Monthly Archives: November 2010

The broken down barn in the snow

Broken down barn
We went looking through this old broken down barn for a date post (where my buddies grandfather had carved the date they bought the barn; 1943). We searched through the barn for about 45 minutes, ripping apart old doors and walls to get to old support beams (where, we were told, it was carved). We couldnt find the date… finally my friends mom pulled up in her car and asked if we had checked the timbers that were lying near the side of the road. The first one we rolled over was the date beam. Bummer :-)
The date post in the old barn
Snow covered brambles
Inside the Barn

Thanksgiving in NY and PA


I got to spend thanksgiving with a good friend of mine in Upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. The food was great and it snowed twice (just a dusting). We had two fantastic Thanksgiving Dinners.
Prob my favorite part of that part of the country are all of the old barns. Seems like everyone has at least one. Ive always wanted to own an old barn and turn it into my home/work environment.


Quick Chicken and Stuffing

Chicken and Stuffing
Got a small cast iron skillet? Fill it with two chicken legs, 5 slices of cubed bread, 1 cup of mushrooms (or a combination of sliced vegetables), a 1/4 cup red wine, teaspoon of crushed garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, and two tablespoons of butter. Cover with tin foil and cook at 350F for 35-40 minutes. Let cool. eat. so good.

Fifteen Hour Quilt

Quilt_detail
We recently had a craft auction at work. All proceeds went to SOME (So Others Might Eat). I havent made a quilt since I got back from Iraq (almost a year now) so i thought I would use the opportunity to get back on the horse. This quilt was made fairly quickly (about fifteen hours from first cut to final stitch/wash/press). and incorporates very little ‘quilting’ (just a few straight lines of machine stitch). It primarily counts as a tie quilt where each pieced section is ‘tied’ to the backing. Tie quilts are super quick and kind of ‘folksy’ and charming. The fabric is a lightweight broadcloth in solid wintery colors. I believe the composition is 60/40 Cotton/Polyester. This is the first time Ive used this blend and im starting to really like it. The ironing was much faster and it needed little pressing right out of the dryer.

Hopefully Ill start making larger more interesting quilts in the new year… there is something awesome about constructing a blanket. I dont know why.
Quilt sandwich detail before quilting
Quilt blocks detailSewing Quilt Detail