Lollyspoons

I survived my attack of whatever it was. I’m left with a very sore midsection and a very bad back (i suppose from the extreme barfing that took place). But otherwise, all’s well.

I finally decided on my friendship gifts for quilt bee and book club members. I call them Lollyspoons, and they were so much easier to make than those darned Scandinavian stars. And quick too. I made all these (40 in all) in less than an hour this morning. All you need for 40 spoons is: 40 plastic spoons, an 11 1/2 oz. bag of Toll House chocolate morsels, and sprinkles or decorations of your choice.

I melted the chocolate in the microwave, spooned it into the spoons, propped the spoons level on a plate with raised edges and added my sprinkles and little Santas. (You could also use crush peppermints, which I think I’ll do with my next batch.) Now I’m letting the chocolate cool and set. I’ll place them in tiny plastic bags to cover the candy, and fasten. Then I’ll place three or four in a larger plastic bag, tie with ribbon, and add a tag. (I’ll post photos of bags when I’ve finished them.)

The spoons can be used to stir your coffee or hot chocolate or just to enjoy like a lollypop. 

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On 11/30/2018, Debbie Price said ...

These are cute! I am glad you are feeling better. Have fun at quilting group and book club!

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On 11/30/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

Charming! Hope you'll post the recipe, too. I'm glad you found something easy and yummy to make for your guild friends. Do keep some for yourself!

Hugs!

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On 12/03/2018, Sandra Clarke said ...

Nice going, Susan! Very sweet!! Have fun with your friends!. I ran across a magazine, Fons
& Porter, I think from 2004, & you had a very pretty quilt in .there. Glad you feel better!
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Night of the Living Dead

That dog in the picture represents me for much of last night. Oh, it was awful. I had a flu shot in the afternoon and by bedtime, I was in the throes of a most horrible gastroentestinal attack. I cannot remember ever being that horribly sick. Maybe I’ve just blocked the memory as I hope I block this one. I now know what the term “projectile vomiting” means. Sorry, I know that’s yucky, so I won’t even go into the rest of it.

Just about the time I was ready to call 911 and praying I’d live till the paramedics got here, the symptoms began to subside a little. I finally dozed of in the wee hours, and when I woke this morning, the nausea, chills, and other horrible symptoms were gone. 

I was sure the flu shot was to blame, although in the past I’ve never had any sort of reaction to my flu shot, much less one like that. So I looked around on the internet and didn’t find any side effects that would match my night of horror. I asked my friends on Facebook. None of them had ever had such a reaction.

So now, I’ve decided the fault can be laid at the crust of a slice of week-old apple pie that I consumed a couple of hours before bedtime. I know, I know. That was stupid. I wasn’t even thinking. That pie should have been tossed days ago. As my daughter reminded me, as Lamont Sanford once said to Fred, “Eight-day-old collard greens wouldn’t agree with Superman."

So the remainder of the pie is now tossed, and I’m feeling like I’m going to live to quilt another day. My innards still feel like they’ve been put through a blender, but I had a cup of coffee a bit ago, and it has stayed put so far. 

But still, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

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On 11/29/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

Oh, what a horrid night you had and am glad you're feeling better today. Methinks I'd call the doctor's office and have them put their two cents in as to what caused your misery. Andy may be correct but then again, you may have had an unusual reaction to the flu shot.

When I used to get flu shots, I aways took aspirin before going and two dosed at the proper intervals afterwards. Flu shots aren't recommended for those of us with auto-immune problems like my lupus.

Hugs!
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Happy Black Friday

I’m staying home today. I have never shopped on Black Friday since it became a thing. I hate crowds, and I’m surely not going to engage in a fight in order to save $25 on a microwave or a large-screen tv. There’s already been one mall shooting in Birmingham before the shopping even got going good. One man dead, 12-year-old girl in hospital. So I think I’ll continue my tradition of staying home on the day after Thanksgiving. I have a refrigerator full of leftovers (including two pies) and a good book I need to finish. However, I’m not implying that if you love the hustle and bustle and hullabaloo of Black Friday shopping, you should not indulge yourself. Have fun, but be safe.

Meanwhile, here’s a photo of two of my hometown’s favorite sons, Jesse’s dad Rusty and Sir Charles B., knocking back a couple at one of our watering holes. I love these guys.

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On 11/23/2018, Debbie Price said ...

No Black Friday shopping here, even if I could!

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On 11/24/2018, Doris M said ...

My Black Friday shopping was done via computer. No getting out in that mess for me either.

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On 11/25/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

We stay home on Black Friday, too. No on-line shopping though as we were off-line. sniff!

Hugs!
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And Feast We Did

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone

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On 11/22/2018, Debbie Price said ...

Hope you didn't stress too much! Tomorrow-leftovers!

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On 11/25/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

Yum!

Have been off-line since Thursday morning but that didn't stop us from having a yummy meal that looked much like your plate!

Hugs!
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Folded Swedish Nightmares

I saw this little star ornament, called a Folded Swedish Star, online with the sure promise that it’s very easy to make. One Facebooker claimed she made 40 of them in 15 minutes. (Don’t quote me on that. I don’t remember the exact time, but it was such that I figured I could whip out all that I need  of them, about 18, in a half a day or so.

So since I was feeling fairly fit this morning, I figured I would download some instructions and whip out my 18 star ornaments. After reading numerous tutorials (one in Swedish), watching several videos on the subject, and cutting and ironing and folding and refolding and recutting and re-ironing and refolding and cussing and re-cussing--I finally produced one wee star ornament. (I’m not one to give up on a project until I’m in danger of mental collapse.) I have been at it for at least four hours for one star. I no longer feel anywhere close to fit, and I never want to see another folded Swedish star. 

To put some perspective on just how

confusing and

exasperating the process to

make this star is,

think Rubiks Cube. 

Now I’m going online to see if I can find something that my brain can handle to produce a few small friendship gifts in multiples--18 at least. It will have to be something that requires no folding and that originated in an English-speaking country--preferable Alabama.

After vowing last year (and the year before and several years prior to that) that I was never again hosting hosting a large family dinner, I am indeed hosting a large family dinner here on Thanksgiving. Wiggle and weasel though I might, I am never able to extricate myself from these things. It has something to do with a false sense of responsibility caused by guilt instilled in me by forces I care not to elaborate upon. I thought I would start cleaning up the house today. Instead I wasted my time and meager energy and that stupid star.

Happy Turkey Week, Everyone.

 

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On 11/19/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

What a bummer to have something that boasts about being so easy isn't easy in the least. You wee star is lovely, but not worth the time a frustration it took to make it.

Are the 18 little favors you need for quilting friends or for non-quilters?

Wishing you spoons enough to enjoy your share of Thanksgiving cooking and eating. Lew the others do the clean-up!

Hugs!

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On 11/19/2018, Debbie Price said ...

Are you cooking EVERYTHING? Egads, if you are, tell everyone it is potluck!
I am going to find this Swedish star thing. It has now intrigued me!
Happy Thanksgiving!

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On 11/19/2018, carol said ...

I bookmarked the star and thought this would be fun. Maybe this will be for another challenge. Thanks for sharing.

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On 11/21/2018, Pat said ...

Hilarious, but I know it’s not funny! I made 15 tissue (purse size) holders. They did require folding but they were simple enough for me. Happy Thanksgiving!

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On 11/24/2018, Cindy in NC said ...

I love the tissue cover pattern from Two Brown Birds. Click on “My Designs” at the top and the tutorial is on the right side bar. It takes only two pieces of fabric, and these can be churned out assembly style. I like to zig zag my edges and trim (using a rotary cutter and quilting ruler) off the “hairs” before turning them inside out. I just made a bunch of these for a church craft and bake sale. I gave them as gifts at school one year (in fabric featuring the school mascot), and they were big hits. They also make a nice holder for a gift card. I order pocket tissues from Amazon for the best price, but these are fairly inexpensive at places like Target and Walmart.
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Snow Day--Well Sort Of

At long last, I got the binding made and sewn to the back of my Christmas Tree quilt that I made last year.

Remember this? ^^^

***

Everybody is very excited in Alabama this morning. We woke up to a slight dusting of snow. It was unexpected; we didn’t even have a chance to stock up on milk and bread. In my neighborhood, it was visiible on the rooftops but nowhere else. One of the Birmingham tv station people built a teeny tiny snowman and broadcast film of it. TV stations are on Red Mountain, higher up than  us lowlanders. So they got a dab more snow. But just a dab more.

A whole week has passed with no blog post from me. Sorry about that. I just haven’t felt like doing much except what absolutely has to be done. Last night was the first night I’ve slept through in days and days. Even though my condition doesn’t appear to be worsening, my ability to cope with it definitely is. 

The holidays are coming up. Thanksgiving, one of my faves, is right around the corner. Thank goodness, Cait and Kathryn have volunteered to be the turkey chefs this year. I’ll try to make the dressing. I do make good dressing.

Anyway, I did manage to get the binding sewn onto the front of my Christmas Tree quilt. Now I have to hand stitch it to the front and sew on a sleeve so that I can hang it in the foyer where “Family Portrait” (Santa and Mrs. Claus) has hung for several Christmases. Maybe I’ll get that done today. So far, I’ve managed to unload half the dishwasher, make my bed, feed the furbies, and take a shower. 

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On 11/15/2018, Barbara Anne said ...

What a charming Christmas Tree quilt and the peppermint stripe borders are perfect!! Kudos for getting the binding on it while it's still November, too! It will keep you cozy as you do the hand stitching at your leisure.

I'm with you in running out of spoons all too early in the day. Bummer and bother to the max.

We've had a rain day today along with a cold wind. Brrr! I need to get my raincoat and umbrella and see about the mail before it's dark.

Hugs!

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On 11/15/2018, Pat said ...

Love your Christmas tree quilt. So glad you'll be having family here during Thanksgiving. My daughter and my sister will be here. Sister is retiring end of the year so all 4 of us siblings will be in the same town/area for the first time since 1968. Can't wait to have sister time. Now if I could just get my daughter nearer! Thanksgiving we'll gather at my husband's family as is traditional-the youngest niece has taken the hostess job the last few years. We all take food. hope you and yours have a restful, well holiday.
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