Family time in Wisconsin


This is the old farmhouse which is being lovingly remodeled and lived in by my niece and her family which includes four children, ages 7 months to 10 years. It was built by her husband's great uncle.


Thanksgiving night, the engaged couple opened a few gifts. Here the bride-to-be examines the label on the quilt we made for them. Below, Mr. Pear and our son and daughter-in-law outdoors on a beautiful sunny (and not too cold!) day before the wedding.



The wedding was on Saturday afternoon in a small but beautiful church, St. John's Lutheran in Hayes, Wisconsin. Here is an image from the Internet of the church being constructed in 1904. It has a VERY tall steeple and is a yellow brick church with stained glass windows. The last photo in this post is me holding my 7-month old great nephew while waiting for the ceremony to begin.
I hope to post some more photos from the wedding soon! [Our camera is still not 100% so others in the family will have to share!]




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Quick now, here, now, always -

A condition of complete simplicity (Costing not less than everything)

And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one. ----T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding

We've been looking through our recipes to make a cookbook for the new bride.

One recipe that we came across was for Pumpkin Bread baked in a canning jar.

Pumpkin Bread in a Jar

2/3 c. shortening
2 2/3 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 c. canned pumpkin
2/3 c. water
3 1/3 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. nuts
Cream shortening and sugar. Beat eggs, pumpkin and water. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and spices. Add to pumpkin mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour mixture into greased wide mouth jars filling 1/2 full. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. When done remove 1 jar at a time and wipe sealing edge with paper towel or cloth and screw cap on tightly. The heat will vacuum seal the jar and the bread will keep for up to 1 year (maybe). Makes 8 pints.

I had e-mailed this recipe to some famliy members and friends. So this afternoon, my friend Sally, whom I was visiting, and I followed our inclination to try the recipe. We made 3 batches in order for it to come out even with the 24 canning jars (WIDE-mouth pints) which we had bought.

So, if I run in to you, don't be surprised if I give you a canned pumpkin bread! BTW, it slides right out of the jar for easy slicing!

[My "show and tell" for Kelli's Show and Tell Friday.]

We have a family wedding coming up! Nephew Ben and his fiancee, Natalie.

I made a special heart shaped quilt label for them while I was at work....using the embroidery feature of a new machine.....then it was hand sewn to the back of the quilt.

The queen-sized quilt is called "Arkansas Crossroads" and uses mainly blues and greens, the couple's favorite colors. The 4-patches are from my stash and family scraps...

A week from Thanksgiving! I have the day off and time to use the camera (which has been "iffy" about working lately!) and to write on my blog! Yeah!

This photo was taken out on the back porch, of the watercolor painting which I am removing from the glass frame today and shipping to a sweet blogging friend. She has purchased it to be a special Christmas gift for her daughter! Thanks, Gemma!!!!

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This is a sweater which I just finished knitting for my son who has recently moved to Minnesota. It is stockinette stitch knit in a bulky wool blend yarn in "pumpkin heather" color....the camera couldn't do it justice, so I scanned a bit of the knitting (small photo). It was my first time to knit a "saddle shoulder" garment. I am excited to be able to give this to him next week when we are all together in Wisconsin for Thanksgiving and his cousin's wedding on Saturday!

I'm also making alpaca neck warmers for the young ladies of our family who live in the northern states! These only take 1 skein of soft bulky yarn...no more cold necks!

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The next photo is of an autumn fairy doll sent to me by another wonderful blogging friend, (Celtic Lady). Clothed in sparking autumn leaves, this sprite is hanging under a lamp and serves as a muse to help me do all the projects I am working on for family Christmas gifts....sewing and knitting. [ She can, perhaps, fly off to some adventures while I sit there being an old "sew-and-sew", LOL!]

I started this wonderful day today by finding a photo in our Sunday paper....10 days after the event.

Artists from our area donate our work on a 5x5 canvas. These are dispalyed as a gallery show at the local Art Center of the Ozarks. Then the final night is a gala silent auction event where patrons (mostly ourselves) bid on the paintings. All monies go to fund ACO programs.

We have a wonderful time every year!

[You can see my small donation on my art blog.]

Today, Sunday, I need to clean my sewing studio, work on a few projects (Christmas gifts) and maybe even finish raking up some of the leaves which were so colorful 2 weeks ago. It is very cold today, sunny and in the 30's.

Two cards....

This watercolor postcard came yesterday. Lizzzie made it to thank us for our hospitality last week. I love the indigo and really like the stems on the pears too!

Wonderful work Lizzzie!

I wonder what the saying means....????? [Should we tell Santa? it is signed "ELF"]

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The next card is one that my daughter requested I do for her....[I guess there aren't many limits on what I will do for her!]

She wanted and original caricature style Christmas card drawing of her family and dog in front of their home. Now this was a challenge as I had to work from assorted photos and just group them on my own. Besides, I do landscapes and still life, not cartoons or portraits! I kept thinking of the Caroline's Crayons blog while I did this...it was not a fast undertaking!

postscript....the granddaughter wants her skirt to be green. I think I can do that! Back to the colored pencils now!

They certainly grow up too fast!!!!!

A year ago, last November 12th, we were waiting for this little guy to make his appearance! He took his time and arrived on the 17th.

Now that he is here, he seems to be wasting no time in catching on to the ways of the world. Here, a few weeks ago, he is about to test drive a Triumph.....and he isn't even walking yet!

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I am enjoying all things related to sewing, including these fresh pears, LOL! You can get the pattern for them here . They are from designer Heather Bailey's newest patterns, premiered at the International Quilt Market recently.

I am having fun making gifts and things for myself.
This tea towel....flour sack variety has been dressed up with yo-yos and machine embroidery stitches. The pattern below is for a new handbag which I am about to sew....all of these projects are keeping me away from the blogging world. I will be back!

What's for dinner?

Our friend Lizzzie is coming to town. I want a comfort food dinner... from the crockpot as today is a day full of errands.

INGREDIENTS
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fennel seed, crushed
1 tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 (3 pound) boneless pork loin roast

Brown pork roast in a hot skillet on the stove top. Place pork in a crockpot. Deglaze the skillet with the balsamic vinegar and pour over the roast in the crockpot. Add all other ingredients.

Cook slowly all day. Enjoy!

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Note: I am at a low energy moment...the time change, staying up late to watch speeches [McCain's was wonderful!], and working long days. My days off are spent on errands or creative projects... SO I am not getting around to many blogs now. Hope to catch up one day!

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My daughter is about to post information on her blog of their recent trip to Mexico. I love these photos of my grandchildren! Note the photo of my SIL with the fish he caught....

Yes, we can!!!!!!!

Mr. Pear and I voted early....though not necessarily for the same candidates!

Women suffered and endured much to gain this priviledge! In this photo, women were voting 101 years ago in New York....don't forget to VOTE! [as if you could!]

Here is a recent biographical book by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbons.

Product Description [from Amazon]
Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood up and fought for what she believed in. From an early age, she knew that women were not given rights equal to men. But rather than accept her lesser status, Elizabeth went to college and later gathered other like-minded women to challenge the right to vote. Here is the inspiring story of an extraordinary woman who changed America forever because she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

Sounds like one I'll be getting for my granddaughter...!!!!