Under the Needle: August

 I've stayed pretty focused this year and have tried to chip away at the long quilt list I made back in January. This S'mores quilt has been on the list for a long time and this month I finally dug back into it. I made another 100+ blocks, started on the setting triangles, and couldn't help myself from putting a few rows together

I pieced all the blocks for this scrap quilt from pieces I had cut from all those scraps I processed last month and it is now a top

I'm adding to my pile of 4-Patch Fun blocks as leader-enders and had to cut more block kits...these are fun!

And my Farmhouse Summer Quilt finally made it across the finish line in August

Kind of short and sweet this month, but it's been too nice to be cooped up inside and the mountains are calling! Maybe it's time to cut into this project. 😉

Dusting off an Old UFO

I started the year with a lot of finished tops that have been accumulating for 5 or 6 years and I've been taking them to Jackie and Sandy, 2 a month, and then binding them when I got them back and I'm now caught up. So I figured I'd dig out a project bin and move it along, closer to a finish.

My S'mores project is finally getting some attention. The pattern was in this magazine from 2013.

I started working on this right away, but I didn't get very far and it sat for a long time until I pulled it out again 2 years ago. After that round, I had 183 blocks made, but I had a lot more pieces cut for more blocks so I apparently I'm making it bigger. Grin.

It's been a while since I've sewn with these fabrics and I loved building more blocks although these DO take some time, but I'm not a fast and furious stitcher and I think I have enough pieces cut for at least another 100 blocks.

I also started building the side triangles

And I've still got a lot of 1 1/2" sashing to cut so it'll be a while

I don't enjoy piecing large quilt tops set on point with sashing, but I like this one enough to grit through that part.

Sunday Excursion

 On Sunday, we were up at 4:30 to begin a day of exploration in the Can-Am. We've been wanting to take a route across the mountains that takes us through what is known as The Gap and up to Summit Peak. We loaded up the buggy and hauled 7 miles down the road to our starting point, beginning at 6.

The road is mountainous and rocky 

But gosh we saw some pretty spots                                     

and it took us from 5500' to 1080'.  We could see our property from the top...about 8 miles as the crow flies, but 30 miles by road, averaging about 6 mph. LOL.              

This was my view much of the way. LOL

We saw a nice Elk

A young deer

And I was excited to see my first wild bear. Not a great picture, but I just had my phone camera...they were probably about 300 yds away so it's blurry, but we saw a sow with 3 cubs traveling through the trees and spent some time watching them

We discovered mountain springs...it's always important to know where your nearest water supply is

It's been a good year here and the springs were running

I do wish I had grabbed my camera, but I was mostly scanning the mountains with binoculars and I'm glad I was able to capture a bit of the day with my camera phone. The light was so good up the 7 Cabins road where there are no cabins. Grin.

We found scrumptious wild raspberries

And picked some to snack on

I pinch myself every single day and thank God for placing us back in the mountains

55 miles and 10 1/2 hours later we made it back to the truck. We spent about an hour glassing for game and looking at springs, but the rest of the time we were bouncing up and down the mountain. 

We were worn out by the time we got back home and I was impatiently waiting for the chickens to get their feathered behinds into the coop at 7:30 so that I could go to bed, but it was a really incredible day!

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

 Yes, I'm repeating myself, but my little baking elf calls them this so that's what we are calling them. One of the first things she always asks is, "What are we baking today, Gram"? Today we are baking up fun, sweet girl.

I found this recipe HERE and E and I mixed up a batch on Sunday

It didn't make very many cookies so I doubled everything when I wrote it below

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

2 C  chocolate chips, melted

2 C flour

Scant 2/3 C baking cocoa

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1 C softened unsalted butter

2 C light brown sugar

4 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

*In medium sized bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda, salt. Set aside. In large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Mix in eggs, melted chocolate and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Using cookie scoop, place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes. (Thank you to the reader that pointed out that I had neglected to add the oven temperature) I really AM still recuperating. 😉

They were the perfect side to a scoop of ice cream (with sprinkles of course!) and we all know that everything tastes better out on the deck

And I just thought of something...these would be perfect for adding a thin layer of Peanut Butter or Nutella, or Marshmallow Creme on a cookie and topping it with a second cookie. Next time everyone's here, we'll definitely test those combinations out, but these will absolutely be added to the regular cookie rotation to satisfy those chocolate cravings.

4 Yr Old Fun

 Our weekend was busy. Having a little one around for a few days will insure your time will be filled with adventure and blessings, laughter and hugs, and snacks and snuggles. And if you're in your 60's, you will be pooped at the end of your time together, but your heart will be full.

We never watch television when she's here, but we had a special movie night

 complete with popcorn

And an introduction to Milo and Otis (a favorite when our chiddlers were small)

Mornings began out at the barn where baby kitties were entertained before settling into the dirt in one's jammies

She's already learned that chores come before play, but at this age, it's all fun

Meals are always better when eaten out on the deck

She was very interested in looking for Pap on the mountain using his 'noculars'

Who needs toys when you've got a neverending supply of dirt?

She spent much of her time like this

It was such a fun weekend, and I treasure these moments, 

but it may take me a few days to recover. 

Breakfast is served!

Thank you kisses

Sneaking in one last favorite shot from this morning and wishing ya'll a happy Monday.🥰

Cranberry Orange Pecan Snickerdoodles

 I have an extensive collection of family favorite cookie recipes that I've amassed over the past 38 years. They've all been made countless times and have stood the test of time.

I haven't baked a whole lot this summer, but I do like to keep a stash of cookies in the deep freeze to hand out to friends and family. Even our 4 yr old granddaughter has learned that Gram always has cookies on hand. 

Well my cookie supply has been in dire need of restocking. The biggest reason is that we are entering the 5th season. We have Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Hunting Season here and bear season begins tomorrow. We have several friends who will be out and about crawling through the mountains and I want to be prepared if and when they pop in.

So yesterday I made Cowboy Cookies

Ranger Cookies

Gingersnaps

And  this new recipe for Cranberry Orange Snickerdoodles. These haven't made the rounds yet but DH and I both love them and I wanted to share them here

Here's a link to the original recipe: Grandma Honey's House

The only thing I changed is that I added a lot more chopped cranberries and I didn't dip them in white chocolate.

Cranberry Orange Pecan Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 C flour

2 tsp cream of tarter

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 C butter, softened

1/2 C shortening

2 C sugar, divided

2 eggs

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 C finely chopped, fresh cranberries (I pulled mine out of the freezer)

zest of 1 large orange

1/2 C chopped pecans

* Mix flour, cream of tarter, soda and salt - set aside. In another large bowl, cream butter and shortening together. Mix in 1 1/2 C sugar and eggs. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix well. Stir in cranberries, orange zest, and pecans. Combine 1/2 C sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Shape dough into small balls. Coat in sugar / cinnamon mixture. Place on parchment covered cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes.

I may have to make these again and add them to Christmas cookie platters. It was an epic baking day, but I should be set for a little while.