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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wordless Wednesday #96~ Kanawha River

@ Glen Ferris, WV southeast of Glasgow, West Virginia
Drive by Shots
Besides following a trail, Mr. G and I really enJOY traveling a road that follows a river.



You never know when you'll come up on some breathtaking sites.


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 Attending these Linky Parties:
 Better in Bulk studio waterstone Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday   NanaHood.com
Also:
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PicMonkey creating collages used on this page

Monday, July 28, 2014

Beans, Beans: Good for Your Heart

......the more you eat the more you..........
Well, at least that's the way it used to be.  It took many, many years for me to find the secret to make these delicious morsels more consumable. 
      The key is RINSE, RINSE and RINSE!
I can't remember where I read about this hint, but I tried it and it does work, and it does make a lot of sense.  Basically, I feel like I cook out a lot of the offensive problems and rinse them away.



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FIRST, sort and rinse your Pinto or White Northern Beans or a combination (my personal favorite.) Use whatever amount you like. Usually 2 cups makes a large pot.  Beans will about double in size when cooked.

This step I've always done to rinse off the dirt and make sure any stones, burrs or whatever gets taken out. I've recently come across a bag that says it was "double" sorted, but I still don't trust it.

SECOND, place in deep pot or pressure cooker, add salted water about 2 inches over the beans, 2 Tablespoons of oil to prevent boil over, cover and bring to a full boil (not using pressure cooker cover at this point). Turn off heat and let soak for about an hour or until beans start to float and plump.  Personally, I put these on in the morning now that I'm retired, and after I turn them off, I really don't care how long they sit there. *Note: make sure you use plenty of water, as beans will swell to about double the size. So just barely covering the beans with water, will not work.

THIRD, this is the key step that I use to never do, but the first time I did, these babies didn't give me a hard time anymore.  RINSE off the water the beans just soaked in.  I rinse VERY well.  I do rinse with warm water so they don't have to heat up as much to start cooking again.
FOURTH, put beans back in the pressure cooker or pot and cover with plenty of water, 2 or 3 inches above.  Salt and pepper to taste, add about 1 Tablespoon of preferred cooking oil.  I use the blended oil. Good ole country cookers will have you use bacon grease leftover from frying bacon.  I used to season everything thing with that wonderful taste, until I found out I was covering up some wonderful flavors.

FIFTH, cook in pressure cooker about 40 to 60 minutes, depending on how well cooked you like your beans and how much water you used. The water will cook off and can cook down and burn the beans.
     If you use a regular pot, I have no idea on the cooking time. Check your bag.  I know it takes much, much longer and you have to keep eye on the water to make sure it doesn't cook down.

SIXTH, serve your favorite way.  Mine is on top of cornbread whether it be a cornbread cakes, sticks, or a whole skillet corn pone. To complete my whole grain diet, I use whole ground corn with a bit of baking powder, egg and milk.
I also love a ripe tomato or even some chopped canned tomatoes on the side.
and a good meatloaf on the side sounds good too.
So enJOY some beans that won't "cramp" your style.

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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Quilt Shot Block #24~ Tumbleweed by Eleanor Burns


12" block
Reminds me of the "Card Trick" block.



        I purchased this book back in the 90's. Usually Eleanor's directions and methods are easy.  For some reason I kept messing up.  After 3rd mistake, I finally had to quit, not quilt, for a day and come back the next. This wouldn't be one I'd make an entire quilt.  At least not by this method.  Also, lots of wasted fabric.







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PicMonkey creating collages used on this page


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wordless Wednesday #95~ COWS!


Thank-you Brandi K for sharing your shot.  Hope you don't mind that I messed with it a bit?
@Barren County, Kentucky
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 Attending these Linky Parties:
 Better in Bulk studio waterstone Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday   NanaHood.com
Also:
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Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Variety of 18" Doll Clothes from FREE Patterns!

       Way back in May there was a birthday girl in our family.  I'm lucky she is still of age that wants to increase the wardrobes of her beloved American Girls of which my model wears the same size.  I have collected a bunch of free patterns from the internet.  I do have a Pinterest collection of ONLY FREE doll patterns, but I do also save the sites and patterns on my computer, AND I do print the patterns and save them in a binder.  I do not trust Pinterest or my bookmarks as a safe haven for collecting as I've had favorite sites to disappear over time.
       Here are the clothes I made for this year's birthday gift and the links to the patterns I used.  Hope you find the ideas inspirational.
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         My Mother and one of her Caregivers discarded some clothing she no longer wore, so I grabbed them, of course. All knit pieces were made from her clothing.
 * Pink top from Liberty Jane- Trendy Tank Top Use knit fabrics.
* Blue Jean Shorts (from Birthday Girl's Grandpa's jeans) from Blueberry Moon's Nakey Baby Patterns



Daydream Doll Boutique - Trendy Newsboy Cap


This dress pattern was centered over the shirt design for the best fussy cut.
Dress pattern from The Craft Patch Right click on pattern image, "save as" to your computer. It will print out correct size. Use knit fabrics.  
 Mother's top was finished with a lettuced edge, so I capitalized on that design by laying the pattern pieces to include the edge which saved me time in finishing the edges.
Using the white part of Mother's designer T-shirt,
and
Pants from Strictly Homemade
 to go with the Handkerchief Skirt Pattern I created.
I also made a pair of leggins by downsizing the pants pattern from Strictly Homemade.  
Couldn't find a free pattern for that, so maybe I should post mine?
I basically ran out of time, or I would have made more clothes.
Hopefully, I get to keep on making for Christmas and birthdays a couple more years?  I hope she is enjoying them even though they don't cost as much as those bought in the store?

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Thanks to the FREE programs:
possibly used for this post
GIMP for cropping & other digital effects
 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo
PicMonkey creating collages used on this page