain just out of town.  Lots of shops and restaurants.

So, the cowboy and I are now home alone—and that’s OK—life is good!

We Sure Are Eating A Lot!

Not much going on around here, yesterday was Beryl’s birthday and we enjoyed a delicious dinner—they provided the groceries—I cooked.  Steaks, corn on the cob and fresh asparagus.  Apple Sharlotka complete with a birthday candle for Beryl. 

And speaking of Apple Sharlotka—here’s the recipe I use—it’s a really, really moist cake and does not need covering after baking—I just lay a sheet of parchment paper over the top.

Apple Sharlotka from Smitten Kitchen

Butter or non-stick spray for greasing pan

6 large tart apples such as Granny Smiths

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

Ground cinnamon and powdered sugar to finish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Butter the paper and the sides of the pan. Peel, halve and core your apples, then chop them into medium-sized chunks. (I cut each half into four “strips” then sliced them fairly thinly — about 1/4-inch — in the other direction.) Pile the cut apples directly in the prepared pan. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, using an electric mixer or whisk, beat eggs with sugar until thick and ribbons form on the surface of the beaten eggs. Beat in vanilla, then stir in flour with a spoon until just combined. The batter will be very thick.

Pour over apples in pan, using a spoon or spatula to spread the batter so that it covers all exposed apples. (Updated to clarify: Spread the batter and press it down into the apple pile. The top of the batter should end up level with the top of the apples.) Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a tester comes out free of batter. Cool in pan for 10 minutes on rack, then flip out onto another rack, peel off the parchment paper, and flip it back onto a serving platter. Dust lightly with ground cinnamon.

Serve warm or cooled, dusted with powdered sugar.

The guys solved the world’s problems, Beryl relaxed and I worked in the quilt studio a little.  I’m trying to sell some stuff—fabrics, kits, etc. and spent time taking photos.  Once posted I wasn’t happy with the photos so will try again. 

Today we piled in the car and headed to our favorite Livingston restaurant—the Rib and Chop where we enjoyed  outstanding meals—Beryl had a huge plate of mussels, Ainslie and I had the best fish tacos and the cowboy had his usual—chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes.  We ran a few errands in Big Timber before coming home.

As if we needed any more food—Ainslie decided to make clam chowder—oh, my!!  Once tasting the soup I decided I was hungry enough to have a serving—some of the best clam chowder we’ve ever eaten.

Our fall colors are outstanding this year—beautiful!!!

 

Crafty, Cooking, A Close Call

All the chores are done—the ones you have to do when you husband and dog have been home alone for a few days and I’ve been in the quilt studio.  I made these really cute bags—easy and quick!

I finished another small quilt of my own but it’s a gift so photos will have to wait.

We have friends from Coos Bay, Oregon visiting so I made dessert—something I don’t usually do unless we have guests!  I used the apples from our own tree to make apple sharlotka—a very moist fruit filled cake—delicious!  Ainslie and Beryl arrived this afternoon with their fifth wheel.  We enjoyed a marinated sirloin, roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach.

 

Yesterday Emmi and I went outside to play ball—I was looking at all the golden aspen trees.  In a matter of seconds I saw out of the corner of my eye Emmi jump sideways and heard the rattlesnake.  I quickly skirted the rattlensake and grabbed Emmi while yelling for Michael.  She didn’t appear to have been bitten by the snake—it was a small rattlesnake with only three tail buttons.  We have lived in this house by the creek for 14 years and have never seen a rattlesnake around the yard or house.  We have seen many snakes in the hayfields, just not here at the house—I’m not thrilled!

We are enjoying glorious fall weather, we even dined on the deck this evening!

Home With The Cowboy and Emmi

Even though it was almost midnight when I walked in the door last night there was one excited little pooch dancing around to greet me!  And the cowboy was glad to see me too!  Flights going to Austin were perfectly on time but the return flights last night were both running late.

It is always a joy to spend time with Shirley, Elaine and Kelly.  Our friendships evolved over the years while the four of us worked for Kimberly-Clark as nurse consultants.  After retiring the four of us vowed to keep in touch and we have—gathering at least once a year to catch up. 

It was a busy four days as it always is—a night out on the town in the booming metropolis of Schulenberg with live music and pizza started our celebration.  Thursday we braved the heat and walked through parts of the Round Top Antique and Flea Market.  I am a southern girl but there is absolutely no way I could live in the south again—the heat and humidity zap my energy so quickly.  Thursday evening some of Shirley’s friends joined us for a happy hour.

Friday we lunched/shopped and in the evening drove to Columbus, TX for TexMex food.  Saturday we enjoyed a leisurely morning and lunch before loading our bags into the rental car and heading for Austin and the airport.

At least six years ago we planted three apple trees.  This is the first year we’ve had apples and only on one tree, the State Fair apple tree.  I picked all the apples this afternoon and will try them out in a dessert.

It’s good to be home!

All Packed

It’s hard to pack for one climate—chilly with rain—when you are landing in 92 degree sunshine with icky humidity!  I think I’m ready.  I’m not taking a laptop, only my iPad, so blogs may be non-existent until I return on Saturday evening.  This “event” is a yearly gathering of four nurses who worked together for the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.  Shirley is our hostess this year and lives near Austin, Texas.  Elaine lives in Kentucky and Kelly lives in Kansas City. 

Today was a Billings day and I think I’m done being poked and prodded for the year!—today was mammogram day—have all you lady readers out there had your mammogram this year???  I also visited the hairdresser for a trim.  And, we ran the usual assortment of errands—one of those errands will make life around the motorhome a little easier on the ears!  Our bay doors—heavy doors—are held open by gas cylinders.  Some of those cylinders were old and had lost their “hold” causing the air to turn blue when the bay door hit the cowboy on top of the head! He had a credit at the RV store and was able to purchase six of the cylinders with his credit—one happy dude!

Last night sunset was gorgeous when Emmi and I walked--

Emmi and Michael will hold down the fort while I am gone.  When I get back we have company coming from Oregon—Ainsley and Beryl!

Our house in the woods.