Meet My New Friends

That's the Quil Sisters, Lady Kleenex and The Luden Brothers - we've been really tight this week hanging out together and chilling.  Yup a big old nasty summer cold has kicked my butt to the curb.  My voice has been pretty much gone all weekend and I'm thinking Mr. Farmhouse might be liking that - naaaa, he says he likes to hear my song bird voice, lol.  Anyway not much has been happening around here, not even sewing.  I've been doing what I have to do and not a lot more.  This post I think will be a little all over the place, you know like how my brain is functioning right now.

So first off thanks for the b-day greetings for S#2.  We went up to see him on his special day and take him out to dinner.  We stopped at his house so Mr. Farmhouse could see what he's done since the last time he was there - me since I've seen the place more recently I took a quick nap on his couch since I was feeling punky which helped me get through the rest of the evening.  BUT being the great Mom that I am (ok I must be hallucinating, lol) I did make up some cupcakes that we took up to him instead of a birthday cake - LORDY slap me silly these were good -

Banana Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting and you can find the recipe here at your home based mom blog.  She was making cupcakes for a wedding and has some really good recipes on there for more.  Plus she just has good recipes in general.

Earlier in the week I also whipped up a Blueberry Tea Cake to go with our Beef Barley Soup for our dinner. 


This recipe is a "blast from the past", one I used to make for my boys all the time.  I had a pint of blueberries in the fridge and thought - shoot I'm going to whip that baby up for dinner, you know blueberries are good for you and if there surrounded by a little cinnamon, butter, sugar, well you get the drift it can't be all bad - right.  Here's the recipe for you to whip up one yourself

Blueberry Tea Cake

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add egg and milk to butter mixture and beat until smooth (mine always looks a little curdled and never really gets smooth but it turns out yummy anyway)  Add dry ingredients and mix until it's incorporated.  Fold in blueberries.  Spread into a greased and floured 9 1/2" round or square cake pan.  Sprinkle with the crumb topping and bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes

Crumb Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup butter - softened
Cut butter into the dry ingredients until it forms course crumbs

This tea cake is really good served just a little warm - yummmm

Son #2 was home this weekend and although the weather wasn't really good for swimming we did manage to squeeze in the first fire in the pit  - SWEET - there was even some s'mores eaten in the name of experimenting on how the pit would work for those, lol

I also need to show a couple of more gifts I received in the mail as house warming presents.  First up was a wonderful set of place mats and matching napkins from Nadine

Thank you Nadine - these are beautiful and will be saved and used when I entertain the Peeps and the Woolies.  It was such a sweet thing for you to do.  There beautiful and the stitching is wonderful on them.

Next up is a cute set of blocks from my Anne.  She had these specially made for me.

Because Anne has asked me where I put them - this is where they are right now - but I keep moving them to find the perfect place.  Thank you Anne you know I LOVE THEM.

Let's see what else, oh ya, one of the classes I took while at Primitives of the Midwest was from Stacy Nash - I'm not sure how I feel about cross stitching on the small 32 count weave yet, the jury is still out on that one - however she had a few finished models for sale - well I snapped up one of those in a hurry, I mean a Stacy Nash original - and it's perfect for Liberty House

Well for those of you getting fall fever, here's a sign that it's just around the "torner"

S#2 loves his Fantasy Football and is involved in 2 different leagues and last night was the the draft for the first one.  He spent a good part of yesterday finishing up his homework on his choices and making sure he had backup plans in case they were snapped up by someone else.  He found that t-shirt at a store and thought it would make the others concentrate less, maybe a little intimidation - we all got a good chuckle on that t-shirt.  So chickies fall must be just around the "torner" if the leagues are gearing up for business.

You know the peeps had their annual retreat here at the lake a couple of weekends ago.  For the first time EVER might I say no air conditioning was needed, no swimming in the lake to cool off, no showers at night to get the sweat off of us and no electricity outages.  Yes those were a few challenges we faced when we held it at the old cabin.  It was always freakin hot, we always had breakers pop with to much juice being needed.  A dip in the lake was almost a requirement around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and a shower was a must at the end of the day.  Nope we had cool weather of course, because this year we had the option of turning on the A/C if needed.  I did take those peeps for a "funtoon" ride and even parked that sucker all by myself - only took me 3 tries and that was due to the waves, not my parking ability, although that was in question by me.  Can I say I was impressed with myself, lol.  It was a bit more windy when we came in then when we went out - but it all worked out just fine.

Here was our set-up




Sitting outside was so nice weather wise

we had a guest visitor one day - one of our Brainerd Peeps came to spend the day with us - Judy brought a beautiful stitchery quilt that she was sewing the binding down on - WOW it was so pretty


she also brought a couple of small quilts for show and tell


here is what the peeps worked on



the above blocks will be hot pads for holiday gifts that PH is giving to her family members

 

there was a little swearing going on with these blocks - I'm just sayin








I sewed on bindings on a few small quilts

picked out fabric to reproduce this quilt

and then did all the prepping to make this quilt from Liberty Star. I picked up a kit while at Prims of the Midwest, this is one of the classes that she taught - love it.  I'm planning on doing wool centers - shocked by that, lol

This is the sample block of the little basket exchange the peeps are going to do.  I just worked up one quickly so they could see it done and those peeps a little nervous about doing the "A" word would see it's not a hard basket.  They are all game to do applique.  We will each do our baskets in a different color and then we will embellish the center of the basket in whatever way we want. I'm pretty sure my basket will have wool in the center - what do you think :).  Thanks Karen for helping me out with this basket :).

Well holy smokes could this post be long enough - thanks for sticking with me if you did.  I am now totally caught up and I feel like I'm working my way back to why I started this blog.  I've posted something sewing related and a recipe - YAHOO.  Next post I will show you the 2 new tables that have come to the Farmhouse for my sewing room - SAH-WEET.  There's a wooly gathering on Thursday - so who knows what I'll have to share - I bet there hoping I still don't have a voice, lol.

Until Next Time

Comments

[Colleen]

You've sure covered all the must-have topics: food, fun, and some quilty/crafting goodness.

Here's hoping your summer cold hits the bricks soon. It's just no fun to be sick -- especially when summertime has finally decided to make an appearance.

Take care...

[Thimbleanna]

Hope you're feeling much better today Ms. Farmhouse! LOVE that fire pit -- I'm soooo jealous -- you know I loves me some s'mores. Those cuppycakes look Yummy -- thanks for the link and the blueberry recipe too -- definitely no calories if blueberries are involved! Thanks for the awesome show and tell too!!!

[Linda]

I am so sorry you are under the weather. I hope it passes very quickly so you can enjoy your days a bit more.

Kamp Karen looked like a lot of fun. Those lucky gals got to see your home in person. I am sooooo jealous!! And all the goodies you all made/ worked on and showed. Wonderful creative stuff going on there!

Thanks for the recipe - I need something for this weekend and I think that will do the trick.

Here's hoping by the weekend you are back to normal. Ahem - whatever that is! :-)

get well prim hugs, Linda

[Elma Riedstra]

I hope you feel better soon. Love all the beautiful gifts you got!! So nice. Oh I so wish I was talented! I was at the flea market and I found an old window that had six panes then behind each piece of glass I would like to put six little quilts:) Now I just need to get crafty.

[Kim Larson]

Hope you are feeling better! Those summer colds are tough to kick. I so enjoy your sense of humor in your blog. Keep it up girl, it's what gets us through, ya know?

[Carolyn@Primitive~Devotion]

I hope you are feeling much better by now! Girl, I love all the little quilts and penny mats you are working on! I really do need to try some of that!
And how sweet for your friend to make you those wood blocks! I LOVE those! I know you had to be so tickled to ge them.
Hope you have a great week!

[Lorraine]

wow....for someone who is sfeeling under the weather and not doing much you sure have loads to share!!..the blueberry dessert looks awesome...and I am guessing tasted the same!!Love the wooden blocks Anne sent.....they are birlliant! The fire pit sure looks like it was a hit.....enlighten me..."s'mores"?? Ihope you have kicked that cold to the kerb and are feeling much better.......!

[Lorraine]

....and I am suer the wooden blocks were not only "birlliant" but brilliant as well.....oooops....!

[Candace]

Wow - I would say you're getting your energy back after this fun-filled post, Karen! Hang in there! Love Nadine and Anne's gifts - aren't they both so sweet! And I think we'll be having those cupcakes soon! Oh my - and the peeps - what wonderful projects - ALL! Both pumpkin projects have me waiting for Fall with baited breath!
Cheers!

[Anne]

I hope your told has turned the torner! Not fun in the summertime. Wow, I can't believe how much you all get done! I'm amazed. Do you think it's because they don't have blogs? LOL I have the pattern for that pumpkin table mat. Hmmm, maybe I should get it out. What a wonderful retreat. Nothing better than good friends, huh?

[Red Geranium Cottage]

Hope your feeling better soon Karen. It's awful when you can't sleep because of a cold. Put straws up your nose, that will help with the breathing. lolol I'm JUST SAYIN!!!
Great projects from the peeps. I love the quilt your making again?? The baskets. Which pattern is that? And your new little basket block is the cutest.

[Kaaren Johnston]

Hope you're feeling better soom, Karen. Summer colds are the pits! And speaking of which, I love your fire pit!

The Fall wooly projects are crying out to me. A wooly gathering on Thursday, huh? If I start out now do you think I can make it?

I love Stacey's designs. I am just trying my hand at x-stitching. I just can't die before stitching a sampler and a prim needlecase.

Super post, Karen. I loved every word!

[Shawn]

Hi Karen,
I hope you are feeling better, you can type a great post when you're under the weather though, I loved reading it all. We've always made that blueberry recipe in our family and called it Blueberry Buckle ??, your cupcakes look yummy and I'm going to go over and check out that blog. All those quilts are wonderful and I love both of your basket projects especially the one with the flags. I loved seeing the embroidered basket quilt too, I picked up that pattern in the spring "Meredith's Inheritance Quilt", it was on display in pink I really liked seeing it in the green. Thanks for the fun post and take good care Karen!

[Pat]

Wow! I love this post, Karen!!

Hope you are all better soon. Those bad old summer colds are being passed around our family, lately!

[Rondell]

Wow, I love those quilts especially the flag and star one:)

Hope you are feeling better now thankfully I haven't had a summer cold this year.

I'm sure you are enjoying your farmhouse and BTW I love those blocks that your friend gave you:)
Rondell♥

[Jan]

What a great post!!! Loved all the pics and the recipe ... Also, the "Red Farmhouse Blocks" are awesome!!! Your friend "done good :)" Tks for sharing and feel better!!!

[Ms. Faye]

Hey, lots of eye candy girl. Anne's wood blocks are way too awesome. If I lived in a red farmhouse,those blocks could have fallen into my purse one day. I'm just sayin......
Can't wait to try the blueberry dessert or will you be handing off a piece to me when we meet up this morning?? I didn't think so. Dang.
I like seeing the pics of the peeps "sewing". What a novel concept. We may need to think about that for the Woolies.
Sniffle on girlfriend.

[Colleen]

Well, I wasn't hungry before I read your post, but I am now, lol :o)

Love the projects.... absolutely love them!

Hope you feel better soon.

[Julie Dixon]

Man, there's nothing worse than trying to get rid of a summer cold.

You still have been busy, though. Loved all the quilts you showed. I found the Serendipity by Whimsicals book that you told me about. There are so many cute projects in that--thanks!!

Is the Liberty Star pattern on their website? I couldn't find it there. It is darling--your projects are the best. Thanks. Julie

[Louise Murphy]

Sorry to hear about your summer cold. That is just not fair ..but you would never know you are under the weather with this wonderful post. I am always impressed with all of the work the Peeps manage to get done. Thank you for the yummy sounding recipe..love those blueberries..Feel better soon! Louise

[wendy]

I hope you are feeling better. We have just got some cooler days and I have more energy today then I've had in the last few weeks. The record temperatures have really drained all life out of me.
Your quilting kamp with the peeps looks like a fun time. The projects you showed are inspiring. I love the little "a" word basket.
Thanks for the recipe, maybe I'll get enough energy to bake. I made dinner tonight, hubby probably thought I would never cook again.
Hugs,
Wendy

[Kate]

Hello, just want to say how much I enjoy your blog, I love seeing all the quilts and sewing stuff and seeing into your beautiful new home. Its all so different from life here in England. Oh, get well soon and I'm already looking forward to your next post. TFS.

[Heidi]

Sorry to hear you are under the weather Karen. Get well soon! I have a bowl of fresh blueberries in the fridge that we picked this past weekend. I am going to try your recipe. I hope to do so tomorrow after I get back from my biopsy at the hospital if I feel up to it. I am wanting to try a new recipe and here is yours just waiting...

Wow! What eye candy. Everything looks great.

Hugs ~
Heidi

[Denise]

Sure hope you are feeling better soon! Summer colds are the worst.

Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful pictures!

XXDenise

By the way, I love the picture with the sprinkler in the background!

[Carol]

Oh boo! A summer cold...they are the worst...they just want to hang on...hope you are feeling better soon. What a fun retreat at your house...yummy blueberry cake...what awesome show and tell...you have the best group!

[maple leaf]

Hi Karen , I check your blog every day because I enjoy it so much. I wish you could post more often, but , I understand how busy you are. Could you also find a way to get your blogroll back? It's also fun to look at what your friends are up to, even when you can't post. Thanks a bunch. Maple Leaf.

[Karen Beigh]

Wow! A long post with lots of photos of quilty things. Very interesting read.
I very much like those wood blocks with Red Farmhouse on them. That was a very thoughtful and creative gift.
Those Peeps just keep on creating good stuff. Wish I could be part of your group but I think the distance between our homes is a big draw back to that. LOL! I see you have started the basket project and have personalized it. Very good!

[Carrie P.]

Hope your are feeling better today.
Yummy recipes you shared which I will give a try.
What nice gifts you got too. I know you are glad to be settled in your new home.
Always great show and tell from your quilting buddies too.

[Nadine Hogrefe]

Hope you're beginning to conquer your summer cold. I made the Tea Cake for Anne and Brenda Wednesday....it truly is AWESOME!