I Like Thursday # 161 ~ Yarns and Oats

Good Morning and Happy Thursday! 

These are my most recent crochet motifs.

These are little pansy, or maybe violet, faces from the book by

Chris.made.this

 My sewing machine is still under wraps and will be at least another week. 

Mr. Scrapatch is starting a new job on Monday and will be only able to work 

on all our home improvement projects on the weekends again. 

Our Boys are coming over Sunday to help.

Mr. Scrapatch was laid-off in January and although we are both officially retired, he likes to get up and go to work in the morning. So he has found a position that will enable him share his extensive experience with the younger generations. 

I will miss having him home during the days 

but will look forward to our evenings together.

Today is 

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

This week LeeAnna asked us if we have a special baked good for Easter.

We have many and they have changed over the years.

One constant has been that Mr. Scrapatch likes to have

 this French Toast Breakfast casserole.

If we have an Easter Brunch this is always on the table with ham

 and fresh fruit and all the other yummy food. 

This recipe  was given to me by a friend many years ago:

His preference is for raisin cinnamon bread; 

mine is oatmeal bread,

so I combine both of them in my version.

I also add a 1/2 cup of maple syrup to the saucepan syrup for the bottom of dish

This was never anything that my tween to teen to young adult children enjoyed

and I can take it of leave it, so I make it for my guy for early morning breakfast

 when we will have big family holiday meal like Easter in the early afternoon. 

He happily eats the leftovers warmed in the microwave for days. 

Lately, I have been trying to tempt him to like less sugary and healthier options.

Like Oatmeal.

He was never a fan and refused to eat it for most of his life.

I make overnight slow cooker oatmeal for myself.

The recipe is simple.

Slow Cooker Oats

Lightly grease a 2 to 2 1/2 quart slow cooker with a pat of butter.

Add 

4 cups water 

2 cups oats (I use old fashioned or steel cut)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Stir gently and cook on LOW setting for about 8 hours.

Turn it down to warm as soon as you get up.

Stir very gently. 

The texture will be silky and smooth and not too runny,

just the way I like with a splash of milk, 

drizzle of honey or maple syrup

 and fruit and nuts choice of the day. 

A good size dollop of Greek Yogurt is good, too. 

Play with the amounts to achieve the texture you prefer.

I have never gotten on board with the trend 

for making the cold overnight oats in the fridge.

I do store the leftovers in the fridge

to warm for a quick oatmeal and fruit breakfast the next day.

I have always liked my porridge warm. 

Leftover Oats Snack Cake

I sometimes use my leftover oats for making something like this.

The add-in variations of this are endless and all delicious. 

Even Mr. Scrapatch enjoys the snack cake version and so 

has finally started enjoying a bowl of oatmeal with me in the morning 

right out of the slow cooker.

This is the basic recipe for

Leftover Oats Snack Cake

1 to 1.5 cups leftover oatmeal

2 cups flour (white, wheat, almond, etc.)

1 teaspoon baking powder.

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon (nutmeg, allspice, ginger, etc.)

1 teaspoon vanilla (lemon, almond, etc.) extract

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup melted margarine or oil of choice or applesauce or nut butter

2-4 tablespoons of milk (yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, etc)

1/4 cup maple syrup (honey, molasses, etc.)

1/4 cup brown or white sugar (or omit) 

Mix together wet ingredients in measuring cup.

Stir together oats, flour and dry ingredients in large bowl.

Gently fold in wet ingredients.

Now the Add Ins:

Choose your taste of the day!

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1/3 cup nut butter

1/3 cup yogurt or sour cream

1/2 cup dried fruit

1/4 cup chia seeds

1 cup of fresh berries

Lemon (or other citrus) juice and zest

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

1/3 cup fruit cup such as pineapples

1 cup of grated carrot, spices and 1/2 cup raisins

... as I said the possibilities are endless. 

This one has greek yogurt, fresh blueberries, chia seeds, 

lemon juice and zest, orange extract.

For this Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake version, 

I mixed 4 oz. of softened cream cheese with 1/3 cup greek yogurt,

2-3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and lemon zest

and dolloped it on top and swirled before baking.

Pan is an 8" square lined with parchment paper for easy removal.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes

or until tests done with toothpick.

Dusted with a little powdered sugar, this is my guy's favorite so far.

Here is one with two kinds of chocolate chips, pecans and raisins.

Drizzle with a little powdered sugar glaze for a little extra yum for dessert.

Enjoy!

In the Scrapatch, all is well.

My biopsy results were negative.

I feel good. It was just a routine test.

Happy Thursday! 

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ Crochet Collage Garden Progress

 

Crochet Collage Garden Progress

I have enjoyed a week of slow stitching while the home improvement project in the living-dining-sewing room part of our home continues. One thing has lead to another and the trim paint on the baseboards and doors and windows is also being redone. 

It will be lovely when it is finished.

(I will probably be asking to have the walls redone soon, too.

... shhh! ... 

Don't tell Mr. Scrapatch, who is probably ready to be done with this.)

I am really enjoying making the many little motifs in this book:

I started making these flowers and leaf motifs about a week ago

I first posted this project Here ~ Last Sunday.

I have started making multiples of each motif.

The first leaf I made has an error in the center which I did not pull out.

I just adapted and made a one of a kind leaf.

Can you see which one is different?

I have been finding more of my vintage hooks.

My boxed Boye set is complete again as I found not one, but two, I hooks.

I also found a partial set of Boye steel crochet hooks ...

... and some Hero aluminum hooks that I do not recall having,

but they are worn and well used.

The smallest one, the C Hook, is actually bent in the middle. 

Here is a chart I found online at Crochet.com to help me remember

 and understand the sizes and types of hooks. 

To see and feel the difference, I made two leaves with the same weight yarn ...

... one with the 2.75mm aluminum C  Hero Hook

and one with the 3.5mm steel 00 Boye Hook.

This Hero hook is stamped that is was made in Germany,

although others of the Hero Hooks were made in the USA.

These hooks are probably over 50 years old.

I think I have decided that I will be using the steel hooks

 as I continue to make these garden motifs

I had thought I would never use the small gauge steel hooks again

because of my eyesight and achy hands, 

but my hands do not tire at all.

They feel like old friends.

I do have to use my bright LED light to read the patterns

 and see the stitches as I work.

I am happy to be playing with these treasured hooks again.

More on the yarn and other tools I am using soon.

Linking up today with

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Stitching! 

I Like Thursday # 160 ~ Garden Thoughts and Stitches

My Crochet Garden is Growing.

This was day four and it is already starting to look like a collage. 

This is Wednesday's motif and it was made late at night

 because it was a busy day.

I carried my book and yarn and hook with me

 but did not have the chance to stitch.

This is Thursday's flower which I made this morning.

It does not take long to make one of these, 

but it is fussy work for me and my eyes tire easily.

I am happy that so far I have been able to keep to my plan of making one per day.

I am hoping to maybe make a second one later today.

Today is 

I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

This week LeeAnna asked us if we plant a vegetable garden or pots of herb

 and, if so, what our favorites are to plant.

The answer is: yes.

Our efforts are limited by light and space.

Our city yard is small and we are in a northern 5B zone.

There are other houses, high fences and glorious maples and oaks and pines

 that block the sun for much of the day.

The best light is in our paved driveway.

So we grow veggies and herbs in containers that are placed

 and sometimes move them around during the day.

A big tomato plant, 

a cherry tomato one, 

a box of lettuce, 

a hill of summer squash

 and one of cucumbers are our favorites.

I tuck garlic cloves and cut green onions in boxes, too.

I may try potatoes in a laundry basket this year.

Mr Scrapatch likes his container of strawberries 

though we lost a lot of them last year and he may be starting over again.

For herbs, my favorites are basil, oregano, parsley, dill and thyme.

This year I have plans to try to grow them on a windowbox rack 

to try to keep the groundhog and bunnies from eating our bounty.

We cannot grow much inside our windowsills 

because the kitties like to munch the greenery, too.

So I plant seeds directly into the containers and buy tomato plants from the garden center and hope for the best.

A garden tomato and lettuce sandwich is a special treat in late summer.

I received these seeds today! 

It is far too early in season here to do anything more than plan and

dream of green growing things and pretty flowers.

Looking forward and making plans. 

May you have a Happy Thursday! 

1st day of Spring 2023 ~ Crochet Collage Motif # 3

Today is the first day of Spring in my little  corner of the world!

It was a day of sunlight and some shadow.

The snow is still melting. 

It is mud season and the winter debris fills our yard.

There will be much to be done when the weather gets a little warmer.

Most of my day was spent inside sipping tea and playing with my hooks and yarn.

It was cool and there was a cooler wind blowing but the sun was shining on my glass kitchen door warming the room and brightening my day.

Early this morning I had an appointment to keep with my gynecologist

and that was also sunshine and shadow.

The doctor did a biopsy sample to send to the lab.

I should have the results next week.

It is an an area near where I have been biopsied years ago and that was negative.

I am hopeful that this test will be negative, too.

Think of me and and add me to your prayers and healing wishes, my friends.

Here is my Motif #3 from the Spring Awakening section of the

Crochet Cottage Garden book by Chris.made.this

This seemed the perfect choice for the day.

Daffodils are some of my favorite spring flowers.

Ours will not be blooming for a few weeks yet.

I am using yarn that I have and the yellow is a bit bulkier than the orange

and I have a long way to go until my stitches are as even as the one in the book, 

but I am happy with my little flower today. 

May you and yours have a Happy Spring! 

Crochet Collage Garden

 

I am learning something new!

I have long admired all the lovely little crochet flower collages 

that I see online and have always wanted to try making my own. 

One of my favorite crochet collage creators is ...

Chris.made.this

Her work is so varied and delicate and beautiful! 

When I saw that her patterns were going to be published in a book 

I pre-ordered it on Amazon and it arrived on Friday. 

This is a wonderful book.  

I do have another book by a different author with similar designs but was never really able to follow the instructions to make my own.  This book has both written instructions and diagrams and between both I am able to get the hang of it.

The instructions are written in UK terminology but there is a help to translate it into USA terms for those of us who live on this side of the pond. 

 For example, a treble crochet in the book is a double crochet in my head.  

I had already gathered my supplies in a project box and was ready to begin.

The cotton yarn has been in my stash a few years and the crochet hooks I have had for 40+ years.

This is my vintage Boye crochet hook set. 

The I hook is missing.  

I hope to find it sometime, somewhere in my stuff.  

It must be with whatever I last used it on and that might be in the attic, which means it may be lost forever. I am hoping it just fell out of the box in my craft closet and it will turn up someday soon. These hooks are very worn but they still feel the best in my hand for this lightweight yarn.  I have modern ergonomic hooks in these sizes but the heads do not work the yarn as well as these tried and true ones. I think these are coated aluminum. 

You can see here that the color is worn off of my Size D hook, 

which I have used so far with this project. 

This is the chain start for my first motif yesterday.

This fern is my first finished motif.

In the morning I started my second motif at my kitchen table

 with the sun shining in.

It was very cool and windy today and 

temperatures did not get much above freezing even in the sun.

Here is the stem ready for the flowers.

Here is my completed motif #2.

I am really enjoying making these.

I hope to try to make one a day and I will see where this journey takes me. 

Linking up today with all of the beautiful creations at 

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Happy Stitching! 

Scrappy Saturday ~ No Sew Today

 For those of you who have been asking and wondering,

this is the state of my progress on my 

Scrappy Irish Chain Quilt

When I  Last Updated Here

 I had just started machine piecing 12 Dresden Plates

 to applique to the center on my B Blocks. 

I have all of the fan blades done

but I can only get a few minutes here and there on my machine,

none of it the last few days.

My sewing machine has been covered.

Mr. Scrapatch has been working when he can on a home improvement project in our living and dining room that has the furniture moved and lots of stuff in boxes. Our modest home is almost 125 years old and he is covering the very worn and warped oak boards on the floor with the new cushioned laminate flooring that we have in bedrooms. Somedays my sewing machine is boxed in by the other furniture.  My computer table is also a storage area sometimes, so my online time is very limited.

I have been crocheting and I have started a new project.

More on that tomorrow.

May you and yours have a safe and happy weekend. 

Free Pattern Friday ~ Celtic Knots

 

Top of the Morning to you!

This quilt appeared in my 

The Wedding Quilter Posts in 2013

which I made for my daughter in her wedding colors.

My Girl has always been a lover of Celtic Knots,

so I chose this lover's knot pattern for her table. 

I went looking for the pattern for this block.

 Apparently I designed it myself and never 

posted the cutting and sewing directions. 

There are similar blocks out there in block land,

but none of them are free.

Hmm ... what to do?

~~~

I found a new-to-me free Celtic Knot Block Design: 

Click on this link for the 
Lucky Knot Quilt Block Video Tutorial @ AGF

Fabric cutting requirements: Fabric A- “Quartz Foliage” (4) 1.5 x 1.5 Fabric B- “Expressions Foliage” (1) 1.5 x 1.5 (2) 3.5 x 1.5 (2) 2.5 x 1.5 (4) 3 x 1.5 (2) 5.5 x 1.5 Fabric C- Floral Elements in “Kiwi” (2) 3.5 x 1.5 (2) 2.5 x 1.5 (4) 3 x 1.5 (2) 5.5 x 1.5 Fabric D- Pure Solids in “Appletini” (4) 4 x 4 Fabric E- Pure Solids in “Snow” (4) 5.5 x 5.5 (4) 3 x 3.5

This block is one of an extensive free series of video tutorials

which may be found by clicking the link below:

Art Gallery Quilt Block Collection

So today's focus is on the many free patterns and blocks from

Art Gallery Fabrics

Art Gallery Fabrics are beautiful and good quality.

Of course,  their free patterns can be used on any fabrics in your stash. 

Art Gallery Fabrics Free Quilt Patterns

May you enjoy these free pattern links 

and may all you bobbins be full 

and quilting adventures be fun and free!

Happy St. Patty's Day!