A goal for 2019

"Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed." ~ Unknown

Cut open an apple. Count the seeds. Now cut open one of the seeds. How many future apples do you think it contains? The only way to know is to plant it, care for it, and patiently wait for them to arrive. Jesus rocked the religious people of His day with the words, "For the entire Law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Jesus counterbalanced the whole Mosaic Law, containing over 600 ordinances of do's and don'ts, with one simple command to love.

Can you imagine the incredible, limitless potential in this one command? If everyone treated all people the way they would like to be treated, imagine how many laws would be irrelevant in our country.

If, instead of dropping to the lowest common denominator of our neighbors, we each personally raise the bar to where Jesus set it, at "love", imagine how many trees of life would be planted, watered by streams of living water, providing shade and fruit for the whole world to enjoy.  ~ Kirk Cameron

Christmas morning pancakes

Here's our Christmas morning Chocolate Chip pancake recipe!  I hope you enjoy it.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder and sugar; set aside. Preheat waffle iron.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Stir in the milk, butter and vanilla. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture; beat until blended. Add 3/4 cup of mini chocolate chips
3. Ladle the batter into a preheated waffle iron or frying pan. Cook until golden and crisp.
4. Serve with butter, extra chocolate chips, syrup or strawberries

Home Tweet Home

One of the quilts I made this year was called Briar Rose and it's a free pattern found at the EnglandStreetBlog.
 The pdf download is on the right side of the page.  This pattern calls for 1 jelly roll and yardage for the background and border.  Her directions are spot on, too!  I plan on making another one!













I made this wall hanging over the summer and it was a free download on the ModaBakeShop website.  It's called Home Tweet Home. It's an easy pattern!  You use the paper piecing technique to make the birdhouses.

Hearts and Apron Strings quilt

A lot has happened in 2018.  I recovered and healed from cancer.  My daughter was married.  I completed a few more quilts.  The one I'm working on now is called Hearts and Apron Strings, which was a BOM (block of the month) given out in 6 issues of the Quilter's Newsletter magazine in 2004.  I've had these issues for years with the plan to make it and now was the time!  This is the first month's pattern:

The applique corners are added the second month:

The third month churn dash blocks are added:

American Quilt

I watched "How to make an American Quilt" last night for the umpteenth time.  This movie has subtle life messages in it, and some not so subtle.  Each time I watch it something new stands out.  For instance, last night there was a scene where Constance says the hardest thing about being friends with women is that they're women.  She lost her husband to cancer a year before, and although she joined the other women in their quilting task, it seemed she was singled out as the one they picked on. I thought she handled their treatment of her graciously and with forbearance.

As the movie progresses, we're shown the various struggles each woman has had in her life.  The only woman whose life was picture perfect was the woman they picked on.  Constance had a wonderful relationship with her husband, she missed him terribly.  A husband of one of the other women targeted her vulnerability, and was rebuffed.  Her character, out of all the women, was notably the most sterling.

If someone picks on me, (it happens to all us) I try to keep this in mind, you don't know what they've gone through in life.  The mere fact that they're picking at you, is proof they have some struggle going on.  Sometimes I fail, and lash back, but most times I absorb it... and let it roll off my back at a later time.

Anyway, these are just thoughts running through my head this morning.  How is your morning going?

UFOs are on a roll at my house

I bought a panel by Northcott fabrics the minute it hit the quilt shops 4 years ago.   This is a pattern called Meadow Stars, by Patti Carey. It uses a collection called Stonehenge by Northcott. I bought the blue/brown panel when it hit the shops, couldn't get out of the store without it!

But Northcott didn't put a kit together for the blue/brown colorway, so I had to put one together on my own. I found all the stonehenge fabrics to make this quilt.



Update:  The quilt is finished and has been delivered.  Here's the final product!

Smile for the day

"For fun, he hit's people..."



Jack Mook is a tough detective working at the Pittsburgh Police Department. He met brothers Josh and Jesse through his volunteer work at the Steel City Boxing Gym and one day they turned up missing. When he found the older brother, the startling truth he discovered set up a chain of events that changed these boys’ lives forever. This man is a true hero.

Pecking Order quilt, a pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company