Category: Turkey Tracks: My Life in Maine

Our Life in Maine, My Craft Projects, Quilting, Recipes, Book and Media Reviews

Turkey Tracks: Our Easter Eggs

Turkey Tracks:  April 8, 2012

Our Easter Eggs

On this Easter Sunday 2012, it seems fitting to show you a picture of our Easter Eggs.

All of God’s wonder, all the perfection and magic of nature, all of the sweet goodness of our chickens is held in these orbs.  Assuming the hen has been fed properly, these eggs are a perfectly balanced whole, with the exact right proportions of fat and protein, with choline for brain food, with nourishment that has sustained mankind for thousands and thousands of years.

Truly they are a magnificent gift to us.

Turkey Tracks: Rose’s New Purse

Turkey Tracks:  April 8, 2012

Rose’s New Purse

Rose told me months ago that she’d love to make a purse like mine.

My purse is made from the Bow Tucks pattern that is so popular with quilters.  I love it, and when I wear one out; I make a new one immediately.

Rose is a VERY busy woman.  She bakes bread and pizzas for TWO farmers’ markets–in her wood-fired oven.  She bakes pizzas to order for pick-up on Tuesday and Friday nights–and boy are they delicious!  She also bakes cakes to order and cakes and cookies for the farmers’ markets.  She has a big flock of chickens who give her eggs to sell.  She raises all kinds of greens and veggies to sell at the markets and in her seasonal farm shop, The Vegetable Shed.  She also makes and sells all kinds of yummy things–like the wood-fired roasted plum tomatoes she gave me last summer.  Or, pickles.  Rose is always already inventive with preserving food.

Rose really only has Monday free.  So, one Monday recently we went down to Alewives Quilt Shop in Damariscotta Mills, because Rose had never been to see the Alewives fish ladders or that lovely little settlement.  Alewives Quilt Shop is also lovely and one of my favorite places to shop for quilting supplies.  And, on the next Monday, we made her purse together.  I cut and ironed, and soon it was done!

Here it is.  These magentas, purples, and spring greens are favorites of Rose’s.  She uses them on her business card as well.

Here’s what the inside looks like:

  And, here’s Rose with her purse:

Here’s a web site for this purse pattern.

http://pursepatterns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=153

There are, also now, web sites that claim they have the pattern for free.  My own feeling is that whoever designed this wonderful purse needs to get full value for that work.

NOTE:  The pattern we got for Rose had been updated.  In the new pattern, the front pocket is sewn on independently of the seams in the purse’s body.  I far prefer to anchor the bottom of the front pocket in the seam of the front’s upper and lower purse bodies–which is what my, older, pattern did.  You just center the pocket and insert its bottom into that seam and sew them together.  Then, you sew down the purse’s sides, anchoring the top of each side with some extra stitches.

Turkey Tracks: “Orange Sherbert” Quilt

Turkey Tracks:  April 8, 2012

“Orange Sherbert” Quilt

When I was making blocks for “Quilt of Many Colors,” I made some pink blocks that just didn’t work.

So, I used them to make this cute little quilt that I’ve grown to love.  My camera always makes quilts look crooked, but they aren’t.  And, the flash can wash out colors.

Here’s a corner of the quilt top with the backing and binding fabrics, all from my stash:

Here’s the center block, so you can see how I quilted “Orange Sherbert.”  I used the freehand daisy pattern again, but I made it denser by echoing the daisy and by using curves–like the outside curves of the petals–to travel.  I used Signature’s Victorian Rose thread, which is a soft pink.

I’m going to keep this little quilt for a bit–likely until a girl baby is born to one of my kin.  I’m going to hang it in an upstairs bedroom.

Turkey Tracks: “Quilt of Many Colors”

Turkey Tracks:  April 8, 2012

Quilt of Many Colors

I’m now thinking of this whole winter’s work as “The Scrappy Quilting Project.”

The “Quilt of Many Colors” helped use up more of the 2 X 31/2 rectangles I have been cutting up for over 10 years.  Remember, I pulled out most of the blue ones to make the “Blue Fox Trot” quilt.  So, here’s what the pile looked like when I started this quilt.

Clearly they needed to be color sorted first of all:

I had in mind using a pattern from Judy Hooworth and Margaret Rolfe’s book, SUCCESSFUL SCRAP QUILTS FROM SIMPLE RECTANGLES, which has guided me with cutting the 2 x 3 1/2 rectangles in the first place and, then, using them.

But, I didn’t like the way those blocks developed.  Hooworth and Rolfe were working with plaids, and their version of this pattern is lovely.  My colors were just dying in these blocks.  See?

So, I struck out on my own.

I went down to Marge Hallowell’s Mainely Sewing in Nobleboro.  Marge has been a great consultant in The Scrappy Quilting Project.  She helped me pick out four bright colors:  orange, turquoise, acid green, and magenta with a darker purple running through it.  I loved what started happening.   Note that I’m already alternating how the rectangles orient.

But, I began to see that just having these four bright colors was going to present problems with how to arrange them.  Here there’s already a pattern forming on the diagonal of warm and cool blocks in the diagonol lines.  So, I started pulling brights out of my stash, and here’s what happened on the design wall.

I found a great backing in Marge’s 40% off attic.  And, chose a binding that’s hot pink with yellow stars.

Here’s the quilt all finished.  Something about it reminds me of a brand new box of crayons–something to this day I have trouble resisting.

Here’s a block, so you can see how I quilted it–using a freehand daisy chain in lime green thread–which plays nicely against the flowers in the backing fabric.

Here’s the backing and binding.  The yellow stars on the hot pink binding are adding a really lively and fun sparkle to this quilt.

So, there you go.  A beautiful, fun, charming quilt out of the chaos of all those rectangles.

I’m really happy with this one!

Turkey Tracks: Robb Wolf’s Reaction to the Red Meat=Cancer Study

Turkey Tracks:  March 22, 2012

Robb Wolf’s Reaction to the Red Meat=Cancer Study

Son Michael sent me Robb Wolf’s Reaction to the red meat=cancer study recently released by Harvard.

Robb Wolf is a biochemist who decided to blend his knowledge of nutrition with healthy exercise.  I wrote about his book in my last Tipping Points Essay (No. 41) and will use his analysis to discuss the dangers of eating grains and legumes.  That information is in many reputable places now, so I’ll also include some of them.  But Robb does a really good job of simply explaining the issues.

What I like about Robb’s reaction is that he goes to some lengths to explain that it’s NOT ok to use badly crafted scientific studies that support your personal belief system.  He references some bad studies that support low-carb diets to illustrate and calls for a return to using solid science that searches for accuracy and, dare I say it, “truth.”

Here’s Robb’s reaction:

http://www.robbwolf.com/2012/03/14/red-meat-part-healthy-diet/

And, here’s Robb’s book:

Turkey Tracks: Canvas Etc.

Turkey Tracks:  March 21, 2012

Canvas Etc.

Russell and Joanne Spear recently returned to Maine.  They used to work for Moss tents up in Belfast.  They came back just in time to fill a need for folks like me who needed to have furniture refurbished.  Our local upholsterer retired some years back.

The Spears don’t upholster, but they do fabulous slipcovers.   And, Russell and Joanne are really, really nice.  Joanne is a hugger, like me.

I saw their work when they put a slipcovered chair into Quilt Divas in Rockland.  I could see right away what quality work they do.  I hadn’t even been thinking slipcovering until I saw their chair.  Thanks Debbie and Doris for supporting them.

The Spears work out of a small building on Route 90, just south of the intersection with 17.  Call first, 207-596-3285.  They have a good selection of fabric books, and we’re really happy with our choices.

They slipcovered a chair, a hassock, and a big sleep sofa for us–from our tv/craft room/den/spare bedroom room.  These pieces get a lot of wear over the course of a year.  The Spears’ price was fair, and they did all this work pretty fast, too.  Plus, they took the chair first, so we’d have a place to sit and watch tv, returned it, and then took the sofa and hassock.  And now we’re so enjoying having what feels like new pieces of furniture.

Look at this pretty chair!

This chair is Reynold’s favorite.  She lies across the back, so she’s up high, feels safe, and doesn’t miss anything.  Of course I’ve thrown a protective blanket over it.  BUT, if someone comes, we can disrobe this pretty chair in a flash.

Here comes the old sleep sofa back home, with its newly covered pillows piled in its belly.  That’s Russell in the back.

Russell and Joanne put the slipcover on the couch.  You can see that Penny has brought them a toy.

And here’s a pic (blurry as it is) of the Spears, the sofa, and the hassock:

Pretty nice, huh?

Turkey Tracks: My Absolute Favorite Tree

Turkey Tracks:  March 21, 2012

My Absolute Favorite Tree

For the past eight years, I’ve driven by this tree and wanted to stop and take a picture of it.

This week, on the way home from weekly Tuesday shopping in Belfast at the Coop, I pulled off the road and snapped away.  It’s just south of Lincolnville Beach center, on the right.

I think I love this tree–an old oak–best in the winter because you can really see the tree’s skeleton.  I’ll stop next summer and take a picture of this tree when it is all leafed out.  It’s spectacular then, too.

Here’s a view of the trunk:

The rock wall is typical up here in Maine.  This one is a beauty.

Enjoy!

Turkey Tracks: March Means Spring

Turkey Tracks:  March 20, 2012

March Means Spring

Here’s what’s on my dining room table today–thanks to sister Sue:

March also  means my birthday–which comes right in the middle of the month.  The 17th.  St. Patricks Day.

When I was four, we lived in Savannah, GA, and back then, they used to have a HUGE St. Patrick’s Day parade.  I used to think it was for me, of course.  Now I’m finding my birthday just goes on for days and days, and this year has been particularly blessed with greetings from loved ones, local events with friends, the Ipod touch and the renewed love of music, lots of fabric for the various scrappy quilting projects, and a gorgeous sweater I’m about halfway through knitting.

Anyway, the days are longer now.  The grass is greening up.  Our weather this week has been spectacular.  I had to go rummaging in my stored summer clothes in an under-the-eaves dry storage compartment to find some cooler tops and pants and a cotton sweater yesterday.  I sat in the sun OUTSIDE yesterday and had lunch with friends down in Damariscotta–after visiting Alewives quilting.

John is raking the yards, sweeping the drive, raking back the pathway rocks the snowplow pushed into the garden, and cleaning out the garage.  Soon we’ll unwrap the chickens’ coop cage and clean out the winter bedding.  The raspberries LOVE that bedding.  The chickens are all laying like crazy.  Soon we’ll fence off the garden so the hens can’t get at the peas we’ll plant and the emerging asparagras.  That bed will be four or five years old this year–I forget which–but we’re are anticipating a good harvest this spring.

Normally, the surrounding hills would be draining off melting snow–forming so many waterfalls that the hills look like they are draped with lace.  But, it’s been a very dry and warm winter.  We’ve already gotten two ticks off of Penny dog.  They are the strangest milky color–even when engorged.

The loss of our local paper is a very sad note.  I will continue to write the essays for this blog, however.  I promise.  And I’ll get back to the essay series on the Paleo diet in the next few days.  I promise that too.

Turkey Tracks: Giovanna’s Red Shawl

Turkey Tracks:  March 17, 2012

Giovanna’s Red Shawl

A few weeks back, Giovanna McCarthy invited me to her workroom to wind my skeins of Romney Ridge yarn into balls.   Look what was hanging over her computer chair.

I didn’t get a good picture of it until she brought it to our last Coastal Quilters’ meeting.

Here’s a close-up of the work of some of the work of this spectacular knitter.

You can see a little in these pictures that what’s very nice about this shawl, other than the beautiful red color and the gorgeous pattern, is the large “u-shaped” neckline.  This shawl just “cozies” up to your body.

Beautiful!!!!

xxxx

Turkey Tracks: Beet Salad

Turkey Tracks:  March 4, 2012

Beet Salad

This picture of a beet salad has been waiting to be discussed since the Christmas holidays when Mike, Tami, and the kiddos were here.

It was too good to just move on and ignore it, so here it is.

It all started when we ha some roasted beets…

Just wash some beets, put them into a covered pan, put the pan into the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour.  Less for small beets; more for larger ones.  A knife will slide right in when they are done.  I also put about a 1/2 cup of water into the pan just to prevent the oozing beet juices from burning.  Let the beets cool.  The skins will slip off easily if you rub the beets with a paper towel.  If the beets are still too warm to handle, stick a fork in each beet, hold it up, and rub the paper towel of the surface while protecting your fingers from the heat.

Lay out a bed of spinach and put the chopped beets (bite sized) over.  We had some of our dried cherry tomatoes, so those went on.  Diced, fresh are also nice.  We had some leftover cooked string beans, so they went on.  Sliced onion.  Red onion would be even nicer, but I’d never make a special trip to the store for one ingredient as I tend to cook with what I have on hand.  Blue cheese crumbled over all.  And the dressing is a very mustardy, sharp, garlicky vinaigrette–lovely with the sweet beets and onion.  Salt and cracked black pepper.

There wasn’t a piece left at the end of the meal.

The picture does not really do this salad justice.  It’s fabulous for a dinner party.

PS:  The tablecloth is a hand-crocheted piece with butterflies in the pattern that I bought at our Coastal Quilters fall auction for, I think, $30!!!!  It has lived on the table since and washes and dries easily.   Thank you, thank you to whomever put this piece into the auction.  It is loved and cherished now.