Green Tomatoes, Puckered purple, I'm seeing Red!

Oh the Joys and Woes of Gardening and crafting. Let's throw in the holidays for good measure. How about a special birthday and an upcoming new great grandbaby. I think my senses are overloaded, overcrowded and just in the mode for shutting down- But I shall prevail, forward, dauntlessly charging into the frenzy of life! This is just an update so you know I am still kicking up my feet with a Ho Ho Ho and away we go! I plan to take some pictures to post of semi-finished projects today. My battles with sewing machine and learning new techniques could be a novel- the heroine may survive but I am not sure at this point~
The GT Relish is done, the GT chutney done, the GT pickles in processing as I speak.....
The purple quilt is killing me but almost ready for binding...
The other unfinished projects are lined up and trying to take cuts in line for being first...
Fire harzard abatement (the dried up tomato plants) still in progress must finish today.....



HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS because it is and should be even if you don't think so!!! So there, I shall return.....

Three Things

One the blogs I follow, (Eat, Sleep, Quilt) always impresses me (besides the fact she is a great lady and quilter) with her three things to be thankful for list. I thought this morning I should do the same with a twist.
Three Things I am Not Thankful for today:
1. We had two nights of frost and the tomato plants have passed...
2. I picked my daughter's overripe apples last week...
3. GM had a bad day yesterday and this morning...

BUT (there is always a but or butt in my musings)

Three Things that are GOOD (and I am thankful, I think) Because of of the Three Bad Things
:
1. I have lots of green tomatoes to make relish.
2. There is applesauce cooking in the Crockpot.
3. The Bathroom is clean (because I cleaned it really well!!!)

So I must now finish pulling up the tomato plants (TG the trash man comes tomorrow), make the relish,
and hopefully get to read some interesting stuff on my favorite blogs!!!

This is the recipe I am going to use- from Mother Earth News (thank you)

Green Tomato Relish Recipe
Yields about 7 pints.
Ingredients:
25 medium or 35 small green tomatoes
3 medium green bell peppers
2 medium sweet red peppers
3 medium onions
4 tbsp pickling salt
4 cups sugar
3 cups white vinegar
3 tbsp mustard seed
3 tbsp celery seed

Instructions:
1. Chop, process or grind all vegetables into a fine dice, then cover with the pickling salt and stir to coat. Let the mixture stand for 3 hours, then drain well.
2. Boil the sugar, vinegar and seeds for 5 minutes, then add the vegetables and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Seal in hot, sterile pint jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

UFO or Fire in Lake Elsinore?

And yes, I blew them all out with one try!

Autumn hippie Fairy

Just received this tag as a gift. The title is Autumn Hippie fairy. How apropos! I just love it!!! Anyway today I turn 65 alas, the golden friggin' years! Medicare doesn't cover Winnie the Pooh so I shall try to stay Happy and Well. I "Love to be me, Happy and free, taking care of everyone, forget about tea" quote from the Mad Mema.

One project totally finished!

Not the greatest picture but this set of four extra large place mats and four rug mugs are done, finito, and ready in time for my deadline of Dec. first. I needed these complete so if the receivers want to use them for the holidays they can. The Santas are playing musical instruments, wish there was a guitar but the bass and a snare drum will have to do. Thank goodness F and H don't read this journal! Please don't tell them that Zippy decided to inspect as I changed the adjustments on camera! I hope I can remove any giveaway signs of his presents  ahem, presence! 

On Sunday my good SIL helped me put another bulb in my sewing machine. Then the darn motor started dragging. Monday he went to Target and got me a new machine but unfortunately it is not the right one for me, my hands can't load an inside bobbin case. I really was so happy and excited but the old one will get me through and after all, we are old buddies, so I sew!

Low on Cash cleaning out the Freezer! (Or DON"T make turkey soup in the middle of the Night)

Well it is now six o'clock in the morning and the soup is finally simmering in the crock pot.
THE STORY...
The GM hasn't been eating. It is hard to find things that she will eat and have nutritional value. She could use some calories as well. There are lots of personal restrictions (note: I said personal, not medical!). Whatever it is must be cooked to death, doesn't like meat that much, not to salty, or spicy or acidy. Mashed potatoes are a favorite, not rice, noodles on occasion...Easy on teeth (although she has all her own). You get my drift, so on with my story!
We make lots of soups! Yesterday she wasn't happy with dinner- what to make for today? We are very financially challenged right now, shopping isn't an option until next week! Checked out the freezer, easy to do because it is getting low, and there are the parts from a turkey I dissected last year. Legs, back, neck and thighs for stock. Defrost...
I took off the skin and extra fat and put them in the crock pot with celery leaves, onion, a few carrots, some herbs from the garden, and a chunk of ginger I found in the refrigerator. Added water and put on to slow cook until I get up about 2 AM. This gave it about eight hours to turn into a really good stock.
OK  I'm up, had some coffee and ready to do my thing. First skim off the fat that is on top. Then I pulled out the meat and bones into a large bowl. Next remove large the stuff that you don't want in the soup- the now lifeless veggies and herbs, who have given their all to the aromatic broth! The first straining through the sieve, into large pan. Oops, slight mess from crock pot to pan. Why was that utensil drawer slightly open? Mutter, mutter, stop and clean out drawer, and put everything in dishwasher. Wash out crock pot. Second strain through cheesecloth, (darn, where are my kitchen scissors) put back into crock pot. Now to bone the meat which is messy but easy as it is falling off the bone. put aside (into another bowl). Peel and chop fresh veggies, then add to pot, chop the meat, add to pot. Oh, let's add some frozen peas too! Whew, almost done. Lid on pot, reset time for lunch/dinner service- clean up. Did I mention all those bowls and stuff I used? Major wow factor. Something that usually takes no effort and time became a major hassle. Time to take out the trash and clean the floor while I am at it.
LESSON LEARNED: Something you want to make simple becomes a real pain in the ass in the middle of the night. I'd rather read blogs.
Isn't my life interesting???

A Half Inch Does Make a Difference!

OK, anyone who thought they knew what I am going to say, you are wrong- so go stand in the corner!
I am nearly finished with a quilt top and I am so excited- It's been a difficult (I was going to say hard but remembered the readers who are standing in the corner) top to do. Lots of little squares and triangles that all have to fit just right to form a pattern. The tutorial said easy blocks to make- maybe for someone who cuts straight and can also sew a straight seam, which obviously is not me. Got the blocks done. Squared them off (sort of) started building the rows. Middle looks good. added inside borders- got a little wonky here but with a few adjustments- ok, fine, fine. Put together the outside rows of blocks, hmmm, that double border caused a slight gap, no worry, added a little extra detail and good to go. Now all I need to do is sew them to each side. Side one- what the heck??? Why aren't the rows matching, why am I short a half inch??? Not good. Definitely not good. Can't add to the length because the stupid block dividers still won't match, Nasty looking, very unprofessional, not that I am any professional, I just want to look that way.
DISCOVERY... one of the blocks wasn't quite square, instead of 6x6 it was 6x5 1/2. Right in the middle of the darn row!
No extra material to make another, so right there I must add a 1/2 inch of something to extend it. (Ok, Bob, quit smirking or you get a time out). Match divider?- no too noticeable- if it's going to stand out I will just let it do that and use a contrasting piece like it was a signature. I did it on purpose kind of idea.
If it ever gets finished I will post a picture and you can play Where's the 1/2 Inch? And while you're at it you can also play "There's another Oops" which is another one of my endearing imperfection games!
Everyone can now leave the corner.

Memories, Patience and Imperfection

I am going to start with the patience bit. I usually have a lot of patience, but since July of this year I lost it somewhere. When the GM when off her rocker (another story someday for those who don't know) I was a half-way saint. I took my role as second caregiver seriously, with sympathy and a little empathy. I had needed care after my accident and it was given freely with love. It didn't take long before I realized there would be no return in this endeavor. GM isn't one to say thank you or show she grateful. No smiles, no recognition of thankfulness no conversation unless it is an order. I began to be slightly resentful. My stress level when off the charts and my mood soured. I tend to mutter epithets  under my breath. My relationship with others began to become a little frayed! My grand daughter called me out on it and I resolved to to better. PSP tagging always helped but it became a chore to keep up. I still love it and do some to keep active. Then somehow I remembered my old blogger friends. Started reading those who were still around. One thing lead to another and I found a Quilting blog. Thank you Madam Samm! From there I followed new people with shared interests and found it helped me cope with the drudge of routine bathroom runs and all the rest of the caregiver stuff.  I dug out some really old scraps and started a crazy quilt. I now have several projects underway for Christmas. Where does the patience fit in? Well, so far I swear I have taken out more stitches than I have sewed. I have miscut, miscalculated, and misplaced so much. I realized I have never thrown down a piece, just fixed it (to the best of my ability) and go on. I have results in mind and it takes patience and enduring. If I can do it with my sewing I can do it with GM. Guess what? It really works! Not to say I still don't occasionally mutter a bit....(and we won't mention tired)
I had some flashbacks in the memory department this morning. I remembered my Home EC (mandatory in Junior High) teacher, Mrs. Petersen. She was very patience with a class of twenty or so giggling girls who never saw a sewing machine before they stepped into her class. She was PATIENCE!  She would help us rip out seams and adjust patterns and laugh with us. I really didn't get much more than the basics back then but later in my teens I self-taught myself to sew and loved it. It can be a get away from everything else. Me and my project, in a very messy room, having fun. Sometimes I am rewarded with good results!

My sewing, crafting and quilting is very much like me. Imperfect. I don't quit because of that, sometimes I embrace it. Imperfection becomes individuality when you adjust it! Sew there, another entry in my blog!

Ha on me

Well, I never thought about the fact that when I follow a blog, someone might stop by here to look at my non-existence entries!
I have had the most fun these past weeks reading Quilting blogs and getting excited about trying to learn a few things (actually a lot of new things).
I met the Ghastlies, a lovely family! These are some of the ladies knitting!

 I actually won some fantastic fabric in one of the give-aways! I stashed it away, but keep getting it out and looking at it! Some day soon I may decide on what exactly I want to do with it.
Reading blogs by these wonderful women (not the Ghastlies but the quilters and bloggers!) and glimpsing into their lifes has helped me forget my worries a bit for a little while.
We tend to get so caught up in our  (I should say I tend to get caught up in MY) problems that we/I forget to have some time just to BE and enjoy being.
Thank you, all you wonderful bloggers for sharing.

Ramblings

I belong to two PSP tagger groups. I love them both. I have been on hold in the very active (volume) one for the summer and the other is just getting ready to come back from a two week break. I really don't know what to do since any longer I never have a large space of time to do any tags or challenges- I love to devote time to my "creations" and I always try to read all the "sends" but sometimes there are so many. I hate to offend anyone by deleting mail. I am just loving getting a moment here and there to read blogs (again) and comment on Facebook. It is sort of my way of connecting with friends and the outside world without leaving the house!
Speaking of outside world, I did take a few hours off yesterday to go to see Harry Potter (yeah, finally!) and have lunch with my grand-daughter Arielle. It was guilt-free and fun! She has been trying to get me there for weeks. Heck, and even got to drive instead of her picking me up. I used to love to drive and get so little chance to go anywhere besides the grocery store or over to babysit. I was almost afraid to use the freeway, but I did. Me, the cross country driver scared of less than twenty miles of freeway-LOL!
But I digress- I cannot decide if I should give up my little silly hobby of PSP or not. I met so many wonderful ladies through these groups. A few of us have become rather good friends.Those ladies I try my best to communicate with on a frequent basis.
Whatever, I am grateful for any easy contact with my Internet family.
Signing off as Ramblin' Mad Mema

New Blogger Interface?

Ok, anyone tried it yet? Will we actually have a choice?

What the heck?

Things sure do change around Bloggerville when you have "gone missing" for a while. Trying to catch up on blogs I have followed. Many are dormant or non-existence, that's understandable, but on ones that are active and I follow- I can no longer leave comments???!!! Blogger keeps telling me I do not have access. I wonder what I am doing wrong.  I look on site followers and I am still there....I guess I am losing my touch-LOL
Leaving comments is such fun and I love comments. Right now since I have night shifts with the GM there isn't a lot I can do without waking up the household!

Finding Comfort in Strange Places

Sometimes it's the little bright spots that can cheer you and give you comfort. I do not have time to do much tagging and follow my few groups I love so much, but I have subscribed to these newsletters/blogs. Of course, I need to include my all/old time favorite Wildcat's lair (gotta love those crazy cats and dragons!)

http://wildcatslair.blogspot.com/

http://www.sewwequilt.com/

http://www.susanbranch.com/

Somehow I find real comfort in some one's else's reality and fantasy. Right now, I don't have time to quilt (but I have pieces out to cut) I can't vacation in Martha's Vineyard (but I feel like I am there-Love Willard too~) and I must admit I want to jazz up Wildcat's Steampunk with some attitude (sorry Bill, you need more Steampunky decor!!! BUT I love the storyline) And ask Uncle Kerouac makes me laugh like crazy!

I also am abusing phone calls to a friend that doesn't need more stress, but Lordie, IT HELPS!

Thank you all- I will love you to the end and back!

Midnight Blue

Not a good night or pre-dawn. GM is really not doing well.This tag started out to be for a challenge and then I realized it was what we are going through.

Sundowner’s Syndrome
Sundowner’s Syndrome is the name given to an ailment that causes symptoms of confusion after “sundown.” These symptoms appear in people who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia. Not all patients who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s exhibit Sundowner’s symptoms, however. Conversely, some people exhibit symptoms of dementia all day which grow worse in the late afternoon and evening, while others may exhibit no symptoms at all until the sun goes down.

Opps, I'm back!

Gee, it's been almost two years since I have been here. What happened? LOL Long story on my part! I decided to try once again. Since I rejoined Facebook I have reconnected with a lot of friends, but I hate the format. I guess I am really getting old. Hello to those few that still have me listed as followers. Wildcat, I love you- you make me laugh! So perhaps I shall vent and rave a bit occasionally. Need to put it somewhere. Going to post addy on FB so perhaps this will be a way to update my life and threads of friendship.
Crazy Mad, but still Dannelle aka Mema