Day 24.....REALLY??..ALREADY???

Hello Everyone!

I'm back from spending the Thanksgiving holiday making memories with two of my children and their wonderful families. The whole Wilder clan couldn't make it to the cabin, but the majority of them were there with us.

We had an agenda that only included having fun and putting the Christmas tree up. The tree is 15' tall and weighs 300 lbs when it's all assembled. We need the brute strength of our sons to tackle this tree.

Grandson Austin was the designated high ornament placer. He's getting so tall that he won't be needing a ladder.

Thanks to friends and family, we have many special "cabiny" ornaments. My sister has outfitted our entire tree by giving us ornaments over the past decade that include moose fishing, moose in canoes, bears skiing...you get the picture. The ornaments are adorable.

We have rakes and brooms of all sizes that fit little hands. Little Jess and Zinny cleared the driveway.

Harleigh cleared a path so we wouldn't slip on the pine needles.

Austin and Harleigh both stacked wood.

The little boy cousins raced down the driveway under close supervision.

Remember playing so hard as a child that you literally just curl up and fall asleep. This is my little grandson Kade, that did just that. So much fresh, crisp air, playing with Zinny and running up and down the hills as fast as his little legs could carry him attributed to his utter exhaustion.

Today and the rest of the week I'll continue my preparation for Christmas by decorating the "city" house. Maybe I'll just curl up on the floor at the end of the day too. I found a quote by Leonardo DaVinci that fits the picture of Kade.

"A well spent day brings happy sleep."

Here's wishing all of you "happy sleep" tonight.

As always,
Lynn

Day 30.....at the quilting machine

Hello Everyone,

I'll bet you are all getting ready for the big day tomorrow. I know I am. I just took a pecan pie out of the oven. The lemon meringue pie is next.

I finished quilting Austin's quilt this morning. I was practicing the wavy lines technique.....not too hard, but I need more practice.



The wavy lines just pull the quilt together. This quilt is going to wear like iron with the amount of thread in it. The machine quilting will make it last forever. It will stand up to a lot of use and a lot of washings. I'll take a better picture once I get the binding on.

How do you like this picture? Circa 1970 in Paradise, CA. That's my sister on the left with her Mary Tyler Moore hair, Mom then me. I get the award for the highest hair.

In retrospect we all take complete responsibility for global warming and the hole in the ozone layer. Do you know how much Aqua Net hairspray it took to maintain that enormous hair?? First there was the Dippity Do that we applied before the hair rollers that we slept in! How did we sleep? Or else we would have to sit under the portable hairdryer for hours, and hours while we polished our nails. We must have been crazy.



When my uncle took this picture 39 years ago, I definitely wasn't thinking what my Thanksgiving in 2009 would be like. I wasn't thinking about a husband, children, let alone six grandchildren. On that note, I probably won't be blogging everyday over the Thanksgiving weekend. That's going to be my family time with the little kids....big kids too....but the little kids steal my heart. There is much to be thankful for.

My best Thanksgiving wishes to all of you.

As always,
Lynn

Day 31....Homemade Butter Rolls

Hello again,

Today is another page from the Wilder Family Cookbook. This is probably the most requested recipe in the entire book. I have been known to "hide" a few just so we have one or two to savor the day after I've made them. Now you have to plan ahead with this recipe. Make the dough the night before the event and finish the process in the morning.

This dough is easy to work with and you will love the texture. Watch them carefully in the oven so they stay golden. Here I go with the butter again!







Here's the recipe:

• Homemade Butter Rolls
  
  2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes active dry yeast
  1 cup sugar, divided
  2 cups warm water (100° to 110°)
  1 cup butter or margarine, melted
  6 large eggs, lightly beaten
  1 ½ teaspoons salt
  8 ½ to 9 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  
  - Stir together yeast, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 cups warm water in a 4-cup glass measuring cup; let mixture stand 5 minutes.
  - Stir together yeast mixture, remaining sugar, and butter in a large bowl. Stir in eggs and salt. Gradually stir in enough flour to make a soft dough. Cover and chill 8 hours.
  - Divide dough into 4 equal portions. Turn each portion out onto a lightly floured surface; roll into a 12-inch circle.
  - Cut each circle into 12 wedges. Roll up each wedge, starting at wide end; place on greased baking sheets. (Rolls may be frozen at this point.)
  - Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 2 hours or until doubled in bulk.
  - Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until golden. Yield 4 dozen.

Note: If unbaked rolls are frozen, place frozen rolls on ungreased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 2 hours or until doubled in bulk. Bake as directed.
(They aren't quite as good if you do this step.....we prefer them if they haven't been frozen first.)

Source: Southern Living 2001 Annual Recipes – page 21

I have made these without a mixer.....but it's so much easier if you have a mixer with a dough hook to work in the 9 cups of flour.

This is what the dough looks like before you tuck it in the fridge for the night.

This is what you will see in the morning. (I'm glad I don't double in size every night! )


Divide the dough into (4) equal sections. Pat the first section of dough into a small circle then roll into a 12" circle. I always do this on my Hoosier. The dough never sticks and I feel like a part of history when I'm using this old enamel work surface. (I'm not old enough to be considered an historic landmark just yet....but my sister is!)


Cut the circle into (12) wedges and start rolling at the widest part of the wedge.

Lightly grease a baking sheet and put the rolls in a warm spot to rise for about 2 hours.

Voila! Here are your rolls just ready to hop into the oven.


My grandson Austin, holds the record by eating SIX of the rolls at one meal. I now send him home with his own leftover bag.

Have a glorious day everyone.

As always,

Lynn

Day 32....Book for inspiration

Hello and happy Monday,

No time for me to be creative today but I can be inspirational by suggesting a book.

Comfort and Joy by Mary Hickey has 14 projects that are just right for you to complete by Christmas. (I would highly suggest that you start immediately....if not sooner!)

I made Midnight Star last year.

It's only 42 x 42 and is a nice size for a table or use as a wall hanging.

There are only three blocks. There were 12 blocks where I could practice quilting a tiny wreath.

It's a fun project to make. There are many other delightful projects in the book that I'm anxious to make as well.

Have a wonderful evening everyone. I'm headed to the couch to put my feet up and sew little buttons on my argyle stockings.

As always,

Lynn

Day 33

Happy Sunday Everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying your day. I'm one week into the 40 days before Christmas blogging project. I find myself thinking everyday about what I want to do next.

Today, I got out the serger and made 42 Christmas and cabin napkins. I went through 13 yards of fabric and didn't make even one little bit of a dent in the stash. Tonight while I'm watching Amazing Race, I'll cut all the threads and apply fray check to the corners. And no, I'm not having 42 people for Christmas! Most of these napkins are gifts. My daughter and daughters-in-law have promised me that will not read the blog this month......so if you are reading this Caren, April and Athena, then shame on YOU!



Here's a little peak at the next block of the month I'm designing using Garden Party and Old Primrose Inn fabric by Blackbird Designs.

The fabric is just beautiful. I'm calling the new quilt Party in the Garden. It will include applique, piecing and a bit of embroidery.

Workday tomorrow at In Between Stitches. Hope to see some of you there.

As always,
Lynn

Day 34.....Jimgle Bell Hop

Hello All,

No, I'm not going to miss a day at this!! I was working at the shop today for the Jingle Bell Shop Hop. I'm enclosing a few pictures that I took at the shop to keep you inspired.



We had a lot of new customers come into the shop for the first time today. And we also saw many of our long-time customers stop by.



Here are a couple of quick projects for Christmas that Melissa made. The patterns are from Hatched and Patched.



Here's Lisa's new block of the month.



This is Fa La La by the Artichoke Collection girls. A quick and attractive wallhanging.

Maybe tomorrow I'll have more stockings done.....or pillows......or Austin's quilt. You'll just have to stop by and see what I've been up to.

As always,

Lynn

Day 35.....Pillow fight anyone?

Hello Everyone,

It's a blustery, rainy day here in California. Just a perfect day to sew, listen to music, and throw another log on the fire. Except those logs are out in the rain and wind.



Today I made two pillows for my living room. These went together very, very quickly. I love the plaid! The back is also plaid. The pillow forms slide in easily. The tops can be removed, washed, ironed, and back on they go.

I almost always make two of everything......except for the argyle stockings! (I made 6 more last night.) It is just as easy to make two instead of only one at a time. You can keep both, or tuck the other away when a handmade gift would be appreciated.



The pattern is right next to Austin's quilt in the Snow Country book by Thimbleberries.




When the wind stops blowing, and the rain stops, I'll go to town and look for buttons to put into these little loops to hold the pillow together.



I discovered that 18" pillow forms are a bit like people. Not all are stuffed equally! The form on the left is a bit "plumper" than the one on the right.




Both Zinny and I hope you are having a wonderful day.

As always,
Lynn

Day 36.....and argyle stockings!

Hello to Everyone,

Yesterday I really wanted to sit and sew and make these adorable little stockings from Moda Bake Shop.....so I did!

Each box will make three stockings, but who could possibly stop at three! These little stocking are just the sweetest little things.

The directions call for adding a ruffle to the top. Never being one to follow a pattern, I decided to put yo-yo's on the top of mine. The stocking are about 10" long. I'm going to hang mine on the Christmas tree at first. But then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day they will go on the dinner table and hold a napkin.....maybe even the silverware. The guests get to take home their stocking at the end of the evening.

I love to make yo-yo's......it's absolutely mindless to make up a batch of yo-yo's while watching your favorite show or while listening to music.

So tonight, I'll finish the binding on the top and attach each yo-yo with a Christmas button. I'll add a little tab for hanging too.

At my last count, I've made nine so far. I have a few more to go to take care of everyone. Let me tell you they are addicting. They just keep getting cuter and sweeter. They would also be lovely in white and gold fabrics. What about Fairy Frost silver? I'm a traditional kinda gal, so I'll just stick with red and green. But, if anyone decides to make these in other colors, send me pictures please and I'll post them on the blog.

There are several Moda Bake Shop boxes at the shop. If you can't find one, start making some strip sets and make the stocking any size you want. Toss on some yo-yo's and you've got yourself some tree decorations, hostess gifts or table decorations.

Have a wonderful day.

As always,

Lynn