HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for 2013!
~Janet

AN ORNAMENT OF REMEMBERANCE

I bought this little Christmas tree ornament in memory of my little Jack Russell  "Shorty" who passed away last January. When I look at it on my tree, it brings back all of the great memories I have of her.  I was blessed to have her in my life. I miss her so much.

Wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

~Janet

ME AND MY "BESTIES"

This is a picture from last Monday, December 17th, 2012. Our friend Mary hosted our yearly Christmas Gathering  and again she made us a wonderful dinner with plenty of delicious appetizers and deserts. We spent a lovely evening together, just enjoying each other's company and reminiscing about our childhood memories of Christmas. Lots of fun.

Michelle, Mary, Shirley, Janet (Me), Brenda and Linda

SANDIE'S GATHERING OF FRIENDS

Last night DH and I were invited up to Shelburne, Ontario to a gathering at the home of our friends Sandie and Henry. What a great time we had, so much food, so delicous! A great time was had by all. It was a two hour drive, but well worth it. Thought I'd post some pictures of the gathering and some pics of Sandie's amazing dishes we had for dinner. She made some wonderful appetizers too. I am still full :)

This is me with my glass of ginger ale :)
I was driving!

DH and Doris's husband.
Sandie and Henry's home was decorated beautifully for the Christmas season.

And the girls gathered in the kitchen!

Noodles and Veggies....this was delicious!

More yummy food

PUMPKIN PARTY

Our girls love eating pumpkins. I have been giving them pumpkins daily and it is quite a sight seeing them gathering around for a pumpkin feeding frenzy.

I hope you all have a great day!

Janet

A STRANGE PLACE FOR A NAP

This morning when I went into the barn to feed the horses, I found our Cat "Sylvester" taking a nap in the little corn crib that DH made to store cobs of corn for our horses. I wanted to take a picture of him curled up sleeping, but he woke up when I was taking the shot. I thought it was a cute picture.

"Sylvester"

SUCH A BIG SUCK

As most of you know, all of our critters are spoiled rotten. Kit, my Jack Russell was napping and I managed to get a couple of pictures. She loves to snuggle under quilts and this time she is under DH's quilt. I caught her just waking up.

Waking up!

Awake!

WORKING AWAY

This week my DH came into the little Quilt shop where I work and snapped a picture of me. Just thought I'd share :)

Janet

A FUN SWAP

This year I joined in the Ornie Swap that Marie (OLDE LADY MORGAN) was hosting. Yesterday I received my package and I am thrilled with what I received. Everything hand made and obviously with lots of love.
I would like to thank the following friends for my beautiful ornies:
Brenda from the "Rusty Thimble"
BeckyJean from "Primitives n Stitchin"
Michelle from "Simple Pleasures"
Marie from "Olde Lady Morgan Primitives"

Also to Marie for organizing such a great swap!
Thanks so much to everyone! I will treasure everything.

Here are the ornies I received. Wrapped so nicely

Prim Ginger from Brenda (The Rusty Thimble)

Some goodies from Marie (Olde Lady Morgan)

Prim Reindeer from BeckyJean (Primitives n Stitchin)

Prim stocking from Michelle (Simple Pleasures)

Prim Snowman from Marie (Olde Lady Morgan)

This was my contribution...Santa Crows!

All packaged up and ready to go.

PECAN BUTTER TART BARS

This recipe was given to me by a lady in our Quilters' Guild to publish in our newsletter. I thought I would post it here as it looks delicious. Wish I could remember who gave it to me so that I could give them credit.

PECAN BUTTER TART BARS

Ingredients:

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup butter (softened)

1/4 cup of corn syrup

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

pinch of salt

Base:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup of cold butter cubed

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Base: In a large bowl, mix flour with brown sugar. With pastry blender, cut in butter until crumbly. Press into parchment paper lined 9 inch square metal cake pan.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans and press lightly. Bake for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in bowl, beat together sugar, butter and corn syrup until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and salt. Spread over base and bake until darkened and slightly jiggly when shaken. (about 20 minutes)

Let cool in pan on rack. Cut into bars.

Make 36 bars.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I would like to wish all of my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving.

~Janet

IRISH COURTHOUSE STEPS

Yesterday I spent a very enjoyable day taking a workshop from Heather Stewart. The workshop was Irish Courthouse Steps. Lots of cutting and lots of sewing in this quilt, but the finished quilt is gorgeous. It is a great way to use up my scraps.
The quilt consists of two different blocks. The workshop started at 9:30 am and we finished at 4 p.m.
Included in this workshop was one of Heather's delicious luncheons. On the menu was cauliflower mac and cheese with a salad consisting of mixed greens, goat cheese, pomegranate seeds and walnuts. For desert we had lemon loaf with a cup of freshly brewed tea. Absolutely delicious! I just love Heather's luncheons, everything is always so fresh and home made. Below are photos of my two completed blocks for the quilt.

Block One

Block 2

PFAFF SEWING MACHINE SALE

Just in case anyone is wanting a brand new sewing machine, there is a huge Pfaff sewing machine sale going on at Sew Creative Quilting at 22486 Adelaide Road, Mount Brydges, Ontario. The sale is on until December 22, 2012. Wouldn't you just love one for Christmas?

Visit the store or visit their website www.sewcreativequilting.ca

AUTUMN'S BEAUTY

Autumn is my favorite time of year. I just had to take a picture of this ornamental cabbage in my flower bed. I planted it in the spring as a seedling and it so beautiful right now. I just thought I would  share the picture.

Beautiful ornamental cabbage

AUTUMN GATHERING

Last night I hosted a dinner gathering for our little sewing group. I always have the autumn one as this is my favorite time of year. I am pretty sure this is our 6th year of having these dinner/sewing gatherings. We take turns having them at each other's homes. We have appetizers, wine, dinner and then we hand sew until we get tired enough to go home. The menu last night consisted of Butternut squash and apple soup, broccoli and cheese quiche, mushroom and spinach quiche, mixed salad greens, and pumpkin pie and caramel banana cake served with hot tea for desert. Appetizers were served ahead of the meal, three cheese and onion dip with veggies and hot garlic, onion and asiago cheese dip with crackers. I think we all had a great time. I don't think I'll be able to eat until tonight. I am still full :)

The table was set

Linda, Mary and Michelle enjoying a glass of wine and some appetizers

Brenda

Shirley

and Me

CABIN

The cabin is just about finished, just have to put the side windows in and it will be complete. The inside will be finished, but not until next year. I have had lots of questions as to how it is coming, so here is a picture I took today. It was such a gorgeous day today.

 DH and Kit sitting at the cabin

DH and Kit

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all of my Canadian friends and followers.
Janet

TWO PEAS IN A POD

We call these two horses "Two Peas in a Pod". Magic has been here for almost two years and the other horse is a standardbred mare that I recently adopted to be a companion for Magic after our Clydesdale mare "Dolly" passed away last April.

Her name is "Corey" and she is enjoying her new life tremendously. The two are  now inseparable. I think they are enjoying growing old together. I was glad to be able to give her a home. They enjoy being out in the pasture all day from sun up to sun down, then coming in and enjoying apples, corn, oats and hay before going to sleep for the night in their cozy stalls. They are enjoying these cooler days.

Corey

Magic and Corey

Magic and Corey

WHAT'S GOING ON AT MY PLACE

Our girls are laying fast and furious. Nothing better than fresh eggs. I put this sign out at the end of our lane way. We are now selling "Fresh Eggs".

DAYTRIPPING

My friend Michelle and I have done some great Daytripping since last Friday and I even Judged a Horse Show over the weekend too. We went over to Marine City, Michigan on the Ferry at Sombra ON. and had a great day looking around Antique shops and visiting a great Quilt Shop that had their Open House going on. It was called "Quilting Dreams". We had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Michelle and I both love seafood chowder, so our lunch was a bowl of seafood chowder and a perch sandwich. Absolutely delicous! We walked the town and visited all of the Antique shops before getting back on the Ferry and heading back home to Canada.

Another day, we went to the Aberfoyle outdoor Antique Market in Aberfoyle, Ontario. I was in all my glory. You could spend hours just wandering around looking at all the great antiques and we did just that. We both found a few treasures to take home too. After we left Aberfoyle, we headed over to New Hamburg, Ontario and visited a little Quilt/Gift shop in town, then had a wonderful lunch at Meme's cafe. Here are some pictures of our excursions. We had a great time.

This is me just after we arrived in Marine City, Michigan.

One of the historic buildings in the town.

From the US side looking over to Canada.

Quilting Dreams Quilt Shop.

I loved these flowers and I asked Michelle to take a picture of them.

Seafood chowder we had for lunch :)

A Barber shop in town.

On the Ferry heading back to Canada.

A Farmer's Market we stopped at on the way home to get some squash and Indian corn.

Aberfoyle, Ontario... outdoor Antique Market.

Some great Antiques.

McCully's Farm Market.