Saturday, November 30, 2013

Saturday's Smile!!

Day after Thanksgiving??  :-))

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving . . .

to all my wonderful friends and family for whom I am sooooooooooo grateful!!

Enjoy the day - eat lots, nap lots and if you get a minute, 
do a little quilting!!

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Saturday's Smile!!




May you have
Enough happiness to make you sweet,
Enough trials to make you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human,
And enough hope to make you happy.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Thank You to All Who Served and to Their Supporting Families!!


I have been involved in the Quilts of Valor program for a couple of years now.  If you have not yet heard of it, it is a fabulous group of all volunteers who donate their time, fabric and their hearts to making quilts for Veterans of past and present American Wars.  This year, the members of our guild, Needles & Friends, are making blocks each month for a new Quilts of Valor quilt - we will be making 6 all total.

I am just finishing up the binding on the October quilt that will be shown at our Guild Meeting tomorrow and so I thought today was the perfect day to post it here ~
 If you look right above the quilt on the right hand side, you can see the picture of me and my brothers when we were young, young, young.  Both of my older brothers were in the military, my older brother, Barry, rest his soul, was a Marine and my brother Greg was in the Army and spent almost two years in Vietnam.
In this picture, you can see that many of the gals signed their blocks, making it so much more special for the soldiers who receive these quilts.

The Quilts of Valor program is very close to my heart, especially since Greg was exposed to Agent Orange while in Vietnam and the health issues he has been dealing with over the past decade or so will most likely end his life in the next few years - he is only 66 years old.  I love you, Greg and thank you so much!!

I think this song - Some Gave All - says it so well!!
God bless all who served and are still serving and their families who have given up so much for the liberties we cherish!!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

I Couldn't Resist!!


Saltine Toffee
Ingredients
  • 40 saltine crackers (I recommend using Nabisco Saltines with Sea Salt)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 2 cups chocolate chips (whichever you prefer, milk, semi or bittersweet. I used half milk chocolate half semi-sweet)
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla
  • 3/4 cup chopped, toasted nuts of choice - pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts (optional)*
  • Sprinkles (optional)

  • Directions
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. Align crackers side by side in a single layer along baking sheet, set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan combined butter and brown sugar. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Once it reaches a boil stop stirring and allow to boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla bean paste then immediately and carefully pour mixture over crackers in an even layer (spread out as needed). Transfer to oven and bake 5 to 6 minutes until bubbly.
  • Remove from oven and sprinkle top evenly with chocolate chips. Let rest 5 minutes then spread chocolate into a smooth even layer. Sprinkle with nuts or sprinkles. Transfer to freezer and allow to chill 20 minutes or until chocolate has set. Remove from freezer and break or cut into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
  • *I just toasted the nuts in a skillet over medium heat several minutes until fragrant and toasted (while the crackers were baking). Toasting them is optional though.
  • Recipe Source: adapted from allrecipes.com

Saturday, November 2, 2013