AQS Show, Lancaster PA

Sunday March 13th at 8 a.m.  Thelma (aka Mama Spark) and Louise (aka Quiltnqueen) leave Michigan for Lancaster PA for the AQS Quilt show...we stopped 3 times...to fill up the gas tank once , to empty the bladder twice and to check out one quilt shop on the way.  They were all quick stops, even the quilt shop.  I had made sandwiches  for lunch with veggie sticks, chips and cookies etc.  Mama Spark had her diet coke and I had my cold coffee and water....we were good.  I finished binding a coin quilt and did some embroidery while on the road.

Pam was an excellent driver and we arrived in Hershey PA at our condo around 5:30 p.m. safe and tired...no rain no snow.  During the whole trip we ate out twice.....lunch on Wednesday at the AQS show and dinner on Thursday.  The rest of the days we packed a lunch and cooked dinner when we got back to our room.... more money to spend on fabric and patterns etc.....good thinking!!

This was our kitchen.....had pretty much everything we needed....



Pam's bedroom, 2 double beds.....and a full bath



My bedroom, a king bed that I got lost in and a full bath



Once we checked in, we stayed in for the night....had a light dinner and watched some TV. Pam didn't do any sewing as she was pooped.....I did a little hand embroidery, then we were off to bed to get an early start Monday morning.

Monday morning we left for the first of many quilt shops in the area....

1st stop was in Lebanon PA at Martin's Fabric and Craft Barn.  GREAT prices and an excellent selection of fabrics, especially the Free Spirit solids  and FQ's for $1.50.... If you are ever in the area this is a fabric store well worth stopping at.

Our next stop was at the Stitch and Craft in Manheim PA. Here I got a great price on a 30's backing. She had a 2 yard and an 1.5 yard piece and she gave the two pieces to me for a steal....less than $20.00. 30's backings are not easy to find and I don't mind piecing the back. The other 30's backing was 3 yards and 1.25 yards for less than $30.00...GREAT DEAL

Our next stop was at Sylvia's in Bird in Hand and that was an excellent quilt shop too.  She had lots of quilts hanging on the lines....



We both bought some fabric and I bought FQ's at 10 for $12.95....another good deal.

Then we headed to Log Cabin Quilt Shop in Bird in Hand and  to The Quilt and Fabric Shack



I spent about $60.00 here not too bad. Not too good at the next shop which was Bitty Kinna's in Intercourse. Gina is the owner and Ellie and Dee are her side kicks. We said we were 'Thelma and Louise' and we had sEw much fun...lot of laughs by everyone, even the customers.

This is Gina, we had her laughing lots........



Gina had a 'boat load' of feed sacks on consignment.  I had Ellie put about 18 on hold for me as I wanted to call my friend Sharie to see if she wanted any....she is always looking for vintage anything.  I had to call DH to get Sharie's phone #.....YES... she wanted some so back we went Tuesday morning....bought 23 feed sacks....and to think this is how they shipped feed.  Pretty fancy feed sacks.



...this was a great day to go to the shop as it wasn't very busy. Looks like we were the only ones in the shop but really we weren't....from there we went to Zook's Dry Goods which was also in Intercourse. 



Pretty much everything closes at 5 o'clock.  We left Zook's shortly after 5 and headed back to Hershey for the night.  Yep we did boost the PA economy on our first day... more tomorrow.

 ...hugs...

3 Giveaways and More

The muffin recipe is a great one and one that allows you to have the fresh batter in the fridge for fresh muffins every morning for a week or more.  The recipe makes 5 dozen good size muffins.  I add lots of walnuts and raisins too. 

Ever-Ready Bran Muffins

5       cups all-purpose flour
5       teaspoons baking soda
2       cups brown sugar
3       cups natural bran
3       cups all-bran cereal
2       cups golden raisins
3       eggs
1       cup vegetable oil
1/4    cup molasses
1       quart lowfat buttermilk
1 1/2  cup water

Combine flour, soda, salt, sugar, bran, raisins into a large bowl.  Set aside.  Whisk eggs with oil and molasses in a large mixing bowl.  Beat in milk and water.  Pour into dry ingredients and stir until well mixed.  Cover tightly and keep refrigerated.  To bake stir cold batter and fill greases tins.  I usually use paper cups.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 23 minutes.

Note:  The original recipe calls for 5 cups all-purpose flour but I use only 3 cups all purpose and 2 cups of whole wheat.  I used to use spelt flour a lot years ago.  It is so much better for you than the all-purpose.  You can substitute some of the oil with apple sauce.  I will add fresh blueberries, cranberries, cherries to the batter just before I bake them.  I don't like the fresh fruits sitting in the batter for too many days.  Dates are good too.  Let the batter sit in the fridge at least 1 day.  I find it makes a moister muffin.  Enjoy!

Plans Changed

I'm back but haven't had a second lesson yet soooooooo there are still no pictures.  Not sure if I remember how to do this.

Last week was busy.   On Fri. July 16th my granddaughter, Leah, arrived from Canada to spend a week with us.  She is 7 almost 8 and growing up too fast.  We shopped, we sewed, we shopped again, we did our nails, she played with our neighbours daughter, we went to the water park.........shopped again, went to the movies, we went to LTW's farm.......she loved it.  Thank you LTW and Becky , you are awesome.  Our original plans were to take her back to Canada on the 23rd .............. she wanted to stay until Sunday.  My DH has meetings in Toronto this week and wasn't sure how long they would last......he said it could be Wed., Thurs. even Friday before they wrap up.  So at the last minute I decided to stay home as I had to finish binding a king size quilt by Wednesday.  I still have to sew down the hanging sleeve.  It will be hanging at the GAAQG quilt show at the end of the month.  It is a raffle quilt to be drawn in November.  So it was only DH who took Leah back to Canada, he spent the night at our DS2 and DDIL's and continued to Toronto Monday morning. 

I'm hoping to get a few quilting projects and some cleaning done while DH is in Toronto.  I called my friend Pam (TAP) around 4 pm on Sunday to tell her my plans had changed and I didn't go to Canada.  She said  "I'm going back to the farm after I drop DH and DD1 off at home.   I'll pick you up.  We can play."  She had been at the farm Saturday and again on Sunday quilting her first quilt on LTW's Statler.   It was around 5 o'clock the red Mustang convertible........with the top down pulls in the driveway.  Remember the movie Thelma and Louise, well, in the car is Thelma and in jumps Louise (an older Thelma and Louise from the original movie).  With the engine reeving, we are off to play on the Statler.  TAP ........aka Thelma.........says we'll get LTW to take our picture when we get to the farm.  Well.... we forgot and it was dark.......10:15 pm when we left for home so there is no picture.  I watched TAP work the Statler........it is an amazing machine and she did a fabulous job quilting .  She has pictures.  After watching Pam quilt for a while I finished binding her 2nd chenille quilt and then I started cutting tumbling blocks with LTW's Accuquilt.  That too is a cool toy.  The tumbling blocks were for LTW's parents to piece.  It was a fun time and it always is with TAP.

Don't give up on me yet.  Still haven't got the blogging knack.  TAP says it will get better. 

Hugs
Pauline

THANK YOU for visiting

My blog doesn't seem to be co-operating the way I think it should.  I am a newbie so bare with me.  Hope this works. 

Back in September I joined a weight lose challenge at LOA called none other than THE BIGGEST LOSER challenge and to my surprise I succeeded.  I lost 25.2 lbs in 9 weeks and won.  I worked sooooo hard.  I continued to lose another 13.4 lbs. before I went on vacation and since then I haven't been as good with the eating part of weight loss.  I inspired my BF Mama Sparks (TAP) and now she is my inspiration.  On Monday at 6:28 a.m. .......yes 6:28 a.m  my phone rang and it was none other than TAP.  She said what are you doing?..........meet me at the gym....... I relented with OK.......I thought to myself I'd rather be sleeping.   I'm still below my biggest loser weight but have gained a few of those nasty pounds back.  I have to get serious about the food again.  It is sooo easy to go back to your old ways.  I'm meeting TAP at the gym at 5 today.

Just about every year when the fresh fruits and veggies are in season I like to make Hamburg Relish and Raspberry Jelly.  They are two of my family's favorites.  If you like to do home canning you must try this recipe. 

Hamburg Relish from Pauline's Kitchen               Yields 12 - 8 oz jars

4 c. ground cucumbers (approx. 8 lg)
1  1/2 c. ground green peppers (3 lg)
1/2 c. ground red peppers (1 lg)
3 c. ground onion (6 lg)
3 c. ground celery (6 lg stalks)
4 T. salt
3  1/2 c. white sugar
2 c. white vinegar
1 T. celery seed
1 T. mustard seed

Wash and grind all vegetables with the coarse blade in your meat grinder.
In a large bowl/crock mix ground veggies with the 4 T. of salt and let stand at least 2 hours in refrigerator.  I usually double or triple the batch and refrigerate over night. 
Drain all excess liquid.  I use my colander.

Wash and sterilize your jars.

In a large heavy stainless steel pot add sugar, vinegar, celery and mustard seed and bring to a boil.
Stir in the well drained veggies, bring to a boil again and simmer 10 minutes.  Stir often.
Pour into sterilized jars leaving a 1/4-inch head space.  Wipe rims; seal.  Process for canning.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!  Try this relish with a grilled cheese sandwich.......yummy.

This blog has taken me about 3 hours to write.  Needless to say I've not quilted today.  I just realized my spelling sucks and I have to find my dictionary.......Oh just found the spell check.  Thank you Thank you Thank you.  Sorry no pictures........haven't had that lesson yet.

I'll try another post soon.

Hugs