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American Hero Quilts Part Two...

Ever heard of war fatigue?  It's what we get when we're sick and tired of reading/hearing about the Iraq war.  We don't even bother asking when it will end because we all know that the end is no where in sight - especially now that there is going to be a troop surge in Afghanistan -  we're going to be hearing more and more about war...and the casualties it takes.  Which is why I'm writing this post today.  American Hero Quilts, the charitable foundation that provides a quilt to all injured returning soldiers and Marines, once again needs our help.  This time, they are desperate for quilts and quilt tops.  Sue Nebeker, the amazing woman behind American Hero Quilts, delivers 100 quilts each month to Madigan Army Hospital in Tacoma, Washington.  This month, however, she is also sending 100 quilts to Afghanistan to be used by the troops over there.  She is just one woman folks...and even though she has the desire, stamina, strength and abilities of 100 women, she needs more help.

 

We took the ferry over to Vashon Island where Sue lives - it was a beautiful (and rare) sunny day.  Sue greeted us like old friends and gave us the grand tour...pictured above right is what 100 quilts looks like all bagged up and waiting to go.  I say waiting because it's going to cost about $800 to ship those quilts to Afghanistan...unless SOMEONE KNOWS SOMEONE who can help Sue out?!?  If you do...if you know someone in the military who can help her get these quilts to Afghanistan - please contact her by going to the American Hero Quilts Website.  

More quilts - stacks of them waiting to be photographed.  Sue takes pictures of every quilt that is donated and keeps copious records.  She'd love to take a picture of YOUR quilt or quilt top.  I know it's the wrong time of year to be asking...but really, is there ever a good time?  IF you have the time to piece together a twin size top in red, white and blue fabrics, she would greatly appreciate it.  Sue has women who are willing to quilt the tops - she just needs people to make them and get them to her.  Please go to her website for instructions on how to piece together a top, what fabrics to use and where to send them.  

Pictured above is just one of the many thank-you notes Sue has received.  Take a moment and let it sink it...it's really heartbreaking - I've got no words for this.

Maybe you can get your quilt group together to piece a quilt top?  Maybe you can just get together with a few friends?  Maybe you can skip one night of merry-making and sit and sew...I know I'm asking a lot...but just think about that Marine wrapping himself up in a red, white and blue quilt with a label that says THANKS...need I say more? 

Bundles of Love...

I mentioned this project briefly the other day in a post but after thinking more about it I realized that I needed to tell you more...so you can get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside just like I did.  This is a project about helping women who like to make things - the only difference between them and us is they live in Iraq.  There's this Army guy, Mr. Iraqi-Bundle-Of-Love, who started this project because he comes from a long line of quilting women...and because his heart must be the size of Mt. Rushmore.  He is currently in Iraq and he and his troops will personally pass out all of the bundles they receive - but they must be mailed before SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2009.   So time is short - dig into your stash and your hearts and send whatever fabric you have that you will NEVER use, because someone over there will.  They are also looking for yarn and all kinds of sewing notions.   

Go to Iraq-Bundles-of-Love and read the particulars...then leave a comment and you will be emailed the address of where to mail your bundle.  They are having you leave a comment so they can keep track of what is coming and be prepared...now isn't that just like an Army guy?  Always prepared!  You'll need a LARGE FLAT RATE POSTAGE BOX from the Post Office -  and you'll send your bundle to a US address so this will only cost $11.95...and think about all the love/joy/happiness your bundle will bring for just a measly $11.95!!  And anyone can do this - even if you don't quilt or sew...maybe your grandma has some yarn she's been hoarding...or your Aunt Till??  Go, search, find, pack and send...you'll be so happy you did. 

Here's the link again:  Iraqi Bundles of Love  Go now...do it!  It's only WORLD PEACE that's at stake!!!

Bruschetta...

I know what you're thinking...I'm smart like that...you're thinking who needs a recipe for bruschetta?  It's just chopped up tomatoes, basil and Parm on toasted bread, right?  Wrong.  And besides, I have a secret ingredient...a secret way of making bruschetta that will make YOUR bruschetta passe, boring, insignificant and bland...Think of this as a challenge...a Bruschetta-Off...your bruschetta against mine...right here, right now.  Take your time, gather your ingredients and make your tasteless bruschetta...I'll wait.  And while you're working, let me bring you up to speed on a few things:  First, I GOT MY BABY BOWL BACK!  I know how worried you were for me!!  Thanks for all of your cards/letters/flowers and support...it meant so much!  And now my baby is back where she belongs and all is right in my universe.

Next on my list...tomorrow is my anniversary.  But this year I do not want you to send me gift certificates, chocolates, flowers, etc., it's so sweet of you to always want to do that, but really, I have better plans for your money.

For my anniversary, the one the mister has forgotten about, I'd like you to follow this link and read all about the Iraqi Bundle of Love Project.  You can clean out some of your fabric/yarn stash, help make the world a better place, and I'll consider it an anniversary gift to me and the mister all in one fell swoop...trust me, this is a good thing, a very good thing.

Bruschetta...why do I love it so?  I'll tell you...it's a snack, an appetizer, or a meal...plus it's chewy and crunchy and colorful - so, so much to love!  Okay, here's my deal...just forget about your bruschetta for a minute and listen up...my secret ingredient?  Garlic JUICE!  Oh yeah!  I use minced garlic from a jar, and when I want to make bruschetta I drizzle on some of the juice, on top of the butter before toasting...you've just got to try it...in a word?  Amazing.  Oh, there is one other little secret...I use SALTED French bread...bread that has an outside coating of coarse sea salt...it makes a difference, a huge difference, between bland and bombtastic! 

Of course a little Italian candy - Calamata olives - adds it's own punch to the most incredible bruschetta you've ever had...On a scale of 1 to 10, this is how it would add up...Your bruschetta, probably a 5...I'm just saying...and my bruschetta?  A solid 10.  I could be wrong, maybe yours is a 6, possibly a 7, but this, well, this is a 10.  Make it and do the math for yourself.

Bruschetta - ME

1 loaf good French Bread with sea salt coating (if you can't find this kind of bread, then add sea salt to your bread after toasting, before the toppings are put on)

2 tablespoons butter, softened, or olive oil

2 teaspoons garlic juice (from a jar of minced garlic)

2 tomatoes, chopped

about 8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped

12 Calamata olives, pitted and chopped

1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded

Slice French bread in half, lengthwise.  Butter each half or put olive oil on each half - I prefer butter.   Put under a broiler for 2 to 3 minutes to toast, being careful not to burn.  When toasted to your liking, remove. Using a spoon, spread garlic juice on top of butter, it's okay if you get a few pieces of garlic!  Sprinkle on a bit of the Parmesan to each half.   Top with chopped tomatoes, basil, olives and more Parmesan.  Serves 4 normal people or two pigs. 

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."  ~ J.K. Rowling

This, That and The Other...

THIS is what I WON from a little contest over at Lucy's Tales From Home and I couldn't be happier!  I love checking in to see what Lucy has to say - from the outside looking in I'd say Lucy lives the perfect life, with the perfect family...and her mom is especially creative and talented...go see for yourself!

THIS is the cake I made for a charity auction...my Italian Cream Cake and it just looked so pretty I had to show you...I'm hoping it tasted great - it usually does but you never know with cakes - if you beat them just a tad too long they can be dry as the Sahara!  So, if anyone out there ended up eating my cake would you please let me know how it was?!  The curiosity is killing me!  (I'll be posting my new version of this cake soon - it's a keeper!)

Remember THAT old addage that says something like a little knowledge can be dangerous?  Well, I was thinking, what if I used oven cleaner to clean the bottoms of my pans - you know, the stuff that just won't come off even with a Brillo pad and an hour of scrubbing?  Well...there's a reason oven cleaner is ONLY FOR OVENS...this is what it did to the bottom of my pan...totally ruined it - it took the finish right off and as you can see the stuff that is COOKED on is still there!  Don't try this at home folks!

The Other thing I wanted to show is my workroom - it's almost done...the walls are finished after FIVE coats of paint and a coat of primer - over WHITE walls!!!  Stinkin' stupid to do red...but now that it's done I'm loving it!  I've decided that red is a neutral for me.  The floor is in - antique oak and it looks great...and I've started to move back in...which is so, so hard because I don't want to put all the crappola back in my room but it's starting to "talk" to me...."Take Me!  Take ME!"  So scary!

And lest you think I have been sitting on my laurels all weekend...I made a couple of arrangements for our Sunday service...it was so nice to be outside in the sun working with beautiful flowers...

So that's it - that was my weekend...now it's back to the grind...how was your weekend?

Pioneer Woman...NOT....

You know The Pioneer Woman, right?  Excellent blogger, photographer, cook and recipe fiend...if you've not been to her website, check it out, it's a beauty...but this post is not about her...oh no...I doubt that The Pioneer Woman would ever be caught dead in this ensemble!

Just wanted to show you what I've been up to the last few days...sewing Pioneer costumes for a few young ladies in my church who are going on some wild-west-trek.  They'll be walking ten blister-making miles a day in hilly terrain under the sweltering heat and sun of Eastern Washington...all in the name of fun!

Many of my friends, including the fashionistas, are going as chaperones on this grueling three-day expedition...I would love to be a fly in the tent!  Some might say that I volunteered to sew costumes so I WOULDN'T have to go...but that's not true - no one asked me to go...I think my fears of bugs, heat, vomit, teenagers, cots, campfires and going potty under the stars is well known...once again, having "issues" is a good thing.

I'm thrilled to cross this off my list! 

My thanks to Miss Virginia who so graciously agreed to model this for me.