A Well Protected Ford Fairlane

Isn't this a beaut?

Greetings From the Road

We are taking the Shasta on a little road trip this week.

Brian and I worked our butts off and got a lot of work done in the
camper over the past weekend, so we could be extra comfy (think
campfires and fresh air, but with a queen size mattress and a down
feather bed for sleeping. Plus a three burner gas stove and oven for
cooking.)

Here is what we saw when we woke up this morning in Chimney Rock, NC.
By the way, Last of the Mohicans was filmed here, as was some of
Firestarter, and Dirty Dancing was filmed in nearby Lake Lure. As we
were driving by the lake I kept picturing Johnny and Baby practicing
in the water! Har har!

Well, we are on the road again. I'll post more pics as I take them.

Encounters of the Bird Kind

I saw a huge Red Headed Woodpecker in the yard today through the window at breakfast, but of course no sooner did I grab my camera then he flitted away! He looked just like this-

Photo from Thebirdpoint.wordpress.com

It was a real thrill to see one so close; he was probably only 20-30 feet away!

This was my second unusual bird encounter this week, as earlier in the week I scared away a hawk that was trying to attack one of my chickens. I have seen many hawks here, and I always just assumed that the chickens (which are well fed and fat) were too big for the hawks, which are smaller, to mess with. I guess I was wrong! The chicken was unharmed, thank goodness.
The hawk looked like this one.

Photo from Carolinanature.com

I was never really into bird watching before we moved here, but we have tons of Ruby Throated Hummingbirds which are fabulous to watch. And, the first year we were here, I saw through the kitchen window a Blue Jay of epic proportion. I now refer to him as "Chicken Jay," as in "he was big enough for us to dress and bake like a chicken. I saw him a few times after that initial sighting, but Brian never saw him and probably thinks I was exaggerating. I am not! He was really the biggest Jay ever! At least as big as a Cornish Hen! A little sage and butter rub on the skin, some salt and pepper......mmmmmmm........Oh! I am getting away from myself.

Are there other 30-something-kitchen-window-bird-watchers out there just like me? What have you spotted lately that made you just stop and watch?

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Wait, did I already say that about spring, summer, or even winter? Okay, I really love where I live. And I just love autumn in western NC. This is in no small part due to the amazing bounty available at our local farm stands.

If you ever find yourself in Rabun Gap, Georgia between May 1st and October 31st, you must go to Osage Farms. We did, today. We go a lot, especially in fall. Here is my post from around this time last year, and Osage is just as full of pumpkins, squash, apples, and tourists this year. And, yes, it is worth braving the crowd to get all of these goodies for such a sweet price.

Talk about Fall Palette!

 I went straight home and tossed apples and sweet potatoes in my apple baker. I just threw the squash whole into the oven over a piece of foil.

They may be ugly, but they taste soooo good!

By the time I got everything put away and cleaned up, I was starved, and so was everyone else. So, I acted on an impulse I had while driving home and made us veggie grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. I just skittled up ("skittled" is my husband's word, and it means to cook as one would in a skillet, with lots of hissing noises and sputtering) some garlic, onions, peppers, and kale, and put them inside the buttered bread with the cheese. You know, like so....

Make sure you use plenty of buttah 

And I threw some extra crispy skittle veggies on top of my soup. Can I get a "hell yes?" 

Baby approved, if this evidence of the destruction of her sandwich will hold up in court

I'm thinking squash risotto tomorrow. I am looking to bust out of my cooking rut with some wild recipes that incorporate these yummy fall foods without being too much work. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! 

One Woman's Cheese Keeper is Another Woman's Jewelry Holder

For my birthday in August, my mother in law bought me a lovely cheese keeper that I spotted at the flea market. I ooooh-ed and ahhhhh-ed over it, but didn't buy it, and she went back and got it for me on the sly. Ain't that sweet?

As pretty as it is though, I had no idea what to do with it. It dates to the 1800s, and I'm sure it was a very practical way of storing cheese in those days. In the year 2011, I just put it in a drawer in the fridge. I didn't want to tuck it away only to be brought out for special occasions, as it is really just too lovely. So, I left it on the kitchen counter and thought about it for about a month.

In that time, I came up with a new and practical use for this purty cheese keeper. Any of you who happen to have a cheese keeper around the homestead or spy one out on a thrifty scouting can be just like me and use it as a place to hold the jewelry you take off at night before bed. I don't like sleeping with my wedding rings on, or any other jewelry on for that matter. Except the toe ring. I have had this toe ring on since I was 16 and took a trip to Puerto Rico, and I don't really ever take it off. Anyway, who cares?That's not the point. Aside from the toe ring, while I slumber, my most lovely and prized jewelry will rest on my night stand....in the cheese keeper.

Does anyone else have any totally unpractical possessions that they apply to practical uses so they won't feel like they belong on the show Hoarders?

I Won the Blue Gardenia Giveaway! And Denise was Right- I am so Excited!

Denise over at The Blue Gardenia Blog and The Blue Gardenia Shop hosted a wonderful giveaway for a Parfait from Colette patterns, as well as some lovely leopard print fabric, nail polish, and a Reader's Digest Sewing Guide, and I won the fab loot!

Thanks a million to Denise as well as the ladies at Colette Patterns for spreading the sewing love around.

Also, anyone who has not yet or has not recently checked out Denise's blog and the patterns at The Blue Gardenia needs to go have a look-see. Denise stocks some exquisite, rare, and lovely vintage pattern eye candy as well as fab vintage costume jewelry. Her patterns are all checked and counted, so you don't run the risk of being disappointed by a missing piece, and she provides free shipping in the U.S.

Isn't this lovely? See what I mean?

The Colette peeps have recently released their new line of lovely patterns for fall, and have a fun blog as well with sewing tips, methods, and inspiration. I've had my eye on Clover trousers for fall.

So, thanks again!

I am very ready to get back to sewing now that I am home from my little sister's wedding in Maine. I made dresses for the baby and I, and I will post pics and such as soon as possible. Until then....

Pretty Pattern Finds

Sorry about the crummy iPhone photos, but I bought these at an antique shop today.

I think my favorite is the Vogue blouse in the top photo-very practical and very pretty!