Does He Ever Stop Napping?

You know, I really need to play.  Doesn't he ever wake up?

(When Bodecia joined the household as a kitten, Norman was about 4 years old.  He had already learned to nap professionally.  You can learn more about Bodecia and Norman on their pages.)

Bodecia Finds a Quilt to Test

 Hmm, she says, I can't decide which I like better, the turquoise or the violet.....it seems to be well-constructed but I'm not sure I really like applique'....I mean, I haven't done a lot of applique'.

I guess this quilt is okay....but....how does it look with my eyes?

Resident Quilt Testers

Meet the official quilt testers.......

Norman, in a box of pumpkins a few years back.  I think he wanted to hatch them.

Bodecia, waiting for another quilt to test.

My Mom-In-Law's Scone Recipe - A Quick Tea Accompaniment

 Cream Scones

2 cups All-purpose Flour (or 1 c. AP Flour + 1 c. Whole Wheat Flour)

3 t. Baking Powder

1/2 t. Salt

4 T. Sugar

6 T. Butter or Shortening

2 Eggs

1/2 cup Evaporated Milk

The Dry Engredients

The Wet Ingredients

Equipment Needed - You can use a fork instead of a pastry cutter; I used a wire whisk and a rubber spatula in addition to these items.

Place your flour(s) in the large bowl.

Add baking powder.....

salt.....

sugar.....

and mix well.

Measure the butter and save the extra Tablespoons for the topping to be added before you bake the scone.  Cut the rest of the cube in pieces.

Add the pieces to the dry ingredients and cover them with flour.

Cut them into the flour, scraping the butter from the cutter or fork with a knife as they build up.

Keep mixing.....

and mixing....

until it resembles coarse meal.

Crack the eggs into the small bowl and....

add the milk.  Beat together well.

Mix a little....

with the whisk, then....

round up the dough with a rubber spatula so you can scrape the sides.

Bring the dough together in the bowl with CLEAN hands.  Knead it a few times.  It will be sticky.

Turn it out onto a piece of waxed paper.

Form it into a circle....

about 1" thick....

with the edges fairly smooth.

Using a long knife, cut the circle in half and....

then in portions appropriate to your numbers.  There are three in our family, so....

I cut things in sixes.  Not easy, but I've had years of practice, now.

Lay your greased cookie sheet atop the circle and, grasping the waxed paper on both sides....

flip the whole thing over.

Pull the waxed paper off and...

spread the top with softened or melted butter.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and....

pop it into a 400 degree F. oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in one of the sections comes out clean.

It smells wonderful!

Here it is with my favorite herbal tea.....

and split open with a pat of butter and a little marmalade.  A lovely combination for breakfast or any time.

Making Half and Quarter Square Triangles for a 

Patriotic 4th of July Quilt - "Founders' Truth"

I have a favorite block.  It's called the Ohio Star.  It's a great block for a beginner's quilt.  It's a block that says, "QUILT!" really loud.  What I mean to say is it's a block that lots of people recognize and see as a traditional quilt block.  

It's my favorite block for a patriotic quilt.  The Fourth of July is coming up, way too fast....so I'm getting in the mood for it.  We're planning to read the Declaration of Independence on that day, are you?  If you'd like a copy, go here.  If you decide to read it on the Fourth, will you tell about it on Facebook?  I am going to let the world know.  The world needs to know.  Here's some patriotic music to enjoy......

 I call this quilt "Founders Truth"

Place a red square on top of a blue or white square, according to your pattern.  Using a quarter-seam-allowance marking tool (below) mark a line from one corner to the opposite corner and the seam lines on each side.

Stitch on the two outside lines from edge to edge.

Cut the blocks apart on the center line.

Press the seam to one side.  Here you see some red and blue half square triangle blocks with some red and white, showing fronts and backs.

Now, place a red and white square on a red and blue square with the red half opposite a different color on the other square.  Pin and mark them from corner to corner to make quarter square triangles.

See what I mean about the red being opposite a different color?  Stitch on the outside lines as before.

Cut them apart on the center line.

Iron the seam open to minimize the bulk at the center of the block.

Voila!!!  You now have made four quarter square triangle blocks.  Trim off the little wings before going further.  Here's a facsimile of the finished quilt below.  I actually have the quilt top almost finished....just a few borders to add and would show it to you but my digital camera went bananas and wouldn't let me download the photos I have on there......

...but here's one corner of the quilt top from an old shot with the block complete....

"Founders Truth Quilt"

Happy Fourth of July!!