The Blog of a Friend

Nine years ago, I met Cathy at a crazy quilting class at John C. Campbell Folk School. Betty Pillsbury was our teacher. I'm glad to call both of these talented, smart, beautiful, and authentic women my friend!!

Cathy has a prize drawing on her blog. Now, this isn't a seen-one-seen-them-all blog. It's a delight to the eye. Cathy's sense of humor, her love of the art of CQ and collecting is obvious in her postings, and her charm is pervasive. She's sponsoring a give-away. I'd like to invite you to visit her blog: http://www.cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!

Having mentioned Betty Pillsbury, you're in for a blog treat there, too! Check out her Web site as well and visit her gallery. Quite the accomplished artist and a marvelously gifted herbalist. Go to: http://greenspiralherbs.blogspot.com/

I'm glad to introduce you to these special blogs!

Feeling Groovy

This week was full of inspiration. Friends. Color. Art. Music (loading my iPod with goodness). Warming temperatures. Riding with the top down (and the heater on). A peaceful mind, but high energy. Tomorrow night, friends are coming for dinner -- a great time to try new recipes. Not sure why, but I always try them on friends first. I started reading two new books. Wrangled with some stacks of paper that threatened to take over my desk. Simple things. Good things.

Want a fun little quiz to create your own rainbow? http://spacefem.com/quizzes/rainbow/showrainbow.php?violet&i=2

This week at our Fiber Art Fusion meeting, we gave the Round Robin blocks back to the owner. I am thrilled no end with mine. The 11 women who worked on it during the last year added so many beads, buttons, machine and hand-stitching, glitter, and all kind of special effects. I LOVE the result. Great results can come from collaborative art!

2009 Out Of the Gate

Twenty-six days into the new month, the new year, and I haven't checked my birthday book. I just realized that I missed a really important one for a dear friend. Bad!

The flip side of this year is all of the new at my house. Little things. Simple pleasures.

I got an iPod for Christmas. I asked NOT to get one. Technology is a good thing -- as tools go. I like what they can do for us. But, I'm not a big fan of what they require of us. Learning how to load the iPod is a chore. My husband had it engraved, so I can't return it. That kind of "forced march" gets me going. Worse than futzing with technology, I hate to waste things. Particularly gifts. They represent the care another has for us. No little thing. Meanwhile, I have to labor long to load Mozart....

New furniture in my studio! A map chest and another little stacked set of drawers. Great news. Then came all of the making room and vacuuming and moving almost every ding-dong thing out there. It's beginning to take shape once again. And I can FEEL the organization on a cellular level. I can sense the absence of stuff formerly stacked on every surface and in bags and boxes all around me on the floor. I can think with greater clarity. Clearly enough to start another bead project (instead of finishing something already started).

I'm beading around a rather large raku face bead. This will be the sixth in a series of bead embroidered face cabochons. My idea for them will come out later this year -- possibly for the "Exploring Dimension" show for our Fiber Art Fusion group. A far-out dimensional piece, unlike any other I've created, is whirling around in my head. Shows, challenges, and even Round Robins are good for that. They cause us to think in fresh terms, to create with our best artistic selves -- wide awake and present.

My Christmas Wishes

For each of us, my wishes are many and heartfelt. I think I wish nearly the same things every year. And not just at Christmas!

Peace...the kind that brings your heart a seamless quietude and calm.
Hope...A sense of well-being and energizes your waking and your every movement, mixed with that feeling that the best is yet to come, that God is in His heaven, and all's right with the world. Cockeyed optimism? Well, maybe. But, at Holy Mass, when I say that I "believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen ... and the life of the world to come," what's not to hope for! (ref: Nicene Creed)
Love...more than anything, I wish you the blessing of loving and being loved. May true compassion become the order of the day.
Simple pleasures...a game of Pictionary or Scrabble that leaves you laughing until you cry, the taste of tiramisu, good books, wonderful music, hugs that last long enough to really feel them, the gift of a smile from another, "Merry Christmas!" yelled with gusto by a child, thoughtful/prayerful moments under a clear night sky.

I hope your Christmas is special this year and always, with new and old memories to fill your heart.

Gift Exchange

When December arrives -- or when we arrive at December -- parties ensue!

Our Fiber Art Fusion group dined to celebrate another year of artful creating together. At our dinner, we exchanged little 5x7-inch original pieces of artwork. It is our second year, and I think we love it so much, we want to do one mid-year, "just because!"

Here is mine -- Ann Quandee chose it from the stack of wrapped art. I hope she enjoys it as much as I will enjoy mine from Judy Alexander. The color is a huge departure for me -- pinky-red, orange, even a purplish tone. I cut the pleated bit from some great fabric and pleated it in a semi-circular form. Again, from the same fabric, I cut a smaller motif, padded it, appliqued it and even added a few bugles. I find it almost impossible NOT to add sparkle, a la beads. I bordered it in satin stich with this great Madeira variegated thread. Variegated threads are a big favorite of mine -- they add lots of interest and depth without having to change thread (which would often be too disruptive to the piece). The silks and even dyed cotton fibers are great for embroidery.

I wish everyone a blessed season of love -- love for families and friends and all of God's gifts to us!

Chili Cookoff Season

We haven't had quite a frost in Atlanta yet, but the leaves are beginning to turn (and fall) and the temps are quite chilly -- YAY! I always celebrate this season. I love everything about the change to fall, then on to winter. The position of the sun, the smell of fallen leaves, someone burning leaves somewhere, the earth seems to give up such a rich smell. The breezes refresh completely. The "ceiling" is so very high and the blue skies make me feel free! To be able to breathe air that isn't laden with the cloying humidity of summer is a treat.

Now, for a discussion on chili. My friend Karen South has challenged her blog readers to publish their chili recipes and link to her blog for a give-away.

A word on Karen. This woman is so very creative and quite an accomplished crazy quilter. It doesn't end there. She has a side business of preparing crazy-quilting (CQ) packets and she does a great job of pairing fabrics with little surprise embellishments. Try ordering a few and challenge yourself to complete a CQ block or wee piece with only the fabrics in the packet. Her blog is as charming as she is -- full of pictures, projects, GREAT embellishments, and all kinds of news. I welcome you to meet Karen on her blog.

Okay, time for the recipe:
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Chili

Ground sirloin -- 1 lb plus
Ground turkey breast -- 1 lb plus
1 medium to large onion, chopped
4-6 scallions, chopped
3-4 stalks of celery, chopped
Fresh garlic -- 1 heaping tsp, minced
Chili powder -- at least 4 Tblsp (I like Mexican style), adjust to degree of "heat" preferred
Ground cumin -- about 2 Tblsp
Cinnamon -- heaping tsp
Cilantro, dried -- about 2 Tblsp
Salt & pepper to taste -- remember that you are seasoning the entire pot with meat and veggies and tomatoes, added in "layers" with every new addition. Remember that celery adds a salty flavor, so taste test every now and then
Large can diced tomatoes
Large can crushed tomatoes
Can (#10) tomato puree or tomato sauce
One or Two cans dark red kidney beans
One or Two cans light red kidney beans
Can pinto beans
Can black beans
Chicken stock OR tomato juice -- about four cups throughout the cooking time, adjust to your preference on thick/thin consistency
Ketchup -- about a half cup -- this makes a huge difference in the taste (adds a bit of sweetness to counteract the "bite" of the tomato products)
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In a large soup pot, brown and breakup meats in a little olive oil. Remove the browned meats from the pot.

Warm more olive oil and saute onion, scallions, garlic, and celery, until the celery and onion are translucent.

Add the meat back into the pot. Salt and pepper to taste.

Add spices, tomato products, and beans (slightly drained).

Pour in about two cups of chicken stock.

Simmer for a long time -- I usually simmer for about an hour and a half, stirring often. Add ketchup. Stir and simmer for another hour. I imagine beef stock would work well, too.

Taste test along the way to judge spice levels. Adjust to taste. Also, watch the consistency and add stock as required.

At the end, add more dried cilantro.

Serve toppings of your choice: shredded cheddar/jack, fresh cilantro, chopped onion, pickled jalapenos, sour cream.

I've never checked for the quantity of finished chili -- it makes A LOT! Freeze in serving sizes.

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Enjoy the chilly weather and the chili!!!