DD#1 and a Rainbow

Here is DD#1 at the game. She did a fabulous job. She was a rebounding fool. She even power dribbled through 3 defenders! So proud.Had to check the lost and found today. DS#2 has NO sweatshirts! I found two of them. Do all 8yo boys have corn growing in their ears?
I was blessed with the site of this fabulous double rainbow. I know it is illegal to talk on a cell phone or text while driving but what about taking pictures?

Now I know why the end of the rainbow keeps moving. It is in that car!

Baste and a Gluten Free Day

I was trying to stitch baste instead of pin paste. I took about 2 hours, lots of needle pricks, a little blood and a little disappointment. I started to machine quilt and realized it is a pain to remove all those threads. I'll finish it though and let you know how it turns out.

I started the day with gluten free Blueberry muffins. I found the recipe here at I Am Gluten Free. They were really good, the kids ate them and didn't suspect a thing.

Blueberry Muffins
Makes 12 muffins

2 cups brown rice flour mix (see below)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon xanthan gum
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ - ½ teaspoon nutmeg (to taste)
1 ½ cups unsweetened fresh blueberries (I used frozen, undefrosted)
½ cup milk (I used vanilla flavored almond milk)
½ cup canola oil
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Cinnamon sugar for garnish or optional streusel topping (I used the streusel topping)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in center of oven. Spray muffin pan with cooking spray.
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, xanthan gum, salt, and nutmeg in large mixing bowl. Add blueberries; stir to coat evenly.
Combine milk and oil in small bowl; remove 1 tablespoon of combined liquid and discard it. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add liquids to blueberry mixture and stir until just blended.
Fill muffin pans 2/3 full. Sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar or streusel topping. Bake 18 – 25 minutes until lightly golden. Remove muffins from pan and serve immediately or cool on a rack.

Streusel Topping
½ cup brown rice flour mix
1/3 cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and xanthan gum in a small bowl; stir to blend. Pour in butter and stir until all dry ingredients are moistened. Break into small pieces with spoon.

Brown Rice Flour Mix
2 cups brown rice flour (extra finely ground)
2/3 cup potato starch (NOT potato flour)
1/3 cup tapioca flour
Total: 3 cups

I had baking mix from Bob's red mill that worked great.

I am still playing with my camera a trying to get those artsy pictures. I took this one on macro from across the room. Yummy! All that was left were the crumbs.

Then It was Gluten free Corn muffins! I love to bake and I love to eat. I made these for my Mom who came to visit this weekend. I used the recipe on the box of corn meal and substituted rice flour and xanthan gum for white flour. It worked really well too. Almost too bad it tastes so good, I have to eat more.



Gluten Free Clam Chowder. DH is really wonderful he made this for us for lunch. He found the recipe HERE He just added garlic to the recipe. Did I mention that my jeans are fitting a little bit snug these days?I think I am playing some psychological game with myself. I am teaching a Detox/Cleanse class on Tuesday. Then leading a group detox. I will have a lot to get rid of.

It's Raining!

Yeah, it's raining. That might not sound like much to the rest of the country but we have been very dry here. The last time it snowed here was Christmas. The local ski resort was pretty slushy with the 60 degree temps the last couple of weeks. I am not complaining mind you. I just have not experienced enough winter yet and we need the water! With it raining here it is probably contributing to the snow pack a bit higher.
I started my day off a bit slow this morning. I sat at my desk in my PJs until 7:13am in the quiet, blog surfing with a cup a Joe. What a nice way to start the day. Unless it is a work and school day! I couldn't bring myself to wake the children and start the morning pandemonium. Well that it was, pandemonium. 35 minutes to get myself and 4 darling children out of the house. We made it 45, stopped at the store to pick up snack for Alea's class and made it to school right when the bell rang. It was not pretty or pleasant for anyone. Was it worth it? I say not. I will take a lesson from "The Flylady" and get dressed to my shoes before I leave my room. If I want to sit and do nothing I will do it after all the stuff is done.


I was playing with the super Zoom on my camera today and found Tammy's necklace a cool target. I want to know how to take those cool pictures where the foreground and the background are out of focus and the item of interest is perfectly clear. Really, I want to know. If you know share with me. Do I need a special camera? Lens? Or just a special setting?
I have a Minolta Konica Z6 My DBIL gifted to me.

Here is a little lady that came to see me today. I was struck by the combination of colors she was wearing offset by her eyes. This would have been another opportunity for that focal length thing.
For the progress on the quilt shack....not much. DH started framing the deck while it was nice out. He is waiting for the electrician to wire it. My DD loves to swing. I think I am going to borrow that 1X4 to roll my Double Delight quilt top on so I can baste it. I am going to try Sharon Schamber's method of basting. Here it the link on Utube. I hear lots of good things about it on Quiltville chat.
I did manage to get a cool shot of the fire I started tonight in our wood stove.

Thank You, DD and a Trip.

A huge thank you to Melinda at Creations by Melinda. Click HERE for her page. I won a Steno note book cover with a note book and pen included. Thanks Melinda, I love it. I am the hospitality chairperson at our guild and this note book will come in handy.


Black White and Yellow. It is my new favorite. See it matches my new quilt Flee market Fancy.


I have finished piecing the top Double Delight top. WOW, what a great quilt. I don't know when I will get to quilt it as my family has reclaimed me.

We took a day trip, can anyone guess where that was to? This view is about one and a half hours drive from my house. Every time I go there I am in awe of the grandeur of this place. That's right it is Yosemite National Park.



We met my inlaws at the ski resort there and had a lovely day playing in the snow. The boys snowboarded, the Girls innertubed. What a fun day. (I wish I could have brought along my sewing machine. I don't ski.)







This is my BIL and his lovely bride. I could not get all in one place at on time for a family photo.

Double Delight and Flea Market Fancy

Here is Double Delight with setting triangles, waiting for the border. I am having so much fun with this project. I love a good mystery. Click HERE for the link. I am that way with books too. Once I get into it I can't put it down. I challenge myself to finish one step before I look at the next. I am not in a hurry, just excited and loving it.

Thank You Bonnie K. Hunter from Quiltville.com for all of the fabulous patterns and this mystery. You have really inspired my quiltmaking!




I finished quilting and binding Flea Market Fancy. This quilt was made from the fat Quarters that DH got me for Christmas. I stitched them into a top on Christmas day( again, so excited) and quilted it a few days later. It took a while to get that done. I had to pin it then re-pin it better. I am glad I did it turned out great. This pattern and tutorial was from Crazymomquilts click HERE for the link.


Close up of the quilting.The back.

Give Away

Here is a really great give away.Jackie at Canton Village quilt works is giving away three great prizes for her 100th post. Go check it out but be quick about it, comment before Jan 9th.

Quilt Retreat Double Delight

Well almost a quilt retreat. I was at home all weekend working on the Double Delight Mystery quilt at Quiltville.com. I did get out some. Saturday there were 2 basketball games. The season opener for Nicole and Kevin. Alea won't start until next weekend. I took DS#1 and his friends to the movies and picked them up.

Today was a wonderful day of worship at church.

Those were all the activities not related quilting. My Butt is sore and my back is a little tired but I have all the steps up to date. I have to work this week so my progress will slow.

130 Step 3:

30 Step 4:



20 Step 5:

And for the possible lay out. (I say possible because Bonnie hasn't told us what to do next. I don't think there are any more blocks so what else could it be?).....





I am so pleased with how it is turning out.

Happy Birthday to me!

Here we are bowling for my birthday. They had to drag me away from my sewing machine (worth it). Had a great time, I won!


Here is my progress on the Quiltville Mystery. This is clue 1.

This is clue 2. DH and DS #1 helped here.