Down but not out!!!

Been a long down time here!

Sometimes the old body just can’t fight the pain anymore. Needs to have help and simply rest.

So went got help but in getting the help set off a bad episode for the skin and joints.

As the saying goes sometimes the cure is worse than the disease!

So between my DH, 2 drs I am back walking again with less pain! Yes! for good drs, modern and old meds.

They all worked together to get me back on my feet. Just so hard when you are used to doing what you want when you want then can no longer do it. Have to decide what is most important on your “worth the pain scale”!

My being laid up put a lot on hold around here. DH could not do much on the house stuff with me laid up and having to take me in 2 dr every week.

Bless his old heart he is back at it this weekend though!

Not much sewing was done either, hand or by machine.

I did do up a few simple cross stitch finishing projects for my niece. She went to a fun stitching retreat in SC.

Will share a project bag I made for her in a later post. (when I find the pics)

Trying to put the house back in order from the painting now.(can’t ever do tall ladder again L)

Hang things back up but in new places for a fresher look. Getting the Fall Look on! Soon will be into the Christmas Look! Wow! Has this year ever went by fast!

All my goals I set in Jan were not met but hey life will roll on, as it has, taking me along!!

Did get down to Raleigh, NC to see Aunt Dot and Unc Ollie! Was a wonderful day spent with them and family.

Miss them so much but Aunt Dot and I chat at least twice a week.

Have not been able to sit and look at too many blogs over last few weeks either! Missed them. I see same busy folks are still getting stuff done! Love all the sewing projects, new books read, Fall table settings and décor, quilts made or quilted and least not the wonderful recipes shared!!!

Here is a simply wonderful tummy filling soup I made last week.

This is my take on the classic cheddar cheese soup. You could add other cooked veggies to it if you wished.

Sorry no pics of mine.

Hope you make it and enjoy!

Lola’s Country Cheddar Soup

2 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. olive oil

½ cp small chopped carrot

½ cp small chopped onion

½ cp small chopped celery

4-5 tbsp all purpose flour

1 32 oz. box Swanson Chicken Broth, FF. Less Sodium

1-2 tsps. Mrs. Dash Unsalted Garlic and Herb Seasoning

3 or so cps shredded extra sharp cheddar

1 12 oz can Pets Evaporated Milk

Fresh ground black pepper

Crisp fried bacon for bits

1 chopped green onion

Hot sauce

In a large saucepan melt butter with olive oil.

Add carrot, onion and celery with 1tsp. Mrs. Dash. Cook and stir over med-low heat till veggies are tender.

Sprinkle in flour 1tbsp at a time stirring until blended in.

Add chicken broth, 1 tsp Mrs. Dash , fresh ground pepper stirring over med heat till comes to a boil.

Reduce heat; add shredded cheese using a whisk until cheese is melted.

Slowly add evaporated milk, stirring with whisk until blended and heated through.

If desired add several drops hot sauce .

Garnish with shredded cheese, chopped green onions and

bacon bits.

Serve with garlic toast/ bread sticks or croutons.

Lovely Fall Soup

Fall is such a wonderful time to bring on the soups!
One of our favorites is Butternut Squash or Pumpkin Soup.
I plan to also do with sweet potatoes when they are ready for pick up!
Could not be any easier one to make!
Warm and filling for a Fall supper.

This is not so much a recipe as it is a technique.

I peel with a peeler, chop into chunks, add onions .
Spread on a sheet pan add some olive oil and seasoning.
I use black pepper, bit of course salt and Mrs. Dash Salt-free Garlic and Herb.
in oven at about 375 F. Roast till tender. Smells heavenly too!
So much more flavor than boiling, or seems so to me!;-)
Transfer all to a pot along with all bits on pan bottom.


I use my 'boat motor', as dubbed by DH, to puree.


You get this think yummy mixture.


Add chicken stock/broth till it is about the consistency you want.
Heavy cream gives it that extra ump.
You can add as much or as little as you want.

Here it is ready to serve.

We found these in the freezer section at grocery.
Not bad at all with the creamy soups.
A bit pricy for just 6 rolls though.
Rhodes does have a blog with loads of recipes for all their products here.

Still hobbling around here. Last treatment this coming Monday.
Crossing fingers this gets me through till Jan.
Then I have a date with my surgeon for a new knee!
Joy and Dread as they say!

Zavier is still enduring chemo.
Back and forth from home to hospital
Sometimes has a weeks stay for the procedure or if his counts bottom out.
In a wheel chair and still has feeding tube mostly.
A little trooper he is for sure.
So is his big brother Leo who makes sure Zavier has fun and is OK when he is home in their room.
Daughter is still struggling to make it all work at home for all 6 of her kiddos!
Awesome Mama she is!
We still appreciate all the thoughts and prayers you send to Tennessee!

So go and enjoy a warm soup day!!!

AccuQuilt Fall Blog Hop

Sew Cal Gal is having a wonderful blog hop.
Click on logo and go check it out!
Great tips with some projects and a few give aways!
So go read all about it and have some fun!!

Great Mail Day

Ya know most days the mail is less than stellar. If any mail at all it is bills or junk mail!
Well I had a super duper mail day!

This is the lovely prize I won on Sew Cal Gal's Pets on Quilts Show!
It is a super cute necklace crafted by Debbie and Pam of 1 Stitch Off.
These are very unique fun pieces of jewelery!

Click on the link and check out others in their collection in their Etsy shop!!
Make wonderful gifts for that special person and we do have Christmas coming at us !!!
Please go check them out and say Lola sent ya!



Thanks so much to Darlene for putting on the Pets on Quilts Show an drawing my name!
Thanks to Debbie and Pam for contributing such a fun prize !


Yes that special mail day just kept on getting better!
DH and I received a Thank You gift card to the Smithfield Station.
It is a restaurant/hotel/marina in Smithfield, VA.
Not sure when we will use it but something to look forward too!!


Had to include a pic of something sewing related and "Fallish".
So here is a runner I made last Fall using the Accuquilt Go! cutter.
Still nothing 'new' to share from the sewing room.
Not to say there are not things 'cook'n' in that department!!
Always something on the hob in there.

House is still a mess!
More things to be finished with the flooring and painting.
Why is it, even the simplest or seemly smallest improvement can tear up the whole house!!
Reckon in small homes like this one that is the norm!

Remember this famous quote:
It's not what you don't have; it's what you do with what you do have!

Kitty Bartholomew is the one who coined that phrase!
I need to get it stitched an hung up on my wall!
I used to love her show on HGTV.
Kitty was probably the original recycling and re-purposing queen!
Here is a link to the lovely Santa Monica cottage Kitty shared in books and on TV.
So many things she did there I really loved.

We do have enough!
Just need to get busy putting it all where it needs to be in an artful user friendly way!
Oh Kitty come help me! ;-)

Okay now back to the salt mines wearing my love-er-ly necklace!!!!

Another quick post

We have our Hughes Net back up and running again!
Went out on Sept 1. Storm had passed then we lost phone and our internet! Go Figure!
So lots of catching up to do on my fav blogs and other sites!


Been busy here with more home stuff.
Have the walls in living room and hall all painted!
Was a job and a half!
Take all stuff from walls, move furniture around, fill the holes , sand, cut in then roll!
Hard to see the real color in pics but not as bright as it seems in these pics.
The walls look so fresh and pretty. Sort of hate to drive a nail in them!
I am taking this opportunity to deep clean as I put things in new spots!

Want new doors for the closet at end of hall.
Just not sure which ones!
Still have to paint some of the trim but things are coming along!

DH got the entry way flooring down!
Looks so much better then the old flooring that was there.
A few more things to do before we call the carpet man !

Here is the sweet pickle & pepper relish I made.
Yummy in salads, on hot dogs or burgers.

Been getting some storms with more hard rains.
We are very wet here but no bad flooding yet.
So sad to see those suffering flooding north of us and the fires in Texas.

Please take a moment on Sunday to remember and honor all those lost 10 years ago on 9-11-2001.

Doing ok here...

Thanks so much for all the concern and good wishes!
We are without power and local phone, on generator for now.
Damage was minimal here. Tree stuff mostly.
There could be more flooding later in week when some of the inland rivers crest.
For some reason the pc does not want to read my memory card from camera.
So no pics!

Just popped in to let you know we are ok so far!
Thanks again!!

As ready as we can be...

...for whatever Irene brings us.
We had 3 properties to get ready! Whew! Tired and worn out!
There is a chance our Direct TV dish and the Hughes Net dish may blow off roof!
So if is does we will be without internet for a goodly bit!
I may be out of pocket for a while.
Do have a TV we can use without DTV but can only get local channels...oh how sad... haha!
We have become so spoiled with what we think we need these days!

Since I cannot share what I have been working on decided to share something from my niece!


Tom Turkey all framed up!
Sat him on the mantle and he was like YEAH BABBEE this is my spot! I rock this mantle...;-)
I am so ready for Fall and begin pulling out the decor stuff!!
This storm put a stop to the work that was to be done this weekend on the new floors! UGH!

Hope we all pass this storm safe and sound along with our homes and loved ones!
I will be saying prayers and thinking of everyone who may be affected by this hurricane along with us!

God bless and keep you in his care!
Hugs!!!

Shaking one day.. blown away next???

Yes we shook yesterday here in Virginia . Odd feeling I must say.
Been a while since I had this sensation, which was in SE Missouri.
They have these a bit more often there on the New Madrid fault line.
Yesterday I was at sink in kitchen and my brick home went back an forth.
The hanging fixture was swaying and my pot rack!
Pics went crooked but nothing fell off wall or shelves!
A crack at end of house is a bit bigger and some mortar fell but that is the extent of it for us. Thanks goodness!

Now to the blown away part ...Irene! Yes we are preparing for a hurricane.
So far we are not to get full brunt but wind and rain.
We always would rather be prepared for the worse but hope for the best.
After going through 3 bad ones here we just do it.
Last bad one left us without power for 2 weeks!
So tune up generator, gas up autos and do what needs doing.
If we get by with no more than a bit of rain so be it. Better safe than sorry in my book.
Rain would be greatly appreciated for the Great Dismal Swamp fire!
They need a lot of rain to finally put it out!
We have smoke today so no wash out on line.

Last week as a busy one!
A family member passed away.
So was busy doing things for family and the services.
Had another test done on my eyes.
Still Suspect Glaucoma and hanging in! YES!
Just have to stay on top of it according to my eye doctor!

Not much on the sewing front here to share but have still been busy!
Put'n up food as they say.
Still lots more to get done before we are done with the season.


Tomatoes for soup go into freezer.
Picked more, so more to do like this.
Not canning any this year.


Picked grapes. Lots of grapes!

Grapes get cooked down to make juice.
This too goes in freezer to make jelly later.
If this old pot could talk the sweet stories it would tell!

More blueberries to pick . Have put plenty in freezer already.

Helped DH make his Hot Pepper Jelly.

Crowder Peas also went in freezer.
Next is the sweet pepper pickle relish to make.
Jars all ready to go.
Hope to get that done tomorrow before weekend.

As soon as dryer load finishes will be off to Wally World and Food Lion in Suffolk!
Doing my Friday shopping early!
Can get crazy around here with a predicted storm coming!!!

Thanks for everyone who popped in to see our Cocoa for the Pets On Quilts Show!

Take care everyone!!!

Cocoa Kitty for the 2011 Pets on Quilts Show

Okay here in our Cocoa Marie!


Now I hope this counts for the Pets on Quilts Show because she is on 2 quilts! Hahaha!
She decided to nap in this gift box ! Why? Well you know cats love tissue paper and small boxes but other than that it was placed on HER QUILT! Under her quilt is a bed quilt!!
So hence our sweet kitty is on 2 quilts!

Here is Cocoa Kitty below napping on quilt batting under the cutting table!

Yes she likes the quilts before they are quilts too!!!!

Hope you have enjoyed our funny fickle feline's pics!
Cocoa is a mess but we love her!


She has been with us 12 years!
Cocoa was only 5 weeks old when DH rescued her.
Her mother who had been dumped with her kittens, was ran over.
Baby Cocoa only one to survive! A fighter!!

Sadly this rural area has long been a dumping ground for unwanted cats and dogs.
Dumping an animal is not a way to FREE it or give it a chance ...can be a death sentence!!
If only more folks would understand that neutering is not a bad thing and can be done for little money with Snip Vans and other such animal organizations!
Please consider a rescued pet when you are thinking of adopting a fur babe of your own!
If the one you bring home is not a good fit please take the sweetie back for another chance at a new forever home. No shame in that either!

Okay off my soap box...for now!;-)

Oh My Goodness I almost for got to add my quilt entry !!

This is Alice's Purple Kitties in the Garden.

I made this as a birthday gift for my pal Alice.
It is a cute quilted wall hanging if I say so myself! ;-)
Had to be purple as Alice loves purple!
Thanks for looking and hope you consider casting a vote for me and Cocoa Kitty too!

Now scoot on over to Sew Cal Gal's Blog to see all the other cuties of Pets On Quilts Show of 2011!!

Busy... Busy...

A setting off the old fashion wonderfully scented yellow rose from Aunt Dot's bush up at the farmhouse.



Aunt Dot's large porch planter full of marigolds now on my porch.
Last ones she planted.
Miss her a lot. She and Uncle Ollie have settled in well in NC.
We talk on phone but still miss her presence.
Not sure as of now what will happen with the farmhouse. DH hates to see it sold.
So many childhood memories for him with his grandparents.
Was hard enough to let the farm go back when money was needed for DH's Mom's Alzheimer care. Hard to see the family farmhouse go as well. Sure wish we could win the lotto!!

Besides all the busy times surrounding Aunt Dot's move , my medical appts, DH's DIY work we have garden stuff!

Tomatoes beginning to come on, ours and the ones up at farmhouse!


Summer squash about over. Peppers coming a bit at a time but cukes are still coming along.


We were so dry for so long now getting rain. Helping the late bloomers.


Aunt Dot's last apple tree is bearing now.
We have pears too but pic did not come out so well.
Also DH has picked loads of blueberries and we put those in freezer!
So all ready for pan cakes, muffins, cobblers or pies for winter.

Figs are also needing to be picked!!
Will give a lot of those away.


Now the Concord and White grapes up at farmhouse are getting ripe as well!
Aunt Dot's son will come this weekend to pick what he wants then we will get rest.

DH has finished pulling up all the old carpet and flooring in living room and hall.
All staples pulled out. Now has some things to do to the sub flooring before he can lay the entry way . So house is still yet a "piled up mess"...my words for it at least!

Gee things can get really busy around her from time to time!!

My toe is pretty healed. So will have to find a date for the left one to be done!!! UGH!
My other med appts resulted in blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and must lose some weight!! Dear me!
Good news on other medical fronts though so reckon it all levels out!
As my Mama used to say "This world and one more!!" Haha!!

So just thought I would let ya'll know I am still here just really socked in!
Sewing? No but do have plans...always have plans don't I??? hahaha!

Whew... best get ready for yet another hot day here!!
Take care!