Thursday, October 28, 2021

I Like Thursday # 114 ~ Small Things Make Me Smile


Happy Thursday! 

 This is my progress on my 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

Click on this link to find the free daily blocks.

I am happy each morning to wake to this colorful stitch project.


Yesterday's "catch-up" block was the 

Block 25 Pattern ~ Giant Sunflower

I nudged the sunflower over a little and added my little Nutmeg kitty to the block.

Nutmeg has a very sunny disposition so it seemed a good place for her to appear in my cross stitch calendar.

I am waiting for today's block while I type.

I have one more daily block pattern to do and a blank space that was created when I combined two blocks.  I am still deciding what to do with that space which is under the haunted house block.

I am really hoping to have this one stitched and finished on Sunday.

On Sunday we will say goodbye to October. 

It has been an uneven month of change.

The foliage colors are not as bright as some years.

Today is another day of cool gray dampness,

although we are hoping the sun may peek through the clouds before the end of day.


My orange nasturtiums are a bright antidote to the gray.

Mr. Scrapatch brought home this tasty treat from Panera Bread

 the other night after work.

There was also Autumn Squash Soup, but that disappeared before I took a photo. 

Today I am having the cookie with my coffee.

Does anyone have a good copycat recipe for their vergetarian Autumn Squash Soup?

I have tried one I found online before but it did not have the same seasoning.

Today is a soup day ... 


... so I made Corn Chowder for lunch.

Corn Chowder

 

¼ cup olive oil

1/3  cup butter

1 cup chopped onion

½ cup chopped celery

1 and 1/2 cups diced potatoes

water to cover potatoes (1-2 cups)

½  cup flour

3 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable broth

2 cans niblets or summer crisp corn ( 2 cups of fresh or frozen corn may be substituted)

salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

(optional) dash of cayenne or paprika (may also be sprinkled on top when serving)


To prepare:


Add oil and melt margarine in pan. Add finely chopped onion and celery and cook until soft on medium heat, stirring constantly.

 

Add diced potatos and water to cover. Cover pan and turn heat to high and cook potato until soft. Turn down to simmer and check frequently so the water does not boil out and burn the veggies.

 

While potato is cooking, put  1 cup of milk and flour and one can of corn in a blender or food processor and puree.

 

Add the blended milk mixture and the other 2 cups of milk, the veggie broth, the other can of corn and the seasonings to the soup and heat on medium stirring occasionally until thick and hot.

 

Makes 6 - 8 servings. Double for a crowd in large crock pot.


It was warm and yummy!

Mr. Scrapatch will have a bowl when he comes home tonight and will probably

be taking this for lunch to work tomorrow. 


Late Addition:  The sun came out!

YAY!!!!

Linking up today with my thankful friends at 


May you have a Happy Thursday! 


Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Stitch Sew & Show ~ Week 42 ~ 24 Days

 


Welcome to Week 24 of Stitch Sew & Show! 


I have decided to participate in another Free Stitch Along.

This one is a sashiko skill builder ... 


24 Days of Sashiko @ Sashiko.Lab

There are also free video tutorials for 

How To Prepare Sashiko Cloth ~ Video Lessons

I started learning sashiko last year. 



My First Sashiko ~ Click Here

I found this to be a very relaxing process. 


I learned enough to design this for a

Sashiko Cherry Blossom Pincushion ~ Click Here

I would like to learn more and advance my skills and make more even stitches

and make a small sampler for a pillow or table quilt. 

This new stitch along looks like the perfect opportunity to learn with others. 


The first three days of have started with this basic grid. 


Here is my Day 2 Sashiko progress. 

The email lessons arrive in my email box very late in the day.

So I am just beginning day three.


I am also still stitching my 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

Click on this link to find the free daily blocks.

If you are interested save these now as the pattern will likely become a complete pattern  which will be for purchase next month. 


This little block was an improv design to add ... 


... my fluffy tailed gray and white Maine Coon cat, Katniss. 

I am working on the orange and white cat block for my Nutmeg today

as well as trying to get the daily blocks caught up.

These tiny cross stitches make my eyes very tired and my vision blurry.

I am going to have to take a break from cross-stitching for awhile when my October stitch along is complete. 

It has been very cool and rainy for days here in my corner of the world. 

We have even lost internet access for the last two days,

although this should not be weather-related.

Today is another good day to stay inside and stitch.


was quick to stitch. 


What are you working on this week?

Please share! 



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thursday, October 21, 2021

I Like Thursday # 113 ~ Black Cat Cross Stitching

Happy Thursday! 

Linking up today with my thankful friends at 


where there are always smiles to be shared. 


I have been happily stitching on my



I added a little black cat to my blocks for Maestro.


 The kitties have been most helpful.

I will looking to add my other two kitties, Nutmeg and Katniss,

 somewhere on this cross stitch.

I have not been getting much sewing done.

That is okay. My sewing machine will be waiting for me.

While I have been stitching, I am thinking about

 what I would like to make for Christmas this year.


This week was time to sign up for my favorite blog hop of the year, the

Virtual Cookie Exchange 2021 @ Just Let Me Quilt

I have not been participating in many blog hops this year.

This is one I do not want to miss.

It always makes my spirits bright.


I hope you are having a bright and Happy Thursday!



Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Stitch Sew & Show ~ Week 41 ~ Still Slow Stitching



 Stitch Sew & Show ~ Week 41

Is it Wednesday already?

I have been sitting and slowly stitching.
Today I carried my stitching with me for my annual physical 
and a visit to the bloodwork lab. 
I am well, it is just the routine stuff.


Here is my progress on my 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

This photo was taken a day or so ago.

I am not catching up very fast. 

I will continue my slow stitching and see what I decide after Halloween

if I have not completed this sampler.

I am enjoying the stitching and the lovely group of stitchers.


What Are you working on this week?

Please share! 


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Sunday, October 17, 2021

Stitching Weekend ~ Day 2

 


Stitchy Weekend ~ Part 2

This weekend I have been able to stitch the daily block and one of the blocks that I need to complete to catch up with the daily posts for the 

 October Halloween Stitch Along @ Pine Needles

I am really enjoying this stitch along.


Today's block was this 

Ghastly ~ Day 17

I decided to add black cross stitch eyes to the ghost

and add a few stars to the sky to add some sparkle to the blank space.

Today I also stitched the 

Boo ~ Day 9

where I decided not to extend the witch's broom.

I made colorful letters as I  had decided to stitch the white ghosty next to it's "Boo" and did not want two white motifs next to each other.

Looking forward to tomorrow's block!

Linking up with 


Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

where there is always beautiful inspiration in the links.