SUMMER KITCHEN

I have finally finished painting my huge pantry cupboard in my summer kitchen. The Sawbuck table is also now finished. It was lots of work but I just love the outcome. DH did this summer kitchen for me last winter and just finished up 2 days before Christmas. He also built the sawbuck table and the pantry cupboard.It is off the back of my kitchen in our farmhouse.

Sawbuck table with the top stained and the legs now painted barn red and antiqued

The sawbuck table with one of the table topper quilts I made

Barn Red pantry cupboard 7 feet high

Side view with my freezer

On my freezer is the primitive wool stitchery that my sister made me last Christmas. AHHHHHSUM!

1939 Findlay Oval woodburning cookstove

Sawbuck table and Stove

SEWING GATHERING AND TRIP TO NEW YORK

Well my exams for the first term of my College course are over so I had 5 of my Quilting friends over for dinner on Wednesday night. It was so hot......in the 90's and we don't have air conditioning, but we all had a great time. I made a big pan of Lasagna and garlic bread with cheese. I also made a garden salad with strawberries, red onion, and cherry tomatoes. And of course we had wine with dinner and strawberry rhubarb pie for desert or lemon cake. After dinner we all worked on one of our sewing projects.

The next morning I left for Syracuse New York as I had to Judge a horse show on Friday. It took me about six hours to get there. The show was great, and very large. I enjoyed it. I was fortunate to be able to work with some really nice people. It was a long show that started at 7 am. and finished at 9:30 pm. In the Judging world, we call that a "Marathon". I went back to my hotel room and got a good sleep and got up early the next morning and headed home. I decided to take the scenic route home, 5 and 20 instead the Interstate 90. I had a beautiful trip home with some beautiful scenery. I got to travel along the finger lakes. The small towns I went through were very quaint. I stopped at some nice shops and even some quilt shops. I went into one quilt shop in Caledonia New York, called "Chestnut Bay Quilt Shop" The shop owner was so nice, she owned some horses so we had a nice talk. I purchased a Quilt Kit for "Banner Day", a Jo Morton design. I have always liked the American themed fabrics and Quilts so now I can make one. It came with some beautiful civil war fabrics. so I will have to get that made this winter. I didn't arrive home until after 5 pm. It took me twice as long to get home as it did to get there.

The dinner table set with my crow dishes

Brenda is teaching Michelle to hand quilt

Shirley, Mary and Linda working on their projects

Brenda is hand piecing quilt blocks

Shorty taking a nap....................it is so hot!! and I have had enough of watching all those ladies sewing :)

The pattern for "Banner Day" by Jo Morton

Civil War fabrics that are in the kit.

SOME THOUGHTFUL FRIENDS

I thought I would show this picture of the cards we received from some thoughtful friends after Gemini's passing. One of my favorite shoppes, "The Bayberry Shoppe" in Bayfield, ON. sent me a beautiful card with a German Glass Christmas tree horse ornament to remember her by.

There were also numerous emails. Thanks to all. It is never easy to loose a friend, but all of the support helps.

~Janet

CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT

CARDS OF SYMPATHY

DELICIOUS BROWNIES

Here is a great brownie recipe. Last month I took a batch of these to one of our quilting get-togethers and everyone loved them!

BROWNIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1/2 Cup of Butter

8 oz. Bittersweet Chocolate

1 Cup of Flour

1/4 Cup of Cocoa

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

2 Cups of Sugar

3 Large Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

Melt Chocolate with Butter.

In another bowl, combine Flour, Salt, Cocoa, and Baking Powder.

Wisk together Eggs, Sugar, and Vanilla, then pour in the cooled Chocolate mixture and combine well.

Using a spatula, stir in the flour mixture and scrape into pan.

Bake until toothpick comes out clean. Top will be shiny and mixture will start to pull away from the sides of the pan. Baking time depends on the size of pan.

You can put this mixture into two 8x8 pans and it takes 30-35 minutes. I have found that if I put all the mixture into one 8x8 pan, it usually takes an hour. So it depends on how thick you would like them. I usually do them in one 8x8 pan.

Enjoy!

A VERY SAD DAY

Well today I had to say goodbye to a very, very special old friend.

My horse Gemini that I have had and loved for 40 years passed away during the night. We were blessed to have had her for that long, as horses do not live to be that age. She was such a special horse, so kind and gentle. She greeted me with a nicker every morning when I went in the barn, but this morning it broke my heart to find her gone. We almost lost her 4 years ago, but with extra care and love she pulled through. She loved eating her apples every day and her special friend Sylvester the cat used to like to sleep on her back in the winter to stay warm.

Rest in Peace my friend.

We will always love and remember you.

Your family

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Gemini with DH last summer 2009

Gemini on the day she was born June 10th, 1970

Gemini and me at the Horse Show at our town Fall Fair 1981

Gemini and my sister Audrey at the Horse Show at our town Fall Fair 1981

NOW IT'S MY TURN

I have seen some others post about this before, so I guess now it is my turn. I was a little upset to say the least tonight when I found a graphic that was given to me as a gift, sitting there on someone else's Blog. It would be nice if people would ask before helping themselves to other

people's things.

QUILT SHOW

This week our Quilters' Guild is putting on a fabulous Quilt Show in St. Marys Ontario.

If you get a chance come and enjoy some time looking around and seeing some of the gorgeous Quilts that will be on display. We have many talented members at our Guild and they will be showcasing some of their Quilts. There are numerous door prizes, workshops, and lots of good food. Everyone is welcome! You will even see me working there :)

huronperthquiltersguild.com

KITCHEN PICTURES

Some pictures of my Kitchen

My Cranberry coloured Clock

(I am not spelling colour wrong, this is how we spell it in Canada :)

Google keeps giving me nasty messages :(

Olde Black Crow Coffee sign that I received from Nancy in the

"Olde Fashioned"

Christmas Swap hosted by Char

My Blue Cupboard

More of my Graniteware Collection

Grapevine Wreath with Crow

Cupboard, Bowl Rack, Herb Rack, and stitchery of my recipe (Curried Parsnip, Pear and Apple Soup) that was published in MERCANTILE GATHERINGS MAGAZINE, CHRISTMAS issue a couple of years ago.

Jelly Cupboard and Clock with some of my Graniteware collection.

Bakers' Table....It took me three years to find this. And yes that is a real pumpkin. I just LOVE pumpkins and try to keep them on display as long as possible.

Cream coloured cupboard and spice rack. Crow wreath

Kitchen counter and stove

Dough Bowl and Quilt that I made for my kitchen table in the

colours of my kitchen. I have my kitchen done in

Tans, Cranberry, and Liberty Blue.

Another picture of the Quilt on the table. I take it off

when we eat, but it looks so nice with all of my kitchen colours in it.

BUTTERY SIGN

I just thought I would post a picture of the sign I just finished. It is a special order for a customer and I will be shipping it off to the USA this week. I like the way it turned out and I might even have to make one for myself.

QUILTS

Seeing Quilts were listed on A Primitive Place as one of the 10 things we like to collect, I thought I would post some pictures of a few of the ones that I have  done.

This pattern is called "Wacky Stars"

The "Gardeners Journal"

"Four Patch Scrappy"

"Log Cabin"

CRANBERRY BANANA LOAF

This is a great recipe. I just made this to take to our Quilters' Guild meeting tomorrow. Our group is in charge of refreshments for our break this month. It is a quick easy recipe.

TIP: If you have any over ripe bananas, just peel them and put into ziplock bags and freeze them.

Take them out for a recipe that calls for them and thaw them out and mash them.

RECIPE

1/4 CUP BUTTER

1     CUP GRANULATED SUGAR

2    EGGS

3    MASHED RIPE BANANA

1    CUP CHOPPED CRANBERRIES

1 1/2 CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1/2    TEASPOON BAKING SODA

1/2    TEASPOON SALT

1/2    TEASPOON CINNAMON

1        PINCH OF CARDAMON

Combine butter, sugar, and 1 egg in mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. Beat in second egg. Stir in banana and cranberries.

 

In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon and cardamon.

Stir well. Add all at once to banana mixture. Stir only to moisten. Scrape into a 9x5x3 inch

loaf pan (greased). Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 1 hour.

Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sylvester (AKA Fluffy Muffy)

Sydney and Louis ( two crazy Aussies )

Shorty

Sambo

Dolly

A Happy New Year from some of the gang at Mapleview Farm and Olde

Crow Primitives.

A GREAT CHRISTMAS

Primitive Crow stitchery from my sister Karen in British Columbia
Another picture of the stitchery

Primitive table topper hand made by my sister Karen

I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year. Ours was pretty quiet, but we enjoyed it just the same. On Christmas day we went to visit my father-in-law where he is in long term care and had Christmas dinner in there with him. He enjoyed our visit, I'm sure. On boxing day I cooked a small turkey for DH and I and we had all the traditional "fixins" that we have every year. We have the stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, mashed turnip and carrots, turkey and gravy. Then for desert, I made my English trifle which is a family tradition. Can you tell my background is British :)?

I just had to post the pictures of a couple of gifts that my sister Karen from British Columbia sent me.

She made me this primitive pumpkin/crow table topper. She also sent me a primitive crow stitchery. I just love them. She knows my taste by now....LOL. I was out in B.C. visiting her in October and while shopping in my favorite store out there (The Weathered Rooster), I was drooling over the crow stitchery. My sister must have taken note of this, as it is mine now :)
I will be finding special places in my home for these for sure. Thank you Karen.  It would have been nice if we could have spent Christmas out there with all of my family, but we have way too many critters  and some of them are getting quite old and need lots of Love and Attention. Maybe some day we can enjoy Christmas together.

A GATHERING OF GURLFRENZ

On Monday night we had a Christmas Gathering at the Marsh Store

in Coldstream. Shirley put on a fantastic dinner for the five of us.

When we arrived, she had a table all set up in the classroom of the Quilt shop with her good Christmas china, candlelight and some great appetizers. We had a choice of red or white wine. For the main course, Shirley made a wonderful salad to compliment the spinach and onion pie that she made. We all enjoyed the meal tremendously! For desert, Shirley made a Chocolate truffle cake that was just awesome so we enjoyed that with some coffee. Thank you so much Shirley!

Shirley had planned a project for our night of sewing. She designed a Christmas placemat and we all made four placemats using the stack and wack method. Shirley brought out her stash of Christmas fabric and let us all choose which fabric we would like to make our placemats out of. There was something for everyone, as we all have unique tastes in fabrics. This was a super fast project.

Seeing we all had such a great time, we have decided to make this Christmas Gathering a yearly event.

Mary was the photographer, so she didn't make it into the picture, but there was five of us that got together to enjoy the evening.

Merry Christmas~Janet

CHRISTMAS BAKING

Hello everyone.

I thought I would share a picture of my Christmas baking. I got up early this morning and started making the shortbread recipes and made about 6 batches. I also made some icebox cookies and they are rolled in plastic wrap and in the refrigerator to be sliced and baked tomorrow. This is such a busy time of year but fun. Just have to watch that I don't eat too many of these myself!