Hot Mama Chicken Apron Swap

I'm almost done - and this is just the beginning stage of my creative process this morning. Don't let this picture fool you, there's more to it than this.

Hot Mama Apron Swap and a Bunch of Chickens

I won't lie, I've been struggling with this swap. I love the theme, love the group, but I've been intimidated by my partners prowess as a seamstress to the point that I have artistically stalled out. I have fabric, I have ideas but none seem to be "it" or have that "wow" factor I like.

I did manage to put this little pin cushion together last night and I'm pretty happy with it and I hope my partner will like it.








I've warned my hubs, that on Saturday I will be sewing the apron come hell or high water (suppose to rain by the way). I have lots of fabric gathered up and hope when I start cutting, it will all fall in to place.

After a Week on Vacation what do you make for dinner?

I made chicken fried steak, corn, mashed potatoes, homemade bread and a peach cobbler.

comfort food and being home in my own bed sure was nice.

I did have a fabulous time and felt as if I was living a Corona Beer Commercial.

taking a break

My Green Bean Tutorial

Obviously, I start with nice and fresh green beans. Trim the stem end and rinse them well.


In a large skillet or pan, melt 2 Tablespoons of bacon fat (I keep my bacon drippings in a jar in the fridge for just this purpose)over medium heat.



Next slice lardons of some sort of pork product - bacon, fat back or I used smoked pork jowl for this tutorial.

Render off the fat from the pork until the lardons are crispy and look like this.



Then I add in some onion flakes about 1 Tablespoon (yes you can use fresh, but I like the intense flavor of the flakes).



Reduce the heat to low and add in 1 teaspoon of pepper.


Add in the green beans and give everything a good toss, coating the beans in the all the pot liquor.



Then I add in 1 cup of water.



Put the lid on and let it simmer on low for 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally until the beans are tender.



Serve them up with your favorite meat and taters and enjoy.

Busy Weekend

On Saturday, my husband had his ring and cap ceremony for the Scottish Rite. It was an interesting ceremony - lots of ritual and circumstance. Here is before the ceremony and his after picture with his new cap.




On Sunday, I made this little sun dress/coverup for our upcoming trip to Mexico. Regena told me about the pattern so I went and go it and sewed it up. What do you think? My hubs said it needed somthing so it didn't look too much like a tent. So I added some ties in the back to give it some shape in the waist. What do you think - did it work?

Look What the Mail Man Brought me Yesterday!

Originally uploaded by amysgreatadventure

I have some swaps coming up so I've been looking around for various fabrics for bits and pieces. When I was on one of my fav sites Fat Quarter Shop they had some great things I couldn't live with out.