My poppy was inspired by the following pictures taken in September.

I call these my seeds for my flower garden. All these bundles cost 25 cents each at the local church thrift sale held twice a year. In total I got 59 different pieces of quilting cotton, 21 Christmas cotton prints, and 4 pieces to use for tote bags. Some were a yard and some were only a few inches, but all will be used somehow.

Wire Bookmarks

 Here are my simple tools.
The big block in the front is the front weight from an old rototiller.
I mounted a plane bottom I found at the recycle, and put in a few dowels as jigs to use when bending my wire. It was hard to figure out where to drill the holes for them, but they kind of work.
I bought a new ball peen hammer but it leaves marks on my hammered bookmarks, so I dug out the old wooden handled one. I must admit the wooden handle is better for my wrists and hands. And of course ear protectors, I didn't use them the first time I hammered and my ears hurt after wards.

 Three different textures, the one on the left is hammered on the plane bottom, the middle is on the rototiller weight, and the right one has been gone over with a wire brush attachment on the grinder.
I used 10 gauge copper wire from the hardware store, that I stripped of its plastic coating.
Bends easy and the hammering hardens it some.






 Don't get your finger between the end of the hammer and the bookmark!
I had a blister on my thumb that just healed.

A finished bookmark with some bits from my husbands parts tray that I wound some copper wire around.

Leftovers

Gotta Love Leftovers

Third time around for these leftovers. 
The first time they were Browned Onion, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli. Second time I added a bit of sour cream, an egg, some cheese and dill to the potatoes and baked them in muffin cups. Cream of Mushroom soup, an egg, and yes more cheese added to the broccoli and baked that also. 

Being too good to throw out, I saved the 3 leftover muffin potatoes and about 1/2 c baked broccoli. Today I added milk, a few dashes of Chipotle Hot Sauce and heated while mashing it up with the back of a spoon, sprinkled on a bit of cheese and I had another delicious meal, although it was only for me today for lunch.


You can see my fingers reflected in the spoon!

Goodbye to Summer

I love the feeling I get every time I look at this picture - skipping along without a care and enjoying the moment. 

We took our 3 grandchildren camping this summer to the mountains. We didn't go too far, just to Paddy's Flat Campground in the Kananaskis  Country south of Calgary. There is a great 2.2 km trail through the forest and along the river that the kids enjoyed. They had so much fun playing in the water and looking at all the rocks. The weather wasn't the hottest, but the kids didn't seem to mind.

This isn't an advertisement, but you might say I am addicted to Words With Friends - A scrabble game for the I Pod Touch.
You can see the board is getting full and my letters are getting difficult to use. I do have a word in mind, but I'll have to wait and see the next move by my opponent.
If anyone out there wants to have a game with me I'm Birdie1954.
There is a free version, but my son gifted me this paid one.

I didn't know what to call today's post.

Saving Money

I bought this lawn sweeper this summer at a garage sale for $5.00.


No gas used for the lawn mower or electricity for the leaf blower. I also got some exercise.

 Procrastination 

Yes that is snow in the distance.

 Making Compost 

The garden is cleaned up and most of the leaves are gathered  and added to the new compost bin we made a month ago out of salvaged wood.

 Exercising Mac

I kicked the ball for him while sweeping leaves.

Washing the Dog

He rolled in something smelly last night and I was hoping he would get wet enough to give him a good brushing.

I guess
Multitasking
would be a good description of my morning.

  Recently I've been making bookmarks with wire.
  I've tried clothes hanger and electric fencing wire. I bought some copper wire at the hardware store to use next.
  The local UFA is holding a craft sale in December and the plan is to rent a table with my sister-in-law and try to sell them.
  We've both been making wire wrapped sea glass pendants. Judy found the sea glass on a trip to Puerto Rico earlier this year.
  I'll make some tote bags also. I am not sure about pricing yet. We won't make a fortune, but it will be fun.

 

Still awaiting the hammer. It sure is a good way to get out your frustrations.

One Flower Wednesdays again!
The Lobellia is still blooming on the deck, I think this might be the last of the annual flowers.
Hopefully I can make more flowers for next week.

My first dark centered flower. I can see more blooming in the future. I would like to use brown but my stash does not contain any suitable ones, so I guess that means a trip to the fabric store.

More inspiration

Don't worry, that is a stuffed monkey Mac is carrying in the background. Unfortunately he loves to pull the stuffing out of his stuffed toys, so there is a mess to clean up, but he has so much fun doing it.

I've cleaned up the garden since this picture, but I left the sunflowers for the birds and the poppies because they are still so pretty.

 What to do with 10 lbs of prune plums my Dad brought from B.C.?
I searched the web and found a recipe for  plum sauce and plum crisp. 
Doubled the recipe for both and made a few alterations.

Plum Sauce bubbling away.

Pureed and reducing

Processed and ready for the cold room.

Oh, I charred some Anaheim Peppers to freeze and use for dinner (green chili pork burgers) too.

Crumble and plum/apple mixture.

Ready for the oven.

Baked and cooling for the deep freeze.

 Plum Sauce
1 lb prune plums halved and pitted
1 lb apricots, halved and pitted (I used 1/6 lb dried and reconstituted)
2 c cider vinegar
3/4 c water
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
1/2 c lemon juice
1/4 c peeled and chopped ginger
1 small onion, chopped
1 hot chili, seeded and chopped or to taste.
2 garlic cloves, chopped
4 tsp coarse salt
1 tbsp toasted mustard seed
1 cinnamon stick

Combine all in large pot and simmer 1 hour. Remove cinnamon stick. Blend in small batches when cooled slightly. Be careful with a blender, and put a towel on top of the cover while holding it down. 
Return to large pot and cook it down until desired thickness. 
Pour into canning jars, tighten covers and process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. (the recipe said to just cap, but I like to process in a water bath.)
Wait 2 weeks before using. 
I got 10 cups with a double recipe.

Prune Plum Crisp
1 1/4 c flour
1/3 c ground walnuts
1/3 c unsweetened coconut (optional, my addition because my husband loves it)
1/2 c white sugar
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 c butter, melted
2 1/4 lb prune plums, pitted and quartered (6 cups) (I substituted some apples I had for a cup or so).

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, walnuts, 1/4 c white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and cardamom. Slowly ad the butter and combine with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. 

In another large bowl, combine the plums and the remaining 1/4 c white sugar, toss well.  Spoon into a buttered 2-quart or shallow casserole dish. (I used 4 - 8X5 inch foil pans) Sprinkle crumbs on top, breaking up any large lumps.

Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping browned, 50 to 55 minutes.