reading + almost party time!

If you're in the need of a really good book, I highly recommend The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. This book came out in 2009 so there's already another one and even another one due out next month! This one is reading at its best; the writing is so well done and a pleasure to escape into. I nearly finished it last night and would have if my eyes could have stayed open a wee bit more. The sleuth is 11yr old, Flavia, who is most passionate and learned about chemistry and who names her bicycle, Gladys. Set in an English village of the 1950s, it is a unique mystery and well worth your reading time.

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Zack's 4th birthday is coming up this week and of course there has to be a party! Zack loves books and one of our favorites is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle so that is the theme and I'm pretty excited about trying to make a caterpillar shaped cake.

food, glorious food

Oh I love to bake. And cook. Dinner was fabulous but let's talk dessert first. So National Chocolate Cake Day was January 27th and I missed it, however I think chocolate cake is good on any day. Don't you? This afternoon I needed some chocolate cake so I googled and found a simple recipe for one layer and it filled the need perfectly. I was happy (as was my family) to celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day a few days later!

One-Layer Chocolate Cake
1 cup sugar
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup brewed coffee

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8 inch pan. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar until light & fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture, alternating with coffee. Beat until just incorporated.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

When cake is cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

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Now for dinner's part in today's kitchen time. As you know from this post, I have Rachel Allen's cooking app and am really loving it so far. This recipe is another from her app; the dish was so, so, so good for a cold night's meal. I actually forgot to put the cumin, coriander and brown sugar (cooking by the letter can be crazy in a house with boys running in and out of the kitchen) but the chili didn't need these ingredients at all. When I fix it again, I'll leave them out because it was packed with flavor as it was. I'm sure it would be extra wonderful with these items but honestly, you don't need them. Also, I didn't serve it with rice but rather some tortilla chips. Oh my word, was it delicious! I'm a cilantro freak so topped it with some.


Chili Con Carne
adapted from Rachel Allen recipe
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, peeled and roughly chopped
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 red pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
1 green pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
2 (14.5oz) cans diced tomatoes, slightly drained
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
salt and black pepper
1 can black beans, drained

Pour olive oil in dutch oven or large pot. Crumble and brown meat completely on high heat. Remove meat from pot with slotted spoon and set aside. To pot add onion, garlic, green pepper and red pepper. Lower heat to medium, cover with lid, and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft.

Return meat to the pot and add tomatoes, tomato paste, black beans and some salt and pepper. Bring to boil, cover with lid, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. This will let all the flavors marry and the sauce will thicken a bit.

Serve hot and top with cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream if desired.

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I took a picture of the bowl before I served because Michele always enjoys seeing the plates and such. So this picture is for you, Michele ... we got these bowls in Colonial Williamsburg on one of our trips there several years ago. They have several eating taverns in the historic area and I collect the china from some of them, piece by piece, as they are pricey! They are really fun and take me right back to the colonial area of Williamsburg and the memories we cherish from there.

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I've started stitching a small Jane Austen inspired design and hope to show you more of it soon. It has the sweetest verse from one of her novels that reads:

It is well to have as many holds upon happiness as possible.

Till then ... stitch lots and eat well. Please.

squirrels, you like 'em or you don't ... and drool on this!

I have really enjoyed the comments from the previous post. Ya'll crack me up! From the be-kind-he's-cute comments to the do-away-with-those-rodents comments -- hilarious. Never you worry, he was unharmed and back this morning bright and early, with his best pal. They had quite the buffet! All the while Miss Maddy watched from her warm, cosy chair with crossed paws and content they were nowhere near her food.

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I received some yummy fabrics from Lakeside Linens this week ~ the Vintage Maritime will be used first for my next sampler design. Don't you adore their fabrics? 32ct is my favorite.

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It's pizza night here and I could eat right. now. It's all this food talk :) Happy Friday!

bad squirrel

This little bugger just knocked down the bird feeder and yelled jackpot in squirrel talk. Don't like squirrels. Unless they're motifs on a sampler.

snowy with a chance of meatballs

As I first started writing this entry, my youngest was laughing away at a Spongebob episode and my oldest was whiling away the snow day home from school on his game remote. It was a big surprise at 4 this morning when I received the text alert from the school system that there was none today because of snow and when I looked out the window, it was rain as far as you could see. They got out of school a week or so ago for snow, I mean rain. So all day we waited for snow and it didn't arrive until dinnertime. But it did arrive and methinks tomorrow will be an actual snow day. Fingers crossed. They say we're to get up to 6" but then they really never know so we'll see.

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So for this cosy winter's evening meal we needed something comforting, something extra good, and something that filled the house with yummy aromas. It was a perfect day to bring the crockpot out. My grandmother had shared a meatball recipe from a lady at her church with me recently and even got me the 2 essentials for the sauce as I had the frozen meatballs from my last IKEA shopping trip. Served with mashed potatoes and this dish was delish.


Mrs. Frederick's Meatballs
***This recipe feeds a crowd so I divided it by thirds and made a smaller batch. Enjoy!
16 oz chili sauce
16 oz grape jelly
3 bags frozen meatballs

Mix together in crockpot and cook on High for 3 hours.

fast

My little Zack will be 4 years old one week from today! These past few years have gone so fast. So fast. Just like this zhu zhu pet. Have you seen these buggers? While in a drugstore back in December, before the Santa list was sent, Zack saw a display of these little toy hamsters on wheels. I had never heard of them before and he was immediately taken with them and wanted me to add them to this list. Santa must have known they had to be added to the toy haven here so Zack got 2 of them and on Christmas morning it was hilarious watching these speedy things go back and forth all over the floor, making us laugh and the cat look up and take notice. Zack had these pretend pets out this afternoon and wanted me to take pictures of them with my new, nifty camera. They were so fast I could only zoom in to focus one of them! Even picked up the dusty floor's reflection. Lovely.

So now begins the last week of having a three year old. He is darling, funny, independent but not, talkative like you wouldn't believe, loving, friendly, cuddly, excited about everything, passionate about food, and so much more only a Mama could prattle on about. He moves. fast. And I wouldn't have him any other way.

more Jane

My goodness, where did the morning go? Been packing orders, drinking tea, and trying to stay warm ... Two older designs have been added to the EPattern listing on website and they are ...

Pride and Prejudice Sampler

Jane Austen & Me ... the Emma Project

Both designs are still available as Mailed Patterns. Click HERE for details on all EPatterns. Enjoy!

Birthday Cake X 3

It's been a week-end for cakes! My birthday cakes. Each was different and delicious in its own way. Each was magical, pretty and candle-topped but thankfully not with 41 candles.

First Cake
Devil's Food Cake with Vanilla Frosting
Baked by my husband; supervised by Zack and frosted by Ben
This was my birthday-night cake!


Second Cake
Nancy's Chocolate Cake with Wicked Good Frosting with probably insane amount of Butter

This was enjoyed on Saturday afternoon with dear friends, eating good food, and savoring hours of stitching with no interruption.

Third Cake
Fresh Apple Cake
Made by my Mom.
Tonight we went to my parent's house for another cake ~ yum! Isn't it beautiful?

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It's been a lovely birthday week-end. I'm very blessed with such a loving family and dearest of friends. I already know it will be a hard workout tomorrow morning at the gym but cake is sooooo good!

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Stay warm and have a cup of tea ~ it's so cold out there! Downton Abbey begins in 40 minutes ... can't wait!

Downton Abbey

Do you watch? Tomorrow night is the the 3rd part of Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece Theater. I found this link for the show with lots of tidbits and pictures. The costumes are absolutely divine and the characters are terrific. The house is somewhat roomy and I doubt there's a Target or Chick Fil A (my 2 favorites hands down) anywhere near it ... however I'd surely take it if someone gave it to me. Perhaps I could open my own on some of the property. You think there would be room?

Until the property (and dresses and a few of the men) become mine I thought it would be fun to stitch up a souvenir of the show. Have a cup of tea and enjoy!

Downton Abbey, free chart

Copyright 2011 The Sampler Girl

(click on chart to enlarge)
Stitch Count: 71 stitches by 37 stitches

O DMC 372
X DMC 169
V DMC 315
| DMC 869

an old quilt + thank you!

There was an old quilt at my paternal Granddad's house that was given to me; it wasn't in very good condition but there were several squares I could cut out to salvage. I plan to create a mini quilt with these pieces and put my maiden name on it as a keepsake; the fabrics are soft and muted in colors. I'm thinking they are 19th century because of their quality and print. The beautiful churn dash was the main block of the quilt with the nine patch worked in blocks for the sides.

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Thank you sweetly for all the dear birthday wishes. Friendship is a beautiful thing. My guys baked me a chocolate cake which was delicious! Well, here I am at 41 with my newest toy.

In the crazy quilt of life, I'm glad you're in my block of friends.

~anonymous

forty - one

Just another number, right? Well ... it was easier and quicker to say 40 than 41. Try it ... see? Doesn't roll off the tongue as fast but slower. Great, slower. Well, that's anything but me. I'm a can't-sit-still-type of Girlie. Just ask around. They'll tell you that I'm not a slow walker, not a slow talker, not a slow stitcher, not a slow reader, not a slow person. So methinks there's no slowing me down with even a slow number.

Ah well, we can't stop birthdays so might as well have cake. I can slow down for that! And lots of it. Happy Birthday to me.

i heart apps

Well, it is a truth universally acknowledged ... we all adore Colin Firth as the comments from my previous post attest. I had mentioned him winning at the Golden Globes on Facebook the other day and got similar agreement. That smile of his. Ok, while on the subject of all things yummy ~ I fixed burgers for dinner tonight. Not just any burger but a recipe from Rachel Allen, the Irish chef. She talked me through the recipe via her new recipe iPhone app and it was very simple, and delicious. The app converts from UK Metric to US Imperial which is most helpful. I must say it was odd at first having her talk the steps but her voice is so charming and pleasant; I could have cooked for hours. However, there were hungry folk in the house so you know how that goes. You slave away in the kitchen and then put it on the table and they gobble it up and then it's the next day's dinner and you're at it again. So here's the recipe should you find yourself craving a really, really good burger.

Burgers with Guacamole and Crispy Bacon and Cucumber Relish
adapted from a recipe by Rachel Allen
*I omitted the guacamole because no one here eats that.

For Cucumber Relish:
1 Cucumber, medium sized, unpeeled and thinly sliced (I used a seedless English cucumber and peeled it otherwise people would protest about the skin)
1 Onion, small, peeled and chopped thin
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 Cider Vinegar

Mix cucumber and onion in bowl and add sugar, salt and vinegar and mix well to combine. Store in a sealed jar in the frig for an hour or overnight.

For Burgers:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
1 lb ground beef
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh chives and fresh parsley (total)
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 large egg, beaten
2/3 cup breadcrumbs

Place olive oil in saucepan; add olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover and sweat over low heat for about 10 minutes. Drain and cool. Mix with remaining ingredients and shape into patties. Brown both sides in skillet and cook to done in oven at 350 degrees until desired inside color.

Serve on toasted burger buns with crispy bacon and cucumber relish. My word is this good eats. The cucumber relish is fantastic and the burger flavor is fantastic with its ingredients within. Yum!

. . .

I've found a nice spot to display my new sampler. The response for the chart has been fast and I'm delighted that so many others delight in its sweet verse and antique motifs. I'm working away on the next Clara design so hope to have that available soon.


Time for evening tea and then the kitchen will be closed for the night. Thank you for spending some time here with me today. I rather fancy having Colin Firth's handsome face on the blog now so pop in anytime and have a look; he's sure to make your day flutter by with a smile.

ice day

Schools are closed. It's cold. The tea kettle is about to whistle. The boys are playing quietly until they're not, laundry is being tumbled and the cat sleeps. I've some orders to pack and stitching to stitch. The house is very cosy. Methinks even more warmth could be added to the day.

Well, the water is boiling now ... best have tea. Stay warm :)

Many are thee starrs I see, new pattern!

Many are the starrs I see
Design by Tanya Marie Anderson
C 2011 The Sampler Girl
CLICK HERE for details on pattern.

reading

A good way to spend a cosy winter's afternoon, don't you think?

shoveling, grilled pineapple, and stitching on days ending in Y

So we didn't get as much snow as they said. Less than an inch but less than an inch of snow is still more snow than no snow. Especially to a 3yr old. Any excuse for Zack to whip out his personal shovel and he'll take it! Let's just say, the snow was flying. See his hat tassels? You can feel the motion.

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I'm addicted to Pioneer Woman's recipes. I confess. The woman knows food. Isn't grilled pineapple gorgeous? Tonight's dinner was delicious and pretty. There are even leftovers for week-end munching.

Grilled Pineapple and Chicken Quesadillas
adapted from Pioneer Woman's recipe
8 Flour Tortillas
2 cans pineapple chunks
1 package thinned, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt And Pepper, to taste
2 cups Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
Barbecue Sauce
long wooden skewers (be sure to soak in water before using on grill)

*To grill pineapple: put wedges on skewers, and grill over low heat. Cut into slices.

Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper. Drizzle olive oil on a grill pan and grill on both sides until done, brushing with barbecue sauce. Set aside and slice into very thin slices.

Warm grill over medium heat and put sizzling margarine in the pan. Slightly warm and toast tortillas on both sides, then remove from griddle and set aside.

To assemble, sprinkle four browned tortillas with grated Monterey Jack. Arrange chicken slices evenly over the surface. Add pineapple slices. Drizzle extra barbecue sauce over the top. Add second browned tortilla on top of each one.

Add back to skillet to warm, until cheese is melted. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Serve with sour cream.

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My hands are still rough, dry and cracked. Yet the passion for stitching prevails and I'm nearly finished with Many are Thee Stars I see. I really adore this piece!! It's been a slow-go with my needlework as of late because of my wintry skinned hands; I've only been able to stitch for short periods of time. I've been collecting hand lotions in hopes that one will yield more comfort than the next. I hope to have a finished model picture to share on Monday!

Till then be cosy and stitch and please, grill some pineapple ~ you'll be glad you did.

in a word, snow

Perfect morning for cinnamon buns. They're from the Pillsbury can, my boys' favorite. One of these days I'll make the real thing but in the meanwhile, these are pretty perfect. Especially on a 2hr delayed school opening :)

good eats

Cold here. Hoping for snow tomorrow. Made a positively delicious simple meal tonight.

Cashew Chicken over Rice
1 T chopped onion
1 C. diced celery
1/4 cup margarine
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 T soy sauce
3 drops of hot sauce
2 Cups cooked, diced chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
1 cup cashew pieces

Saute onion and celery in margarine. Add soup, broth, soy sauce, hot sauce, and blend well. Add chicken. Simmer 15 minutes. Add cashew pieces; stir and serve over rice.
*recipe from a MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) cookbook

i spy sweden

Found myself at IKEA this morning and and had way too much fun. I snapped a few pictures but honestly I was there when the doors opened, without children or husband, and wanted to shop. The way I see it ... there's IKEA, Target, ... and Chick Fil A.

Now to unpack Sweden and put it around the house :)

making tracks

At some moment between the ages of 2 and 3, Ben was fascinated with trains. Thomas the train, to be exact. After that moment, until he was maybe 5 or 6, he played with trains. I would find our car automatically drive us to Barnes & Noble quite often so he could play with trains at the train table in their kids area. When I was lucky to score a train table (they are pricey you know) at his preschool's consignment sale, let's just say, Ben was in train conductor bliss. Until he had the table though, I was forever making track mazes on our then condo living room floor and when my husband would come home expecting dinner, I'd be trapped between the wooden pieces nowhere near the kitchen. The table was useful because then the tracks could stay in place rather than being put away in containers so people could walk in the room once again.

When Zack became crazy for trains (at the same age - imagine) ... the train table came out of the attic as well as Ben's old trains. minus the ones that they had recalled due to lead paint. Remember that scare? I shiver at the amount of money in the containers of trains and track and am still amazed at how much the trains cost nowadays. I didn't have to walk to the store uphill in 2 feet of snow wearing one mitten to buy these trains but still they weren't cheap back then.

Zack is more interested in cars than trains than Ben who thought cars were awesome but trains ruled. Nonetheless, Zack still finds time to play trains and will beg for more trains for his ever growing collection. They now make these trains with the oddest names and I have the worst time trying to remember them all. Yes, he wants to know who is going through the tunnel and which one hooks behind who. I need a manual to keep these pieces straight. It's so much easier when he wants me to build a block tower.

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Here's another little look at Many are thee Starrs I see.


It's almost finished. I would have had more of the border done last night but people got hungry in the house. Why is it time to make dinner again so fast?

back to it

Did you hear that? Listen carefully. You're right ... it's silence. I don't think it's been this quiet in the house since early December. Preschool resumed today. Funny how the Christmas break moved quickly and too fast while in it but then it lagged a bit before New Years and all the noise, noise, NOISE ... it's nice to have 3 hours to recharge from it all and remember my name and how to enjoy a cup of tea before it went all cold for leaving the room to find batteries for a Wii remote or help reach a puzzle from a higher shelf. Zack was the first one to arrive this morning and happy as a lark to see his friends again. He had been missing the whole school-thing and enjoyed telling everyone he'd meet that he was on vacation, but he rather be back to it. You can appreciate how much my 11yr old felt about going back to the grind, I mean school. 6th grade isn't all blocks and snack time, or so he tells his little brother.

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I've been finding the comfort of tea much more these past few months. My latest favorite is this tea. There used to be a British tea room in town but it closed a few years back and I still miss it. It was extra cosy on wintry days as the owner would have the best scones and the best teas to delight upon and all the while you could peruse Majesty magazines.

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I did a lot of back-to-work stuff yesterday so will afford this quiet time to some stitchy-work. Making progress on my new design, Many are thee Starrs I see ... it's really coming along sweetly.


Back to it ... enjoy your day!

heartfelt thanks + a sneak peek

Thank you for your sweet comments and emails about the passing of my Granddad on Christmas morning. I'm still having trouble dealing with it all and if you have a long story in your family then you'll understand why some things can't be easily tucked into words. I do appreciate the kindness of my visitors here ~ so consider yourself hugged. This morning in church the sermon was as if written for me and isn't that always how it is sometimes? The scripture on Jeremiah was beautiful and one I hadn't read in awhile which is most comforting.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
~Jeremiah 31: 3, 13-14

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I've a new design that will be released soon. The verse is taken from an old English poesy ring and reads:
Many are thee starrs I see
yet in my eye no starr like me.

Here's a sneak peek of it!