Monthly Archives: August 2019

Alma, Kansas Quilt Trail Pt. 2 /ThursdayDoors

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If there could be a perfect marriage of blog posts for me, it would include quilts and doors. And if you were able to read my blog week before last, you will know that I have found the way.

Alma, Kansas

We drove west from Topeka and our first glimpse of blocks started here in Alma. This is the county seat of Webaunsee County. County population in 2008 was 6,922. The sign above reads ” Alma 150th Anniversary – Independence Day Celebration – July 4th” We were a day late on the festivities. Probably a good thing for the purpose of viewing the ‘drive-by’ blocks.

Alma Creamery Information
Events and Map
Old time photos and extra information

We first stopped at the city park which had these posted for visitors. Very helpful and informative. A few ‘doors’ included if you look closely.

  • Door Find– stunning sky Divinely inserted.
  • The Alma First United Methodist Church

When doorscursioning, one must include churches. Thankful the rain moved on for us.

  • First Block!!!
  • Mill Creek Mercantile

Old door alert! Just propped but it counts. Would love to come back and see this store inside. Bet it’s got some great stuff!

  • Corner door




  • Stain glass above door
  • Quilt block on the balcony!!

A side note that this community was pretty near a tornado warning just a couple weeks ago(Aug.15). We get Kansas City news and weather and watched as they were tracking the storm. We were so glad they weren’t affected directly.

Photo Donation. Thanks Rach!!

Just in case you’re wondering what quilt I’ve got in the hoop lately, it’s this little number. Hand pieced double wedding ring quilt in red, white and blue –lap-sized and hand quilting a little each evening.

So many more photos to come of both quilt blocks and doors. Hope you can also visit Norm 2.0 for even more wonderful doors from around the world!! Happy Thursday!

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‘Miss’ Understood/Inez’sClippings

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‘Miss’understood

With a ‘little miss’ in the hubby’s engine we are taking it nice and easy this weekend. Sharing a few photos. If you need me, I’m sewing. No stress allowed.

  • Tie method #1
  • Tie method #2

An apron using a Pinterest pattern find is hopefully a hit for the Fall craft show season.

Model of the day

And an actual model never hurts sales any. In this installment of Inez’s Clippings, May the Pies Ever Be in Your Flavor!!

Calamities/ThursdayDoors

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This was quite the week for the whole family.

  • Youngest daughter learned of her car eventually needing a new engine and warranty won’t cover it until it actually fails. This is pretty frustrating.
  • Eldest daughter was without electricity for 8 hours, hot water for 4 days, and then internet and cable were cut accidentally during repair of said hot water issue.
  • A ‘trustee’,aka convict, escaped from the Missouri State Fairgrounds who house these people to clean and work around the fairgrounds when most folks are in bed. (More on this in a bit)
  • And finally, the husband was in the hospital with afib and released Wednesday evening after a battery of doctors coming in an out with differing opinions. The VA is good at that. No offense. I could go on about this too but I will refrain.

First the Doors…

Double Door in the ICU -- Columbia, MO VA Hospital
Double Door in the ICU — Columbia, MO VA Hospital

Ron I’m happy to say has lost 80 pounds in the last couple years. But much of it is due to 4 stomach surgeries that involved removing tumors that have been bleeding. Thankfully they are benign, But if they keep returning it will involve a more involved surgery. This is a direct result of dismantling too many meth labs while in law enforcement before they really understood what the effects of meth were. I am very proud of my husband’s service in law enforcement. He fought the good fight. I know of many who are not so good, sadly.

My opinion is probably not appreciated
My opinion is probably not appreciated

With all that about the hubby’s career out there, you can summize that I know a few people in our local law enforcement community. There are many aware of my daycare that has been here since 1995, on the Katy Trail. I can only think that they felt I was in good hands with my husband’s presence and I didn’t need to be notified. Guess what?! He may not have actually been here. A simple phone call or text would have been greatly appreciated as I took it upon myself to do a self-directed lock down after my mother-in-law and a neighbor’s mother notified me. (Thank you both!) And oh, by the way, he was apprehended on the Katy Trail, albeit in the opposite direction. I’m pretty peeved at the whole incident. This is the not the first time the trail has been used by escapees.

Thank you to anyone who read the whole paragraph. I will not get on my soapbox any further. At least not today 😉

To conclude today’s late Thursday Doors entry, I’ll ask you to please take a moment or two to visit Norm 2.0 and see all the week’s door entries, beginning with Norm. It’s a wonderful group of people and they won’t disappoint. Following with some blooms of the week from the garden.

  • Dark orange Marigold
    Dark orange Marigold
  • Marigold cluster
  • Golden Marigold
    Golden Marigold

Pepper Chicken/Inez’s Clippings

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It’s Sunday and time for another one of Inez’s Clippings. Grandma was often the butcher at the farm. It was nothing for her to head out to the chicken barn and grab a good looking hen (or rooster who was guilty of being too ornery) and take care of business –all the steps including plucking the feathers and readying it for the dinner table. I was never privy to learn the method as I was not considered old enough. I can honestly say I’m ok with that 😉 I saw enough meat prep of all kinds to satisfy my curiosity.

On a recent doctor visit, I was told to eat less red meats in an attempt to lower the cholesterol. I’m guilty of being an honest to goodness carnevore and his instructions are going to be tough. After all we live in the middle of the Farm Belt and I reitterate the fact that meat is my favorite staple.

So with all that in mind, we used up some garden produce this weekend, starting with some lovely sweet bell peppers in a Pepper Chicken dish. Chicken is on the ‘good’ list. As long as it’s not deep fried.

The step-by-step photos are in the slides below. Notes: #1-We double recipes sometimes so we can have leftovers and use up extra summer vegies. #2-The link for the recipe is here. #3-The recipe states beef and as I stated above, we substituted chicken. #4-Another difference is we added julienned celery. Crunch is important….to us at least.

  • Our rice is cooked in beef broth. Chicken or vegetable broth works too. FYI the beef broth is cholesterol free
    Our rice is cooked in beef broth. Chicken or vegetable broth works too. FYI the beef broth is cholesterol free
  • Mushrooms are sauted first. This is not on the website's ingredient list.
    Mushrooms are sauted first. This is not on the website’s ingredient list.
  • Adding the peppers and onions next.
    Adding the peppers and onions next.
  • The sauce is whisked and ready to add later
    The sauce is whisked and ready to add later
  • Vegies removed temporarily to cook up the chicken
    Vegies removed temporarily to cook up the chicken
  • Reintroduce the vegies and add sauce
    Reintroduce the vegies and add sauce

To keep this gluten free, it’s important to watch soy sauce, oyster sauce and spice labels.

Plated Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry

Thanks for dropping in this Sunday!

Kansas Quilt Trail/ThursdayDoors

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July 4th weekend we decided to meet up at the eldest daughter’s place for some home-cooked vittles before starting out on a long day trip.

Out the window we caught a glimpse of this rainbow. Bye Bye rain!
Out the window we caught a glimpse of this rainbow. Bye Bye rain!

We enjoyed eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast—not to mention some ‘pour-over’ coffee. You know, I do believe she payed attention to my cooking tips. 😉 Click on photos to see ‘Captions”.

Breakfast with Wonder Woman
And yes we cleaned our plates
Pour-over coffee
Cup courtesy of family in Okinawa

About the drive…..we headed off after this supercharge breakfast on the Kansas Quilt Trail. Here’s a portion of the map.

Starting point for us was Lawrence, Kansas
Starting point for us was Lawrence, Kansas

As beginners, we learned that there are no warnings of quilt blocks coming up. The map is just a general reference and you must be on the lookout for them. GPS markers would really help if anyone has the ambition to enter them(clears throat). In the next few Thursday Doors, I’ll be sharing our experience. To start here is a little taste of western Kansas.

TopekaKansas
EnterPrarie
ScenicByway
Flint HIlls marker on a slab of flint
Midsummer green

And for my finale, an official door to make this a proper Thursday Doors entry. Hope everyone takes a little time out to visit Norm 2.0 where there are so many more beautiful doors. He’ll direct your path.

On the Road to the Kansas Quilt Trail
On the Road to the Kansas Quilt Trail

Sleep Deprivation/Inez’s Clippings

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Sleep deprivation is a thing for many people. In our home, it happens to a couple of us—present company not included. I happen to think that my job is one of those that helps you get a good night’s sleep after the day is done. I am thankful for that. This is not to say that those who have sleep trouble aren’t working hard enough. A good night’s sleep is a mystery to many as apparently it’s a challenge to successfully treat.

You have to admit that Grandma’s clipping below is pretty cute.

I just love Grandma's sense of humor!
I just love Grandma’s sense of humor!

This weekend while everyone in Sedalia and the surrounding area is at the Missouri State Fairgrounds (working/riding rides/seeing a concert,eating corn dogs and cotton candy), I’m here at home working on a project for some good friends. They have recently moved but we have a common friend (our daughter) who will transport the project for us once it is completed. In short, I spent Saturday cutting soccer jerseys.

  • Tools for the project
    Tools for the project
  • I started with this blue and also used red.
    I started with this blue and also used red.

Of all the marking tools I’ve researched, I found these are the best for quilting. Just don’t use the orange. For some reason, it doesn’t wash out the best. As a daycare provider, ask me how I know this. 😉

  • Cardboard template with center point marked
    Cardboard template with center point marked
  • Outline made
    Outline made

Hard to see in the second pic, but I’ve pinned the opening closed prior to cutting.

  • Measuring the length
    Measuring the length
  • Measuring the width
    Measuring the width
  • Cut 2 blocks at once for a saving time and for accuracy.
    Cut 2 blocks at once for a saving time and for accuracy.
  • Centered and Cut
    Centered and Cut

Some factors to consider when making someone a jersey/t-shirt quilt is that the shirts are not replaceable. For this reason, it’s taken me some time and contemplation on how to best begin. If you have a project someone has requested, definitely do the homework first so there are no regrets later. As in carpentry, measure twice, cut once. Don’t let it deprive you of sleep.

Block Cutting Complete
Block Cutting Complete

Stay tuned for the completed quilt in an upcoming post. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!!

John Speer Farmstead Site/ Thursday Doors

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If you carefully read the story below, you’ll see that the farm land was owned by John Speer and the current house located here once sat diagonally across the street was not owned by John Speer. It was moved here in 2000 honoring John Speer, the founding citizens of Lawrence who showed great resolve in rebuilding after the Quantrill raid of 1863 as well as preserving the architecture of that time. Being a Missouri girl, I do not like being categorized as a ‘Bushwacker’ but since Kansas has taken such great care of my daughter’s college education, I will tolerate it just this once. 😉

We were the only people present at the time. It was Father’s Day weekend and I’m sure many had made special plans. As you can see, our plans were bent on sight-seeing.

And being as we weren’t in anyone else’s way, we peeked inside a bit….

Leaving you this Thursday Doors with some extra photos below. Hope you’ll take time to stop at Norm 2.0 by clicking here to see his door display and the doors of many more entrants.

Poor, Potatoes and Molasses

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Usually this is a Sunday post but due to the amount of stuff I needed to catch up on this weekend, that was not gonna happen. And I’m still behind. So Monday it is for another installment of Inez’s Clippings.

Play on words
Play on words

Part of my ‘to do’ list this weekend was harvesting some tomatoes. Po-tatoes are still in the ground and waiting for the hubster to take time out to dig them. I hope our new method of the adding a board-raised bed works. (fingers crossed).

Bunny watching
Bunny watching

The 4-post boxes in the background mark the beginning of the potato boxes. Notice our piles of compost ready to be tilled in for the gardening season are keeping the girls from pouncing on the little bunny. He has remained that tame throughout this year. So far he only wants my clover in the yard.

Mid-stage of potato growing.
Mid-stage of potato growing.

This was our first attempt at this sort of potato growing. The jury is still out on how much or less we will acquire. Hoping for a bumper crop. Speaking of a bumper crop, I have a tomato weigh-in for you….

1 lb. 10.5 oz.
1 lb. 10.5 oz.

A small dinner plate will do for this one. And yes, I get my gardener genes from Inez’ side of the family 😉

Henry County Museum/Thursday Doors

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I admit it. Last week’s entry for Thursday Doors was a scramble. Got a few leftovers in my stash from that day trip to share and hope you’ll enjoy.

Last week's and This week's are adjacent buildings.
Last week’s and This week’s are adjacent buildings.

Clinton has some gems. One of these is on the National Historic Register and listed as the Anheuser-Busch Building. It’s now a museum.

Henry County Museum
Henry County Museum
National Register of Historical Places plaque
National Register of Historical Places plaque

The building next to the museum has only one clue as to what it is used for…..

Children's Corner Theater

In case one of my kin from Clinton decides to enlighten me on the building’s use, I will update this post at that time. Until then, I just wanted to share its fine details and also share the next photo that I think you’ll appreciate….

Courtyard with gate (door) between the buildings
Courtyard with gate (door) between the buildings

This lovely courtyard would be a lovely spot to relax on a warm summer day in August, don’t you think?! Hope everyone is finding time to relax this summer. If you have a few extra minutes, please head over to Norm 2.0 for more wonderful Thursday Door entries. He’ll give directions in finding all the gorgeous doors worldwide.