A Monumental Day

It was a monumental day!

I finished my LHN Virtues Hope and I ironed it before I took a picture.  I think that is a first.  All I have to do is attach the button.  That little sheep is just the cutest!  

I can't wait to get the next one!  I think I may finish them all as the pinkeeps and attach a loop so I can hang them from the handle of my china hutch.  Speaking of china hutches, apparently it has become the rage to take the top off of them.  I like my top!  The reason I got a hutch in the first place was to have a place to store my china and crystal so why on earth would I want to take the top off and just have the bottom?  I think this is the same question as why do stores think chunky people (I being one) look good in skinny jeans.  The only ones who look good in skinny jeans are the ones who are TRULY SKINNY!

 I started the last piece of the Strawberry Hill Set From With Thy Needle and Thread.  It is the Huswife.  I think I'm going to have fun with this!  I'm already starting to think about the fabric for the finishing.  The instructions called for a Whitman sampler box but, I have a wooden one from Hobby Lobby that is practically the same size and will be much easier to paint and Briwax!!!!!

I think I will be using the fabric I used for the Valentine smalls I did.  I have some homespun I can use to compliment it for the pinkeep in the huswife.  I will definitely post pics when it is done.  

 Another monumental occurrence!  I was noodling around on Ebay last weekend looking for an issue of Fine Lines I need to finish a set with when I found this....2002-03 Hannah Pepper Sampler. I had seen it  on Shakespeare's Peddler Blog maybe a year ago and Theresa was doing it.  I thought "How Cool!  Hey I subscribed to it for a while.  I wonder if I had that one?"  Nope, nada, didn't and looked for it then.     I found the complete set on Ebay, starting bid $20 or buy it for $24, so I bought it.  It came today, free shipping.  

 I think before I do it, I will have to do something small and then dye it afterwards with the walnut shell dye to antique it.  I like the soft, muted tones of thread and the stained fabric.  Note to self...science experiment.

 I have this vision of a wall of samplers in my sewing room, once it officially becomes a sewing room

The final issue gives instruction in how to paint the frame.  I will have to do that.  

Another monumental occurrence today, was I was able to upgrade my phone.  So I got an IPhone 4...no Siri.  I would rather spend the cash on stash than some bimbo talking to me.  That would probably just make my smart phone smarter than me.  Who needs an inferiority complex?

So Bob came home for lunch to go to the Verizon store with me.  I had no plans for dinner.  I asked him what he wanted.  He usually has no clue.  He then said, "I know you probably wouldn't like this but, my mom use to make this stuff called goulash.  It had ground beef and elbow macaroni and tomatoes in it."  So I thought about it and my mom use to make something like it but, it had potatoes in it and ketchup.  

Monica's Goulash

1# ground chuck                    1 c. diced carrots                    medium onion chopped    

 2 stalks celery chopped.       1 tsp. Montreal Steak Grillmates. 

Brown meat with the veggies.  I covered it and then let it simmer about 10 minutes until the carrots were tender.

Add one can of diced tomatoes

1 cup ketchup

1 tsp dried mustard

Salt and pepper to taste.  A little water if you need it.

Cook half a box of elbow macaroni

Mix together and place in a 2 quart casserole.

Top with a cup of grated cheese.  I had some mozzarella and cheddar in the fridge.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  (don't need much time since it is already warm)  

It turned out pretty good....better than his mom's.  Never had much food she cooked...can count on one hand how many times she invited us for dinner.  Oh well, (heavy sigh)  She still is around now she rarely cooks 

After the fact.  Not the greatest picture but, you get the idea.  Beats hamburger helper!

 He had to have some bread to sop up the juice

I believe it will make mighty fine leftovers.

That is about all for now.  This is a lengthy entry.  Thanks for stopping.  Check back later in the weekend or Monday.  Have an adventure planned.  Mid winter doldrums don-cha-know.

Keep on Stitching
Monica