Baking & Tea

Today I baked up some of the zillion zucchini into bread, along with the classic French boule, and made Joe Carson's Ginger Cookies and Dixie Curkeet's Refrigerator Cookies. I took the cookies to Obama headquarters for the hardworking volunteers. The place was buzzing like a hive.

Tonight I met Carla and got The Quilt From Hell which she had quilted for me. It looks really nice! I may have to change its name. Even Skip likes it, and wants to use it on our bed. It is huge! I'll get a photo ASAP and post it -- of course, it's not bound yet, and won't be until I get time. It is a long, long way 'round that thing.

I finished reading Three Cups of Tea last night. It's a gripping read and a galvanizing story. I know what I want from my family this Christmas -- a year's salary for a teacher in one of Mortenson's schools -- $356. A dollar a day. To educate girls; he also builds women's vocational centers, brings in fresh drinking water, and other humanitarian deeds, with the unintended consequence eliminating the motivations behind terrorism. Why be the world's worst nightmare when you can be the world's best friend?

Roses and Tomatoes

We had a wonderful visit with our friends Mary and Dave in Denver.  Here's Mary with her birthday quilt.  She likes it!

Yesterday I picked up 40 pounds of tomatoes from our community farm.  Took them home, peeled, chopped and packed them for freezing.  A lot of work, but a lot easier than canning!  They taste like the ones from my grandmother's garden when I was little.  I've had them breakfast, lunch and supper ever since they 'came on.'

This afternoon I got a call from Ginny, a dynamo who sews, weaves, knits and takes care of half the people on the planet.  She told me about an estate sale in the condo complex where she lives and said I had to get right over there.  I'm not into garage sales, rummage sales, etc., but this was the stash of a fabriholic the likes of which one can only imagine!  Main floor:  one room of just buttons, one room of yarns, the rest of the rooms were beautifully organized, top-quality quilting cottons.  One big double closet's shelves were stacked with novelty fabrics.  The shelves over the washer and dryer, as well as the tops of both machines, were stacked with landscape fabrics.  The pantry was full of bright prints and black and white prints.  Large shelving units in the dining area held sorted Orientals, batiks and florals (large and small).  And tables in the living room held boxes of fat quarters.  Prices: $4 - 5 a yard for larger pieces, $.50 a fat quarter.  I bought about $400 worth of quilting fabric for $60.  But the real score was in the 'bargain basement' --  two very large pieces (at least 60"x60") of beautiful quality fake fur for $5 each.  What do I need with that?  I've been making new Christmas pageant costumes for the kids of our parish; the magi have been wearing tatty bathrobes for years, and last year I made satin and brocade tunics for them. When I have time I will add matching capes with fur linings!