February 2, 2010

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, not so happy.  I hear we're in for another six weeks of winter but, honestly, isn't that the way it is every year?  Who ever heard of winter ending in February?  Heck, in New England we're grateful if it ends before May!

But I digress.

I returned from my fabulous quilting retreat to Vermont (will post some pictures in a few days) just in time to do laundry and get on a plane to Texas where I am hard at work on my fourth Cobbled Court novel.  (By the way, number three, A THREAD SO THIN, will be released on April 27th.  Have you pre-ordered a copy?  I think you should.)  I'm really too busy to blog much right now, but my husband forwarded a hilarious and somewhat cautionary tale to me today that I thought I'd share with you. Enjoy!

If you don't let a woman have her own way....Things are going to get ugly. 

January 25, 2010

I'm off on a "Finishing School" quilting retreat, a getaway in a lovely inn with a big sewing room, good food, good company, and a five delicious days to focus on finishing up a couple of those UFO's - UnFinished Objects - that are the bane of every quilter's existence.  

Of course, I've brought far, far too many projects along.  There were no less than three boxes of fabric in the back of the car when I pulled away.  Optimistic as I am, it's crazy to think that I'll be able to tackle all of them.  But, if I can just finish up the quilt I'm making for my eldest son and his bride before their May wedding, I'll be well pleased with my progress.   

I did want to show you one project that - together with my precious daughter-in-love of six months - was completed in time to give as a Christmas gift to my 89 year old mother-in-law.  It was so nice to work on it together.  I simply love having another woman around the house!

The quilt is nothing fancy, but the pinks and greens in the carnation theme fabric are fresh and pretty and go perfectly with the decor in Grandma's apartment.  Also, since she is a tiny little thing - a couple of inches under five feet with size five feet to match - this little quilt is a perfect size for Mom to use when she's watching t.v. in the evening.

Making a quilt, even a simple one, is always a joy.  But when quilt making is a family affair, it's twice as much fun.

January 8, 2010

As you may know, I have a little Cavalier King Charles spaniel named Oliver.  My twitter buddies know him as the Errant Spaniel.

Oliver is a love, a clown, great at being exactly what he was bred to be - a faithful and constant companion.  No one is ever as happy to see me as Oliver is and, when I go away on a trip, he gets a little sad.  The mere sight of a suitcase makes his ears droop in a way that inspires me with instantaneous guilt.  

I'm in Texas right now and have left Oliver in the care of my son and daughter-in-law.  Just yesterday (with a little help from my daughter-in-law) he wrote me an especially pathetic e-mail that I thought I'd share.  It is, of course, written in Spanglish (Spaniel English), a language which I have learned to speak fluently during the past six years while serving as the translator for Oliver's inner monologue. Enjoy.

owiver."  

December 31, 2009

As you can tell from my recent lack of bloggage (is that a word? it is now) the holidays were very busy for us. When I was a young mom, I could not have imagined that Christmas would actually be more chaotic when my children were grown, but trust me, it is.  Trying to juggle the holiday schedules, desires, and obligations of three married/engaged couples, one teenager with a girlfriend, as well as mothers/mothers-in-law is the definition of chaos.

Anyway, there was one bright spot in our Christmas and that was breakfast.  My kids love this breakfast casserole I make for Christmas so I thought I'd share it here with you.  It's a very forgiving recipe, you can alter the amounts and fruits to taste and it'll still be delicious - I often do a blueberry version.  If you use a sweet fruit, you can skip the extra sugar. Enjoy!

Christmas Breakfast Casserole

1 load challah bread, cut into cubes

8 oz. cream cheese (lower fat version works fine too), cut into small cubes

12 eggs

1 cup milk 

1/2 cup real maple syrup (don't use the fake stuff, its not worth the effort)

1 cup fresh cranberries 

sugar - a couple of tablespoons

Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.  Layer half the bread into prepared baking dish, dot w/ half the cream cheese and half the cranberries.  Sprinkle sugar over the top - a tablespoon or two.  Repeat the layers.  Mix eggs, milk, and syrup in a separate mixing bowl, pour over bread mixture. Cover dish w/ plastic wrap or foil. Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours or overnight.  

When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350, uncover dish.  Place in heated oven for about 35 minutes, until egg mixture is cooked.  Serve plain or with extra syrup, if desired.   

December 17, 2009

Well, the first quilt block swap among our Reading Friends has come to a close and not only was it fun, it was absolutely filled with the spirit of Christmas! And quilting! 

Quilters embody the kindness and spirit of giving that we associate with this festive holiday season, except they tend to do it all year round.  I have believed this for a long time and now, I've got proof!

When we began our Quilted Christmas block swap back in November, I decided that I wanted to do something special for this inaugral event and send a little gift to each of the quilters.  So, unbeknownst to anyone but our swap hostess, Maureen, who had to coordinate the mailing of the quilt blocks and gifts, I sent a signed copy of SNOW ANGELS to each quilter.  It was so much fun keeping this secret from the group and twice as much fun when I began reading the posts that came through as each lady opened her package from Maureen to find, not only these absolutely lovely quilt blocks made by new friends from all over the country, but the book as well. I really felt like Santa's little helper! 

But it turns out that the man in the red suit as helpers all over the country!  I just didn't have time to participate in the swap personally (I've got this book to write, dontcha know) and I was getting a little jealous as I read all the posts about how beautiful the blocks were.  I kept asking people to send me some pictures so I could see for myself, but nobody did.  

Imagine how thrilled I was to go down empty out my post office box yesterday and find a package from Maureen containing 17 simply beautiful quilt blocks! Yes, with all these dear reading/quilting friends had to do, they each took time to make one more block for me!  I was so very, very touched by that. This is a gift I will treasure always.

As Maureen said, "It really is a Christmas quilt..all filled with new friends, generosity, and lots of love!"  It certainly is. 

December 3, 2009

A few weeks back, eighteen of my Reading Friends who are also quilters got together to participate in our first online quilt swap.  I was excited about this project, which was graciously headed up by Reading Friend "Macareenie", because I knew these ladies would stitch some lovely quilts together.  What I didn't anticipate was strength and number of wonderful  friendships that would that would be created along with the quilts. 

Of course, I should have seen it coming - after all, I've written a number of books about that exact topic!  I've said it before and it is true; quilters are never strangers for long!     

Well, our first online swap is coming to a close.  Before too long I hope we'll have photos of some of the swappers quilts to share with you here.  My schedule didn't allow me to participate in the swap as a quilter, but I have been following along in the online forum as the swappers have shared quilts, questions, jokes, opinions, weather reports, dreams, plans, and lives.  It has been wonderful to see how quickly these women have bonded into a real cyber-circle of friendship.  This has been by far our most popular thread in the online forum. The two hundred posts have been viewed nearly seven thousand times!  

The only problem, of course, is that the swap will be over soon.  In the last few days, there have been many online conversations about that.  "This has been so great!  I wish it didn't have to end!" the new friends lamented.

Well, it doesn't have to end.  And it won't! 

Last night, in the Quilting Stuff section, we opened up a new thread in the online forum called "Cobbled Court Quilt Circle - Online!"  The idea is to keep the circle of friendship going and even expand it.  Several of the members of the inaugural quilt swap have already posted, introducing themselves to the new circle, but we're hoping that many more will join in! 

 "Membership" in the Cobbled Court Quilt Circle Online is open to everyone.  There are no dues, no board assignments, no regularly scheduled meetings to attend, and you don't have to be an expert quilter to join in the fun.  The only thing you need to be is a registered Reading Friend (if you haven't done that yet, just click on the box up left that says "Become a Reading Friend..." to get started) who is interested in quilting and making new friends. 

Hope you'll join us in the circle!  This is going to be fun!