Home from work, I have been counting many blessings.

Blogging and the Internet among them!

I have resisited BLACK FRIDAY bargain chasing.

Instead, I feel like making a difference somewhere other than the retail scene! The answer came as I read tips about blogging and was led to this.... a link to a very special blogger, Maggie Doyne who has built a home for orphans in Nepal.

I read that she could use donations for the sewing room, where clothing is sewn using fabric from local shops and local women as seamstresses. They will be teaching the children to sew as well. I will be sending her a donation. Please go to her help page , if this speaks to you!

The late afternoon sun shine in on a still life.....it has been a good Thanksgiving!

We stayed here and had a quiet day, Mr. Pear is still recuperating from the knee replacement and I have only today off from work. I was able to paint and enjoy the day. We watched the Macy's parade and Mr. P is into the football as well as a brief walk around the block.

A crockpot cooked for me! Turkey breast is so tender that way! I added sage and thyme from the garden so it was very fragrant and delicious! Pumpkin pie is still beckoning.

I will be putting two paintings in ETSY and post about them on my art blog ! I hope you'll take a look!

I found this idea in a newsletter from "Keepsake Quilting"...a page called, The Hungry Quilter !

"Cranberry Relish"
1 (16-ounce) can whole cranberry sauce
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple
1 cup red grapes
1 orange, peeled, chopped
1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Pour the cranberry sauce into a large bowl, and mash lightly with a fork. Drain the pineapple, and add to the bowl. Seed the grapes, cut into quarters, and add to the cranberry mixture. Add the orange pieces and walnuts, and mix lightly. Chill, covered, overnight. Yield: 6 to 8 servings"

Sounds good and easy...I think I would add some chopped whole cranberries just to make it a bit more cranberry and a bit more tart!

Easier to make, and using no corn syrup, this is a great little pie!

Caramel Pecan Pie

Original Recipe Yield 1 - 9 inch pie

Ingredients
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust
36 individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
3/4 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecan halves
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) In a saucepan over low heat, combine caramels, butter and milk. Cook, stirring frequently, until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, eggs, vanilla and salt. Gradually mix in the melted caramel mixture. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown. Allow to cool until filling is firm. This is good served warm or room temperature!

Colorful, handmade luggage tags should make bag identification much easier!

These are tags I made today using the free pattern from Quilting Arts. They are generously giving free patterns for 5 cool projects! I can hardly wait to try the little mini wallets and journal covers too! [move your cursor and click on "free pattern" to find the link for the patterns!]

Sewing on the vinyl was not easy until I tried the "ultra glide foot" or "teflon" foot. Then the stitches just worked great! These are now ready to have the name and address cards filled out and inserted, then easily attach onto the handle of today's suitcases!

Yesterday afternoon was cold, dreary and gray. I happened to have the afternoon off so decided to go with Mr. Pear (still recuperating) on a short road trip.

We stopped at the gallery which has my bird watercolors for sale.

It was energizing to see these bright happy paintings on the cloudy day! Other works in the gallery were inspiring too. I hope to be painting more again soon!

Besides the art gallery and a coffee shop for a pumpkin scone to share, we visited a store with fabrics and a couple of flea markets and charity thrift stores.

These are the fat quarters (10) I picked up and below that, a pair of soft rayon pull on pants from April Cornell (a surprise find at the thrift store!). The pants are perfect for lounging or pj bottoms next summer!

top of pants in scanner....

More thrift store finds! A Japanese tea cup, a wooden serving dish (origin?) and a "holly" plate from England.
It was fun! Now back to work. [Maybe these new "things" can pose in a still life painting for me!]

We're still having a sunny warm week! Today, my day off, I remembered to plant these daffodil bulbs which I bought a month ago. The variety is "Tahiti" which is a double daffodil with and orange ruffle. I planted a dozen. They should come along to brighten our world next March!

It has been an altogether good day, laundry, housework (a little), a walk in the park with Mr. Pear. Slowly, carefully. Still to be seen.... a maple tree or two with pretty leaves!

Then reading "The Lacuna" by Barbara Kingsolver. I have only just begun reading it and it is GOOD!

I have finished quilting on the Dresden plate quilt which I have been handquilting for the last few months. Today, I am sewing down the pastel scrappy binding. It is a classic!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More creative fun here....a page from a collaborative altered book/scrapbook/art journal. This page was done by my friend Paula who found the wonderful book at a thrift store, an older decorating book by Tricia Guild. Wonderful photos for us to play with. Great color throughout the entire book....this will be fun! [click on the photo to see the page larger].