Tuesday 29 November 2022

Two Online Goodies, Department Store Muffins, Yuletide Blanket, Friendship Stars

It was fun to read about everyone's American Thanksgivings. From the small and quiet ones to the large family gatherings. Thank you for sharing.
 Last week Hubby got the snow tires on the car just in time for downpours of rain. I'm always happy to have someone else do that chore though when he told me how enjoyable the garage waiting room was with t.v., free good coffee and comfy chairs, it doesn't sound too bad. With a little stitchy project in hand, I would actually have enjoyed the experience. 

This fellow is back around the feeders. I always wonder if it is the same ones that come and go. Cardinals, btw, are the state bird of at least six American states.

 I made the King Arthur Flour's recipe for Famous Department Store Blueberry Muffins.  They were really good even with the sugar cut back a bit. I used a lot of blueberries to make up for it.
Do you like my little Sad Fish plate?

Thank you to those of you who mentioned Magpie Murders. We just finished this series and thought it a great one. We watched it on PBS.

I finished my crocheted Yuletide Blanket last year and just took it out of the trunk, hence the wrinkles.  Last year I promised a photo this year and here it is. It was a good challenge for me to work out the pattern which produced a thick, heavy blanket.  I'd forgotten how "weighty" it is.  Free Pattern from Lucy at Attic 24.
Here are my rainbow Friendship Stars so far.  I now have to work out how to align them.  Times like this I wish I didn't challenge myself and just go with some pattern. This was my November OMG at Elm Street Quilts and it will be my main priority this week to turn it into a flimsie. 
Two Online Goodies
#1I started practising a little French with an excellent free online program called Duolingo.  I studied French last in high school and would love to get better at reading it. I started at the absolute beginning and am now on the third unit. It is being presented in small bites, 10 minutes a day, which is enjoyable but not enough for proficiency of course. But it is fun to see what I remember and it is a little brain function practice. Hope to keep at it.
#2The other free online goodie is this one which I find calming...Jigsaws for Adults.  I play on my ipad and have been working through beautiful butterflies. 

I'm feeling a little unsettled this morning...fell on my early walk and skinned a knee. Just minor but I should have been paying better attention. I'm about to pick up my Autumn Quakers to lay a few stitches. That should calm me down. As Kate at The Last Homely House always says...When you get Into your hands, you get Out of your head. 

As always happy to share with The Texas Quilt GalThe Inquiring Quilter,  Wendy's Quilts and MoreMy Quilt InfatuationCreations Quilts Art , True Blue QuiltsSo Scrappy and Sum of Their Stories







21 comments :

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

your Yuletide blanket turned out so well. I was going to do that one and ordered the yarn and then ended up making a row blanket instead and I do enjoy it - it isn't as large as yours though as I just made it smaller size for the couch.

Anonymous said...

I have been relearning French on Duolingo for almost two years now. My husband is learning Gaelic Great app! Your muffins remind me to make some blueberry scone…. That looks like a very warm blanket. Gail at the Cozy Quilter.

grammajudyb said...

Although I probably won't try Duolingo, it sounds like a great app if you are interested. I do use the puzzle app on my iPad too. My favorites are still lifes, butterflies and some animals. I'm not a fan of landscapes, but DH is.
Your friendship stars are so colorful. It will be a wonderful quilt.

Miaismine said...

It sounds like your husband enjoyed waiting for the tires. Sounds like a great place for some slow stitching! 😊
I’m finding that I can cut back on sugar in baked goods and there’s not too much of a difference. Interesting, huh? And yes, your fish plate is adorable!
Your afghan is so pretty! I bet it’s nice and cozy to cuddle under!
I admire those who can create a quilt without using a pattern. I’m not there yet, but can so the same with crochet.
I looked up your Autumn Quakers and wow! That is some detailed stitching. It’s so very beautiful!
I hope you’re feeling better after your fall!

piecefulwendy said...

I'm behind on reading your posts, Jocelyn - I'm so sorry! You capture such great photos of the birds around you! I love that little fish plate, by the way - the muffins look good, too! I'm sorry to hear about your fall, glad you are okay.

Nancy J said...

A super blanket, this will be good for those extra cold days or nights. learning a language, I had to sit in a French class at High School and study physics, no class was available at any time for me. I learnt a smattering, and can still count to ten in French, Latin, Japanese and of course English. Not sure any of that will be of ANY use now. Duolingo? might look it up. Stay safe on those icy paths.

Deb A said...

I hope those stitches have calmed the mind and the fall had no adverse effects. Your afghan is beautiful and will come in handy this winter. The muffins look yummy - I was thinking of making scones and adding some of the leftover cranberry orange relish to them. Good luck puzzling those blocks into a quilt.

loulee said...

Your Yuletide blanket is lovely. Take care on those walks.

Jenny said...

So sorry to read about your fall, that definitely is unsettling. Like you, I always cut down the sugar when baking, it doesn't seem to make too much difference. After all, who wants a cup of sugar! If the receipe says half a cup, I then cut it down to a quarter. I did try Keto baking without much sucess, the flours used are quite different.
I like watching The last Homely House too, she is a lovely lady.

Jackie said...

Magpie Murders was awesome. Miss. Scarlet and the Duke is good as well (also on PBS).

Love the cardinal photo.

I did the Duolingo courses for Spanish when we went to Spain a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Must do the French one as I definitely need to get back into that since we are a dual language country. It is really too difficult to translate in my head now from French to English and back again...

God bless.

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Oh, that cardinal. He's gorgeous, just peeking out. Can you hear his mate nearby? Gosh, those muffins sound delicious. I have an extra carton of blueberries in the fridge (my littles eat them like candy so I stock up). Yuletide Blanket turned out lovely and it's just the season for snuggling underneath its weight! Oh, nuts to falling. I'm glad to hear you weren't hurt but it is still jarring, isn't it?! I think about falling all the time when walking into work each morning. I'm the first one there so there is no one to know I'm missing for about an hour. Of course, I have my phone but it makes me use the railing instead of just hopping up the stairs. It's a small concession to make. It has nothing to do with age!! Yes, get out of your head. Neddy needs you to pay attention, too. I've had my feet swept out from under me by a cute pup like Neddy! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

What an amazing photo of the cardinal, Jocelyn! Your muffins look yummy - thanks for sharing the recipe. We enjoyed Magpie Murders, too, although I found the story really complicated and didn't quite get it all until the very last episode! I love the bright stars you're making - they're going to make such a fun quilt! I'm so sorry you fell - that's a nasty thing to have happen when you're out doing something that's healthy for yourself. Take care!

Quilting Babcia said...

Your Yuletide blanket is beautiful, and weighty is good for so many folks when they sleep, me included. We just saw our first pair of cardinals of the season. Some winters we have 5 or 6 pairs at the feeders. My favorite winter bird.

Lin said...

What a gorgeous little bird - look after that knee! xx

Cheree @ The Morning Latte said...

I haven't seen Magpie Murders but I'm always up for quality show recommendations. Will have to look into it. Your stars look great and good luck on getting it into a flimsy this week. And please be careful! :o) The older we get the more those falls become an issue!
I took French in HS as well and did Duolingo for a time but fell off. I need to get back at it! I was always great at vocab, but word variations (masculine/feminine) and verb tenses etc--that messes me up! My husband and one of my daughters can pick up languages so easily. I've come to accept that is just not me!

Susie H said...

My state (Illinois) is one of the states with the State Bird being the cardinal. I love them especially this time of year. Their red is so much brighter! Hope your knee is on the mend. Sometimes it's the next day that reminds you you shouldn't have done that. Love your Yuletide afghan. So colorful and geometric!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I'm so sorry you fell but am relieved that 'all' that happened was a skinned knee. As my Resident Chef is fond of saying...we don't bounce as well as we used to.
Seeing your Yuletide blanket reminded me that I learned to crochet making one of those. My aunt showed me how and I remember how completely and utterly b-o-r-i-ng it was. It's a wonder I continued to crochet after that!!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I love our Cardinals also and the finches and sparrows. They eat right out my window. Your Yuletide blanket is pretty and I am sure HEAVY! Those Friendship stars are looking good. Could put them on point with a block in between…. I love blueberry muffins - but they don’t love me anymore. Yours look yummy.

Do you take a care with you when you walk? I carry one with me each time I walk and the road is good. But some times the Meniere’s makes me a little unstable, or maybe the weather. Please consider taking a walking stick or a cane when walking. That way you will have something to help prevent the falls.

Hugs and have a great week.

Angie said...

Beautiful cardinal, Jocelyn. We don't have cardinals in Montana, and I do miss them. What a delight it was to see and hear them on my recent trip to Ohio!

I have made the time lately to do a lot of cross-stitch, and it is so relaxing for me - love it!

Linda said...

I always dread going to garage waiting rooms, but you are right, they are pretty inviting nowadays! Yuletide blanket is beautiful, I just looked up Lucy's website again, I need to put her on my blog list. Love the fish plate, and your muffins look yummy. Pretty, pretty Friendship Stars. I hope you aren't too sore from your fall! I love your posts Jocelyn, so much good stuff! Thank you for sharing with To Do Tuesday!

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

I watched Magpie Murders and enjoyed it too. Your Yuletide Christmas blanket is lovely. So glad to see it out again. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.